Application Notes:

Proposals must be received by December 6, 2024.

Prior to submitting proposals, applicants are encouraged to contact the program staff, using the information provided in the Contact section, to discuss potential projects.

Proposals must be emailed to the address provided in the Contact section. Proposals with electronic files exceeding 8 MBs in size must be submitted via multiple emails.

Proposals must include:

• Project proposal form:
  • Project name
  • Applicant information
  • Contact information
  • Service area information
  • Water utility information
  • Water supply information
  • Other background information
  • Project need
  • Project description
  • Funding for emerging contaminants and lead pipe removal
  • Project cost
  • Committed funding
  • Project status
  • Signature and certification
• Tribal government endorsement
• Planning/preliminary engineering reports (PERs) (if applicable)
• Construction project information (if applicable)
• Budgets
• Documents to support proposed health category

The following are required in order to submit an application:

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
• SAM (System for Award Management) registration

Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.

The funding agency will use the information in the proposal to place projects on a draft priority list. In January 2025, a draft project prioritization letter will be sent to each tribe that submitted a proposal. Tribes with projects on the fundable portion of the draft priority list must submit additional information to the funding agency by March 2025. Between April and August 2025, the funding agency will notify each applicant of the project's final ranking. Tribes with projects on the fundable portion of the final priority list must complete the formal award application or interagency agreement process in May 2025. Exact dates will be included in the funding decision notification letters.

The funding agency will select projects for funding from a priority list created from a two-step prioritizing process. In the first step of the prioritizing formula, the funding agency will categorize proposed projects by the public health problem to be resolved. If a project has more than one component, each component will be placed into one of the health categories list on page 25 of the NOFA file. If funding cannot be provided for all eligible projects within the same health category, further prioritization will occur based on the considerations and criteria detailed on page 26 of the NOFA file.

Refer to the NOFA and Proposal files for additional application information.

Match Notes:

In general, matching funds are not required for this program; however, in cases where commercial entities and/or non-tribal populations receive water from the public water system, the funding agency may require the tribe to provide a funding contribution proportional to the water demand of the commercial entity and/or non-tribal populations.

Similarly, for projects with costs correlated with water usage, a funding contribution may be required for water systems using over 150 gallons per capita per day, with the contribution proportional to the amount over 150 gallons per capita per day used.

The funding agency may work with applicants to explore the availability of funding from other federal agencies and tribal or third-party sources to contribute to the total project cost.

Funding Notes:

Approximately $16 million is expected to be available through this program to support direct grants or interagency agreements with the Indian Health Service (IHS).

No more than 30 percent of the funding available for this program may be used for projects that provide operations and maintenance training and operator certification services to tribes.

Funds for selected projects will be awarded in September 2025.

For construction projects funded through interagency agreements, allowances for tribal administration, contingencies, engineering, inspection, and other technical support services are based on the following percentages of estimated construction costs:

• Tribal administration: 5 percent
• Contingencies: 10 percent
• Technical support services, including engineering, inspection, and technical support: 15 percent

If costs exceed the above allowance, the applicant must provide written documentation to justify the increased costs.

Funds may not be used for:

• Systems that are in significant non-compliance with any requirement of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, unless the project which is being funded will ensure compliance
• Purchasing real property
• Monitoring
• Operation and maintenance
• Projects intended primarily for future growth
• Land acquisition, unless the land is integral to the project and is from a willing seller
• Supplementing the Public Water System Supervision Program
• Administering or providing technical assistance through source water protection programs
• Developing and implementing a capacity development strategy
• Acquiring land or conservation easements

Refer to pages 10-11 of the NOFA file for information regarding additional ineligible costs.