NOFO R24AS00016.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity No. R24AS00016

Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects

U.S. Department of the Interior September 2023

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; 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.

Cover Photo – Yuma Desalting Plant in Yuma, Arizona (Bureau of Reclamation)

Synopsis

Federal Agency Name: United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Research and Development Office

Funding Opportunity Title: Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects

Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Funding Opportunity Number: R24AS00016

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:

15.506

Dates:

(See NOFO section D.4)

Application due date:

November 15, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST)

Eligible Applicants:

(See NOFO section C.1)

Applicants eligible to receive financial assistance to fund activities under this NOFO include: state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, Native American tribal governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, individuals, and for profit organizations.

Foreign entities are not eligible to apply. Federal agencies are not eligible to apply.

Recipient Cost Share:

(See NOFO section C.2)

For institutions of higher education, non-Federal cost share is not required but highly encouraged.

All other applicants must provide at least a 50-percent non-Federal cost share.

Federal Funding Amount:

(See NOFO section B.1)

Approximately $2,000,000 is available for this NOFO. The final amount of Federal funding available for award under this NOFO will be determined once final fiscal year 2024 appropriations have been made.

Funding Group I – Laboratory-Scale Projects. Up to $250,000 per award for a project that can be completed within 2 years.

Funding Group II – Pilot-Scale Projects. Up to $800,000 per award for a project that can be completed within 3 years.

Estimated Number of Agreements to be Awarded:

(See NOFO section B.1)

The Bureau of Reclamation anticipates awarding approximately 4 to 10 projects contingent upon available Federal appropriations.

It is expected that more awards will be made for Funding Group I – Laboratory- Scale Projects than for Funding Group II – Pilot-Scale Projects.

Intergovernmental Review:

(See NOFO section D.5)

This NOFO is subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” A list of States that have elected to participate in the intergovernmental review process can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf

This page is intentionally left blank.

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

Mandatory Application Components: Required content Page

Mandatory Federal Forms:

• SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance (Office of

Management and Budget [OMB])

• SF-424A: Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs (OMB)

• SF-424B: Assurances - Non-Construction Programs (OMB)

• OMB Form 4040-0019: Project Abstract Summary

See section D.2.2.1 12

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) registration

See section D.3 19

Technical Proposal (Used Project Narrative Attachment Form to upload in grants.gov)

See section D.2.2.2 13

Project Budget (Use Budget Narrative Attachment Form to upload in grants.gov)

See section. D.2.2.3 16

Recommended Application Components: Required content Page

Environmental and cultural resources compliance See section D.2.2.4 17

Personnel Qualifications See section D.2.2.5 17

Required permits or approvals See section D.2.2.6 17

Overlap or duplication of effort statement See section D.2.2.7 17

Conflict of interest disclosure statement See section D.2.2.8 18

Uniform audit reporting statement See section D.2.2.9 18

SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) (OMB) See section D.2.2.10 19

Letters of support See section D.2.2.11 19

Acronyms and Abbreviations

ARC Application Review Committee ASAP Automated Standard Application for Payments

CE Categorical Exclusion CEC Categorical Exclusion Checklist CFR Code of Federal Regulations CWA Clean Water Act

Department U.S. Department of the Interior (also DOI) DWPR Desalination and Water Purification Research Program

EA Environmental Assessment EIN Employer Identification Number EIS Environmental Impact Statement E.O. Executive Order ESA Endangered Species Act

FAIN Federal Award Identification Number FGDC Federal Geospatial Data Committee FOIA Freedom of Information Act FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact FY Fiscal Year

GIS Geographic Information Systems

IBC Interior Business Center

MST Mountain Standard Time

NAICS North American Industry Classification System NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NHPA National Historic Preservation Act NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOFO Notice of Funding Opportunity

OMB Office of Management and Budget

P.L. Public Law PSC Product Service Code QA/QC Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation

SAM System for Award Management SF Standard Form SPOC Single Point of Contact

TRL Technology Readiness Level

UEI Unique Entity Identifier U.S.C. United States Code USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service

WIIN Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act

Symbols

% percent

§ section(s)

Contents

Page

Section A: Program Description

A.1 Authority A.2 Background and Program Requirements A.3 Notice of Funding Opportunity Purpose and Objectives A.4 Program Requirements A.5 Other Related Funding Opportunities

Section B: Federal Award Information

B.1 Total Funding B.2 Expected Award Amount B.3 Expected Award Funding and Anticipated Dates B.4 Number of Awards B.5 Type of Award B.6 Technical Assistance

Section C: Eligibility Information

C.1 Eligible Applicants C.2 Ineligible Applicants C.3 Cost-Sharing or Matching Requirements C.4 Other C.5 Eligible Projects C.6 Ineligible Projects

Section D: Application and Submission Information

D.1 Address to Request Application Package D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission

D.2.1 Application Format and Length D.2.2 Application Content

D.3 Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) D.3.1 Register with the System for Award Management (SAM) D.3.2 Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number D.3.3 Maintain an Active SAM Registration and UEI Number

D.4 Submission Date and Time D.4.1 Application Delivery Instructions D.4.2 Instructions for Submitting the Project Application

D.5 Intergovernmental Review D.6 Funding Restrictions

D.6.1 Pre-award Costs D.6.2 Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Costs D.6.3 Indirect Costs i

Section E: Application Review Information E.1 Evaluation Criteria ......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

E.1.1 Evaluation Criterion A: Impact of the Proposed Work E.1.2 Evaluation Criterion B: Readiness Level E.1.3 Evaluation Criterion C: Familiarity in the Field of Work E.1.4 Evaluation Criterion D: Novelty of Work Approach E.1.5 Evaluation Criterion E. Relationship to DWPR Objectives E.1.6 Evaluation Criterion F: Team Qualifications E.1.7 Evaluation Criterion G. Schedule and Quality Assurance/Quality Control E.1.8 Evaluation Criterion H: Non-Federal Cost Share

E.2 Review and Selection Process E.2.1 Initial Screening E.2.2 Application Review Committee E.2.3 Red-Flag Review E.2.4 Managerial Review E.2.5 Pre-Award Clearances and Approvals

E.3 Federal Award Performance Integrity

Section F: Federal Award Administration Information 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 Interim Technical Reports F.3.5 Final Technical Report F.3.6 Project Presentation F.3.7 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 Data Publication F.5.2 Freedom of Information Act ii

Section G: Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) G.1 Reclamation Financial Assistance Contact G.2 Reclamation Program Coordinator Contact

Section H: Other Information H.1 Environmental and Cultural Resource Considerations

H.1.1 National Environmental Policy Act H.1.2 National Historic Preservation Act

H.2 Endangered Species Act iii

Section A: Program Description

A.1 Authority This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is issued under the authority of the Reclamation Act of 1902, §1 and 2, and the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, Public Law (P.L.) 111-11, §9509, “Research Agreement Authority.”

A.2 Background and Program Requirements The United States Department of the Interior (Department), Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) Desalination and Water Purification Research Program (DWPR) works with Reclamation researchers and partners to develop innovative, cost-effective, and technologically efficient ways to desalinate and treat water.

DWPR funding plays a critical role in iterating an idea from the lab to a real-world demonstration, yielding products that serve the water treatment community and attract commercialization interest. Reclamation is interested in research where the benefits are widespread but where private-sector entities are not able to make the full investment and assume all the risks. Reclamation is also interested in research that has a national significance—where the issues are of large-scale concern and the benefits accrue to a large sector of the public.

The goal of the DWPR program is to address the need to reduce the costs, energy requirements, and environmental impacts of treating impaired and unusable water. The program also aligns with Executive Order (E.O.) 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” by investing in development and application of advanced water treatment technologies that expand access to otherwise unusable water resources, thereby increasing water supply flexibility under the risks of long-term climate change and shorter-term drought.

For further information on the DWPR Program, see www.usbr.gov/research/dwpr.

A.3 Notice of Funding Opportunity Purpose and Objectives The goal of the DWPR Program is to increase water supplies by reducing the cost, energy consumption, and environmental impacts of treating impaired and otherwise unusable waters.

This DWPR Research NOFO invites applicants to address any of the following objectives:

• Develop or improve process or approaches to reduce the cost, energy consumption, feasibility, and/or environmental impacts of desalination and water treatment http://www.usbr.gov/research/dwpr

• Improve existing membrane technologies, including reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, nanofiltration, membrane filtration, and pretreatment processes

• Carry out basic and applied research on next-generation desalination technologies, including improved energy recovery systems and renewable energy-powered desalination systems

• Develop cost-effective approaches for concentrate management that address feasibility, cost, and/or environmental impacts

• Develop technologies or processes for the selective removal of nutrients and other target contaminants

• Study methods for the recovery of byproducts resulting from desalination to offset the costs of treatment and to reduce environmental impacts from those byproducts

• Develop improved intake/outfall methods at coastal facilities to minimize marine environment impacts such as impingement of larger organisms, entrainment of smaller ones, and impacts to benthic communities

• Develop a better understanding of pathogen removal efficiencies and the variability of performance in various unit processes and multibarrier treatment and develop ways to optimize these processes

• Identify better indicators and surrogates to monitor process performance in desalination and reuse scenarios and develop online real-time or near real-time analytical monitoring techniques for their measurement

• Develop a better understanding of the formation of hazardous and other transformation products during water treatment for reuse and ways to minimize or remove them

• Improve the detection, characterization, monitoring, and separation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and other contaminants of concern

• Develop new technologies or processes for the destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

A.4 Program Requirements The funds provided through this NOFO will be available for selected recipients to conduct water treatment related research. Reclamation’s Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and the Water Quality Improvement Center in Yuma, Arizona, may be available if a location for testing is needed.

Section A: Program Description

A.5 Other Related Funding Opportunities Reclamation provides funding for other related projects through several other programs under WaterSMART and the Desalination and Water Purification Research Program (DWPR):

• DWPR Pitch to Pilot: Through this NOFO, funding is available for recipients to design, construct, install, and test a pilot-scale process at an already k nown location using a real water source. See www.usbr.gov/research/dwpr/index.html

• Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program: Through this NOFO, funding is available for projects to applying commercially available water reclamation and reuse technologies. See www.usbr.gov/watersmart/title/index.html.

• WaterSMART: Desalination Construction Projects Under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act: Through this NOFO, funding is available for planning, design, and construction of desalination projects eligible under Section 4009(a) of the WIIN Act. See www.usbr.gov/watersmart/desalination/index.html.

• WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning: Through this NOFO, funding is available for planning and pre-construction activities to facilitate project development and to provide assistance with the preparation of water recycling and desalination feasibility studies. See www.usbr.gov/watersmart/desalination/index.html.

https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/ https://www.usbr.gov/research/dwpr/ http://www.usbr.gov/research/dwpr/index.html http://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/title/index.html http://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/desalination/index.html http://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/desalination/index.html

Section B: Federal Award Information

B.1 Total Funding Approximately $2,000,000 is available for this NOFO, with per-project limits as described in Section B.2. Expected Award Amount. Reclamation will determine the final amount of Federal funding available for award under this NOFO once final fiscal year (FY) 2024 appropriations have been made. This NOFO may be canceled if appropriations are insufficient to support new awards. Applications submitted under this NOFO may also be considered if other Federal funding becomes available in or after FY 2024.

B.2 Expected Award Amount Maximum award for Funding Group I: $250,000

Maximum award for Funding Group II: $800,000

Minimum award: No minimum award amount

The maximum award amount in Federal funds may be awarded to an applicant over the project period. See Section C.3. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirements for cost share information.

B.3 Expected Award Funding and Anticipated Dates Anticipated Award Date: 09/30/24

Reclamation expects to contact potential award recipients and unsuccessful applicants in March 2024 (or later if necessary), subject to the timing of final fiscal year 2024 appropriations.

Anticipated Project Completion Date for Funding Group I: September 30, 2026

Anticipated Project Completion Date for Funding Group II: September 30, 2027

B.4 Number of Awards Approximately four to ten awards, depending on the amount requested by each applicant and the amount of Federal funding available will be awarded under this NOFO.

B.5 Type of Award Project awards will be made through cooperative agreements. Under cooperative agreements, the successful applicant should expect Reclamation to have substantial involvement in the project:

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

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

B.6 Technical Assistance At your request, Reclamation can provide technical assistance after award of the project. If you receive Reclamation’s assistance, you must account for these costs in your budget. To discuss available assistance and these costs, contact the program coordinator identified in Section G.

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s).

Section C: Eligibility Information

C.1 Eligible Applicants Applicants eligible to receive an award to fund include:

• State governments

• County governments

• City or township governments

• Special district governments

• Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)

• Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized)

• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education

• Private institutions of higher education

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

• Individuals

• For profit organization other than small businesses

• Small businesses

• Others (excluding those identified as ineligible in Section C.2 Ineligible Applicants)

C.2 Ineligible Applicants Applicants ineligible to receive an award include:

• Federal Governmental entities

• Foreign entities

C.3 Cost-Sharing or Matching Requirements A non-Federal cost share of at least 50-percent is required for all applicants that are not designated as an institution of higher education. For institutions of higher education, non-Federal cost share is not required but is highly encouraged (see Section E.1.8 Evaluation Criterion H.

Non-Federal Cost Share).

Cost sharing may be made through direct cash contributions, third-party in-kind contributions, or combinations thereof. It is highly recommended that applicants consider identifying in their application any non-Federal cost share if applicable. Note that cost share amounts will be verified for projects considered for funding. If the reported cost share cannot be verified, funding for the project may be subject to change or delay. As such, it is strongly recommended that reported cost share complies with requirements and regulations found in this section and its sub-sections.

See Section D.2.2.3. Project Budget for information on reporting cost share funding in your application. All cost-share contributions must meet the applicable administrative and cost principles criteria established in 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200.

Cost share funding from sources outside the applicant’s organization (e.g., loans or state grants) should be secured and available to the applicant prior to award. Other sources of Federal funding may not be counted towards cost share. The exception to this requirement is where the Federal statute authorizing a program specifically provides that Federal funds made available for such program can be applied to matching or cost sharing requirements of other Federal programs, such as awards to tribal organizations under P.L. 93-638, as amended. If it is determined that the Federal funding cannot be applied towards the non-Federal cost share, the work associated with the funding may be removed from the proposed project.

Third-party contributions may be in the form of equipment, supplies, and other expendable property, as well as the value of services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the proposed Project. The cost or value of third-party 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 relied on to satisfy the cost-share requirement for an award under this NOFO. Applicants should refer to 2 CFR §200.434 Contributions and donations for regulations regarding the valuation of third-party in-kind contributions.

C.4 Other Reclamation conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award and ineligibility condition apply to this Federal program. If entities or key project personnel are identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits, Reclamation cannot award funds to them.

https://sam.gov/content/exclusions https://sam.gov/content/exclusions

Section C: Eligibility Information

C.5 Eligible Projects Applicants can apply for two categories of projects under this NOFO:

• Funding Group I – Laboratory-Scale Projects. Laboratory-scale projects are typically bench-scale studies involving small flow rates. These projects are used to determine the viability of a novel process, new materials, or process modifications. Funding Group I projects can also include modeling studies, decision support tools, literature and technology reviews, etc. that address objectives identified in Section A.3 Notice of Funding Opportunity Purpose and Objectives. Research at this stage often involves a high degree of risk and uncertainty.

• Funding Group II – Pilot-Scale Projects. Pilot-scale projects test a novel process at a sufficiently large scale to determine the practicality of implementing the technology at a larger scale. These projects should involve flow rates above 1 gallon per minute and use natural water sources rather than synthetic or laboratory-made feed water. Pilot-scale studies are used to generate data over a sufficient period that can be used to estimate the operational requirements (e.g., labor, chemical addition, power requirements) of the process and show performance with respect to finished water quality goals. Pilot-scale projects are generally preceded by laboratory studies (funded previously by the DWPR Program or others) that demonstrate technology feasibility.

Laboratory-scale projects should be completed within 24 months of award, and pilot-scale projects should be completed within 36 months of award, including the required project presentation and reports. Applications for projects requiring more time will be considered for funding only under limited circumstances. Proposed projects will be reviewed by the Program Office to determine whether the application is eligible for evaluation.

C.6 Ineligible Projects Projects not eligible for funding under this NOFO include, but are not limited to:

• Proposals for planning activities eligible under the WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning funding opportunity.

• Proposals for work currently funded under an existing Reclamation financial assistance agreement.

• Proposals for the construction of permanent research facilities.

• Proposals for the testing of established water treatment processes for the purposes of generating site specific information.

Section D: Application and Submission Information

D.1 Address to Request Application Package This document contains all the information, forms, and electronic addresses required to submit an application. If you are unable to access this information electronically, you can request paper copies of any of the documents referenced in this NOFO by emailing the Financial Assistance Operations Section staff at sha-dro-fafoa@usbr.gov.

D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission All applications must conform to the requirements described in this section.

D.2.1 Application Format and Length

The total technical proposal section (Section D.2.2.2 below) shall be limited to a maximum of 20 consecutively numbered pages. If this section exceeds 20 pages, only the first 20 pages will be evaluated. The font shall be at least 12 points in size and easily readable.

Page size shall be 8½ by 11 inches, including charts, maps, and drawings. The margins should be standard 1-inch margins. Oversized pages will not be accepted.

Applications will be prescreened for compliance to the above page number limitation. Excess pages will be removed and not considered in the evaluation of the proposed project.

D.2.2 Application Content

Applications will be screened for timeliness, completeness and compliance with the provisions of this funding opportunity. A complete application must include all the items identified as Mandatory Application Components in the Application Checklist. Any application which fails to include these items will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered for funding.

Note: Applications submitted by consultants must contain Standard Form (SF) SF-424 and SF-424B that are signed by an authorized representative of the entity applying. These forms are available at www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

mailto:SHA-DRO-FAFOA@usbr.gov http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

Mandatory Application Components: Required content Page

Mandatory Federal Forms:

• SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance (Office of

Management and Budget [OMB])

• SF-424A: Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs (OMB)

• SF-424B: Assurances - Non-Construction Programs (OMB)

• OMB Form 4040-0019: Project Abstract Summary

See section D.2.2.1 12

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) registration

See section D.3 19

Technical Proposal (Used Project Narrative Attachment Form to upload in grants.gov) )

See section D.2.2.2 13

Project Budget (Use Budget Narrative Attachment Form to upload in grants.gov)

See section D.2.2.3 16

Recommended Application Components: Required content Page

Environmental and cultural resources compliance See section D.2.2.4 17

Personnel Qualifications See section D.2.2.5 17

Required permits or approvals See section D.2.2.6 17

Overlap or duplication of effort statement See section D.2.2.7 17

Conflict of interest disclosure statement See section D.2.2.8 18

Uniform audit reporting statement See section D.2.2.9 18

SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) (OMB) See section D.2.2.10 19

Letters of support See section D.2.2.11 19

To facilitate fair and timely reviews by the Application Review Committee (ARC), it is highly recommended that application packages be structured in the order identified above.

Applications will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete or noncompliant applications not including required materials will be eliminated from competition.

D.2.2.1 Mandatory Federal Forms The application must include the following standard Federal forms Questions regarding forms should be referred to the Financial Assistance Point of Contact under Section G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s).

Section D: Application and Submission Information

D.2.2.1.1 SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance.

A fully completed form 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). Applications that fail to include an SF-424 by the submission deadline will be considered ineligible and will not pass initial screening.

Applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funding, must certify to the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying. The Authorized Official’s signature on the appropriate SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form, represents the entity’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A.

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

SF-424A Budget Information Form A fully completed SF-424A Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs must be submitted with the application.

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

SF-424B Assurances – Non-Construction Programs 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 Form 4040-0019 Project Abstract Summary A fully completed OMB Form 4040-0019 Project Abstract Summary must be submitted with the application. The Project Abstract Summary shall include the purpose of the project, the activities to be performed, the expected deliverables or outcomes, the intended beneficiaries, and any subrecipient activities, if known. If selected for an award, information provided on this form will be used to create a summary of your project to be posted at www.usbr.gov/research/dwpr/index.html. See Section F.5.1. Freedom of Information Act.

Failure to submit a completed OMB Form 4040-0019 will result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

D.2.2.2 Technical Proposal Submission of a technical proposal is mandatory and must be received by the application deadline. Failure to submit this information will result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-18/appendix-Appendix%20A%20to%20Part%2018 http://www.usbr.gov/research/dwpr/index.html

Information provided in this section shall be limited to a maximum of 20 consecutively numbered pages. If this section exceeds 20 pages, only the first 20 pages will be evaluated. The technical proposal and evaluation criteria should include the following sections:

D.2.2.2.1 Title Page Provide a brief, informative, and descriptive title for the proposed work that indicates the nature of the project. Include the name and address of the applicant as well as the name, address, email, and telephone number of the Project Manager.

D.2.2.2.2 Table of Contents List all major sections of the proposal in the table of contents.

D.2.2.2.3 Executive Summary The executive summary should include:

• The date, applicant name, city, county, and state.

• Describe the problem to be solved, the proposed solution, and how the proposed solution is superior to currently available technologies or approaches.

• Summarize the proposed project activities and how these activities address one or more objectives of this NOFO. Describe how project success will be measured.

• State the length of time and estimated completion date for the proposed project (month/year).

• Identify the proposed project location(s) and state if any work will be conducted at a Federal facility or on Federal land.

D.2.2.2.4 Problem Statement Describe previous research and/or technology development that supports the need for the proposed project. Identify relevant experience of key project team members in the proposed field of study.

D.2.2.2.5 Prior Work and Experience Describe previous research and/or technology development that supports the need for the proposed project. Identify relevant experience of key project team members in the proposed field of study.

D.2.2.2.6 Technical Project Description Describe the technical approach and proposed research activities to be conducted under the project. Include enough detail on the proposed technology or approach to permit a comprehensive evaluation of the proposal. The applicant’s understanding will be established not only by the proposed approach, but also by identifying potential challenges that may be faced throughout the proposed testing, and mitigation strategies for these challenges.

Describe in detail the tasks to be conducted, including the development of the final technical report. For each task, describe planned activities and expected outcomes and milestones.

Describe the staff levels, expertise, and number of staff hours required for each task. Provide the location(s) of the proposed project, water type(s) to be tested, and system flow rate.

As applicable, provide figures such a flow diagram, mass/energy balance, and/or similar ways to describe the proposed technology or approach, including process inputs and outputs.

Identify the current technology readiness level (TRL) of the proposed technology (using the TRL definitions in Section E.1.2. Evaluation Criterion B. Readiness Level). Identify the TRL that can be achieved if the proposed project is implemented. Assuming your project is successfully implemented, please describe potential next steps (e.g., additional research, pilot testing, commercialization, etc.).

This section is solely intended to provide an understanding of the technical aspects of the project. Please note, if the work for which you are requesting funding is a phase of a larger project, please only describe the work that is reflected in the budget and exclude description of other activities or components of the overall project. Please do not duplicate information.

D.2.2.2.7 Research Schedule Provide a research schedule based on the technical project description and proposed tasks. The schedule should show individual tasks with significant milestones identified for the work to be accomplished. Clearly and concisely convey this schedule using a table, Gantt chart, project network diagram, or any other visual format. Time for final report preparation as described in Section F.3. Reporting Requirements and Distribution should be included in the work plan.

D.2.2.2.8 Facilities and Equipment Information Describe the facilities where the work will be performed. List the equipment that is available for use on the project and that which will be required for carrying out the proposed work. List and justify any special equipment that will need to be purchased and indicate the extent to which the work cannot be accomplished without it. Information on alternative sources considered for the equipment should also be included.

D.2.2.2.9 Quality Assurance and Quality Control Plan Identify the proposed quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) protocols to be used throughout the project, including statistical data analysis, peer review, instrument calibration, etc.

If your organization already has a QA/QC program, provide a summary of the program, and include additional information as needed to address the use of the existing program for your proposed project.

D.2.2.2.10 Environmental and Cultural Resources Impacts and Compliance Describe any potential environmental and/or cultural resource impacts of the proposed work.

Provide a plan for disposal of any wastes generated by the project. Identify any permits and licenses that are required for the project and describe how they will be obtained (if not yet obtained).

D.2.2.2.11 Responses to Evaluation Criteria Section E.1. Evaluation Criteria provides a detailed description of each criterion and points associated with each. Describe how your proposal addresses each criterion, referring to other sections of your proposal as needed.

Copying and pasting the evaluation criteria in Section E.1. Evaluation Criteria into your applications is suggested to ensure that all necessary information is adequately addressed.

D.2.2.3 Project Budget 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. Please include the following chart (table 1) to summarize all funding sources.

Denote in-kind contributions with an asterisk (*).

Funding Sources Amount

Non-Federal Entities

1. $

2. $

3. $

Non-Federal Subtotal $

Requested Reclamation Funding $

Submission of a budget narrative is mandatory. The budget narrative provides detailed information on the items included in the budget Object Class Categories on the SF-424A or Cost Classification categories identified on the SF-424C. The budget narrative must clearly identify all items of cost (total estimated project cost), including those that will be contributed as non-Federal cost share by the applicant (required and voluntary), third-party in-kind contributions, and those that will be covered using the funding requested from Reclamation, and any requested pre-award costs.

The types of information to describe in the narrative may include, but are not limited to, those identified in the Budget Narrative Guidance attached to this NOFO (Attachment A).

https://D.2.2.2.11 https://D.2.2.2.10

Applicants may elect to use the Budget Detail and Narrative spreadsheet (Attachment B to this NOFO) for their budget narrative. Costs, including the valuation of third-party in-kind contributions, must comply with the applicable cost principles contained in 2 CFR Part 200, available at the electronic CFR (www.ecfr.gov).

Please note: The Budget Narrative Attachment Form in Grants.gov is to be used to upload the budget proposal.

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

D.2.2.4 Environmental and Cultural Resources Compliance If the project includes monitoring, measurement, or other field work, environmental and cultural resources compliance may be required. Proposals that include on the ground activities should answer the questions from Section H.1. Environmental and Cultural Resource Considerations in this section.

D.2.2.5 Personnel Qualifications Identify key personnel (including sub-awardees) that will directly work on project tasks and describe the type of work to be performed by each individual. Provide a statement of assurance that the proposed personnel will be available for work on the project, and a list of alternative personnel to be used in the event proposed personnel are not available as planned. Provide a brief resume (maximum two pages each) for all key personnel named.

D.2.2.6 Required Permits or Approvals Recipients shall adhere to Federal, State, territorial, Tribal, and local laws, regulations, and codes, as applicable, and shall obtain all required approvals and permits. Recipients shall also coordinate and obtain approvals from site owners and operators.

D.2.2.7 Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement Applicants should provide a statement that addresses if there is any overlap between the proposed project and any other active or anticipated proposals or projects in terms of activities, costs, or commitment of key personnel. If any overlap exists, applicants must provide a description of the overlap in their application for review.

Applicants must also state if the proposal submitted for consideration under this program does or does not in any way duplicate any proposal or project that has been or will be submitted for funding consideration to any other potential funding source—whether it be Federal or non- Federal. If such a circumstance exists, applicants must detail when the other duplicative proposal(s) were submitted, to whom (agency name and financial assistance program), and when funding decisions are expected to be announced. If at any time a proposal is awarded funds that would be duplicative of the funding requested from Reclamation, applicants must notify the NOFO point of contact or the Program Coordinator immediately.

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D.2.2.8 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement Conflict of Interest Disclosure Per the Financial Assistance Interior Regulation (FAIR), 2 CFR §1402.112, you should state in your application if any actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission.

Applicability This section intends to ensure that non-Federal entities and their employees take appropriate steps to avoid conflicts of interest in their responsibilities under or with respect to Federal financial assistance agreements.

In the procurement of supplies, equipment, construction, and services by recipients and by sub-recipients, the conflict of interest provisions in 2 CFR§200.318 apply.

Notification Non-Federal entities, including applicants for financial assistance awards, must disclose in writing any conflict of interest to the DOI awarding agency or pass- through entity in accordance with 2 CFR §200.112.

Recipients must establish internal controls that include, at a minimum, procedures to identify, disclose, and mitigate or eliminate identified conflicts of interest. The successful applicant is responsible for notifying the Financial Assistance Officer in writing of any conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of the award, including those that have been reported by subrecipients.

Restrictions on Lobbying Non-Federal entities are strictly prohibited from using funds under a grant or cooperative agreement for lobbying activities and must provide the required certifications and disclosures pursuant to 43 CFR §18 and 31 United States Code (U.S.C.) §1352.

Review Procedures The Financial Assistance Officer will examine each conflict-of-interest disclosure on the basis of its particular facts and the nature of the proposed grant or cooperative agreement, and will determine whether a significant potential conflict exists and, if it does, develop an appropriate means for resolving it.

Enforcement Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the government may be cause for termination of the award. Failure to make required disclosures may result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR §200.339, Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment (see also 2 CFR §180).

D.2.2.9 Uniform Audit Reporting Statement All U.S. states, local governments, federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, and non-profit organizations expending $750,000 in U.S. dollars or more in Federal award funds in your organization’s fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the

Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System in accordance with 2 CFR §200 subpart F. U.S. state, local government, federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, and non-profit applicants must state if your organization was or was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year. If your organization was required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year, provide the Employer Identification Number (EIN) associated with that report and state if it is available through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse website.

D.2.2.10 Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) A fully completed and signed SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities is required if the applicant has made or agreed to make payment to any lobbying entity for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with a covered Federal action. Note—this form cannot be submitted by a contractor or other entity on behalf of an applicant.

D.2.2.11 Letters of Support Please include letters from interested stakeholders supporting the proposed project. To ensure your proposal is accurately reviewed, please attach all letters of support/partnership letters as an appendix. Letters of support received after the application deadline for this NOFO will not be considered in evaluating your proposed project.

D.3 Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding agency that is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110 [b] or [c], or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110 [d]) is required to:

• Be registered in System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application.

Instructions for registering are available at sam.gov/content/home

• Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in its application

• Maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or plan under consideration by a Federal award agency.

Meeting the requirements set forth above is mandatory.

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D.3.1 Register with the System for Award Management (SAM)

Each applicant must be registered in SAM before submitting an application.

Register on the SAM.gov website. “Help” tab on the website contains User Guides and other information to assist you with registration. The Grants.gov Register with SAM page also provides detailed instructions. You can also contact the supporting Federal Service Desk for help registering in SAM.

Once registered in SAM, entities must renew and revalidate their SAM registration at least once every 12 months from the date previously registered. Entities are strongly encouraged to revalidate their registration as often as needed to ensure their information is up to date and reflects changes that may have been to the entity’s IRS information. See the Submission Requirements section of this document below for more information on SAM.gov registration.

There is no cost to register with SAM.gov. There are third-party vendors who will charge a fee in exchange for registering entities with SAM.gov; please be aware you can register and request help for free.

D.3.2 Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number

You are required to register in SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) prior to submitting a Federal award application. A UEI will be assigned to entities upon registering in SAM.gov.

D.3.3 Maintain an Active SAM Registration and UEI Number

Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. The Federal awarding agency may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-service/office-of-systems-management/integrated-award-environment-iae/iae-systems-information-kit/unique-entity-identifier-update

D.4 Submission Date and Time Due Date for Applications: November 15, 2023, at 4:00 pm Mountain Standard Time (MST)

Applications must be submitted to Grants.gov no later than this due date and time.

Proposals received after the application deadline will not be considered unless it can be determined that the delay was caused by Reclamation mishandling or technical issues with the Grants.gov application system. Please note that difficulties related to an applicant’s Grants.gov profile (e.g., incorrect organizational representative), uploading documents to Grants.gov, or an applicant’s SAM registration are not considered technical issues with the Grants.gov system.

D.4.1 Application Delivery Instructions

Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) Under no circumstances will applications received through any other method (such as email or fax) be considered eligible for award.

D.4.2 Instructions for Submitting the Project Application

Each applicant shall submit an application in accordance with the instructions contained within this section.

D.4.2.1 Applications Submission Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.) Applicant resource documents and a full set of instructions for registering with Grants.gov and completing and submitting applications online are available at:

www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.

Application submission requires prior registration through Grants.gov, which may take up to 21 days. See the registration instructions available at www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html. In addition, please note that the Grants.gov system only accepts applications submitted by individuals that are registered and active in SAM as both a user and an Authorized Organizational Representative.

Applicants have experienced significant delays when…