GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT

RFR Number: 26031 COMMBUYS Number: BD-26-1046-DMF-FWE20-130732 Dated: June 18, 2026

MA Clean Vessel Act Grant

1. Grant Opportunity Summary

A. PROPOSALS SOUGHT FOR: The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MADMF) announces the availability of grant funds to provide recreational boaters with facilities to prevent waste disposal into public marine waterways and improve recreational boating opportunities. Funding for the MA Clean Vessel Act comes from the USFWS – OCI Federal Clean Vessel Act Program.

B. OVERVIEW AND GOALS: The goal of this program is to provide adequate recreational boater pump out and waste disposal facilities where recreational vessels normally operate in MA coastal waters. Outputs are measured in the number of these facilities that are annually constructed, renovated, operated, and maintained for recreational vessels and their users.

C. ELIGIBLE RESPONDENTS: The Clean Vessel Act is open to legally recognized entities, including state departments, municipalities, regional planning agencies, conservation districts, tribal governments and entities, charitable conservation organizations or trusts, or other businesses, institutions, non-profits, or individuals that can enter a contract with the Commonwealth. All respondents must be in good standing with both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and federal government.

D. PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 12 PM on September 15, 2026 (see further details on deadlines in Section 4) E. FUNDING AVAILABILITY: MADMF expects to award up to $1,500,000,00 in total funding for this funding opportunity. Respondents may request up to 75% of the cost of new pump out facilities and/or the cost operations and maintenance of existing pump out facilities in a calendar year.

F. MATCH REQUIREMENT: There is 25% match requirement for this funding opportunity.

G. ANTICIPATED DURATION OF CONTRACTS: Contracts will end on 12/31/2027.

H. REGULATIONS, STATUTES, OR AUTHORIZATION GOVERNING THIS GRANT PROGRAM: Respondents are responsible for compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations governing the funding source. Funds are available through the Sportfish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and are authorized through the Department of Interior US Fish and Wildlife Services’ Office of Conservation Investment’s Clean Vessel Act Program.

I. CONTACT INFORMATION: Cecil French - cecil.french@mass.gov – (978) 491-6215

2. Performance and Contract Specifications

A. ELIGIBLE RESPONDENTS: The Clean Vessel Act is open to legally recognized entities, including state departments, municipalities, regional planning agencies, conservation districts, tribal governments and entities, charitable conservation organizations or trusts, or other businesses, institutions, non-profits, or individuals that can enter a contract with the Commonwealth. All respondents must be in good standing with both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and federal government.

B. ELIGIBLE PROJECTS: Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

· Construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of pump out and dump stations, including floating restrooms in the water that are not connected to land or structures connected to the land and are used solely by marine boaters. This includes any activity necessary to hold and transport sewage to sewage treatment plants, such as holding tanks piping, haulage sots, and any activity necessary to ensure a sewage treatment plant accepts sewage form a CVA-supported facility, such as installing bleed-in facilities.

Ineligible actives include:

· Activities that do not provide public benefits.

· Law Enforcement Activities.

· Construction or renovation of upland restroom facilities.

· Construction, renovation operation and maintenance of onsite sewage treatment plants, such as package treatment plants and septic systems, and of municipal sewage treatment plants for primary and secondary treatment.

· Construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of pump out and dump stations in fresh waterway systems.

C. FUNDING AVAILABILITY, BUDGETING GUIDELINES, AND ALLOWABLE EXPENDITURES: MADMF expects to award up to $1,500,000,00 in total funding for this funding opportunity. Respondents may request up to 75% of the cost of new pump out facilities and/or the cost operations and maintenance of existing pump out facilities in a calendar year. Costs eligible for reimbursement include all approved project costs incurred on or after a selected respondent’s contract execution date and on or before 12/31/2027.

Equipment Purchases: Equipment is defined as tangible personal property, having a useful life of at least five years and a per-unit acquisition cost of $10,000 or greater. The equipment must be purchased in full to qualify for reimbursement. The equipment title will reside with the grantee and must be used for its intended purpose, as described in the approved project proposal. The grantee is required to use the equipment for its proposed and intended purpose for the useful life of the equipment.

D. MATCH REQUIREMENT: There is 25% match requirement for the funding opportunity. Federal funds are ineligible for use as match. Examples of eligible match funds include, but are not limited to, in-kind, volunteer hours, cash, etc.

E. PROJECT TERMS: If awarded, all grantees will be required to abide by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Terms and Conditions. If funds are awarded to an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, an Interagency Service Agreement (ISA) will be used as the grant agreement. In addition, all contracts are subject to successful negotiation of a Final Scope of Services and/or Budget. Please note that MADMF does not guarantee that any contracts may result from this grant opportunity or that any funding level will be awarded. It is anticipated that projects could commence immediately upon MADMF’s decision and execution of a contract. The awarded contracts may be reviewed during their course and, upon request by the grantee, may be amended at the sole discretion of MADMF. Any amendments granted may not necessarily change the monetary value of the contract.

In accordance with the Massachusetts Comptrollers Guidance on Grants Procurement and Contracts, The department, at its discretion, may negotiate a change in any element of contract performance or cost identified in the grant application, RFR or the grantee’s response, which results in lower costs, or a more cost-effective or better value grant result than was presented in the grantee’s original proposal. Changes can be negotiated which result in overall increased costs, provided the overall result is the best value or a “better value” than was originally proposed.

F. TOTAL ANTICIPATED DURATION OF CONTRACT(S): The contract period will begin on the date that the contract is executed by MADMF and ends on 12/31/2027.

G. REPORTING: Grantee must submit an Invoice Checklist and Submittal Form, Daily Narrative Report, an Affidavit, and a Pump out Log with every invoice. Please see the MA CVA Website for more information.

H. INVOICING: Grantees must first pay for grant-approved expenditures then submit for reimbursement along with required acceptable documentation for eligible costs. Project costs and match may not be incurred until after the Grantee has an executed contract from MADMF. Grantees must pay for 100% of an expenditure before submitting for reimbursement and only approved expenses (as written in the contract’s scope/budget) incurred during the period of the contract are eligible for reimbursement, unless an exemption is agreed upon during the contract negotiation process allowing for upfront costs.

The Grantee may submit multiple reimbursement requests, monthly at most, during the contract period. The final reimbursement request must be submitted no later than 60 days after the contract end date. Funds issued pursuant to this Grant Opportunity must be expended and match documented on or before the contract end date 12/31/2027. Any funds not used within the contract period will be released back to the state.

I. OWNERSHIP AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Grantee shall acknowledge funding from MADMF and its federal source on all products for public distribution and viewing, including PowerPoint presentations, press releases, fact sheets, brochures, reports, web content, and signs.

3. Instructions for Proposal Submission

A. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Complete proposals must be received by September 15, 2026. Any proposal received after the deadline will be rejected. Proposals may be submitted via email to cecil.french@mass.gov. All form instructions and required documents are attached to this document. Failure to complete and submit all required information may result in the disqualification of the proposal.

Proposals must not be longer than 10 pages and must include the following (see Attachment A: Proposal Template, for more detailed instructions):

1. Name, address, and contact information of entity applying

2. Description of proposed project and deliverables

3. Project timeline

4. Budget

B. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:

· Respondents will need to fill out these forms with their proposal submission:

· Commonwealth Standard Contract Form, filled out and signed by the Respondent

· Completed Contractor Authorized Signature Verification Form

· If a proposal is selected, the Respondent will also need to fill out these forms:

· Commonwealth W-9 tax information form, filled out and signed by the Respondent

· Commonwealth Electronic Funds Transfer Form filled out and signed by the Respondent

Respondents are encouraged to review these forms prior to submission of a response to understand the requirements for receipt of funds. They are available as Attachments to this document.

C. EVALUATION CRITERIA: MADMF will evaluate all complete and responsive proposals on a competitive basis and select projects that obtain the highest scores. MADMF reserves the right to request additional, clarifying information from the respondent during the evaluation period, and to reject any or all proposals that do not meet the goals and terms of this Grant Opportunity. Each proposal will be reviewed based on the availability of federal funds, state and federal program guidelines, and the needs of Massachusetts’ recreational boaters

4.

4. Deadlines and Procurement Calendar A. RELEASE OF GRANT OPPORTUNITY: June 18, 2026 B. INFORMATION SESSION: Contact Cecil French via cecil.french@mass.gov or (978) 491-6215 C. PROPOSAL DUE DATE: 12 pm on September 15, 2026 D. ESTIMATED AWARD DATE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ decisions are estimated to be announced on or about 45 days after the grant proposal deadline.

E. ESTIMATED CONTRACT START DATE: Notwithstanding any verbal representations by the parties, or an earlier start date listed in the Standard Contract Form, and only after an award is issued and a final scope of services has been negotiated, the effective start date of a contract shall be the latest of the following dates: the date the Standard Contract Form has been executed by an authorized signatory of the contractor and the procuring department; the date of secretariat or other approval(s) required by law or regulation; or a later date specified in the Standard Contract Form. The earliest start date for contracts resulting from this Grant Opportunity is 1/1/2027

5.

5. Miscellaneous A. TYPE OF PROCUREMENT: Grant B. USE OF THIS PROCUREMENT BY SINGLE OR MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS: This Grant Opportunity is a single department procurement. All contracts awarded under this Grant will be utilized solely by MADMF.

C. REQUEST FOR SINGLE OR MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS: This Grant Opportunity may result in multiple contracts.

D. DISTRIBUTION METHOD: This Grant Opportunity has been distributed electronically via COMMBUYS. It is the responsibility of every Respondent to check COMMBUYS for any addenda or modifications to a Grant Opportunity to which they intend to respond. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and its subdivisions accept no liability and will provide no accommodations to Respondents who fail to check for amended Grant Opportunity and submit inadequate or incorrect responses. Potential Respondents are advised to check the “last change” field on the summary page of Grant Opportunity for which they intend to submit a response to ensure they have the most recent Grant Opportunity files.

Respondents may not alter grant language or any grant component files. Those submitting a proposal must respond in accordance with the grant directions and complete only those sections that prompt a response. Modifications to the body, specifications, terms and conditions, or which change the intent of this grant are prohibited. Any unauthorized alterations will disqualify a response.

All contracts shall be subject to available funding, whether through the appropriation and authorization of sufficient funds or the receipt of sufficient revenues. If available funding ceases for any reason, a contract shall be deemed under suspension and contract performance must halt. A contractor will not be entitled to compensation for any performance provided during the period of contract suspension. MADMF may lift the suspension if available funding is received. In the absence of foreseeable available funding, MADMF may terminate the contract.

E. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS:

1. Proposal Form Template (all respondents must apply via email)

2. Commonwealth Standard Contract Form and Instructions

3. Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing

4. Sample W-9 Form

5. Sample Authorization of Electronic Funds Payment form image1.png