fy 2012 foa - scao w-corrections.docx

Request for Proposals No. 06SF300042

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

Request for Proposals No. R12SF350001

Water Conservation Field Services Program – Southern California Area Office

Financial Assistance Program for Fiscal Year 2012

Request for Proposals No. R10SF30001

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region

FOA R12SF350001

Southern California Area Office WCFSP

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation

SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY

Federal Agency Name:

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation

Funding Opportunity Title:

Southern California Area Office Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP)

Announcement Type:

Initial announcement

Funding Opportunity Number:

R12SF350001

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:

15.530

Application Due Date:

April 02, 2012. Proposals received after this time will only be considered for award if additional funding is available or if there is a shortage of high quality eligible proposals identified after evaluation of original proposals.

Eligible Applicants:

State and local governments, Tribes, and entities that have water delivery authority with a tie to a Reclamation project.

Applicant Cost Share:

50% or more of project costs

Federal Funding Amount:

Shall not exceed $50,000 per agreement. However, Reclamation retains the right to make awards exceeding that amount on a case-by-case basis.

Estimated number of agreements to be awarded:

Five to eight, depending on submittals and budget

Total amount of Fiscal Year 2012 federal funding available for award:

Estimated at up to $300,000, depending on the total amount of funding requested by successful proposals and the amount of funding provided in the budget appropriation.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Background The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Southern California Area Office (SCAO), is requesting proposals to fund projects for activities in support of its Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP) within the Southern California Area. The SCAO’s service area includes all of southern California south of the Tehachapi Mountains, east of the Sierras except for the Imperial, Coachella, and Colorado River Valleys. An area map of the SCAO can be viewed at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/images/maps/scao_boundaries.jpg.

The mission of the Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Reclamation has a major responsibility, in partnership with water users, States, and other interested parties, to help improve water resource management and water use efficiency in the western United States. More efficient water use is a key component of Reclamation's water resource management strategy.

Water Conservation Field Services Program Overview Reclamation established the WCFSP in 1996 with the purpose to fulfill its water conservation-related obligation as outlined in Section 210 of the Reclamation Reform Act (RRA) of 1982. The RRA directs the Secretary to encourage and implement water conservation measures on Federal Reclamation projects. Directives and Standards (WTR 01-02) were developed for the program which outlined Reclamation's procedures for administering the WCFSP pursuant to the RRA and other existing authorities, including the provision of technical and financial assistance to Federal and non-Federal entities and the administration of water conservation plans.

The primary purposes or four major components of the WCFSP are to:

Please refer to Section III for additional information on these major components.

Reclamation recognizes that no single entity, acting independently, can meet the challenge of improving the efficiency of water use and management throughout the western states. Consequently, a key to meeting this challenge will be partnerships formed between Reclamation and water users, other Federal and State agencies, educational and research institutions, and other interested parties.

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) The objective of this FOA is to invite irrigation and water districts, states, local governments, water providers, and other entities that have a tie to Reclamation projects to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on activities/projects that make more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation and efficiency in the SCAO. Activities/Projects will be selected through a competitive process using the selection criteria listed in Section VI.

Program Authority This Program and FOA are administered in accordance with the authority of Reclamation Act of 1902 (32 Stat. 388), as amended and supplemented; RRA of 1982 (96 Stat. 1268; 43 U.S.C. 390jj); Soil and Moisture Conservation Act of 1935 (49 Stat 163; 16 U.S.C. 590 et seq.) (through Section 6 of Reorganization Plan No. IV - 1940); Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 (75 Stat. 563; 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.) (through Secretarial delegation); Water Supply Act of 1958 (72 Stat 319; 43 U.S.C. 390b); Endangered Species Act of 1973 (87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and Section 9504 of the Secure Water Act, Subtitle F of Title IX of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-11, Section 9504; 123 Stat 1334).

II. AWARD INFORMATION

Project Funding It is anticipated that between five to eight agreements will be awarded under the SCAO WCFSP, depending on the total amount of funding requested by successful proposals and the amount of funding provided in the budget appropriation.

Applicants may request multi-year funding, but should be aware that any funding after initial year will be contingent upon subsequent Congressional funding. For multi-year proposals, applicants must include project plans and budgets for each year of the project. Multi-year projects will be funded in one-year increments but will not compete for funding in subsequent budget periods within the approved award period; funding for subsequent years will be at the sole discretion of the Department of the Interior—Bureau of Reclamation and will depend on satisfactory performance by the recipient, the availability of funds to support the continuation of the project, and Agency priorities. If an applicant wishes to continue work on a funded project beyond the project period and obligated award funds have not been expended by the end of this period, the applicant can notify the assigned Federal Program Manager no later than 30 days prior to the end of the award period to determine eligibility for a time extension. If, however, the money is expended and funds are needed to continue the project, the applicant should submit another proposal during the next competitive award cycle or seek an alternate source of funding.

Project Funding Limitations To facilitate the broad and effective use of limited Federal funds, Reclamation’s share of any one proposed activity/project should be up to 50% of the total activity/project costs, and should generally not exceed $50,000. However, Reclamation retains the right to make awards exceeding that amount on a case-by-case basis.

Award Instrument If substantial involvement between Reclamation and the Recipient is anticipated during the performance of this activity/project, the anticipated instrument will be a cooperative agreement. If substantial involvement is not anticipated on the part of Reclamation, the financial assistance instrument will be a grant.

Anticipated Award Date It is anticipated that awards will be made in September 2012 with an anticipated activity/project start date on or around October 1, 2012, subject to the date of appropriation and allotment of the Federal budget.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants include agricultural and M&I water user entities, states, tribes, local governments, and other organizations with water delivery authority. To be eligible for financial assistance under this announcement, the applicant must have a definable relationship to the watershed of one, or more, specific Reclamation water projects in the SCAO boundaries described in Section I. For the purposes of this funding announcement, a Reclamation project is defined as a specific Reclamation water project that was authorized by Congress and constructed by Reclamation. This includes everything within the project service area (i.e., project features and facilities, project service area, watershed, water systems or water supplies affected by a specific Reclamation project) and the Colorado River. Substantiation of a Reclamation water supply contract is one way to show a relationship to a Reclamation project. Examples of a tie to a Reclamation project include the Boulder Canyon Project or a program, such as the CALFED Bay Delta Program.

Types of Activities/Projects All proposals will be ranked upon Evaluation Criteria stated in Section VI of this FOA. Activities/projects to be considered should address one of the following task areas:

(A) Development of written water management and conservation plans. Water conservation plans are required for Colorado River water contractors in the Lower Colorado Region, in accordance with the RRA. The Plans should be modeled after plans described in Achieving Efficient Water Management: A Guidebook for Preparing Municipal Water Conservation Plans, and Achieving Efficient Water Management: A Guidebook for Preparing Agricultural Water Conservation Plans, Second Edition (Guidebooks). These publications are available at www.usbr.gov/waterconservation/publications.html. The proposed planning activity/project should address one or more of the planning tasks discussed in the Guidebooks. Priority is given to development of plans under requirements supported by the WCFSP.

(B) Implement more efficient water management/conservation measures with special emphasis on outdoor water management practices as part of its water management and conservation program. This component involves the implementation of best management practices or water conservation measures outlined in the entity’s water management or water conservation plan.

(C) Demonstrate innovative technologies in water conservation to increase technical understanding of unfamiliar water management and conservation principles and practices that have not been previously used locally. A demonstration activity/project's purpose is to install or apply a particular technology in a new way, or in a new setting, with the intent of reporting the results to others for potential wider adoption. This may also be accomplished by supporting applied research that will benefit field development of innovative water management and conservation technologies, as well as sponsoring specific conservation technology demonstration projects, such as public demonstration gardens. The proposed activity/project should not only “publicly” demonstrate a new or unfamiliar practice; it should contain a process for informing interested individuals and organizations about the outcome of the demonstration;

PLEASE NOTE: Education activities will not be considered in FY 2012.

Also, projects that are considered normal Operations, Maintenance, and Replacement (OM&R) are not eligible under the WCFSP. OM&R is described as system improvements that replace or repair existing infrastructure or function without providing increased efficiency or effectiveness of water distribution over the expected life of the improvement.

Examples of ineligible OM&R projects include:

· Replacing malfunctioning components of an existing facility with the same components.

· Improving an existing facility to operate as originally designed.

· An activity that is performed on a recurring basis even if that period is extended (i.e., 10-year interval).

· Replacing leaky pipes.

Length of Activity/Project Applicants should propose activities/projects that can be completed within 2 years from the estimated project start date. Any proposals beyond the 2-year length shall provide substantive justification.

Funding will be provided in 12-month increments. For multi-year proposals, applicants must include project plans and budgets for each year of the project. Multi-year projects will be funded in one-year increments but will not compete for funding in subsequent budget periods within the approved award period; funding for subsequent years will be at the sole discretion of the Department of the Interior—Bureau of Reclamation and will depend on satisfactory performance by the recipient, the availability of funds to support the continuation of the project, and Agency priorities. If an applicant wishes to continue work on a funded project beyond the project period and obligated award funds have not been expended by the end of this period, the applicant can notify the assigned Federal Program Manager no later than 30 days prior to the end of the award period to determine eligibility for a time extension. If, however, the money is expended and funds are needed to continue the project, the applicant should submit another proposal during the next competitive award cycle or seek an alternate source of funding.

Pre-Award Costs Project pre-award costs that have been incurred prior to the date of award but after the date of authorization and appropriation for this Program may be submitted for consideration as an allowable portion of the recipient's cost share for the project. In no case will pre-award costs incurred prior to October 1, 2011, be considered for cost share purposes.

For example, such costs might include design or construction plans and environmental compliance costs directly supporting the proposed project. Environmental compliance, including National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) compliance, is an allowable cost and must be completed prior to any ground disturbing activities or significant expenditures. Reclamation will review the proposed pre-award costs to determine if they are allowable in accordance with the authorizing legislation and applicable cost principles. To be considered allowable, any pre-award costs proposed for consideration under the new awards must comply with all applicable requirements under this FOA.

Requirements for Agricultural Operations [Public Law 111-11, Section 9504(a)(3)(B)] In accordance with Section 9504(a)(3)(B) of Public Law 111-11, grants and cooperative agreements under this authority will not be awarded for an improvement to conserve irrigation water unless the applicant agrees not—

· To use any associated water savings to increase the total irrigated acreage of the eligible applicant or

· To otherwise increase the consumptive use of water in the operation of the eligible applicant, as determined pursuant to the law of the State in which the operation of the eligible applicant is located [This does not pertain to urban water savings.]

Other Requirements Applicants shall adhere to Federal, State, Territorial, and local laws, regulations, and codes, as applicable, and shall obtain all required approvals and permits. Applicants shall also coordinate and obtain approvals from site owners and operators.

1. Agricultural Operations [Public Law 111-11, Section 9504(a)(3)(B)] The Recipient shall not use any associated water savings to increase the total irrigated acreage of the Recipient or otherwise increase the consumptive use of water in the operation of the Recipient, as determined pursuant to the law of the State in which the operation of Recipient is located.

2. Title to Improvements [Public Law 111-11, Section 9504(a)(3)(D)] If the activities funded through an agreement awarded under this FOA result in an infrastructure improvement to a federally owned facility, the Federal Government shall continue to hold title to the facility and improvements to the facility.

3. Liability [Public Law 111-11, Section 9504(a)(3)(F)]

(a) In General—Except as provided under chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (commonly known as the “Federal Tort Claims Act”), the United States shall not be liable for monetary damages of any kind for any injury arising out of an act, omission, or occurrence that arises in relation to any facility created or improved through an agreement awarded under this FOA, the title of which is not held by the United States.

(b) Tort Claims Act—Nothing in this section increases the liability of the United States beyond that provided in chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (commonly known as the “Federal Tort Claims Act”).

IV. APPLICATION AND PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Proposal Format and Length The Proposal Narrative shall be limited to seven (7) 8-1/2 inch X 11 inch pages, excluding any forms required in these instructions, single-spaced on one side of the page. The font used shall be at least 11 points in size and shall be easily readable. The cover sheet (Standard Form 424), Assurances (Standard Form 424B or D, as applicable), Budget (Standard Form 424A or C), blank pages, title pages, blueprints, Appendices, environmental compliance documentation, budget narrative, funding plan, and table of content pages, will not be counted in the 7-page limit. All pages shall be consecutively numbered, including tables, appendices and exhibits.

Do not include a cover letter, organization literature, and/or brochures with your proposal. Do not place proposals into binders or plastic.

FOA Technical Point of Contact There will be no pre-proposal conference. Organizations or individuals interested in submitting proposals in response to this solicitation may direct questions to Reclamation in writing to:

Deb Whitney Bureau of Reclamation 27708 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 202 Temecula, CA 92590 Fax: 951-695-5319 E-mail: dwhitney@usbr.gov

FOA Administrative Point of Contact Requests for hardcopy mailing of the FOA itself, http://www.grants.gov questions or any other questions can be directed to Shawna Thompson, Grants Officer, at smthompson@usbr.gov or

(702) 293-8570.

Date for Receipt of Proposals Applicants shall submit an original and two copies of all proposal documents, unless submitted electronically. Proposals will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. PST on April 02, 2012. Proposals received after this time will only be considered for award if additional funding is available or if there is a shortage of high quality eligible proposals identified after evaluation of original proposals.

Proposal Delivery Instructions

Attn: Shawna Thompson 500 Fir Street Boulder City NV 89005 Contact Phone Number: (702) 293-8570.

Emailed proposals will be accepted, as long as the signed application is mailed and post marked by deadline and received within one week of deadline. E-mailed proposals should be directed to Shawna Thompson, Grants Officer, at smthompson@usbr.gov.

Electronic Submission via Grants.gov Reclamation is participating in the Grants.gov Initiative that provides the Grant Community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. Reclamation encourages applicants to submit their applications electronically through http://www.grants.gov/Apply. The use of http://www.grants.gov is NOT REQUIRED; Reclamation will continue to accept applications via hard copy. It is at the discretion of the applicant in the method of proposal delivery chosen. Chosen method of delivery will not impact or determine the award or non-award of any agreement. If the applicant submits a proposal via www.grants.gov electronic filing, please notify Reclamation by sending an email to Deb Whitney at dwhitney@usbr.gov, so that the proposal is not missed.

What to Submit in the Proposal Each applicant shall submit a proposal in accordance with the instructions set forth immediately below:

DUNS Number is required - Make sure that DUNS Number in on the coversheet

Assurances

Standard Form SF-424B or Standard Form 424D, as applicable. See Sec. V.1.c

V. PROPOSAL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

1. Proposal Format

a. Application for Federal Assistance – The proposal cover page shall consist of a fully completed SF 424 - Application for Federal Assistance. This form must be signed by a person legally authorized to commit your organization to performance of the project. This form is available at http://www.grants.gov/agencies/forms_repository_information.jsp.

b. Budget Information

· For Non-Construction Projects, submit an SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs.

· For Construction Projects, submit an SF-424C, Budget Information – Construction Programs.

· For projects comprised of both construction and non-construction aspects, submit the SF-424C, Budget Information – Construction Programs only.

c. Assurances

· For Non-Construction Projects, submit an SF-424B, Assurances – Non-Construction Programs.

· For Construction Projects, submit an SF-424D, Assurances – Construction Programs.

· If your project is comprised of both construction and non-construction aspects, submit the SF-424D, Assurances – Construction Programs only.

These forms are available at http://www.grants.gov/agencies/forms_repository_information.jsp

d. Project Narrative

· On a separate line on the first page of the Narrative, note which task area component is selected for the proposed activity/project. To ensure your proposal receives the points it deserves, applicants are strongly encouraged to explain how your proposed project relates to the Criteria outlined in Section VI. DO NOT attempt to address ALL criteria. Applicants must select the ONE task area component that applies to the proposed activity/project and only address the criteria for that ONE selected area component. The selection should be expressly stated in the proposal on the first page of the Narrative. If your project has aspects of more than one emphasis area, you must choose which one is the better fit or best describes the key reason for the project.

· Briefly discuss background and location of your organization. Identify the purpose and objective of the proposed project, and if the project is a component of an approved conservation or management plan.

· Describe – in detail –the work to be carried out. Also, break out the proposed work into major tasks/milestones, and discuss the approach and evaluation techniques that will be used to accomplish the proposed work. This discussion shall be in sufficient detail to permit a comprehensive evaluation of the proposal and its outcomes. If applicable, include engineering plans, designs, and analyses as part of the proposal. These plans and designs should be in the Appendix of the proposal. Multi-year applications must include such information for each year of the proposed activity.

· Provide the anticipated schedule for the project by identifying the anticipated start and end dates of all major stages/tasks/milestones of the project proposal. Explain any variations from proposed start dates shown in Section II, under Anticipated Award Date. Multi-year applications must include such information for each year of the proposed activity.

· Describe the anticipated benefit(s) and “performance measures” for each proposed task. The “performance measures” refer to the means by which the applicant will quantify actual benefits, including water conserved, water better managed, or water marketed. Note: The performance measure(s) suggested in the proposal may be written into the award for future monitoring results. Also, describe how the applicant will verify benefits achieved.

· Potential Water Management Benefits - Reclamation is required to report on potential water management benefits resulting from its financial assistance. Each application shall identify as many benefits shown below that may apply to the proposed activity/project. The PROPOSAL MUST DESCRIBE how the activity/project would achieve the benefit(s) and provide numerical estimates, where applicable. The following are examples of benefits that, at a minimum, should be addressed:

· Reduces leaks and seepage - Estimated acre-feet per year

· Reduces system spills – Estimated acre-feet per year

· Makes more water available for other uses – Estimated acre-feet per year

· Reduces operation costs – Estimated savings per year in dollars

· Reduces energy costs - Estimated savings per year in dollars

· Reduces waste treatment costs - Estimated savings per year in dollars

· Improve crop yield – Estimated percent per year

· Reduces on-farm costs - Estimated savings per year in dollars

· Reduces per capita use - Estimated reduction in gallons per capita per day per year

· Provides technical training - Estimated number of participants per year

· Provides water conservation education - Estimated number of participants per year

· Improves water supply/delivery reliability – Describe increased water transmission efficiency

· Delays construction of new M&I facilities – Describe benefits

· Reduces drainage and erosion – Describe benefits

· Improves water quality – Describe benefits

· Enhances aquatic/riparian habitat – Describe benefits

· Protects/assists endangered species efforts – Describe benefits Applicants can submit the attached Benefits Form to aid in completion of this requirement.

e. Environmental and Regulatory Compliance – Applicants are required to comply with all applicable state, Federal, and local environmental, cultural, and paleontological resource protection laws and regulations. These may include, but are not limited to, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including the Council on Environmental Quality and Department of the Interior regulations implementing NEPA; the Clean Water Act; and the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office, the Endangered Species Act, and could require consultation with potentially affected Tribes.

Reclamation is the lead Federal agency for NEPA compliance for projects funded by this FOA. As the lead agency, Reclamation is solely responsible for determining the appropriate level of NEPA compliance, which could be a categorical exclusions checklist, environmental assessment, or environmental impact statement. However, a project partner (or their contractor) can provide much of the necessary information and data analyses.

In order to allow Reclamation to assess the probable environmental impacts and associated costs for each proposal, all applicants must respond to the following list of questions focusing on the requirements of NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act. Please answer the following questions to the best of your knowledge. If any question is not applicable to your activity/project, please explain why. If you have any questions, please contact your local Reclamation office.

The follow questions/items must be addressed to receive any points for the Environmental and Regulatory Compliance criterion:

(1) Will your activity/project impact the surrounding environment (i.e. soil [dust], air, water [quality and quantity], animal habitat, etc.)? It is especially important to address this if any activities will be performed that include surface disturbance—this includes access points and roads. If so, please explain the impacts and any steps that could be taken to minimize the impacts.

(2) Are you aware of any endangered or threatened species in the activity/project area?

(3) Are there wetlands inside the activity/project boundaries? If so, please estimate how many acres of wetlands there are, and describe any impact your activity/project will have on the wetlands.

(4) If the project affects any structures, when were the structures constructed? Facilities, including irrigation systems, dams, etc., that are 50 years old or older meet the minimum basic requirement for consideration for eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Your answers to this will help us understand whether this applies to this project.

(5) If your activity/project will affect individual features of an irrigation system (e.g., headgates, canals or flumes), state when those features were constructed and describe the nature and timing of any extensive alterations or modifications to those features.

(6) Are any buildings, structures, or features in your irrigation district listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places? Your local Reclamation office can assist you in answering this question, if needed.

(7) Are there any known cultural resources sites in the proposed activity/project area?

(8) Nature of Activity (Note: the description of project should include all features and other details that will aid in determining the extent of the impacts of the activity or project, such as, but not limited to: a.) total acres of new surface disturbance anticipated, b.) the duration of the project to be authorized, c.) time of year project will be implemented, d.) types and number of equipment to be used, and e.) future operations and maintenance activities.

(9) What NEPA documents, biological assessments, biological opinions, cultural reports have already been prepared for this action (e.g. programmatic EA or EIS, biological opinion, etc.) or similar actions in the area?

(10) Applicants must obtain all required approvals and permits, and shall coordinate and obtain any approvals required from site owners and operators. Applicants should state in their proposals whether any other Federal (e.g. 401, 404, etc.), state, county, municipality permits or approvals are required, and explain the applicant’s plan for obtaining such permits or approvals.

(11) Project Location should be provided, including a legal description with Section, Township, Range, State, County and City where the activity or project will take place. Also, USGS topographic map(s), other land status map(s), engineering drawing(s)/plat map(s), vicinity, plan view, and elevation depictions may be required in order to establish the area and scope of the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the activity or project.

Environmental compliance must be completed for all projects selected for award, no matter how slight the disturbance of the environment appears. Answers provided to the above questions will aid in the completion of this important requirement.

f. Budget Content – The activity/project budget shall clearly identify all activity/project costs and the funding source, i.e., Reclamation, or other funding sources. An example of an acceptable budget format is included in Section VIII. The budget narrative should include the following categories: Salaries and Wages, Fringe Benefits, Travel, Equipment, Supplies, Consultants/Contractual, Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Costs, and Other. If the projects does not includes costs in one of these categories, list it and show it as not applicable.

g. Indirect Costs – Indirect costs are those costs that are not directly attributable to the project (such as for computing, maintenance, security, administrative support) because they are incurred in joint usage. If the applicant chooses to include indirect costs, the proposal must show the proposed rate, cost base, and proposed amount for allowable indirect costs based on the applicable OMB circular cost principles for the applicant's organization. It is acceptable for the applicant to pay for indirect costs outside of the grant. It is not acceptable to incorporate indirect rates within other direct cost line items. If the applicant has separate rates for recovery of labor overhead, general, and administrative costs, each rate shall be shown. The applicant should propose rates for evaluation purposes that will be used as fixed or ceiling rates in any resulting award. Include a copy of any Federally-approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. If you do not have a Federally-approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or if unapproved rates are used, explain why, and include the computational basis for the indirect expense pool and corresponding allocation base for each rate. Information on “Preparing and Submitting Indirect Cost Proposals” is available from the Department of the Interior, National Business Center, Indirect Cost Section, at http://www.aqd.nbc.gov/services/ICS.aspx.

h. Funding Plan and Letter of Commitment Information – The proposal shall include a funding plan that describes how the non-Reclamation share of the activity/project costs and/or resources will be obtained. Reclamation will use this information in making a determination of financial capability. Applicants must be willing to fund at least 50% of the activity/project costs and provide documentation showing the sources of non-Reclamation funding that totals 50% or more of the total activity/project costs. Additionally, if activity/project funding is being provided by other than the applicant, the applicant shall submit letters of commitment from these additional sources.

VI. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The evaluation criteria are Reclamation-wide criteria. The criteria are intended to reflect a Reclamation-wide priority on water conservation planning and on-the-ground efficiency improvements. The relative importance to be placed on the evaluation criteria is shown below. Proposals will be evaluated by the appropriate program officials in accordance with these criteria and the corresponding points assigned to each criterion.

The three task area components and amount of available evaluation points are:

1. Water Management Planning – 100 total points available

2. Implementation of Efficiency Measures – 95 total points available

3. Demonstration of Innovative Water Conservation Technologies – 90 total points available (See Section III for more information on these task area components)

In order to evaluate the proposal, the applicant must select the task area component for the proposed activity/project. If there is more than one type of task area component in the proposed work, please select the ONE that depicts the primary purpose of the activity/project. The following are the types of task areas and prospective points available for each:

1. Water Management Planning – 100 Total Points Available:

a. Association with Reclamation Project Water Supplies--This criterion addresses the applicant’s relationship with Reclamation projects. Priority is given to water user entities that receive water supplies from Reclamation projects or have water contracts with Reclamation. The applicant should explain its tie to a Reclamation project activity and specify Reclamation’s water supply contract number, if applicable. (up to 23 points)

b. Reasonableness of cost--This criterion evaluates whether the budget is sufficiently detailed, realistic and commensurate to the proposed work in the specified time frame. This criterion also evaluates whether the costs are reasonable, allocable and appropriate for the work proposed. (up to 10 points)

c. Likelihood that the proposed activity/project would be completed by applicant if no Federal funding is available. This criterion addresses whether the proposal demonstrates what impact the lack of Federal assistance would have on the proposed work, including impact on the applicant’s water management or water conservation program. (up to 10 points)

d. Amount and sources of non-Federal funding (i.e., cost share)--This criterion evaluates whether the proposal provides for 50% or more non-Federal funding or in-kind services and that the cost share funds are secure. The applicant’s proposal shall include a funding plan that describes how the non-Reclamation share of the activity/project costs will be obtained. Reclamation will use this information in making a determination of financial capability. More points will be given to those applicants that provide more than 50% cost share. (up to 2 points)

e. Potential issues related to environmental and cultural resources compliance—this criterion evaluates whether or not the proposal includes discussion and answers to questions posed in Section V.1.e. (up to 1 point)

f. Water Conservation Plan is required under the Reclamation Reform Act (RRA) of 1982—priority is given for plans required by the RRA. (up to 20 points)

g. Benefit information, described in Section V.1.d., is addressed in the proposal, including description of how benefits will be verified. (up to 32 points)

h. Signatory to the California Urban Water Conservation Council and/or a Member of the Agricultural Water Management Council (up to 2 points)

2. Implementation of Efficiency Measures – 95 Total Points Available:

a. Association with Reclamation Project Water Supplies—same description as above (up to 21 points)

b. Extent to which applicant’s Water Management Plan is complete and updated—must provide information about the plan, but plan does not have to be attached (Fewer points are awarded if applicant is not required to have a plan under RRA) (up to 15 points)

c. Reasonableness of cost—same description as above (up to 9 points)

d. Extent to which the proposed activity/project is expected to improve water use efficiency--This criterion addresses whether the proposal meets the goals and anticipated outcomes of activities of the SCAO WCFSP, as described in Sections I and III. To achieve full points, the required benefits information, from Section V.1.d. must be addressed. (up to 15 points)

e. Likelihood that the proposed activity/project would be completed by applicant if no Federal funding is available—same description as above (up to 9 points)

f. Amount and sources of non-Federal funding (i.e., cost share)—same description as above (up to 2 points)

g. Potential issues related to environmental and cultural resources compliance—same description as above (up to 1 point)

h. Extent to which proposal demonstrates a sound implementation strategy--This criterion addresses whether the approach is technically sound, if the methods are appropriate for achieving the stated goals and objectives, and if the anticipated results can be achieved in the time frame specified. (up to 11 points)

i. The applicant’s strategy for monitoring performance and reporting and disseminating results--This criterion addresses whether the proposal describes how the actual benefits will be verified and documented once the activity/project is completed. (up to 10 points)

j. Signatory to the California Urban Water Conservation Council and/or a Member of the Agricultural Water Management Council (up to 2 points)

3. Demonstration Projects – 90 Total Points Available:

a. Association with Reclamation Project Water Supplies—same description as above (up to 20 points)

b. Extent to which applicant’s Water Management Plan is complete and updated— must provide information about the plan, but plan does not have to be attached (Fewer points are awarded if applicant is not required to have a plan under RRA) (up to 14 points)

c. Reasonableness of cost—same description as above (up to 8 points)

d. Extent to which the proposed activity/project will demonstrate innovative conservation technologies for improving water use efficiency (including applied research to benefit development of new technologies; demonstration of a specific conservation technology; or innovative application of existing technology with the intent of evaluating results). To achieve full points, the required benefits information, from Section V.1.d. must be addressed. (up to 14 points)

e. Likelihood that the proposed activity/project would be completed by applicant if no Federal funding is available—same description as above (up to 8 points)

f. Amount and sources of non-Federal funding (i.e., cost share)—same description as above (up to 2 points)

g. Potential issues related to environmental and cultural resources compliance—same description as above (up to 1 point)

h. Procedure for delivering message or findings—this criterion evaluates whether the applicant has provided information on its approach for disseminating the findings from the demonstration project and whether the approach is realistic. This includes applicant’s strategy for monitoring performance and reporting and disseminating results.

(up to 11 points)

i. Extent to which proposal demonstrates a sound implementation strategy (up to 10 points)

j. Signatory to the California Urban Water Conservation Council and/or a Member of the Agricultural Water Management Council (up to 2 points)

**See attached Supplemental Information Questionnaire on pages 24-25 for additional questions that can be answered to provide sufficient information in the proposal for receiving maximum points for these criteria.

REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

The Government reserves the right to reject any and all proposals that do not meet the requirements of this opportunity or proposals that are determined to be outside the scope of this Announcement. Awards will be made to the responsible applicants submitting proposals that conform to this FOA and are most advantageous to the Government considering the factors listed above. The evaluation process will be comprised of three levels.

VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

Award Notices Successful applicants from this opportunity will receive notification that the application proposal has been recommended for funding by the cognizant Grants Officer (GO). This notification is not an authorization to begin performance of the work. An official Notice of Award is the authorizing document signed by the GO and the Recipient. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified that their proposal was not selected for award.

Administration Requirements If your organization is awarded an agreement as a result of this FOA, grant funds must be paid electronically. Therefore, bank routing and account numbers are needed from the recipient to setup the payment account. A convenient way to provide this information is for the recipient to register on the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) website at http://www.ccr.gov/. CCR is the primary registrant database for the U.S. Federal Government. This is not required, but may become a requirement in the near future. At this time, other options are available, but involve additional paperwork. Please contact the technical point of contact with any questions.

VIII. FORMS AND SUGGESTED FORMATS

1. SAMPLE BUDGET WORKSHEET FORMAT or Similar should be used

SALARIES AND WAGES

Employee 1 (descriptive title)

Employee 2 (descriptive title)

FRINGE BENEFITS

Full-time employees

Part-time employees

TRAVEL

Trip 1

Trip 2

EQUIPMENT

Item A

Item B

Item C

SUPPLIES/MATERIALS

Office Supplies

Construction

CONTRACTUAL/

CONSULTANT

ENVIRONMENTAL AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

OTHER

TOTAL DIRECT COSTS

INDIRECT COSTS - __%

TOTAL ACTIVITY/PROJECT COSTS

SAMPLE BUDGET NARRATIVE [Must be included]

A. Salaries and Wages/Personnel - Indicate program manager and other key personnel by name and title, but only by title for others. For all positions, indicate salaries/hourly wages, estimated number of hours, and rate of compensation proposed. Clearly identify any proposed salary increases and the effective date. Generally, salaries of clerical personnel should be included as a portion of your indirect costs. If these salaries can be adequately documented as direct costs, they may be included in this section; however, please explain this in the budget narrative.

Name/Position Computation Cost Ellen Smith, Investigator (1875 hours x $40 per hour) $75,000 2 Advocates (Part-time employees) (200 hours x $24 per hour x 2) $9,600 Subtotal $84,600

Explanation of work: The investigator and the advocate will be assigned exclusively to domestic violence unit to work on the project for one and a half years. A 2% cost of living adjustment is scheduled for all full-time personnel 6-months prior to the end of the grant. Overtime will be needed during some investigations, for investigator only.

-Cost of living increase (only full time empl) (600 hrs x ($40/hr x 3.125%)) $750 -Overtime for Investigator (Policy-amt is less than full)($37.5/hr x 100 hrs) $3,750

TOTAL SALARIES $89,100

B. Fringe Benefits - Indicate rates/amounts, what costs are included in this category and the basis of the rate computations (Basis will be required if proposal is selected for award). Indicate whether these rates are used for proposal purposes only or whether they are fixed or provisional rates for billing purposes. Federally approved rate agreements are acceptable for compliance with this item. Fringe benefits should be based on actual known costs or an established formula. Fringe benefits are for the personnel listed in budget category (A) and only for the percentage of time devoted to the project. Fringe benefits on overtime hours are limited to FICA, Workman’s Compensation, and Unemployment Compensation.

Fringe Benefits are only paid to full time employees.

[($75,000 x 1 year) + ($75,000 x 2% x .5 year) = $75,750]

Name/Position Computation Cost

C. Travel - Include purpose of trip (e.g., staff to training, field interviews, advisory group meeting, etc.); destination; number of employees traveling; length of stay; and all travel costs, including airfare (basis for rate used), per diem, lodging, and miscellaneous travel expenses. In training projects, travel and meals for trainees should be listed separately. Indicate source of travel policies applied, applicant or federal travel regulations. For local travel, include mileage and rate of compensation.

Purpose of Travel Location Item Computation Cost

The two advocates will attend meeting on domestic violence and child abuse in Minneapolis in October. Federal travel rates applied.

TOTAL TRAVEL $2,412

D. Equipment - Itemize costs of all equipment having a value of over $5,000 and include information as to the need for this equipment. (Note: Organizations’ own capitalization policy for classification of equipment should be used.) Expendable items should be included in the “Supplies” category. Applicants should analyze the cost benefits of purchasing versus leasing equipment, especially high cost items and those subject to rapid technical advances. Rented or leased equipment costs should be listed in the “Contractual” category. Explain how the equipment is necessary for the success of the project. Attach a narrative describing the procurement method to be used and how costs were estimated.

Item Computation Cost Projector $ 501 Video Camera $1,000

The video camera will be used by the investigator and the advocates for investigative and crime scene work. The projector will be used to analyze case information and presentations of findings and class materials. We will purchase the equipment, because the cost of renting the equipment would cost $2,500 for the amount of time that it is needed.

TOTAL EQUIPMENT $1,501

E. Supplies - List items by type (office supplies, postage, training materials, copying paper, and expendable items such as books, hand held tape recorders); quantity; and purpose. Show the basis for computation. Generally, supplies include any materials that are expendable or consumed during the course of the project.

Supply Items Computation Cost

Office supplies and postage are needed for general operation of the program. Training materials will be developed and used by the investigators to train patrol officers how to preserve crime scene evidence.

TOTAL SUPPLIES $2,260

F. Consultants/Contracts - Identify all work that will be accomplished by subrecipients, consultants, or contractors, including a detailed budget estimate of time, rates, supplies, and materials that will be required for the task. If a subrecipient, consultant, or contractor is proposed and approved at time of award, no other approvals will be required.