2022-05-11 FY22 DCIP NOFO Final (002).pdf

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Notice of Funding Opportunity

AGENCY: Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, Department of Defense

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity

NOTICE: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. 117-103) provides $90 million for this program.

SUMMARY: This Notice of Funding Opportunity announces an opportunity to obtain funding from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation under the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program to assist State and local governments to address deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation. This notice includes proposal requirements, the deadline for submitting proposals, and the criteria that will be used to select proposal respondents to apply for a grant under this program.

The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may award grants under this notice to State and local governments for community infrastructure projects, which are transportation projects, community support facilities (e.g., schools, hospitals, police, fire, and emergency response), and utility infrastructure projects (e.g., water, waste-water, telecommunications, electric, gas, etc.) that are located off of a military installation, support a military installation, and are owned by a State or local government or not-for-profit, member-owned utility. Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200, paragraphs 331 through 333 (2 C.F.R. 200.331-.333) prescribes how entities eligible to receive funding under the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program (State and local governments) may act as pass-through entities. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may supplement funds available under Federal programs administered by agencies other than the Department of Defense. Additionally, subject to statutory authority, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may transfer funds to another Federal agency for that agency’s award to State or local governments.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

a. Federal Awarding Agency: Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, Department of Defense.

b. Funding Opportunity Title: Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program.

c. Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity.

d. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 12.600.

e. Key Dates: The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will hold two pre-proposal webinars at 3 p.m. EDT on May 19, 2022 and June 2, 2022 to review the goals and objectives of this Notice of Funding Opportunity and answer questions from interested respondents. Details about participation in the pre-proposal webinars are available on OLDCC.gov at the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program link (https://OLDCC.gov/defense-community-https://oldcc.gov/defense-community-infrastructure-program-dcip infrastructure-program-dcip). Complete proposals for Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program grants must be received by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation by 5 p.m. PDT on July 18, 2022 (the Proposal Deadline). Proposals will be screened to ensure completeness and eligibility. Complete and eligible proposals from eligible entities will be referred to a Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program review panel to evaluate against the criteria in Section E. of this Notice. A final proposal ranking will then be provided by this panel to the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) for approval. Once approved, the listing will be provided to the Director, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, to invite a formal grant application on or about August 15, 2022. All grant agreements must be issued and countersigned prior to September 23, 2022, so the appropriated funds can be obligated no later than September 30, 2022.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Section 2391(d) of Title 10, United States Code (10 U.S.C. § 2391(d)), authorizes the Secretary of Defense to “make grants, conclude cooperative agreements, and supplement funds available under Federal programs administered by agencies other than the Department of Defense, to assist State and local governments to address deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation.” Community infrastructure projects are transportation projects, community support facilities (e.g., schools, hospitals, police, fire, and emergency response), and utility infrastructure projects (e.g., water, waste-water, telecommunications, electric, gas, etc.) that are located off of a military installation, support a military installation, and are owned by a State or local government or a not-for-profit, member owned utility service.

This notice identifies the criteria established for the selection of community infrastructure projects. Proposals will be competitively scored across these criteria, identified in Section E., paragraph 1. of this notice. Through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. 117- 103), $90 million in funding is available for this program. Funds awarded in Fiscal Year 2022 expire if they are not obligated prior to the close of business on September 30, 2022.

Project proposals must include the endorsement of the local installation commander representing the installation benefitting from the proposed project. Local installation endorsement letters should indicate the installation’s need for the project and willingness to support the local community’s execution of the project, including assisting the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation with the technical review of any required National Environmental Policy Act environmental planning documents for the proposed project.

The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may supplement funds available under Federal programs administered by agencies other than the Department of Defense. Additionally, subject to statutory authority, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may transfer funds to another Federal agency for that agency’s award to State or local governments. School construction projects that would otherwise meet the statutory criteria for a “community infrastructure project” cannot be for public schools that are identified on the Secretary of Defense 2018 Public Schools on Military Installations Prioritized List approved in April 2019.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Proposals will be competitively scored by the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program review panel against the selection criteria provided in Section E., paragraph 1. of this notice.

The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will accept proposals through Grants.gov for the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program through 5 p.m. PDT on July 18, 2022 (the Proposal Deadline). The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will then invite successful respondents to complete a grant application on or about August 15, 2022, on the basis of their proposal’s ranking by the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program review panel.

In the event a respondent is unable to submit a grant application, or if the review panel determines that the invited respondent’s application materially differs from the proposal that was considered and ranked by the review panel, another respondent may be invited to submit an application as a potential replacement. To receive a grant award, an eligible respondent must submit both a successful proposal and subsequently submit an acceptable grant application.

No award under this program may exceed $20 million or be less than $250,000. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will determine the final amount of each award. Final award amounts depend on the recommendation of a Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program review panel, the availability of appropriations, and the provisions of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 C.F.R. Part 200) in the review of an invited grant application.

If the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation transfers funding to another Federal agency pursuant to statutory authority, and if that agency charges a cost for the administration of the project, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may reduce the amount of funds available for awards in order to fund the reimbursement.

All proposed projects must be construction-ready, and must result in a complete and useable project. A complete and usable project is one that produces complete and usable facilities, complete and usable improvements to existing facilities, or that completes a distinct, definable phase of a larger project which will be completed during the period of performance of the grant agreement.

Recipients of grant funding under this program will be subject to grant terms and conditions in the course of undertaking their project. Project cost overruns are the responsibility of the Grantee. The Grantee’s cost share funding of the project, if required, must be available to the Grantee and committed to the project prior to proceeding with the project. Projects must be executed in accordance with an Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation-approved “Project Development Schedule.” The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may terminate an award for non-performance, including failure to comply with the agreed upon Project Development Schedule or with all grant terms and conditions, and/or where the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation determines the circumstances of the awarded project deviate from the information provided in the project proposal. All grants will be administered in accordance with 2 C.F.R. Part 200. Federal funding for projects receiving awards is subject to compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Grant application invitees are responsible for providing information required to satisfy the National Environmental Policy Act, Council on Environmental Quality regulations, and any required state or local environmental regulations.

Awards under this notice will be issued in the form of a grant agreement, as described by 31 U.S.C. § 6304.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Proposers The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may award grants under this notice to State and local governments for community infrastructure projects owned by a State or local government or not-for-profit, member-owned utility. “State” and “local government” are defined in 2 C.F.R. Part 200.1. Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200, paragraphs 331 through 333 (2 C.F.R. Part 200.331-.333) prescribes how entities eligible to receive funding under the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program (State and local governments) may act as pass-through entities. For example, not-for-profit, member-owned utilities may receive funding as a sub-recipient to a State or local government, and projects owned by such utilities must comply with federal interest rules described in the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation’s grant terms and conditions.

2. Non-Federal Project Cost Contribution (Local Cost Sharing / Matching) Except as provided below for projects in rural areas or projects that are advantageous for national security reasons, State or local government recipients must agree to contribute not less than thirty percent (30%) of the total funding required for the community infrastructure project.

State or local government funding contributions are not required for proposed community infrastructure projects in rural areas, defined as a city, town, or unincorporated area that has a population of not more than 100,000 inhabitants. Where applicable, proposers must state explicitly in their proposal that the: 1) proposed project is located entirely in a rural area; and, 2) the proposer is not required to provide a non-Federal (local) project cost contribution.

State or local government funding contributions are not required for proposed community infrastructure projects that are determined to be advantageous for reasons related to national security. In such instances, the proposer must assert in their proposal the basis for this waiver, including a signed statement from the cognizant Military Department Secretary attesting to the national security need/importance of the proposed project.

Projects submitted with a proposed zero percent (0%) non-Federal (local) project cost contribution must ensure all associated costs are eligible (see paragraph 4. of this section).

Proposals with ineligible costs will be removed during screening.

These non-Federal (local) project cost contribution funds may not also count as a non-Federal (local) cost contribution source for other Federal project funding that will be used to fund the proposed community infrastructure project under this program (i.e., if a recipient intends to use both Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation funding and funding from another Federal agency for the same project, the funding contribution for the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation grant may not double-count as a funding contribution for the other Federal agency). The ability to use other Federal funds as a non-Federal (local) project cost contribution for this program will be determined by the authority and appropriation providing those funds as well as whether the relevant Grantor provides approval. All other contribution funding must be immediately available to be expended on the proposed project.

If funding contribution is required for a community infrastructure project, a selected grantee must show that the grantee’s contribution funding is available and committed to the project prior to receiving grant payments from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation. As a result, if the provision of contribution funding is required for a proposed community infrastructure project, the proposal must include evidence that the necessary funds will be available to execute the project prior to receipt of Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation funds. Any proposal relying on contributions sourced from other Federal funds that have not been approved at the time of the proposal submission will not be considered. Funding proposed as a source for the State or local government share must be incurred and expended either within the proposed project period, commencing from the date of award or no earlier than the date of enactment of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, August 13, 2018.

3. Eligible Projects Eligible community infrastructure projects are any complete and useable transportation project;

community support facilities (e.g., school, hospital, police, fire, emergency response, or other community support facility); and utility infrastructure projects (e.g., water, waste-water, telecommunications, electric, gas, or other utility infrastructure (with necessary cyber safeguards)) that:

• are located off of a military installation;

• support a military installation;

• are owned by a state or local government or a not-for-profit, member-owned utility service;

• that will enhance military value at a military installation, military installation resilience or military family quality of life at the supported military installation (definitions of these enhancements are provided in Section E., paragraph 1.);

• that are endorsed by the local installation commander representing the installation benefitting from the proposed project;

• are where ground-disturbing work has not yet commenced; and,

• are construction-ready.

Per 10 U.S.C. 2391(e)(1), the term “military installation” means a base, camp, post, station, yard, center, homeport facility for any ship, or other activity under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense, including any leased facility, which is located within any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or Guam. It does not include any facility used primarily for civil works, rivers and harbors projects, or flood control projects, but it does include a military facility owned and operated by any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or Guam, even though the facility is not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense, if the Secretary of Defense determines that the military facility is subject to significant use for training by the armed forces.

Proposed stormwater management projects involving retrofitting a defense access road to reduce stormwater runoff and ponding or standing water that includes the combination of stormwater runoff and water levels resulting from extreme weather conditions shall be given priority over other proposed stormwater projects, in accordance 10 U.S.C. 2815(a)(c).

Proposed projects enhancing military family quality of life, where applicable, should specify the impact of the proposed community infrastructure project on alleviating installation commuter workforce issues and the benefit of schools or other local infrastructure located off a military installation that will support members of the armed forces and their dependents residing in the community.

Proposers are specifically encouraged to highlight how/whether the proposed project supports broader efforts towards minimizing potential interruptions to the installation mission, including energy resilience, and other efforts to better sustain the installation mission.

Proposed community infrastructure projects will be evaluated with the following order of prioritization: enhancement of military value at a military installation, enhancement of military installation resilience, and enhancement of military family quality of life at a local military installation.

A project is construction-ready if construction of the project will commence (turn dirt) within twelve (12) months of award. Proposals must demonstrate that the project is construction-ready by providing evidence that design, planning, development of bid solicitation documentation, environmental planning, site control, and local permitting actions are sufficiently complete and that all other project funding is available for expenditure. Ground disturbing work or other irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources cannot commence until the National Environmental Policy Act review and necessary permitting is complete.

Eligible community infrastructure projects include only hard construction and renovation costs outside of local military installation property, including reasonable allowances for contingencies, and capital equipment affixed to the real property with a depreciable life of not less than seven

(7) years.

If real property, equipment, or supplies are acquired or improved under an award or sub-award, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may maintain a “Federal Interest” that is the product of the Federal share of the total project costs and the current fair market value of the property, improvements, or both, to the extent the costs of acquiring or improving the property were included as project costs. This will be addressed in the terms and conditions of the award.

4. Eligible Costs Projects submitted, including those with zero percent (0%) non-Federal (local) project cost contribution, must ensure all associated costs are eligible for Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program funding. Proposals with ineligible costs will be removed during screening.

As detailed in Section D., paragraph 2., part H., eligible costs include only hard construction and renovation costs, such as the costs directly associated with project administration, inspection, construction, utilities, and contingency costs required to execute the project, as well as costs of capital equipment affixed to the real property with a depreciable life of not less than seven (7) years. Soft costs, such as those required for the planning, design, permitting, National Environmental Policy Act compliance and execution of the proposed project, must be funded by non-Federal (local) project cost contribution funds. Construction contingency costs are limited to no more than fifteen percent (15%) of the proposed project. However, all costs must have been incurred and expended after the enactment of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, August 13, 2018 (including any planning and design cost claimed as non-Federal (local) project cost contribution).

D. Proposal and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package Proposals must be submitted electronically as described in Section D., paragraph 4.

2. Content and Form of Proposal Submission Each interested respondent must submit a complete proposal, including a completed but unsigned Standard Form 424, through Grants.gov not later than the Proposal Deadline date (see Section D., paragraph 4.). Please refer to the instructions provided with the Grants.gov Notice of Funding Opportunity on how to complete the Standard Form 424.

A proposal may not exceed twenty (20) pages (single-sided, single-spaced with 1-inch margins, 11 point Times New Roman font), including all maps, drawings and attachments. The unsigned Standard Form 424, the independent third party cost estimate to validate the proposed project budget, and documents showing that the project is construction-ready do not count against this twenty (20) page limit. A proposal shall include the following information:

A. Point of Contact: Name, phone number, e-mail address, and organization address of the respondent’s primary point of contact;

B. Installation Need: A summary of the installation need for the proposed community infrastructure project, and how the absence of the proposed community infrastructure project degrades military value at the military installation, military installation resilience, or military family quality of life at the local installation. Please refer to Section E., paragraph 1. for how military value is considered and prioritized for all proposals.

Information on the installation need must also include an assessment of the likely beneficiaries of the project (in addition to the military installation) and an assessment of the extent to which the total installation population of military service members and/or their families will benefit (e.g., 0-100% of the population). Proposers are also encouraged to highlight how the proposed project supports broader efforts towards minimizing potential interruptions to the military installation mission. This support includes energy resilience and other efforts to better sustain the local military installation mission;

C. Installation Endorsement: A letter of endorsement from the Commander of the local installation that includes: (i) the existing conditions at the local installation that the proposed community infrastructure project will address; (ii) assessment of impact to the local installation, should the proposed project not proceed; and (iii) a description of the criticality of the proposed project to the installation’s mission and/or operations.

Proposers must ensure that the local Commander is aware of, and the endorsement reflects support for, the scope of the entire project, and that the local Commander is willing to support the local community’s execution of the project (including assisting the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation with any technical review of required National Environmental Policy Act environmental planning documents for the proposed project).

D. Project Description: A description of the proposed community infrastructure project, including an explanation of how the project addresses the installation need;

E. Project Engineering Information: A demonstration of the technical feasibility of the construction project;

F. Project Parties: Identification of other parties involved in the project, to include contemplated grant sub-recipients as defined by 2 C.F.R. 200.1;

G. Grant Funds and other Sources of Funds: An overview and commitment of all funding sources, including non-Federal (local) project cost contribution source funding, that demonstrates a firm commitment and unconditioned availability (including any eligibility of Federal funds to be counted as the funding contribution) to complete the project;

documentation demonstrating that the requested grant funds do not supplant other available Federal funds; and acknowledgement that any cost overruns will be the obligation of the proposer. Proposing entity must also state its capability to secure a surety bond (e.g., a bid guarantee, performance bond, and payment bond) prior to the commencement of construction activity as defined by 2 C.F.R. 200.326;

H. Uses of Construction Project Funds: Identification of the uses of project funding, including a total project cost estimate, with major cost elements broken out for project administration, inspection, construction, utilities, and contingency costs. Soft planning costs (i.e., costs that are not direct construction costs) required for the planning, design, and execution of the proposed project may be funded by non-Federal (local) project cost contribution funding. However, all costs must have been incurred after August 13, 2018, the date of enactment of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. All proposals shall include an independent third party cost estimate to validate the proposed project budget. The entity completing the third party cost estimate must have no relation to the proposer or the proposer’s contractors. The name of the entity completing the third party cost estimate must appear clearly on the cost estimate— as well as the title, “third party cost estimate.” All proposals must provide an explanation why a proposed project is not otherwise eligible for consideration under any existing Federal program (including Defense Access Roads, Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, the Economic Development Administration Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance, etc.);

I. Project Development Schedule: A sufficiently detailed project schedule, including discussion of the project execution strategy as well as identification of milestones such as final permitting and compliance (including the National Environmental Policy Act), long lead time permits and approvals, design and contracting, land acquisition and site control (if needed), start of construction and end of construction. The proposer must demonstrate that the project can commence within twelve (12) months upon receipt of a grant, that the grant funds will be spent steadily and expeditiously once the project commences, and the project can be completed no later than five (5) years following the obligation of Federal funds. Incomplete or inaccurate construction schedules will result in a proposal being removed from further consideration;

J. Environmental Compliance:

1. Provide a list and status of all environmental permits or approvals required for the proposed project, including an anticipated timeframe for issuance of each permit not yet obtained. If awarded a grant, the Grantee will be required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act by preparing any required environmental analyses pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act implementing regulations at 40 C.F.R. 1500-1508, unless the environmental review was already completed by another agency or the associated military installation for the proposed project. If already completed, this documentation must be of sufficient quality for the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation to adopt or otherwise make use of for its determination under the applicable laws.

2. To better inform the proposal and support any environmental analyses, proposals may include a completed “National Environmental Policy Act Environmental Checklist for DoD OLDCC Construction Grant Applications” available from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation website here:

https://oldcc.gov/resource/nepa-environmental-checklist-oldcc-construction-grant-proposals

3. If awarded a grant, the Grantee may also be required to comply with other environmental laws with requirements that support but are independent of the National Environmental Policy Act process, including but not limited to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Records of consultations conducted in accordance with these Acts should be included with the National Environmental Policy Act documentation.

K. State and Local Planning: Based on State statute and project type or size, some local construction projects may require review and approval by other entities. If applicable, proposers must identify whether the proposed project is subject to inclusion in State, https://oldcc.gov/resource/nepa-environmental-checklist-oldcc-construction-grant-proposals https://oldcc.gov/resource/nepa-environmental-checklist-oldcc-construction-grant-proposals regional, metropolitan, or local planning approval regimes, or a certification from another agency (e.g., Metropolitan Planning Organization) that the project will be included in such a relevant planning document. The proposer should demonstrate that conformance with applicable State, regional, and/or local planning requirements is attainable within twelve (12) months of grant award. Specific mention of long lead-time permits to include those requiring multi-agency consideration or approval must be presented in the proposal within the context of this twelve (12) month period;

L. Grants Management: Evidence of the intended Grantee’s ability and authority to manage grants; for example, a summary of past federal funding received, the existence of project staff with federal grant management experience that will manage the project, etc.;

M. Submitting Official: Documentation that the Submitting Official is authorized by the proposer to submit a proposal and subsequently apply for assistance;

N. National Security Waiver Attestation (if appropriate): In instances where a waiver from identifying a non-Federal (local) project cost contribution source is being requested due to national security needs/importance, a signed statement from the cognizant Military Department Secretary attesting to the national security need/importance of the proposed project; and, O. Attachments: In compliance with the overall application page limit

Proposals must be complete upon submission. Proposals deemed to be incomplete will not be reviewed. To the extent practicable and subject to the page count restrictions of the proposal, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation encourages respondents to provide data and evidence of all project merits in a form that is publicly available or verifiable.

3. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) Each Applicant is required to: be registered in SAM before submitting its grant application, provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application, and continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation.

If an applicant has not fully complied with this requirement, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and proceed to make a Federal award to another applicant.

4. Submission Dates and Times The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will accept proposals through Grants.gov for the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program through 5 p.m. PDT on July 18, 2022 (the Proposal Deadline). After being screened to ensure proposals are complete and are from eligible proposers, eligible proposals will be scored by a Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program review panel to establish an overall ranked listing. The panel will then provide the list to the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) for approval. Once approved, the listing will be provided to the Director, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, to invite of a formal grant application on or about August 15, 2022. To receive an award, an eligible respondent must submit both a successful proposal and an acceptable grant application.

5. Intergovernmental Review This program is covered under Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” to foster intergovernmental partnership and strengthen Federalism by relying on State and local processes for the coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development. The Order allows each state to designate an entity to perform this function. The official list of those entities is available at:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf . Applicants located in states that provide a designated entity should contact the listed POC for their state for more information on complying with the state’s process under EO 12372. States that do not provide a designated entity have chosen not to participate in the intergovernmental review process. Applicants located in states without a designated entity may submit the proposal directly via Grants.gov. Funding is subject to the National Environmental Policy Act, and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act is required.

6. Funding Restrictions See Section C., paragraph 3., for information on eligible projects.

The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may supplement funds available under Federal programs administered by agencies other than the Department of Defense. Additionally, subject to statutory authority, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may transfer funds to another Federal agency for that agency’s award to State or local governments. School construction projects that would otherwise meet the statutory criteria for a “community infrastructure project” cannot be for public schools that are identified on the Secretary of Defense 2018 Public Schools on Military Installations Prioritized List approved in April 2019.

7. Other Submission Requirements The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will hold two pre-proposal webinars at 3 p.m. EDT on May 19 and June 2, 2022, to review the Notice of Funding Opportunity and answer questions from interested respondents. Details about participation in the pre-proposal webinars are available on OLDCC.gov at the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program link (https://OLDCC.gov/defense-community-infrastructure-program-dcip).

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Selection Criteria

10 U.S.C. § 2391(d)(1)(B) requires that proposed community infrastructure projects will be selected in the following order of priority:

1. Projects that will enhance military value at a military installation, taking into account the four military value criteria provided below;

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf

2. Projects that will enhance military installation resilience; and

3. Projects that will enhance military family quality of life at an installation, taking into consideration the factors described below.

Because proposals for community infrastructure projects that enhance military value at a military installation will be prioritized over all other proposals, if proposals state that the proposed project enhances military value at a military installation, those proposals will be evaluated first based on the substantive explanation of how the proposed project enhances military value at the local military installation based on the four (4) military value criteria presented below. Proposals that do not specify how the proposed project enhances military value at the local installation based on each of those four (4) military value criteria will be evaluated against the second and third priorities, based on how well the project enhances installation resilience or military family quality of life, as detailed below in subsection ii. and iii., respectively, of criterion a).

The proposed scoring criteria, with relative weights (the more responsive the proposal is to a need in these areas, the higher the score), are:

a) Prioritization of Defense Community Infrastructure Program Enhancement.

i. Enhancement of Military Value: If proposers believe their proposed project enhances military value at a military installation, proposals should describe how the proposed project will enhance military value at the local military installation. In describing how military value is enhanced, proposers must specify how the project will enhance each of the following four (4) military value criteria as provided in section 3002 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002, and as published in 69 Federal Register 6948 (February 5, 2004):

1) the current and future mission capabilities and the impact on operational readiness of the Department of Defense’s total force, including impact on joint warfighting;

2) the availability and condition of land, facilities and associated airspace (including training areas suitable for maneuver by ground, naval, or air forces throughout a diversity of climate terrain areas and staging areas for use of the Armed Forces in homeland defense missions) at both existing and potential receiving locations;

3) the ability to accommodate contingency, mobilization, and future total force requirements at both existing and potential receiving locations to support operations and training; and,

4) the cost of operations and manpower implications.

Should a proposed project be determined to not substantively enhance the aforementioned four (4) military value criteria, the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program review panel will evaluate those proposals against the criteria for enhancement of installation resilience or military family quality of life, as provided below.

ii. Enhancement of installation resilience: If proposers believe their proposed community infrastructure project enhances military installation resilience, proposals should describe how the proposed project will enhance military installation resilience. As defined in 10 U.S.C. § 101(e)(8), the term military installation resilience means, “the capability of a military installation to avoid, prepare for, minimize the effect of, adapt to, and recover from extreme weather events, or from anticipated or unanticipated changes in environmental conditions, that do, or have the potential to, adversely affect the military installation or essential transportation, logistical, or other necessary resources outside of the military installation that are necessary in order to maintain, improve, or rapidly reestablish installation mission assurance and mission-essential functions.”

iii. Enhancement of military family quality of life: If proposers believe their proposed community infrastructure project enhances military family quality of life at a military installation, proposals should describe how the proposed project will enhance military family quality of life. Community infrastructure projects that enhance military family quality of life, alleviate installation commuter workforce issues and benefit schools or other local infrastructure located off of a military installation that will support members of the armed forces and their dependents residing in the community.

Scoring:

i. First priority: Projects that will enhance military value at a local military installation. (42 - 50 points)

ii. Second Priority: Projects that will enhance installation resilience at a military installation. (32 - 40 points)

iii. Third Priority: Projects that will enhance military family quality of life. (22 - 30 points).

b) The construction-readiness of the project. (5 - 30 points)

Proposals will be evaluated based on their evidence to commence construction within twelve (12) months of funding, including necessary final design and planning, development of bid solicitation documentation, completed Federal and State/local environmental planning, site control, and completed local permitting actions. Proposals must provide detail regarding the: (i) proposed project development schedule evidencing ability to commence construction within twelve (12) months of grant award; (ii) immediate, unconditional availability of any non-Federal (local) project cost contribution funding; and, (iii) reasonable, allowable, and allocable project budget, including costs that are validated by an independent third party.

The Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program review panel will assign points for each of the following six (6) elements of construction-readiness: 1) Final design and planning, 2) Development of bid solicitation documentation, 3) Federal and State/local environmental planning, 4) Site control, 5) Confirmation that non-Federal project funding is firmly committed and immediately available for expensing, and 6) Local permitting actions.

c) Assessment of project need. (0-20 points) Proposed projects will be assessed based on their applicability to the factors listed in Section E., paragraph 1., criterion a), factoring in the assessment of the local installation endorsement letter on (i) the existing conditions of the issue, (ii) how those existing conditions impact the local mission and readiness; and (iii) a description of the criticality of the proposed project to the installation’s mission and/or operations.

2. Scoring Considerations Projects that would score in more than one enhancement category will be assigned the score associated with the highest value enhancement, but only one value may be assigned for criterion a). Total points available for exceptional, medium and low enhancement scores will vary based on the verified primary enhancement category.

3. Review and Selection Process All proposals received by the Proposal Deadline will undergo pre-screening for completeness and responsiveness to this notice. Separately, a cross-DoD/Military Service review panel will conduct a military value assessment by reviewing proposal content in response only to criterion

a) of the Selection Criteria in Section E., paragraph 1. of this notice. Proposals determined to represent a military value enhancement project will receive a score and then will be referred to the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program review panel, to include Department of Defense and Military Department staff with technical proficiencies and relevant experience, for scoring against criteria b) and c). All other proposals that do not enhance military value will be referred to the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program review panel for scoring against criteria a)ii. or a)iii., b) and c) of the Selection Criteria in Section E., paragraph 1. of this notice.

A final proposal ranking will then be provided by the panel to the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) for approval. Once approved, the listing will be provided to the Director, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, to invite a formal grant application consistent with the ranked proposals on or about August 15, 2022, and award funding for successfully submitted formal grant applications on or about September 21, 2022. In the event a respondent is unable to submit an application or it is determined the invited respondent’s application materially differs from the proposal that was considered by the review panel, another respondent may be invited to submit an application based upon their competitive ranking.

Proposers will need to accept the terms and conditions of these awards prior to or about September 23, 2022, so the funds can be obligated prior to close of business on September 30, 2022. Members of the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program review panel will be subject to a non-disclosure agreement until released from the non-disclosure agreement by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation.

4. Awards Greater Than the Simplified Acquisition Threshold The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000), is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is available in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov or at FAPIIS.gov (see 41 U.S.C. 2313).

An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM.gov and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov.

The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 C.F.R. 200.206.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices In the event a grant is awarded, the successful applicant (Grantee) will receive a notice of award in the form of a grant agreement, signed by the Director, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (Grantor), on behalf of the Department of Defense. The grant agreement will be transmitted electronically. Grants must be awarded and the Grantee must accept the terms and condition of an award prior to or about September 23, 2022, so the funds can be obligated prior to close of business on September 30, 2022. Once obligated, the funding remains available for expenses within five (5) years from the date of award, as approved by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation in the grant terms and conditions. Grantees will need to ensure Federal fund drawdowns are proportional to the non-Federal (local) project cost contribution portion for the total approved project budget.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements Any grant awarded under this program will be governed by the provisions of the Office of Management and Budget circulars applicable to financial assistance and the Department of Defense’s implementing regulations in place at the time of the award. A Grantee receiving funds under this opportunity and any consultant or pass-thru entity operating under the terms of a grant shall comply with all Federal, State, and local laws applicable to its activities. Federal regulations that will apply to an Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation grant include administrative requirements and provisions governing allowable costs as stated in:

• 2 C.F.R. Part 200, ‘‘Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards’’

• 2 CFR Part 1104, “Implementation of Government-wide Guidance for Grants and Cooperative Agreements”

• 2 C.F.R. Part 25, ‘‘Universal Identifier and System for Award Management’’

• 2 C.F.R. Part 170, ‘‘Reporting Sub-award and Executive Compensation Information’’

• 2 C.F.R. Part 1125, Department of Defense Non-Procurement Debarment and Suspension

• 32 C.F.R. Part 28, ‘‘New Restrictions on Lobbying’’

• Additional requirements include compliance with: National Environmental Protection

Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation Act, Hire American Act, and the Build America, Buy America Act included under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law on November 15, 2021.

3. Reporting Performance The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation requires performance reports in intervals no less frequent than annual nor more frequent than quarterly except in unusual circumstances, for example, where more frequent reporting is necessary for effective monitoring or could significantly affect deliverables. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation’s notice of award will include a schedule to identify reporting type, frequency, and due dates. All performance reports will be submitted electronically. The following provides the required criteria for construction grant performance reports:

• The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will rely upon on-site inspections and certified percentage of completion data to monitor progress under awards and sub-awards for construction. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may require additional performance reports when considered necessary.

• Significant developments. Events may occur between the scheduled performance reporting dates that have significant impact upon the supported activity. In such cases, the Grantee must inform the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation as soon as the following types of conditions become known:

o Problems, delays, or adverse conditions which will materially impair the ability to meet the objective of the Federal award, especially the agreed upon Project Development Schedule. This disclosure must include a statement of the action taken, or contemplated, and any assistance needed to resolve the situation.

o Favorable developments which enable meeting time schedules and objectives sooner or at less cost than anticipated or producing more or different beneficial results than originally planned.

o The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation retains the right to make site visits as warranted.

The final performance report will be due one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the period of performance end date. The final performance report must contain a summary of activities for the entire grant period. All required deliverables should be submitted with the final performance report.