May 24

12:11 Wages and grants. Unsolicited proposal.

1:00 PM Hey now.

1:04 Deb Haaland.

1:20 The idea behind ShakeAllert implemented by Christina David Applegate comes from one of my blog posts since 2016. The blog post is actually made of a failed grant application later in 2017. No matter how much i try i can't find his age to prove who he really is.

1:52 PM

Re:

Inbox

Mahoney, Laura <lmahoney@usgs.gov>

Mar 8, 2017, 7:11 AM

to me, Jill, Jane, Margaret

Hi George,

Submission of an unsolicited proposal does not guarantee that you will receive an award.  Our authorities are what they are.  No rules were changed.  However, I will ensure that the Guide revision is clear in stating those authorities.  If you are interested in working with our earthquakes program, then I suggest that you contact that office directly.

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/

Thanks,

Laura

On Tue, Mar 7, 2017 at 1:39 PM, George Ion <george.ion.email@gmail.com> wrote:

Mrs. Mahoney.

My mistake. How could i have known though since you don't have a separate list for approved unsolicited grants.

As far as applying for the competition. I would not simply because my whole application and method is based on a theory that goes against the official Plate Tectonics theory that i cannot accept given the summum of my technical and scientific background. I would not stand a chance in a competition with geologists who have built a whole science (unfruitful yet) on this theory with chapters and sophisticated terminology i am mostly unfamiliar with.

Besides in a competition you probably don't have to motivate the reason for denying an application as you would for a separate application for an unsolicited grant.

My opinion is you simply changed the rules so you can can pass my application to the competition where you can handle it in a different way.

Sincerely,

George Ion

On Tue, Mar 7, 2017 at 6:39 AM, Mahoney, Laura <lmahoney@usgs.gov> wrote:

Hi George,

Yes, G16AP00023 is a grant that was awarded through the competitive Earthquake Hazards Program.  Unsolicited proposals are considered noncompetitive; and therefore, USGS is limited to our noncompetitive authority of 43 USC 36d for financial assistance.  This is why the letter you received suggested that you reapply through the competitive program which is subject to different authorities.

The Earthquake Hazards competitive program announcement should be posted on www.grants.gov sometime this month.  You should search under CFDA 15.807.  For your reference, I have attached a copy of last year's program announcement.  If you have questions about your eligibility for the competitive program, I suggest that you e-mail gd-erp-coordinator@usgs.gov.

Laura

On Mon, Mar 6, 2017 at 10:52 PM, George Ion <george.ion.email@gmail.com> wrote:

Mrs. Mahoney.

Is this a grant?

G16AP00023 Elizabeth Hearn Southern California Kinematic and Dynamic Models of the Southern California Lithosphere: Applications to Estimating Crustl Stresses and Stressing Rates ($28,600; January 2016 through December 2016) Elizabeth Hearn Final Technical Report due March 2017 2016

On Mon, Mar 6, 2017 at 12:50 PM, Mahoney, Laura <lmahoney@usgs.gov> wrote:

Dear George,

The Guide does comply with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (31 USC 6301-6308), which explains the differences between contracts, grants and cooperative agreements.  Each agency has its own unique authorities pertaining to financial assistance.  As stated earlier, individuals are included in the Guide because individuals may receive contract awards.  The revision will clarify the USGS authority for noncompetitive financial assistance awards (43 USC 36d), which only authorizes USGS to give cooperative agreements to Federal, State and academic partners. 

This was the first time that I have received an unsolicited proposal from an individual since taking over this duty.  I did not write the original Guide, but will ensure that future versions will eliminate any confusion on the types of awards individuals are eligible to receive. 

Thanks,

Laura

On Mon, Mar 6, 2017 at 1:54 PM, George Ion <george.ion.email@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Laura.

So all these years since 2003 the guide or "handbook" for unsolicited proposal printed or at this address https://www2.usgs.gov/contracts/unsolbk.html was all wrong and non conforming with Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (31 U.S.C. 6301–6308), and after i applied on January 20th this year you figured that out?

"I'm currently in the process of revising the "Guide for Submission of Unsolicited Proposals" and clarified this issue in that draft."

George Ion

On Mon, Mar 6, 2017 at 10:04 AM, Mahoney, Laura <lmahoney@usgs.gov> wrote:

Hi George,

Contracts may be made to individuals.  However, the program office that reviewed the application did not recommend funding for your proposal as a contract, but suggested that it be resubmitted through the competitive financial assistance award process.

USGS does not have authority to issue sole source grant awards, nor do we have the authority to issue financial assistance to individuals.  The USGS sole source authority for financial assistance awards is 43 USC 36d, which states:

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (31 U.S.C. 6301–6308), the United States Geological Survey is authorized to continue existing, and on and after November 10, 2003, to enter into new cooperative agreements directed towards a particular cooperator, in support of joint research and data collection activities with Federal, State, and academic partners funded by appropriations herein, including those that provide for space in cooperator facilities.

I'm currently in the process of revising the "Guide for Submission of Unsolicited Proposals" and clarified this issue in that draft.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Thanks,

Laura

On Thu, Mar 2, 2017 at 7:40 PM, George Ion <george.ion.email@gmail.com> wrote:

Mrs.Mahoney

Thank you for confirming receiving my application dated January 20th. I hope you received all the documents as my resume was sent separately in a different envelope. Also thank you for your card included in the envelope from where i could find this email address. I will try and follow your recommendation and apply for the anual competition because timing seem to be just right.

However in the USGS web page titled "A Guide for the Submission of Unsolicited Proposals" https://www2.usgs.gov/contracts/unsolbk.html#SUBWHEN it is stated: "Awards are made to those organizations and individuals" https://www2.usgs.gov/contracts/unsolbk.html#SUBWHO and "Proposals may be submitted for consideration any time during the year." https://www2.usgs.gov/contracts/unsolbk.html#SUBWHEN

Can you please help me with the confusion created by this apparent contradiction.

George Ion

--

______________________________________

Laura M. Mahoney, CGMS

Grant Analyst

Office of Acquisition and Grants

U.S. Geological Survey

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 205

Reston, VA 20192

(703) 648-7344 Phone

lmahoney@usgs.gov

The following is for internal USGS only.  This is your invitation to complete a survey that will help the Office of Acquisition and Grants (OAG) track and improve customer service.    Take the Survey

For questions regarding acquisition or financial assistance at USGS, see Contracts and Grants Information (External) or the Acquisition Operating Procedures (Internal)

--

______________________________________

Laura M. Mahoney, CGMS

Grant Analyst

Office of Acquisition and Grants

U.S. Geological Survey

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 205

Reston, VA 20192

(703) 648-7344 Phone

lmahoney@usgs.gov

The following is for internal USGS only.  This is your invitation to complete a survey that will help the Office of Acquisition and Grants (OAG) track and improve customer service.    Take the Survey

For questions regarding acquisition or financial assistance at USGS, see Contracts and Grants Information (External) or the Acquisition Operating Procedures (Internal)

--

______________________________________

Laura M. Mahoney, CGMS

Grant Analyst

Office of Acquisition and Grants

U.S. Geological Survey

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 205

Reston, VA 20192

(703) 648-7344 Phone

lmahoney@usgs.gov

The following is for internal USGS only.  This is your invitation to complete a survey that will help the Office of Acquisition and Grants (OAG) track and improve customer service.    Take the Survey

For questions regarding acquisition or financial assistance at USGS, see Contracts and Grants Information (External) or the Acquisition Operating Procedures (Internal)

--

______________________________________

Laura M. Mahoney, CGMS

Grant Analyst

Office of Acquisition and Grants

U.S. Geological Survey

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 205

Reston, VA 20192

(703) 648-7344 Phone

lmahoney@usgs.gov

The following is for internal USGS only.  This is your invitation to complete a survey that will help the Office of Acquisition and Grants (OAG) track and improve customer service.    Take the Survey

For questions regarding acquisition or financial assistance at USGS, see Contracts and Grants Information (External) or the Acquisition Operating Procedures (Internal)