FY27_BWR_MS4_RFR_a11y_9.9.26.docx

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

executive office of energy & environmental Affairs department of environmental protection

ONE HUNDRED CAMBRIDGE STREET, SUITE 900, BOSTON, MA 02114

Request for Response (RFR)

FY27 MS4 Municipal Assistance Grant Program

RFR ID: BWR-27-MS4-MuniGrant

September 9, 2026 This information is available in alternate formats by request.

Please contact MassDEP at 617-292-5500 TTY# MassRelay Service 1-800-439-2370 MassDEP Website: www.mass.gov/dep

FY27 MS4 Municipal Assistance Grant Program Request for Responses

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Department of Environmental Protection

Address: 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston MA 02114 | Phone: 617-292-5500 FY27 MS4 Grant RFR 2 Maura T. Healey Governor Kim Driscoll Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Tepper Secretary Bonnie Heiple Commissioner FY27 MS4 Municipal Assistance Grant Program Request for Responses Grant Overview Total Funding Available: Up to $250,000 Estimated Grant Amounts: $20,000 to $75,000 per applicant Pre-Application Meeting: September 17, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., on Zoom Questions Due: September 18, 2026 Applications Due: October 9, 2026 Match Required: No, but recommended Eligible Entities: One or more municipalities in partnership with one or more: Regional Planning Agency, stormwater coalition, and/or similar non-profit acting on behalf of municipal MS4 permit holders Sample Eligible Projects: Tools or strategies that will help multiple municipalities meet one (1) or more requirement(s) of the 2016 Small MS4 General Permit

1. MS4 Grant Program Summary Proposals Sought The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP or the Department) seeks proposals from: one or more municipalities in partnerships with: Regional Planning Agencies, Massachusetts stormwater coalitions, and/or similar non-profit organizations on behalf of MS4 permit holders, for innovative projects that will help Massachusetts communities meet the requirements of the 2016 Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit (2016 Small MS4 General Permit). The purpose of this funding is to help groups of Massachusetts municipalities expand their efforts to meet the 2016 Small MS4 General Permit requirements and reduce stormwater pollution through coordinated partnerships that emphasize resource sharing. Only projects that meet the specific requirements of the 2016 Small MS4 General Permit will be considered for funding. Interested entities should refer to the 2016 Small MS4 General Permit at Small MS4 General Permit I EPA.gov.

Grant Funding is available only for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) (i.e., July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). MassDEP reserves the right to accept modified Scopes of Work from successful applicants during the grant award contract process to ensure grant-funded work can be completed by June 30, 2027.

Overview, Goals, and Program Definitions Since 2012, officials of Massachusetts cities and towns have come together and formed regional stormwater coalitions to share resources, training, and best management practices related to stormwater management. Those regional coalitions also formed a statewide coalition to meet those same goals. In April 2016, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and MassDEP issued a renewal of the Small MS4 General Permit (2016 MS4 Permit) for Massachusetts, which became effective on July 1, 2018. On November 22, 2024, the EPA prepared a renewal of the 2016 MS4 Permit for public comment which carries forward and builds upon previous MS4 Permits. The public comment period ran from November 22, 2024 through May 21, 2025. Finalization of the permit is ongoing and will not be completed prior to the issuance of this RFR. Since the 2016 MS4 Permit is administratively continued until the USEPA issues the renewal permit, projects to meet the 2016 MS4 Permit requirements will be prioritized.

MassDEP seeks to help facilitate municipal and regional collaboration on improved stormwater management and permit compliance through the MS4 Municipal Assistance Grant Program. For the purposes of this RFR, the following terms shall be defined consistently with Appexdix A of the Massachusetts MS4 General Permit – Definitions, Abbreviations, and Acronyms:

Best Management Practices (BMPs) - Schedules of activities, practices (and prohibitions of practices), structures, vegetation, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States. BMPs also include treatment requirements, operating procedures, and practices to control plant site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw material storage.

Control Measure - Any BMP or other method (including effluent limitations) used to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States.

Impervious Surface- Any surface that prevents or significantly impedes the infiltration of water into the underlying soil. This can include but is not limited to: roads, driveways, parking areas and other areas created using non porous material; buildings, rooftops, structures, artificial turf and compacted gravel or soil.

Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System – All separate storm sewer systems that are (i) owned or operated by the United States, a State, city, town, borough, county, parish, district, association, or other public body (created by or pursuant to State law) having jurisdiction over disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, storm water, or other wastes, including special districts under State law such as a sewer district, flood control district, or drainage district, or similar entity or an Indian tribe or an authorized Indian tribal organization or a designated and approved management agency under section 208 of the CWA that discharges to waters of the United States, and (ii) not defined as “large” or “medium” municipal separate storm sewer system pursuant to paragraphs 40 CFR 122.26 (b)(4) and (b)(7), or designated under paragraph 40 126.26(a) (1)(v). This term includes systems similar to separate storm sewer systems in municipalities, such as systems at military bases, large hospital or prison complexes, and highways and other thoroughfares. This term does not include separate storm sewers in very discrete areas, such as individual buildings.

Stormwater - Stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage.

Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) - A permanent treatment structure or physical alteration to land cover (e.g., disconnection of impervious cover) that, individually or in combination, is used for a given set of conditions to manage the quantity and remove pollutants from stormwater runoff.

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) - A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards, and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant's sources. A TMDL includes wasteload allocations (WLAs) for point source discharges, load allocations (LAs) for nonpoint sources and/or natural background, and must include a margin of safety (MOS) and account for seasonal variations. (See section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and 40 CFR 130.2 and 130.7).

Eligible Projects

1. Eligible projects will result in tools or strategies that will help multiple municipalities meet one (1) or more requirement(s) of the 2016 Small MS4 General Permit. Eligible projects must provide shared benefits between Applicants and their partners. Projects with regional relevance will be prioritized. Ineligible projects include those that:

I. Duplicate work already done by any Massachusetts stormwater coalition or apply a previously funded project delivery to another region (previously funded projects may be viewed online at: Resources for MS4 Compliance on Mass.gov.);

II. Fund any activity necessary to address or remedy an enforcement action such as, but not limited to, noncompliance with a local, state, or federal permit; and/or III. Fund the routine operation and maintenance of storm or sanitary sewer systems.

2. Examples of potentially eligible, MS4-focused projects include, but are not limited to:

I. Regional Projects to Meet MS4 Requirements:

1. Assessment tool(s) for identifying and prioritizing retrofit sites.

2. Mapping and other software to map, track, and inventory stormwater infrastructure assets including outfalls, pipes, manholes, catchments, sanitary sewer systems, and combined sewer systems.

3. Data intake, field-certification tool(s) and procedures for structural stormwater control measures (SCMs) and/or their long-term operations and maintenance programs;

4. Development of model regulations, policies, designs, and/or other measures to assist in meeting MS4 Requirements; and/or

5. Formation of regional stormwater enterprise funds or stormwater utilities in areas where none exist.

II. Local Projects to meet MS4 Requirements:

1. Formation of stormwater enterprise funds and/or stormwater utilities in areas where none exist;

2. Development of local regulations and review processes to meet MS4 requirements (e.g. updates to street design specifications and parking lot guidelines to reduce impervious cover, updates to stormwater standards for site plan review, standards for Conservation Commission review of stormwater structure maintenance, etc.);

3. Reductions and/or disconnections of impervious surfaces on permittee-owned properties identified for retrofit with SCMs

4. Design, permitting, purchase, and/or installation of SCMs to meet Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and/or Impaired Waters MS4 requirements;

5. Investments in equipment and electronic resources that support stormwater control measures, a local Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program, or other similar need (excludes routine maintenance);

6. Design, permitting, purchase, and/or installation of SCMs (e.g. infiltration basins, bioswales, rain gardens, wet ponds, catch basin retrofits or upgrades) to meet MS4 requirements; and/or

7. Other infrastructure enhancements to support MS4 permit compliance.

Please note that any proposed local project must be consistent with the local Stormwater Management Program and identified as a local need in a required MS4 report, inventory, document or other required MS4 permit compliance action in order to be considered eligible.

III. Outreach and education services, materials, and/or strategies for public engagement and education may be proposed as a secondary activity to projects identified above (I-II) not to exceed twenty percent (20%) of the project budget.

Eligible Entities Eligible Entities are one or more Massachusetts municipalities that are subject to the 2016 Small MS4 General Permit partnered with a Regional Planning Agency, Massachusetts stormwater coalition, and/or similar non-profit organization that act on behalf of municipalities that are subject to the 2016 Small MS4 General Permit.

The receipt of grant funds is contingent upon the grantee being able to certify that they comply with the Massachusetts General Laws, including G.L. c. 40A, § 3A, the MBTA Communities Act. Compliance with the MBTA Communities Act is determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. Projects located in a municipality (or municipalities) that are not in some form of compliance with MBTA Communities Act law (M.G.L. CH.40A §3A) at the time of application will not be eligible for funding. This requirement does not apply to regional planning entities, stormwater coalitions, and non-profits acting on behalf of municipal MS4 permit holders whose membership includes noncompliant municipalities.

Preference will be given to projects that directly assist municipalities that are identified as “Disadvantaged Communities”. Information on which communities are classified as Disadvantaged Communities can be found in Attachment B of this RFR and online at Mass.gov.

Funding Availability The total estimated funding available for projects under this Grant Announcement and at the time of posting is $250,000. Grant awards may range from $25,000 to $75,000 per applicant, although the MassDEP review committee reserves the right, in its discretion, to grant smaller or larger awards to proposals of exceptional merit. If additional or unspent funds become available during the period between the announcement of this grant opportunity and the announcement of the grant awards, MassDEP may allocate additional funds to this grant solicitation. All funding of awards issued through this program are subject to the availability of funding.

Both existing and proposed projects are eligible for this grant program, and funding will support work activities for any phase(s) of a project, from initial project planning through project implementation, so long as the work funded by this program is conducted during FY27 (i.e., started on or after July 1, 2026, and completed on or before June 30, 2027). In order to receive reimbursement for project expenses incurred during FY27, but prior to the grant award, applicants must submit documentation (i.e., invoices, purchase orders and proof of payment, and/or vendor contracts) within fifteen (15) days of receiving notice of a Grant Award. All Applications must include a feasible timeline for completion (i.e., illustrating that the project can be completed on or before the June 30, 2027, deadline).

Please note that a maximum of five percent (5%) of awarded grant funds may be used for administrative and overhead costs.

Matching Funds Applicants are not required to provide matching funds. However, Applicants are encouraged to identify other known sources of funding for a proposed project on the Application Form, from both secured and anticipated sources. Applicants may receive additional points in the evaluation process for demonstrating secured or anticipated matching funds. In addition, Applicants are advised that grant awards involving capital funds, which is the case here, are required to be disbursed on a cost reimbursement basis, meaning that grantees will be reimbursed for funds already expended.

Disadvantaged Communities MassDEP is committed to advancing Disadvantaged Communities through its public investments. To that end, preference will be given to projects that provide direct benefit to Disadvantaged Communities. Information on how communities are classified as Disadvantaged Communities and which communities they are can be found at The Disadvantaged Community Loan Forgiveness Program | Mass.gov.

This Grant opportunity will prioritize proposals that are located in, or directly benefit communities designated as a Disadvantaged Community, and that fall within one of three Affordability Tiers following a system first utilized by the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust and the State Revolving Fund. A “Disadvantaged Community” is a community that falls into one of the three tiers using an affordability calculation based on the State’s “Adjusted Per Capita Income” (Per Capita Income * Employment Rate * Population Change (2020/2010) = APCI). The State’s Adjusted Per Capita Income for the purposes of this RFR is $59,997.31, from FY26, the most recent year data is currently available.

Tier 1: Communities with APCI more than 80% but less than 100% of the State’s APCI.

Tier 2: Communities with APCI more than 60% but less than 80% of the State’s APCI.

Tier 3: Communities with APCI less than 60% of the State’s APCI.

The FY26 Disadvantaged Communities Affordability Calculations are available on Mass.gov.

Eligible applicants, including partnerships, shall identify the municipalities served by their entity or entities, as well as which municipalities within their project area(s) that are designated as Tier 1, 2, or 3 Disadvantaged Communities. MassDEP will assign a composite ranking based on the ranking of all the communities located within the service areas of the applicant(s). If the composite ranking falls within the scope of the assistance tiers, the Applicant will be assigned a Tier 1, 2, or 3 ranking for scoring purposes of the RFR. A list of communities by Tier is available in Attachment B of this RFR.

MassDEP Grant Information Applicable Procurement Law Grants: MGL c. 7A, § 7; St. 1986 c. 206, § 17; 815 CMR 2.00.

Total Anticipated Duration of Grant(s) The contract duration will be through June 30, 2027. MassDEP reserves the right to accept modified Scopes of Work from successful applicants during the grant award contract process to ensure grant-funded work can be completed by June 30, 2027.

Reporting Requirements Upon completion of the project and with submission of the final request for reimbursement, all Grant Awardees shall submit a one (1)-page Final Report summary of their project tasks and links or copies to the produced resources. The Final Report template will be provided by MassDEP.

MassDEP reserves the right to request additional materials, information, and/or other documentary evidence demonstrating completion of work and/or compliance with program requirements. MassDEP also reserves the right to withhold funding until compliance is achieved.

Compensation Structure for Grant Awards Compensation will be on a reimbursement basis and will be based solely on the proposed project budget (“Budget”) and Scope of Work (“SOW”) supplied by the Applicant, and accepted by MassDEP, as the eligible costs of the proposal. Costs deemed ineligible may be excluded from the grant award and receive partial funds. However, in general funds will be fully awarded in accordance to application score; this may result in the lowest scoring fundable application receiving partial funds.

MassDEP will reimburse eligible costs upon timely receipt of invoices, accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation, of expenditures made in accordance with the approved terms of the grant award contract.

Contract Requirements for Grant Awards If selected for a Grant Award, the Applicant will be required to submit the following forms to complete the Grant Award contracting process within fifteen (15) days but no longer than thirty (30) days of Notice of Grant Award:

· Commonwealth Standard Contract Form, filled out and signed by the applicant.

· Commonwealth Terms and Conditions These Terms and Conditions are incorporated by reference into the Standard Contract Form, and do not need to be executed separately.

· Commonwealth Alternative W‐9 tax information form filled out and signed by the applicant with DUNS number and Federal Tax ID. Please note that Federal W-9 Forms are not accepted by MassDEP.

· Completed Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing Form.

· Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) form. EFT Form Instructions

· Scope of Work Applicants are encouraged to review these forms prior to submission of an application. Applicants who are issued awards must be in Good Standing with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and registered with COMMBUYS in order to do business with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Ownership of Equipment For any part of the grant that is used to purchase any durable assets or equipment, ownership of such assets or equipment shall be transferred to the grant recipient, or their designee, upon the completion of the grant.

Application Instructions and Evaluation Criteria Minimum Application Requirements In order to be considered for a grant award, Applicants must: (1) submit a completed application that includes all required supporting materials; (2) meet the eligibility requirements; (3) agree to the program conditions; (4) be registered with COMMBUYS, and (5) commit to completing the project by June 30, 2027. A MassDEP review committee will evaluate proposed projects based upon the criteria listed below. The review committee reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.

Application Instructions Please use the Application form and format provided in Attachment A of this RFR. Applications should be no more than ten (10) pages, single-spaced, exclusive of Attachments. Please include a Commonwealth Alternative W-9 Form with your Grant Application.

Grant Application Evaluation Criteria Components MassDEP will evaluate the Proposed Project’s environmental benefits and economic benefits. Specifically, the Department will look at how the proposed project:

Project Description (20 Points)

· Does the Application clearly describe the proposed project and the work to be covered by this funding? Does the application provide a clear summary of the purpose of the project and desired outcome(s)?

· Does the application clearly describe how the proposed project is consistent with meeting MS4 requirements? Does the application describe the project approach or methodology that will be used to perform the work?

· Does the Application clearly state which municipality or municipalities will be helped by the Proposed Project and how they will be assisted?

· Does the application state how the applicant and/or their partners will assist in ensuring lessons learned from project implementation will be shared throughout Massachusetts MS4 communities?

· If the project provides support to activities from a prior MS4 grant application, please identify which phase(s) of the project was/were funded by a prior MS4 grant.

· If the project is a Regional Project as identified in Section 1.3 Eligible Projects, does the application describe how the proposed project will have regional applicability?

· If the project is a Local Project as identified in Section 1.3 Eligible Projects, does the Application identify how project is consistent with the local Stormwater Management Program and how it has been identified in a required MS4 report, inventory, document or other required MS4 permit compliance document as a local need?

Project Benefit (30 Points)

· How well does the Application demonstrate that the Proposed Project will assist one (1) or more municipalities meet one (1) or more specific requirement(s) of the 2016 Small MS4 General Permit? Does the project:

· Further the goal of improved MS4 compliance and stormwater management for at least one (1) municipal permit holder;

· Support the creation of stormwater management utilities, regulations, or other local regulatory infrastructure to meet MS4 permit requirements;

· Increase investment in physical stormwater management infrastructure; and/or

· Provide regional or statewide benefit(s) to MS4 permit holders?

· If the Application is for a Regional Project, how well does the proposed project promote collaboration and inclusive information sharing among MS4 permit stakeholders? Will the project result in aiding multiple communities meet MS4 requirements? Does the project meet the goals of the MS4 program?

· If the Application is for a Local Project, how much does the project assist with local efforts to meet MS4 requirements? How much benefit does the project provide to the applicant to reduce stormwater pollution and flood hazard(s)? Does the project mote the goals of the MS4 program?

Project Budget & Timeline (15 Points)

· Does the Application include a sufficiently detailed project budget that includes cost and time estimates by project task and milestone? Does the budget indicate responsible parties by task? Does the Application demonstrate a realistic timeline to achieve the proposed work?

· Does the Application sufficiently identify and describe any match or other funding sources that will support the project? Projects with matching funds will receive preference in scoring.

· If the project includes a request for reimbursement for eligible costs incurred after July 1, 2026, but before submission of this Application, does the Application include all documentation supporting the request for reimbursement for those project costs?

· Does the Application include ineligible expenses such as administrative costs exceeding five percent (5%) of the grant-funded work in the proposed budget or outreach & education expenses exceeding twenty percent (20%) of the grant-funded work?

Qualifications of the Applicant Team (10 Points)

· Does the Application demonstrate the Applicant, their partners, their contractor(s), the project manager and any other assigned staff, possess sufficient qualifications and project experience to perform the proposed project?

· Does the Application identify which personnel will be assigned to project tasks and deliverables?

· Has the Applicant received any prior MassDEP grants? Was their prior performance satisfactory?

Partnerships & Engagement (15 Points)

· Does the proposed project include any opportunities for community engagement with local or regional stakeholders such as the general public, local boards, committees, commissions, and other groups to inform them of project goals and outcomes?

· Is the Application a cooperative proposal between one or more Eligible Entities and a regional planning agency or similar organization? Does the Application state how the Proposed Project shares and/or leverages regional resources?

Disadvantaged Communities (10 Points)

· MassDEP will prioritize projects that are located in, or directly benefit, Disadvantaged Communities. Points will be awarded proportionately by tier (i.e. the highest number of points will be given to Applicants with projects in communities that have been designated Tier 3 Disadvantaged Communities). Please see Attachment B for a list of Disadvantaged Communities by Tier as determined by the Clean Water Trust for FY26.

Application Submission Instructions All grant applicants must include the attached application form in their application and submit the packet electronically as a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF file by 5:00 pm E.S.T. on October 9, 2026, to: Doug Coppi, Stormwater Coordinator at douglas.coppi@mass.gov. Please note the Applicant’s name AND “MS4 Municipal Grant Assistance Program” in the email subject line (e.g., Subject line: “Applicant Name MS4 Municipal Grant Assistance Program”).

Attachment A, Section 1 and 2 are available for download at MS4 Municipal Assistance Grant Program I Mass.gov Applications received after the deadline will be rejected automatically. MassDEP reserves the right to reject any and all proposals or request additional information, if needed.

Estimated Grant Procurement Calendar

Pre-Application Meeting A Pre-Application Meeting will be held using Zoom on September 17, 2026, at 1:00 pm E.S.T. The purpose of the meeting will be to provide information on the application process and the grant program. Please note that MassDEP cannot address the substance of any particular application. Please register here to obtain the meeting link.

Questions received and responded to during this meeting will be summarized and included in the written Q&A.

Written Questions via the Grant Q&A Process Applicants may submit written questions, via e-mail, to Courtney Starling, at courtney.starling@mass.gov on or before September 18, 2026, by 5:00 pm E.S.T. Please note that MassDEP cannot address the substance of any particular application. MassDEP will post official responses to questions regarding this grant RFR on or before October 1, 2026, at 5:00 pm E.S.T. It is the Applicant’s responsibility to verify receipt of questions with MassDEP.

MassDEP reserves the right to condense, summarize, or combine related questions and/or answers. Applicants are responsible for entering content suitable for public viewing since all the questions are accessible to the public. Applicants must not include any information that could be considered personal, security sensitive, inflammatory, incorrect, collusory, or otherwise objectionable. The Q&A document for this Grant RFR will be available on COMMBUYS, as well as online at the following link: MS4 Municipal Assistance Grant Program I Mass.gov All answers are final when posted. Any subsequent revisions to previously provided answers will be dated.

Amendment Deadline MassDEP reserves the right to make amendments to the Grant RFR after initial publication prior to the Application Deadline in the Estimated Procurement Calendar. It is each Applicant’s responsibility to check for any amendments, addenda, or modifications to this Grant RFR, as well as any Q&A related to this RFR and any amendments thereto.

Application Deadline Applications are due electronically by 5:00 pm E.S.T. on October 9, 2026.

FY27 MS4 Grant RFR 1 Attachment A Section 1: Project Information Entity Name:

Project Partners (if applicable):

Project Title:

Project Type (check all that apply):

☐Assessment and Planning ☐Design/Permitting/Construction ☐Equipment Purchase ☐Outreach/Training MEPA Review Status (if applicable):

☐Completed ☐In Process ☐Not Stated ☐Not required MEPA Project #:

Short description of the work (<5 sentences):

Requested Funds:

Matching Funds & Source (if applicable):

Applicant Signature:

Electronic or digital signatures are acceptable on this form.

By checking this box ☐ the applicant confirms that they are authorized to submit this grant application on behalf of the specified entity listed above.

Section 2: Ability to Perform Proposed Project Ability to Use Funds By checking this box ☐ the Applicant certifies that its entity is in Good Standing with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

By checking this box, ☐ the Applicant acknowledges and agrees it is able to enter into the contract within 15-30 days of the Grant Award and perform the project and meet all requirements of this state grant.

Ability to Perform Project By checking this box ☐ the Applicant acknowledges and agrees that its entity will be able to complete the project, as described in this application, by June 30, 2027.

Section 3: Applicant Contact Information Chief Executive of Applicant Organization

Project Lead

Grant Manager Entity Name:

Project Engineer (If applicable) Entity Name:

Other Project Staff (If applicable) Entity Name:

If awarded, who should be notified:

Name(s):

Preferred Method of Contact:

Section 4: Application Instructions Please limit proposals to 10 pages exclusive of attachments.

Required Attachments:

Attachment A Sections 1-3, Attachment C Staff Bios or Resumes Optional Attachments:

Local MS4 permit related plans or policies demonstrating project need, Letters of Support, Commitment Letters from Project Partners, maps, reports or links to reports, technical drawings, bid documents, photographs, examples of similar projects, quotes and other financial documents, support letters, and other supporting material Required Proposal Structure (Additional instructions provided in Italics)

1. Application Cover Sheet (does not count towards page limit)

2. Project Description

3. Project Benefit Provide information about both the environmental and economic benefits of the Proposed Project; specifically, how the project furthers the goal of improved MS4 compliance and stormwater management across multiple municipalities; how it reduces community costs, both individually and on a multiple municipality and/or regional basis; how it promotes collaboration and information sharing among multiple communities; and to what extent the grant product(s) will be transferrable to benefit all communities statewide that are subject to the 2016 Small MS4 General Permit.

4. Scope of Work Narrative

a. Prior project work. Describe any work that has been completed to advance this project to date and whether this project advances priorities identified in previous planning efforts. If applicable, identify any prior state grant awards that supported this work, including the year of the award(s).

b. Grant Scope of Work: Please summarize Project Phases, Tasks, Responsible Parties, Milestones, Timeline, Estimated Cost, and Project Deliverables. Infographics such as tables, charts, and timelines may be used within this section to summarize information.

5. Budget & Timeline Please fill out the budget table provided for the proposed project (use as many rows as needed). If all or some of the proposed project includes a request for reimbursement for eligible costs incurred after July 1, 2026, and before submission of the Application, please attach documentation supporting these project costs. Please explain if there are any other anticipated or secured funding sources that will support portions of the project.

MS4 Grant Application Budget Table Tasks (Milestones/Deliverables)

Use as many lines as needed

Project Total:

Total Funding Requested:

Note: Administrative costs may not exceed 5% of the grant-funded work.

6. Qualifications of Organization(s) and Project Manager(s) Describe qualifications the organization and the project manager, and address how they will assist in the successful execution of the proposed project.

7. Partnerships and Engagement This may include outreach, participation, or education activities, and how community input has or could shape project outcomes. Emphasize strategies that support inclusive, equitable, and culturally appropriate participation that go beyond traditional public meetings.

8. Disadvantaged Communities Served Please identify all municipalities served by the Project; indicate which of those municipalities are designated as Tier 1, 2, or 3 Disadvantaged Communities.

Please see Attachment B for a list of Disadvantaged Communities.

9. MBTA Communities Compliance (Y/N): If the project is located in a municipality (or municipalities) subject to the MBTA Communities Law (M.G.L. CH.40A §3A), please include compliance information.

Attachment B Disadvantaged Communities by Tier (FY26) Tier 1:

Amesbury, Ayer, Barnstable, Berkley, Billerica, Bourne, Braintree, Brewster, Dartmouth, Deerfield, East Longmeadow, Eastham, Egremont, Falmouth, Gloucester, Great Barrington, Groveland, Harwich, Hopedale, Hudson, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Leyden, Lunenburg, Mashpee, Maynard, Medford, Merrimac, North Attleborough, Paxton, Pembroke, Pepperell, Plainville, Plymouth, Quincy, Raynham, Richmond, Rochester, Rutland, Salisbury, Sandwich, Seekonk, Southampton, Stockbridge, Sturbridge, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Waltham, West Bridgewater, Westminster, Westport, Wilbraham, Winthrop, and Woburn Tier 2:

Abington, Acushnet, Agawam, Alford, Ashburnham, Ashby, Attleboro, Auburn, Becket, Belchertown, Bellingham, Blackstone, Bridgewater, Brimfield, Carver, Charlton, Cheshire, Clinton, Dracut, Dudley, East Bridgewater, East Brookfield, Easthampton, Fairhaven, Framingham, Freetown, Granby, Granville, Hadley, Halifax, Hampden, Hanson, Hatfield, Haverhill, Hinsdale, Holbrook, Holland, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Lanesborough, Lee, Leicester, Leominster, Leverett, Malden, Marlborough, Methuen, Middleborough, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Monson, Montgomery, New Braintree, New Marlborough, North Brookfield, Northampton, Northbridge, Northfield, Norton, Oak Bluffs, Oakham, Otis, Oxford, Peabody, Pelham, Petersham, Phillipston, Revere, Rockland, Rowe, Salem, Saugus, Sheffield, Shirley, Somerset, South Hadley, Southwick, Stoughton, Swansea, Tisbury, Townsend, Tyringham, Uxbridge, West Boylston, West Brookfield, West Tisbury, Weymouth, Whitman, Williamstown, and Yarmouth Tier 3:

Adams, Amherst, Ashfield, Athol, Barre, Bernardston, Blandford, Brockton, Brookfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Chelsea, Chester, Chesterfield, Chicopee, Clarksburg, Colrain, Dalton, Erving, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Florida, Gardner, Gill, Goshen, Gosnold, Greenfield, Hancock, Hardwick, Hawley, Heath, Holyoke, Huntington, Lawrence, Lowell, Ludlow, Lynn, Middlefield, Monroe, Montague, New Ashford, New Bedford, New Salem, North Adams, Orange, Palmer, Peru, Pittsfield, Plainfield, Randolph, Royalston, Russell, Sandisfield, Savoy, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Springfield, Sunderland, Taunton, Templeton, Tolland, Wales, Ware, Wareham, Warren, Warwick, Washington, Webster, Wendell, West Springfield, Westfield, Whately, Williamsburg, Winchendon, Windsor, Worcester, and Worthington Date Source Note: FY26 is the most current year for which data was available at the time of the publication of this RFR.

Attachment C Commonwealth Alternative W‐9 image1.png image2.png image2.jpeg image3.png