GUIDELINES AND BID INSTRUCTIONS

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Hudson River Estuary Management Program

Round 49 2026 Hudson River Estuary Grants for River Access

NYS SFS Grants Management Bid ID No.:

HRER49

Apply through the SFS Vendor Portal

Webinar Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026, 3:00-4:30 PM https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/r02083b69f18128c4acbc0579f9ec1e19

Bid Due Date: (3:00 P.M. EST, December 17, 2026) https://esupplier.sfs.ny.gov/psc/fscm/SUPPLIER/ERP/c/NUI_FRAMEWORK.PT_LANDINGPAGE.GBL?& https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/r02083b69f18128c4acbc0579f9ec1e19

1 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

Table of Contents

Contents Table of Contents

Introduction

Timetable of Key Events

Bidder Eligibility

Grant Opportunity General Information and Conditions

1. Funding

2. Proposed Project Timeframes

3. Minimum and Maximum Award Amounts

4. Bid Limit

5. Eligible Project Locations

6. Match Requirement and Expenditures

7. New for this Grant Round

8. Inquiries & Designated Contact Information

9. Department of Environmental Conservation Oversight

10. Bid Submission

Grant Bid Requirements and Conditions

1. Project Objectives

2. Minimum Eligibility (Pass/Fail criteria)

3. Project Types

4. Bid Application Form

5. Project Objective and Impact

6. Action Agenda Measures of Success

7. Project Audience

8. Project Timeline

9. Bidder Partners

11. End-User Benefit and Engagement

12. Engagement of Hudson River Estuary Staff

13. Permit Requirements

14. Flood Resiliency Requirements

15. Availability to the Public and Landowner Permission

16. Knowledge, Skills and Experience (Qualifications)

17. Project Cost Effectiveness

2 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

18. Statewide Priority

19. Additional Points

20. Expenditure Based Budget

21. Work Plan

22. Sexual Harassment Prevention Certification

23. Executive Order 16

24. Attachment G: Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification

25. Smart Growth Infrastructure Policy Act

26. Historic Preservation Review Requirements (if applicable to your project)

27. Coastal Consistency Requirements

28. Secular Purpose

Bid Evaluation, Scoring and Selection

Grant Program Payment

Eligible and Ineligible Expenditures Eligible Project Expenditures

Ineligible Project Expenditures

Match Requirement and Expenditures Eligible Forms of Match

Ineligible Forms of Match

Grant Program Reporting

What to Expect If You Receive an Award

1. Notification of Award

2. State of New York Contract for Grants

Appendix I: Map of Eligible Project Locations

Appendix II: Budget, Work Plan, and Permit Requirement Guidance

Appendix III: Bid Evaluation and Scoring Criteria

Appendix IV: Reporting on Measures of Success

Appendix V: Credit Sign Specifications

Appendix VI: Accessibility Requirements and Sources

Appendix VII: Certification for Sexual Harassment Prevention

Appendix VIII: Executive Order 16 Certification

Appendix IX: Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification

Appendix X: Bid Checklist

Appendix XI: Bid Application Form…………………………………….…………………………………………48

3 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

Introduction

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is pleased to announce funding for projects that implement priorities of the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda to conserve, restore and revitalize the estuary and its ecosystem.

Bids must be submitted through the State Financial System (SFS) Grants Management System (https://esupplier.sfs.ny.gov/). Paper bids will NOT be accepted. Bidders are strongly encouraged to submit their bids prior to the bid deadline. Late bids will not be accepted.

Grant bid information is also available on the Department’s website at https://www.dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/grants-funding-opportunities.

Timetable of Key Events Event: Date:

Bid Period Begins September 23, 2026 Webinar October 8, 2026; 3:00 p.m. ET Question & Answer Period Ends December 10, 2026 Bids Due December 17, 2026; 3:00 p.m. ET Award(s) Announced By (anticipated) Approximately June 2027

Bidder Eligibility For the purposes of this grant program, the following entities are considered eligible bidders:

501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporations, Governmental Entities, Municipalities, and Quasi-Governmental Entities, including but not limited to Counties, Cities, Towns, Villages, or Indian nation or tribe recognized by the state or the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the boundaries of New York State, or any combination thereof, Public Benefit Corporations, Public Authorities, Municipal Corporations, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, School Districts, and Universities and Colleges whose projects are located within the eligible geographic boundaries defined in this RFA.

For this grant opportunity, a “Not-For-Profit Corporation” (NFP) is subject to New York State’s Not-For- Profit Corporation Law and is qualified for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Federal Internal Revenue Code, has filed a Certificate of Incorporation to be incorporated in New York State and is current in their charities reporting requirements with the Office of the Attorney General.

Individuals and unincorporated groups are not eligible for this grant opportunity. However, an eligible bidder may apply on behalf of an individual or unincorporated group as a fiscal sponsor. The fiscal sponsor accepts responsibility of the grant and serves as a fiscal conduit for a DEC-funded project, receiving and disbursing funds related to the grant, and administering the requirements throughout the DEC grant process, including final reporting of grant activity.

For Multi-Partner and Inter-Municipal Projects: If a proposed project involves a cooperative agreement or partners, only one eligible, designated lead bidder must submit the bid for grant funding. The lead bidder must assume the responsibility for the project bid, performance of work consistent with this RFA, and the New York State Contract for Grants. Letters substantiating the collaboration from each partner are required.

https://esupplier.sfs.ny.gov/ https://www.dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/grants-funding-opportunities https://www.dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/grants-funding-opportunities https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/standard-terms-and-conditions

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Grant Opportunity General Information and Conditions

1. Funding Approximately $250,000 is available from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund.

2. Proposed Project Timeframes All projects must have defined objectives, tasks, and deliverables accounted for in performance measures that can be completed and invoiced within a three-year contract period/term of September 1, 2027 through August 31, 2030. Bidders should not begin their projects or incur costs until a New York State Contract for Grants has been fully approved by DEC, and if applicable approved by the Attorney General and the State Comptroller. Time extensions beyond the contract term end date will be determined by the DEC based upon written justification from the Vendor. Bidders should not submit a Bid if they do not anticipate their project can be completed within the specified contract term.

3. Minimum and Maximum Award Amounts The minimum grant amount is $10,500. The maximum grant amount is $100,000.

4. Bid Limit Bidders may submit up to two (2) Bids. Multiple Bids may not be for the same project or project location.

5. Eligible Project Locations Eligible projects for grant funding must be located within defined geographic boundaries of the Hudson River Estuary watershed (see map in Appendix I). “Hudson River Estuary” refers to the legislatively designated Hudson River Estuarine District established in Environmental Conservation Law §11-0306, which extends from the Troy dam to the Verrazano Narrows and includes Upper New York Bay to Kill Van Kull and the East River to Hell Gate, focused on the tributaries that flow into any of these waters. The map of eligible boundaries may also be viewed at https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/hregrantmap.pdf.

To find out if a potential project is located within these boundaries, please type the location of the project into the Hudson River Estuary Grant Program Interactive Boundary Map on the NYS GIS Clearinghouse at https://data.gis.ny.gov/maps/385d9cc6311946ac84425734327f6f6a. The Hudson River Estuary Grant Program Boundaries are also available on the interactive Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper at https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/hvnrm/.

6. Match Requirement and Expenditures Match is the portion of project expenditures not paid for with grant funds. Match can be from local and/or in-kind contributions. Local sources can include funding from other non-state and/or non-federal grant sources or from project partners. In-Kind contributions are non-cash donations provided by non-state and/or non-federal third parties, which can include equipment, supplies, services, and other expendable property. Matching share contributions must support the objectives outlined in the Work Plan.

For this grant opportunity, bidders must match at least 10% of the grant funding amount. Bidders providing 15% match or more will receive additional points in the scoring.

Eligible sources of match funds cannot come from other New York State or federal funding sources.

Bidders will be required to provide the sources of all matching funds using the Match Worksheet in SFS Grants Management.

7. New for this Grant Round

• A Bid Application Form was developed to help address formatting challenges and simplify writing the Bid. Some questions that were previously published directly in the electronic SFS Application Form are now asked in the Bid Application Form.

https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/standard-terms-and-conditions https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/standard-terms-and-conditions https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/hregrantmap.pdf https://data.gis.ny.gov/maps/385d9cc6311946ac84425734327f6f6a https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/hvnrm/

5 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

• Minimum required match has been updated to 10% of the grant funding amount. Bidders providing 15% match or more will receive additional points in the scoring.

• Revisions were made to the eligible project types. Review descriptions of project types carefully.

• Flood resiliency requirements were added.

• Revisions were made to scoring. Review Appendix III to understand how bids will be evaluated.

• Appendix IV: Reporting on Measures of Success is updated to reflect the Hudson River Estuary

Action Agenda 2026-2030.

8. Inquiries & Designated Contact Information For general information on completing this Bid and for clarification of Bid requirements, contractual terms and procedures, contact: Susan Pepe, Hudson River Estuary Program Grants Coordinator;

HREPgrants@dec.ny.gov.

For technical information regarding the NYS SFS Grants Management Bid Event, direct questions to:

NYS SFS Grants Management, helpdesk@sfs.ny.gov or 518-457-7737; 877-737-4185 (toll-free).

Include 2026 Round 49 Access RFA in the subject line of the email. Questions regarding this grant opportunity will be accepted by the DEC until C.O.B. December 10, 2026. All questions, and answers, will be uploaded in NYS SFS Grants Management Bid for all Bidders to view by COB December 14, 2026.

9. Department of Environmental Conservation Oversight The Department of Environmental Conservation reserves the right to:

• Award additional and available funding for scored and ranked projects consistent with this grant opportunity;

• Partially fund a bid if the partially-funded portion can be demonstrated to meet the criteria for this RFA;

• Award an agreement for any or all parts of the RFA in accordance with the method of award or withdraw of the RFA at any time at the Department’s sole discretion.

• Reject any or all bids in response to the RFA at the agency’s sole discretion.

• Reduce an award from the amount requested in the bid, so long as the reduced funding does not jeopardize the viability of the project to proceed at the reduced funding level.

• Limit all or some funding for a project in the final scored ranked list if the same activities have been awarded funding by another funding source.

• Reduce an award from the amount requested in the bid, should the project budget contain costs considered ineligible under this grant program.

• Refuse to fund projects that are determined to be inconsistent with NYS’s Smart Growth Public

Infrastructure Policy Act.

• Refuse to fund projects that are determined to be inconsistent with the Climate Change

Leadership and Community Protection Act or its implementing regulations.

• Award an agreement for any or all parts of the RFA in accordance with the method of award, or withdraw the RFA at any time, at DEC’s sole discretion.

• Award to the next highest scoring bid in the event a grantee fails to execute a grant contract with DEC within 60 days of a grant award.

• Deny a change in workplan tasks from the application project description because of fairness to competitive process.

• Monitor the progress of all grant awards and withdraw grant funding, if the grantee fails to make significant and timely progress on the project or fails to receive the necessary permissions and permits for the project.

mailto:HREPgrants@dec.ny.gov mailto:helpdesk@sfs.ny.gov

6 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

10. Bid Submission Bids must be submitted through the NYS SFS Grants Management System. Using Google Chrome to access the SFS Grants Management System (GM) is recommended. Using other browsers may cause errors.

If you do not have access to the SFS Vendor Portal and if your organization is already established within the SFS Vendor portal, an SFS Delegated Administrator has been authorized within your organization to provision user login credentials, unlock accounts, or reset passwords. Please reach out to your SFS Delegated Administrator directly. Also, if you do not have a login and if you are new to the SFS Vendor portal, and would like to establish an account for the purposes of doing business with the State of New York, contact the SFS Help Desk at 518-457-7717, 855-233-8363 or HelpDesk@sfs.ny.gov for more information.

Paper bids will NOT be accepted. Bidders are strongly encouraged to submit their bids prior to the bid deadline. Late bids will not be accepted. Please note staff with a Bid Response Initiator role can begin a bid, but only staff with the Bid Response Submitter role can submit the bid response.

All bidders must be Registered with SFS Grants Management to apply. Please visit https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/transition-SFS to register.

In addition to registration, not-for-profits must also be Prequalified at the time and date that the bid is due. If you are not Prequalified at that time and date, your bid will not be considered.

PLEASE DO NOT DELAY IN BEGINNING AND COMPLETING THE PREQUALIFICATION PROCESS.

PLEASE VISIT THE GRANTS MANAGEMENT Prequalification Page TO GET STARTED.

THE STATE RESERVES 5 DAYS TO REVIEW SUBMITTED PREQUALIFICATION BIDS.

PREQUALIFICATION BIDS SUBMITTED TO THE STATE FOR REVIEW LESS THAN 5 DAYS PRIOR

TO THIS BID DUE DATE MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED.

BIDDERS SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THEIR PREQUALIFICATION INFORMATION WILL BE

REVIEWED IF THEY DO NOT ADHERE TO THIS TIMEFRAME.

a) Bidder Prequalification Pursuant to the New York State Division of Budget Bulletin H-1032 Revised, effective July 16, 2014, New York State instituted key reform initiatives to the grant contract. Information on these initiatives can be found on the Grants Management Website.

All bidders must be Prequalified in the SFS Grants Management System at the time and date that the bid is due. Bids from non-prequalified entities will be rejected. The system will not allow you to submit your bid.

The SFS Handbook: SFS Training for Vendors guide is available on SFS Coach and includes guidance for prequalification. Additional training is available on SFS Coach.

https://esupplier.sfs.ny.gov/psc/fscm/SUPPLIER/ERP/c/NUI_FRAMEWORK.PT_LANDINGPAGE.GBL?&lp=ERP.SUPPLIER.NY_SUP_PUB_HOMEPG_FL mailto:HelpDesk@sfs.ny.gov https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/transition-SFS https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/get-prequalified

7 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

Grant Bid Requirements and Conditions

1. Project Objectives This Hudson River Estuary Grant RFA for River Access seeks to assist Hudson Valley municipalities and organizations build their capacity to implement the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2026-2030 goal “An Accessible Hudson River Estuary for All,” and to help achieve the following Measures of Success:

• AR1: General access and/or Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility will be improved at 10 sites along the Hudson River estuary and tidal tributaries, with 50% serving Potential Environmental Justice Areas (PEJAs) or Disadvantaged Communities (DACs), geographically or programmatically.

• AR2: Ecologically sound flood resiliency plans will be developed for 10 access sites in the 100-year floodplain, with 50% located in PEJAs or DACs. Implementation of resilience projects will be complete or underway at three sites.

• AR3: An updated swimming-access feasibility study will be completed, vulnerabilities at existing Hudson River beaches will be assessed, and planning for at least one new swimming area improvement on the Hudson River will be initiated.

Access site resiliency projects may also implement the following Action Agenda measures of success:

Goal: Robust River Habitat

• RH2: Habitat value (increased structural complexity and vegetation) will be increased for at least one new mile of shoreline, and at least 75% of permitted shoreline projects will incorporate sustainable shoreline best management practices (BMPs).

Goal: Climate Adaptive Communities

• CC4: Five CaD visioning processes will be completed and five conceptual designs of final engineering plans based on CaD processes will be developed to enhance climate resilience.

• CC5: Five climate-adaptive shoreline projects will be implemented to increase Hudson River waterfront resilience to sea level rise and flooding.

Visit https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/action-agenda for an overview of the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda and Measures of Success. Action Agenda Measures of Success, by goal, can be found in Appendix IV of this RFA..

Funding is available to improve access to the tidal waters of the Hudson. It may be used to support development of plans, purchase of equipment, and/or construction of physical improvements, as described in greater detail on pages 9-11 under “Project Types.”

Throughout this RFA, the word “plan,” as used to describe a deliverable, is broadly deemed to include:

plans, community engagement, assessments, feasibility studies, designs (e.g., final and conceptual design, landscape design renderings), engineering, related permitting activities, implementation plans, cost estimates, bid documents, spec sheets, and monitoring and maintenance plans, etc. For projects to design or develop plans, preparing permit materials is an eligible activity covered by the grant.

Programming to engage user groups or target audiences in the design, use and/or roll-out of the funded river access may be included as part of the project scope of work. There is a cap of 20% on personal services as a condition of this RFA (see page 21).

Consideration of long-term resiliency to sea-level rise and flooding is strongly encouraged as an element https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/action-agenda https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/action-agenda

8 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST of project design for all eligible project types. New York State Projected Sea-level rise can be found in 6 NYCRR Part 490 (https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/new-york-response/crrahttps://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/103877.html).

All projects must be consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 2010 Standards for Accessible Design, and the US Access Board’s Standards for Accessible Design, regardless of eligible project type. Bidders are encouraged to think about all components of accessibility and be inclusive of the region’s diverse communities. Please see Appendix VI of this RFA for more information on ADA Standards.

2. Minimum Eligibility (Pass/Fail criteria)

• The Bidder must be eligible, as shown on page 3 of this RFA. A not-for-profit organization must also be prequalified in NYS SFS Grants Management by the Bid due date to be determined as eligible under this grant opportunity.

• The project must be located within the defined geographic boundaries of the Hudson River Estuary. Project locations must be publicly accessible properties immediately adjacent to the tidal Hudson River estuary, including the tidal portion of its tributaries or Upper NY Bay, up to the first barrier. Projects are not eligible if they are located on land owned by New York State, unless the land is managed by a local government under a formal agreement with the State. The bidder must provide a map of the site, uploaded to SFS Grants Management.

• The project must provide or improve direct public access to the Hudson River estuary or tidal portions of its tributaries for boating, swimming, fishing, and/or wildlife viewing and enjoyment of nature on the estuary for people of all abilities. Shoreline stabilization projects that are needed to secure the eroding shoreline of public river access sites, or to make river access sites more resilient to flooding and sea level rise, are eligible if they follow the principles outlined in the criteria for the project type specified below.

• The Bidder must provide photos of the current location and condition of the site, uploaded to NYS SFS Grants Management.

• Projects must implement one of the eligible project types identified in this RFA.

• Projects must include consultation with Estuary Program Staff for project management purposes as step one in the timeline (e.g. a project kick-off meeting). Additionally, Bidders are strongly encouraged, but are not required, to invite Estuary Program staff to attend partner or community engagement meetings and to provide technical assistance in the planning process.

• The uploaded project timeline indicates completion of project objectives, tasks and deliverables on or before August 31, 2030.

• All project funding comes from eligible sources and at least 10% in eligible match is identified.

Project matching funds must be fully secured, and success of the grant should not depend on funding that is not yet secured.

• If applicable, letters of collaboration that include the “Lead” Bidder designation are provided from all Bidder partners.

• Construction projects must have all required permits in place at the time of Bid.

• For projects involving work on property owned by an entity that is not the Bidder, the Bidder must provide as an upload to the Bid, written documentation from the landowner indicating willingness for the project to take place on their property. For example, a “Friends of the Park” group must have documentation from the park owner.

• The Bidder must provide the required certification for sexual harassment prevention (“Attachment S”), as required by State Finance Law §139-l.

• The Bidder must provide the required EO 16 Certification.

• The Bidder must provide the required Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification

(“Attachment G”) as required by State Finance Law §139-m.

https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/new-york-response/crra https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/new-york-response/crra https://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/103877.html

9 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

• Bid completeness: Bidders must complete the electronic bid and upload any required documentation. See the checklist in this RFA as a reference.

3. Project Types Funding must be used to implement one of the following two project types to meet the above Project Objectives. Bidders must identify which Project Type for which they are applying.

(1) Access site improvements for swimming, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, and accessibility improvements for people with disabilities

Bidders may apply for planning and/or implementation of projects to create or improve direct public access to the Hudson River estuary or tidal portions of its tributaries for boating, swimming, fishing, and/or enjoyment of nature or wildlife-related recreation on the estuary, including accessibility improvements for people with disabilities. Proposed projects must consider long-term resiliency to sea-level rise and flooding.

Eligible projects may include one or more of the following activities:

• Planning or construction of physical improvements for boating, fishing, or wildlife viewing.

Planning may include community engagement, assessments, feasibility studies, designs (e.g., final and conceptual design, landscape design renderings), engineering, implementation plans, permitting activities, and monitoring and maintenance plans;

• Planning or construction of physical improvements for swimming access in the estuary or tidal tributaries, including feasibility study, beach sanitary survey, design, construction, or improvement of a bathing beach or river pool. Swimming access projects must comply with applicable bathing beach regulations and permitting requirements, including Subpart 6-2 of the New York State Sanitary Code (https://regs.health.ny.gov/content/subpart-6-2-bathing-beaches) and applicable local regulations. Beach sanitary survey projects must follow the Nonpoint Source Planning Grant outline (https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/beachsurvey22.pdf) and EPA’s guidance for Sanitary Surveys for Recreational Waters.

• Accessibility improvement planning or implementation including:

• Provision of accessible bathroom facilities, including port-a-potties;

• Constructing accessible shelters or pavilions;

• Acquiring accessible picnic tables and/or grills to meet the standards;

• Installing accessible docks, piers and/or swimming areas;

• Purchasing adaptive equipment, such as accessible beach walkway systems, fishing equipment, all terrain or beach wheelchairs, or watercraft transfer systems;

• Developing adequate parking facilities and other needs for buses and accessible vans, including ADA designated parking and clear pathways for travel that specifically improve the use of the site for boating, fishing, swimming, and/or wildlife-related viewing and recreation on the estuary for people of all abilities;

• Creating interpretive signage, web content, or site interpretation in a variety of languages with accommodations for people with visual disabilities; and

• Retrofits to existing structures such as railings, picnic tables, pathways, curb cuts, to meet ADA standards.

• The full scope of an accessibility project should include accessible parking and pathway to the new element or a reference that these already exist.

The following are not eligible improvements for this funding opportunity:

• Playgrounds and ball courts;

https://regs.health.ny.gov/content/subpart-6-2-bathing-beaches https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/beachsurvey22.pdf

10 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

• Non-accessible picnic tables and grills;

• Fees associated with long-term rental of facilities such as port-a-potty rental fees or fees associated with a temporary/removable accessible ramp rental; or

• Paving and parking not directly related to access for boating, fishing, swimming, and/or wildlife-related recreation on the estuary for people of all abilities.

(2) Access Site Resiliency to Flooding and Sea Level Rise

Bidders may apply for planning and/or construction of resiliency improvements or shoreline stabilization projects at Hudson River estuary and tidal tributary public access sites addressing the hazards of intense storms, flooding, and shoreline loss due to climate change and sea-level rise. Planning may include community engagement, assessments, feasibility studies, designs (e.g., final and conceptual design, landscape design renderings), engineering, implementation plans, cost estimates, bid documents, spec sheets, permitting activities, and monitoring and maintenance plans. Projects may include post-construction monitoring of stabilized shorelines at public access sites.

Proposed projects must include or build on a prior community engagement, consider future climate projections and be designed to withstand flood and erosion risk over the life of the project. Proposed projects must also align with Sustainable Shoreline principles by protecting or enhancing habitat value, such as use of native vegetation that can stabilize shorelines and withstand flooding, while reducing the impacts of intense storm events and sea-level rise. Other examples may include stormwater green infrastructure and floodable parks, structures, and infrastructure. Where possible, projects are encouraged to conserve existing natural features on the site and potential pathways for tidal wetlands to migrate upland over time with sea-level rise.

Any proposed hard structural shoreline measures must include an alternatives analysis of nature-based features and incorporate them to the greatest extent possible. Any proposed green infrastructure practices must be designed in accordance with the current NYS Stormwater Design Manual (https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/stormwater/construction-stormwater-toolbox#Design).

The following resources may be useful in developing a Bid:

• NYS Community Risk and Resiliency Act (CRRA) o NYS Sea-Level Rise Projections: https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/new-york-response/crra o NYS Flood Risk Management Guidance:

https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf o Estimating Guideline Elevations:

https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf o Using Natural Measures to Reduce Risk of Flooding and Erosion: Using Natural

Measures to Reduce the Risk of Flooding and Erosion:

https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crranaturalmeasuresgndc.pdf

• NOAA Sea Level Rise Mapper: https://coast.noaa.gov/slr/

• Sustainable Shorelines Guides & Tools: https://hrnerr.org/sustainable-shorelines/when-to-implement-sustainable-shorelines/planning-for-shoreline-restoration/monitoring-lessons-learned/best-management-practices/guides-tools/

• The Flood Resilience Handbook for Public Access Sites Along the Hudson River from Troy to Yonkers: https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/hrefldhndbk.pdf

• Nature Based Solutions – Science and Resilience Institute: https://srijb.org/nature-based-solutions/

• Climate-adaptive Design Regional LookBook: https://trophic.design/cad/ https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/stormwater/construction-stormwater-toolbox#Design https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/stormwater/construction-stormwater-toolbox#Design https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/new-york-response/crra https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/new-york-response/crra https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crranaturalmeasuresgndc.pdf https://coast.noaa.gov/slr/ https://hrnerr.org/sustainable-shorelines/when-to-implement-sustainable-shorelines/planning-for-shoreline-restoration/monitoring-lessons-learned/best-management-practices/guides-tools/ https://hrnerr.org/sustainable-shorelines/when-to-implement-sustainable-shorelines/planning-for-shoreline-restoration/monitoring-lessons-learned/best-management-practices/guides-tools/ https://hrnerr.org/sustainable-shorelines/when-to-implement-sustainable-shorelines/planning-for-shoreline-restoration/monitoring-lessons-learned/best-management-practices/guides-tools/ https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/hrefldhndbk.pdf https://srijb.org/nature-based-solutions/ https://srijb.org/nature-based-solutions/ https://trophic.design/cad/

11 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

• Inclusive Community Engagement Primer https://climatesmart.ny.gov/fileadmin/csc/documents/InclusiveEngagement-Primer-CSC-Cert- 2022-09-01.pdf

4. Bid Application Form A Bid Application Form (Word Document template available for download in SFS) was developed to help streamline the application process. Several questions that were previously published directly in the electronic SFS Application Form are now asked in the Bid Application Form. The intention of the Bid Application Form is to help reduce some of the cumbersome aspects of the electronic SFS Application Form. Bid questions are now addressed in the Bid Application Form, with the electronic SFS Application Form acting primarily as a repository for document uploads.

5. Project Objective and Impact Describe the objective for the proposed project, including methods, deliverables, and the need for the project. Projects that are likely to have a strong positive impact on boating, swimming, fishing, enjoyment of nature or wildlife-recreation for users of all abilities and/or related access site resiliency to floods, storms and sea level rise will be priority.

Projects are expected to address storm resiliency (as applicable) and be supported through appropriate maintenance after the grant is completed. Projects should also be sustainable without substantial maintenance.

6. Action Agenda Measures of Success Describe how the project will help achieve one or more Measures of Success as outlined in the 2026- 2030 Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda. Action Agenda Measures of Success, by goal, can be found in Appendix IV of this RFA. As noted in Appendix IV, reporting for grants arising under this RFA will require updates on how the project is achieving specific Measure(s) of Success.

7. Project Audience Describe the target audience of the project (i.e. user groups, such as elementary school students, seniors, families, bird-watchers, anglers, specific organizations or clubs, the general public, etc.), including the number of people to be served by the proposed project.

8. Project Timeline Bidders MUST provide a timeline for meeting project objectives and identified tasks between September 1, 2027 and August 31, 2030. Project expenditures prior to the New York State Contract for Grants start date and after the end date are not eligible for reimbursement or match.

All project timelines must include:

(i) Consultation with Estuary Program Staff for project management purposes as step one in the timeline; and

(ii) Opportunities where end-users are engaged and involved in the development of the project.

For projects that propose a combination of planning and construction, the project timeline should include an activity to complete the permit process, including State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) review (see #13 Permit Requirements).

For projects that propose planning only, the project timeline should include an activity to complete a NYSDEC jurisdictional review with the applicable regional permit administrator (see #13 Permit Requirements).

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fclimatesmart.ny.gov%2Ffileadmin%2Fcsc%2Fdocuments%2FInclusiveEngagement-Primer-CSC-Cert-2022-09-01.pdf&data=05%7C01%7CSusan.Pepe%40dec.ny.gov%7Cbfcb230573404a3abe5108db2adc1c1d%7Cf46cb8ea79004d108ceb80e8c1c81ee7%7C0%7C0%7C638150897133223217%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2FxqxC3alnGqnSvvD%2B%2F3prLWkWWpPgIsPZAkWCc5fGnA%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fclimatesmart.ny.gov%2Ffileadmin%2Fcsc%2Fdocuments%2FInclusiveEngagement-Primer-CSC-Cert-2022-09-01.pdf&data=05%7C01%7CSusan.Pepe%40dec.ny.gov%7Cbfcb230573404a3abe5108db2adc1c1d%7Cf46cb8ea79004d108ceb80e8c1c81ee7%7C0%7C0%7C638150897133223217%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2FxqxC3alnGqnSvvD%2B%2F3prLWkWWpPgIsPZAkWCc5fGnA%3D&reserved=0

12 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

9. Bidder Partners The Bidder Partner is a collaborator who has a significant role in the conduct of the project and is fundamentally a co-Bidder for the grant. Projects involving a Bidder Partner (i.e. multi-partner and inter-municipal projects, page 3) require letters substantiating the commitment to collaborate, that includes the designation of a “Lead” Bidder from each Partner. A single PDF file of all letters should be uploaded to meet this requirement, if applicable for your project.

10. Building upon Prior Planning Bidders will be awarded points for building upon prior planning as follows:

a) Taking the next step in a previously funded and successfully implemented Hudson River Estuary planning project;

b) Implementing access improvements and inclusivity recommendations included in municipal or regional recreational planning documents, including the NYS OPRHP SCORP, or ADA transition plans; and

c) Implementation of recommendations in Local Waterfront revitalization plans, Greenway Plans, Climate-Adaptive Designs (CAD) or other related plans.

11. End-User Benefit and Engagement Projects should demonstrate effective engagement of the user group(s), key stakeholders, and target audience (collectively, end-users) that will benefit as a result of the project. Bidders who clearly identify the end-users, and the value of the project to end-users, as well as specify opportunities for end-users to be engaged (in the project timeline), will receive points. The scope of work should describe how end-users will be engaged and informed during and after project completion.

Bidders are encouraged to engage local stakeholders such as the Centers for Independent Living (see www.ncil.org for a directory), local schools and special education teachers, neighborhood groups, and disability advocate groups such as United Cerebral Palsy (https://ucp.org/find-us/), The ARC (http://www.thearc.org/find-a-chapter), Little People of America (http://www.lpaonline.org/local-info), Paralyzed Veterans of America (http://www.pva.org/), and others.

Letters stating how they will use the grant project are a good indication of support from end-users whose support or involvement is necessary for the project to succeed (key stakeholders) and will improve the scoring of an Bid (additional points are available for Bidders submitting letters). Support letters from the government body offering the grant, or institutions or organizations who are fiscal sponsors and/or will provide services under the grant, will not be considered and no points will be awarded. If letters are submitted, letters must be submitted at the time of Bid. Bidders will be asked in the NYS SFS Grants Management to upload, in a single PDF file, a copy of all letters of support.

12. Engagement of Hudson River Estuary Staff At a minimum, project timelines must include consultation with Estuary Program Staff for project management purposes as step one in the timeline (e.g. a project kick-off meeting). Additionally, Bidders are strongly encouraged, but are not required, to invite Estuary Program staff to attend project meetings and/or to provide technical assistance. An invitation for such additional participation should be included as a step in the project timeline schedule and deliverables. Estuary Program staff may choose to participate, or not, in response to the invitation, as time allows. Please note that engagement of Estuary Program staff is not a substitute for stakeholder or end-user engagement by the Bidder.

Should an award be made, Bidders will be required to connect with the applicable Estuary Program Project Manager (to be assigned during the contracting stage) before work is started on the project.

13. Permit Requirements http://www.ncil.org/ https://ucp.org/find-us/ http://www.thearc.org/find-a-chapter http://www.lpaonline.org/local-info http://www.pva.org/

13 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

If applicable, the Bidder agrees to obtain all required permits including, but not limited to local, state, and federal permits prior to the commencement of any project-related work. The Bidder agrees that all work performed in relation to the project by the bidder or its agents, representatives, or sub-contractors will comply with all relevant federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations and standards, zoning and building codes, ordinances, operating certificates for facilities, or licenses for an activity.

See Appendix II of this RFA for more information on potential permit requirements. It is strongly encouraged for Bidders to request a NYSDEC jurisdictional review from the applicable regional permit administrator (https://dec.ny.gov/about/contact-us/permit-administrators) to confirm what permit needs may apply.

For projects requiring a permit, engineering designs must meet the minimum requirements of applicable local, state, or federal permit requirements, as applicable, including but not limited to:

• Protection of Waters Program: https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program#Application_Checklist

• Tidal Wetland Permit Program: https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/tidal-wetlands-permit-program

• Freshwater Wetland Permits: https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/freshwater-wetlands

• NYS’s Coastal Consistency requirements: https://dos.ny.gov/coastal-consistency-review

Permit requirements for all projects proposed under this RFA are as follows:

• Shovel-ready construction projects: Construction projects MUST have all required permits in place at the time of Bid, if applicable. Permit requirements are typically underestimated by Bidders; most construction projects on or near the water will require some type of permit. Bidders will be asked in the NYS SFS Grants Management to upload, in a single PDF file, a copy of the cover letter(s) received for approved permit(s) or substantiate why no permits are needed.

• Projects that propose planning and construction: For projects that propose a combination of planning and construction, preparing permit application materials is considered to be an appropriate work activity covered by the grant. Bidders should include preparation for the permit process as an activity in the Work Plan and project timeline.

• Planning projects: For projects that propose planning only, if applicable, Bidders should include an activity to complete a NYSDEC jurisdictional review with the applicable regional permit administrator in the Work Plan and project timeline.

14. Flood Resiliency Requirements Any projects within a 0.2% (500-year) or 1% (100-year) FEMA floodplain must include the following in the planning and design of the project, if applicable:

• A site plan with the contours indicating the Special Flood Hazard Area (1% floodplain), Coastal High Hazard Area, or 0.2% floodplain

• Location of and elevation of non-critical and critical equipment

• Certification of floodproofing

• A floodway analysis with a no-rise certificate, if the project is within a regulated floodway.

• Projects that occur in the regulatory floodway may require a hydrological and hydraulic (H&H) analysis conducted by a New York State licensed Professional Engineer demonstrating the proposed project will have 0.00 feet of rise in the base flood elevation when comparing pre- and post-project conditions. If the rise cannot be mitigated, a Federal Emergency Management https://dec.ny.gov/about/contact-us/permit-administrators https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program#Application_Checklist https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program#Application_Checklist https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/tidal-wetlands-permit-program https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/tidal-wetlands-permit-program https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/freshwater-wetlands https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/freshwater-wetlands https://dos.ny.gov/coastal-consistency-review

14 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

Agency (FEMA) Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) or Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) would be required.

Floodplain and floodway maps are available from the FEMA Flood Map Service Center:

https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home. Additional guidance and information for meeting this requirement is available at: https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/grant-applications/wqip-program.

15. Availability to the Public and Landowner Permission Projects must be open and available to the public. For projects involving work on property owned by an entity that is not the Bidder, the Bidder must provide as an upload to the Bid, written proof from the landowner (signed letter, formal written agreement, municipal endorsement or resolution, etc.) indicating willingness for the project to take place on their property and remain available to the public. For example, a “Friends of the Park” group must have documentation from the park owner. A single PDF file of all written documentation of proof of permission should be uploaded to meet this requirement, if applicable for your project. To avoid disqualification, Bidders must provide proof of landowner permissions at the time of Bid.

Open and available to the public shall mean:

Projects will be available to the public at large for unrestricted public access without any use or fee differentiation based on residency (no residency requirements). Projects will provide free or affordable use. For boat launching at trailered launches, user fees, if levied, will be applied uniformly to all users without regard to residency, and will not be prohibitive. Cartop launching should be free.

Projects are not eligible if they are located on land owned by New York State, unless the land is managed by a local government under a formal agreement with the State.

16. Knowledge, Skills and Experience (Qualifications) Bidders must possess the knowledge, skills, and/or track record to successfully implement the project.

Bidders must identify lead staff who will be working on the project. Priority is given to Bidders with excellent qualifications or a successful track record with this type of project.

For purposes of this RFA, experience and track record include performance on current and prior Estuary grants, including quality and timeliness of grant reporting, progress on performance schedules, and completion of deliverables.

17. Project Cost Effectiveness The cost-effectiveness of the proposed project will be evaluated as provided in the Bid Review and Scoring Standards in Appendix III. The answer to this question, as well as the information provided in the Expenditure Budget will be used to determine scoring for cost effectiveness. Cost effectiveness will be evaluated from the standpoint of budget detail, cost match, balance, and value. Bidders may compare the project costs to other similar work and explain the balance of expenses across budget categories. To sufficiently respond to this question, bidders are encouraged to upload documentation to support specific budget items, such as standard government wage rates, current market prices for equipment, and cost-estimates from potential contractors / vendors. If you are funding a salary, describe what staff will be doing for the project and the estimated time they will be dedicated to the project. If a contractor is or will be selected to complete work related to your project, discuss the process of selecting the contractor and upload documentation for cost estimates or contractor quotes, where applicable. Not all budget requests will need supporting documentation. If nothing is available or relevant, then provide reasoning for your request. Bidders that provide 15% eligible match or more above the minimum 10% may be eligible for additional points for cost effectiveness (see Appendix III).

18. Statewide Priority https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/grant-applications/wqip-program

15 HREMP Round 49 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. EST

• Alignment with Regional Economic Development (REDC) Strategies New York State directed the establishment of Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) to analyze the most significant business clusters in their respective areas. Any grants awarded by the State of New York shall take into consideration the recommendation of the relevant REDC or the Commissioner’s determination that the proposed project aligns within the regional strategic priorities of the region where the proposed project is located.

The Bidder can provide a brief narrative describing the economic benefits of the proposed project and how the project aligns with the strategies of the REDC plan for the project’s region. The narrative must be included with the bid to receive points in the bid review.

Each region has a unique plan. Visit https://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/ for information on your region’s Economic Development Council/

• Priority for Projects Affecting Environmental Justice (EJ) and Disadvantaged Communities DEC is committed to underserved and…