Opportunity Information: Apply for G27AS00164
The WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT PROGRAM NATIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANTS FY2026 (104g General) opportunity is a USGS-administered competitive grant program authorized under Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-242), as amended by multiple later public laws. Through this program, the Department of the Interior, via delegation to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), funds research and related work carried out through the nationwide network of Water Resources Research Institutes (WRRIs). These institutes are university-based and exist in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam, with Guam also serving the Federated States of Micronesia and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawaii also serving American Samoa. A directory of the 54 institutes is provided by USGS at https://water.usgs.gov/wrri/index.php.
Eligibility is narrow and institution-specific: only WRRIs established under the Water Resources Research Act may apply. In practical terms, that means the eligible applicant is the designated institute (or center) in the WRRI network, rather than individual universities generally or other types of organizations. The program also reinforces a basic compliance requirement: an institute that has not met USGS reporting requirements on a prior award is not eligible to receive new funding through this competition, which makes prior closeout and reporting performance a gating factor for participation.
The funding mechanism is a discretionary grant, categorized under Natural Resources, with CFDA number 15.805. The opportunity number is G27AS00164. Applications are due by November 12, 2026 (original closing date). The program anticipates making about four awards, and the stated maximum (award ceiling) per award is $120,000. While the notice does not provide every budgeting detail in the excerpt, the ceiling and expected number of awards give a good sense that this is intended to support a small set of competitively selected projects rather than a large portfolio of smaller subawards.
The announcement also clearly identifies categories of work that are not eligible for funding under this competition. Proposals that focus on health effects research involving human subjects are excluded. Proposals centered on oceanography are also excluded, although estuarine research is explicitly acceptable, which matters for projects that sit at the freshwater-saltwater boundary or involve coastal river systems and estuaries. Additionally, proposals that do not align with the program objectives (as defined in the full program announcement) are ineligible, so applicants need to ensure their project narrative is tightly tied to the stated WRRA program goals rather than only generally water-related.
Collaboration with federal scientists is allowed and even encouraged, but there are strict constraints on roles and funding flows. Federal employees may not serve as the principal investigator (PI), though they may serve as co-principal investigators (Co-PIs) and contribute scientifically. Importantly, federal employees and federal agencies cannot receive federal funds through these awards for any purpose, and they also cannot provide the required match (if applicable under the broader program rules) using federal resources. The net effect is that federal partners can participate as collaborators, but the grant budget and any match must be structured so that federal entities are not paid with the awarded funds and are not counted as the non-federal matching source.Apply for G27AS00164
- The Geological Survey in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT PROGRAM NATIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANTS FY2026 (104g General)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.805.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $120,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT PROGRAM NATIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANTS FY2026 (104g General)?
This is a USGS-administered national competitive grant program authorized under Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-242), as amended. Through delegation from the Department of the Interior to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the program funds water resources research and related work carried out through the nationwide network of Water Resources Research Institutes (WRRIs).
Which federal agency administers this grant opportunity?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) administers this opportunity on behalf of the Department of the Interior.
What is the opportunity number for this funding announcement?
The opportunity number is G27AS00164.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed for this program is 15.805.
What type of funding mechanism is used?
This opportunity is a discretionary grant program and is categorized under Natural Resources.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to Water Resources Research Institutes (WRRIs) established under the Water Resources Research Act. In practical terms, the eligible applicant is the designated institute (or center) within the WRRI network, not individual universities in general or other kinds of organizations.
Are individual universities or departments eligible to apply directly?
Not generally. The eligible applicant is the designated WRRI institute/center for the state or territory in the WRRI network, rather than a university at large, a department, or a separate campus entity.
How many Water Resources Research Institutes are in the WRRI network?
The announcement references a directory of 54 institutes provided by USGS.
Where can applicants find the directory of eligible WRRIs?
The USGS directory of Water Resources Research Institutes is available at https://water.usgs.gov/wrri/index.php.
Where do WRRIs exist geographically?
WRRIs exist in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. Guam also serves the Federated States of Micronesia and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawaii also serves American Samoa.
Can an institute be disqualified based on prior award performance?
Yes. An institute that has not met USGS reporting requirements on a prior award is not eligible to receive new funding through this competition. Prior reporting and closeout compliance is a gating eligibility factor.
What is the application deadline?
Applications are due by November 12, 2026 (original closing date).
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The program anticipates making about four awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The stated award ceiling is $120,000 per award.
Is this program intended to fund a large number of small projects?
Based on the anticipated number of awards (about four) and the stated ceiling ($120,000), the notice indicates this competition is intended to support a small set of competitively selected projects rather than a large portfolio of smaller awards.
What types of projects are explicitly not eligible for funding?
The announcement identifies several categories of work that are not eligible, including: (1) proposals focusing on health effects research involving human subjects, (2) proposals centered on oceanography, and (3) proposals that do not align with the program objectives described in the full program announcement.
Are projects involving human subjects allowed?
No. Proposals that focus on health effects research involving human subjects are excluded under this competition.
Is oceanography research eligible?
No. Proposals centered on oceanography are excluded.
Is estuarine research eligible?
Yes. While oceanography proposals are excluded, estuarine research is explicitly acceptable, which can be important for projects at freshwater-saltwater boundaries or involving estuaries and coastal river systems.
Do proposals have to match specific program objectives?
Yes. Proposals that do not align with the program objectives (as defined in the full program announcement) are ineligible. Applicants should ensure the project narrative is tightly tied to WRRA program goals, not only generally water-related.
Can federal scientists participate on a project?
Yes. Collaboration with federal scientists is allowed and encouraged, but there are strict limits on roles and how funds can be used.
Can a federal employee serve as the Principal Investigator (PI)?
No. Federal employees may not serve as the principal investigator (PI) on an award under this competition.
Can a federal employee serve as a Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)?
Yes. Federal employees may serve as co-principal investigators (Co-PIs) and contribute scientifically.
Can federal agencies or federal employees receive funds from this grant?
No. Federal employees and federal agencies cannot receive federal funds through these awards for any purpose.
Can federal resources be used as the required match (if a match applies)?
No. Federal agencies and federal employees cannot provide the required match using federal resources (if applicable under the broader program rules).
How should budgets be structured when collaborating with federal partners?
Budgets and any matching structure (if applicable) must be set up so that federal entities are not paid with awarded funds and are not counted as the non-federal matching source. Federal collaborators can contribute scientifically, but not receive funding through the award.
Who should be listed as the applicant organization when submitting?
The applicant should be the designated Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) established under the Water Resources Research Act for the relevant state or territory (i.e., the institute/center in the WRRI network), since eligibility is institution-specific.
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