FY24 DCIP NOFO final v2.pdf

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Notice of Funding Opportunity

AGENCY: Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, Department of Defense

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity Number OLDCC-24-F-0001

NOTICE: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-47) provides $100 million for this program.

SUMMARY: This Notice of Funding Opportunity announces availability to obtain funding from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation under the Defense Community Infrastructure Program to assist state and local governments, and not-for-profit, member-owned utilities in addressing deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation. For purposes of the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, “Community Infrastructure” includes projects related to transportation; schools; hospitals; police, fire, or emergency response, or other community support facilities; and utility projects (e.g., water, wastewater, telecommunications, electric and natural gas facilities). The facility or project itself must be owned by a state or local government, or a not-for-profit, member-owned utility. The facility addressed in the application must not be located on a military installation unless it is on property under the jurisdiction of a military department that is also subject to a real estate agreement (including a lease or an easement) held by an eligible community. This Notice includes proposal requirements, deadline for submitting proposals, and criteria that will be used to select proposal respondents that will apply for a grant under this program.

Defense Community Infrastructure Program grants may supplement funds available under Federal programs administered by agencies other than the Department of Defense. Additionally, subject to statutory authority, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may transfer funds to another Federal agency for that agency’s award to state or local governments. School construction or renovation projects for a facility listed in the April 2019 “Secretary of Defense 2018 Public Schools on Military Installations Prioritized List” are not eligible.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

a. Federal Awarding Agency: Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, Department of Defense.

b. Funding Opportunity Title: Defense Community Infrastructure Program.

c. Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity.

d. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 12.027.

e. Key Dates: The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation previously held a pre-proposal webinar on January 25, 2024, and will hold an additional pre-proposal webinar at 3 p.m. EDT on April 18, 2024, to review goals and objectives of this Notice of Funding

Opportunity and answer questions from interested respondents. Details about participation in the pre-proposal webinar are available at the Defense Community Infrastructure Program link (https://OLDCC.gov/defense-community-infrastructure-program-dcip). Complete proposals for Defense Community Infrastructure Program grants must be submitted to the funding opportunity number on Grants.gov by 5 p.m. PDT on June 17, 2024 (the Proposal Deadline). Proposals will initially be screened to ensure completeness and eligibility. Complete and eligible proposals from eligible entities will then be evaluated against the criteria in Section E. of this Notice. A final proposal ranking will then be provided to the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Energy, Installations and Environment) for approval. Once approved, the listing will be provided to the Director, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, to invite a formal grant application on or about August 8, 2024. All grant agreements must be issued and countersigned prior to September 17, 2024, to ensure the appropriated funds are obligated no later than September 30, 2024.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Section 2391(d) of Title 10, United States Code (10 U.S.C. § 2391(d)), authorizes the Secretary of Defense to “make grants, conclude cooperative agreements, and supplement funds available under Federal programs administered by agencies other than the Department of Defense to assist State and local governments to address deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation.” Community infrastructure projects are transportation projects, community support facilities (e.g., schools, hospitals, police, fire, and emergency response), and utility infrastructure projects (e.g., water, wastewater, telecommunications, electric, gas, etc.) that are located off of a military installation or on property under the jurisdiction of a Secretary of a military department that is subject to a real estate agreement (including a lease or easement), and are owned by a state or local government or a not-for-profit, member-owned utility service.

This Notice identifies the criteria established for the selection of community infrastructure projects. Proposals will be competitively scored across these criteria, identified in Section E., paragraph 1. of this Notice. Program funding at $100 million is available and will expire if not obligated prior to the close of business on September 30, 2024.

Project proposals must include a letter of support from the local installation commander representing the installation benefitting from the proposed project. Letters of support must, at a minimum, indicate the benefitting installation’s need for the project, willingness to support the civilian execution of the project to the extent practicable, including assisting the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation with technical review and execution of any required National Environmental Policy Act documentation for the proposed project, and, where applicable, indicate if the proposed project is defense-related critical infrastructure. For proposals for projects that will contribute to the training of cadets enrolled in an independent program at a covered educational institution, the letter of support must include the support of an installation commander for an installation benefitting from the proposed project, regardless of the distance between the covered educational institution and the installation benefitting from the project.

https://oldcc.gov/defense-community-infrastructure-program-dcip

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Proposals will be competitively scored by the Defense Community Infrastructure Program Review Panel against the selection criteria provided in Section E., paragraph 1. of this Notice.

The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will only accept proposals submitted through Grants.gov for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program through 5 p.m. PDT on June 17, 2024 (the Proposal Deadline). The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will then invite successful respondents to complete a grant application on or about August 8, 2024, based on their proposal’s ranking by the Defense Community Infrastructure Program Review Panel. These applications will be invited in the order of the ranked proposals. If the program’s limited funding precludes an award sufficient to support the next project in order of ranking, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will invite the applicant with the highest scoring project that can be supported with funds that remain.

In the event a respondent is unable to submit an invited grant application, or if it is determined that the invited respondent’s application materially differs from the proposal that was considered and ranked by the Defense Community Infrastructure Program Review Panel, another respondent may be invited to submit an application as a potential replacement. To receive a grant award, an eligible respondent must submit both a successful proposal and subsequently submit an acceptable grant application that are materially the same in project scope and status of environmental compliance and permits.

No award under this program may exceed $20 million or be less than $250,000. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will determine the final amount of each award based on the recommendation of a Defense Community Infrastructure Program Review Panel, the availability of appropriations, and the provisions of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 C.F.R. Part 200) in the review of an invited grant application, including consideration of the reasonableness, allowability, and allocability of the proposed funding.

Award amounts requested in a proposal may not be modified during the subsequent grant application and award process by the applicant. However, if the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation transfers awarded funding to another Federal agency pursuant to statutory authority, and if that agency charges a cost for the administration of the project, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may reduce the amount of funds available for awards to fund the reimbursement.

All proposed projects must be construction-ready and result in a stand-alone project that produces complete and usable facilities, improvements to existing facilities, or that completes a distinct, definable phase of a larger project which will be completed during the period of performance of the grant agreement. For a project to be viable, the applicant and subsequent Grantee must demonstrate throughout the term of the award that project activity can be completed so all awarded funds can be disbursed no later than June 30, 2029.

Recipients of grant funding under this program will be subject to grant terms and conditions while undertaking their project. Project cost overruns are the responsibility of the Grantee. The

Grantee’s non-Federal project cost contribution for the project, if required, must be available to the Grantee prior to any funds being disbursed to proceed with the project.

If other Federal funding is required to execute the project, the Grantee must have a counter-signed funding agreement in place with the other Federal agency prior to submitting a proposal.

Proposals relying on other Federal funding that do not have a counter-signed funding agreement with a Federal funding source will not be considered. Projects must be executed in accordance with an Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation-approved Project Development Schedule. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may terminate an award for non-performance, including failure to comply with the agreed upon Project Development Schedule or with other grant terms and conditions, and/or where the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation determines the circumstances of the awarded project deviate from the information provided in the project proposal. All grants will be administered in accordance with 2 C.F.R. Part 200. Projects receiving Federal award funds are subject to compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Grant proposers and applicants are responsible for providing documentation required to satisfy requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, Council on Environmental Quality regulations, and required Federal, state, or local permitting—environmental or otherwise.

Awards under this Notice will be issued in the form of a grant agreement, as described by Title 31 of U.S. Code, Section 6304 (31 U.S.C. § 6304), or if supplementing other Federal funds, through a funding mechanism used by the other Federal funding source.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Proposers The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may award grants under this Notice to state and local governments. “State” and “local governments” are defined in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200, paragraph 1 (2 C.F.R. Part 200.1). The guidance in 2 C.F.R.

Part 200, paragraphs 331 through 333 (2 C.F.R. Part 200.331-.333), prescribes how entities eligible to receive funding under the Defense Community Infrastructure Program may act as pass-through entities. For example, not-for-profit, member-owned utilities may receive funding as a sub-recipient to a state or local government, and projects owned by such utilities must comply with Federal Interest rules described in the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation’s grant terms and conditions. Proposals must be submitted on behalf of any proposed sub-recipient. Any proposals submitted by a sub-recipient will not be considered.

2. Non-Federal Project Cost Contribution (Local Cost Sharing / Matching) Except as provided below for projects in rural areas or projects determined to be advantageous for national security reasons, state or local government recipients must agree to contribute not less than thirty percent (30%) of the total funding required for the community infrastructure project.

State or local government funding contributions are not required for proposed community infrastructure projects located in rural areas, defined as a city, town, or unincorporated area that has a population of not more than 100,000 inhabitants. Where applicable, proposers must: 1) state explicitly in their proposal that the proposed project is located entirely in a rural area; 2) identify the city, town or unincorporated area by zip code in which the project is located as well as its population; and, 3) state that the proposer is not required to provide a non-Federal project cost contribution. The absence of a local cost share contribution for a rural area in no way adversely impacts the competitiveness of the proposal.

State or local government funding contributions are not required for proposed community infrastructure projects that are determined to be advantageous for reasons related to national security. In such instances, the proposer must assert in their proposal the basis for this reduction or waiver of the required cost share and include a signed statement from the cognizant Military Department Secretary (i.e., Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, or Secretary of the Air Force) attesting to the national security need/importance of the proposed project The absence of a local cost share contribution for a project that is determined to be advantageous for reasons related to national security in no way adversely impacts the competitiveness of the proposal.

Proposals relying on debt financing for any portion of their project must demonstrate how any Federal Interest that is created through the proposed project will be preserved through any subsequent refinancing, foreclosure, or other actions that may change the purpose, life, and/or benefactors of the enhancement that was the basis for the Federal Interest.

All proposed projects, especially those with a proposed zero percent (0%) non-Federal project cost contribution, must ensure all associated costs are eligible (see paragraph 4. of this section).

Proposals with ineligible costs proposed to be paid with grant funds will not be considered.

If a recipient intends to use both Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation funding and funding from another Federal agency for the same project, the funding contribution for the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation grant may not be used to satisfy a funding contribution required by the other Federal agency. Additionally, the ability to use other Federal funds as a non-Federal project cost contribution for this program will be determined by the authority and appropriation providing those funds as well as whether the relevant Grantor provides approval.

Any proposal relying on contributions sourced from other Federal funds that have not been awarded through a counter-signed financial award pre-dating the proposal submission will not be considered. All proposals including the participation of other Federal funds as a funding source must include with the proposal a copy of a counter-signed funding agreement with the awarding Federal agency.

If a local project cost contribution is required (or included as part of the proposed budget even if not required) for a community infrastructure project, notwithstanding contributions from other Federal sources that must be awarded and available at the time of the proposal’s submission, a selected Grantee must show that local project cost contribution funding is liquid and readily available to the project prior to receiving grant disbursements from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation. The proposal itself must therefore include evidence that the necessary non-Federal sourced funding will be available to execute the project prior to disbursement of Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation funds. Funding proposed as a source for the local project cost contribution share must be incurred and expended either within the proposed project period, commencing from the date of award, or no earlier than the date of enactment of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, August 13, 2018.

3. Eligible Projects Eligible community infrastructure projects are any complete and usable transportation project;

community support facility (e.g., school, hospital, police, fire, emergency response, or other community support facility); and utility infrastructure project (e.g., water, wastewater, telecommunications, electric, gas, or other utility infrastructure (with necessary cyber safeguards)) that:

• are on land located off of a military installation or on property under the jurisdiction of a Secretary of a military department that is subject to a real estate agreement allowing the project or facility to be located on military property (including a lease or easement);

• support a military installation;

• are owned by a state, local government, or a not-for-profit, member-owned utility service;

• are supported by the installation commander representing the installation benefitting from the proposed project (please refer to Section D., paragraph 2., part C. for more detail);

• are where ground-disturbing work has not yet commenced; and,

• are construction-ready.

To be eligible, projects that will contribute to the training of cadets enrolled in an independent Reserve Officer Training Corps program at a covered educational institution must meet the requirements listed above.

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2391(e)(1), the term “military installation” means a base, camp, post, station, yard, center, homeport facility for any ship, or other activity under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense, including any leased facility, which is located within any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or Guam. It does not include any facility used primarily for civil works, rivers and harbors projects, or flood control projects, but it does include a military facility owned and operated by a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or Guam, even though the facility is not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense, if the Secretary of Defense determines that the military facility is subject to significant use for training by the armed forces.

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2391(e)(6), the term “covered educational institution” means an educational institution with an independent Reserve Officer Training Corps program to train cadets that also meets each of the following criteria:

(A) is a part B Institution, as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1061);

(B) is an 1890 Institution, as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. § 7601);

(C) is not affiliated with a consortium; and,

(D) is located at least 40 miles from a major military installation.

The location of the proposed infrastructure project contributing to the training of such cadets does not have to be on the campus of the covered educational institution.

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2391(d)(3), the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will consider the information provided in the report on strategic seaports required by section 3515 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92; 133 Stat.

1985) when evaluating projects pursuant to the selection criteria provided in 10 U.S.C. § 2391(d)(1)(B). There are eighteen (18) strategic seaports: Port of Anchorage (AK), Port of Arthur (TX), Port of Beaumont (TX), Port of Charleston (SC), Port of Corpus Christi (TX), Port of Everett (WA), Port of Guam (GU), Port of Gulfport (MS), Port of Jacksonville (FL), Port of Long Beach (CA), Port of Morehead City (NC), Port of Oakland (CA), Port of Philadelphia (PA), Port of San Diego (CA), Port of Savannah (GA), Port of Tacoma (WA), Port of Virginia (VA), and Port of Wilmington (NC).

Proposed stormwater management projects involving retrofitting a defense access road to reduce stormwater runoff and ponding or standing water that includes the combination of stormwater runoff and water levels resulting from extreme weather conditions shall be given priority over other proposed stormwater projects, in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 2815a(c).

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2391(e)(4)(c), when considering military family quality of life pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2391(d)(1)(B)(iv), the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will consider the impact of the community infrastructure on alleviating installation commuter workforce issues and the benefit of schools or other local infrastructure located off of a military installation that will support members of the armed forces and their dependents residing in the community.

Proposers are encouraged to highlight how/whether the proposed project supports broader efforts towards minimizing potential interruptions to the installation mission, including energy resilience, and other efforts to better sustain the installation mission. In addition, proposers are encouraged to address the extent to which the project incorporates energy efficiency and/or carbon reduction measures.

Proposers are also encouraged to highlight how/whether the proposed project may be “Defense Critical Infrastructure,” or a non-Department of Defense networked infrastructure asset or facility essential to project, support, and sustain military forces and operations. This includes projects that support systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, where impairment of such systems and/or assets would have a debilitating impact on mission readiness. Please refer to Section D., paragraph 2., parts A., B. and C. for where and how to reference the defense-related critical infrastructure proposed.

If real property is improved and/or personal property, equipment, or supplies are acquired or improved under an award or sub-award, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may maintain a “Federal Interest.” This Federal Interest will be derived from the Federal share of the total project costs, the current fair market value of the property (if encumbered), and any improvements. This will be addressed in the terms and conditions of the award.

4. Eligible Costs Project proposals must ensure all associated costs are eligible for Defense Community Infrastructure Program funding. Proposals with ineligible costs, including site acquisition (i.e., the purchase of real property) and soft costs, that are proposed to be paid with grant funds will not be considered.

As detailed in Section D., paragraph 2., part H., eligible costs include only hard construction and renovation costs, such as the costs directly associated with project administration, inspection, construction, utilities, and contingency costs required to execute the project, as well as costs of capital equipment affixed to the real property with a depreciable life of not less than seven (7) years. Soft costs, such as those required for planning, design, permitting, and meeting requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act must be funded by non-Federal project cost contribution funds. Construction contingency costs are limited to no more than fifteen percent (15%) of the proposed project. However, all costs must have been incurred and expended either within the proposed project period, commencing from the date of award, or no earlier than the date of enactment of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, August 13, 2018 (including any planning and design cost claimed as non- Federal project cost contribution).

D. PROPOSAL AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Application Package Proposals must be submitted electronically as described in Section D., paragraph 4.

2. Content and Form of Proposal Submission Each interested respondent must submit a complete proposal, including a completed Standard Form 424, through Grants.gov not later than the Proposal Deadline date (see Section D., paragraph 4.). Please refer to the instructions provided with the Grants.gov Notice of Funding Opportunity on how to complete the Standard Form 424.

A proposal may not exceed twenty-one (21) pages (single-sided, single-spaced with 1-inch margins, 11-point Times New Roman font), including all maps, drawings, and attachments. The unsigned Standard Form 424, the independent third-party cost estimate to validate the proposed project budget, and documents showing that the project is construction-ready and the availability of any other participating Federal funding do not count against this twenty-one (21) page limit.

Proposals that exceed this twenty-one (21) page limit will not be considered. A proposal shall include the following information:

A. Cover Page: All submissions must include a cover page that includes only the information specified under this part, part A. of Section D. of this Notice. Submitters may access at their discretion a document to use for this cover page from this web link:

1. Proposing Entity Name & Contact Information. Include: entity name and primary point of contact name, e-mail address, organization address, and the organization’s Unique Entity Identifier (“Unique Entity ID” obtained from SAM.gov).

2. Project Name. Name the proposal based on: city/county project location (including zip code + four), project type, benefitting installation (e.g., Johnson County Sewer Infrastructure Improvement Project for Fort Blue 44122-5555).

3. Enhancement Submission Type. Indicate the type of community infrastructure project benefitting a military installation (select only one): enhances military value, contributes to training of cadets at an independent program at a covered educational institution, enhances installation resilience, or enhances military family quality of life.

4. Critical Infrastructure. Indicate whether the submitted Military Value proposal includes a non-Department of Defense networked infrastructure asset or facility essential to project, support, and sustain military forces and operations. Note:

This should only be indicated if the installation commander letter of support affirms the proposed project defense-related critical infrastructure.

5. Status of Non-Federal Cost Contributions. Indicate (select only one): proposal includes the required at least thirty percent (30%) non-Federal and/or another (non-Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation) Federal grant source project cost contribution; proposal does not include a non-Federal project cost contribution due to a rural location of the project; the proposal does not include a non-Federal project cost contribution but the project is advantageous for reasons related to national security; or, proposal includes a non-Federal and/or another (non-Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation) Federal grant source project cost contribution even though one is not required due to either the project being in a rural area or by being advantageous for reasons related to national security.

6. For projects that include a non-Federal and/or another (non-Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation) Federal grant source project cost contributions, indicate (select all that apply): all proposed non-Federal project cost contributions are currently available and under the control of the potential grantee; all proposed non-Federal project cost contributions are not currently under the control of the potential grantee but will be available for use on the project in time to meet the proposed construction start date; proposed non-Federal project cost contributions include funding from another (non-Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation) Federal grant source that has already been awarded (e.g., financial agreement signed as of the date of this proposal); and/or, proposed non-Federal project cost contribution will be used to pay for costs listed in the project budget that are not allowed to be reimbursed with Defense Community Infrastructure Program grant funds, such as design, planning, environmental, indirect, and other soft costs. Site or land acquisition, whether with Federal, local match, or some combination thereof, is not an eligible activity.

B. Installation Need: A summary of the installation need for the proposed community infrastructure project, and how the absence of the proposed community infrastructure project degrades military value at the military installation, the training of cadets enrolled in an independent Reserve Officer Training Corps program at a covered educational institution and resulting impact to the benefitting installation, military installation resilience, or military family quality of life at a military installation. Please refer to Section E., Application Review Information, paragraph 1., for how military value is considered and prioritized for all proposals. Information on the installation need must also include an assessment of the likely beneficiaries of the project (in addition to the military installation) as well as an assessment of the extent to which the total installation population of military service members (or, if applicable, cadets enrolled in an independent program at a covered educational institution) and/or their families will benefit (e.g., 0-100% of the population). Proposers should include information addressing how the project supports energy resilience and efforts to better sustain the local military mission, including an assessment of the extent to which the project incorporates energy efficiency and/or carbon reduction measures.

If the proposed project is defense-related critical infrastructure, proposers should describe the impact of the project on prevention, remediation, or mitigation of risks resulting from vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure assets. The proposal should capture a holistic assessment demonstrating how the assets or facilities are essential to project, support, and sustain military forces and operations and provide mutual benefit to the military installation. The installation commander’s letter of support must affirm a proposed project includes defense-related critical infrastructure as noted in Section D., paragraph 2., part C. of this Notice.

Proposals supporting the training of cadets at an independent program must describe how the infrastructure project will contribute to the training of cadets enrolled in an independent program at a “covered educational institution,” and the resulting impact to the benefitting installation, identifying in the proposal the specific covered educational institution and affirming each of the following aspects included in the 10 U.S.C. § 2391(e)(6) definition of a covered educational institution:

(A) a part B Institution, as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1061);

(B) an 1890 Institution, as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. § 7601);

(C) is not affiliated with a consortium; and,

(D) is located at least 40 miles from a major military installation.

Proposals supporting a strategic seaport must meet the requirements of Section E.

paragraph 1., number 1., (military value) and also identify: (a) the proposed project is listed in the report on strategic seaports in response to Section 3515 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92; 133 Stat. 1985);

and (b) the strategic seaport where the proposed project is located. Additionally, as prescribed in Section D., paragraph 2., part C. of this Notice (immediately below), all submissions must include a letter of support.

C. Letter of Support: A letter of support from an installation commander of a benefitting installation is required for all proposal submissions. For submissions other than those located on strategic seaports or supporting the training of cadets enrolled in an independent program at a covered educational institution, the letter of support must include: (i) the existing conditions at the local installation that the proposed community infrastructure project will address; (ii) assessment of impact to the local installation, should the proposed project not proceed; (iii) a description of the criticality of the proposed project to the installation’s mission and/or operations; and (iv) the extent to which the project incorporates energy efficiency and/or carbon reduction measures. If the proposed project represents defense-related critical infrastructure, proposers must ensure that the installation commander is aware of, and the letter reflects specific support for, the scope of the entire project, including operational benefits or impacts, and that the installation commander is willing to support the community’s execution of the project, which should include assisting the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation with technical review and execution of any required National Environmental Policy Act compliance documentation for the proposed project.

A letter of support for a proposed project contributing to the training of cadets enrolled in an independent program at a covered educational institution should come from an installation commander of an installation benefitting from the proposed project, which may not necessarily be an installation located near the covered educational institution, and must include: (i) the existing conditions at the facility that the proposed community infrastructure project will address; (ii) assessment of impact to the training of cadets enrolled in the program and the resulting impact to the installation, should the proposed project not proceed; (iii) a description of the criticality of the proposed project to the installation’s mission and/or operations; and (iv) the extent to which the project incorporates energy efficiency and/or carbon reduction measures. Proposers must ensure that the installation commander is aware of, and the letter reflects support for, the scope of the entire project, and that the installation commander is willing to support the covered educational institution’s execution of the project (including assisting the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation with any technical review and execution of required National Environmental Policy Act compliance documentation for the proposed project).

A letter of support for a proposed project located on strategic seaports should come from an installation commander representing an installation that would use the strategic seaport for mission requirements and must include: (i) the existing conditions at the port that the proposed community infrastructure project will address; (ii) assessment of impact to major force deployment operations, should the proposed project not proceed; (iii) a description of the criticality of the proposed project to the installation’s mission and/or operations; and (iv) the extent to which the project incorporates energy efficiency and/or carbon reduction measures. Proposers must ensure that the installation commander is aware of, and the letter reflects support for, the scope of the entire project, and that the installation commander is willing to support the local community’s execution of the project (including assisting the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation with any technical review and execution of required National Environmental Policy Act compliance documentation for the proposed project).

An installation commander’s signature on a letter of support is not prohibited under the Joint Ethics Regulations or Federal ethics regulations provided that the letter complies with and contains only the information requested in Section D., paragraph 2., part C. of the Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Community Infrastructure Program Notice of Funding Opportunity. The letter should indicate the installation’s need for the project and its willingness to support the civilian execution of the project to the extent practicable.

In instances where a waiver from identifying a non-Federal project cost contribution source is being requested due to national security needs/importance as addressed in Section D., paragraph, 2. part N. of this Notice, the installation commander letter of support should include information on the status of the request within the respective Military Department.

D. Project Description: A description of the proposed community infrastructure project, including an explanation of how the project addresses the needs of the installation or cadet training through an independent program at a covered educational institution.

E. Project Engineering Information: A demonstration of the technical feasibility of the construction project.

F. Project Parties: Identification of other parties involved in the project, to include contemplated grant sub-recipients as defined by 2 C.F.R. 200.1.

G. Funding Sources: An overview of all funding sources, including non-Federal project cost contribution source funding, that demonstrates a firm commitment and unconditioned availability (including any eligibility of Federal funds to be counted as the funding contribution) to complete the project; documentation demonstrating that the requested grant funds do not supplant other available Federal funds; and acknowledgement that any cost overruns will be the obligation of the proposer. If other Federal funding is required to execute the project, the Grantee must include with the proposal a copy of a counter-signed funding agreement with the awarding Federal agency. The proposing entity must also state its capability to secure a surety bond (e.g., a bid guarantee, performance bond, and payment bond) prior to the commencement of construction activity as defined by 2 C.F.R. Part 200.326.

All proposals must provide an explanation why a proposed project is not otherwise eligible for consideration under any existing Federal program (including Defense Access Roads, Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, the Economic Development Administration Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance, etc.).

The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may contact these Federal programs directly to validate the depictions from a proposal.

H. Project Budget: All submissions must include a project budget that identifies the uses of project funding, including a total project cost, with major cost elements broken out for project administration, inspection, construction, utilities, and contingency costs. If the proposed project is part (a phase) of a larger project, detail must be provided on the status of all funding to complete the total project. Soft planning costs (i.e., costs that are not direct construction costs) required for the planning, design, and execution of the proposed project may be funded by non-Federal project cost contribution funding. However, all costs must have been incurred after August 13, 2018, the date of enactment of the John S.

McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

In addition to a project budget included in the twenty-one (21) page proposal, all proposals must include as an attachment an independent third-party cost estimate to validate the proposed project budget. The entity completing the third-party cost estimate must have no relation to the proposer or the proposer’s contractors. The name of the entity completing the third-party cost estimate must appear clearly on the cost estimate, and the attachment must be titled, “third-party cost estimate.” Proposals lacking budget detail sufficiency and without a third-party cost estimate will not be considered for funding.

I. Project Development Schedule: A sufficiently detailed project schedule must be included that explains the project execution strategy. The project schedule should identify milestones such as final permitting and compliance (including National Environmental Policy Act process), long lead time permits and approvals (specifically environmental), design and contracting, site control, start of construction, and end of construction. The proposer must demonstrate that the project can commence within twelve (12) months upon receipt of a grant; that the grant funds will be spent steadily and expeditiously once the project commences; and that the project can be completed no later than five (5) years following the obligation of Federal funds. Incomplete or inaccurate construction schedules will result in a proposal being removed from further consideration.

J. Environmental Compliance: Construction and ground disturbance may not begin for a grant project until the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation determines that the National Environmental Policy Act documentation is complete and is of sufficient quality to inform a reliable conclusion about the potential environmental impacts of the project. All submissions must include the following information related to meeting the environmental analysis and documentation requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. Submitters may access at their discretion a document to help describe preliminary environmental compliance and National Environmental Policy Act information from this web link: https://oldcc.gov/defense-community-infrastructure-program-dcip

1. A narrative describing how environmental analysis and documentation requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act have been or will be met in sufficient detail to support anticipation of a National Environmental Policy Act determination or finding.

2. Provide a list and completion status of all required environmental permits, authorizations, and approvals. If the processes to obtain these permits, authorizations, and approvals is not already complete, proposer must:

a. Provide a narrative and timeline for completing all required Federal or state environmental permits, authorizations, and approvals.

3. Any environmental narrative must:

a. Explain how all environmental requirements, including permits and review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, will be completed; and,

b. Provide the names and relevant credentials for in-house or third-party consultant environmental professionals pursuing the permits and conducting the review.

The list, timeline, and narrative for environmental requirements should include all required consultation efforts for a proposed project, such as, but not limited to, National Historic Preservation Act, Clean Air Act, and Endangered Species Act consultations. As applicable, also list any other federal or state agencies involved or that have jurisdiction over the proposed project and describe coordination efforts with those agencies and their requirements for National Environmental Policy Act compliance, if applicable.

If awarded a grant, the Grantee will be required to prepare environmental analyses and documentation pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act implementing regulations at 40 C.F.R. 1500-1508. If environmental review was already completed by another agency or the associated military installation for the proposed project, this documentation must be of sufficient quality for the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation to adopt or otherwise use it for its independent determination under applicable laws. In addition, failure to articulate clear consensus on the federal and state/local environmental planning in collaboration with the associated military installation command is grounds for proposal disqualification.

Where applicable, include status on project compliance with other environmental laws that support but are independent of the National Environmental Policy Act process. These include but are not limited to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and Clean Water Act compliance permits.

Records of consultations conducted in accordance with relevant statutes and environmental permits must be included with the National Environmental Policy Act documentation.

K. Planning and Permitting Approvals: Based on state statute and project type or size, some construction projects may require review and approval by other entities. If applicable, proposers must identify whether the proposed project is subject to inclusion in state, regional, metropolitan, or local approval regimes, or a certification from another agency (e.g., Metropolitan Planning Organization) of the inclusion of the project in any such planning document. The proposer must demonstrate that conformance with applicable state, regional, and/or local planning requirements is attainable within twelve

(12) months of grant award and list all necessary permitting. Specific mention of long lead-time permits to include Federal organizations and/or those requiring multi-agency consideration or approval (e.g., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency) must be presented in the proposal within the context of this twelve (12) month period. Failure to identify all necessary permits in submitted proposals will result in a proposal being removed from further consideration.

L. Grants Management: Evidence of the intended Grantee’s ability and authority to manage grants; for example, a summary of past Federal funding received, the existence of project staff with federal grant management experience that will manage the project, etc.

M. Submitting Official: Documentation that the Submitting Official is authorized by the proposer to submit a proposal and subsequently apply for assistance.

N. National Security Waiver Attestation (if appropriate): In instances where a waiver from identifying a non-Federal project cost contribution source is being requested due to national security needs/importance, the proposal must include a signed statement from the cognizant military department Secretary attesting to the national security need/importance of the proposed project.

O. Attachments: Attachments should be included in compliance with the overall application page limit as set forth at the start of this section.

Proposals must be complete upon submission. Proposals deemed to be incomplete will not be reviewed. To the extent practicable and subject to the page count restrictions of the proposal, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation encourages respondents to provide data and evidence of all project merits in a form that is publicly available or verifiable.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) Each Applicant is required to be registered in SAM before submitting its proposal, provide a valid unique entity identifier (UEI), and continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or a proposal/application under consideration by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation. For entities not currently registered with SAM, please be advised to allow two (2) to three (3) weeks to complete the registration process required to submit proposals or apply for funding opportunities. First-time entities applying for Federal funding must register at SAM.gov.

If an applicant has not fully complied with this requirement, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and proceed to make a Federal award to another applicant.

4. Submission Dates and Times The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will accept proposals through Grants.gov for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program through 5 p.m. PDT on June 17, 2024 (the Proposal Deadline). After being screened to ensure proposals are complete and are from eligible proposers, eligible proposals will be scored by a Defense Community Infrastructure Program Review Panel to establish an overall ranked listing. The overall ranking will then be provided to the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Energy, Installations and Environment) for approval. Once approved, the listing will be provided to the Director, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, to invite a formal grant application on or about August 8, 2024. To receive an award, an eligible respondent must submit both a successful proposal and an acceptable grant application.

5. Intergovernmental Review This program is covered under Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” to foster intergovernmental partnership and strengthen Federalism by relying on state and local processes for the coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development. The Order allows each state to designate an entity to perform this function. The official list of those entities is available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf . Applicants located in states that provide a designated entity should contact the listed point of contact for their state for more information on complying with the state’s process under Executive Order 12372. States that do not provide a designated entity have chosen not to participate in the intergovernmental review process.

Applicants located…