Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) | G22AS00013

Opportunity Information: Apply for G22AS00013

The Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary funding opportunity focused on advancing the collection and availability of high-quality 3D elevation data, specifically lidar-derived elevation information. In practical terms, this announcement is aimed at supporting projects that acquire or develop 3D lidar data that can contribute to the national elevation data infrastructure maintained and coordinated through 3DEP. Because it is structured as a Broad Agency Announcement, it is generally designed to attract a wide range of technically credible proposals that align with the program's goals, rather than prescribing a single narrow project approach. The overall emphasis is on science and technology and other research and development activities that improve elevation mapping and the underlying datasets used for many public applications.

This opportunity is offered under Funding Opportunity Number G22AS00013, and the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement typically indicates that, in addition to providing financial support, the USGS expects to have substantial involvement in the project during its performance, which can include coordination on technical standards, data management expectations, and alignment with national program requirements. The associated CFDA number is 15.817, which corresponds to USGS program assistance activities. The announcement was created on October 4, 2021, and the original closing date for submissions was June 1, 2022.

The funding details show an award ceiling of $800,000, meaning individual awards were not expected to exceed that amount. While the notice lists "ExpectedAwards" without a specific number, the ceiling provides a useful benchmark for the potential scale of proposed work and indicates that projects can range from modest to fairly substantial lidar acquisition or related deliverables, as long as they fit within the program scope and available funds.

Eligibility is notably broad, reflecting the cross-sector value of lidar elevation data and the fact that elevation mapping supports everything from infrastructure planning and flood risk assessment to environmental management and emergency response. Eligible applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; and independent school districts. Higher education entities are eligible as well, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The announcement also welcomes participation from Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments). In addition, nonprofit organizations may apply whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, provided they are not institutions of higher education. Private-sector participation is also allowed, including for-profit organizations other than small businesses as well as small businesses. The eligibility category is listed as unrestricted overall, reinforcing that the program is open to a wide spectrum of capable organizations.

At its core, the opportunity is about producing, improving, or enabling 3D lidar data that can support 3DEP objectives. While the short description provided is limited to "Broad Agency Announcement for 3D Lidar Data," the framing within 3DEP strongly implies an emphasis on lidar data that meets program standards for quality, coverage, and usability, and that can be integrated into broader elevation products and services. Applicants considering this type of opportunity typically need to be prepared to address technical specifications, deliverable formats, data management and sharing expectations, and coordination requirements that come with contributing to a national-scale geospatial data program under a cooperative agreement model.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for 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 2021-10-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-06-01. (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.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have 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, Unrestricted.

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