Application Notes:

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on February 10, 2025.

Prior to submitting an application, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Melanie Gange, using the information provided in the Contact section, to discuss their project ideas with respect to technical merit and the funding agency's objectives.

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

Applications must include:

• SF 424
• SF 424A
• SF 424B
• CD 511
• SF LLL (if applicable)
• Project summary and project narrative (20 pages max):
  • Project summary (2 pages max)
  • Project narrative (18 pages max)
• Budget narrative (10 pages max)
• Supplemental materials and project designs (45 pages max):
  • Cover page that lists the documents and associated page numbers
  • Map or aerial photo with nearby towns and/or roads labeled and with the site location(s) highlighted
  • Resumes or descriptions of past project management experience for up to five key personnel, including examples of similar scale projects (approximately 5 pages max)
  • Letters of support from a diverse range of partners
  • Implementation monitoring plan (if applicable; 2 pages max)
  • Data management plan (2 pages max)
  • Any other relevant supporting materials, such as federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreements or site photos
  • Project designs and basis of design reports (if available)

Applications are limited to 75 pages, not including the required federal forms, and should be organized into a maximum of three flattened .pdf files, with one file containing the project summary and project narrative, one file containing the budget narrative, and one file containing the supplemental materials and project designs. Page limits assume an 11- or 12-point font and one-inch margins. It is recommended that file sizes not exceed 100 MB in order to preserve the applicant's formatting.

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.

Optional webinars will be held for this program as follows:

November 20, 2024
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
Registration: register.gotowebinar.com

December 3, 2024
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
Registration: register.gotowebinar.com

Tribal-Focused Webinar:
December 12, 2024
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
Registration: register.gotowebinar.com

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Importance and applicability (28 points)
• Technical and scientific merit (28 points)
• Overall qualifications of applicants (10 points)
• Project costs (19 points)
• Outreach and education (15 points)

Refer to the NOFA file for additional appplication information.

Match Notes:

Matching funds are not required for this program; however, the extent to which the applicant will complement the funding agency's investment with other sources, including nonfederal matching contributions, federal or nonfederal leverage, or in-kind support, will be considered during the application evaluation process, with the most points being awarded to any applicant proposing at least a one-to-one ratio of the requested award amount to other secured contributions. The funding agency desires cost sharing to encourage partnerships among government, community, industry, and academia.

Applicants whose proposed initiatives exceed the budgetary limits of this program are encouraged to apply to this program and also for other complementary federal funding for separate components of their larger initiatives.

Applicants with approved indirect cost rates may propose a portion or all of their indirect costs as match.

Funding Notes:

Up to $75 million is anticipated to be available to support cooperative agreements ranging from $750,000 to $8 million through this program. The funding agency anticipates that typical awards will range from $3 million to $5 million.

The funding agency anticipates that the award period will be three years. Priority will be given to proposed activities that have a high certainty of completion within a two- to three-year award period. The award period may be extended, at the discretion of the funding agency and based on project needs, up to the extent legally allowable, which is typically up to five years.

The funding agency authorizes award recipients to expend pre-award costs up to 90 days before the project period start date at the applicant’s own risk without approval from the funding agency and in accordance with the applicant's internal policies and procedures. Such costs are allowable only to the extent that they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the award.

Funds may not be used for:

• Direct costs of application preparation
• Activities that are required by a separate local, state, or federal consent decree; court order; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) exemption or license condition; statute; or regulation
• Effectiveness monitoring
• Research

In May 2024, more than $158 million was distributed via 27 awards through this program. In December 2022, more than $87 million was distributed via 23 awards. Refer to the Award file for details.