Deadline: 28-Feb-23
The United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Water Resources and Planning is pleased to announce the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program that provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department’s priorities.
Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply sustainability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts.
Objectives
- The objective of this NOFO is to invite eligible applicants to leverage their funds and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on the following activities:
- The development of new water recycling and desalination feasibility studies;
- Planning and preliminary design activities for water recycling or desalination construction projects; or
- Environmental compliance activities for water recycling or desalination construction projects
Funding Information
- Maximum award for Funding Group I: $1,000,000
- Maximum award for Funding Group II: $5,000,000
- Minimum award: $100,000
- Funding Group I: Up to $1,000,000 in federal funds provided through this NOFO will be available for planning, preliminary design, and environmental compliance activities that may take up to 24 months to complete.
- Funding Group II: Up to $5,000,000 in federal funds provided through this NOFO will be available for planning, preliminary design, and environmental compliance activities that may take up to 24 months to complete for projects with an anticipated total project cost greater than $500,000,000.
Eligible Projects
- Applicants may request funding under this NOFO for planning, preliminary design, and environmental compliance activities for water recycling and desalination projects. The Build America Buy America Act is a requirement specific to infrastructure projects, and applicants should consider Reclamation’s focus on advancing the objectives of using American-made products and materials and building domestic manufacturing when initiating the planning and design of projects. Please note that funds made available for infrastructure projects will be subject to the Build America, Buy America Act.
- Eligible projects may include any one or a combination of the activities, by funding group:
- Funding Group I:
- Development of new water recycling and desalination feasibility studies that meet the requirements of WTR 11-01
- Preparation of preliminary project cost estimates
- Site specific investigations to gather design data
- Development and evaluation of project alternatives
- Collect data and gather documentation for environmental and cultural resources compliance
- Other pre-final design activities that contribute towards construction program eligibility
- Funding Group II:
- Development of new water recycling and desalination feasibility studies, for projects with an anticipated total project cost greater than or equal to $500,000,000, that meet the requirements of WTR TRMR-128
- Preparation of preliminary project cost estimates
- Site specific investigations to gather design data
- Development and evaluation of project alternatives
- Environmental and cultural resources compliance activities
- Other pre-final design activities that contribute towards construction program eligibility
- Funding Group I:
Ineligible Projects
- Projects and activities not eligible for funding under this NOFO include, but are not limited to:
- Planning activities for projects other than water recycling or desalination projects
- Proposals for the development of a feasibility study or project that is not designed to meet the requirements of a feasibility study as defined under the Reclamation Feasibility Study D&S WTR 11-01
- Proposals for the development of appraisal studies
- Proposals that include ground disturbing activity or construction
- Proposals under Funding Group I for projects that already have a feasibility study completed, submitted for review, or approved by Reclamation
- Pilot or demonstration testing of treatment processes
- Preparation of grant applications for future funding opportunities
Eligibility Criteria
- Funding Group I
- Applicants eligible to receive an award under Funding Group I:
- States, Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, and water districts; and any state, regional, or local authority.
- All applicants must be located in the Western United States or Territories as identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, as amended or Hawaii; specifically: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands.
- Applicants eligible to receive an award under Funding Group I:
- Funding Group II
- For projects with an anticipated total project cost greater than $500,000,000, applicants eligible to receive an award under Funding Group II:
- States, Indian Tribes, municipalities, irrigation districts, water districts, wastewater districts; and any state, regional, or other organization with water or power delivery authority.
- State, regional, or local authorities, the members of which include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; and
- An agency established under State law for the joint exercise of powers, or a combination of entities.
- All applicants must be located in the Western United States or United States Territories as identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, as amended; specifically: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands.
- For projects with an anticipated total project cost greater than $500,000,000, applicants eligible to receive an award under Funding Group II:
Ineligible Applicants
- Ineligible applicants include:
- Federal Governmental entities
- Foreign entities
- Individuals
- Institutes of higher education
For more information, visit Bureau of Reclamation.