The Iowa Water Center (IWC), the Water Resources Research Institute for the State of Iowa as authorized by the Water Resources Research Act of 1964, seeks proposals for the annual 104(b) competitive grants program.<\/p>\n
This program consists of two opportunities for 2025:<\/p>\n
Funding for selected projects will be available beginning September 1, 2025 (funding availability dependent upon congressional budget action) for a one-year period<\/strong>. Projects should address local or regional water research needs.<\/p>\n IWC is administered through a partnership between Iowa State University and the U.S. Geological Survey. As such, project activities and expenditures will be subject to federal requirements under Uniform Guidance (UG). To read more about UG, visit: ISU Costing Policy Guide for Principal Investigators<\/a><\/p>\n Applicants are required to submit a letter of intent due January 18, 2025, with full proposals due March 10, 2025.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Questions can be directed toward the Program Contact: Zita Quade<\/p>\n zquade@iastate.edu<\/a><\/p>\n (515) 210-5472<\/p>\n Targeted Seed Grant Research Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n This program is intended to address the most pressing water research needs in the state of Iowa as determined by the agencies and organizations that comprise the IWC Advisory Board. For 2025, the board has identified the following area in which we are soliciting proposals for up to $40,000 per project:<\/p>\n Proposals must address one of three priority areas:<\/p>\n Eligible applicants include faculty, staff, and graduate students at Iowa\u2019s accredited colleges and universities. Priority will be given to proposals that engage early career faculty and\/or graduate and undergraduate students.<\/p>\n IWC anticipates funding for one targeted seed grant in 2025. If your project is funded, we would accept an application for an additional year of funding if sufficient progress is achieved in year one. Due to federal funding cycle constraints,<\/strong> the estimated date of funds expended must be by August 30, 2026<\/strong>. The deadline is subject to change as the funding availability from USGS has not been released<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Proposals must be submitted by email to iowawatercenter@iastate.edu<\/a> with the subject line: 2025 IWC Seed Research Competition – [Your Last Name]<\/p>\n Graduate Student Supplemental Research Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n This program is designed to allow students to complete additional research objectives or products beyond the scope of a current water-related funded project<\/u>. Funding of up to $5,000 for one year is available to graduate students nearing completion of their program of study or those with well-established, active research projects. (The readiness of the student to embark on additional research is subjective, and students should consult with their major professor before deciding to apply.) The proposed budget must include funds for publication costs. Students will be required to submit their research to peer-reviewed publications.<\/p>\n IWC anticipates funding for approximately two graduate student supplemental grants in 2025. Due to federal funding cycle,<\/strong> the estimated date of funds expended must be by August 30, 2026<\/strong>. The deadline is subject to change as the funding availability from USGS has not been released<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Proposals must be submitted by email to iowawatercenter@iastate.edu<\/a> with the subject line: 2025 IWC Graduate Research Competition – [Your Last Name]<\/p>\n Funding<\/strong> Investigators will be required to provide documentation of committed matching funds. The U.S. Geological Survey requires a 1:1 nonfederal to federal funds match<\/strong>. The sponsor will not pay indirect costs. Researchers are encouraged to use forfeited and waived indirect costs as a portion of the required match. See appendix A for a budget example.<\/p>\n Intent to Apply<\/strong><\/p>\n Applicants must notify IWC via email (iowawatercenter@iastate.edu<\/a>) of proposal submission intention by January 18, 2025, at 5 pm<\/strong>. The notice of intent should include a working title of the project, as well items 1-2, 4-6 from the proposal guidelines (see page 3 and 4 of this RFP), and six names, including contact information, of potential reviewers. Reviewers should be qualified to evaluate the scientific merit of the study design without conflict of interest to the applicant. Reviewers can be either within or outside the state or the applicant\u2019s home institution.<\/p>\n Conflict of Interest for Reviewers<\/strong><\/p>\n The following guidelines and situations are determined to be conflicts of interest, and therefore, individuals who fall into these categories should not be suggested as reviewers for proposals:<\/p>\n Proposal Guidelines<\/strong><\/p>\n Proposals must include the information listed below in the order presented and identified by the corresponding number. The body of the proposal (items 10 through 16) should not exceed six (6) single-spaced pages in 12-point, Times New Roman font.<\/p>\n Deadline: <\/strong>Please email the proposal as a Word file with accompanying excel spreadsheets to iowawatercenter@iastate.edu<\/a> by close of business day on March 10, 2025<\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n Iowa State University applicants: this opportunity is considered internal, and you do not need to submit the proposal in Streamlyne before applying.<\/p>\n Evaluation Criteria for Funding<\/strong> Review criteria include:<\/p>\n\n
\nFunds from this program can be requested for student support, hourly wages, supplies, local travel, analytical costs, and publication costs. Requesting federal funds for travel to conferences to present research is not allowed. Additional cost categories that are imperative for the project are allowed. Applicants are encouraged to contact IWC with questions prior to submitting the proposal.<\/p>\n\n
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\nProposals will be reviewed for scientific merit by scientists not involved with this RFP. This information will be used by IWC staff and the IWC Advisory Board to rank proposals for quality and relevance.<\/p>\n