Soil Survey

CFDA 10.903 Active Cooperative Agreement
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$100.8M FY2026
$90.3M
FY24
$71M
FY25
$100.8M
FY26*
* estimated

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2025 The Soil Survey Program maintained 101 active agreements and carried out on-going partner and cooperator meetings to set future priorities and discuss critical topics.

Program Objective

To produce and maintain up to date soil survey information (maps, data sets, soil interpretations, and reports) of the United States for widespread use by interested agencies, organizations, and individuals and to assist in the use of this information.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Unrestricted by Entity Type
  • Unrestricted by Individual Type

Eligible applicants are typically limited to institutions of higher education within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit network. Proposed projects are expected to have durations of 2-4 years, with funding amounts ranging from $25,000 to $1,000,000 per award.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

The agency will provide notice that an application has been selected before it actually makes the Federal award. As such, the selection notification is not an authorization to begin performance. Reimbursement of pre-award costs require written agency prior approval. . The Notice of Grant and Agreement Award (ADS-093) signed by the authorized agency official is the only authorizing document and will be provided electronically to the entity’s authorized official for signature.
Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of the award decision via letter.

Proposals must be received by the deadline indicated on the Funding Opportunity Announcement posted on www.grants.gov. Proposals received after the posted deadline will not be considered for funding.

Program details & compliance

Description

The 10.903 assistance listing represents the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Soil Survey Program. The Soil Survey Program has a unique responsibility of leading federal portion of the National Cooperative Soil Survey for the last 126 years. The National Cooperative Soil Survey serves all Americans with the following purposes 1) Make an inventory of the soil resources of the United States; 2) Keep the soil survey relevant to every-changing needs; 3) Interpret the information and make it available in a useful form; and 4) Promote the soil survey and provide technical assistance in its use for a wide range of community planning and resource development issues related to working and natural lands.

Mission Categories

Primary: Land and Forest Conservation

Other categories:
Agricultural Resource Conservation and DevelopmentProduction and OperationSustainable Agricultural SystemsRecreation

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Scientists and policy makers use soil survey information in studying global ecosystem changes and evaluating the sustainability and environmental impacts of land use and management practices. Soil Surveys provide input data that computer simulation models use to predict the dynamics of carbon, nutrients, and water in soils. Soil surveys are used by planners, engineers, zoning commissions, tax commissions, homeowners, farmers, ranchers, developers, landowners, and operators to evaluate soil suitability for home sites, subdivisions, commercial and industrial sites, farms, wildlife and recreational areas, prime agricultural land, hydric soils, highly erodible lands, highways, and airports and to select and implement appropriate use and management of those soils.

Restrictions

Selections are restricted to the priority areas as determined by the Chief of NRCS. Scientists and policy makers use soil survey information in studying global ecosystem changes and evaluating the sustainability and environmental impacts of land use and management practices. Soil Surveys provide input data that computer simulation models use to predict the dynamics of carbon, nutrients, and water in soils. Soil surveys are used by planners, engineers, zoning commissions, tax commissions, homeowners, farmers, ranchers, developers, landowners, and operators to evaluate soil suitability for home sites, subdivisions, commercial and industrial sites, farms, wildlife and recreational areas, prime agricultural land, hydric soils, highly erodible lands, highways, and airports and to select and implement appropriate use and management of those soils.

Reporting & Compliance

Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Formula

Matching requirements are established at the time of the award based on the above authorities.

Contacts

Neil A Dominy, Director- National Soil Survey Center
(402) 437-4013
1121 Lincoln Mall, Lincoln, NE 68508
Skye Wills, National Leader Soil Research Branch
(402) 437-5310
1121 Lincoln Mall, suite 382, Lincoln, NE 68508
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-02-04. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-05-29 05:35:47.