Opportunity Information: Apply for G26AS00024
The 2026 National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (NGGDPP) is a USGS grant opportunity designed to help state geological surveys preserve, organize, and make accessible important geoscience data and physical materials that might otherwise be lost or remain difficult to use. The program supports practical, collection-focused work that improves long-term stewardship of geological, geophysical, and engineering records such as maps, well logs, core and cuttings, samples, and related historical materials, with an emphasis on making these resources discoverable and usable for research, education, and public benefit. The program is authorized under Section 351 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, as amended by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and it also reflects Department of the Interior priorities, including increased attention to critical minerals.
The program has several core objectives that shape what it funds. At its base, NGGDPP aims to (1) archive geologic, geophysical, and engineering data and materials (including maps, well logs, and samples), (2) support a national catalog that allows the public and researchers to find those archived materials, and (3) provide technical and financial assistance that helps institutions do this work consistently and at scale. A newer, explicit objective is to preserve samples that can capture and retain geochemical signatures from critical mineral ore bodies, so those signatures can be used in provenance tracking frameworks. In other words, the program is not only about saving legacy collections; it is also about preserving information that can help understand where critical mineral materials originate and how they move through systems, which is increasingly relevant for resource assessment, supply chain transparency, and related research.
For fiscal year 2026, USGS identifies two main funding priorities. Priority 1 focuses broadly on preserving geoscience resources and may include building or improving the digital and physical infrastructure needed to preserve, archive, and deliver geologic and geophysical data and samples. This can cover efforts like improving storage conditions for physical collections, modernizing repositories, and strengthening digital systems used to manage and provide access to datasets and collection information. Priority 2 focuses specifically on critical minerals data preservation. This includes preserving geoscience materials and datasets that support critical minerals work, developing a strategic plan for critical minerals (including a version specifically addressing mine waste and mine lands), and submitting existing geochemical samples for analysis when they are relevant to critical minerals assessments. Proposals are expected to clearly align with one or both priorities and describe comprehensive, end-to-end activities such as inventorying collections, describing them properly, and taking concrete steps to preserve them for long-term use.
A key expectation of the program is improving public discovery and reuse of preserved resources through standardized metadata. Projects that receive funding generally must submit metadata records describing the preserved materials using the NGGDPP metadata schema, and those records must be submitted to ReSciColl so that researchers, decision-makers, and the public can more easily find and access what has been preserved. There is an important exception: Priority 1 projects that are purely infrastructure-focused, such as construction/remodeling of physical facilities or development of digital infrastructure like databases and web services, do not have to submit metadata records as a condition of the award. Even so, proposals should still explain how the infrastructure will support preservation and access outcomes over time.
The opportunity also draws clear lines around what is and is not eligible. Only state geological surveys may apply under this Notice of Funding Opportunity, consistent with the program statute. If a state geological survey is organized under a state university system, the university can submit the proposal on the survey's behalf, but the applicant must still be acting for the state geological survey. The program is intended to preserve collections owned by the applicant state geological organization, and it does not allow the use of NGGDPP funds to preserve USGS-owned assets (such as USGS maps, reports, or photos). If a proposed project involves collections owned by a private entity or another state entity (for example, a state oil and gas commission), the proposal must provide strong justification and documentation showing that the data will be made public, such as a data sharing agreement or a transfer of ownership. This reflects the program goal of ensuring that preserved collections ultimately benefit the broader community through access and reuse.
There are also several explicit cost restrictions. NGGDPP funds cannot be used for preserving USGS assets, for duplicative digitization or conversion of materials that have already been produced and preserved by other agencies, or for items like tuition. The program also does not allow computer maintenance costs or travel to attend conferences or workshops as chargeable expenses. Applicants should plan budgets around direct preservation, archiving, cataloging, access, and approved infrastructure improvements rather than general institutional costs or professional development travel.
From an award structure standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary grant under CFDA 15.814, administered by the USGS (Geological Survey). The award ceiling is $200,000, with an anticipated 35 awards. The opportunity number is G26AS00024, and the original closing date is February 17, 2026 (created January 14, 2026). Finally, applicants should be aware that even proposals aligned with Priority 1 and/or Priority 2 may receive reduced funding or no funding, so proposals need to make a strong case for significance, readiness, feasibility, and the public value of the preserved collections and resulting access improvements.Apply for G26AS00024
- The Geological Survey in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2026 National Geological & Geophysical Data Preservation Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.814.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-01-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-02-17. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 35 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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2026 National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (NGGDPP) - FAQs
What is the 2026 NGGDPP grant opportunity?
The 2026 National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (NGGDPP) is a USGS grant opportunity that supports practical work by state geological surveys to preserve, organize, and improve access to important geoscience data and physical materials that might otherwise be lost or hard to use.
Who administers this grant?
The program is administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Geological Survey.
What types of work does NGGDPP fund?
NGGDPP supports collection-focused preservation and stewardship work that improves long-term management and usability of geological, geophysical, and engineering records and materials. Examples mentioned include preserving and archiving maps, well logs, core and cuttings, samples, and related historical materials, along with efforts that improve discoverability and access.
What are the core objectives of NGGDPP?
The program objectives include: (1) archiving geologic, geophysical, and engineering data and materials (including maps, well logs, and samples), (2) supporting a national catalog so the public and researchers can find archived materials, and (3) providing technical and financial assistance to help institutions perform this work consistently and at scale.
How does the program address critical minerals?
A newer, explicit objective is preserving samples that capture and retain geochemical signatures from critical mineral ore bodies so those signatures can be used in provenance tracking frameworks. The opportunity also reflects Department of the Interior priorities, including increased attention to critical minerals.
What are the FY 2026 funding priorities?
USGS identifies two main priorities for fiscal year 2026: Priority 1 (broad geoscience resources preservation, including physical/digital infrastructure improvements that support preservation and access) and Priority 2 (critical minerals data preservation, including strategic planning for critical minerals and certain geochemical sample analysis activities relevant to critical minerals assessments).
What is Priority 1 focused on?
Priority 1 focuses broadly on preserving geoscience resources and may include building or improving the digital and physical infrastructure needed to preserve, archive, and deliver geologic and geophysical data and samples. Examples include improving storage conditions, modernizing repositories, and strengthening digital systems that manage and provide access to datasets and collection information.
What is Priority 2 focused on?
Priority 2 focuses specifically on critical minerals data preservation. It includes preserving materials and datasets that support critical minerals work, developing a strategic plan for critical minerals (including a version specifically addressing mine waste and mine lands), and submitting existing geochemical samples for analysis when relevant to critical minerals assessments.
Do proposals need to align to a priority area?
Yes. Proposals are expected to clearly align with Priority 1 and/or Priority 2 and describe comprehensive, end-to-end activities such as inventorying collections, describing them properly, and taking concrete steps to preserve them for long-term use.
What does the program mean by "end-to-end" activities?
Based on the opportunity description, end-to-end work includes steps such as inventorying collections, creating appropriate descriptions, and carrying out concrete preservation actions so the materials remain usable and accessible over the long term.
Is metadata submission required for funded projects?
Generally, yes. Projects that receive funding generally must submit metadata records describing the preserved materials using the NGGDPP metadata schema, and those records must be submitted to ReSciColl to improve public discovery and reuse.
Are there any exceptions to the metadata submission requirement?
Yes. Priority 1 projects that are purely infrastructure-focused (for example, construction/remodeling of facilities or development of digital infrastructure like databases and web services) do not have to submit metadata records as a condition of the award.
If a project is infrastructure-only under Priority 1, does the proposal still need to address access outcomes?
Yes. Even when metadata submission is not required for purely infrastructure-focused Priority 1 projects, proposals should still explain how the infrastructure will support preservation and access outcomes over time.
Who is eligible to apply?
Only state geological surveys may apply under this Notice of Funding Opportunity, consistent with the program statute.
Can a state university submit the application?
Yes, if a state geological survey is organized under a state university system, the university can submit the proposal on the survey's behalf. The applicant must still be acting for the state geological survey.
What types of collections are intended to be preserved with NGGDPP funds?
The program is intended to preserve collections owned by the applicant state geological organization.
Can NGGDPP funds be used to preserve USGS-owned maps, reports, photos, or other USGS assets?
No. The opportunity states that NGGDPP funds cannot be used to preserve USGS-owned assets (including USGS maps, reports, or photos).
What if the project involves collections owned by a private entity or another state entity?
If a proposed project involves collections owned by a private entity or another state entity (such as a state oil and gas commission), the proposal must provide strong justification and documentation showing that the data will be made public. Examples of documentation mentioned include a data sharing agreement or a transfer of ownership.
Why is documentation needed for non-applicant-owned collections?
The opportunity emphasizes that preserved collections should ultimately benefit the broader community through access and reuse, so proposals need to show that materials from other owners will be made public.
What costs are explicitly not allowed under NGGDPP?
The opportunity lists several restrictions, including that NGGDPP funds cannot be used for preserving USGS assets, for duplicative digitization or conversion of materials already produced and preserved by other agencies, or for items like tuition. It also does not allow computer maintenance costs or travel to attend conferences or workshops as chargeable expenses.
Can the grant pay for travel to conferences or workshops?
No. Travel to attend conferences or workshops is not an allowable expense under the restrictions described.
Can the grant pay for computer maintenance?
No. Computer maintenance costs are listed as not allowable.
Can the grant pay tuition?
No. Tuition is explicitly listed as not allowable.
Can the grant be used for digitization?
The opportunity supports preservation and access work, but it specifically prohibits duplicative digitization or conversion of materials that have already been produced and preserved by other agencies.
What is the assistance listing / CFDA number?
The opportunity is a discretionary grant under CFDA 15.814.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is G26AS00024.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $200,000.
How many awards are anticipated?
USGS anticipates approximately 35 awards.
When is the application due?
The original closing date is February 17, 2026.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on January 14, 2026.
Is funding guaranteed if a proposal matches Priority 1 or Priority 2?
No. The opportunity notes that even proposals aligned with Priority 1 and/or Priority 2 may receive reduced funding or no funding, so applicants should make a strong case for significance, readiness, feasibility, and public value.
What should applicants emphasize to be competitive based on the description provided?
The opportunity highlights the importance of clearly aligning to one or both priorities, demonstrating readiness and feasibility, showing the significance and public value of the collections and outcomes, and (where applicable) improving discovery and reuse through standardized metadata submission to ReSciColl using the NGGDPP metadata schema.
What law authorizes NGGDPP?
The program is authorized under Section 351 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, as amended by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
What is ReSciColl in the context of this opportunity?
ReSciColl is the system identified in the opportunity where required NGGDPP metadata records must be submitted so researchers, decision-makers, and the public can more easily find and access what has been preserved.
What metadata standard is referenced?
The opportunity specifies that metadata records should use the NGGDPP metadata schema.
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