Earth Resources Grant Program (ERGP) Financial Assistance Awards
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Program Objective
Facilitating research and data collection on critical mineral resources, research, education, and workforce development needs in the United States is essential for strengthening national security and accelerating continued economic and technological growth. This request is for a series of awards to multiple university partners to support undergraduate, graduate, and faculty research on the full life cycle and supply chains of critical minerals and the identification of associated program, faculty, and workforce gaps and opportunities as directed by the Energy Act of 2020.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Department/Agency of U.S. State
- Nonprofit Organization
Eligible applicant principal investigators can include any college or university faculty, professor, or dean within programs related to geology, economic geology, geologic engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, policy, environmental remediation, environmental science, geospatial applications, and minerals research capacity.
Beneficiaries
- Department/Agency of U.S. State
- Nonprofit Organization
Research scientists, academic institutions, and the general public will ultimately benefit from the knowledge gained under the program. The academic community including PhD candidates, post-doctoral candidates, professors, and research faculty.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
Notification of an award is by receipt of a cooperative agreement from a U.S. Geological Survey contracting officer through GrantSolutions (https://home.grantsolutions.gov/home/)
Decision Timeline
- Approval: From 90 to 120 days
Program details & compliance
Description
The primary purpose of the Earth Resources Grant Program (ERGP) is to support undergraduate and graduate university students and new faculty in conducting integrated critical mineral education, research, innovation, training, and workforce development programs, supporting internship, scholarship, and fellowship pathways in programs related to critical minerals, and research of critical minerals and their applications, particularly concerning the manufacture of critical components for vital to national security. The EGRP will award 4-year competitive grants to advance innovative and interdisciplinary approaches and technologies for mineral resources research and workforce needs leveraging a multi-university partnership framework. Strategic investments in these research topics will help educate a new generation of geoscientists and engineers while also advancing the technical knowledge base to support the critical minerals economy in the United States, ensuring against domestic supply chain disruptions, and strengthen national security. These investments will benefit the Nation by expanding our understanding of critical minerals exploration, extraction, processing, and end-of-life recycling, as well as environmental reclamation.
Mission Categories
Primary: Minerals
Other categories:
Higher Education
Required Documentation
Proposals must furnish evidence of the applicant's qualifications for performance of the proposed research. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.
Reporting & Compliance
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