EPA-R9-SFBay-26-01-NOFO-Final.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Applications Due: Tuesday, March 3, 2026

San Francisco Bay Geographic Program, Region 9

Water Quality Restoration Grants

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-R9-SFBay-26-01 i

Contents

1. Basic Information

A. Executive Summary B. Key Information:

C. Key Dates:

D. Funding Details:

E. Agency Contact Information:

2. Eligibility

A. Eligible Applicants

(1) Other Eligibility Requirements

B. Cost Sharing

3. Program Description

A. Purpose, Priorities, and Activities

(1) General Purpose

(2) Funding Priorities and Focus Areas

(3) Environmental Results

B. Program Goals and Objectives EPA also requires that grant applicants adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under this grant (see C. Statutory Authority D. Funding Type

4. Application Contents and Format

A. Application Forms B. Project Narrative Description C. Applicants Using Contractors D. Coalition Coverage E. Other Program Specific Application Information

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

A. Submission Dates and Times B. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) C. Submission Instructions D. Technical Issues with Submission E. Intergovernmental Review

6. Application Review Information

A. Responsiveness Review B. Review Criteria C. Review and Selection Process

(1) Funding Decisions

D. Risk Review ii

7. Award Notices

8. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements B. Reporting C. Subaward and Executive Compensation Reporting

9. Other Information

A. Additional Provisions for Applicants B. Compliance with other applicable laws C. Build America Buy America (BABA)

Attachment A

1. Basic Information U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

San Francisco (SF) Bay Geographic Program, Region 9

SF Bay Program – FY2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Geographic Program URL: www.epa.gov/sfbay-program

A. Executive Summary

The SF Bay Grant Program is competitive and focuses on program priorities that make measurable progress in restoring the Bay and its watersheds. Since 2008, EPA has administered this grant program to improve water quality, clean up contaminated shorelines, restore wetlands, and implement urban stormwater treatment systems.

Eligible recipients, listed in in Section 2.A, can submit applications for projects within the nine SF Bay counties (Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco) that drain to SF Bay.

C. Key Dates:

March 3, 2026 11:59 pm ET Application Submission Deadline

March 3, 2026 8:59 PT Application Submission Deadline (Local Time)

April 2026 Anticipated Notification of Selection

June 2026 Anticipated Award Notification

D. Funding Details:

It is anticipated that up to 20 awards will be made under this announcement. The amount of funding is expected to be approximately 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 per award, depending on Agency funding levels, the quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations. Awards funded under this opportunity are expected to have a 3-5 year project period.

B. Key Information:

Opportunity Number:

EPA-R9-SFBay-26-01

Assistance Listing:

66.126

Announcement Type:

Initial

Funding Available:

~ 33 million dollars

Number of Awards:

15-20 http://www.epa.gov/sfbay-program https://www.epa.gov/sfbay-program/priorities

E. Agency Contact Information:

Further information, if needed, may be obtained from the EPA contact(s) indicated below.

Technical Contact: Lyndsey Tu; 415-972-3269; Tu.Lyndsey@epa.gov

Eligibility Contact: Lyndsey Tu; 415-972-3269; Tu.Lyndsey@epa.gov

Electronic Submissions Contact: Lyndsey Tu; 415-972-3269; Tu.Lyndsey@epa.gov

Regional Contact(s): Luisa Valiela; 415-972-3400; Valiela.Luisa@epa.gov

2. Eligibility

A. Eligible Applicants Only these types of organizations may apply:

• State, local agencies, and special districts

• Federally recognized Tribes: non-federally recognized Tribes represented by a nonprofit institution

• Public or nonprofit agencies, institutions, and organizations.

(1) Other Eligibility Requirements

Applications must meet the following threshold criteria to be considered eligible:

1. Program Priorities: Applicants must demonstrate that the project(s) provides environmental and/or public health benefits under one or more of the Program‘s 11 Priorities.

2. EPA Priorities: Applications must demonstrate how their projects align with EPA‘s 5 Pillars.

3. Twenty-Five (25)% Match: Applicants must demonstrate how they will provide a 25% match of the total project costs as described in Section 3.

3. Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) Consistency: Applications must describe how the proposed activities are consistent with SF Estuary Partnership’s (SFEP) CCMP and identify relevant CCMP objective(s) and action(s) to be implemented by the project.

4. Project Location: Projects must be carried out entirely within one or more of the nine SF Bay counties (Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco) that drain to the Bay.

5. Substantial Compliance: All applications will be reviewed for eligibility and must meet the eligibility requirements described in Section 2. to be considered eligible. Applicants who do not meet the threshold eligibility criteria in Section 2. will be notified within fifteen (15) calendar days of the ineligibility determination. Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section 5. or they will be rejected.

6. Application Submission: Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov as stated in Section

5. (except in the limited circumstances where another mode of submission is specifically https://www.epa.gov/sfbay-program/priorities https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-administrator-lee-zeldin-announces-epas-powering-great-american-comeback bookmark://_5._Submission_Requirements/ bookmark://_5._Submission_Requirements/ bookmark://_5._Submission_Requirements/ allowed) on or before the application submission deadline. Applicants are responsible for following the submission instructions to ensure that their application is timely submitted. Please note that applicants experiencing technical issues with submitting through Grants.gov should follow the instructions provided in Section 5., which include both the requirement to contact Grants.gov and email a full application to EPA prior to the deadline. Applications submitted outside of Grants.gov will be deemed ineligible without further consideration unless the applicant can clearly demonstrate that it was due to EPA mishandling or technical problems associated with Grants.gov or SAM.gov. An applicant’s failure to timely submit their application through Grants.gov because they did not timely or properly register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov will not be considered an acceptable reason to consider a submission outside of Grants.gov.

7. Ineligible Activities: If an application is submitted that includes any ineligible costs, that portion of the application will be ineligible for funding and may, depending on the extent to which it affects the application, render the entire application ineligible for funding. Applications that substantially support environmental education programs in K-12 schools are not eligible for funding.

Please see Section 6.A. Responsiveness Review regarding the application review process for threshold eligibility criteria.

B. Cost Sharing Applicants must demonstrate in their application how they will meet the cost share requirement to be considered eligible. Selected recipients must comply with 2 C.F.R. § 200.306 when meeting a cost share requirement.

Matching funds of 25% of the total project cost are required under this competition based on the requirements of Section 125 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C § 1276a.

3. Program Description A. Purpose, Priorities, and Activities

(1) General Purpose

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to seek applications that align with the Administration’s “Five Pillars” from the “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative; to support the SF Bay program priorities; and to align with appropriate statutory authorities. The SF Bay Program aims to support a broad array of project types that improve ecosystem functions and address water quality impacts from nutrients, stormwater, urban pesticide use, and habitat loss.

EPA’s SF Bay Geographic Program supports water quality improvements for the Bay through competitive grants to projects that protect and restore wetlands, reduce polluted runoff, remediate shorelines, advance landscape scale watershed restoration and more.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.306 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/33/1276a

(2) Funding Priorities and Focus Areas

SF Bay Program Funding Priorities: Applications should include environmental and/or public health benefits under one or more of the SF Bay Program Priorities.

Applications must indicate the SF Bay Program Priority and SFEP’s CCMP objective(s) and action(s) to be implemented under the project. For additional information on the San Francisco CCMP, visit SFEP’s website.

Examples of eligible project types include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Beneficial reuse of dredged material

• Projects to reduce nutrient inputs into SF Bay, (e.g. pilot-scale wastewater treatment plant technologies, agricultural land BMPs, etc.)

• Restoration of subtidal habitat through sediment remediation and/or debris removal

• Installation of green stormwater infrastructure features to manage stormwater

• Removal of trash from the Bay and its watersheds

• Multi-benefit shoreline projects that restore habitat, provide flood protection and/or reduce pollutants

• Contaminated site cleanup that leads to improvement of waters of the SF Bay

• Large-scale restoration projects that protect and restore wetlands and waters

• Developing, utilizing or expanding on artificial intelligence (AI) and or machine learning for efforts related to SF Bay Program priorities, including water quality monitoring and water quality modeling

For a list of current and completed projects, please see the SF Bay Story Map.

(3) Environmental Results

Environmental Outputs and Outcomes: Applicants are required to describe how funding will help EPA achieve outputs and outcomes in their responses to the criteria in Section 6. These outputs and outcomes will be included as deliverables in the grant workplan if the application is selected for award.

Recipients will be expected to report progress toward the attainment of project outputs and outcomes during the project performance period. Outputs and outcomes are defined as follows:

Outputs are an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to an environmental goal or objective that will be produced or provided over time or by a specified date.

Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during the project period. The expected outputs for the grants awarded under these guidelines may include but are not limited to:

number of presentations made, number of participants at an event or workshop, draft and final technical reports produced, tools and/or guidance documents for decision makers, and draft and final reports.

Outcomes are the result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out the activities under the grant. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic; outcomes must be qualitative or quantitative; outcomes may not necessarily be achievable during the project period. EPA anticipates the outcomes from the projects awarded under this announcement may include, but are not limited to:

• Pollutant load reductions, attainment of water quality objectives, or other numeric indicators of water quality improvement.

• Improved flood protection in the form of shoreline and/or stormwater management.

• Acres of habitat restored.

https://www.epa.gov/sfbay-program/priorities https://www.sfestuary.org/ https://www.epa.gov/sfbay-program/san-francisco-bay-program-story-map

• Improved water quality as a result of shoreline site remediation.

• Percentage of land area where green stormwater infrastructure has been or will be implemented to achieve water quality improvements and/or community benefits.

B. Program Goals and Objectives This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) supports the Administrator’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, with an emphasis on Pillar 1 (Clean Water for Every American) and Pillar 3 (Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnerships) to spur economic prosperity, protect aquatic and terrestrial habitat, and offer recreational opportunities to millions of Americans.

EPA also requires that grant applicants adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under this grant (see EPA Order 5700.7A1 Environmental Results Under Assistance). Applicants must include specific statements describing the environmental results of the proposed project in terms of well-defined outputs, and to the maximum extent practicable, well-defined outcomes that will demonstrate how the project will contribute to the priorities described above.

C. Statutory Authority EPA will award available funds under Section 125 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C § 1276a. EPA also reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with Agency policy and guidance, if additional funding (e.g. FY 2026) becomes available after the original selection decisions. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than six months after the original selection decisions.

D. Funding Type It is anticipated that grants will be funded under this funding opportunity.

4. Application Contents and Format

A. Application Forms The following forms and documents are required under this announcement:

Mandatory Documents:

• Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

• Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)

• EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54

• EPA Form 4700-4 Pre-award Compliance Review Report

• Project Narrative Attachment Form: use this to submit your Project Narrative

• Budget Detail Table: use this to submit your detailed budget including narrative explanation for line items if needed - see Note 1 below

• Project Area Map: use the “Other Attachments Form” to submit - see Note 2 below https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-administrator-lee-zeldin-announces-epas-powering-great-american-comeback https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-administrator-lee-zeldin-announces-epas-powering-great-american-comeback https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/33/1276a

Optional Documents:

• Other Attachments Form: Use this to submit other attachments, if applicable including letters of support

Note 1:

--Detailed budget table – Using a table format, clearly explain how EPA funds will be used. The table should highlight key tasks/outputs for the project period with the associated budget breakdown. Explain how the overall project costs and the various components are cost-effective in furthering future implementation. This provides an opportunity for a narrative description of the budget found in the SF 424(A). In the SF 424(A), applicants must itemize costs related to personnel, fringe benefits, contractual costs, travel, equipment, supplies, other direct costs, indirect costs, and total costs. Costs in your budget detail should correspond to the SF 424(A).

Note 2:

--Project Area Map – Provide a map of the watershed and the proposed work areas of the project or, if more appropriate, provide a schematic that helps explain the proposed project activities.

Applicants are advised that readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in application format, including selecting a legible font type and size for use in the application.

B. Project Narrative Description The project narrative must be no longer than fifteen (15) pages in total (8 ½ x 11 inches, single spaced);

pages more than this page limit will not be reviewed. Applicants must also ensure that the narrative provides information addressing all review criteria identified in Section 6.B. and meets the threshold criteria in Section 2. Forms 424, 424-A, maps, detailed budget table, letters of support, and forms required by Grants.gov in Section 5 DO NOT count toward the 15-page limit. Applicants must select a legible font type and size (e.g., Calibri size 12) for readability.

Additional Application Resources

Guidance for budget development:

• Indirect Cost Policy and Guidance for Recipients of EPA Assistance Agreements

• Interim General Budget Development Guidance for Applicants and Recipients of EPA Financial

Assistance

• Tips for Completing EPA Form 4700-4, Pre award Compliance Review Report

• EPA Subaward Policy for EPA Assistance Agreement Recipients

• Best Practice Guide for Procuring Services, Supplies, and Equipment Under EPA Assistance

Agreements

• EPA Guidance on Participant Support Costs

C. Applicants Using Contractors Applicants must compete contracts for services and products, including consultant contracts, and conduct cost and price analyses, to the extent required by the procurement provisions of the regulations at 2 CFR Part 200.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2018-g02-r https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-05/documents/applicant-budget-development-guidance.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-05/documents/applicant-budget-development-guidance.pdf https://www.epa.gov/grants/tips-completing-epa-form-4700-4 https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/documents/best-practice-guide-for-procuring-services-supplies-equipment.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/documents/best-practice-guide-for-procuring-services-supplies-equipment.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/documents/epa-guidance-on-participant-support-costs.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/subject-group-ECFR45ddd4419ad436d

Do not name a procurement contractor (including a consultant) as a “partner” or otherwise in your application unless the contractor has been selected in compliance with competitive procurement requirements. If an applicant selected for award has named a specific subrecipient, contractor, or consultant in the application, it does not relieve the applicant of its obligations to comply with subaward and/or competitive procurement requirements.

The EPA will not consider the qualifications, experience, and expertise of named subrecipients and/or named contractor(s) during the application evaluation process unless the applicant provides documentation that it has complied with these requirements.

For additional guidance, applicants should review EPA’s Best Practice Guide for Procuring Services, Supplies, and Equipment Under EPA Assistance Agreements, EPA’s Subaward Policy, and EPA’s Subaward Policy Frequent Questions. The EPA expects recipients of funding to comply with competitive procurement contracting requirements in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 1500, as well as the requirements in 2 CFR Part 200.321 and 40 CFR Part 33 Subpart C.

D. Coalition Coverage A coalition is formed when two or more eligible applicants coordinate to submit a single application.

Coalitions must identify which single eligible organization will be the recipient of the grant and which eligible organization(s) will receive subawards from the recipient (the “pass-through entity”). The pass-through entity that administers the grant and subawards will be accountable to the EPA for proper expenditure of the funds and reporting and will be the point of contact for the coalition. Subawards must be consistent with the definition of that term in 2 CFR § 200.1 and comply with the EPA’s Subaward Policy.

E. Other Program Specific Application Information Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) Certain quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) and peer review requirements apply to the collection of environmental data. Environmental data encompass any measurements or information that describe environmental processes, locations, or conditions, as well as ecological or health effects and consequences, or the performance of environmental technology. This data includes information collected directly from measurements, generated from models, and obtained from other sources such as databases or published literature. Regulations pertaining to QA/QC requirements can be found in 2 CFR Part 200 and 2 CFR § 1500.12. Additional guidance can be found at the Region 9 QA website.

A project specific Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) must be submitted and approved by EPA if your project includes sampling of any kind. The QMP and/or QAPP must be approved by EPA prior to the initiation of data collection or data compilation. Successful applicants should allow sufficient time and resources for this process. If your application is selected and a QAPP required, you are encouraged to contact the EPA’s QA Office at 415-972-3411 as soon as possible to discuss the process and set up a schedule for review. Allow 3-4 months in your timeline for approval of these plans. Applicants should allow sufficient time and resources for this process in their proposed projects.

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

A. Submission Dates and Times March 3, 2026 11:59 pm ET Application Submission Deadline https://www.epa.gov/grants/best-practice-guide-procuring-services-supplies-and-equipment-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/best-practice-guide-procuring-services-supplies-and-equipment-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-04/epa_subaward_policy_frequent_questions.pdf https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-04/epa_subaward_policy_frequent_questions.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Subaward) https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients https://www.epa.gov/quality/quality-assurance-project-planning-epas-pacific-southwest-region-9

March 3, 2026 8:59 pm PT Application Submission Deadline (Local Time)

Grants.gov creates a date and time record when it receives the application. If you submit the same application more than once, we will accept the last on-time submission.

B. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov. SAM.gov will provide a UEI for your organization, which is required to apply for grants using Grants.gov. To register, go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and click Get Started. From the same page, you can also click on the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register. Make sure you are current with SAM.gov and UEI requirements before applying for the award.

SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

Grants.gov You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants.

Please visit How to Register to Apply for Grants for additional information.

C. Submission Instructions You must submit your application through Grants.gov. See Section 5.B. above for information on getting registered.

Important tips:

• To begin the application process under this grant announcement, go to Grants.gov and click the red “Apply” button at the top of the view grant opportunity page associated with this opportunity.

• See the Quick Start Guide for Applicants for instructions on how to submit.

• Make sure your application passes the Grants.gov validation checks.

• Do not encrypt, zip, or password protect any files.

• Your application must be submitted by an official representative of your organization who is registered with Grants.gov and is authorized to sign applications for Federal financial assistance.

• If you receive an error or the button is grayed out, it may be because you do not have the appropriate role to submit in your organization. Contact your organization’s EBiz point of contact or contact Grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

• See Grants.gov Errors for information on other Grants.gov errors.

• The UEI listed on the application must be registered to the applicant organization's SAM.gov account. If not, the application may be deemed ineligible.

D. Technical Issues with Submission If applicants experience technical issues during the submission of an application that they are unable to resolve, follow these procedures before the application deadline date:

• Contact Grants.gov Support Center before the application deadline date.

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://sam.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/entity-checklist.pdf https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://www.epa.gov/grants/how-apply-grants mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/applicants/encountering-error-messages.html

• Document the Grants.gov ticket/case number.

• Send an email with Funding Opportunity Number (FON): EPA-R9-SFBay-26-01 in the subject line to tu.lyndsey@epa.gov before the application deadline time and date and must include the following:

• Grants.gov ticket/case number(s)

• Description of the issue

• The entire application package in PDF format.

Without this information, the EPA may not be able to consider applications submitted outside of Grants.gov. Any application submitted after the application deadline time and date deadline will be deemed ineligible and not be considered.

Please note that successful submission through Grants.gov or email does not necessarily mean your application is eligible for award.

Applicants with limited or no access to the internet may request an exception by following the procedures outlined here. The request must be received at least 15 calendar days before the application due date to allow enough time to negotiate alternative submission methods.

E. Intergovernmental Review You will need to submit application information for Intergovernmental Review. Some states have adopted Single Points of Contact (SPOC) for coordinating the review.

Contact the applicable grants office for further instruction.

This requirement does not apply to American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes or tribal organizations.

The application is not subject to Intergovernmental Review.

6. Application Review Information

A. Responsiveness Review Applications must meet the eligibility requirements described in Section 2 to be evaluated. Applicants not meeting these requirements will be deemed ineligible and will be notified within 15 calendar days of the determination.

• Applications must adhere to the page limit requirements. Any pages over the limit(s) in Section 4 will not be reviewed.

• Initial applications must be submitted on or before the application deadline through Grants.gov or through limited circumstances as expressed in Section 5. The EPA will not evaluate applications that are not submitted on time.

• Technical difficulties applying: Applicants having technical difficulties applying must contact the Grants.gov hotline at 1-800-518-4726 and then must email a PDF of the full application to the EPA contact listed in Section 1. The submission must be received prior to the application deadline for consideration.

mailto:tu.lyndsey@epa.gov https://www.epa.gov/grants/exceptions-grantsgov-submission-requirement https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2021-g02 https://www.epa.gov/grants/regional-grants-information

B. Review Criteria

Criteria Name and Description Points

Scope/Approach

Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on the quality and degree to which they present the program priorities discussed in Section 3., including:

• a technically/scientifically sound approach for addressing water quality improvement and/or wetlands restoration through the proposed activities. (6 pts)

• activities based on existing plans and assessments, such as watershed plans, TMDLs and/or associated analysis, or stormwater/green infrastructure plans, or for proposed planning and assessment activities, the likelihood of subsequent implementation. (6 pts)

• a description of the environmental and regional significance of the project, its contribution to the current state of knowledge, natural disaster planning where applicable, and the relative risk and reward of pursuing the project or approach. (8 pts)

Environmental Results – Outputs and Outcomes

Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on how well they demonstrate:

• well defined outputs throughout the project timeframe. (5 pts)

• clearly described environmental and/or public health results that are specific, quantified, and link to EPA’s 5 Pillars. (15 pts)

• an effective plan for tracking and measuring progress toward achieving expected project outputs and outcomes. See Section 3 * (5 pts)

* EPA will consider the quality and scope of the monitoring component to measure environmental results under this criterion. If monitoring is not an appropriate project activity necessary to achieve and document results, proposals will not receive a lower rating under this criterion.

Budget Detail

Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on:

• the level of detailed budget information provided in a table format which should include an approximation of the cost allocated for each major activity over the project’s expected timeline. (Budget resources necessary for completing a QAPP, if applicable, sharing project information broadly, and reporting progress, are expected to be included. See Section 4.E.) (8 pts)

• the extent to which the overall project costs and the various components are cost-effective and reasonable in furthering future implementation of similar activities. (5 pts)

Programmatic Capability and Past Performance

Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on their ability to successfully complete and manage the proposed project considering their:

• past performance in successfully completing and managing the assistance agreements identified in response to Section 6.B.4. of the funding opportunity. (3 pts)

• history of meeting the reporting requirements under the assistance agreements identified in response to Section 6.B.4. of the funding opportunity including whether the applicant submitted acceptable final technical reports under those agreements and the extent to which the applicant adequately and timely reported on their progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes under those agreements and if such progress was not being made whether the applicant adequately reported why not. (3 pts)

• organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project. (3 pts)

• staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project. (3 pts)

Note: In evaluating applicants under the first two items of this criterion, the Agency will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources including agency files and prior/current grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information supplied by the applicant). If you do not have any relevant or available past performance or past reporting information, please indicate this in the application and you will receive a neutral score for these subfactors (for the first two items above-a neutral score is half of the total points available in a subset of possible points). If you do not provide any response for these items, you may receive a score of 0 for these factors.

Timely Expenditure of Grant Funds

Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on their approach, procedures, and controls for ensuring that awarded grant funds will be expended in a timely and efficient manner. (5 pts)

Partnerships and Cooperative Federalism

Under this criterion, applications will be evaluated based on the quality and extent to which they demonstrate:

• Partnerships and involvement in the project, particularly those that contribute to expected environmental results and ongoing implementation, such as partnerships or involvement with agencies that have purview over water quality and land use decisions. Projects must demonstrate that all necessary partners have been identified and have essential roles. Projects that do not involve partnerships will be evaluated based on how well the applicant demonstrates it can efficiently and effectively perform the project without partners. (15 pts)

• Specifics as to the roles proposed partners will play to support project activities. Letters of support provided by partners to substantiate their role will be reviewed. Projects without partnerships will be evaluated based on how well the applicant documents its sole responsibilities in the project location. (10 pts)

Applicants will be evaluated based on the extent and quality to which they demonstrate that they have the capability to successfully perform the project as described in Section 3 of this funding opportunity.

Only eligible entities whose applications meet the threshold criteria in Section 2. of this announcement will be evaluated. Applicants should explicitly address these review criteria as part of their application package submittal in the project narrative. Each application will be rated using a point system.

Applications will be evaluated based on a total of 100 possible points.

C. Review and Selection Process Eligible applications will be evaluated by the EPA Region 9 Review Committee which will score and rank them using the review criteria in Section 6.B. The Review Committee will consist of EPA staff and may also include representatives from other state or Federal agencies.

The Review Committee will provide rankings and funding recommendations based on the application scores to the Selection Official (EPA Region 9 Water Division Director).

(1) Funding Decisions Final funding decisions will be made by the selection official. In making the final funding decisions, the selection official may also consider the following factors: geographic distribution of funds, diversity of projects, and availability of funds.

D. Risk Review The EPA will consider any comments by the applicant, along with information available in the responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov., when doing the risk review as required by 2 CFR 200.206.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.206 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.206

7. Award Notices The EPA anticipates notification to successful applicants will be made by Lyndsey Tu of the San Francisco Bay Program Office. The notification will be sent to the original signer of the application or the project contact listed in the application. This notification is not an authorization to begin work. The official notification of an award will be made by EPA’s Grants Management Office. Selection does not guarantee an award will be made. Statutory authorization, funding, or other issues during the award process may affect the ability of the EPA to make an award. The award notice, signed by an EPA grants officer, is the authorizing document and will be provided through electronic or postal mail. The successful applicant may need to prepare and submit additional documents and forms, which must be approved by the EPA, before the grant can officially be awarded. The time between notification of selection and award of a grant can take up to 90 days or longer.

8. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements The recipient and any sub-recipient must comply with the applicable General Terms and Conditions.

These terms and conditions are in addition to the assurances and certifications made as part of the award, terms and conditions, and restrictions reflected on the official assistance award document.

Awards issued as a result of this funding opportunity are subject to the requirements of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards; Title 2 CFR Part 200 and 2 CFR Part 1500.

B. Reporting EPA’s General Terms and Conditions in the Notice of Award will have information on performance and financial reports, including:

• How often you will report.

• Any required form or formatting.

• How to submit them.

C. Subaward and Executive Compensation Reporting The Federal Financial Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) requires:

• Data entry at SAM.gov for all subawards and subcontracts issued for $30,000 or more.

• Reporting executive compensation for both recipient and subaward organizations.

9. Other Information A. Additional Provisions for Applicants Additional provisions that apply this funding opportunity and/or awards made under this funding opportunity, can be found at EPA NOFO Clauses. If you are unable to access these provisions electronically at the website above, please contact the EPA point of contact to obtain the provisions.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-terms-and-conditions#general https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XV/part-1500 https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-terms-and-conditions#general https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses

B. Compliance with other applicable laws Compliance with Federal laws such as the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Davis-Bacon Act, etc., may be required. Applicants may also be required to comply with state laws and regulations. Applicants are not required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act.

C. Build America Buy America (BABA) If applications include the use of funds for an infrastructure project located in the United States, all iron, steel, manufactured goods, and construction materials must be domestically made. This is a requirement under the Build America, Buy America Act. Applicants should direct questions about this requirement to the EPA Contact listed in this funding opportunity. For more information on Build America provisions and requirement, please visit EPA’s Build America, Buy America website. Please consider this information when preparing budget information and your application.

https://www.epa.gov/baba

Attachment A Useful References

The following information is for reference purposes only:

• San Francisco Bay TMDLs and 303(d) List of Impaired Water Bodies http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/water_issues/programs/TMDLs/

• California Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/swamp/

• S.F. Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board Basin Plan http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/basin_planning.shtml

• Bay Area’s Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals https://www.sfei.org/documents/baylandsgoalsreport

• San Francisco Estuary Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program (WRMP) https://www.sfestuary.org/wrmp/

• SF Bay Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) http://www.sfei.org/rmp/

• San Francisco Estuary Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) http://www.sfestuary.org/ccmp/

• California EcoAtlas https://ecoatlas.org/

• Budget Development Resources: https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2019-g02

• EPA Indirect Cost Policy: https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2018-g02-r http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/water_issues/programs/TMDLs/ http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/swamp/ http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/basin_planning.shtml https://www.sfei.org/documents/baylandsgoalsreport https://www.sfestuary.org/wrmp/ http://www.sfei.org/rmp/ http://www.sfestuary.org/ccmp/ https://ecoatlas.org/ http://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2019-g02 http://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2018-g02-r

B. Cost Sharing

D. Risk Review

Attachment A