FY 2022 Applied Science Grants NOFO-50_Final508.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity No. R22AS00165

WaterSMART-Applied Science Grants for Fiscal Year 2022

U.S. Department of the Interior February 2022

Mission Statements The U.S. Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nation's natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated Island Communities.

The mission of the Bureau of 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.

Cover Photo: WSR-88D Doppler radar at New Underwood, South Dakota. Courtesy of NASA.

Synopsis

Synopsis

Federal Agency Name: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Water Resources and Planning Office

Funding Opportunity Title: WaterSMART: Applied Science Grants

Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Funding Opportunity Number: R22AS00165

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:

15.557

Dates:

(See NOFO Sec. D.4)

Application Due Date: Thursday, April 14, 2022, 4:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)

Eligible Applicants:

(See NOFO Sec. C.1)

Category A: States, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts; state, regional, or local authorities whose members include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; and other organizations with water or power delivery authority.

All Category A applicants must be located in the Western United States or United States Territories, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Category B: Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and nonprofit organizations that are acting in partnership and with the agreement of an entity described in Category A.

All Category B applicants must be in the United States or the specific Territories identified above.

Recipient Cost Share:

(See NOFO Sec. C.2)

A non-Federal cost-share of 50 percent or more of total project costs.

Federal Funding Amount:

(See NOFO Sec. B.1)

Up to $200,000 per agreement for a project that can be completed within 2 years.

Estimated Number of Agreements to be Awarded’:

(See NOFO Sec. B.1)

Approximately 20-30 projects, contingent on appropriations.

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Application Checklist

The following table contains a summary of the information that you are required to submit with your application.

Application Checklist

What to submit

Required content

Form or format

When to submit

Mandatory Federal Forms:

Application for Federal Financial Assistance

Budget Information

Assurances

See Sec. D.2.2.1 Standard Form (SF)-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and SF-LLL forms may be obtained at:

www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

Title page See Sec. D.2.2.2 Page 15 *

Table of contents See Sec. D.2.2.3 Page 15 *

Technical proposal: See Sec. D.2.2.4 Page 15X * Executive summary

Project description

Project location

Evaluation criteria

See Sec. E.1.

Project Budget: * Funding plan See Sec. D.2.2.10 Page 18 * Budget proposal See Sec. D.2.2.10 Page 19 * Budget narrative See Sec. D.2.2.10 Page 20 *

Environmental and cultural resources compliance

See Sec. D.2.2.7 Page 17 *

Required permits or approvals

See Sec. D.2.2.8 Page 17 *

Letters of Funding Commitment

See Sec. D.2.2.98 Page 18

Official Resolutions See Sec. D.2.2.9 Page 23 **

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management

See Sec. D.3 Page 25 ***

* Submit materials with your application.

** Document should be submitted with your application; however, please refer to the applicable section of the NOFO for extended submission date.

*** Should be completed prior to the application deadline; however, please refer to the applicable section of the NOFO for extended completion date.

iii http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Acronyms and Abbreviations

AOR

ARC

ASAP

CE

CEC

CFDA

CFR

CWA

CWMP

Department D&B

DUNS

EA

EIN

EIS

E.O.

ESA

FAIR

FAPIIS

FGDC

Authorized Organizational Representative Application Review Committee Automated Standard Application for Payments Categorical Exclusion Categorical Exclusion Checklist Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Code of Federal Regulations Clean Water Act Cooperative Watershed Management Program U.S. Department of the Interior Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Number System Environmental Assessment Employer Identification Number Environmental Impact Statement Executive Order Endangered Species Act Financial Assistance Interior Regulation Federal Award Performance Integrity Information System Federal Geospatial Data Committee

FOIA Freedom of Information Act FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact FY fiscal year GIS Geographic Information System MDT Mountain Daylight Time NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NHPA National Historic Preservation Act NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOFO Notice of Funding Opportunity OM&R operations, maintenance, and replacement OMB Office of Management and Budget P.L. Public Law Project applied science project Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation ROD Record of Decision SAM System of Award Management SECURE Science and Engineering to Comprehensively Understand and Responsibly

Enhance UEI Unique Entity Identifier U.S.C. United States Code USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service WaterSMART Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow v https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-service/office-of-systems-management/integrated-award-environment-iae/iae-systems-information-kit/unique-entity-identifier-update

Contents

Contents vii

Page Section A. Funding Opportunity Description

A.1. Authority A.2. Background, Purpose, and Program Requirements A.3. Notice of Funding Opportunity Objective A.4. Other Related Funding Opportunities

Section B. Award Information B.1. Total Funding B.2. Expected Award Amount B.3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Date B.4. Number of Awards B.5. Type of Award

Section C. Eligibility Information C.1. Eligible Applicants C.2. Cost-Sharing Requirement C.3. Other C.4. Eligible Projects C.5. Required Project Components C.6. Ineligible Projects

Section D. Application and Submission Information D.1. Address to Request Application Package D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management D.4. Submission Date and Time D.5. Intergovernmental Review D.6. Funding Restrictions D.7. Automated Standard Application for Payments Registration

Section E. Application Review Information E.1. Evaluation Criteria E.2. Review and Selection Process E.3. Federal Award Performance Integrity Information System

Section F. Federal Award Administration Information F.1. Federal Award Notices F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements F.3. Reporting Requirements and Distribution F.4. Disclosures F.5. Releasing Applications

Section G. Agency Contacts G.1. Financial Assistance Contact G.2. Reclamation Program Coordinator Contact G.3. Application System Technical Support

Section H. Other Information H.1. Environmental and Cultural Resource Considerations H.2. Background on Federal Environmental and Cultural Resource Laws

Section A. Funding Opportunity Description

A.1. Authority

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is issued under the authority of Section 9509 and 9504(b) of the Science and Engineering to Comprehensively Understand and Responsibly Enhance (SECURE) Water Act, Subtitle F of Title IX of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, Public Law (P.L.) 111-11 (42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 10364), as amended.

A.2. Background, Purpose, and Program Requirements The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (Department) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department’s priorities.

Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non- Federal funding to support stakeholder efforts to stretch scarce water supplies and avoid conflicts over water.

The WaterSMART Applied Science Grants provide support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order (E.O.) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and aligned with other priorities, such as those identified in E.O. 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. Applied science projects (Project) also support the goals of the Interagency Drought Relief Working Group established in March 2021 and the National Drought Resiliency Partnership.

Drought conditions across the Western United States impact a wide range of communities and sectors, including agriculture, cities, Tribes, the environment, recreation, hydropower producers, and others. The West is experiencing its worst drought this century—historic in both duration and severity—threatening to kill crops, spark wildfires, and harm public health.

As of December 2021, the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that more than 97% of the land in nine of the Western states is in drought conditions, and nearly 62% of the area is experiencing extreme or exceptional drought.

Through WaterSMART Applied Science Grants, Reclamation provides cost-shared financial assistance to States, Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, or other organizations with water or power delivery authority, universities, nonprofit research institutions, and nonprofit organizations for projects to develop hydrologic information and water management tools and improve modeling and forecasting capabilities.

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

Increased access to information and improved modeling and forecasting capabilities will help avoid water conflicts and improve our ability to meet a variety of water management objectives, including:

support for water supply reliability, management of water deliveries, water marketing activities, drought management activities, conjunctive use of ground and surface water, water rights administration, ability to meet endangered species requirements, watershed health, conservation and efficiency, and other water management objectives.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) supports projects to develop hydrologic information and water management tools and improve modeling and forecasting capabilities to increase water supply reliability. For further information on the Applied Science Program see https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/appliedscience/index.html.

Applied Science Grants are a component of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Basin Study Program. For more information on the WaterSMART Basin Study Program, please see www.usbr.gov/ watersmart/bsp/index.html.

A.3. Notice of Funding Opportunity Objective The objective of this NOFO is to invite eligible non-Federal entities to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on applied science projects to improve access to and use of hydrologic data as well as to develop and improve water management tools and improve modeling and forecasting capabilities. Results from these projects will be used by water managers to increase water supply reliability, provide flexibility in water operations, and improve water management. Project results must be readily applicable by water managers—resulting in tools and information that can be used to support: water supply reliability, water delivery management, water marketing activities, drought management activities, conjunctive use of ground and surface water, water rights administration, ability to meet endangered species requirements, watershed health, conservation and efficiency, and other water management objectives.

A.4. Other Related Funding Opportunities For information on the NOFOs listed here, please visit the WaterSMART Program website:

www.usbr.gov/watersmart.

Reclamation provides funding for water management projects through several programs under WaterSMART. Through WaterSMART Grants, Reclamation provides three funding opportunities.

The Water and Energy Efficiency Grants focus on projects that result in quantifiable and sustained water savings and projects that increase hydropower use. The Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects Grants provide funding for small-scale water management projects (up to $75,000 in Federal funding for each project) that have been identified through previous planning efforts. Through Water Marketing Strategy Grants, Reclamation provides support for entities exploring actions that can be taken to develop or facilitate water marketing or water marketing activities.

https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/appliedscience/index.html http://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/bsp/index.html http://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/bsp/index.html https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/index.html

Through the Drought Response Program, Reclamation provides funding to help build resilience to drought. Through Drought Contingency Planning, Reclamation supports the development of drought contingency plans with participation from a diverse set of stakeholders. Reclamation also provides funding for Drought Resiliency Projects supported by an existing drought contingency plan to build long-term resilience to drought.

In addition, through the Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP), Reclamation provides funding to watershed groups to encourage diverse stakeholders to form local solutions to address their watershed management needs. Reclamation provides funding through Phase I of the CWMP for watershed group development, restoration planning, and watershed management project design and through Phase II for the implementation of watershed management projects.

Through the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program, authorized by P.L. 102-575 in 1992, Reclamation provides financial and technical assistance to local water agencies for water reclamation and reuse research and the planning, design, and construction of water reclamation and reuse projects.

Section B. Award Information

Section B. Award Information B.1. Total Funding Approximately $1.5 million is available for this NOFO, with per-project limits as described in Section B.2. Expected Award Amount. Reclamation will determine the final amount of funding available for award under this NOFO once final fiscal year (FY) 2022 appropriations have been made. This NOFO may be canceled if appropriations are insufficient to support new awards. Applications submitted under this NOFO may also be considered if other funding, including funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), P.L. 117-58 becomes available in FY 2022 or subsequently. Any applicants identified for BIL funding would need to meet additional requirements, including Buy American and Wage Rate Requirements (Davis-Bacon Act). Reclamation will work with selected recipients to address these requirements. See Section F.2.8. Additional Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Requirements for more information.

B.2. Expected Award Amount Maximum Award: $200,000 Minimum Award: $0

Up to $200,000 in Federal funds per agreement provided through this NOFO will be available for projects that generally should be completed within 2 years from the date of award. The Federal share (i.e., Reclamation’s share in addition to any other sources of Federal funding), of an applied science project shall not exceed 50% of the Project cost.

B.3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Date Anticipated Award Date: 2/14/2023

Reclamation expects to contact potential award recipients and unsuccessful applicants in the early summer of 2022 (or later if necessary), subject to the timing of final FY 2022 appropriations.

Anticipated Project Completion Date: 2/14/2025

B.4. Number of Awards Approximately 20 awards, depending on the amount requested by each applicant and the amount of funding available.

B.5. Type of Award Awards will be made through grants or cooperative agreements as applicable to each project. If a cooperative agreement is awarded, the recipient should expect Reclamation to have substantial involvement in the project. Substantial involvement by Reclamation may include:

• Collaboration and participation with the recipient in managing the project and close oversight of the recipient’s activities to ensure that the program objectives are being achieved (e.g., oversight to support appropriate stakeholder involvement, or collaboration with Reclamation on projects involving Reclamation facilities, operations, or data)

• Oversight may include review, input, and approval at key interim stages of the project

Note: The development and administration of an award under this NOFO is not considered substantial involvement.

At the request of the recipient, Reclamation can provide technical assistance after awarding the project. For example, Reclamation staff with expertise in hydrologic modeling, reservoir operations, or the management of hydrologic data could be contracted to assist you with implementing your project if selected for funding. If you would like to receive technical assistance from Reclamation, you must account for these costs in your proposed budget. To discuss available assistance and these costs, contact the program coordinator identified in Section G. Agency Contacts.

Section C. Eligibility Information

Section C. Eligibility Information

C.1. Eligible Applicants Applicants eligible to receive an award under this NOFO include:

Category A:

• States, Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, and water districts;

• State, regional, or local authorities, which include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority as members; and

• Other organizations with water or power delivery authority.

To be eligible, Category A applicants must also be located in one of the following United States or specific Territories: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Category B:

Universities, nonprofit research institutions, federally funded research and development centers, and non-profit entities (including 501[c][3] organizations) that are acting in partnership with and with the agreement of an entity described in Category A. Category B applicants must include with their application a letter from the Category A partner, stating that they commit to participate in the project and agree to the submittal and content of the proposal. A letter of participation must demonstrate that the partner intends to participate in the project in some way, for example, by providing input, feedback, or other support for the project. Note: partners do not necessarily need to contribute cost-share funding.

All Category B applicants must be in the United States or the specific Territories identified above.

Those not eligible include, but are not limited to, the following entities:

• Individuals

• Commercial/industrial organizations

• Private entities

• 501(c)(4) Nonprofit organizations

• 501(c)(6) Organizations

C.2. Cost-Sharing Requirement All cost share contributions must meet the applicable administrative and cost principles criteria established in 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §200. All CFRs are available at the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, www.ecfr.gov.

C.2.1. Cost Share Regulations Applicants must be capable of cost sharing 50 percent or more of the total project costs. The total project cost is defined as the total allowable costs incurred under a Federal award and all required cost share and voluntary committed cost share contributions, including third-party contributions.

C.2.2. Cost-Share Requirements Cost share may be made through cash, costs contributed by the applicant, or third-party in-kind contributions. Cost-share funding from sources outside the applicant’s organization (e.g., loans or state grants) should be secured and available to the applicant prior to award. Please see Section D.2.2.10. Project Budget and Section D.2.2.11. Official Resolution for more information regarding the documentation required to verify commitments to meet cost-sharing requirements.

C.2.3. Federal Funding The Federal share (Reclamation’s share in addition to any other sources of Federal funding) for any one proposed Project shall not exceed 50 percent of the total costs. Generally, the non-Federal share of project costs must be expended at the same or greater rate as the Federal share of project costs.

In general, other sources of Federal funding may not be counted towards the required non-Federal cost share. The exception to this requirement is where the Federal statute authorizing a program specifically provides that Federal funds made available for such program can be applied to matching or cost-sharing requirements of other Federal programs, such as awards to tribal organizations under P.L. 93-638, as amended. If it is determined that the Federal funding cannot be applied towards the non-Federal cost share, the work associated with the funding may be removed from the proposed project.

C.2.4. Third-Party In-Kind Contributions Third-party in-kind contributions are the value of non-cash contributions of property or services that benefit the federally assisted Project and are contributed by non-Federal third parties without charge. Third-party in-kind contributions may be in the form of equipment, supplies, and other expendable property, as well as the value of services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the proposed Project. The cost or value of third-party in-kind contributions that have been or will be relied on to satisfy a cost sharing or matching requirement for another Federal financial assistance agreement, a Federal procurement contract, or any other award of Federal funds may not be relied on to satisfy the cost share requirement for an award under this NOFO. Applicants should refer to 2 CFR §200.434 Contributions and Donations for regulations regarding the valuation of third-party in-kind contributions, available at www.ecfr.gov.

http://www.ecfr.gov/ http://www.ecfr.gov/

C.3. Other Reclamation conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. Reclamation cannot award funds to entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted, or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits, as their ineligibility condition applies to this Federal program.

C.4. Eligible Projects Reclamation will provide funding for applied science projects to develop or improve hydrologic information, water management tools, and modeling and forecasting capabilities. Results from these Projects will be used by water managers to increase water supply reliability, provide flexibility in water operations, and improve water management.

C.4.1. Eligibility Requirements To be eligible, Projects must:

• be completed within 2 years of award

• be designed for use by water managers located in the following States or Territories: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin and Puerto Rico;

• be based on known and available (or “mature”) technologies and may not include the development of new or novel methods or technologies; and

• support one or more of the following water management objectives:

o water supply reliability, o improved management of water deliveries, o water marketing activities, o drought management activities, o conjunctive use of ground and surface water, o water rights administration, o ability to meet endangered species requirements, o watershed health, o restore a natural features or use a nature-based feature to reduce water supply and demand imbalances or the risk of drought or flood, o conservation and efficiency, or o other improvements to water supply reliability.

https://sam.gov/content/exclusions

C.4.2. Eligible Projects Projects must support the types of water management objectives described in the bullets immediately above and may include but are not limited to:

1. Projects to enhance modeling capabilities to improve water supply reliability and increase flexibility in water operations. Modeling tools can improve water supply reliability and flexibility by providing an accurate representation of the physical system and more reliable information about water availability. This information can be used by water managers to help meet constraints or requirements (e.g., endangered species, administrative, or water delivery requirements). Projects may include improvements to the spatial and temporal resolution of a model, improvements to model calibration, enhancements to make a model more interactive and agile so that it can be used to answer specific questions as they arise, or other enhancements to modeling tools. Projects could include improvements to hydrologic models, reservoir operations models, or other types of water management models.

2. Projects to improve or adapt forecasting tools and technologies to enhance management of water supplies and reservoir operations. Reliable forecasts are an important water management tool that can be used to optimize operations and improve water management, manage risks, and inform water allocation strategies, or even water marketing. Projects can include developing or adapting forecasting tools to meet the needs of water managers. Projects may also include adapting existing forecasts to better meet operational needs. Applicants are encouraged to explore whether there are existing data sets and forecast products that may be leveraged. Note: Applicants must demonstrate how the forecast or data will be used to enhance management of water supplies and reservoir operations, for example, by using the tool in connection with an operations model.

3. Projects to improve access to and use of water resources data or to develop new types of data to inform water management decisions. The availability of quality assured, quality controlled hydrologic data is critical to inform water management decisions. Eligible projects may include improvements to data acquisition, data analysis, and data delivery. Data acquisition projects may include incorporating or developing new or previously unavailable data, such as remote sensing imagery, hydrologic data acquired using unmanned aerial systems, or paleo reconstructions of naturalized flows, for example. Projects may include developing hydrologic databases or decision support tools that resource managers can use to query or analyze data to improve water management. Projects may also include improved data delivery, such as making data available to a broader audience, or improvements to make data systems compatible with existing systems (e.g., Federal or State databases).

C.5. Required Project Components Applicants whose projects are selected for funding under this NOFO may be asked to participate in at least one Reclamation-sponsored webinar to discuss application of deliverables to management questions. In most cases, the webinar will be scheduled when the final report is ready to be submitted for Reclamation review. The presentation should inform Reclamation about project accomplishments, the final results of the identified tasks, and any lessons learned. This presentation may be open to the public as a webinar and may be recorded and made available on the WaterSMART website.

C.6. Ineligible Projects Projects that are not eligible for funding under this NOFO include, but are not limited to:

• projects to research and/or develop new and novel methods or technologies;

• planning studies, such as feasibility studies, appraisal investigations, water marketing strategies, and drought contingency plans;

• projects to develop or demonstrate tools and technologies supporting water reuse, water recycling, and desalination projects (e.g., projects that are eligible under the Desalination and Water Purification Research funding opportunity);

• projects considered normal operations, maintenance, and replacement (OM&R);

• construction projects to improve water management; and

• projects funded under other Federal grants.

Section D. Application and Submission Information

Section D. Application and Submission Information

D.1. Address to Request Application Package This document contains all information, forms, and electronic addresses required to obtain the information required to submit an application.

If you are unable to access this information electronically, you can request paper copies of any of the documents referenced in this NOFO by emailing the Financial Assistance Support Section staff at bor-sha-fafoa@usbr.gov.

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission All applications must conform to the requirements set forth below.

D.2.1. Application Format and Length The technical proposal and evaluation criteria section (defined below) shall be limited to a maximum of 20 consecutively numbered pages. If this section exceeds 20 pages, only the first 20 pages will be evaluated. The font shall be at least 12 points in size and easily readable. Page size shall be 8½ by 11 inches, including charts, maps, and drawings. Margins should be standard 1-inch margins. Oversized pages will not be accepted.

Applications will be prescreened for compliance to the page number limitations. Excess pages will be removed and not considered in the evaluation of the proposed project.

D.2.2. Application Content The application must include the following elements to be considered complete:

• Mandatory Federal Forms o SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance o SF-424A Budget Information o SF-424B Assurances o Project Abstract Summary (Office of Management and Budget [OMB] Number 4040-0019) o SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable)

These forms may be obtained at www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

• Title page mailto:bor-sha-fafoa@usbr.gov http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

• Table of contents

• Technical proposal and evaluation criteria (limited to 20 pages) o Executive summary o Technical project description o Project location o Evaluation criteria

• Project budget o Funding plan and letters of funding commitment o Budget proposal o Budget narrative

• Environmental and cultural resources compliance (as applicable to the project)

• Required permits or approvals (if applicable to the project)

• Letters of support for the project and letters of participation (will not count towards the page limitation)

• Official resolution (will not count towards the page limitation)

It is highly recommended that application packages be structured in the order identified above.

D.2.2.1. Mandatory Federal Forms The application must include the following standard Federal forms. Questions regarding forms should be referred to the Grants Management Point of Contact under Section G. Agency Contacts.

SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance A fully completed form SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance signed by a person legally authorized to commit the applicant to performance of the Project must be submitted with the application. Failure to submit a properly signed SF-424 may result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

SF-424 Budget Information

A fully completed SF-424A Budget Information must be submitted with the application. SF- 424B Assurances

• A SF-424B Assurances for Non-Construction Programs signed by a person legally authorized to commit the applicant to performance of the Project shall be included.

Failure to submit a properly signed SF-424B may result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

Project Abstract Summary A fully completed Project Abstract Summary (OMB Form 4040-0019) must be submitted with the application. The Project Abstract Summary should include the purpose of the project, the activities to be performed, the expected deliverables or outcomes, the intended beneficiaries, and any subrecipient activities, if known.

SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities A fully completed and signed SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities is required if the applicant has made or agreed to make payment to any lobbying entity for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with a covered Federal action.

Note—this form cannot be submitted by a contractor or other entity on behalf of an applicant.

D.2.2.2. Title Page Provide a brief, informative, and descriptive title for the proposed work that indicates the nature of the project. Include the applicant’s name and address and the project manager’s name and address, email address, and telephone number.

D.2.2.3. Table of Contents List all major sections of the proposal in the table of contents.

D.2.2.4. Technical Proposal and Evaluation Criteria The technical proposal and evaluation criteria (20 pages maximum) include:

(1) Executive summary

(2) Technical project description

(3) Project location

(4) Evaluation criteria

Executive Summary The executive summary should include:

• The date, applicant name, city, county, and state.

• A one paragraph project summary that specifies the work proposed, including how funds will be used to accomplish specific project activities and briefly identifies how the proposed project contributes to accomplishing the goals of this NOFO.

Example: Oklahoma State University, with the support of the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District, the Kansas-Bostwick Irrigation District No. 2, and the Frenchman Cambridge Irrigation District, will incorporate remotely sensed soil moisture data with proven statistical techniques to create seasonal forecasts for rainfall dominated regions of the Great Plains. The project will use remote-sensed soil moisture data, North American Land Data Assimilation System, and NASA’s Soil Moisture Active-Passive Satellite. The seasonal forecast tools will inform surface water managers, support improved irrigation water supply management, and enhance the ability of reservoir operators to anticipate and respond to extreme events such as droughts and floods.

• The length of time and estimated completion date for the proposed project.

• Whether or not the proposed project is located on a Federal facility.

Technical Project Description The technical project description should describe the work, including specific activities that will be accomplished. As part of this discussion, please address the following:

• Applicant Category: Please indicate whether you are a Category A applicant or a Category B applicant. If you are a Category B applicant, briefly explain how you are acting in partnership with a Category A partner. (Note: Category B applicants must include a letter from the Category A partner confirming that they are partnering with the applicant and agree to the submittal and content of the proposal. See Section C.1. Eligible Applicants).

• Detailed Project Description: Provide a more comprehensive description of the technical aspects of your project, including the work to be accomplished and the approach to complete the work. This description should provide detailed information about the project, including your methodology and approach, and any models, data, and tools you are using, and the work to be conducted to complete the project. This section provides an opportunity for the applicant to provide a clear description of the technical nature of the project and the work to be performed and to address any aspect of the project that reviewers may need additional information to understand.

• Goals: Discuss the preliminary goals and objectives of the Project.

Please do not include your project schedule and milestones here; that information is requested in response to the Project Implementation criterion as described in Section E.1.3. Evaluation Criterion C.

In addition, please avoid discussion of the benefits of the project, which are also requested in response to evaluation criteria as described in Section E.1.1 Evaluation Criterion A. This section is solely intended to provide an understanding of the technical aspects of the project and the work to be performed. Please note, if the work for which you are requesting funding is a phase of a larger project, please only describe the work that is reflected in the budget and exclude description of other activities or components of the overall project.

Project Location Provide specific information regarding the proposed applied science project’s geographic area of focus (for example, the proposed project may focus on a particular watershed or basin, county, State, Territory, or other region. Include a map showing the geographic location of the project area in one of the following formats:

1. Shapefile (.shp)

2. KMZ/KML (.kmz or .kml) aka Google Earth File

3. PDF map (.pdf)

D.2.2.5. Data Management Practices Any spatially explicit data or tools developed in the performance of an award made under this NOFO must be developed in industry standard formats that are compatible with Geographic Information System (GIS) platforms.

D.2.2.6. Evaluation Criteria See Section E.1. Evaluation Criteria for additional details, including a detailed description of each criterion and subcriterion and points associated with each.

The evaluation criteria portion of your application should thoroughly address each criterion and subcriterion in the order presented to assist in the complete and accurate evaluation of your proposal.

It is suggested that applicants copy and paste the evaluation criteria and subcriteria in Section E.1. Evaluation Criteria into their applications to ensure that all necessary information is adequately addressed

D.2.2.7. Environmental and Cultural Resources Compliance (as applicable to the project) Please answer the questions from Section H.1. Environmental and Cultural Resource Considerations in this section.

D.2.2.8. Required Permits or Approvals Applicants must state in the application whether any permits or approvals are required and explain the plan for obtaining such permits or approvals.

Note that improvements to Federal facilities that are implemented through any project awarded funding through this NOFO must comply with additional requirements. The Federal government will continue to hold title to the Federal facility and any improvement that is integral to the existing operations of that facility. Please see P.L. 111-11, §9504(a)(3)(B). Reclamation may also require additional reviews and approvals prior to award to ensure that any necessary easements, land use authorizations, or special permits can be approved consistent with the requirements of 43 CFR §429, and with the requirement that the development will not impact or impair project operations or efficiency.

D.2.2.9. Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement Applicants must provide a statement that addresses if there is any overlap between the proposed project and any other active or anticipated proposals or projects in terms of activities, costs, or commitment of key personnel. If any overlap exists, applicants must provide a description of the overlap in their application for review.

Applicants must also state if the proposal submitted for consideration under this program is or is not in any way duplicative of any proposal or project that has been or will be submitted for funding consideration to any other potential funding source—whether it be Federal or non-Federal. If such a circumstance exists, applicants must detail when the other duplicative proposal(s) were submitted, to whom (Agency name and Financial Assistance program), and when funding decisions are expected to be announced. If at any time a proposal is awarded funds that would be duplicative of the funding requested from Reclamation, applicants must notify the NOFO point of contact or the Program Coordinator immediately.

D.2.2.10. Project Budget The project budget includes:

(1) Funding plan and letters of funding commitment

(2) Budget proposal

(3) Budget narrative

Funding Plan and Letters of Funding Commitment Describe how the non-Federal share of project costs will be obtained. Reclamation will use this information in making a determination of financial capability.

Project funding provided by a source other than the applicant shall be supported with letters of funding commitment from these additional sources. Letters of funding commitment shall identify:

• the amount of funding commitment,

• the date the funds will be available to the applicant,

• any time constraints on the availability of funds, and

• any other contingencies associated with the funding commitment

Commitment letters from third-party funding sources should be submitted with your application. If commitment letters are not available at the time of the application submission, please provide a timeline for submission of all commitment letters. Cost-share funding from sources outside the applicant’s organization (e.g., loans or State grants), should be secured and available to the applicant prior to award.

Reclamation will not make funds available for an award under this NOFO until the recipient has secured the non-Federal cost share. Reclamation will execute a financial assistance agreement once the non-Federal funding has been secured or Reclamation determines that there is sufficient evidence and likelihood that non-Federal funds will be available to the applicant subsequent to executing the agreement.

Note: Applicants are not required to have non-Federal cost-share funding secured for the entire Project at the time of award. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient evidence that non-Federal cost share for the initial Federal obligation will be available at the time of award and must describe a plan and schedule for securing the remaining non-Federal cost-share funding for the Project.

Please identify the sources of the non-Federal cost-share contribution for the project, including:

• Any monetary contributions by the applicant towards the cost-share requirement and source of funds (e.g., reserve account, tax revenue, and/or assessments)

• Any costs that will be contributed by the applicant

• Any third-party in-kind costs (i.e., goods and services provided by a third party)

• Any cash requested or received from other non-Federal entities

• Any pending funding requests (i.e., grants or loans) that have not yet been approved and explain how the project will be affected if such funding is denied

Budget Proposal The total project cost is the sum of all allowable items of costs, including all required cost sharing and voluntary committed cost sharing, including third-party contributions, that are necessary to complete the project. Please include the following chart (Table 1) to summarize all funding sources.

Denote in-kind contributions with an asterisk (*).

Table 1.—Summary of Non-Federal and Federal Funding Sources

FUNDING SOURCES AMOUNT

Non-Federal Entities 1.

2.

3.

Non-Federal Subtotal

REQESTED RECLAMATION FUNDING

The budget proposal should include detailed information on the categories listed below and must clearly identify all cost items, including those that will be contributed as non-Federal cost share by the applicant (required and voluntary), third-party in-kind contributions, and those that will be covered using the funding requested from Reclamation, and any requested pre-award costs (Table 2).

Table 2. —Total Project Cost Table

SOURCE AMOUNT

Costs to be reimbursed with the requested Federal funding $

Costs to be paid by the applicant $

Value of third-party contributions $

TOTAL PROJECT COST $

Unit costs must be provided for all budget items, including the cost of services or other work to be provided by consultants and contractors. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the procurement standards for Federal awards found at 2 CFR §200.317 through §200.326 before developing their budget proposal. If you have any questions regarding your budget proposal or eligible costs, please contact the grants management specialist identified in Section G. Agency Contacts.

It is also strongly advised that applicants use the budget proposal format shown in Table 2 or a similar format that provides this information. It is also strongly advised that applicants use the budget proposal format shown in Table 3 or a similar format that provides this information. If selected for award, successful applicants must submit detailed supporting documentation for all budgeted costs.

Table 3.—Sample Budget Proposal Format

BUDGET ITEM DESCRIPTION COMPUTATION Quantity Type

TOTAL

COST $/Unit Quantity

Salaries and Wages Employee 1 $ Employee 2 $ Employee 3 $ Fringe Benefits Full-Time Employees $ Part-Time Employees $ Equipment Item A $ Item B $ Item C $ Supplies and Materials Item A $ Item B $ Contractual/Construction Contractor A $ Contractor B Third-Party In-Kind Contributions Contributor A $ Contributor B $ Other Other $

TOTAL DIRECT COSTS $

Indirect Costs Type of rate percentage $base $

TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COSTS $

Budget Narrative Submission of a budget narrative is mandatory. An award will not be made to any applicant who fails to fully disclose this information. The budget narrative provides a discussion of, or explanation for, items included in the budget proposal. The types of information to describe in the narrative include, but are not limited to, those listed in the following subsections. Costs, including the valuation of third-party in-kind contributions, must comply with the applicable cost principles contained in 2 CFR §200.

Salaries and Wages Indicate the project manager and other key personnel by name and title. The project manager must be an applicant’s employee or board member. Other personnel should be indicated by title alone.

For all positions, indicate salaries and wages, estimated hours or percent of time, and rate of compensation. The labor rates must identify the direct labor rate separate from the fringe rate or fringe cost for each position. All labor estimates must be allocated to specific tasks as outlined in the applicant’s technical project description. Labor rates and proposed hours shall be displayed for each task.

The budget proposal and narrative should include estimated hours for compliance with reporting requirements, including the final financial and performance reports. Please see Section F.3. Reporting Requirements and Distribution information on types and frequency of reports required.

Generally, salaries of administrative and/or clerical personnel will be included as a portion of the stated indirect costs. If these salaries can be adequately documented as direct costs, they should be included in this section; however, a justification should be included in the budget narrative.

Fringe Benefits Identify the rates/amounts, what costs are included in this category, and the basis of the rate computations. Federally approved rate agreements are acceptable for compliance with this item.

Travel Identify the purpose of each anticipated trip, destination, number of persons traveling, length of stay, and all travel costs including airfare (basis for rate used), per diem, lodging, and miscellaneous travel expenses. For local travel, include mileage and rate of compensation. Note: travel costs incurred by contractors should not be included in this section but can be included in the contract cost estimate.

Equipment If equipment will be purchased, itemize all equipment valued at or greater than $5,000. For each item, identify why it is needed for the completion of the project and how the equipment was priced.

Note: if the value is less than $5,000, the item should be included under materials and supplies.

If equipment is being rented, specify the number of hours and the hourly rate. Local rental rates are only accepted for equipment actually being rented or leased. If the applicant intends to use their own equipment for the purposes of the project, the proposed usage rates should fall within the equipment usage rates outlined by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) within their Construction Equipment Ownership and Operating Expense Schedule (EP 1110-1-8) at https://www.usace.army.mil/Cost-Engineering/EP1110-1-8/. Note: If the equipment will be furnished and installed under a construction contract, the equipment should be included in the construction contract cost estimate.

Materials and Supplies Itemize supplies by major category, unit price, quantity, and purpose, such as whether the items are needed for office use, research, or construction. Identify how these costs were estimated (e.g., quotes, past experience, engineering estimates, or other methodology). Note: If the materials/supplies will be furnished and installed under a contract, the equipment should be identified as a contractual cost in the budget proposal.

https://www.usace.army.mil/Cost-Engineering/EP1110-1-8/

Contractual Identify all work that will be accomplished by subrecipients, consultants, or contractors, including a breakdown of all tasks to be completed, and a detailed budget estimate of time, rates, supplies, and materials that will be required for each task. For each proposed contract, identify the procurement method that will be used to select the consultant or contractor and the basis for selection. Please note that all contracts with an anticipated value of $10,000 or more must use a competitive procurement method.