FY25 3DEP Data Collaboration Announcement (DCA)

• Data Acquisition Options  
  • Applicants can apply to use the USGS Geospatial Products and Services Contracts (GPSC) to acquire data or apply for a cooperative agreement and manage data acquisition through a contract the partner directly oversees.  
  • The USGS is responsible for the final inspection/validation of all data acquired through the DCA.  
  • Joint 3DEP-3DHP applications or applications for simultaneous data acquisition of 3DEP and 3DHP will not be accepted.  
• 3DEP Data Acquisition in Alaska  
  • Statewide 3DEP interferometric synthetic aperture radar (IfSAR) coverage for Alaska was completed in Fiscal Year 2020. Project submissions for lidar in Alaska for QL1 or QL2 will be considered as part of the transition to the next generation of 3DEP.  
• Publication of 3DEP Data for Federally Recognized Tribal Lands  
  • The DOI Policy on Consultation with Indian Tribes and the DOI Policy on Consultation with Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporations requires that DOI Agencies provide federally recognized Indian Tribes or ANCSA Corporations the opportunity to consult with the Agency before taking any action affecting tribal or ANCSA Corporation interests. The USGS has determined that the acquisition and publication of airborne lidar for tribal lands requires tribal notification. All selected DCA projects, regardless of funding instrument used, are subject to this policy.  
  • The USGS sent a national notification letter to federally recognized Indian Tribes, ANSCA Corporations, and Native Hawaiian Organizations about ongoing data acquisition for both 3DEP and 3DHP.  If the Tribe objects to public release of the products resulting from the lidar acquisition for their lands, the data may not be published. All other project area data outside of the tribal land boundaries will be published. All non-federal entities must receive written permission from the Tribe to receive a copy of the restricted data regardless of their status as a funding partner. Entities who receive a copy may not further distribute the restricted tribal data.  
  • The USGS requests that the data acquisition task order to the contractor contain language regarding access to tribal lands by survey teams. The task order to the contractor should state that the lidar contractor should avoid sending survey teams onto tribal lands if possible. If the teams need to collect data on tribal lands, the collection should be limited to federal, state, county, or Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) road right of ways. If a project requires additional points outside of these areas, the survey team will contact the Tribe to determine their procedures for access to tribal lands.  
• Lidar Base Specifications  
  • DCA project deliverables must conform to the USGS product specification for lidar and derived products in effect at the time of GPSC task order or cooperative agreement award. The current version of the 3DEP lidar base specification can be found at the Lidar Base Specification Online page.  
• Quality Level Upgrades During Transition to Next Generation 3DEP  
  • The goal of the 3DEP baseline is to complete data acquisition of nationwide lidar (IfSAR in Alaska) to provide the first-ever national baseline of consistent high-resolution topographic elevation data – both bare earth and 3D point clouds. The USGS is prioritizing partnerships to complete the 3DEP baseline, while also transitioning towards the next generation of 3DEP coverage for areas where the baseline data are 5 or more years old (8 years in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories). For locations where there is:  
    • No 3DEP baseline data – The USGS anticipates lidar projects for QL2 data. Applicants can submit projects for the acquisition of higher quality (QL1 or better) data in these locations. The USGS will only contribute funds for the cost of QL2 data. Any costs associated with the upgrade to higher quality data will be borne solely by the applicant.  
    • Existing 3DEP baseline data – The USGS anticipates selecting lidar projects for QL1 or QL2 data. The USGS will contribute funds for the cost of QL1 or QL2 data in these locations as proposed by the applicant.  Costs associated with an upgrade to the acquisition of higher quality (QL0) data will be borne by the applicant.   
• Additional Products  
  • The cost of additional products and services are the sole responsibility of the applicant. 3DEP will not contribute funding toward additional products and services.  
• Exceptions for Non-Conventional Technologies  
  • Data collected using Geiger Mode and Single Photon lidar systems do not currently meet the 3DEP Lidar Base Specification, which was written to specifically address conventional lidar systems. Applications for the use of non-conventional technologies will be considered and reviewed against the project evaluation considerations, with noted exceptions to the lidar base specification. All exceptions to the lidar base specification and other data anomalies resulting from the use of non-conventional lidar systems will be discussed, documented, and agreed upon prior to GPSC task order or cooperative agreement award.  
• Project Boundary  
  • A Defined Project Area (DPA) must be developed for all 3DEP projects. The DPA is defined as the area of interest (AOI) plus a 100-meter buffer around the AOI. The full extent of the DPA must contain data produced to meet 3DEP lidar base specifications.  
  • Information and instructions for creating a 3DEP DPA are included in 3DEP-B - Instructions for Creating 3DEP Defined Project Area and Tile Delivery Scheme. A properly formatted vector GIS file representing the DPA must be used for project cost estimates and submitted as a part of the application.  
• Project Coordinate Reference System  
  • 3DEP project deliverables will be delivered in the coordinate reference system(s) (CRS) of the applicant’s choosing. The CRS(s) must be registered with the European Petroleum Survey Group (EPSG) as outlined in the current 3DEP Lidar Base Specification.  
• Project Tiling Scheme  
  • 3DEP project deliverables will be delivered in the tiling scheme of the applicant’s choosing. If the applicant does not have a preferred tiling scheme, the 3DEP National Indexing Scheme is available for use. The 3DEP National Indexing Scheme is designed to be used with Albers Equal Area CRS (EPSG 6350). It is available as a map service for visualization.  
  • Information and instructions for creating a 3DEP tiling scheme as part of the DPA process are included in 3DEP-B - Instructions for Creating 3DEP Defined Project Area and Tile Delivery Scheme.  
• National DCA Statistics  
  • Understanding needs for high-resolution elevation and hydrography data allows the USGS and 3DNTM collaborators to define a program that best meets the needs of the Nation. Project submissions to the DCA provide insights to geographic priorities, the level of funding needed to support these priorities, and the resources partners can contribute to data acquisition for 3DEP and 3DHP. Collective statistics including total funds requested, total square miles requested, and areas of interest (in graphic and/or GIS file format) may be made publicly available by USGS. Individual applicant information will not be associated with these collective statistics.  
• Eligible Applicants  
  • Single entities or groups of federal agencies, state and local governments, tribes, academic institutions, and the private sector are eligible to submit projects. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Minority Institutions (MI), Small Business concerns, Small Disadvantaged Business concerns, Women-Owned Small Business concerns, Veteran-Owned Small Business concerns, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business concerns, and HUBZone Small Business concerns are encouraged to submit applications either singularly or as part of a group application.  
  • Important note: Federal agencies, tribes, and the private sector are not eligible to apply for, or receive, a cooperative agreement, but they may participate as a funding partner in cooperative agreement submissions.     
  • GPSC contractors and subcontractors are excluded from applying to the 3DNTM DCA.    
• Cost Share and Project Scope  
  • 3DEP is a community effort based on multi-agency partnership funding for data acquisition. Applicants must commit to funding a portion of the project (cost share) to be considered for a DCA project selection. Project cost share is one factor used to evaluate project submissions. 
• Cost Share Guidelines  
  • Applicable statutes dictate that the USGS may not pay more than one-half the cost of topographic mapping (which includes lidar and derived elevation products, including hydrography mapping) carried on in cooperation with States and municipalities (43 USC 50). This law limits the USGS contribution to the project but does not limit the total contribution by the federal government. Multiple federal agencies may contribute to a project and collectively contribute greater than 50%. The evaluation team will review the submitted project funding package to ensure that the USGS contribution does not exceed 50%. Citation of this law should not be construed as an offer from the USGS to fund 50% of a project submission.  
  • There are certain post-employment restrictions on former federal officers and employees, including special government employees (18 USC 207). If a prospective applicant believes a conflict of interest may exist, the situation should be emailed to 3dep_dca@usgs.gov, prior to preparing a project submission.  

• Project Location  
  • Consideration will be given for project areas:  
    • With no existing 3DEP baseline data coverage as defined in 3DEP-E 3DEP Status.  
    • With existing 3DEP baseline data coverage but significant changes to the landscape have occurred or data are 5 or more years old as defined in 3DEP-K 3DEP Lidar 5+ Years Old and is documented in the project submission.  
    • In Alaska, Hawaii, or U.S. territories where no lidar coverage exists or where there is existing lidar but significant changes to the landscape have occurred or data are 8 or more years old as defined in 3DEP-K 3DEP Lidar 5+ Years Old and is documented in the project submission.  
• Areal Extent  
  • Consideration is given to projects greater than 1,500 square miles in recognition of cost savings associated with larger data acquisition projects.  
  • Projects smaller than 1,500 square miles may be considered in the following circumstances:  
    • To fill in gaps in 3DEP baseline coverage.  
    • Where the project AOI defines a complete geophysical or political unit.  
    • For projects that represent significant cost share by the applicant.  
    • Where the total area of a project is reduced due to overlap with another DCA project submission.  
• Geographic Overlap with Federal Areas of Interest  
  • 3DEP has the goal of nationwide coverage and welcomes project submissions from across the Nation.  
  • General consideration is given to projects that overlap designated 3DEP FY25 – FY27 Federal Areas of Interest (Map 3DEP-F).  
  • Additional consideration is given to projects that overlap areas designated 3DEP FY25 Consolidated Federal High Priority Areas of Interest (Map 3DEP-G).   
  • Depending on individual agency funding, additional consideration may be given to projects that overlap respective 3DEP Federal funding partners designated data acquisition priority areas (Map 3DEP-H).  
• Project Cost, Cost Realism, and Cost Share (Funds Contributed by Applicant)  
  • The cost of lidar data acquisition varies based on geographic extent of the project, terrain, and vegetative cover. Applicants must include an ESTIMATED cost of their project using any of the following methods:  
    • A Project Planning Estimate received from the USGS Geospatial Products and Services Contracts (GPSC) Commercial Partnership Team (CPT). Applicants should follow the instructions and submit 3DEP-C - Project Planning Estimate as soon as possible and no later than by 5:00 PM ET on Friday August 23, 2024 to receive the estimate in time to meet the September 13, 2024 project submission deadline.  
    • An estimate received from a lidar data acquisition contractor.  
    • An estimate from another source along with an explanation of how the cost estimate was derived.  
    • For estimates not based on a USGS project planning estimate, the USGS will complete an independent review during the evaluation period to determine if the estimates reflect valid industry cost for the specific geographic area and reflect a good value to the government.  
  • Consideration is given to applicants that offer larger contributions (cost share) to the total cost of their project.  
  • USGS cost share for eligible projects is subject to availability of funds.  
• Maturity of Applicant’s Project Submission and Maturity of Designated Funding Sources  
  • Applicants are required to provide validation of all proposed funding partners listed in their project submission via 3DEP-D - Validation of Proposed Funding Partners. A “mature” project submission will have a large proportion of guaranteed funding.  
• Technical Approach  
  • A solid technical approach that will produce 3DEP-compliant data for all partners and the public is essential.  
  • Applicants who intend to manage their own data acquisition contract will be evaluated on their approach to data acquisition and delivery of required data products. All products must meet the minimum 3DEP standards and specifications as defined in 3DEP Important Information. 
• Past Performance  
  • Past performance is evaluated based on the applicant’s history of financial management of projects of similar financial scope, where available.  
  • For applicants who submit to manage their own data acquisition contract, past performance may also apply to the project’s data acquisition contractor.  

3DEP Application Instructions