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Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL): San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (SFBWQIF) (Select Counties, CA) - FY 2025

Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
CFDA: 66.126
Federal FON: EPA-I-R9-SFBWQIF-24-25
Office: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9
Multipart Grant: No
Next Due: 04/17/2025 (Application)
Solicitation Date: 10/25/2024
   
Match Required: No
Actual Funds: $14,000,000 (Estimated)
Award Range: $500,000 (Min) / $2,000,000 (Max)
Summary:

The purpose of this program is to expand water quality restoration efforts and build regional climate change resilience through efforts and partnerships within historically underserved communities, which are communities where economically underserved or other populations face disproportionate exposure to environmental harm. All projects must have measurable positive impacts in underserved communities, particularly those facing climate change stressors, in the San Francisco Bay and its watersheds.

This program is intended to support a broad array of projects that will deliver environmental and public health benefits to communities with environmental justice (EJ) concerns, including underserved communities. In particular, funding will support projects that will improve the natural environment and waterbodies in, and around, communities with potential EJ concerns through meaningful engagement with those communities. Meaningful engagement may include technical support; capacity building; training sessions; expanding public processes; and time to build trust relationships with local, regional, and other governmental partners. Project outcomes are expected to include:

  • Improved climate resilience in the form of shoreline protection and/or stormwater management in underserved communities
  • Community restoration in the form of workforce development and community-based organizational capacity built
  • Meaningful engagement with tribal communities to increase use of Indigenous knowledge in project design, planning, and/or implementation
  • Significant number of individuals meaningfully participating in environmental issues in the community
  • Additional water/soil cleanup activities funded based on new data gathered to protect communities
  • Increased percentage of land area where green stormwater infrastructure has been or will be implemented to achieve water quality improvements and/or community benefits

Successfully funded past projects include:

  • Testing for contaminants in fish by sustenance and recreational fishing communities
  • Shoreline cleanups
  • Green jobs training programs

Refer to page 8 of the NOFA file for a map of underserved communities within San Francisco Bay Area counties. If the underserved community served by the project does not geographically fall within the areas included in the map, the applicant must demonstrate how the community has been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life.

All projects must be consistent with the San Francisco Estuary Partnership's (SFEP's) Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP),

In addition, projects that include sampling of any kind must ensure that a project-specific quality assurance project plan (QAPP) is submitted and approved by the funding agency.

Eligibility is limited to projects located within the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties, which include the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma, that drain to San Francisco Bay.

Last Updated: November 15, 2024

Eligibility Notes:

Eligible applicants are:

  • State and local government agencies, districts, and councils
  • Regional water pollution control agencies and entities
  • State coastal zone management agencies
  • Federally and nonfederally recognized tribes
  • Public and private universities and colleges
  • Public or private non-governmental, nonprofit institutions

Projects must be located within the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties, which include the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma, that drain to San Francisco Bay.

Refer to page 8 of the NOFA file for a map of underserved communities within San Francisco Bay Area counties. If the underserved community served by the project does not geographically fall within the areas included in the map, the applicant must demonstrate how the community has been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life.

When multiple entities apply in a coalition, one lead applicant must be identified as the lead recipient, and the others must be identified as subrecipients.

The following entities are not eligible to apply:

  • Nonprofit organizations restricted by the authorizing statutes
  • 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations that engage in lobbying
  • Federal agencies, although they are eligible for subawards or contracts
Eligible Applicants:
Local Government
Academic Institutions
Consortia
Native American Tribe
Non Profits
State Government
Application Notes:

Applications must be received by 8:59 p.m. PT on April 17, 2025.

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

Applications must include:

  • SF 424
  • SF 424A
  • EPA key contacts form 5700-4
  • EPA Form 4700-4
  • Project narrative (15 pages max)
  • Budget narrative
  • Project area map
  • Other supporting documentation, including letter(s) of support (optional)

The project narrative must be formatted on standard-sized, single-spaced pages using a legible font type and size, such as 12-point Calibri. The funding agency recommends using one-inch margins.

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.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Scope/approach (20 points)
  • Environmental results: outputs and outcomes (25 points)
  • Budget detail (13 points)
  • Programmatic capability and past performance (12 points)
  • Timely expenditure of award funds (5 points)
  • Environmental justice (EJ) and underserved communities (25 points)

Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.

Match Required: No
Actual Funds: $14,000,000 (Estimated)
Award Range: $500,000 (Min) / $2,000,000 (Max)
Match Notes:

Matching funds are not required for this program.

Funding Notes:

Approximately $14 million is available to support approximately 15 to 20 awards ranging from approximately $500,000 to $2 million through this program.

Anticipated notifications of selections are expected to be issued in June 2025. Anticipated award notifications are expected to be issued in September 2025.

Applicants are recommended to plan for a project period of four years, although project periods may be extended beyond that.

The following costs are expected to be included in the budget:

  • Costs for completing a quality assurance project plan (QAPP) (if applicable)
  • Costs for sharing project information broadly
  • Costs for reporting progress

In some circumstances, costs incurred within 90 days prior to awards may be eligible.

Funds may be used for land acquisition costs only if such acquisition is directly linked to or is demonstrate to be a key factor in restoring wetlands or improving water quality 

Funds may not be used for:

  • Projects that substantially support environmental education programs in K-12 schools
  • Projects that address water quality issues not affecting the San Francisco Bay Area
  • Development of revolving loan funds
  • Unauthorized lobbying, fundraising, or political activities
Contacts:

Dana Michels
(415) 972-3783
michels.dana@epa.gov

Agency Address
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

Contact Notes:

Questions should be directed to Dana Michels.

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

The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.

Files:
Other Pre-Award File: US17489_FAQ_FY2025.pdf (366.6 Kb)
NOFA File: US17489_NOFA_FY2025.pdf (756.0 Kb)
Federal Forms:
SPOC (67.7 Kb)
File Notes:

The NOFA file contains the revised full solicitation for this program. The FAQ file contains a list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding this program. The SPOC file contains information on the state Single Point of Contact program. Additional program resources can be found online at www.epa.gov.

November 15, 2024
A revised full solicitation for this program has been released and attached as the NOFA file.

Grant Keywords
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Grant Categories
Community Development
Training & Vocational Services
Environment/Natural Resources
Human Services
Water Supply/Quality
Social Justice