HRER52_2026_RFA (FINAL)_9.23.26.pdf

GUIDELINES AND BID INSTRUCTIONS

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Hudson River Estuary Management Program

Round 52 2026 Hudson River Estuary Grants for River Education

NYS SFS Grants Management Bid Event No.:

HRER52

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

Table of Contents

Contents Table of Contents

Introduction

Timetable of Key Events

Bidder Eligibility

Grant Opportunity General Information and Conditions

• Funding

• Proposed Project Timeframes

• Minimum and Maximum Award Amounts

• Bid Limit/Award limit

• Eligible Project Locations

• Match Requirement and Expenditures

• New for this Grant Round

• Inquiries & Designated Contact Information

• Department of Environmental Conservation Oversight

• 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 Timeline

8. Bid Partners

9. Target Audience Benefit & Engagement

10. Permit Requirements, Project Type 1

11. Landowner Permission, if applicable

12. Knowledge, Skills and Experience (Qualifications)

13. Project Cost Effectiveness

14. Statewide Priority

15. Expenditure Based Budget

16. Work Plan

17. Sexual Harassment Prevention Certification

18. Executive Order 16

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

20. Smart Growth Infrastructure Policy Act

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

22. Coastal Consistency Requirements

23. Secular Purpose

Bid Evaluation, Scoring and Selection

Method of Award

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 XI: Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification

Appendix X: Bid Checklist Appendix XI: Bid Application Form

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

Grant Opportunity General Information and Conditions

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

• 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 Grantee. Bidders should not submit a bid if they do not anticipate their project can be completed within the specified contract term.

• Minimum and Maximum Award Amounts The minimum grant amount is $20,000. The maximum grant amount is $100,000.

• Bid Limit/Award limit Bidders may submit up to two (2) bids. Multiple bids may not be for the same project or project location.

Additionally, bidders who submit more than one grant bid will only be eligible to receive one grant award in this grant round, unless additional funding remains after all qualifying grant awards are made (at one per grantee). Additional grants for qualifying projects will be awarded to an entity already receiving a grant award in this grant round, starting with the next highest scoring bid, in accordance with bid evaluation and scoring on page 17.

• 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/.

• 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 15% of the grant funding amount. Bidders providing 25% 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 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/

Grants Management.

• New for this Grant Round

• Bidders providing 25% match or more will receive additional points in the scoring.

• 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.

• Scoring and method of award were updated. Review Bid Evaluation, Scoring, and Selection and Method of Award sections and 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

• 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 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 52 Education 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 the Grants Management System Bid Event for all bidders to view.

• 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.

• 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

• 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

Grant Bid Requirements and Conditions

1. Project Objectives This Hudson River Estuary Grant RFA for River Education seeks to assist Hudson Valley municipalities and organizations build their capacity to become partners in implementing the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2026-2030 goal for “An Informed and Engaged Public,” and to help achieve the related Measures of Success.

Visit (https://www.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 under this RFA is available to support projects and plans to enhance education about the estuary along the tidal waters of the Hudson and make opportunities to learn about the Hudson River Estuary more accessible for a wide range of people, especially:

• communities traditionally underrepresented in science careers; and

• people from economically disadvantaged communities, PEJA areas, people with disabilities, federal and state-recognized Indigenous communities, and/or people from groups underrepresented in STEM or conservation fields.

Eligible Project Types are described under #3, below. Projects involving boats are applicable in this RFA only if the vessel is a locally-based facility for learning about the River (see Project Type 1). For any project type, projects that fund advocacy and/or water quality monitoring using analytical chemistry data collected to regularly track turbidity, conductivity, nutrients, or bacteria, using separate off-site facilities for analysis are not eligible. Eligible projects include water quality sampling for education purposes of dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, clarity, and salinity, using techniques at the point of collection.

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 SFS Grants Management by the bid due date to be determined as eligible under this grant opportunity.

• Proposed projects must provide or improve estuary-focused education as defined in eligible project types. If the project involves improvements to an educational facility (Project Type 1), the facility must be on, near, or tightly-focused on the tidal Hudson or relevant portions of NY Harbor.

• Location: The project must be located within the defined geographic boundaries of this RFA (see map in Appendix I). The bidder must provide a map showing the project location, uploaded to SFS Grants Management.

• The bidder must provide photos of the project location, and condition of the site (if applicable), uploaded to 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 project meetings and provide technical assistance.

• 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 15% in eligible match is identified.

• 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.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5104.html http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5104.html http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5104.html

• 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.

• 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 four project types to meet the above Project Objectives. Bidders must identify which Project Type (1-4) for which they are applying.

(1) Locally-based facilities for learning about the Hudson River Estuary (planning, programming, interpretation, and/or construction)

Bidders may apply for projects at locally-based facilities tightly focused on learning about the Hudson River estuary, including New York Harbor. Projects can be to plan, design, equip and/or construct exhibits, as well as improve programs, materials, and visitor experiences to be used for education of students, families, tourists and residents. Such projects must be consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), so that people of all abilities can learn about and enjoy the river. Projects should also be designed to be resilient to future storms and sea-level rise, and may focus entirely on making a facility more resilient. This category may include the purchase, construct or repair vessels specifically and primarily used as floating classrooms with education programming purposely focused on estuarine ecology, natural history, and water quality. Up to 60% of the grant request may be allocated towards program costs, including personnel costs. The proposed project should provide a lasting change or improvement.

This project should align with these 2026-2030 Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda Measures of Success:

• 10 or more locally based facilities for learning about the river will be enhanced with state-of-the-art exhibits, as well as improved programs, materials, field trips, hands-on learning modules, and visitor experiences.

• At least 35% of participants engaging in education programs delivered by the Hudson River Estuary Management Program or through grants and technical assistance to partners will be from DACs or PEJAs—an increase over the 25% 2020 baseline.

(2) Education programs and resources about the Hudson River Estuary

Bidders may apply for program design, delivery, equipment, materials, transportation, or other capital investments that will be used to help students, families, tourists and residents directly learn about the estuary. This may include transportation equipment used to provide accessibility to existing river education facilities and waterfront sites. Transportation of students to the site of programs is also applicable for this grant. This may also include projects to expand the audience for science-based information about the natural history of the Hudson estuary, promote a natural history-based sense of place, and create a multiplier effect for learning about the estuary through engaging use of the internet, Web bids for mobile devices, and social media. Project budgets may include up to 60% for program costs, including personnel costs, related to program delivery. The proposed project should provide a lasting change or improvement.

(3) Educator professional development or curriculum development directly linked to the Hudson

River Estuary Action Agenda

Bidders may apply for projects to design and implement professional development for formal and informal educators, or to develop new curriculum, improve, or build on existing curriculum directly linked to the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda. The bid must demonstrate commitment to teach about the Hudson River and demonstrate consistency with New York State Next Generation Learning Standards or other learning standards from the New York State Education Department. Curriculum development projects must indicate which of the NYS Learning Standards this curriculum addresses. The final product must include training agendas, lesson plans, or other curriculum products which will be made available uncopyrighted for NYSDEC to post on its public web site of Hudson River lesson plans, so that it may be widely shared with other educators. Project budgets may include up to 60% for program costs, including personnel costs, related to testing, delivering, and improving the curriculum. See https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/teaching for more information about teaching about the Hudson River Estuary. The proposed project should provide a lasting change or improvement. Projects proposing curriculum development should demonstrate how the curriculum will continue to be used beyond completion of the grant.

(4) Intensive environmental science research programs for young adults

Bidders delivering environmental science and conservation education programs may apply for projects that support a paid environmental science research program for high school students, college students, and young adults focused on the Hudson River Estuary ecosystem. The goal is to provide an opportunity for people that may have strong barriers to otherwise accessing intensive research opportunities to develop skills in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) as it applies to conservation of the environment, particularly the estuary and its ecosystem. Such barriers may include lack of transportation, lack of paid internships, and/or lack of previous outdoor experiences or mentoring. Programs should emphasize:

• Student- and young adult-led research;

• field and/or lab work opportunities that are hands-on and interactive;

• a culminating presentation or science communication output (poster, article, video, etc.);

• tiered mentorship among participants;

• career-building opportunities (resume, interview, job opportunity discussions); and

• group educational, team building, and professional experience.

Practicing scientist(s) and/or environmental educator(s) should serve in an advisory/mentorship role for participants. The duration and timing of program can be flexible, but bidders need to demonstrate enough contact hours to allow for student-led projects and career development. Open recruitment from communities traditionally underrepresented in science and education careers is encouraged. Depth of experience for emerging scientists is valued over total number of youth served. Repeat participation year to year in the program by individuals is permitted. Key components that remove barriers to inclusion are: participants are paid at least minimum wage; and travel to and from site is offered (personal transportation not required). Bids need to demonstrate student pay and transportation offerings in budget details. Budgets can also include supplies and equipment, staff pay, and teacher pay. Project budgets may include up to 60% for program costs, including personnel costs, related to all https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/teaching components.

Bids may propose establishing a new program or support an existing program. Grant awardees will participate in networking meetings with organizational leaders of similar research programs. The proposed project should provide a lasting change or improvement.

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. The geographic focus must be on the Hudson River Estuary, its tributaries, or parts of the New York Harbor waterways, or the bid will not score high enough to be funded. Also see the preceding Project Type descriptions for additional details required to address the Project Objective.

6. Action Agenda Measures of Success Describe how the project will help achieve one or more Measures of Success as outlined in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2026-2030. 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 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.

(ii) As appropriate, either (a) participation in reporting findings at a meeting/event, or (b) providing a very clear summary of the work completed, appropriate for posting online, including several photos and a description. Photos will not be for commercial use, and the bidder is responsible for permission of any subjects in photos, if needed.

For Project Type 1 (“Locally-based facilities for learning about the Hudson River Estuary including NY Harbor”):

• Projects that involve construction of facilities, should include an activity to complete the permit process, including SEQR review, if applicable, in the project timeline (see #10, Permit Requirements).

• Projects that propose planning for construction should include an activity to complete a NYSDEC jurisdictional review with the applicable regional permit administrator in the project timeline, if applicable (see #10, Permit Requirements).

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.

8. Bid Partners The Bid 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 Bid Partner (i.e. multi-partner and inter-municipal projects, page 3) require letters substantiating the commitment to collaborate that include 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.

9. Target Audience Benefit & Engagement Projects should describe or demonstrate effective engagement of the target audience that will benefit as a result of the project. Describe the target audience of the project, including the number of people to be served by the proposed project. Describe how key partners, stakeholders, and end users will be engaged throughout different stages of the project. Engagement should be included in the project work plan component of SFS Grants Management.

Letters from people whose support or involvement is necessary for the project to succeed, including local schools, educators, and other stakeholders, and/or describe how the target audience will benefit from the grant project, will improve scoring of a Bid. 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 as evidence of stakeholder or target audience engagement. If letters are submitted, letters must be submitted at the time of bid. Bidders will be asked in SFS Grants Management to upload, in a single PDF file, a copy of all letters of support.

10. Permit Requirements, Project Type 1 If applicable, for Project Type 1, Hudson River shoreline facilities for education about the Hudson River Estuary, 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. Preparing permit application materials is considered to be an appropriate work activity covered by the grant.

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 Project Type 1 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 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 construction projects on or near the water will require some type of permit. Bidders will be asked in 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 the permit process in the Work Plan and project timeline.

• Projects that propose planning for construction: For such projects, bidders should include an activity to complete a NYSDEC jurisdictional review with the applicable regional permit administrator in the Work Plan and project timeline.

11. Landowner Permission, if applicable 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.

12. 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.

13. 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. Bidders that provide 25% eligible match or more above the minimum 15% may be eligible for additional points for cost effectiveness (see Appendix III).

14. Statewide Priority

• 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 http://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 vulnerable populations, and providing remedies for communities that may be burdened by negative environmental consequences. Environmental Justice (EJ) is defined by the DEC as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color or income, with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.

Potential Environmental Justice Areas (PEJA) are U.S. Census block groups of 250 to 500 households each that, in the Census, had populations that met or exceeded at least one of the following statistical thresholds: at least 52.42% of the population in an urban area reported themselves to be members of minority groups; or at least 26.28% of the population in a rural area reported themselves to be members of minority groups; or at least 22.82% of the population in an urban or rural area had household incomes below the federal poverty level.

Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) are identified by New York’s Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG) using indicators that include climate-related risks, environmental burdens, health vulnerabilities, and socio-economic factors.

Maps of PEJA and DAC areas in New York State are available at: https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/environmental-justice/gis-tools and https://climate.ny.gov/resources/disadvantaged-communities-criteria/, respectively.

Bidders can identify DAC communities by referring to the DAC maps on New York’s Climate Act website showing these areas: https://climate.ny.gov/resources/disadvantaged-communities-criteria/ or by clicking the Disadvantaged Communities box in the Public Involvement section on the DEC info Locator https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/dil/index.html?cat=pi.

Or bidders may also serve EJ community, as defined in DEC Commissioner Policy 29, Environmental Justice and Permitting (available on DEC’s website at: https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/environmental-justice/related-policy-regulations).

Bidders can identify EJ communities in the following ways:

• Refer to maps on DEC’s website showing these areas: https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/environmental-justice/gis-tools.

• Refer to census tracts and block numbering areas which have a poverty rate of at least 20 percent and an unemployment rate of at least 125 percent of the New York State unemployment rate.

• Refer to census tracts and block numbering areas which have a poverty rate of at least two times the poverty rate for the county in which the tract is located.

• Refer to other authoritative documentation demonstrating the community’s low-income population or minority population. Demonstrate low income or minority populations. The bidder must provide authoritative documentation to support their community demographics in a single pdf upload in the Statewide Financial System (SFS). In this context, “authoritative documentation” means any map, report or document issued by a local, state, or federal government agency.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fregionalcouncils.ny.gov%2F&data=05%7C02%7CSusan.Pepe%40dec.ny.gov%7Cca46beec60cb4f80be3b08dc2f38af0a%7Cf46cb8ea79004d108ceb80e8c1c81ee7%7C0%7C0%7C638437167705321933%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=aBcHhVbtxfVmP%2FKDQdhDdIt9HTRJ%2BUtt0IyobJyswSI%3D&reserved=0 https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/environmental-justice/gis-tools https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/environmental-justice/gis-tools https://climate.ny.gov/resources/disadvantaged-communities-criteria/ https://climate.ny.gov/resources/disadvantaged-communities-criteria/ https://climate.ny.gov/resources/disadvantaged-communities-criteria/ https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/dil/index.html?cat=pi https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/environmental-justice/related-policy-regulations https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/environmental-justice/related-policy-regulations

Projects can integrate EJ principles into projects through meaningful and inclusive engagement with affected community members and with place-based projects that address climate equity-related challenges, water quality issues, health disparities, lack of access to green spaces, environmental education, or other such impacts.

Projects that are located within a PEJA or DAC, or projects that provide direct benefits to a PEJA or DAC areas are eligible to receive will “EJ and DAC Benefits” points in the evaluation of a bid, To qualify for “EJ and DAC Benefits” points, your bid must: specify the exact street location(s) where the project is to be implemented (no P.O. Box) or where the benefit will be provided, and provide a summary narrative describing how project activities will benefit populations in PEJA or DAC areas.

• Points for Bidders who do not have open (uncompleted) grants with the Estuary Program

Awarded based on Hudson River Estuary Program records as of the RFA deadline) In order to help new Bidders to receive grants and to encourage speedy completion of grants, points are available for Bidders who do not have an open, uncompleted grant with the Estuary Program. To determine if the Bidder has an open grant or not, a Bidder with an existing grant must have submitted its final report and invoice and have received confirmation of completion by the deadline date for which this RFA is due.

• Community Support Bidders are encouraged to engage public officials in their bid process to generate awareness of the project and its objectives. Bids which demonstrate support from a variety of local, county, or state appointed or elected officials, as evidenced by letters of support uploaded with the bid, will receive points.

15. Expenditure Based Budget Bidders must complete an itemized budget in SFS Grants Management that provides details of the proposed project-related expenses. Budget detail must clearly distinguish between expenses to be claimed under the State grant share and expenses comprising the match. The itemized budget should also include appropriate level of information for the breakdown of costs for each budget item (depending on the budget category this information is provided in the budget detail and/or budget narrative). Eligible and ineligible costs are identified in this RFA. A project’s reasonableness of costs is at least 20% of the evaluation factor in the scoring of the bid; therefore, attention to budget accuracy will increase your project score.

16. Work Plan Bidders must complete a Work Plan in SFS Grants Management that provides a clear overview of the project. Bids must include proposed project objectives, tasks associated with meeting each objective, and the performance measures associated with each task (performance measures should include desired project outcomes or deliverables). The Work Plan should include anticipated time frames in meeting project objectives, tasks and deliverables. Time frames must be consistent with the timeline bidders are required to upload in SFS Grants Management.

17. Sexual Harassment Prevention Certification State Finance Law §139-l requires all bidders of grant funding to certify that they have a written policy addressing sexual harassment prevention in the workplace and provide annual sexual harassment training (that meets the Department of Labor’s model policy and training standards) to all its employees.

Where bidding for grant funding is required pursuant to statute, rule or regulation, every bid submitted to the state or any public department or agency of the state must contain the following statement: “By submission of this bid, each bidder and each person signing on behalf of the bidder certifies, and in the case of a partnering bid each party thereto certifies as to its own organization, under penalty of perjury, that the bidder has and has implemented a written policy addressing sexual harassment prevention in the workplace and provides annual sexual harassment prevention training to all of its employees. Such policy shall, at a minimum, meet the requirements of section two hundred one-g of the labor law.”

Bids that do not contain the certification will not be considered for award; provided however, that if the bidder cannot make the certification, the bidder may provide a signed statement with their bid detailing the reasons why the certification cannot be made. After review and consideration of such statement, the Department may reject the bid or may decide there are sufficient reasons to accept the bid without such certification.

Bidders are required to sign and upload the Sexual Harassment Prevention Certification form or upload a signed statement with their bid detailing the reasons why the certification cannot be provided. The certification form or statement must be signed by an authorized staff of the contractor, and dated after the application start date.

18. Executive Order 16 Executive Order No. 16 provides that “all Affected State Entities are directed to refrain from entering into any new contract or renewing any existing contract with an entity conducting business operations in Russia.” The complete text of Executive Order No. 16 can be found at https://www.governor.ny.gov/executive-order/no-16-prohibiting-state-agencies-and-authorities-contracting-businesses-conducting. The Executive Order remains in effect while sanctions against Russia imposed by the federal government are in effect. Accordingly, vendors who may be excluded from award because of current business operations in Russia are nevertheless encouraged to respond to solicitations to preserve their contracting opportunities in case the sanctions are lifted during a solicitation or even after award in the case of some solicitations. As defined in Executive Order No. 16, an “entity conducting business operations in Russia” means an institution or company, wherever located, conducting any commercial activity in Russia or transacting business with the Russian Government or with commercial entities headquartered in Russia or with their principal place of business in Russia in the form of contracting, sales, purchasing, investment, or any business partnership. Vendors responding to this solicitation are required to complete and submit the form entitled “Certification Under Executive Order No. 16 Prohibiting State Agencies and Authorities from Contracting with Businesses Conducting Business in Russia”.

ALL bidders must download, complete, and save the Executive Order No. 16 Certification form, prior to uploading the completed form back into the GM. The certification form must be signed by an authorized staff of the contractor, and dated after the application start date.

19. Attachment G: Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification State Finance Law §139-m requires bidders on state procurements to certify that they have a written policy addressing gender-based violence and the workplace and have provided such policy to all of its employees,…