USGS Home Contact USGS Search USGS

Maps, Imagery, and Publications Hazards Newsroom Education Jobs Partnerships Library About USGS Podcasts/RSS

CONTRACTING WITH THE USGS

Mission

The mission of the U.S. Geological Survey is to provide biological, geologic, topographic, and hydrologic information that contributes to the wise management of the Nation's natural resources and promotes the health, safety, and well being of the people. This information consists of maps, data bases, and descriptions and analyses of the water, energy, and mineral resources, land surface, underlying geologic structure, and dynamic processes of the Earth.

To accomplish its mission, the Survey:

• Conducts and sponsors research in biology, geology, hydrology, mapping, and related sciences.
• Produces and updates biographic, geographic, cartographic, and remotely sensed information in graphic and digital forms.
• Describes the onshore and offshore geologic framework and develops an understanding of its formation and evolution.
• Assesses energy and mineral resources, determines their origin and manner of occurrence, and develops techniques for their discovery.
• Collects and analyzes data on the quantity and quality of surface water and ground water, on water use, and on quality of precipitation.
• Assesses water resources and develops an understanding of the impact of human activities and natural phenomena on hydrologic systems.
• Evaluates hazards associated with earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, droughts, toxic materials, landslides, subsidence, and other ground failures, and develops methods for hazards prediction.
• Participates in the exploration of space and prepares geologic and other maps of the planets and their satellites.
• Publishes reports and maps, establishes and maintains earth science data bases, and disseminates earth science data and information.
• Provides scientific and technical assistance for the effective use of earth science techniques, products, and information.
• Coordinates topographic, geologic, and land use mapping, digital cartography, and water data activities.
• Develops new techniques for the collection, coordination and interpretation of earth science data.
• Provides scientific support and technical advice for legislative, regulatory, and management decisions.
• Cooperates with other Federal, State, and local agencies, and with academia and industry.

Organization

The USGS has a matrix organization, with programmatic leadership provided by scientific Discipline, but management and program execution carried out on Regional lines.  The four program disciplines of the Survey are described below.

• The Geography Discipline conducts land remote sensing and researches landscape change and change processes.
   
• The Geology Discipline is responsible for geological field and laboratory research in the U.S., the Antarctic region, and the submerged edges of the continent.
   
• The Water Resources Discipline is responsible for appraising the quantity and quality of the Nation's water and for research on hydrologic problems related to the occurrence and distribution of both surface and ground water.
   
• The Biological Resources Discipline which is responsible for providing the scientific understanding and technologies needed to support the sound management and conservation of our Nation's biological resources. A fundamental part of our mission is embodied in our deep commitment to make data and information on the Nation's biological resources more accessible to more people.

The functions of the Chief Information Officer are carried out in the Geospatial Information Office, which manages bureau information technology resources and investments, information services and the geospatial portfolio, including the Geospatial One-Stop project. 

The bureau's administrative functions are carried out in the Office of Administrative Policy and Services and three Offices of Regional Services.  The components support the various scientific programs of the Geological Survey through its financial, budgeting, personnel, procurement, property, and supply services.

Contracting with U.S. Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey has its Headquarters in the National Center in Reston, Virginia. The Survey has three Regional Offices located in:

• Eastern Region -  Reston, Virginia
• Central Region -  Denver, Colorado
• Western Region - Menlo Park and Sacramento, California 

(see Points of Contact page)

USGS also has a number of field centers around the US with simplified acquisition authority.  

Annual procurement for the Geological Survey totals approximately $255 million, including $65 million in charge card purchases.  In Fiscal year 2006, the following Top 25 North American Industry Classification System code categories accounted for 67% of USGS acquisition obligations reported to FPDS.

Federal Assistance

The U.S. Geological Survey also issues assistance awards (grants and cooperative agreements) primarily to state and local governments, educational institutions and other nonprofit organizations.   Descriptions of USGS Assistance activities can be found in the program listings in the Catalog Of Federal Domestic Assistance.

Please refer to our Federal Assistance page for more information on these programs. See also "Earth Science Research: A Guide for the Submission of Unsolicited Proposals."

Contact for more information: Melissa Gill
USGS Contracts Home Page