3D Elevation Program (3DEP) | G19AS00124

Opportunity Information: Apply for G19AS00124

The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding opportunity designed to expand the collection of high-quality lidar and the creation of lidar-derived elevation products. The core purpose is to build out consistent, modern elevation data that can be used for a wide range of public and private needs, including environmental management, natural resource planning, and science and technology research and development. Rather than creating an entirely new acquisition pathway, this BAA mainly increases awareness and access to the processes USGS has already been using for years to acquire elevation data through partnerships, making it easier for a broad community of stakeholders to understand how to collaborate with 3DEP.

Under this opportunity, applicants are invited to propose a partnership project where costs are shared to collect lidar and generate elevation products that meet 3DEP requirements. Two main acquisition routes are supported. First, partners can fund and implement a lidar acquisition using the USGS Geospatial Products and Services Contracts (GPSC), which is the government contracting vehicle USGS uses to procure these services. Second, partners can run the acquisition through their own contracting vehicle and request 3DEP funds to be applied toward that project. In both cases, the goal is to complete lidar acquisition and produce standardized deliverables that support the national elevation dataset objectives of 3DEP.

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, reflecting that the work is carried out in collaboration with USGS rather than as a simple pass-through grant. The opportunity is listed as discretionary and falls under funding activity areas that include environment, natural resources, and research and development. The program anticipates making around 20 awards, with an award ceiling of $800,000 per award, depending on the availability of funds and the strength of the proposals received.

Eligibility is broad and includes federal agencies as well as state, county, and city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than universities), and private-sector entities including for-profit organizations and small businesses. This wide eligibility is meant to encourage partnerships that reflect real operational needs on the ground while also accelerating progress toward broader national elevation coverage.

Applications are evaluated based on how well the proposed project aligns with the evaluation criteria described in Section VI.A of the BAA, meaning the government is looking for projects that clearly support 3DEP goals and fit program priorities. While the detailed scoring factors are referenced rather than repeated in the excerpt, the key takeaway is that selection is not automatic; it is competitive and tied to alignment with the program criteria and available funding.

In terms of timing, the opportunity was created on October 18, 2019. The initial deadline for lidar acquisition proposals was 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday, November 8, 2019. However, the BAA was structured to remain open for additional submissions and review until June 30, 2020, unless it was canceled or replaced earlier through an amendment or a new BAA. The agency also noted that amendments could be issued during the open period if extra funding became available or if geographically targeted partnership opportunities emerged, meaning applicants had potential additional chances for selection beyond the first review cycle as long as the announcement remained active.

Administrative identifiers for the opportunity include Funding Opportunity Number G19AS00124 and CFDA 15.817, with the sponsoring agency listed as the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. Overall, this BAA is best understood as a partnership-driven pathway to accelerate lidar acquisition and production of lidar-derived elevation datasets that are consistent with 3DEP standards, using either USGS contracting support through GPSC or partner-managed procurement supplemented by 3DEP cost-share funding.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "3D Elevation Program (3DEP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.817.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 18, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2020 Proposals for lidar acquisition are due by 500 PM ET on Friday 8 November 2019. The BAA will remain open and proposals received after the initial due date will be considered for review until 30 June 2020 or until such time as the BAA is cancelled through an amendment or another BAA is issued additional selections will be made depending on availability of funding and evaluation of proposals consistent with the evaluation criteria provided herein. Amendments to this BAA may be issued in the event that additional funding or geographically targeted partnership opportunities become available during the open period of this BAA.. (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 $800,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for G19AS00124

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