checklist-attachment.pdf

The proposal package for Funding Opportunity R15AS00042 shall consist of the following:

1. Activity Narrative

This is a very important part of the proposal and should provide a very clear picture of the scope of the activity and how it is to be accomplished. The narrative should:

Discuss background and project location. Identify your activity and why financial assistance is needed.

Describe the desired outcome of the proposed activity.

Describe – in detail –the work to be carried out. Break out the proposed work into major tasks, and discuss the approach and evaluation techniques that will be used to accomplish the proposed work.

This discussion shall be in sufficient detail to permit a comprehensive evaluation of the proposal and its outcomes. If applicable, include engineering plans, designs and analyses as part of the proposal.

Recipients are strongly encouraged to have engineering plans, designs and analyses certified by a registered professional engineer. These plans should be in the Appendix of the proposal.

Identify the anticipated start and ending dates of all major stages/tasks of the proposed activity.

Identify sources and support of non-Federal funding.

Identify any past working relationships with Reclamation. This should include the date(s), description of prior relationship, and a description of the activity(s).

2. Budget Narrative The proposed activity budget narrative shall include detailed information for the categories listed below, as applicable to the activity. Awards will not be made to any applicant who fails to provide a detailed budget narrative.

Personnel costs: Define each position that will be working on this activity by title, salary or wage, amount of time estimated on the activity, and any fringe benefit costs.

Equipment description and hourly rate: Discuss whether the equipment is already owned, will be leased, or purchased. If equipment purchase is recommended, discuss why purchase is preferred to lease or rental. Itemize costs of all equipment purchased having a value of over $5,000.

Material and supplies: List the major types of material and supplies (office, construction, etc.) that are to be purchased and used on this activity.

Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Costs: “Environmental compliance costs” refer to costs incurred by Reclamation or the applicant in complying with environmental regulations. Discuss what costs have been included, why they are needed, and how the costs were determined.

Travel costs: Include purpose of trip, destination, number traveling, length of stay and all travel. If costs for travel are identified, be sure the purpose/need for travel is discussed in the narrative. List costs including airfare (basis for rate used), per diem, lodging, and miscellaneous travel expenses.

For local travel, include mileage and rate of compensation.

Contingency: Contingency is not considered an allowable cost element unless the applicant provides adequate assurance that the budgeted contingencies will be incurred. The support must give the government an assurance that additional costs, equivalent to the contingency, will be incurred due to unforeseen circumstance and events. An example of how this might be done is by an analysis of other similar jobs in the past and the costs incurred, over and above the estimate, due to unforeseen costs.

The supporting documentation must be comprehensive enough to provide the needed assurance that additional costs will be incurred due to unforeseen circumstances.

Other: Any other expenses, such as those for reporting, not included in the above categories shall be listed in this category, along with a description of the item and what it will be used for. No profit or fee will be allowed.

3. Required Standard Forms

The Standard Forms (SF forms) listed below must be signed by a person legally authorized to commit your organization to performance of the project. The signed-originals of the SF forms must be included along with the project and budget narrative in the proposal package. The SF forms are available at:

http://www.grants.gov/agencies/approved_standard_forms.jsp#1.

SF Forms to Submit SF Form Information

Application SF 424 - Application for Federal Assistance. Please include Funding Opportunity No. R15AS00042 on the SF-424.

Budget Information SF 424A or SF 424C, as applicable.

Assurances SF 424B or SF 424D, as applicable.

http://www.grants.gov/agencies/approved_standard_forms.jsp#1