ESBD_530158_1782164352568_582-28-00001 - Solicitation - Final.docx

Galveston Bay Estuary Program Fiscal 2028 Project Proposal Please complete this proposal form and submit to the appropriate Subcommittee Coordinator (end of form) by July 24, 2026. 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 fiscal 2028 (FY 2028) Priority Area Actions that were developed by GBEP subcommittees for FY 2028 at the June 2026 meetings. Any proposal implementing the Plan may be submitted, but proposals implementing the FY 2028 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:

September 9, 2026 (M&R and WSQ)

SECTION TWO: SUBMITTAL – GENERAL INFORMATION

Project Name:

[Please input.]

Project Previously Funded by GBEP? Yes ☐ No ☐ Lead Implementer / Categories of Eligible Recipients [see 30 TAC § 14.7(3)]:

[Lead Implementer Name]

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.

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

Unique Entity ID (UEI) Number:

Vendor Identification Number (VIN) or Tax ID:

Contact Information:

Project Representative Name

Project Representative Phone

Project Representative Email

Project Dates / Duration (beginning no earlier than September 1, 2027 – ending no later than May 31, 2030) [see 30 TAC § 14.7(5)]:

[months or years, as applicable.]

Amount Requested from GBEP:

Federal ☐ State ☐ No Preference ☐ Is the project scalable? ☐ Amount Requested per year (if applicable):

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

Is this an estimate? ☐ Leveraging (in-kind and/or cash):

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

SECTION THREE: GALVESTON BAY PLAN, 2ND EDITION IMPLEMENTATION

Grant recipient activities to be funded must implement the Plan, but proposals implementing the FY 2028 Subcommittee 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

Plan Priority 2: Protect and Sustain Living Resources

Plan Priority 3: Engage Communities

Plan Priority 4: Inform Science-based Decision Making

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: SUBCOMMITTEE 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 subcommittee priority. This selection criteria provides for the selection of multiple recipients as needed.

Subcommittee Identified Priorities:

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

· WSQ: 1

· WSQ: 2

· WSQ: 3

· WSQ: 4

· NRU: 1

· NRU: 2

· NRU: 3

· NRU: 4

· PPE: 1

· PPE: 2

· PPE: 3

· PPE: 4

· M&R: 1

· M&R: 2

· M&R: 3

· M&R: 4 Subcommittee Priority Detail:

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

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

SECTION FIVE: PROPOSAL DETAILS

Grant recipient activities must implement the Plan. Additional recipient selection criteria includes whether a project addresses a subcommittee 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 the project addresses priorities selected. Attachments may be submitted via email in conjunction with this application.]

Project Urgency:

[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.]

Other Plans Implemented:

[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.]

Partners1 and Their Roles:

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

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

· Yes

· No[TBD.]

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.

· Yes

· No[TBD.]

Latitude/Longitude (Optional):

[degrees, minutes, and seconds format]

Location:

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

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.

SECTION SIX: 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

b. Indirect Costs3

Distribution Base Amount (identify Base type below)

Indirect Cost Rate for Reimbursement

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 cost 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 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 15 percent of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) 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

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 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.

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 (refers to the Cost Budget section of awarded grants).] Other. If Budget Category “Other” is greater than $25,000 or more than 10% of budget total, identify the main constituents:

[Description of costs associated with “Other” budget category.]

Travel. In order to be reimbursable, travel costs must be specifically authorized in advance of the travel. Travel costs will be reimbursed only in the amount of actual costs, up to the maximum allowed by law for employees of the State of Texas at the time the cost is incurred.

Budget Categories. The Budget Categories above are representative of the items of cost found in TxGMS and 2 CFR Part 200, and have the definitions, requirements, and limitations found therein. Construction costs are not reimbursable without prior, specific written authorization from TCEQ.

SECTION SEVEN: 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 EIGHT: 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 post notification of the meeting’s time and location indicating whether attendance is mandatory.

SECTION NINE: 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 the corresponding Subcommittee Coordinator listed on this page.

SECTION TEN: ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS

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 per corresponding Subcommittee Coordinator.

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

Submittal Process and Deadline [see 30 TAC § 14.7(8) and 30 TAC § 14.7(9)]:

Please Submit Project Proposals (Microsoft Word Only – No PDFs) by July 24, 2026, to the relevant Subcommittee Coordinators below:

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