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)

SFY27 Natural Resource Area Nitrogen Sensitive Area (NRNSA) Grant Program Request for Responses

Agency Document Number: BWR-NSA-01

September 24, 2026

This information is available in alternate formats upon request Please contact MassDEP at 617-292-5500 TTY# MassRelay Service 1-800-439-2370 MassDEP Website: www.mass.gov/dep

SFY27 NRNSA GRANT

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 Maura T. Healey Governor Kim Driscoll Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Tepper Secretary Bonnie Heiple Commissioner SFY27 Natural Resource Nitrogen Sensitive Areas (NRNSA) Grant Request for Responses Grant Summary Total Funding Available: Up to $830,000.

Estimated Grant Amounts: $20,000 to $350,000 per applicant Pre-Application Meeting: October 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

Questions Due: October 7, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

Responses Due: October 26, 2026, by 5:00 p.m.

Match Required: No, but recommended.

Eligible Entities: “Local Government Units” with an NRNSA designated watershed.

Sample Eligible Projects: Planning activities in support of Watershed Permit Application or a De Minimis Load Application, or implementation activities identified in a Watershed Management Plan or component filed with an approved Watershed Permit Application.

Note: A “Local Government Units” (LGU) is defined as: “Any town, city, district, county, commission, agency, authority, board or other instrumentality of the Commonwealth or of any of its political subdivisions, including any Regional Local Government Unit.” (See 314 CMR 21.02). A “Regional Local Government Unit” is defined as, “Any Local Government Unit which is responsible for the ownership or operation of a Regional System.” (See 314 CMR 21.02).

NRNSA Grant Overview Proposals Sought The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP or the Department) seeks proposals from Massachusetts municipalities or other government entities that meet the definition of “Local Government Unit,” (LGU) as defined in 314 CMR 21.02, and that has a watershed that has been designated as a “Nitrogen Sensitive Area” under 310 CMR 15.002, 12.214 (Title 5).

The purpose of this grant program is to assist municipalities to perform activities identified in this Request for Responses (RFR) which facilitate the completion of a Watershed Management Plan (WMP) for the purpose of completing: (1) a Watershed Permit application, or (2) De Minimis Load application. Each type of application must address solutions to cultural eutrophication caused by nitrogen pollution from wastewater and other sources.

Planning activities that contribute to, or implementation actions that come from, a WMP supporting Watershed Permit application or De Minimis Load application (as defined in 314 CMR 21.00) will also be considered for funding. Through this grant program, MassDEP seeks to facilitate and advance an LGUs’ application for a Watershed Permit or De Minimis Load application under 314 CMR 21.00, by offering funding for Eligible Projects to Eligible Entities, as further defined below.

Interested entities are encouraged to refer to the Watershed Permit Regulations online.

The funding for this Grant Program is available to reimburse work conducted during the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Fiscal Year 2027 (SFY27) (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027) only. However, the work proposed to be funded may be part of a larger, ongoing project that exceeds SFY27.

Overview and Goals A primary source of nitrogen contamination of coastal estuaries in Cape Cod is nitrogen loading from on-site septic systems. MassDEP, in conjunction with local Boards of Health, regulates these systems through its “Title 5” regulations, 310 CMR 15.000. On July 7, 2023, MassDEP promulgated revisions to these regulations. These regulations established new Natural Resource Area – Nitrogen Sensitive Areas (NRNSAs) to more effectively address nitrogen impacted estuaries in the Commonwealth so that the waterbodies will meet state Surface Water Quality Standards for nitrogen loads, as found and outlined in 314 CMR 4.00. Currently, 31 watersheds of Cape Cod have been designated as NRNSAs under Title 5.

The regulations also establish new requirements for these NRNSAs. These requirements are designed to more effectively address specific problems related to the impairment of coastal estuaries arising from high densities of septic systems. More specifically, the Title 5 revisions required that any system serving new construction incorporates Best Available Nitrogen Reducing Technology by July 8, 2025 (as extended by MassDEP), unless the LGU submitted a Notice of Intent, a Watershed Permit application or a De Minimis Load application to stay this requirement. For existing systems, there is a two (2) year Notice of Intent period, after which if no Notice of Intent (NOI), Watershed Permit, or De Minimis application is filed, any existing facility with a Title 5 system must incorporate Best Available Nitrogen Reducing Technology within five (5) years of the end of the NOI period. While the enhanced treatment requirements for septic systems will result in significant reductions in nitrogen pollution, they may not be the most effective and efficient way to restore the impacted estuaries and achieve established water quality goals.

Therefore, MassDEP promulgated a second, concurrent regulatory revision formally establishing a “watershed permit process” under 314 CMR 21.00: Watershed Permit Regulations. A Watershed Permit, including the Pleasant Bay Watershed Permit that was issued in 2018, prior to the regulation, provides a 20-year timeframe to implement a more comprehensive solution to address nitrogen loading to one or more watersheds. As noted above, if LGUs filed a Notice of Intent to obtain a Watershed Permit, a Watershed Permit application, or a De Minimis Load application within two years of the effective date of the NRNSA designation that covers an NRNSA (i.e., an area that would be subject to the updated Title 5 regulations), the above Title 5 NRNSA requirements would not become effective for that area. However, the watershed permit process still requires LGUs to complete a Watershed Permit application as described by 314 CMR 21.03, or De Minimis Load application as described in 314 CMR 21.12.

A WMP is a required component of the Watershed Permit application and may be part of a De Minimis Load application. Other components of a watershed permit application may include a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP), a Comprehensive Water Resource Management Plan (CWRMP), or a Targeted Watershed Management Plan (TWMP). Through this grant program, MassDEP seeks to facilitate and advance LGUs’ applications for Watershed Permits or De Minimis Load Exemption under 314 CMR 21.00 by offering funding for Eligible Projects to Eligible Entities, as further defined below.

Eligible Entities Eligible Entities are regional or local government units that:

1. Meet the regulatory definition of "Local Government Unit" as defined in 314 CMR 21.02; and

2. Are seeking or have obtained a Watershed Permit or to submit a De Minimis load application to address nitrogen pollution in at least one (1) of the 31 Cape Cod watersheds designated as an NRNSA under Title 5. The NRNSA Address Lookup Map can be found online.

Please note that the receipt of grant funds is contingent upon the grantee being able to certify that it will 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.

Eligible Projects Eligible projects include those that will assist LGUs in completing a WMP for the purpose of applying for a Watershed Permit or a De Minimis Load application, each of which address solutions to cultural eutrophication caused by nitrogen pollution from wastewater and other sources. In addition, for those communities that have an approved WMP as submitted with a Watershed Permit Application, implementation projects found within their WMP to implement solutions to reduce nitrogen pollution, are also potentially eligible for this grant opportunity. Proposed projects must be in at least one (1) of the 31 Cape Cod watersheds designated as an NRNSA to be eligible. Interested applicants can use the MassDEP Designated Natural Resource Area – Nitrogen Sensitive Area Address Lookup Map to determine if their project is eligible. The NRNSA Address Lookup Map can be found online.

Planning activities that contribute to the development of a WMP, a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP), a Comprehensive Water Resource Management Plan (CWRMP), a Targeted Watershed Plan (TWMP), undertaken in support of a Watershed Permit application or De Minimis Load application (as defined in 314 CMR 21.00), will also be considered for funding. All work must be completed, or have been completed, during SFY27. Preference will be given to Eligible Projects that are in Disadvantaged Communities.

A Watershed Management Plan (WMP):

a) is consistent with a 208 Plan, if such plan exists, as determined by the designated areawide planning agency under § 208 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1288;

b) includes or is supplemented with the information and documentation specified in 314 CMR 21.03(2), unless the Department determines otherwise;

c) is based on one or more Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plans (CWMPs), Comprehensive Water Resource Management Plans (CWRMPs), or Targeted Watershed Management Plans (TWMPs), as defined in 314 CMR 21.02, which may serve as the WMP if all requirements of this definition are met; and

d) provides a schedule and description of actions to achieve Necessary Nitrogen Load Reductions. Unless otherwise determined by the Department, the WMP may address pollutants other than nitrogen (314 CMR 21.02).

Planning activities that contribute to, or come from, a Watershed Management Plan (WMP), a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP), a Comprehensive Water Resource Management Plan (CWRMP), a Targeted Watershed Plan (TWMP), Watershed Permit application or De Minimis Load application (as defined in 314 CMR 21.00) will be considered for funding. Examples of Eligible Projects include, but are not limited to:

· Planning activities necessary to complete a watershed permit application, as explained by 314 CMR 21.03(2), or De Minimis Load application, as explained by 314 CMR 21.12. Such activities include, but are not limited to:

· Completing a Watershed Management Plan, CWMP, TWMP, or Scientific Evaluation;

· Assessment of nitrogen loads; or

· Modeling of nitrogen reduction scenarios.

· Planning activities required by approved watershed permit. Such activities may include, but are not limited to:

· Data analysis of ambient water quality monitoring results; or

· Permeable reactive barrier design.

· Review of ambient water quality monitoring, modeling, and/or other measures for the purpose of demonstrating de minimis load within a watershed or sub-watershed.

Implementation projects for actions identified within an approved plan Watershed Management Plan, as defined above, filed with a Watershed Permit Application, will be considered for SFY27 funding. However, due to funding limitations and the need for applicants to complete work by June 30, 2027, examples of implementation and construction projects that will not be considered for funding include, but are not limited to:

· Construction of approved sewering;

· Upgrades to existing wastewater treatment facilities not already fully permitted;

· Continued operation or maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities; or

· Upgrades to septic systems that already include a DEP approved technology to reduce nitrogen.

Ownership of all equipment or resources purchased pursuant to a grant award shall remain the property of the grantee.

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 may be accessed online.

Eligible applicants, including partnerships and coalitions, shall identify the municipalities served by their entity or entities, as well as which municipalities within their service area(s) 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.

Funding Availability MassDEP anticipates that up to $830,000 in total funding may be available for projects through the SFY27 NRNSA Grant Program. Individual grant awards may range from $20,000 to $350,000 per applicant, although MassDEP reserves the right, in its discretion, to grant smaller or larger awards to proposals of exceptional merit. If additional funds become available during the period between the announcement of this grant opportunity and end of SFY27, the Department reserves the right to allocate supplemental funds to this grant solicitation and/or initiate additional funding rounds.

Both existing and proposed projects are eligible for this grant program, and funding will support work activities for the planning phase of Watershed Management Plans or a Watershed Permit, so long as the work funded by this program is conducted during FY2027 (i.e., July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027). All applications must include a feasible timeline for completion of the proposed work (i.e., illustrating that the work being proposed for funding can be completed on or before the June 30, 2027, deadline).

Applicants may seek funding for Eligible Projects that will exceed the length of the grant award period (i.e., past June 30, 2027); however, only work that is proposed to be conducted during SFY 27 (July 1, 2026- June 30, 2027), is eligible for funding. All funding for awards issued through this program are subject to the availability of appropriations or funding from other Department sources.

In addition, please note that no more than five (5) percent of grant funds may be used for administrative or overhead costs.

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

Match and Other Funding Obligations 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, which may make the Application more competitive during review and evaluation by MassDEP.

Compensation Structure for Grant Awards Compensation will be on a reimbursement basis only 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 with application score; this may result in the lowest scoring fundable application receiving partial funds.

Applicants are advised that grant awards involving capital funds are required to be disbursed on a cost reimbursement basis only, meaning that grantees will be reimbursed for funds already expended. To receive reimbursement for funds expended, grantees must submit a written request for payment, along with invoices and purchase orders. Grantees must submit written requests for payment, and any corresponding supporting documentation, on or before June 30, 2027.

Total Anticipated Duration of Grant(s) The contract duration will be from the state of full execution of the grant award contract, through June 30, 2027. MassDEP reserves the right to extend the contract duration solely for the purposes of completion of performance, consistent with the terms of the grant award contract.

Please note that pre-contract expenses incurred during SFY27 (June 30, 2026 – July 1, 2027) are potentially eligible for reimbursement. For applications proposing the inclusion of work conducted before the date of full contract execution of the Grant Application, but on or after July 1, 2026, the applicant must provide documentation (e.g. invoices, quotes, contracts), in the Grant Application. If successfully awarded, all pre-contract expense documentation and proof of payment must be submitted within thirty (30) days of Notice of grant award.

Required Documentation Upon completion of the proposed work, and with submission of the final request for reimbursement, all grantees shall submit a one (1)-page Final Report summarizing their project tasks, including links or copies to the work product completed during the contract period.

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

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION:

Evaluation Criteria (general) To be considered for a grant award, applicants must submit a completed application that: includes all required supporting materials; consent to program terms and conditions; provides an affirmative commitment to completing the proposed work by June 30, 2027; and meets program eligibility requirements.

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.

Evaluation Criteria Components: The review committee will evaluate and score the grant applications from Eligible Entities (as previously defined in Section 1.3. of this Grant Opportunity) who proposed Eligible Projects, based upon the following criteria:

Project Description (10 points)

· Does the project description state how the proposed or existing project will contribute to or support the overall reduction of nitrogen loads so that the waterbodies will meet state Surface Water Quality Standards?

· If some or all of the proposed project includes a request for reimbursement for eligible costs incurred after July 1, 2026, and before submission of the Application, does the application included a description of the portion of the project that is partially or fully completed?

· Are all elements of the proposal eligible under the listed criteria for this grant program? Will any of the requested grant funding be used for any ineligible activities such as construction/implementation and/or continued operational/ maintenance costs, or for activities occurring outside of a designated NRNSA?

Project Benefit (40 points)

· Does the application demonstrate how the proposed project intends to contribute to the development of a Watershed Management Plan, Watershed Permit application, or De Minimis Load application under 314 CMR 21.00 and/or Title 5?

· How well does the proposed or existing project clearly achieve/meet the overview and goals of the Natural Resource Area – Nitrogen Sensitive Areas Grant Program and Title 5 Requirements?

· If the project is an implementation project, is the project identified within the Watershed Management Plan? Does the application demonstrate how the project will reduce nitrogen impacts in NRNSAs?

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

Project Budget and Timeline (20 points)

· Does the application include a detailed project budget that includes cost and time estimates by project task and milestone?

· Does the proposed budget include matching or outside funds from the applicant? If so, what is the proposed percentage of the overall budget the applicant is proposing to provide?

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

· Does the application demonstrate a realistic timeline to achieve the proposed work? Shovel-readiness must be demonstrated for Implementation projects to be considered.

Qualifications of Organization and Project Manager (20 points)

· Does the application describe the qualifications of the Eligible Entity, their contractor(s), the project manager, and any other staffing assigned to carry out the proposed project?

· Does the Eligible Entity, and/or their contractor(s) have sufficient qualifications and project experience to perform the proposed project?

· Does the Eligible Entity have prior experience with MassDEP grants? Prior performance may be considered during the review of applications.

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 2026.

Page Limit Grant Applications, including the budget sheet but excluding the cover sheet, must not exceed fifteen single-sided (15) pages in length (exclusive of attachments). The Application (Attachment A) and required Commonwealth W-9 (Attachment C) are at the end of this document is also available online.

ATTACHMENTS DO NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE 15-PAGE LIMIT.

Application Completion and Submission Instructions All applicants must include the attached application form (Attachment A) in their application and submit the packet electronically, as a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF file, by 5:00 p.m. E.S.T., on October 26, 2026.

Applications shall be submitted to Caroline Adamson, via email at: Caroline.P.Adamson@mass.gov. Please include the applicant name AND “NRNSA Grant Program” in the subject line. Attachment A and a link to Attachment C are included at the end of this document. Attachment C will also be available for download online.

Applications received after the deadline will be automatically rejected. MassDEP reserves the right to reject nonresponsive proposals or request additional information, if needed.

Additional Required Documentation:

If selected for a Grant Award, the applicant will be required to submit the following forms to complete the Grant Award contracting process 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

· Invoices and proof of payment for any approved pre-contract expenses.

Applicants are encouraged to review these forms prior to submission of an application. Please note that a failure to submit forms and documents within thirty (30) days of Notice of Grant Award may result in the forfeiture of the award, and funds may be awarded to the next highest scorer(s). 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.

Estimated Calendar for Grant Application/Award:

Pre-Application Meeting Via Zoom. Register here to attend.

Notification of Grant Award(s) (Estimated)

(POSTED ON COMMBUYS AND MASSDEP WEBSITE)

January 2027

Pre-Application Meeting A Pre-Application Meeting on Zoom will be held on October 6, at 2:00 P.M. 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. Questions answered during this meeting will be summarized and included in the written Q&A document. Please register to attend the meeting.

Written Questions via the Grant Q&A Process As noted in the Estimated Grant Procurement Calendar, grant applicants may submit written questions, via e-mail, to Caroline Adamson at caroline.p.adamson@mass.gov on or before Octobre 7, 2026, at 5:00 pm E.S.T. MassDEP will post official responses to questions regarding this grant RFR on or before October 21, 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.

The Q&A document for this Grant RFR will be available on COMMBUYS, as well as online at the following link: The Q&A document for this Grant RFR will be available online here.

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 P.M., E.S.T. on October 26, 2026.

FY27 MS4 Grant RFR 2

Attachment A Natural Resource Area – Nitrogen Sensitive Area SFY2027 Grant Program Application

Section 1: Project Information Entity Name:

Project Partners (if applicable):

Project Title:

Project Type (check all that apply):

☐Watershed Management Plan (or other acceptable plan) in support of Watershed Permit Application ☐De Minimis Load Application ☐Watershed Management Plan & Permit Implementation Activities

Permit Status (Implementation Only):

☐Completed ☐In Process ☐Not Stated ☐Not required Describe Permits Needed:

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 and acknowledges and agrees it is able to enter into the contract and meet all requirements of this state grant.

By checking this box ☐ the Applicant agrees to submit all required documents identified in Section 3.4 of this RFR and certifies they are aware that a failure to submit required forms and documents within thirty (30) days of Notice of Grant Award may result in the forfeiture of the award and funds may be awarded to the next highest scorer(s).

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 3: Application Structure Please use the following format for your application. Applications longer than 15 single-sided pages exclusive of the cover and attachments will not be accepted.

Project Description (10 Points): Describe the Eligible Project and the proposed work to be covered by this funding. Include proposed project tasks, desired outcome(s) for the project, and how the Eligible Entity will be helped to meet the goals of the grant program and Title 5 requirements by the project. If all or some of the Eligible Project includes a request for reimbursement for eligible costs incurred after July 1, 2026, and before submission of the Application, please include a description of the project partially or fully completed.

Project Benefit (40 Points): How well does the proposed or existing project clearly achieve/meet the overview and goals of the Natural Resource Area – Nitrogen Sensitive Areas Grant Program and Title 5 Requirements? Does the applicant propose to engage a diverse range of stakeholders as part of their planning process? Does the proposed project contribute to the development of a Wastewater Management Plan and/or application for a Watershed Permit or De Minimis Load under 314 CMR 21.00? Does the proposed project implement an approved Watershed Management Plan?

Project Budget and Timeline (20 Points): Please fill out the budget table below 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.

NSA Grant Budget Table Key Project Tasks/Milestone (Responsible Party)

Use as many lines as needed

Project Total:

Total Funding Requested:

Source of Match*: For any in-kind or monetary match, explain how extensive it is and how it will be made available to the project here.

Qualifications of Organization and Project Manager (20 Points): Describe the qualifications of the Eligible Entity and/or their contractor and the project manager relevant to carrying out the proposed project.

Disadvantaged Community Status (10 Points): Please identify all municipalities served by the Applicant; indicate which of those municipalities are designated as Tier 1, 2, or 3 Disadvantaged Communities.

Attachment B Disadvantaged Communities by Tier (2026) 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: 2026 is the most current year for which data was available at the time of the publication of this RFR.

Attachment C Commonwealth W-9 image1.png image2.png image2.jpeg image3.png image4.png