Notice of Intent: 1:100,000 Scale Quaternary Mapping of the Superior Region Wisconsin | USGS FA 18 0239

Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS FA 18 0239

This opportunity is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Notice of Intent to make a single cooperative agreement award to the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (WGNHS), operating under the University of Wisconsin, to carry out a project titled "1:100,000 Scale Quaternary Mapping of the Superior Region, Wisconsin." The work sits in the natural resources category (CFDA 15.808) and is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning USGS expects to be substantially involved in the project rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant. The funding listing indicates one expected award with an anticipated maximum (award ceiling) of $60,000.

The core purpose of the project is to produce detailed surficial geologic mapping of Quaternary deposits across the four Wisconsin counties that border Lake Superior in the state’s northwest. The mapping scale, 1:100,000, is a standard regional scale that balances county-scale coverage with enough detail to be useful for planning and technical decision-making. In practical terms, the project focuses on characterizing the distribution and nature of unconsolidated materials at or near the land surface, especially sediments left behind by glaciers and related meltwater systems (glacial and proglacial sediments). This kind of mapping typically distinguishes among units such as till, sand and gravel outwash, lake sediments, peat and organic deposits, and other surficial materials, and then organizes them into a consistent map product suitable for GIS and broader regional analyses.

For the specific year described in the notice, the mapping emphasis is Bayfield County. The resulting map products are intended to support several applied needs. One is aggregate resource planning, since sand and gravel deposits suitable for construction and road building often occur in glacial outwash and related landforms, and mapping helps identify where these materials are likely to be present and how extensive they may be. Another is flood hazard understanding, because surface materials and landforms influence drainage, infiltration, erosion susceptibility, and the behavior of floodplains and coastal areas. A third major outcome is improving the three-dimensional understanding of subsurface sediment distribution, which matters for groundwater studies, engineering considerations, and broader geologic interpretations; even though the product is described as "surficial" mapping, these maps commonly provide a framework for building 3D conceptual models of sediment thickness and layering when combined with well logs, geophysical data, or other subsurface information.

The notice also explains why WGNHS is the intended recipient: as a participant in the Great Lakes Geologic Mapping Coalition, the survey is presented as uniquely positioned to meet the project objectives. This implies the work is part of a broader, coordinated Great Lakes regional mapping effort where consistent methods, shared standards, and regional expertise are important. The eligibility category listed is "Public and State controlled institutions of higher education," which aligns with the University of Wisconsin affiliation and reinforces that the opportunity is not a broadly competed solicitation but a targeted intent to award to a specific qualified state university-associated entity.

Key administrative details in the posting include the funding opportunity number (USGS-FA-18-0239), the posting date (July 10, 2018), and the original closing date (July 24, 2018). The short application window and the "Notice of Intent" framing are consistent with an intended single-recipient cooperative agreement rather than an open call seeking multiple competing proposals.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent: 1:100,000 Scale Quaternary Mapping of the Superior Region Wisconsin" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 10, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 24, 2018. (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 $60,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for USGS FA 18 0239

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