Timeline

Application Materials

• FY22 Risk RFP Guidance (start here!): Risk FY22 RFP Guidance.pdf

• FY22 Risk RFP Letter of Intent Form (required) (due Dec. 1, 2021): https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=urWTBhhLe02TQfMvQApUlBe1F4ezmNJKklmgEluIQhFUQkYzVFVKOUpHVzVBN0tZUEE4WlBMSUlBVSQlQCN0PWcu

  • (you may preview the LOI form and use this Word doc version for planning your LOI submission: Risk RFP FY22 LOI Form Planning Document.docx)

• FY22 Risk RFP Proposal Template (proposals due Jan. 28, 2022): FY22 Risk Research and Applications Proposal Template.docx

• FY22 Risk RFP Proposal Budget Form: FY22 Risk RFP Budget Form.xlsx

Resources

Recording of the Oct. 21, 2021 Informational Webinar

• Recording to be posted after Oct 21, 2021

Insights from previous Risk RFP-funded projects 

• Insights for the FY22 RFP presentation at our annual Risk CoP Meeting (August 2021)  (Go to 1:37:50)
• Summary of FY19 Risk Proposal Awardee Experiences/Insights for FY20 and FY21 Awardees (presentation recording, presentation slides)  
• Final Presentations from FY20 Risk RFP Awardees (From July 15, 2021 (Go to 11:15), From August 17, 2021 (Go to 0:45))
• Mid-Project Presentations from FY21 Risk RFP Awardees 

Connecting with the Risk Community of Practice 

• Join the Risk Community of Practice! To join, visit https://listserv.usgs.gov/mailman/listinfo/cdi-risk 
• Community Directory: Please enter your information in our community member directory. This may also be a useful resource for finding collaborators: Community Member Directory: Live/Editable Web File (DOI-only), Static Display File 
• Risk Community Managers: Reach out to the community managers at riskyworld@usgs.gov for help identifying potential subject matter experts and collaborators. 
• Risk RFP “Office Hours” - consider attending our RFP “office hours.” These are dedicated times where staff will be available to answer questions about the RFP and brainstorm ideas. A schedule is below. 

Scheduled Office Hours:​

• November 16, 2021 @ 12pm ET (Teams link) ​
• December 7, 2021 @ 1pm ET (Teams link)​
• January 13, 2022 @ 11am ET (Teams link) 

Resources on Strategy and Approach

In your strategy and approach section, we encourage you to think about measures of success and project outcomes. How much engagement will the project perform to test usability or receive local input in planning objectives? Given the social vulnerability theme, will your project consider the unique needs or develop strategies to specifically engage historically underserved groups? In the end, how will the project help reduce risk, inform planning, or foster resilience? Below, we have some examples of ideas, metrics, or indicators to help brainstorm for possible project goals. Please reach out to our social scientists for more information. 

• Social Inclusion Metrics can include: Community Engagement/Needs Assessment; Limited Engagement; Local Leader Consultation; Community Forums; Co-production

• DEIA: Renter Needs; Language Barriers; Preferred Modes of Communication; Dissemination Plans

• Risk Reduction Metrics: Decision Making; Tool Use/Adoption; Plan Development; Building Codes; Community Rating System

Resources on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility 

• USGS Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity Internal website: https://internal.usgs.gov/ops/eeo/ In particular, see the Leader’s Blogs from June and August, 2020: https://internal.usgs.gov/ops/eeo/weareinthistogether.html 
• USGS Hazards, Race, and Social Justice – the Series Sharepoint site includes notes and recorded presentations from speakers highlighting the intersection of hazards, race, and social justice and example ongoing USGS activities in this space. 
• “The Vulnerability Bearers” by Lori Peek.
• “Beyond Outreach Handbook: A Guide to Designing Effective Programs to Engage Diverse Communities” 
• “Participatory Action Research” by Alice McIntyre
• Executive Orders 13985 and 14008.  

Publications 

• USGS Risk Plan: Science for a Risky World: a Plan for USGS Risk Research and Applications - Circular 1444
• Get your science used—Six guidelines to improve your products  
• “Leading in a Collaborative Environment: Six Case Studies Involving Collaboration and Civic Engagement” 

Stakeholder Use Cases 

• SHIRA Use Cases: This spreadsheet (available on the Risk COP wiki) documents use cases derived from workshops and in-depth interviews with over 100 DOI stakeholders. These stakeholders included unit managers, emergency managers, law enforcement officers, and safety officers, as well as people involved in facilities, natural and cultural resource management across multiple offices and bureaus. For additional information, please contact Nate Wood (nwood@usgs.gov) and Alice Pennaz (apennaz@usgs.gov). 

FAQs 

With regard to hazards or disruptions that pose a risk, what hazards are eligible for this RFP?  

The Risk Plan was intended to be relevant to all hazards that USGS studies. In the Plan, hazard is defined “a dangerous process, phenomenon, substance, activity, or condition that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage.” Therefore, projects related to geohazards (e.g., earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, coastal storms), wildfires, contaminants, wildlife disease outbreaks, as well as slow-onset events (e.g., drought, sea level rise, long-term erosion or subsidence) -- or any combination of these -- are eligible. Importantly, keep in mind that the Risk Plan (and this RFP) focuses on the intersection of hazards and society; projects solely focused on hazards, and not their potential impact to assets of societal value, will not be as competitive.  

When you say risk, risk to what? 

In the Risk Plan, risk is defined as the potential for the full or partial loss of something of societal value due to current or proposed courses of action under conditions of uncertainty regarding real-time and future adverse events. Therefore, within the USGS plan, risk is more broadly characterized as the confluence of a hazard with societal assets or systems exposed to that hazard.

Where can I find more information on the Risk Plan? 

The Risk Plan is available here. In addition, the USGS published a Top Story on the Plan, which is available here and the Natural Hazards Center also published a story on the Risk Plan, available here.  

What is the Risk Community of Practice and how do I join? 

The Risk Research and Applications Community of Practice was created to convene like-minded scientists, communication experts, and staff from across USGS to discuss issues relevant to risk research and applications. Monthly meetings occur on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 1p ET and include a mix of presentations, discussions, and announcements about relevant resources, events, and activities. Past meetings are archived on the community wiki. Anyone interested is welcome to attend and ideas for future meetings are always appreciated. To join the Risk Research and Applications Community of Practice, visit https://listserv.usgs.gov/mailman/listinfo/cdi-risk Joining will add you to the email distribution list and provide access to the community wiki.  

Can I contract outside personnel/services? 

Yes. Please be aware that all contracts and/or cooperative agreements must be developed and executed through the funded cost center and are subject to compliance with Bureau policy and procedures.  Every effort should be made to identify the contractor/services (e.g., name, expertise/qualifications) BEFORE submitting the proposal so that the panel can understand the expertise of this team member or component of the proposal. 

Where will award announcements be posted? 

Awardees will be notified directly by email. Awards will be announced beginning on March 21, 2022 and will be posted on the Risk Community of Practice wiki page (see https://my.usgs.gov/confluence/x/DoIcJQ). Community membership is required to access this site. To join the Risk Research and Applications Community of Practice, visit https://listserv.usgs.gov/mailman/listinfo/cdi-risk 

I am a term employee/Mendenhall Fellow/USGS post-doc. Can I apply as a lead PI? 

Yes. This RFP is open to all USGS Federal employees. However, if there is uncertainty in the duration of your position, please discuss this opportunity with your Supervisor to ensure that the work can be completed if you depart and include a brief explanation of your contingency plan in the proposal narrative.  

What cost burden/overhead rate should I use in my budget? 

Proposals should be prepared using the Lead PI cost center burden/overhead rate. Please verify your cost center burden/overhead rate with your Administrative Officer.  

Can I involve external collaborators (e.g., from academia, non-governmental organizations, other agencies, international partners)? 

Yes, as long as it is in keeping with the RFP guidance. Please ensure your Center can transfer funds to the external collaborator (e.g., academic institution, non-governmental organization, other agency). As stated above, please be aware that all contracts and/or cooperative agreements must be developed and executed through the funded cost center and are subject to compliance with Bureau policy and procedures. This may require completing the action and/or arranging new cooperative agreements, which can be time consuming. While not required, a letter of support from these collaborators will be viewed favorably in the review process. All funds must be expended – not just obligated – by March 31, 2023. 

Are there limits on how the funds can be used? For instance, if I want to organize a series of stakeholder engagement workshops, are there limits to how the money can be spent and on what? 

The use of awarded funds needs to be relevant to the RFP guidance and justified clearly in the proposal. With respect to workshops, funds can be used towards workshop expenses (e.g., travel for USGS or external colleagues, supplies, space). Please work with your cost center to make any necessary arrangements (e.g., memo for an operational meeting, etc.). Funds should not be used for purchasing equipment or software that is not in compliance with USGS policy. If funds are being used for equipment, include explicit justification for this in the budget justification (e.g., why is this expense in this proposal vs. programmatic funding). 

Can these funds be combined with another government project, like those supported by NSF? 

Yes. Please list funding from other projects as “in-kind” support in the budget.  

Can funds be used for collaborations with non-governmental organizations or other federal agencies? 

Yes. Funds can be used to work with external collaborators. Please see above. 

Can contractor salaries be included? 

Yes. Please describe the contractor in the Project Team and indicate the costs as a line item in the Other Direct Costs section of the budget. Every effort should be made to identify the contractor (name, expertise) BEFORE submitting the proposal so that the panel can understand the expertise of this team member.  

Is there a limit on the number of proposals from different Mission Areas or Programs? 

No. 

Will part of the 2022 Face-to-Face Meeting be open to non-RFP funded colleagues to attend?  

Yes and we will share additional information on this through the Risk Community of Practice listserv and newsletter as we work on the agenda. 

Are there any limitations on using funding for USGS salaries? For example, could funds be used to extend or supplement an existing term appointment (e.g., Mendenhall)? 

Funding should not be requested for personnel who are already funded to do similar work through programmatic funds. Funding can be used to extend or supplement an existing term appointment in accordance with the terms and conditions of that appointment. Please list the person in the Project Team section of the proposal and indicate their salary cost as a line item in the Personnel section of the proposal budget. For Project Team member salaries included in the Personnel section of the budget, those staff or replacements need to charge salary directly to this project or their salary needs to be included as an “in-kind” contribution.  

What are some other resources to help me think about stakeholder engagement and working with communities? 

• HDgov Resources page – overview of social science methods and tools 
• The “bucket” citizen monitoring tool – example of a project partnering with frontline communities, funded and approved by EPA 
• “Where Are the Missing Coauthors? Authorship Practices in Participatory Research” – article in Rural Sociology 

• Td-net toolbox – overview of methods and tools to help shape collaborations 
• Climate Change and Social Vulnerability in the United States – An EPA report that addresses the unique exposure to hazards faced by vulnerable groups (e.g. low-income, minority, no high school diploma, and age 65+). 
• DOI-Office of Environmental Policy & Compliance: Environmental Justice Guidance