Application Notes:

Mandatory phase I technical proposals must be received by 4:00 p.m. MT on July 24, 2024.

Phase I technical proposals must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov. Emailed or faxed submissions will not be accepted.

Phase I technical proposals must include:

• SF 424
• SF 424A
• SF 424B (if applicable)
• SF 424D (if applicable)
• Project abstract summary
• Technical proposal (12 pages max)
• Budget detail and narrative
• Recommended components:
  • Environmental and cultural resources compliance
  • Required permits or approvals
  • Overlap or duplication of effort statement
  • Conflict of interest disclosure statement
  • Uniform audit reporting statement
  • Certification regarding lobbying
  • SF LLL (if applicable)
  • Letters of support
  • Letter of funding commitment
  • Personnel qualifications
  • Resumes for each identified key personnel (2 pages max each)

The technical proposal must be formatted on pages with at least one-inch margins using at least an 11-point typeface.

The following are required in order to submit an application:

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
• SAM (System for Award Management) registration
• SPOC (state Single Point of Contact) notification

Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam. Applicants in states participating in the SPOC program must contact the relevant SPOC listed in the SPOC file before applying.

Phase I technical proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Impact of proposed work (25 points)
• Project readiness (20 points)
• Innovation (15 points)
• Familiarity in the field of work (15 points)
• Schedule and quality assurance/quality control (10 points)
• Alignment with program objectives (5 points)
• Nonfederal cost share (10 points) 

Phase I applicants submitting successful phase I technical proposals are expected to be invited in September 2024 to participate in the phase II virtual pitch presentation. Phase II virtual pitch presentations for selected applicants will take place between October 16, 2024, and October 17, 2024. Applicants that do not participate in the phase II virtual pitch presentation will be automatically disqualified from proceeding further and will be ineligible for an award.

Refer to the NOFA, Guide, and FAQ files for additional application information.

Match Notes:

Matching funds are not required for this program; however, the provision of cash and/or in-kind contributions is highly encouraged. To receive additional points during the phase I technical proposal evaluation process, applicants must provide at least 1 percent of the total project costs via matching contributions. Applicants providing more than 50 percent of the total project costs via matching contributions will receive the largest number of points.

Cost-share funding from sources outside the applicant's organization, such as loans or state grants, must be secured and available to the applicant prior to award.

The following may not be used as a match:

• Other sources of federal funding, unless the federal statute authorizing the federal funding specifically provides that such funds may be applied to matching or cost-sharing requirements of other federal programs
• Third-party in-kind contributions that have been, or will be, used to satisfy a cost-sharing or matching requirement for another federal financial assistance agreement, federal procurement contract, or any other award of federal funds
• Costs for application preparation, including the development of data necessary to support the proposal
• Costs incurred prior to notification of selection for award

Funding Notes:

An estimated total of $1.5 million is expected to be available to support approximately five to six cooperative agreements of up to $300,000 each through this program. There is no minimum award amount.

The funding agency expects to contact potential award recipients and unsuccessful phase II participants in December 2024 or later, if necessary, subject to the timing of final FY 2025 appropriations. Awards are anticipated to be made on March 31, 2025.

The project period will last 18 months. Projects are anticipated to be completed by September 30, 2026.

Environmental and regulatory costs may be incurred by both the funding agency and the award recipient. In cases in which environmental or cultural resources compliance requires significant participation by the funding agency, the funding agency will add a line item for costs incurred by the funding agency to the budget during development of the financial assistance agreement and cost shared accordingly, as detailed on pages 20-21 of the NOFA file.

Pre-award costs incurred prior to the effective date of award and are necessary for the efficient and timely performance of the scope of work may be allowable with prior written approval provided by the funding agency, as detailed on page 20 of the NOFA file. Funds may not be used for costs incurred prior to notification of selection for award.

Funds may not be used for:

• Planning activities eligible under the WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning program, known in eCivis Grants Network as US17879A and US17879B
• Work currently funded under an existing financial assistance agreement from the funding agency
• Construction of permanent research facilities
• Testing of established water treatment processes for the purposes of generating site-specific information
• Costs for application preparation, including the development of data necessary to support the proposal
• Lobbying activities

For FY 2021, a total of $1.6 million was distributed via nine awards ranging from $102,700 to $200,000 through this program. Refer to the Award file for details.