NOFO R23AS00353 BASINWIDE & BASIN STATES SALINITY CONTROL PROGRAMS. Revised.pdf

NOFO: R23AS00353

BASINWIDE & BASIN STATES

SALINITY CONTROL PROGRAMS

Notice of Funding Opportunity No. R23AS00353

Upper Colorado Basin Region

(Photo) The Lower Stewart Ditch Salinity Project. Paonia, Colorado

U.S. Department of the Interior

Mission Statements The U.S. Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated Island Communities.

The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.

Synopsis

Federal Agency Name: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Basin

Region Funding Opportunity Title: Colorado River Basinwide & Basin States Salinity Control Programs

Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Funding Opportunity Number:

R23AS00353

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number:

15.509 Title II, Colorado River Basin Salinity Control

Dates: Application due date:

September 27, 2023, 11:59 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)

Eligible Applicants: State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals), Local (includes State-designated lndian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals, Public nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Federally Recognized lndian Tribal Governments, U.S. Territories and possessions (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Individual/Family, Profit organization, Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals).

Recipient Cost Share: Not required but encouraged.

Available Federal Funding: Reclamation may award up to $30-40 million in the Basinwide Program, based on the 2024-2027 budget requests and subject to Federal Appropriations.

Reclamation, using BSP funding, may award up to $5-10 million.

Federal Funding Amount: Reclamation will look to fund as many projects as possible; Each project may not exceed $10 million of Federal Funding. This limit does not apply to any additional cost share funding

Each applicant is limited to a total of $12 million of unspent Reclamation Salinity Funding if the applicant has any multiple project awards, at any one time after award; this includes Salinity Funding that has not yet been spent on any current projects awarded during a previous Funding Opportunity Announcement.

Estimated Number of Agreements to be Awarded:

Application Checklist

The following table contains a summary of the information that you are required to submit with your application.

√ What to submit Submit by

RECOMMENDED:

Recommended Salt Load Reduction Worksheet submitted by: August 11, 2023

Mandatory Federal Forms

● SF424 Application for Federal Assistance

● SF424 A Budget Information for Non-Construction or

SF424 C Budget Information for Construction

● SF424 B Assurances for Non-Construction or

SF424 D Assurances for Construction https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/forms-repository.html

September 27, 2023

Mandatory Project Application Forms September 27, 2023

Part 1 - Project summary Part 2 - Project proposed for funding Part 3 - Projects costs and funding plan

● Appendix A: Detailed Cost Estimates

● Appendix B: Estimate of Enabled On-Farm Acreage

● Appendix C: GIS Project Maps

● Appendix D: Supplemental Data Tables/Other Types of Salinity Control

● Appendix E: Approved Salt Load Reduction Estimate(s)

● Appendix F: Significance Sheet

Signature & Review Letters:

Letter of support September 27, 2023

Official Resolution from company September 27, 2023

RECOMMENDED:

State Representative Signature Letter September 27, 2023

Basin States Salinity Coordinator Concurrence Letter September 27, 2023

Registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) by: August 11, 2023

Registered in Grants.gov; www.grants.gov by: August 11, 2023

The Bureau of Reclamation will offer a webinar to address any questions recipients may have regarding this NOFO. All enquiries must be directed to Autumn Anderson at amanderson@usbr.gov by June 29, 2023.

This will give Reclamation adequate time to address every question during the live webinar.

June 29, 2023

Webinar for Q & A session being held (Details below) July 11, 2023

Applications must be submitted online at www.grants.gov

Deadline: September 27, 2023 @ 11:59 p.m. (MDST)

Point of Contact:

Mrs. Autumn Anderson 125 South State St., Room 8100 Salt Lake City, UT 84138 Phone: (801) 524-3609 E-mail: amanderson@usbr.gov

The Bureau of Reclamation will host a webinar on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, from 10 - 12:00 pm MST to address the Questions submitted on or before June 29, 2023.

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

10:00 AM | (UTC-06:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada) | 2 hrs

Join from the meeting link https://rec.webex.com/rec/j.php?MTID=m0beed3e2812f1f6ca33ed8f2adf67d3c

Join by meeting number

Meeting number (access code): 2763 067 5539

Meeting password: Salinity (72546489 from video systems)

Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)

+1-415-527-5035,,27630675539## US Toll

Join by phone

+1-415-527-5035 US Toll

Global call-in numbers

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Applicant Legal Entity Applying for Funding ARC Application Review Committee AOR Authorized Organization Representatives ASAP Automated Standard Application for Payments BA Biological Assessment Basin Funds Upper Colorado River Basin Fund and Lower

Colorado River Basin Development Fund Basinwide Program Colorado River Basinwide Salinity Control Program BLM Bureau of Land Management BO Biological Opinion BSP Basin States Program CE Categorical Exclusion CEC Categorical Exclusion Checklist CWA Clean Water Act DUNS Data Universal Number System E-Biz POC E-Business Point of Contact EA Environmental Assessment EIN Employer Identification Number EIS Environmental Impact Statement ESA Endangered Species Act of 1973 EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency FOA Federal Opportunity Announcement FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact FOTG Field Office Technical Guide FY Fiscal Year GO Grants Officer GOTR Grants Officer Technical Representative HDPE High-Density Polyethylene HQS Habitat Quality Score IRS Internal Revenue Service LDPE Low-Density Polyethylene MST Mountain Standard Time MOA Memorandum of Agreement NEPA National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 NHPA National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOFO Notice of Funding Opportunity NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NRCS National Resource Conservation Service O&M Operation and Maintenance

OMB Office of Management and Budget PSI Pounds per Square Inch P.L. Public Law PVC Polyvinyl Chloride Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation RCPP Regional Conservation Partnership Program Salinity Control Act Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act, P.L. 93-320 Salinity Funding Funding from the Basinwide Program and/or BSP SAM System for Award Management Secretary Secretary of the Interior Surge Automated Irrigation Method Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SF Standard Form TIN Taxpayer Identification Number THV Total Habitat Value UC Upper Colorado USDA United States Department of Agriculture USGS United States Geological Survey

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Contents

A. Funding Opportunity Description

A.1. Program Information A1.1 Program History A.2. Objective of Notice of Funding Opportunity A.3. Statutory Authority A.4. Other Related Funding Opportunities B.1. Total Project Funding B.2. Project Funding Limitations B.3. Cost-Sharing Requirements B.4 Reclamation Responsibilities B. 5 Other Funding Guidelines B.5 Type of Award

C. Eligibility Information C.1. Eligible Applicants C.1.1 Eligible Projects C.1.2. Ineligible Projects C.1.3 Length of Projects C.1.4 Environmental Compliance

D. Application and Submission Information D.1 Salt Load Reduction Estimates for Proposed Projects D.1.a Recommended Salt Load Reduction Worksheet D.1.b Irrigation-Related Projects

D.1.c. Other Types of Salinity Control (Non-Irrigation)

D.2 Application Delivery Methods D.3 Application Content D.3.1 Application Format and Length

D.3.2 Application Content

D.3.2.1 SF-424 Forms

D.3.3 General Background D.4 Additional Instruction for Application Content D.4.1 Design Standards and Other Considerations for Irrigation-Related Projects

D.4.2 Canal Lining Minimum Construction Criteria

D.4.3 Water Impoundment Structures

D.5 Enable On-Farm Salinity Control Features to be Constructed D.6 Other Types of Salinity Control D.6.1 Estimated Salt Load Reduction Non-Irrigation

D.7 Wildlife Habitat Replacement

E. Application Review Information E.1 Review and Selection Process E1.1 Initial Screening

E. 1.2 Application Review Committee (ARC) Review

E.2 Evaluation Criteria E.2.1 Cost effectiveness (0-40 Points)

E.2.2 Enable On-farm Salinity Control Features to be Constructed (0-30 Points)

E.2.3. Risk Assessment (0-30 Points combined sub-criteria below)

E.3.1 Funding Subject to Appropriation

E.4 Pre-Award Clearances and Approvals E.5 Anticipated Award Dates

E.6 Application Delivery Instructions E.7 Application Submission Deadline E.8 Submission Requirements E.9. Intergovernmental Review E.10. Automated Standard Application for Payments Registration ........ Error!

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E.11 System for Award Management Registration Requirement E.13 Late Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals of Application and

Proposal E.14 Retention/Disposition of Materials

F. Federal Award Administration F.1 Federal Award Notices F 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements F. 2.1. Automated Standard Application for Payments Registration

F.2.2 Environmental and Cultural Resources Compliance

F.2.3. Approvals and Permits

F.2.4. Geospatial Data and Data Tools

F.2.5. Intangible Property (2 CFR §200.315)

F.2.6. Real Property, 2 CFR §200.311

F.2.7 Buy America Domestic Procurement Preference

F.2.8. Cost Share/Match Waiver for Insular Areas

F.3. Reporting Requirements and Distribution F.3.1 Financial Reports

F. 3.2 Interim Performance Reports

F.3.3 Final Performance Report

F.3.4 Sufficiency Report

F. 3.5 Real Property Reports

F. 4 Disclosures F.4.1 Conflict of Interest Disclosures

F.4.2. Other Mandatory Disclosures

F.5 Data Availability (2 CFR §1402.315) F.5.1 Freedom of Information Act

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

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Section A. Funding Opportunity Description

A.1. Program Information

The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program (Salinity Control Program) was designed to meet the objectives of the Colorado River Basin (Basin) Water Quality Standards. These standards include a Plan of Implementation to limit further degradation of water quality in the Colorado River that provides water to Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico.

The objective of the Salinity Control Program has been to minimize salt loading in the Colorado River system by seeking cost-effective regional solutions to the problem.

The Bureau of Reclamation solicits, ranks, and selects new Salinity Control Projects based on a competitive process open to the public. Cooperative agreements are awarded with selected applicants. Projects have typically involved converting unlined canals and ditches to pipelines located in the Upper Basin States of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming to reduce seepage that picks up salt and carries it into the Colorado River system.

A1.1 Program History

Historically, total annual salt loading of the Colorado River measured at Hoover Dam has been approximately 9 million tons. About one-third of the historical salt load was human-induced, originating from irrigation practices, municipal and industrial sources. Due to salinity in the Colorado River water, quantified economic damages to municipal and agricultural water users in the Lower Basin of the Colorado River are currently about $328 million per year. Without the Salinity Control Program, it is estimated that the quantified economic damages would be about $618 million per year.

A.2. Objective of Notice of Funding Opportunity

Reclamation’s UC Region is requesting applications for salinity control projects that reduce salinity contributions to the Colorado River system. Such applications may consist of projects to reduce salinity contributions originating from saline springs, leaking wells, irrigation sources, municipal and industrial sources, erosion of public and private land, or other sources.

Only those irrigation-related projects where salt load reduction values have been supplied by Reclamation, and which reduce salt loading from delivery systems, will be considered, e.g., canals, ditches, or laterals. However, delivery system projects that enable future, on-farm salinity reduction projects will be given a higher rating as detailed in the evaluation criteria. Such on-farm projects should be referred to the USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

In this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), applications will be accepted for projects that request $10 million or less of Reclamation’s Salinity Funding and control significant tons of salt.

Applications will be selected through a competitive process under the evaluation criteria set forth in the NOFO. Applications will be evaluated and ranked by an Application Review Committee (ARC). Reclamation will then proceed to award agreements to the applicants of the highest ranked applications. Starting with those applications with the highest ranking, awards may be made until the anticipated available funding for the next three to four years has been awarded.

Awarded projects are funded each year based on the appropriations received and the priorities of date of award and ranking order.

Applicants who are awarded salinity project funds are required to replace incidental wildlife habitat losses concurrent with construction of the project schedule and to maintain the wildlife habitat for the life of the project, which is fifty (50) years. Reclamation will monitor the habitat projects and meet and communicate with the awarded Applicant on a regular basis over the 50-year maintenance period to help ensure the success of the habitat replacement project.

A.3. Statutory Authority

In June 1974, Congress enacted the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act, Public Law (P.L.) 93-320 (Salinity Control Act), which directed the Secretary of the Interior to proceed with a program to enhance and protect the quality of water available in the Colorado River for use in the United States and Republic of Mexico. In 1975, the Environmental Protection Agency approved water quality standards developed by the seven Colorado River Basin States in response to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972. The standards included numeric criteria for three stations on the main stem of the lower Colorado River (below Hoover Dam, below Parker Dam, and at Imperial Dam) and a Plan of Implementation to control salinity increases.

P.L. 104-20 of July 28, 1995, amended the Salinity Control Act, and authorizes the Secretary, acting through Reclamation, to implement a Colorado River Basinwide Salinity Control Program (Basinwide Program). The Secretary may carry out the purposes of this legislation directly, or make grants, enter contracts, memoranda of agreement, commitments for grants, cooperative agreements, or advances of funds to non-Federal entities under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may require.

The appropriate agreement mechanism will be determined on a case-by-case basis (i.e., grant or cooperative agreement). Throughout the remainder of this document the generic term "agreement" is used to describe the agreement mechanism.

The 1984 amendments to the Salinity Control Act authorized the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to participate in the Salinity Control Program. Although integrated with Reclamation's work, both of these agencies have their own authorities to implement their respective programs. For example, the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is responsible for on-farm irrigation improvements and rangeland improvements on private lands. BLM is responsible for the rangeland management program on BLM lands.

P.L. 110-246 amended the Salinity Control Act, authorized the Basin States Program (BSP), and authorized Reclamation, through the BSP, to take advantage of new, cost-effective opportunities to control salinity anywhere in the Basin. Moneys collected into the Lower Colorado River Basin Development Fund and the Upper Colorado (UC) River Basin Fund (Basin Funds) from a surcharge on power produced at Reclamation facilities are used to control salt by providing grants, grant commitments, or advance funds to Federal or non-Federal entities under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may require. The moneys are used to fund cost effective measures and associated works to reduce salinity from saline springs, leaking wells, irrigation sources, industrial sources, erosion of public and private land, and other sources.

A.4. Other Related Funding Opportunities

The WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects (SWEP) NOFO provides cost-shared financial assistance for construction of small-scale water management projects that have been identified through previous planning efforts of which this WCFSP grant applies. Reclamation has developed a streamlined selection and review process to reflect the small-scale nature of these projects.

For further information on SWEPs, please see WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects Bureau of Reclamation (usbr.gov).

The WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants (WEEG) NOFO provides cost-shared financial assistance for construction of larger water conservation projects resulting in quantifiable and sustained water savings.

For further information on WEEGs, please see WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants Bureau of Reclamation (usbr.gov).

B. Award Information

B.1. Total Project Funding

Reclamation may award up to about $30-40 million in the Basinwide Program.

Reclamation may also award up to about $5-10 million in the BSP.

B.2. Project Funding Limitations

There is a $10 million limit of Salinity Funding, per project for this NOFO. It is also anticipated that no project will receive more than $2 million of funding in any fiscal year (FY). Applicants should not request in a funding plan more than $2 million for any single FY.

In all active Salinity Agreements, no single business may have more than $12 million in combined total unspent Salinity monies (i.e., across several agreements). This includes current projects selected in previous NOFO’s.

Applicants may submit multiple clearly severable applications as they choose under the NOFO, but agreements will not be awarded to an applicant once a total of $12 million of Salinity Funding has been reached.

B.3. Cost-Sharing Requirements

If an entity chooses to help fund their project(s) with additional non-Salinity Funding, this will create a cost share project with two or more non-Federal funding sources. The non-Salinity Funding and the Salinity Funding shall be spent concurrently at the agreed-upon cost share percentage. This cost share percentage will remain in effect for the life of the agreement. If an entity fails to comply with concurrent cost sharing with its non-Salinity Funding, Reclamation will suspend Salinity Funding until funding matches the agreed-upon cost share percentage.

Reclamation retains the right to terminate an agreement for non-compliance. If the project scope can be completed under budget, the scope may be expanded with Reclamation approval. Once approved, the entity may utilize the remaining funding of the agreement for additional features or system improvements that will enhance the efficiency of the project or otherwise further the objectives of the Salinity Control Program. If it is determined that the scope will not be expanded, the savings will be shared according to the agreed-upon cost share percentage.

B.4 Reclamation Responsibilities

Reclamation assistance may be provided to the project sponsor in implementing the project when requested to do so and it is in the best interest of the Government. The cost of this assistance shall be considered a project cost and must be included in the cost estimate in each application.

At the request of the recipient, Reclamation can provide technical assistance after award of the project. If Reclamation’s assistance is received, these costs must be accounted for in the budget.

To discuss assistance available and these costs, please contact the local Reclamation office, which can be identified at http://www.usbr.gov/main/offices.html.

Reclamation may, at its own discretion, provide direct assistance to the project sponsor when the proposed project has other associated indirect benefits of Federal interest (i.e., other water quality or environmental benefits). The cost of this assistance will not be considered a project cost.

B. 5 Other Funding Guidelines

Funding from sources other than the Salinity Program is not required. However, an applicant may want to include funding from other non-Federal funding sources to make their project more competitive. Other funding may be in the form of cash, in-kind contributions, or both from the applicant or third-party partners. Other funding from sources outside the applicant’s organization, e.g., loans or state grants, should be secured and available to the applicant prior to the time of the application. Reclamation may approve an award prior to an applicant securing other funds if Reclamation determines that there is sufficient evidence and likelihood that the funds will be available to the applicant by the start of the project. Funding commitment letters must be submitted in accordance with instructions in D.3.3 Part III – Project Costs and Funding Plan.

B. 6 In-Kind Contributions

In-kind contributions constitute the value of non-cash contributions that benefit a federally assisted project. These contributions may be in the form of real property, equipment, supplies, and other expendable property, as well as the value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the project or program. The cost or value of in-kind contributions that have been or will be relied on to satisfy a cost-sharing or matching requirement for another Federal financial assistance agreement, a Federal procurement contract, or any other award of Federal funds may not be claimed as other funding in the application.

1. Claiming Features and Projects Already Constructed as Other Funding

Applicants may not claim features and associated salt control for projects previously constructed or that are already under agreement to be funded by another program as other funding in their application. This includes projects not contingent on being selected for Salinity Program funding.

2. Indirect Costs

You may include indirect costs that will be incurred during the development or construction of a Project, which will not otherwise be recovered, as part of your Project budget. Show the proposed rate, cost base, and proposed amount for allowable indirect costs based on the applicable cost principles for your organization. It is not acceptable to simply incorporate indirect rates within other direct cost line items.

If you have never received a Federal negotiated indirect cost rate, your budget may include a de minimis rate of up to 10 percent of modified total direct costs. For further information on modified total direct costs, refer to 2 CFR§200.1.

If you do not have a federally approved indirect cost rate agreement and is proposing a rate greater than the de minimis 10 percent rate, include the computational basis for the indirect expense pool and corresponding allocation base for each rate. Information on “Preparing and Submitting Indirect Cost Proposals” is available from the Department’s Interior Business Center, Office of Indirect Cost Services, at https://ibc.doi.gov/ICS/icrna.

If the proposed project is selected for award, the successful applicant will be required to submit an indirect cost rate proposal with their cognizant agency within 3 months of award. The Federal awarding agency that provides the largest amount of direct funding to your organization is your cognizant agency for indirect costs, unless otherwise assigned by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If the Department of the Interior (DOI) is your organization’s cognizant agency, the Interior Business Center (IBC) will negotiate your indirect cost rate.

Contact the IBC by phone 916-930-3803 or email at ICS@ibc.doi.gov. Visit their website https://ibc.doi.gov/ICS/icrna, for information regarding email submission forms.

Organizations must have an active Federal award before they can submit an indirect cost rate proposal to their cognizant agency. Failure to establish an approved rate during the award period renders all costs otherwise allocable as indirect costs unallowable under the award. Recipients may not shift unallowable indirect costs to another Federal award unless specifically authorized to do so by legislation.

3. Budget Narrative

Submission of a budget proposal is mandatory. The total project cost is the sum of all allowable items of costs, including all required cost sharing and voluntary committed cost sharing, including third-party contributions, that are necessary to complete the project. Denote in-kind contributions with an asterisk (*).Unit costs must be provided for all budget items including the cost of services or other work to be provided by consultants and contractors. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the procurement standards for Federal awards found at 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §200.317 through §200.326 before developing their budget proposal.

Failure to submit a budget proposal will result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

(1) General Requirements: Include a budget with the annual estimated project costs and an estimate of any out-year costs associated with the project. Include the value of in-kind contributions of goods and services and sources of funds provided to complete the project. The application must clearly delineate between Reclamation and applicant contributions.

(2) Budget Format: The budget must include detailed information on the categories listed in the table at Appendix A on the Application (Although not required, it is strongly advised that applicants use the budget format shown in Appendix A in the 2023 NOFO Project Application.). Unit costs shall be provided for all budget items, including the cost of work to be provided by contractors. Lump sum costs are not acceptable in any category.

Additionally, applicants shall include a narrative description of the items included in the budget.

(3) Budget Narrative Format: Submission of a budget narrative is mandatory. An award will not be made to any applicant who fails to fully disclose this information. The Budget Narrative provides a discussion of, or explanation for, items included in the budget application. An applicant must provide a basis for and detailed support for each cost element, i.e., did the rate come from quotes; historical documentation modeling; an engineer estimate; or some other methodology? If the application is selected, supporting documentation will be required.

Below is a sample of what Reclamation uses to review budgets. Please provide as much detail as possible.

Budget Pricing Guide/Template

The following estimating techniques may be used;

Competition: Bid abstracts for similar work on previous projects Comparison to historic pricing Comparison to published prices Market research

Some or all the following cost element information may apply:

Labor: does the budget contain the following as applicable?

The kind of employee that will be working on the project (job classification/description such as engineer, laborer, program manager).

The amount of time each person will be working. This can be several hours, days, weeks, percentage of a year, etc.

The wages paid to the employee. This can be an hourly rate, daily rate, annual salary, etc. to correspond to the measure of the time budgeted but does not include fringe or other indirect rates.

Supporting documentation for the budgeted rate. This can be payroll records identifying the individual or labor category.

Fringe Benefits and Payroll Additives:

If labor costs are budgeted:

What is the fringe benefit rate or dollar amount?

Supporting documentation such as negotiated rates or agreements, qualified CPA recommendation or the actual compilation of the poll and base costs for Reclamation evaluation.

Equipment (To meet the definition of equipment, property must have a useful life of more than a year and an acquisition cost of more than $5,000 per unit. If the present value is more than $5,000 but doesn’t have a useful life of at least a year, it wouldn’t be classified as equipment, it will be considered as materials.):

If equipment costs are budgeted:

The kind of equipment that will be used on the project (type, model, size, etc.)?

The amount of time each type of equipment will be working. This can be several hours, days, weeks, percentage of a year, etc.

The rate for the equipment. This can be an hourly, daily, annual, etc. to correspond to the measure of the time.

Is the equipment owned or rented? Reimbursement for use of owned equipment must be based upon the actual cost to the recipient for the operation and use of the equipment, not on rental rates. If ownership rates are not available, Corp of Engineer recommended rates should be used.

Is there standby time included?

(Notes: Reimbursement for use of owned equipment must be based upon the actual cost to the recipient for the operation and use of the equipment, not on rental rates. Also, standby costs need to be identified and standby rates supported in the same manner. No operating costs are allowed for standby.)

Material:

If material costs are budgeted:

What items are being purchased, i.e. a description of the items.

Quantity of each.

Unit cost of the items.

Consolidated Bill of Materials

Contingency:

Applications may include contingency on budget, provide backup documentation and must comply with CFR: 200.433 Contingency provisions.

Audits:

A Single Audit may be required for non-Federal entity’s receiving Federal funds. (see reference below. This cost can be reimbursed with Federal funds.)

2CFR §200.501 Audit requirements.

(a) Audit required. A non-Federal entity that expends $750,000 or more during the non-Federal entity's fiscal year in Federal awards must have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of this part.

Other Direct Costs:

Other direct costs are anything that is not labor, fringe benefits, equipment, material, or overhead. Examples could include supplies, room rental, advertising, internet access, copy costs, telephone use, and travel.

What the purpose is for the cost?

What the basis is for the cost in the budget, i.e., how did the requestor come up with the dollar amount for the item?

Is there enough information to duplicate the calculation of the amount?

Subcontracts:

Did the recipient provide supporting documentation for the subcontract costs determining them to be fair and reasonable? This includes engineering and project management contracts (The budget information needed for subcontractors is identical to the information needed for the recipient. The recipient should have used the same guidance for each cost element budgeted for the subcontractor as would be for the recipient.)

(4) Budget Form: In addition to the above-described budget information, the applicant must complete an SF-424 A/C, Budget Information. This form is available at SF-424 Forms

B.5 Type of Award

Awards will be made through grants or cooperative agreements. If a cooperative agreement is awarded, the recipient should expect Reclamation to have substantial involvement in the project.

Substantial involvement by Reclamation may include:

Collaboration and participation with the recipient in the management of the project and close oversight of the recipient’s activities to ensure that the project objectives are being achieved.

Oversight may include review, input, and approval at key interim stages of the project.

Section C. Eligibility Information

C.1. Eligible Applicants Colorado River Basinwide Salinity Control Program (Basinwide Program)

Submitted by a legal entity that is the owner or operator of the features to be replaced and/or to be constructed and capable of contracting with Reclamation.

Basin States Program (BSP)

Submitted by a legal entity that is the owner or operator of the features to be replaced and/or to be constructed and capable of contracting with Reclamation.

Applications must:

Propose projects that are located in the Colorado River Basin above Hoover Dam.

Be responsive to the NOFO requirements.

Only use proven technology.

Not be of a nature that creates undue financial risk for Reclamation.

Be in an area where salt load can be provided.

Provide sufficient pressure and appropriate velocity where topography enables it to allow for the future installations of on-farm improvements (i.e. sprinkler systems).

Projects with Two or More Entities Involved in One Application.

Two or more separate legal entities may combine ditch systems or projects to create one cost effective project(s). The legal entities involved in creating this project may create a new legal entity together or, and this is recommended, choose a lead entity to contract with Reclamation for the project, if selected for award. The entities must draft a memorandum of agreement (MOA), which states that each entity is aware of the laws and processes that pertain to the award. If awarded an agreement, this MOA and legal arrangement must remain in place for fifty

(50) years.

C.1.1 Eligible Projects

The project being proposed is in the Colorado River Basin above Hoover Dam.

The project being proposed must be responsive to the NOFO requirements.

C.1.2. Ineligible Projects

A project that:

Total requests more than $12 million in Salinity funding.

Requires more than 5 years for completion (Reclamation does not allow Agreements longer than 5 years).

Uses unproven technology.

Creates undue financial risk for Reclamation.

Has had an Applicant and/or an Engineering Firm that have shown poor historical performance on past salinity projects, based on risk assessment criteria.

Has a habitat replacement that is not in compliance, based on the requirements of a previously awarded agreement.

Foregoes the opportunity to enable future on-farm sprinkler irrigation systems.

Claims tons of salt from:

- A feature or project previously constructed or a project currently under construction.

- A feature or project already obligated to be funded by another program and that is not contingent upon receiving Salinity Funding.

C.1.3 Length of Projects

It is recommended and to Applicant’s advantage that the projects be completed with-in 2 to 4 years from the start date. If needed a No Cost Time Extension can be requested.

C.1.4 Environmental Compliance

All awarded agreements will require compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) before any ground disturbing activity may begin. Compliance with all applicable Federal, state, and local environmental, cultural resource, and paleontological resource protection laws and regulations is also required. These may include, but are not limited to, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), consultation with potentially affected tribes, and consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office.

Reclamation will be the lead Federal agency for NEPA compliance and will be responsible for evaluating technical information and ensuring that natural and cultural resources and socioeconomic concerns are appropriately addressed. As the lead agency, Reclamation will give the Applicant a final approval in NEPA and cultural resources compliances. Environmental and cultural resources compliance costs are part of an applicant’s budget. These costs will be considered in the ranking of the applications as part of the overall cost effectiveness of the project.

Section D. Application and Submission Information

D.1 Recommended Salt Load Reduction Estimates for Proposed Projects

All applications for Salinity Control Projects must obtain salt load reduction estimates prior to submission of the application. To obtain salt load reduction estimates the recommended Salt Load Reduction Worksheet or information from this worksheet must be submitted to the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program Manager with a copy to the appropriate Reclamation Technical Contact (see section G for specific contact information).

D.1.a Recommended Salt Load Reduction Worksheet

The recommended Salt Load Reduction Worksheet can be downloaded from the website at http://www.usbr.gov/uc/progact/salinity/index.html. Instructions for completing and submitting the recommended Salt Load Reduction Worksheet are included with the document. Questions regarding the recommended Salt Load Reduction Worksheet should be directed to the appropriate Reclamation Technical Contact.

Applicants are encouraged to submit the recommended Salt Load Reduction Worksheet as early as possible following the release of the NOFO, especially if applicants anticipate submitting a revised version of the recommended Salt Load Reduction Worksheet.

Applicants should submit completed recommended Salt Load Reduction Worksheets or information requested on the worksheet to bor-sha-uc-foasaltloadreduction@usbr.gov. For each Salinity Control Project, applicants will be allowed no more than two submissions of the recommended Salt Load Reduction Worksheet. Applicants should be aware that submittals may require twenty (20) or more calendar days to process.

Final submissions of recommended Salt Load Reduction Worksheet must be received by Reclamation no later than August 11, 2023 at bor-sha-uc-foasaltloadreduction@usbr.gov.

Salt load reduction estimates will be provided to the applicant in an email from Reclamation’s UC Regional Office.

D.1.b Irrigation-Related Projects

For irrigation-related projects the salt load reduction estimates will be determined from Reclamation, NRCS, or United States Geological Survey (USGS) salinity studies of agricultural areas. These estimates will only be provided for agricultural areas where a completed study is available. Reclamation does not have the capability to provide salt load reduction estimates for agricultural areas where Reclamation, NRCS, or USGS salinity studies have not been completed.

Salt load reduction estimates may be available for the following agricultural areas. Also see Figure 1 and Figure 2 for maps of approximate locations of these agricultural areas. Check with the appropriate local Reclamation Technical Contact (see Section G) for the availability of salt load reduction estimates in each area.

Colorado:

● Grand Valley Unit, which includes the majority of the Grand Valley in the vicinity of Grand Junction, Colorado, with the exception of the Redlands area.

● Lower Gunnison Basin Unit, which includes agricultural lands within the Gunnison River basin, including its tributaries, below Morrow Point Dam, with the exception of some limited areas tributary to the Uncompahgre River.

● McElmo Creek Unit, which includes agricultural lands within the McElmo Creek and

Navajo Wash basins in southwestern Colorado.

● Mancos Valley, which includes agricultural lands within the Mancos River basin in southwestern Colorado.

● DeBeque study area, which is located near the town of DeBeque, Colorado, and includes agricultural lands located along the Colorado River corridor and along portions of Roan Creek.

● Whitewater and Kannah Creek study area, which is adjacent to the lower Gunnison River near the town of Whitewater, Colorado, and includes agricultural lands located in lowland mesas and stream valleys of Whitewater, Kannah, and Callow Creek.

● Silt study area, which is located near the town of Silt, Colorado, and is an area roughly defined as being bordered by the Colorado River, Colorado State Highway 325, and the south side of the Grand Hogback, and Garfield County Road 235, just east of Silt.

New Mexico:

● Navajo Portion of the San Juan Unit, New Mexico, including the Hogback, Fruitland, and Gadii’ahi projects.

Utah:

● Price-San Rafael Rivers Unit, which includes agricultural lands within the Price and San Rafael River basins in east-central Utah.

● Uinta Basin study areas including Ashley Valley, Utah.

● Muddy Creek Unit, which is near the town of Emery, Utah, and includes agricultural lands located in the Muddy Creek watershed north of Interstate 70.

● Manila-Washam project area, which is located near the towns of Manila, Utah, and

Washam, Wyoming, and includes agricultural lands within Lucerne Valley, South Valley, Antelope Hollow, Green River, and along Henry’s Fork.

● Green River project area, which includes agricultural lands located near the town of

Green River, Utah.

Wyoming:

● Big Sandy River near the towns of Farson and Eden, Wyoming, including agricultural lands served by the Eden Project.

● West Blacks Fork, which includes agricultural lands along the Blacks Fork River upstream of its confluence with the Smith Fork River and near the towns of Fort Bridger, Lyman, and along Henry’s Fork in Wyoming.

If the proposed project does not fall within one of these previously studied areas, salt load reduction estimates cannot be provided at this time, and the application will be deemed ineligible. However, if an organization has interest in pursuing the piping or lining of off-farm canals and ditches in such areas, please contact the appropriate local Reclamation Technical

Contact, located in Section G of the NOFO, to discuss the possibility of future studies, which could lead to participation in the Salinity Control Program.

D.1.c. Other Types of Salinity Control (Non-Irrigation)

Applications for other types of salinity control will be accepted for evaluation. All applications for other types of salinity control must obtain salt load reduction estimates from Reclamation prior to submission of the application. See Section D.1.for instructions on submitting the recommended Salt Load Reduction Worksheet.

Figure 1

Figure 2

D.2 Application Delivery Methods

Under no circumstance will proposals be accepted by email or facsimile.

Electronic Submittal via Grants.gov - Grants.gov is an internet website that can be used to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. In order to electronically submit an application, you must complete the Grants.gov registration process. The registration process can take approximately 7-21 days to be completed; therefore, registration should be done in a sufficient amount of time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines.

You will be able to submit your application online any time after you receive your e-authentication credentials. When submitting through the grants.gov website, submit only one original. For more information regarding applying via Grants.gov, please visit the “Get Registered” and “Apply for Grants” links at www.grants.gov.

Applicants have sometimes experienced significant delays when attempting to submit through Grants.gov. If you plan to use Grants.gov, you are encouraged to submit your application several days before the application deadline. If you are a properly registered Grants.gov applicant, and you encounter problems with the Grants.gov submission process, you must contact the Grants.gov Help desk to obtain a “Case Number.” This Case Number will provide evidence of your attempt to submit an application before the submission deadline.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring their applications are accepted and received by Grants.gov by the established due date of September 27, 2023 @ 11:59 p.m. (MDST).

D.3 Application Content

Each applicant shall submit an application in accordance with the instructions contained in this section. The application must contain the following elements in order to be considered complete.

D.3.1 Application Format and Length

The Project Application section shall be limited to a maximum of twenty (20) pages. All required forms and letters as well as required appendices are not counted as part of the 20-page limit.

Applications will be screened for compliance to the page number limitations. If a Project Application exceeds 20 pages excluding appendices, it shall be deemed non-responsive and will not proceed to the merit review process.

D.3.2 Application Content

The application must include the following elements in order to be considered complete:

● SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance

● SF-424 A and B, or C and D Forms

● Signature Letters

● Project Application (limited to twenty [20] pages excluding appendices) to include (all are required):

o Part I - Project summary o Part II - Project proposed for funding o Part III - Project costs and funding plan o Appendices A through E as applicable to the project

● Commitment Letter(s) for Cost Share funding (if applicable) Funding must be secure at time of application.

● Letters of project support (if applicable)

● Official resolution (to be provided by the Applicant) (required)

D.3.2.1 SF-424 Forms

SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance.

A fully completed SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance signed by a person legally authorized to commit the applicant to performance of the project must be submitted with the application. The SF-424 must contain a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). See D.3 for additional information. Applications that fail to include an SF-424 with a valid UEI will be considered ineligible and will not pass initial screening.

Failure to submit a signed SF-424 with a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number will result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

SF-424A or SF-424C Budget Information Form.

A fully completed SF-424A/SF-424C Budget Information must be submitted with the application.

Failure to submit an SF-424A or SF-424C will result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

SF-424B or SF-424D Assurances Form.

A SF-424B Assurances for Non-Construction Programs signed by a person legally authorized to commit the applicant to performance of the project must be submitted with the application.

Failure to submit a signed SF-424B will result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

OMB 4040-0013 Certification Regarding Lobbying A fully completed and signed Certification Regarding Lobbying is required if you request more than $100,000 in Federal funding. In signing this form, you must certify that all statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying are true. The Authorized Official’s signature represents the entity’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A.

Failure to submit a signed Certification Regarding Lobbying will result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

Failure to submit all properly signed SF 424 Forms may result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

D.3.3 General Background

Applicant Review Signature Page This is required to be signed by the person designated to represent the company, district, ditch or irrigation company, e.g., president or chairman. This signed page indicates that the person representing the applicant has reviewed the application and concurs that it meets the needs and objectives of his/her company, district, ditch, or Irrigation Company.

Basin State Salinity Coordinator Concurrence Letter It is encouraged that each application be reviewed by the appropriate Basin State Salinity Coordinator and a Concurrence Letter signed by the coordinator be submitted with the application. The name of the appropriate Basin State Salinity Coordinator can be found in (see Section G). This letter may give the application additional consideration if it is done correctly.

State Representative Signature Letter It is highly recommended, yet not required, for each applicant to have his/hers Project Application reviewed by his/her state Representative. Reclamation recommends this letter to help the applicant reduce Project Risks.

Step 1: It is encouraged that the project sponsor and project engineer have a preliminary consultation with the State Representative (see Section G) to discuss project formulation.

Step 2: Before requesting the letter of recommendation, the project sponsor and the project engineer should submit a preliminary engineering design and cost estimates to the State Representative. The State Representative will make a courtesy review within seven (7) to fourteen (14) days. After the review the State Representative will issue a letter of recommendation if appropriate.

Project Application must be prepared using the required electronic template provided by Reclamation. The application template is a Microsoft® Word document that can be downloaded the www.grants.gov NOFO package number R23AS00353.

Applicants must provide all information as requested in the Project Application template.

Responses must be entered in the space provided except for maps, tables, and other information, which should be provided in the appropriate appendix per instructions. Where information is not applicable, please enter “NA” as the response. The following describes the content of the Project Application and includes instructions for completing the application.

Title Page (Optional) Provide the project name, project location, name of the applicant, and date the application was prepared on the title page included in the required electronic template.

Table of Contents (Optional) The contents of the Project Application shall be provided in the…