This action awards a six-year cooperative agreement to the university of maryland center for environmental science (umces) for the purpose of administering the chesapeake center for collaborative…

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 awarded a six-year cooperative agreement to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science for $1,054,276 in Year 1 federal funding on January 1, 2026, with an additional $6,115,279 in contingent federal funding subject to availability through December 31, 2031, under the Geographic Programs - Chesapeake Bay Program General, Technical Assistance, and Small Watershed Grants program (CFDA 66.466).

UMCES will maintain and improve the Chesapeake Center for Collaborative Computing (C4), a cloud-based infrastructure supporting collection, aggregation, storage, analysis, and dissemination of data for the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership. Work includes implementing cybersecurity policies and best practices; coordinating with the Chesapeake Bay Program Office's Data Center and CBP partners to identify emerging IT needs; procuring tools and web applications to support the CBP partnership's IT operations, data management, modeling and monitoring programs; and monitoring trends and opportunities to reduce long-term network costs. The project supports the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement by advancing the CBP partnership's scientific and decision-making capacity. Expected outcomes include improved accessibility, transparency, and collaboration among CBP partners and improved efficiency of the C4 network to meet long-term partnership needs. No subawards are included. Total dollars obligated is $1,431,624. Place of performance is Maryland.

This action awards a six-year cooperative agreement to the university of maryland center for environmental science (umces) for the purpose of administering the chesapeake center for collaborative computing (C4), which is a cloud-based infrastructure that supports collection, aggregation, storage, analysis, and dissemination of data for the chesapeake BAY program (CBP) partnership. Through this action, EPA will award $1,054,276 in federal funding toward year 1. Federal funding in the amount of $6,115,279 will remain contingent upon availability. Activities:activities that will be performed by umces under the award include: maintaining and improving the C4 infrastructure; implementing cybersecurity policies and best practices; coordinating with the chesapeake BAY program office's data center and CBP partners to determine emerging IT needs; procuring necessary tools and web applications to support the CBP partnership's IT operations, data management, modeling and monitoring programs, and other priorities; and monitoring trends and opportunities to reduce long-term costs of the C4 network. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:this project supports achievement of the goals and outcomes of the chesapeake BAY watershed agreement by advancing the CBP partnership's long-term scientific and decision-making capacity. Expected outcomes include improved accessibility, transparency, and collaboration amongst CBP partners; improved efficiency and effectiveness of the C4 network to meet long-term CBP partnership needs; and improved ability of the CBP partnership to carry out management actions needed to achieve watershed restoration goals. Intended beneficiaries include the CBP partnership and residents and other stakeholders within the chesapeake BAY and its watershed.