The U.S. Geological Survey is seeking information from industry, academia, nonprofits, and research institutions on innovative technologies that should be considered for inclusion in the USGS Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) .  This includes technologies that strategically enhance the temporal and spatial collection of water quantity, quality, and water-use data in surface and groundwater across the U.S. The data will be accessible through a modernized USGS National Water Information System that will offer advanced modeling tools to inform daily water operations, decision-making during water emergencies, assessments of past trends in water quantity and quality and forecasts of future water availability.

NGWOS aims to foster innovation and development of monitoring technologies and methodologies to make data more affordable and available more rapidly. Monitoring innovations also are expected to lead to more types of data at higher temporal and spatial frequencies. The application and benefits of these innovations will extend beyond the NGWOS watersheds and be incorporated into routine operation of USGS monitoring networks.

This Request for Information is to help identify promising technologies or interested partners who are capable of jointly developing technologies that can integrate with current USGS research and development per the Stevenson­Wydler Act (15 U.S.C. § 3710a, as amended). Responses to this RFI should briefly describe the proposed technology, including the type of data collected, potential applications for the data, and the technology readiness/product maturity level.  Technologies of interest include but are not limited to:

• Non-contact sensing for velocity, stage, and water temperature,
• Long range, low power observation network technologies,
• Instrumentation for monitoring hydrologic budgets (ET, soil moisture, snowpack and water-use),
• New sensors for monitoring continuous water-quality, including sediment, nutrients, contaminants, and environmental DNA,
• Mobile autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and drifters for water quality and flow monitoring,
• Webcams and drone-mounted sensors for operational and science applications,
• Innovative technologies for detecting and monitoring hazards such as spills and harmful algal blooms (HABs).

To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. If proprietary information is submitted, clearly mark this information as Confidential and provide a detailed explanation that the information marked as Confidential is customarily kept private or closely-held. The USGS will protect this information from disclosure if it meets the Federal FOIA exemptions.

This notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the government to award a contract nor will the government pay for the requested information.  This is solely a RFI and is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement. USGS is not accepting requests for funding applications as part of this RFI.  No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation.

Responses must be submitted by Dec 31, 2019, to the following e-mail address: gs-w_ngwos_rfi@usgs.gov. Responses may be submitted within the body of the email or as an attachment.  Questions may be addressed to gs-w_ngwos_rfi@usgs.gov or to Brian Pellerin at (703) 648-6865.