ESBD_430467_1750778528063_582-27-00003 - FY26 GBEP (BIL) Project Proposal.pdf

Galveston Bay Estuary Program Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Project Proposal – Federal Fiscal 2026

Please complete the proposal form and submit to gbep@tceq.texas.gov by August 8, 2025. No late submittals will be considered for funding.

This Call for Project Proposals complies with 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) § 14.7, which lays out requirements for a competitive solicitation by TCEQ for grant awards. For convenience, specific citations to 30 TAC § 14.7 are identified in the text.

SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION

Purpose [required by 30 TAC § 14.7(1)]: The purpose of the proposed grant from the Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP), a program of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), is to implement The Galveston Bay Plan, 2nd Edition (the Plan), a comprehensive conservation and management plan falling under Section 320, of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. Section 1330), for a designated national estuary in the State of Texas.

Objective and Allowable Activities [see 30 TAC § 14.7(4)]: The objective of this grant is to implement the GBEP stakeholder developed priorities for federal fiscal 2026 (FFY 2026) Priority Area Actions that were developed by the GBEP Budget and Priorities subcommittee for FFY 2026 at the July 2025 meeting. Any proposal implementing the Plan may be submitted, but proposals implementing the FFY 2026 Priority Area Actions will be considered above others.

Authority [see 30 TAC § 14.7(2)]: Grants issued by GBEP under this solicitation are authorized by: the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) § 320 (33 UNITED STATES CODE § 1330), commonly referred to as the National Estuary Program; TEX. WATER CODE § 5.124; and 30 TAC ch. 14.

Match Requirement [see 30 TAC § 14.7(10) and 30 TAC § 14.7(11)]: No matching funds are required.

Therefore, there is no need to adjust or waive any matching funds requirement.

Multiple Awards [see 30 TAC § 14.7(7)]: GBEP anticipates awarding funds for multiple proposals. GBEP intends to award grants to that combination of proposals which best implements the Plan, factoring in all criteria identified in this Call for Project Proposals, the availability of funds, and the most effective division of funds between awards.

Timeline of Proposals:

Task Date Due Release of Request for Proposals June 23, 2025 Proposals Due August 8, 2025 Send Proposals to Subcommittees Members for Review September 2, 2025 Present Proposals to B&P Subcommittee for Final Recommendation October 1, 2025 Present Proposals to Galveston Bay Council for Approval October 15, 2025 mailto:gbep@tceq.texas.gov

SECTION TWO: SUBMITTAL – GENERAL INFORMATION

Project Name:

Project Previously Funded by GBEP? Yes ☐ No ☐

Lead Implementer / Categories of Eligible Recipients [see 30 TAC § 14.7(3)]:

The lead implementer must be in one of the following categories of eligible recipients. Please indicate which category applies to your entity. If the proposing party is not already paired with a lead implementer in one of the categories listed below, the proposing party will need to partner with an eligible recipient in one of these categories to be selected for funding. Please reach out to GBEP staff with any questions.

☐ Federal, State, or Local Government ☐ Council of Government ☐ Public ISDs or Universities ☐ Nonprofit ☐ Other*

Unique Entity ID (UEI) Number:

Vendor Identification Number (VIN) or Tax ID:

Contact Information:

Project Representative Name Project Representative Phone Project Representative Email

Amount Requested from GBEP ($150,000 minimum):

Federal ☐ State ☐ No Preference ☐ Is the project scalable? ☐

Amount Requested per year (if applicable):

FY 2027 (09/01/2026-05/31/2027) $0.00

FY 2028 (09/01/2027-05/31/2028) $0.00

FY 2029 (09/01/2028-05/31/2029) $0.00

Total $0.00

Project Dates / Duration (beginning no earlier than September 1, 2026 – ending no later than August 31, 2029) [see 30 TAC § 14.7(5)]:

Total Project Cost (including Leveraging Amounts, if any; provide leveraging information where indicated below):

Is this an estimate? ☐

[Please input.]

[Lead Implementer Name]

[If other, please identify pass-through partner.]

[months or years, as applicable.] https://sam.gov/content/home https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/staxpayersearch/

Leveraging (in-kind and/or cash):

[Please indicate source, amount, and status (secured, potential, etc.)]

Project Urgency:

SECTION THREE: GALVESTON BAY PLAN, 2ND EDITION IMPLEMENTATION

Grant recipient activities to be funded must implement the Plan, but proposals implementing the Fiscal 2027 BIL Priorities (Section Four) will be considered above others. This selection criteria provides for the selection of multiple recipients as needed.

The Galveston Bay Plan, 2nd Edition Action Plans are found at:

https://gbep.texas.gov/ensure-safe-human-and-aquatic-life-use/ https://gbep.texas.gov/protect-and-sustain-living-resources/ https://gbep.texas.gov/engage-communities/ https://gbep.texas.gov/inform-science-based-decision-making/

Galveston Bay Plan Priority Area Actions Addressed:

Plan Priority 1: Ensure Safe Human and Aquatic Life Use

NPS-1 ☐ NPS-2 ☐ NPS-3 ☐ NPS-4 ☐

PS-1 ☐ PS-2 ☐ PS-3 ☐

PHA-1 ☐ PHA-2 ☐ PHA-3 ☐ PHA-4 ☐ PHA-5 ☐

Plan Priority 2: Protect and Sustain Living Resources

HC-1 ☐ HC-2 ☐ HC-3 ☐

SC-1 ☐ SC-2 ☐

FWI-1 ☐ FWI-2 ☐ FWI-3 ☐

Plan Priority 3: Engage Communities

SPO-1 ☐ SPO-2 ☐ SPO-3 ☐ SPO-4 ☐

PEA-1 ☐ PEA-2 ☐ PEA-3 ☐

Plan Priority 4: Inform Science-based Decision Making

RES-1 ☐ RES-2 ☐ RES-3 ☐ RES-4 ☐

RES-5 ☐ RES-6 ☐ RES-7 ☐ RES-8 ☐

ACS-1 ☐ ACS-2 ☐ ACS-3 ☐

[Please indicate the need for receiving funding during this cycle; such as loss of other funding secured, loss of opportunity to implement project, potential of breach, etc.] https://gbep.texas.gov/ensure-safe-human-and-aquatic-life-use/ https://gbep.texas.gov/protect-and-sustain-living-resources/ https://gbep.texas.gov/engage-communities/ https://gbep.texas.gov/inform-science-based-decision-making/ https://gbep.texas.gov/galveston-bay-plan/

Plan Priority Area Actions Detail:

[Please identify action items and state how the project implements actions of the Galveston Bay Plan, 2nd Edition Action Plans.]

SECTION FOUR: BIL PRIORITIES / FACTORS TO BE USED TO SELECT AWARDS [see 30 TAC § 14.7(6)] Grant recipient activities must implement the Plan. Additional recipient selection criteria includes whether a project addresses a BIL priority. This selection criteria provides for the selection of multiple recipients as needed.

Projects must incorporate the implementation of the Estuary Resilience Action Plan (including having physical presence or connection to the targeted communities).

[Please explain in detail how project addresses the Estuary Resilience Action Plan. Attachments may be submitted via email in conjunction with this application.]

Action Priorities Grant recipient activities must implement the Plan. Additional recipient selection criteria includes whether a project addresses a BIL priority. Proposals must address one or more of the following actions:

☐ Habitat conservation, restoration, and enhancement that incorporates water quality protection/improvement and benefit to wildlife.

☐ Projects that evaluate water quality indicators or address sources of water and sediment quality degradation in support of watershed management.

☐ Projects that are on the ground (place-based) within the lower Galveston Bay watershed.

Support Priorities Grant recipient activities must implement the Plan. Additional recipient selection criteria includes whether a project addresses a BIL priority. Proposals must address at least one supporting action developed by the subcommittees, but preference will be given to projects that are able to incorporate multiple supporting actions.

☐ Engaging K-12 students and/or adults in hands-on, place-based environmental education.

☐ Includes region-wide initiatives that foster collaborations and/or build capacity with new communities and organizations while implementing the Engage Communities priority plan.

☐ Monitoring and research that produces environmental data applicable to future implementation and management decisions and/or establishes new or updated environmental benchmarks.

https://gbep.texas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/90217-ERAP-Final_Accessibility.pdf

Stakeholder Priority Detail:

[Please explain in detail how project addresses priorities selected. Attachments may be submitted via email in conjunction with this application.]

SECTION FIVE: BIL CONSIDERATIONS / FACTORS TO BE USED TO SELECT AWARDS [see 30 TAC § 14.7(6)] Grant recipient activities must implement the Plan. Additional recipient selection criteria includes whether a project addresses a BIL priority. This selection criteria provides for the selection of multiple recipients as needed.

Does the Project align with any EPA Areas of Special Interest?

☐ Reduce Nutrient Pollution to Protect Water Quality and Public Health ☐ Make Investments that Address Coastal Resiliency ☐ Reduce Trash

Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) Build America, Buy America provisions only apply to awards over $250,000, and where more than 5% of the award is spent on iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials permanently incorporated into construction, maintenance, or repair projects. Under the law, construction materials exclude cement and cementitious materials, aggregates such as stone, sand, or gravel, or aggregate binding agents or additives.

Will the Build America, Buy America Law apply to this application? Yes ☐ No ☐ If yes, will you comply with the law or submit a waiver? Yes ☐ No ☐ Comments (if any):

Does the Project incorporate Federal Flood Risk Management Standards?

FFRMS – EPA Green Infrastructure Managing Flood Risks

Yes ☐ No ☐

[If yes, please summarize how the proposal addresses EPA Areas of Special Interest.]

[If yes, please summarize how the proposal complies with BABA, as applicable.]

[If yes, please summarize how the proposal incorporates federal flood risk management standards, if applicable.] https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf/build-america-buy-america-baba https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/intergovernmental/federal-flood-risk-management-standard https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/manage-flood-risk

SECTION SIX: PROPOSAL DETAILS

Grant recipient activities must implement the Plan. Additional recipient selection criteria includes whether a project addresses a BIL priority.

Project Summary:

[In 1-2 sentences, please describe the objective of your proposal.]

Full Project Description (1,000 words or less):

[Please explain in detail how project addresses priorities selected. Attachments may be submitted via email in conjunction with this application.]

Other Plans Implemented:

Does the Project work with new, smaller communities/partnerships?

☐ Yes ☐ No

Is the project subject to Title VI requirements?

To meet federal nondiscrimination guidance and laws (Title VI), TCEQ requires information and services to be provided in languages other than English when significant numbers of beneficiaries are of limited English-speaking ability (LEP). If 5% or more of the population within your project area is LEP and share a common language, then you are required to provide outreach in the alternative language. For statewide projects, Spanish language outreach is required. As Title VI compliance could impact the project budget, please reach out to the primary subcommittee coordinator for this application with questions on determining applicability and EJScreen instructions.

☐ Yes ☐ No

Latitude/Longitude (Optional):

Location:

Partners1 and Their Roles:

Projects Map [Insert Map Here or Attach as an Appendix if Applicable]

Supplemental Photos/Graphics (Optional):

[Insert Here or Attach as an Appendix]

1 If partners are subgrantees completing work reimbursable under GBEP funding, a letter of commitment from the partner must be submitted as an appendix with the application.

[TBD.]

[TBD.]

[Please identify any third-party conservation plans this project implements, such as the Texas Coastal Management Plan, Texas Coastal Resiliency Master Plan, watershed-based plans, etc.]

[degrees, minutes, and seconds format]

[Description of area(s) of Galveston Bay watershed addressed by proposal]

[Please identify project partners and detail what roles they will play in project implementation.]

SECTION SEVEN: BUDGET DETAILS

Grant Payments [see 30 TAC § 14.7(12)]: All grant payments will be made on the basis of reimbursement for allowable costs (as defined in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E). All payments for awarded proposals will be reimbursements of allowable costs incurred after both parties have entered (signed) a grant agreement for the project.

Budget. Authorized budgeted expenditures for work performed are as follows:

a. Direct Costs

Budget Category Cost for Work to be Performed

Salary / Wages $0.00

Fringe Benefits (##%)2 $0.00

Travel $0.00

Supplies $0.00

Equipment $0.00

Contractual $0.00

Construction $0.00

Other $0.00

Total Direct Cost $0.00

b. Indirect Costs3

Distribution Base Amount (identify Base type below)

Indirect Cost Rate for Reimbursement

Total Indirect Costs $

c. Maximum Authorized Reimbursement

Maximum Authorized Reimbursement (Direct and Indirect Costs)

Indirect Cost Distribution Base. The Distribution Base above is (check one):

direct salary/wages and fringe benefits modified total direct costs

Other direct costs base

If other direct cost base, identify:

The indirect cost rate is (check one):

Predetermined Rate— an indirect rate that is negotiated between the Performing Party and its federal cognizant agency and supported by a current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) letter. A

2 If fringe is not a single rate, please attach calculation or explanation as an appendix.

3 Please attach Indirect Cost Agreement as an appendix if applicable

Predetermined Rate is not subject to adjustment except as provided by 2 Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR) § 200.411.

De Minimis Rate— if Performing Party does not have a current negotiated indirect rate, Performing Party may use a standard rate of fifteen percent of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC)4 in lieu of determining the actual indirect costs of the service. Costs must be consistently charged as either indirect or direct costs.

Partial Reimbursement Rate— a reimbursement rate agreed to between TCEQ and Performing Party that is less than the rate authorized under TxGMS or, where applicable, 2 CFR Part 200. Performing Party contributes all of its unreimbursed indirect costs to the successful performance of the project or projects funded under this Contract, in accordance with Article 9 of this section. [If this is a Partial Provisional Rate, include the following language: “This is a Partial Provisional Rate. Any adjustment is subject to the requirements of Article 9 of this section; however, no adjustment will be made unless the finally determined actual indirect costs are lower than the Partial Indirect Cost reimbursement made under the Contract.”]

Other: [Examples: De Minimis Rate with a base of direct salary and wages (less than or equal to actual indirect costs) or Provisional Rate. If this is a Provisional Rate, include the following language:

Provisional Rate: The subsequent adjustment of the indirect cost rate is subject to the requirements of Article 9 of this section.]

Other:

Other. If Budget Category “Other” is greater than $25,000 or more than 10% of total Contract budget, identify the main constituents:

SECTION EIGHT: CONTRACT REQUIREMENT [see 30 TAC § 14.7(15)]:

• By submitting this Project Proposal, you acknowledge that, if you become a successful grant recipient selected for a grant award, you must enter into a signed grant agreement or contract with TCEQ following the announcement of that award.

SECTION NINE: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Please read and understand the following:

• By submitting this Project Proposal, you acknowledge that information on how grant payments will be made is contained in the Budget Details section describing direct and possibly indirect costs. You further acknowledge that grant payments will be reimbursements on the basis of allowable costs incurred and that selected recipients will receive contract documents addressing allowable costs, unallowable costs, and reimbursement.

• By submitting this Project Proposal, you acknowledge your understanding that Project Proposals do not require matching funds and that a TCEQ director does not need to adjust or waive any matching funds requirement.

• By submitting this Project Proposal, you acknowledge that, if GBEP elects to hold a pre-submittal meeting relating to this Project Proposal, GBEP will notify you of the meeting’s time and location indicating whether attendance is mandatory.

SECTION TEN: QUESTIONS AND PRE-SUBMITTAL MEETINGS [see 30 TAC § 14.7(13) and 30 TAC § 14.7(14)]:

• There are no pre-submittal meetings scheduled.

• For requests for additional, pre-submittal information [see 30 TAC § 14.7(13)], please contact gbep@tceq.texas.gov.

SECTION ELEVEN: ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS

4 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC))

[Description of costs associated with “Other” budget category.] mailto:gbep@tceq.texas.gov

In submitting your Project Proposal, please refer and adhere to the following instructions and guidelines concerning materials and information required to be submitted by potential grant recipients:

• GBEP intends to accept only complete Projected Proposals in a layout and format constituting a filled version of this proposal document with all applicable sections therein addressed; however, GBEP may, in its sole discretion, consider and accept nonconforming Project Proposals in the best interest of the state.

• Unless otherwise specified by GBEP, formal signatures are not required on Project Proposals.

• Unless otherwise communicated or implied, GBEP requires 1 (one) completed copy of your Project

Proposal.

• Project Proposals must be received electronically, through the email address listed on this page, by the deadline listed on both this page and the first page of this Project Proposal document.

Please Submit Project Proposals (Microsoft Word Only – No PDFs) by August 8, 2025 to gbep@tceq.texas.gov.

mailto:gbep@tceq.texas.gov