GUIDELINES AND BID INSTRUCTIONS

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Hudson River Estuary Management Program

Round 51 2026 Hudson River Estuary Grants for Local Stewardship Planning

NYS SFS Grants Management Bid Event No.:

HRER51

Apply through the SFS Vendor Portal

Webinar Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026, 10:00-11:30 AM https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/rc1316ce407c2435fe7db03f903b1e5f4

Bid Due Date: (3:00 P.M. EST, December 17, 2026) https://esupplier.sfs.ny.gov/psc/fscm/SUPPLIER/ERP/c/NUI_FRAMEWORK.PT_LANDINGPAGE.GBL?& https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/rc1316ce407c2435fe7db03f903b1e5f4

HREMP Round 51 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m., EST

Table of Contents

Contents Table of Contents

Introduction

Timetable of Key Events

Bidder Eligibility

Grant Opportunity General Information and Conditions

1. Funding

2. Proposed Project Timeframes

3. Minimum and Maximum Award Amounts

4. Bid Limit

5. Eligible Project Locations

6. Match Requirement and Expenditures

7. New for this Grant Round

8. Inquiries & Designated Contact Information

9. Department of Environmental Conservation Oversight

10. Bid Submission

Grant Bid Requirements and Conditions

1. Project Objectives

2. Minimum Eligibility (Pass/Fail criteria)

3. Project Types

4. Bid Application Form

5. Project Objective, Methods, and Conservation Impact

6. Action Agenda Measures of Success

7. Project Timeline

8. Bidder Partners

9. Permit Requirements

10. Partner and Community Support

11. Public Engagement Methods

12. Knowledge, Skills and Experience (Qualifications)

13. Project Cost Effectiveness

14. Statewide Priority

15. Expenditure Based Budget

HREMP Round 51 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m., EST

16. Work Plan

17. Quality Assurance

18. Sexual Harassment Prevention Certification

19. Executive Order 16

20. Attachment G: Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification

21. Historic Preservation Review Requirements (if applicable to your project)

22. Secular Purpose

Bid Evaluation, Scoring and Selection

Method of Award

Grant Program Payment

Eligible and Ineligible Expenditures Eligible Project Expenditures

Ineligible Project Expenditures

Match Requirement and Expenditures Eligible Forms of Match

Ineligible Forms of Match

Grant Program Reporting

What to Expect If You Receive an Award

1. Notification of Award

2. State of New York Contract for Grants

Appendix I: Map of Eligible Project Locations

Appendix II: Budget and Work Plan Guidance

Appendix III: Bid Evaluation and Scoring Criteria

Appendix IV: Reporting on Measures of Success

Appendix V: ELAP AND QAPP Requirement Worksheet

Appendix VI: Certification for Sexual Harassment Prevention

Appendix VII: Executive Order 16 Certification

Appendix VIII: Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification

Appendix IX: Bid Checklist

HREMP Round 51 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

Introduction The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is pleased to announce funding for projects that implement priorities of the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda to conserve, restore and revitalize the estuary and its ecosystem.

Applications, now known as Bids, must be submitted through the State Financial System (SFS) Grants Management System (https://esupplier.sfs.ny.gov/). Paper bids will NOT be accepted. Applicants, now known as Bidders or Vendors, are strongly encouraged to submit their bid prior to the bid deadline. Late bids will not be accepted.

Grant bid information is also available on the Department’s website at https://www.dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/grants-funding-opportunities.

Timetable of Key Events Event: Date:

Bid Period Begins September 23, 2026 Webinar October 8, 2026; 10:00 a.m. ET Question & Answer Period Ends December 10, 2026 Bid Due December 17, 2026; 3:00 p.m. ET Award(s) Announced By (anticipated) Approximately May 2027

Bidder Eligibility For the purposes of this grant program, the following entities are considered eligible Bidders:

Governmental Entities, Municipalities, and Quasi-Governmental Entities, including but not limited to Counties, Cities, Towns, Villages, or Indian nation or tribe recognized by the state or the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the boundaries of New York State, or any combination thereof, Public Benefit Corporations, Public Authorities, Municipal Corporations, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, School Districts, and Community Colleges, and 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporations whose projects are located within the eligible geographic boundaries defined in this RFA.

For this grant opportunity, a “Not-For-Profit Corporation” (NFP) is subject to New York State’s Not-For- Profit Corporation Law and is qualified for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Federal Internal Revenue Code, has filed a Certificate of Incorporation to be incorporated in New York State and is current in their charities reporting requirements with the Office of the Attorney General.

Individuals and unincorporated groups are not eligible for this grant opportunity. However, an eligible Bidder may apply on behalf of an individual or unincorporated group as a fiscal sponsor. The fiscal sponsor accepts responsibility of the grant and serves as a fiscal conduit for a DEC-funded project, receiving and disbursing funds related to the grant and administering the requirements throughout the DEC grant process, including final reporting of grant activity.

For Multi-Partner and Inter-Municipal Projects: If a proposed project involves a cooperative agreement or partners, only one eligible, designated lead Bidder must submit the bid for grant funding. The lead Bidder must assume the responsibility for the project bid, performance of work consistent with this RFA, and the New York State Contract for Grants. Letters substantiating the collaboration from each partner are required.

https://esupplier.sfs.ny.gov/ https://www.dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/grants-funding-opportunities https://www.dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/grants-funding-opportunities https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/standard-terms-and-conditions

Grant Opportunity General Information and Conditions

1. Funding Approximately $350,000 is available from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund.

2. Proposed Project Timeframes All projects must have defined objectives, tasks, and deliverables accounted for in performance measures that can be completed and invoiced within a three-year contract period/term of August 1, 2027 through July 31, 2030. Costs outside of the contract period/term are ineligible. The New York State Contract for Grants must be fully approved by DEC and, if applicable, approved by the Attorney General and the State Comptroller. Time extensions beyond the contract term end date will be determined by the DEC based upon written justification from the Grantee. Bidders should not submit a bid if they do not anticipate their project can be completed within the specified contract term.

3. Minimum and Maximum Award Amounts The minimum grant amount is $10,500. The maximum grant amount is $50,000.

4. Bid Limit Bidders may submit up to two (2) bids. Multiple bids may not be for the same project or project location.

5. Eligible Project Locations Eligible projects for grant funding must be located within defined geographic boundaries of the Hudson River Estuary watershed (see map in Appendix I). “Hudson River Estuary” refers to the legislatively designated Hudson River Estuarine District established in Environmental Conservation Law §11-0306, which extends from the Troy dam to the Verrazano Narrows and includes Upper New York Bay to Kill Van Kull and the East River to Hell Gate, focused on the tributaries that flow into any of these waters.

The map of eligible boundaries may also be viewed at https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/hregrantmap.pdf. To find out if a potential project is located within these boundaries, please type the location of the project into the Hudson River Estuary Grant Program Interactive Boundary Map on the NYS GIS Clearinghouse at https://data.gis.ny.gov/maps/385d9cc6311946ac84425734327f6f6a. The Hudson River Estuary Grant Program Boundaries are also available on the interactive Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper at https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/hvnrm/.

6. Match Requirement and Expenditures Match is the portion of project expenditures not paid for with grant funds. Match can be from local and/or in-kind contributions. Local sources can include funding from other non-state and/or non-federal grant sources or from project partners. In-Kind contributions are non-cash donations provided by non-state and/or non-federal third parties, which can include equipment, supplies, services, and other expendable property. Matching share contributions must support the objectives outlined in the work plan.

For this grant opportunity, Bidders must match at least 15% of the grant funding amount. Bidders providing 25% match or more will receive additional points in the scoring.

Eligible sources of match funds cannot come from other New York State or federal funding sources.

Bidders will be required to provide the sources of all matching funds using the Match Worksheet in SFS Grants Management.

7. New for this Grant Round

• The maximum grant amount is $50,000.

https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/standard-terms-and-conditions https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/standard-terms-and-conditions https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/hregrantmap.pdf https://data.gis.ny.gov/maps/385d9cc6311946ac84425734327f6f6a https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/hvnrm/

• Bidders providing 25% match or more will receive additional points in the scoring.

• Revisions were made to the eligible project types. Review descriptions of project types carefully.

• A Bid Application Form was developed to help address formatting challenges and simplify writing the Bid. Some questions that were previously published directly in the electronic SFS Application Form are now asked in the Bid Application Form.

• Scoring and method of award were updated. Thoroughly review these sections to understand how bids will be evaluated.

• Appendix IV: Reporting on Measures of Success is updated to reflect the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2026-2030.

8. Inquiries & Designated Contact Information For general information on completing this bid and for clarification of bid requirements, contractual terms and procedures, contact: Susan Pepe, Hudson River Estuary Program Grants Coordinator, HREPgrants@dec.ny.gov.

For technical information regarding the Grants Management Bid Event, direct questions to: NYS SFS Grants Management, helpdesk@sfs.ny.gov or 518-457-7737; 877-737-4185 (toll-free).

Include 2026 Round 51 Stewardship RFA in the subject line of the email. Questions regarding this grant opportunity will be accepted by the DEC until C.O.B. December 10, 2026. All questions, and answers, will be uploaded in the Grants Management System Bid Event for all Bidders to view.

9. Department of Environmental Conservation Oversight The Department of Environmental Conservation reserves the right to:

• Award additional and available funding for scored and ranked projects consistent with this grant opportunity.

• Partially fund a bid if the partially-funded portion can be demonstrated to meet the criteria for this RFA.

• Award an agreement for any or all parts of the RFA in accordance with the method of award or withdraw of the RFA at any time at the Department’s sole discretion.

• Reject any or all bids in response to the RFA at the agency’s sole discretion.

• Reduce an award from the amount requested in the bid, so long as the reduced funding does not jeopardize the viability of the project to proceed at the reduced funding level.

• Limit awards for bids within a single DEC region to 60% of available funding so that no single region in the Hudson River Estuary Management Program area receives a disproportionate share of the total amount of available funding.

• Limit all or some funding for a project in the final scored ranked list if the same activities have been awarded funding by another funding source.

• Reduce an award from the amount requested in the bid, should the project budget contain costs considered ineligible under this grant program.

• Refuse to fund projects that are determined to be inconsistent with NYS’s Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act.

• Refuse to fund projects that are determined to be inconsistent with the Climate Change Leadership and Community Protection Act or its’ implementing regulations.

• Award an agreement for any or all parts of the RFA in accordance with the method of award, or withdraw the RFA at any time, at DEC’s sole discretion.

• Award to the next highest scoring bid in the event a grantee fails to execute a grant contract with DEC within 60 days of a grant award.

• Deny a change in workplan tasks from the application project description because of fairness to competitive process.

• Monitor the progress of all grant awards and withdraw grant funding, if the grantee fails to mailto:HREPgrants@dec.ny.gov mailto:helpdesk@sfs.ny.gov make significant and timely progress on the project or fails to receive the necessary permissions and permits for the project.

10. Bid Submission Bids must be submitted through the NYS SFS Grants Management System. Using Google Chrome to access the SFS Grants Management System (GM) is recommended. Using other browsers may cause errors.

If you do not have access to the SFS Vendor Portal and if your organization is already established within the SFS Vendor portal, an SFS Delegated Administrator has been authorized within your organization to provision user login credentials, unlock accounts, or reset passwords. Please reach out to your SFS Delegated Administrator directly. Also, if you do not have a login and if you are new to the SFS Vendor portal, and would like to establish an account for the purposes of doing business with the State of New York, contact the SFS Help Desk at 518-457-7717, 855-233-8363 or HelpDesk@sfs.ny.gov for more information.

Paper bids will NOT be accepted. Bidders are strongly encouraged to submit their bids prior to the bid deadline. Late bids will not be accepted. Please note staff with a Bid Response Initiator role can begin a bid, but only staff with the Bid Response Submitter role can submit the bid response.

All Bidders must be Registered with SFS Grants Management to apply. Please visit https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/transition-SFS to register.

In addition to registration, not-for-profits must also be Prequalified at the time and date that the bid is due. If you are not Prequalified at that time and date, your bid will not be considered.

PLEASE DO NOT DELAY IN BEGINNING AND COMPLETING THE PREQUALIFICATION PROCESS.

PLEASE VISIT THE GRANTS MANAGEMENT Prequalification Page TO GET STARTED.

THE STATE RESERVES 5 DAYS TO REVIEW SUBMITTED PREQUALIFICATION BIDS.

PREQUALIFICATION BID SUBMITTED TO THE STATE FOR REVIEW LESS THAN 5 DAYS PRIOR

TO THIS BID DUE DATE MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED.

BIDDERS SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THEIR PREQUALIFICATION INFORMATION WILL BE

REVIEWED IF THEY DO NOT ADHERE TO THIS TIMEFRAME.

a) Bidder Prequalification Pursuant to the New York State Division of Budget Bulletin H-1032 Revised, effective July 16, 2014, New York State instituted key reform initiatives to the grant contract. Information on these initiatives can be found on the Grants Management Website.

All Bidders must be Prequalified in the SFS Grants Management System at the time and date that the bid is due. Bids from non-prequalified entities will be rejected. The system will not allow you to submit your bid.

The SFS Handbook: SFS Training for Vendors guide is available on SFS Coach and includes guidance for prequalification. Additional training is available on SFS Coach.

https://esupplier.sfs.ny.gov/psc/fscm/SUPPLIER/ERP/c/NUI_FRAMEWORK.PT_LANDINGPAGE.GBL?&lp=ERP.SUPPLIER.NY_SUP_PUB_HOMEPG_FL mailto:HelpDesk@sfs.ny.gov https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/transition-SFS https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/get-prequalified

Grant Bid Requirements and Conditions

1. Project Objectives This Hudson River Estuary Grant RFA for Local Stewardship Planning seeks to assist Hudson Valley municipalities and organizations build their capacity to implement the 2026-2030 Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda (https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/action-agenda):

Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda Goals:

• A Vital River Ecosystem o Robust estuarine fisheries o Robust river habitats o Clean Hudson River water

• A Thriving & Resilient Watershed o Healthy tributaries o Climate-adaptive communities o Conserved natural areas

• People Living Well with Nature o An informed and engaged public o An accessible Hudson River Estuary for all

The objective of this RFA is to help local organizations and communities prepare plans, studies, and policies, and engage the public in stewardship that will lead to conservation outcomes in the eligible project types. Projects should contribute to Action Agenda measures of success and deliver progress toward long-term Action Agenda goals.

Throughout this RFA, the word “plan,” as used to describe a deliverable, is deemed to include the following plans and planning processes:

• Plans

• Visioning statements

• Feasibility studies

• Assessments

• Inventories

• Designs

2. Minimum Eligibility (Pass/Fail criteria) Level 1 Review:

• The Bidder must be eligible, as shown on page 3 of this RFA. A not-for-profit organization must also be prequalified in SFS Grants Management by the bid due date to be determined eligible under this grant opportunity.

• The project must be located within the defined geographic boundaries of the Hudson River Estuary. The bidder must provide a map of the site, uploaded to SFS Grants Management.

• Projects must implement one of the eligible project types identified in this RFA.

• Projects must include consultation with Estuary Program Staff for project management purposes as step one in the timeline (e.g. a project kick-off meeting). Additionally, Bidders are strongly encouraged, but are not required, to invite Estuary Program staff to attend partner or community engagement meetings and to provide technical assistance in the planning process.

• Quality Assurance requirements for sampling are demonstrated to be met or are not applicable.

• The uploaded project timeline indicates completion of project objectives, tasks and deliverables on https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/action-agenda https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/action-agenda or before July 31, 2030.

• All project funding comes from eligible sources and at least 15% in eligible match is identified.

• If applicable, letters of collaboration are provided from all Bidder partners, which must include

“Lead” Bidder designation.

• The Bidder must provide the required certification for sexual harassment prevention (“Attachment

S”), as required by State Finance Law §139-l.

• The Bidder must provide the required EO 16 Certification.

• The Bidder must provide the required Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification

(“Attachment G”) as required by State Finance Law §139-m.

• Bid completeness: Bidders must complete the electronic bid and upload any required documentation. See the checklist in this RFA as a reference.

3. Project Types Funding must be used to implement one of the following project types to meet the above Project Objectives. Bidders must identify which Project Type for which they are applying.

(1) Climate adaptation and resilience planning and actions to adapt to climate risks using natural and nature-based solutions while considering social equity.

Bidders may apply for municipal or inter-municipal planning projects in the Hudson River estuary watershed to adapt to climate change, including flooding, sea-level rise, extreme weather, heat, and drought, in alignment with the Climate-Adaptive Communities goal in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda. Projects must include ecologically-sound principles that conserve natural resources while also protecting human life and property, and must inclusively engage community members, consider impacts on social equity, and include opportunities to improve environmental justice https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/environmental-justice. Elements of the following climate adaptation project types can be combined into one Bid.

Eligible projects are:

• Create a community-led Climate Change Adaption and Resilience Plan (CCARP) or chapter in a relevant plan. Plans should include a Climate Vulnerability Assessment.

• Increase design flood elevation, update flood maps, increase freeboard elevation and/or extend freeboard requirement area to improve community resilience to flooding and sea-level rise.

• Develop (or update) a plan for strategic relocation out of flood-prone areas, create zoning or other regulations to implement one or more strategies from the relocation plan, and/or establish a buy-out program or participate in an existing buy-out program for properties in the flood zone.

• Develop and adopt one or more local laws to increase resilience, reduce flood vulnerabilities, or address other impacts of climate change.

• Feasibility study report or conceptual design for green infrastructure projects that address local flood risks using natural or nature-based features. The project must be designed by a NYS licensed Professional Engineer in accordance with the 2024 New York State Stormwater Design Manual (https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf) and follow the DEC Nonpoint Source Planning Grant Green Infrastructure and Stormwater Retrofit Engineering Feasibility Report Outline (https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024- 05/npggireq24.pdf).

• Feasibility study report or conceptual design for nature-based shoreline or streambank stabilization to reduce erosion, enhance flood resilience, and improve water quality and riparian/coastal habitats. The project must be designed by a NYS licensed Professional Engineer and follow the DEC Nonpoint Source Planning Streambank/ Shoreline Stabilization Engineering Feasibility Report Outline (https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/npgstreamoutline24.pdf).

https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/environmental-justice https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/environmental-justice https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/npggireq24.pdf https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/npggireq24.pdf https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/npgstreamoutline24.pdf

The following resources may be useful in developing a bid:

• Climate-Adaptive Communities in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed webpage [https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/climate-adaptive-communities]

• NYS Water Resources Institute Resources for Adapting webpage [https://cals.cornell.edu/water-resources-institute/watersheds/hudson-river-estuary/climate-change/resources-adapting]

• NYS Climate Smart Communities Certification Actions [https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions]

• New York State Climate Impacts Assessment [https://nysclimateimpacts.org]

• NYS Community Risk and Resiliency Act (CRRA) o Model Local Laws to Increase Resilience [https://dos.ny.gov/model-local-laws-increase-resilience] o Using Natural Measures to Reduce the Risk of Flooding [https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crranaturalmeasuresgndc.pdf] o NYS Flood Risk Management Guidance (SFRMG) [https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf] o Estimating Guideline Elevations [https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf] o Guidance for Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Assessment [https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrasmartgrowth.pdf] o Sea-level Rise Projections (6 NYCRR Part 490) [https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/new-york-response/crra]

• NY Sea Grant’s Hudson Dynamic Shorelines Storymap on flooding and shoreline resiliency [https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/804750dafc1a4ef9a4a230134303e9cb]

• Climigration Network’s Lead with Listening: A Guidebook for Community Conversations on Climate Migration [https://www.climigration.org/guidebook]

• Resilient New York Flood Mitigation Reports [https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/resilient-ny]

• Floodplain Development and Floodway Guidance [https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/dam-safety-coastal-flood-protection/floodplain-management]

• Hudson River Sustainable Shorelines guidance [https://hrnerr.org/sustainable-shorelines/]

• Inclusive Community Engagement Primer https://climatesmart.ny.gov/fileadmin/csc/documents/InclusiveEngagement-Primer-CSC-Cert- 2022-09-01.pdf

(2) Planning for conservation of habitats and contiguous natural areas by creating a natural resources inventory, open space inventory/index, open space plan, conservation overlay zone, open space funding feasibility study, or connectivity plan

Bidders may apply for projects that inventory, prioritize, plan, and/or develop land-use or conservation policies that take a municipal, inter-municipal, or regional approach to protecting important lands and waters in the estuary watershed and/or preserve or restore the interconnectedness of habitats on the landscape, in alignment with the Conserved Natural Areas goal in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda. Elements of the following conservation planning project types can be combined into one Bid.

Eligible projects are:

• A natural resources inventory (NRI) that compiles, describes, and maps important natural resources in a municipality, county, watershed, or region. The NRI can be a stand-alone document or be included in a municipal comprehensive plan, open space plan, conservation plan, https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/climate-adaptive-communities https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/climate-adaptive-communities https://cals.cornell.edu/water-resources-institute/watersheds/hudson-river-estuary/climate-change/resources-adapting https://cals.cornell.edu/water-resources-institute/watersheds/hudson-river-estuary/climate-change/resources-adapting https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions https://nysclimateimpacts.org/ https://dos.ny.gov/model-local-laws-increase-resilience https://dos.ny.gov/model-local-laws-increase-resilience https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crranaturalmeasuresgndc.pdf https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrasmartgrowth.pdf https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/new-york-response/crra https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/new-york-response/crra https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/804750dafc1a4ef9a4a230134303e9cb https://www.climigration.org/guidebook https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/resilient-ny https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/resilient-ny https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/dam-safety-coastal-flood-protection/floodplain-management https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/dam-safety-coastal-flood-protection/floodplain-management https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fclimatesmart.ny.gov%2Ffileadmin%2Fcsc%2Fdocuments%2FInclusiveEngagement-Primer-CSC-Cert-2022-09-01.pdf&data=05%7C01%7CSusan.Pepe%40dec.ny.gov%7Cbfcb230573404a3abe5108db2adc1c1d%7Cf46cb8ea79004d108ceb80e8c1c81ee7%7C0%7C0%7C638150897133223217%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2FxqxC3alnGqnSvvD%2B%2F3prLWkWWpPgIsPZAkWCc5fGnA%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fclimatesmart.ny.gov%2Ffileadmin%2Fcsc%2Fdocuments%2FInclusiveEngagement-Primer-CSC-Cert-2022-09-01.pdf&data=05%7C01%7CSusan.Pepe%40dec.ny.gov%7Cbfcb230573404a3abe5108db2adc1c1d%7Cf46cb8ea79004d108ceb80e8c1c81ee7%7C0%7C0%7C638150897133223217%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2FxqxC3alnGqnSvvD%2B%2F3prLWkWWpPgIsPZAkWCc5fGnA%3D&reserved=0 or a watershed plan. An NRI may include scenic and cultural resources as long as natural resources are fully covered by the NRI.

• An open space inventory (OSI) that analyzes data on natural areas (e.g., an NRI) and community input, and lists priorities for acquisition, preservation, or restoration. The OSI can be a stand-alone document or part of an NRI or open space planning process.

• An open space plan (OSP) or community preservation plan (CPP) that identifies priorities and strategies for conserving municipal, inter-municipal, or regional open space values, especially important lands and waters. The OSP can be a stand-alone plan or a component of a municipal comprehensive plan. The CPP should be consistent with Community Preservation Fund legislation. The development of OSPs and CPPs can be combined with inventory (NRI) and prioritization (OSI) for efficiency.

• A conservation overlay zone or natural resource protection regulations for priority lands and waters identified as important in a municipal or inter-municipal plan, with standards designed to accomplish conservation objectives such as preserving intact habitat or protecting forests, wetlands, and watercourses. Regulations may take the form of a stand-alone local law or may be integrated into the zoning and subdivision laws.

• A critical environmental area (CEA) for priority lands and waters identified as important in a municipal or inter-municipal plan, with required submission materials for designation and guidance for municipal planners on implementation to achieve the intended conservation goals.

• An open space funding feasibility study that evaluates public financing options for a municipality to preserve priority open spaces and natural areas that have been identified in a community’s OSP.

It can include a cost of community services study.

• A connectivity plan that identifies opportunities, strategies, and recommendations for acquiring lands and waters to preserve important connections for wildlife habitat, stream corridors, large forests, and overall ecological resiliency. The analysis should be science-based and can include field-based data collection. It is recommended that the project include at least two municipalities, or a municipality with a conservation partner such as a land trust.

Depending on the needs and interests of the community, the NRI, OSI, and OSP can be developed individually or in combination.

Communities may choose which resources are included in the inventory, plan, or conservation policy;

however, to be eligible for this RFA, they must include the following:

• Natural areas recognized for biodiversity values including wildlife habitat.

• Water resources and natural areas important for climate resilience and adaptation.

It is recommended that consideration also be given to:

• Watersheds of drinking water supplies.

• Conservation priorities that cross more than one municipal boundary.

• Open space in urban communities such as parks, community gardens, and tree canopy.

These may factor into the evaluation of the conservation and social impact of the project.

Bidders should refer to any existing municipal inventories or plans that will provide foundations for the grant project, or which are proposed to be updated, and refer to specific plan recommendations that would be implemented by the proposed project. Bids should also include a process for public participation and/or education to engage diverse and under-represented groups and community members and build support for implementation, and address how the grant-funded inventory, plan, or conservation policy will be adopted and implemented.

Funding-related feasibility studies should ascertain optimal financing mechanisms for open space conservation for a particular municipality or municipalities, and explore outcomes, including the likelihood of success. The study should include recommendations to officials on the appropriate timing of introducing a financing initiative, outreach language, and selection of the most appropriate finance tool and funding request level to meet community conservation goals.

The following resources may be useful in developing a bid:

• Conservation Planning in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed website [https://hudson.dnr.cals.cornell.edu/]

• Creating a Natural Resources Inventory: A Guide for Communities in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed [extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/nriall.pdf]

• New York State’s Local Open Space Planning Guide [https://dos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2024/09/local-open-space-planning-guide.pdf]

• Creating Conservation Overlay Zoning: A Guide for Communities in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed [https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/overlayzones.pdf ]

• Best Practices for Adopting Conservation Inventories and Plans: A Guide for Communities in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed [https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/nriospadoption.pdf]

• NYS Climate Smart Communities Certification Actions [https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions]

• Model Local Laws to Increase Resilience [https://dos.ny.gov/model-local-laws-increase-resilience]

• The Hudson River Estuary Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Framework https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/hrebcfexec.pdf [

• Biological Data for the Estuary Watershed [https://hudson.dnr.cals.cornell.edu/maps-data]

• Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper [https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/lakes-rivers/hudson-river/hudson-valley-natural-resource-mapper]

• Climate Smart Communities Inclusive Engagement Primer

[https://climatesmart.ny.gov/fileadmin/csc/documents/InclusiveEngagement-Primer-CSC-Cert- 2022-09-01.pdf]Community Preservation Fund Legislation – General Municipal Law [https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GMU/6-S]

• Natural Resources Protection in the Hudson Valley: Municipal Conservation Stories [https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/naturalresourcesprotectionhv.pdf]

(3) Watershed-based stewardship and planning for Hudson River estuary tributaries, including water quality monitoring; road stream crossing inventory and planning; flood mitigation study; riparian assessment and restoration; and source water protection

Bidders may apply to plan, develop, and implement a diverse range of projects that are focused on protecting, restoring, and maintaining the quality and condition of Hudson River estuary tributaries and their surrounding watersheds, in alignment with the Healthy Tributaries and Clean Hudson River Water goals in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda. These projects aim to promote active engagement in river stewardship and contribute to dedicated protection and restoration strategies, and the long-term well-being of surface waterbodies. Funds for watershed-based projects can only be spent within New York State, even if the watershed includes other states. Elements of the following watershed-based project types can be combined into one Bid.

Eligible projects are:

• Monitor water quality in tributaries to understand ambient conditions and inform local actions. Bids must identify the goal of monitoring, have clearly defined outcomes including how the data will be used for future improvement projects, and follow requirements for water quality monitoring https://hudson.dnr.cals.cornell.edu/ https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/nriall.pdf https://dos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2024/09/local-open-space-planning-guide.pdf https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/overlayzones.pdf https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/nriospadoption.pdf https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions https://dos.ny.gov/model-local-laws-increase-resilience https://dos.ny.gov/model-local-laws-increase-resilience https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/hrebcfexec.pdf https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/lakes-rivers/hudson-river/hudson-valley-natural-resource-mapper https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/lakes-rivers/hudson-river/hudson-valley-natural-resource-mapper https://climatesmart.ny.gov/fileadmin/csc/documents/InclusiveEngagement-Primer-CSC-Cert-2022-09-01.pdf https://climatesmart.ny.gov/fileadmin/csc/documents/InclusiveEngagement-Primer-CSC-Cert-2022-09-01.pdf https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GMU/6-S https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/naturalresourcesprotectionhv.pdf projects listed under section 17, Quality Assurance.

• Develop a watershed characterization using available information (e.g., water quality, habitat, recreation, access, barriers, land use, historical, and/or socioeconomic information) to present baseline current conditions of waterbodies. Bids must explain the goal of the effort beyond the grant.

• Develop a watershed-based land use policy or intermunicipal cooperative agreement to protect and manage tributaries and their headwaters.

• Develop a road-stream crossing (RSX) municipal management plan using North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) assessment data. RSX plans will prioritize inventoried and assessed sites and rank crossings based on aquatic organism barrier severity storm passability and local concerns. Plans must include conceptual designs for 3 priority structures that right-size a barrier assessed to be moderate, significant, or severe by NACCC protocols; or are shown to be undersized through past flooding, justifiable structural deterioration, or modeling.

RSX plans should also incorporate an inventory of dams.

• Develop a watershed-based flood mitigation study meeting the Resilient NY standard in a flood-prone watershed or implement a specific recommendation from a Resilient NY or DEC-approved comparable flood study. Flood studies will identify the causes of flooding within the watershed, and develop, evaluate, and recommend effective and ecologically sustainable mitigation projects (including nature-based approaches) using hydrologic and HEC-RAS or similar hydraulic modeling, incorporating future flow conditions under climate change, including sea level rise and storm surge where applicable. Flood study reports must be prepared by a NY licensed Professional Engineer and follow DEC’s generic scope of work for Resilient NY comparable studies, available at https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025- 04/resilientnycomparablefs.pdf.

• Develop a municipal or watershed-based riparian assessment that identifies priority locations for stream buffer restoration and protection.

• Implement riparian buffer/corridor restoration projects, including developing and implementing a local or watershed-based riparian restoration program that supports planting and maintaining restoration sites. The Bid must meet minimum requirements for riparian buffer revegetation under the Climate Smart Communities Certification Action PE7: Riparian Buffers (https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions#open/action/98).

• Implement one or more priority actions in a DEC-accepted drinking water source protection program (DWSP2) plan, such as source water monitoring and research with clearly defined outcomes; outreach and education for water customers and residents in source watersheds;

and the enactment of land-use tools and regulations that protect source water. Outreach and educational activities must demonstrate longevity beyond the grant period and may comprise up to 50% of the grant request. Bids including monitoring must follow requirements for water quality monitoring projects listed under section 17, Quality Assurance. Eligibility is limited to projects focused on surface water sources of drinking water and groundwater under the influence of surface water source waters supplying community water systems.

Please note the following when applying for Category 3, watershed stewardship, projects.

• If applying for a watershed implementation project, submit a copy of, or link to, the watershed plan (e.g., DEC accepted DWSP2 source water protection plan or Resilient NY study).

• Projects focusing on watersheds where existing watershed planning or management efforts are underway must demonstrate collaboration with partner groups including watershed groups, municipalities, and/or local community-based organizations and interested community members in the watershed.

The following resources may be useful in developing a bid:

https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/resilientnycomparablefs.pdf https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/resilientnycomparablefs.pdf https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions#open/action/98

• New York State (NYS) Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) [https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/dwsp2]

• NYS DWSP2 Framework: [https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/dwsp2draftframework.pdf]

• US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Source Water Protection

[https://www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection]

• NYS DOH, Source Water Assessment Program

[https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/swap.htm]

• New York Rural Water Association [https://www.nyruralwater.org/]

• NYS DEC Water Quality Improvement Program [https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/grant-bidbids/wqip-program]

• NYSDEC Nonpoint Source Guidance and Technical Assistance [https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/nps-program/guidance-and-technical-assistance]

• NYS DEC and NYS Department of State (DOS), Watershed Plans: Protecting and Restoring

Water Quality [https://dos.ny.gov/major-components-watershed-plan]

• NYS DEC, Clean Water Plans (e.g., Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), Nine Element Watershed

Plans) [https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/clean-water-plans]

• NYS DEC, Nine Element Watershed Plan Reviewer Guidance

[https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/reviewguidance19.pdf]

• NYS DOS Watershed Planning Framework and Watershed Management Plans

[https://dos.ny.gov/water-resources-management]

• NYS Resilient NY Program

[https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/resilient-ny]

• NYSDEC Consolidated and Assessment Listing Methodology

[https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/watersheds/management/assessment]

• EPAs Healthy Watersheds Program [https://www.epa.gov/hwp/what-epa-doing-healthy-watersheds]

• NYS DEC’s Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment [https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/monitoring]

• NYS Climate Smart Communities Certification Actions [https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions]

• NYS DECinfo Locator Map [https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/dil/]

• Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper [https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/lakes-rivers/hudson-river/hudson-valley-natural-resource-mapper]

• Climate Smart Communities inclusive Engagement Primer

[https://climatesmart.ny.gov/fileadmin/csc/documents/InclusiveEngagement-Primer-CSC-Cert- 2022-09-01.pdf]

• NYS DEC Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning Grants [https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/grant-bidbids/non-agricultural-nonpoint-source-planning-ms4-mapping-grant]

• USGS Stream Stats (to delineate watersheds) [https://streamstats.usgs.gov/ss/]

• NYS Source Water Assessment Program reports (contact the appropriate county health department) [https://www.health.ny.gov/contact/contact_information/]

• NYS DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program, Hudson River Estuary Watershed

[https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/watershed]

• New York Natural Heritage Program Riparian Opportunities Assessment [https://www.nynhp.org/projects/statewide-riparian-assessment/] https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/dwsp2 https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/dwsp2draftframework.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/swap.htm https://www.nyruralwater.org/ https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/grant-applications/wqip-program https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/grant-applications/wqip-program https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/nps-program/guidance-and-technical-assistance https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/nps-program/guidance-and-technical-assistance https://dos.ny.gov/major-components-watershed-plan https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/clean-water-plans https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/reviewguidance19.pdf https://dos.ny.gov/water-resources-management https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/resilient-ny https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/watersheds/management/assessment https://www.epa.gov/hwp/what-epa-doing-healthy-watersheds https://www.epa.gov/hwp/what-epa-doing-healthy-watersheds https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/monitoring https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/monitoring https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/dil/ https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/lakes-rivers/hudson-river/hudson-valley-natural-resource-mapper https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/lakes-rivers/hudson-river/hudson-valley-natural-resource-mapper https://climatesmart.ny.gov/fileadmin/csc/documents/InclusiveEngagement-Primer-CSC-Cert-2022-09-01.pdf https://climatesmart.ny.gov/fileadmin/csc/documents/InclusiveEngagement-Primer-CSC-Cert-2022-09-01.pdf https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/grant-applications/non-agricultural-nonpoint-source-planning-ms4-mapping-grant https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/grant-applications/non-agricultural-nonpoint-source-planning-ms4-mapping-grant https://streamstats.usgs.gov/ss/ https://www.health.ny.gov/contact/contact_information/ https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/watershed https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/watershed https://www.nynhp.org/projects/statewide-riparian-assessment/

• NYS Water Resources Institute Aquatic Connectivity and Barrier Removal [https://cals.cornell.edu/water-resources-institute/watersheds/hudson-river-estuary/watershed-management/aquatic-connectivity-and-barrier-removal]

• Hudson River Watershed Alliance Watershed Needs Assessment Report [https://hudsonwatershed.org/wp-content/uploads/HRWA-Watershed-Needs-Assessment- Report.pdf]

• Hudson River Watershed Alliance – Watershed Characterization Guidance [https://hudsonwatershed.org/watershed-characterization-planning-workshop]

• Resilient NY Comparable Studies Fact Sheet and Scope of Work [https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/resilientnycomparablefs.pdf]

• Riparian Assessment Example [https://cals.cornell.edu/water-resources-institute/watersheds/hudson-river-estuary/watershed-management/riparian-buffers-streamside]

4. Bid Application Form A Bid Application Form (Word Document template available for download in SFS) was developed to help streamline the application process. Several questions that were previously published directly in the electronic SFS Application Form are now asked in the Bid Application Form. The intention of the Bid Application Form is to help reduce some of the cumbersome aspects of the electronic SFS Application Form. Bid questions are now addressed in the Bid Application Form, with the electronic SFS Application Form acting primarily as a repository for document uploads.

5. Project Objective, Methods, and Conservation Impact Describe the objective for the proposed project, including methods, deliverables, and how it addresses local needs. Explain the conservation impact of the project and how completing this work would help you make future decisions or implement a conservation action, and why. Projects must set the stage for future implementation of conservation projects. Higher points will be awarded to projects that have a regional conservation impact.

For purposes of this RFA, “regional” is defined as two or more municipalities, a county-wide or borough-wide area, OR a HUC12 watershed or larger area.

6. Action Agenda Measures of Success Describe how the project will help achieve one or more measures of success as outlined in the 2026- 2030 Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda. Action Agenda measures of success, by goal, can be found in Appendix IV of this RFA. As noted in Appendix IV, reporting for grants arising under this RFA will require updates on how the project is achieving specific measure(s) of success.

7. Project Timeline Bidders MUST provide a timeline for meeting project objectives and identified tasks between August 1, 2027 and July 31, 2030. Project expenditures prior to the New York State Contract for Grants start date and after the end date are not eligible for reimbursement or match.

All project timelines must include consultation with Estuary Program Staff for project management purposes as step one in the timeline.

8. Bidder Partners The Bidder Partner is a collaborator who has a significant role in the project and is fundamentally a co- Bidder for the grant regardless of whether or not the partner is included in the budget. Projects involving a Bidder Partner (i.e.