Grant Details

New and Updated | Grant Search

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL): Farmer to Farmer Program (Gulf of Mexico Watershed) - FY 2024

Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
CFDA: 66.475
Federal FON: EPA-I-R4-GM-2024-FARMER
Office: Gulf of Mexico Division (GMD)
Multipart Grant: No
Next Due: 01/28/2025 (Application)
Solicitation Date: 09/30/2024
   
Match Required: No
Actual Funds: $20,000,000 (Estimated)
Award Range: $1,000,000 (Min) / $2,000,000 (Max)
Summary:

The purpose of this program is to support farmer-led or farm-focused organizations in the Gulf of Mexico watershed to improve water quality, habitat, resilience, and environmental education through the demonstration of innovative practices on working lands. In particular, funding will support projects that will develop innovative practices within farming communities, measure the results of those practices, and identify how the practices will be incorporated into farming operations.

All projects must carry out activities through surveys, studies, research, investigation, experimentation, education, training, and/or demonstrations. All projects must also include the following elements:

  • Novel or innovative techniques, methods, or approaches to improve water quality, habitat, and/or the adoption of resilient and sustainable practices
  • Data collection and analysis to demonstrate the results of the applied techniques, methods, or approaches
  • Communication of results to the farming community to inform future farm management and to better understand, or ground truth, how different land management and operation practices affect water quality, habitat, and/or operational resilience as well as ancillary improvements of yields and farming costs

In addition, all projects must include collaboration and outreach with farmers. Projects that include partnerships between organizations are also encouraged. In particular, partnerships with minority-serving institutions (MSIs), as defined on pages 7-8 of the NOFA file, and/or federally recognized tribes are encouraged.

Examples of project activities that could be components of a project workplan include:

  • Water quality-focused activities:
    • Nutrient reduction with creative runoff treatment solutions
    • Innovative year-round ground cover to limit erosion
  • Habitat-focused activities:
    • Riparian zone improvement
    • Observing environmental windows
  • Collaboration activities:
    • Partnering with organizations to replicate existing successes in watersheds to build stakeholder and farmer capacity through technical trainings and outreach
    • Working with farmer-led organizations or consortia to reach out to small farms that are having financial, technological, or other challenges in adopting nutrient reduction practices
  • Sustainable and resilient agricultural operations activities:
    • Identifying vulnerabilities to climate-related risks, including understanding potential exposures
    • Assessing the operation’s sensitivities to exposures
  • Sustainable forest management activities:
    • Utilizing sustainable forestry practices that protect and maintain water quality and habitat
    • Improve utilization of sustainable forestry practices through training, education, and public outreach

Refer to pages 4-5 of the NOFA file for additional examples of eligible activities.

All projects must also meet the following additional requirements:

  • Advance protection and restoration of the Gulf of Mexico watershed in support of the funding agency's FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, as detailed on page 8 of the NOFA file
  • Align with Section 104(b)(3 of the Clean Water Act, which authorizes the conduct and promotion of the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of pollution

Demonstration projects must involve new or experimental technologies, methods, or approaches in which the results of the project will be disseminated so that others can benefit from the knowledge gained. Demonstration projects that utilize technologies, methods, or approaches that have been used previously in other geographic areas and/or other situations must demonstrate how the project is different from such prior projects and what will be learned from the project.

For nutrient projects, the proposed project location(s) and activities must be consistent with state nutrient reduction strategies and/or other regional resource management documents.

Eligibility is limited to applicants and projects that are located within the Gulf of Mexico watershed. Refer to the Eligibility section for details.

Last Updated: November 22, 2024

Eligibility Notes:

Eligible applicants are:

  • Governmental entities, including state agencies and local governments
  • Interstate agencies
  • Indian tribes
  • Institutions of higher learning
  • Nonprofit organizations

School districts or high schools designated as one of the eligible entities listed above are also eligible to apply.

In addition, intertribal consortia are also eligible to apply, provided that these entities meet the following criteria:

  • Meet the definition of eligibility in the Environmental Program Grants for Tribes Final Rule under Title 40, Section 35.504 of the CFR
  • Are a nonprofit organization, as defined under Title 2, Section 200.1 of the CFR

The following entities are encouraged to apply:

  • Minority-serving Institutions (MSIs), including historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs); tribal colleges and universities (TCUs); Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs); Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs); predominately Black institutions (PBIs); Native American-serving non-tribal institutions (NASNTIs); and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions (AANHs)
  • Federally recognized tribes

Applicants and projects must be located within the Gulf of Mexico watershed. Refer to page 7 of the NOFA file for a map of the Gulf of Mexico watershed within the Continental United States. Refer to pages 30-31 of the NOFA file for a list of eligible Florida coastal counties that are within the Gulf of Mexico watershed.

Previous award recipients are eligible to apply.

The following entities are not eligible to apply:

  • For-profit organizations
  • 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations that engage in lobbying activities, as defined under Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
Eligible Applicants:
Local Government
Academic Institutions
Consortia
Native American Tribe
Non Profits
Schools/School Districts
State Government
Application Notes:

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on January 28, 2025.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov.

Applications must include:

  • SF 424
  • SF 424A
  • EPA Form 5700-54
  • EPA Form 4700-4
  • Project narrative:
    • Summary information page (1 page max)
    • Workplan, including detailed budget narrative (11 pages max)
    • Maps
  • Budget table
  • Resumes or curriculum vitae of principal investigators and critical staff
  • Negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
  • Support letters (if applicable)

The project narrative, except for maps, are limited to 12 pages in length. The project narrative must be formatted on standard-sized and single-spaced pages with one-inch margins using at least an 11-point Calibri font, and must be submitted in .pdf format. The budget table must be submitted in Excel format. Resumes must be submitted as one consolidated file that includes "resume" in the file name. The file name for the negotiated indirect cost rate agreement must include "cost agreement." Support letters must be submitted as one consolidated file and include "letters of support" or "LOS" in the file name. Project narratives submitted as a .zip file will not be accepted.

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.

A recording of an optional pre-recorded presentation regarding this program can be found online at www.youtube.com.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Project design (35 points)
  • Environmental results: outputs and outcomes (30 points)
  • Milestone schedule (10 points)
  • Outreach and communication (12 points)
  • Partnerships/collaborations with farmers (20 points)
  • Past performance and programmatic capability (10 points)
  • Timely expenditure of award (3 points)
  • Budget (20 points)

Refer to pages 18-19 of the NOFA file for information regarding additional application evaluation criteria.

Refer to the NOFA, Q&A, CommonErrors, and BudgetTemplate files for additional application information.

Match Required: No
Actual Funds: $20,000,000 (Estimated)
Award Range: $1,000,000 (Min) / $2,000,000 (Max)
Match Notes:

There are no stated matching requirements for this program.

Funding Notes:

An estimated $20 million is available to support approximately 10 to 20 grants or cooperative agreements through this program. The minimum award amount is approximately $1 million and the maximum award amount is $2 million.

Award notifications are anticipated to be made in April 2025. Awards are anticipated to be made in December 2025.

The project period will typically last up to three years. The project period for awards is estimated to begin in calendar year 2025.

Award recipients may incur otherwise eligible pre-award costs up to 90 days prior to award at their own risk without prior approval from the funding agency, as detailed on page 11 of the NOFA file.

Funds may not be used for actions required to settle a formal enforcement action or included in a court order, or specified as a required mitigation measure under a state, local, or federal permit for a specific project; however, costs to enhance or expand such projects beyond the minimum requirements for compliance are allowable.

Funds may not be used for:

  • Projects that do not comply with Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act
  • Work involving only routine maintenance of storm water infrastructure and other facilities
  • Projects that fall under the existing planning responsibilities of an individual state or local government, such as the development of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) or municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permits
  • Projects that solely involve gray infrastructure, such as the installation of sewer lines
  • Projects whose sole purpose is to improve federal lands
  • Construction activities that are not a part of a demonstration project, as detailed on page 12 of the NOFA file
Contacts:

Matt Beiser
GMP-RFP@epa.gov

Agency Address
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Gulf of Mexico Division
2510 14th Street, Suite 1212
Gulfport, MS 39501

Contact Notes:

Questions should be directed to the Matt Beiser. In general, questions must be received by January 14, 2025. The funding agency guarantee a response to questions received after this date. Questions regarding watershed eligibility must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the application deadline.

Questions and answers will be posted online at www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico and updated on a weekly basis.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov.

The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.

Files:
NOFA File: US18179_NOFA_FY2024.pdf (1.1 Mb)
Other Pre-Award File: US18179_CommonErrors_FY2024.pdf (876.2 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US18179_StrategicPlan_FY2024.pdf (7.1 Mb)
Other Pre-Award File: US18179_BudgetTemplate_FY2024.xlsx (132.3 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US18179_Q&A_FY2024.pdf (346.4 Kb)
File Notes:

The NOFA file contains the full solicitation for this program. The CommonErrors file contains information regarding common errors to avoid when completing the required forms for submission. The StrategicPlan file contains the funding agency's FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. The BudgetTemplate file contains a template that applicants are strongly encouraged to use to complete the required budget table. The Q&A file contains a list of questions and answers regarding this program. Additional program resources can be found online at www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico.

November 22, 2024
An updated list of questions and answers regarding this program has been released and attached as the Q&A file. The Eligibility section has been updated accordingly.

Grant Keywords
EPA, GMD, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Mexico Watershed, watershed, BIL/IIJA: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, IIJA, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, BIL, state government, local government, interstate agency, interstate agencies, tribe, tribal, tribal government, Native American, American Indian, institution of higher education, institutions of higher education, IHE, nonprofit, non-profit, not-for-profit, nonprofit organization, non-profit organization, school, school district, high school, secondary school, intertribal consortia, intertribal consortium, minority serving Institution. MSI, historically Black colleges and universities, HBCU, historically Black college and university, Tribal colleges and universities, Tribal college and university, TCU, Hispanic serving institution, HSI, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander serving institution, AANAPISI, predominately Black institution, PBI, Native American-serving non-tribal institution, NASNTI, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institution, AANH, Clean Water Act, water quality, water resource, conservation, conserve, ecological, ecology, ecosystem, environment, environmental, environmentalism, green, habitat, natural resource, nature, outdoor, preservation, preserve, protect, protection, restoration, restore, stewardship, waterbody, waterbodies, water, coast, coastal, coastline, agricultural production, farm, farmer, farmland, grower, producer, ranch, rancher, land use, sustainable agriculture, land management, environmental protection, agricultural practice, agricultural runoff, pollute, polluted, pollution, environmental education, working land, innovative, innovation, survey, study, studies, research, investigation, experimentation, education, training, demonstration, farm management, data, data collection, nitrogen, phosphorus, harmful algal bloom, HAB, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Grant Categories
Agriculture
Environment/Natural Resources
Water Supply/Quality