OWOW-15-02-RFP-final.pdf

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of

Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds

Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2015 National Priority Activities for the Section 303(d)

Program, the Nonpoint Source (Section 319) Program, the Wetlands Program, and the Water

Quality Monitoring Program

Announcement Type: Request for Proposals (RFP)

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-OW-OWOW-15-02

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 66.436

Dates: Proposals must be received in hard copy by the Agency Contact (See Section IV of this RFP) by

5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time (EST) March 24, 2015 or by electronic submission through

Grants.gov by 11:59 P.M. EST March 24, 2015. Late proposals will not be considered for funding.

Questions about this RFP must be submitted in writing via e-mail and must be received by the Agency

Contact identified in Section VII before March 17, 2015. Written responses will be posted on EPA’s website at http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/shedfund/2015-National-Priority-Activities.cfm.

Following EPA’s evaluation of proposals, all applicants will be notified regarding their status.

Final applications will be requested from those eligible entities whose proposal have been successfully evaluated and preliminarily recommended for award. Those entities will be provided with instructions and a due date for submittal of the final application package.

Note to Applicants:

If you name subawardees/subgrantees and/or contractor(s) in your proposal to assist you with the proposed project, pay careful attention to the information in the CONTRACTS AND

SUBAWARDS provision found at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/competition/solicitation_provisions.htm.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to provide support for training and technical assistance activities to build the capacity of state and tribal officials and nongovernmental stakeholders in the Clean Water Act

(CWA) Section 303(d) Program, the Nonpoint Source (CWA Section 319) Program, the

Wetlands Program, and the Water Quality Monitoring Program. The seven National Priority

Activities identified in this announcement are:

(I) plan, prepare, and conduct five annual CWA Section 303(d) National Listing and

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) Training Workshops;

(II) provide training and technical assistance to advance CWA Section 303(d) Program

Implementation;

(III) plan, prepare, and conduct five to ten State and Tribal Aquatic Resource Monitoring

Technical Training Workshops on aquatic resource specific (i.e., rivers/streams, lakes, coastal waters, and wetlands) issues, and up to two national State and Tribal

Aquatic Resource Monitoring Technical Training Workshops covering all aquatic resource types on a biennial basis (e.g., one national workshop in Fiscal Year (FY)

2016 and one national workshop in FY 2018);

http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/shedfund/2015-National-Priority-Activities.cfm http://www.epa.gov/ogd/competition/solicitation_provisions.htm

(IV) plan, prepare and conduct four State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing

Workshops in support of CWA Section 303(d), CWA Section 305(b), TMDLs, and water quality monitoring and assessment;

(V) plan, prepare and conduct two State and Tribal Nonpoint Source Training

Workshops on a biennial basis (e.g., one in Calendar Year (CY) 2016 and one in

CY 2018);

(VI) plan, prepare, and conduct five to ten Nonpoint Source Agricultural Technical

Training Workshops for Technical Service Providers (TSPs), Certified Crop

Advisors (CCAs), and other agricultural industry consultants on conservation practice systems to protect water quality; and

(VII) plan, prepare, and conduct two to six Wetland Program Training Workshops on a variety of topics related to wetland regulatory, monitoring and assessment, restoration, and/or water quality standards.

Funds awarded under this announcement for training and technical assistance support activities may be used to promote participation and to support travel expenses of non-federal personnel to attend workshops.

Funding provided under this announcement supports Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters;

Objective 2.2: Protect and Restore Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems of the Fiscal Year (FY)

2014-2018 EPA Strategic Plan. Information on the EPA Strategic Plan is available at http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.

States, local governments, federally recognized Indian Tribes, intertribal consortia, territories, possessions of the U.S. (including the District of Columbia), public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and public or private non-profit institutions are eligible to apply.

Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply. Non-profit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply. As discussed in Section I.D, funding for assistance agreements awarded under this announcement is provided under the authority of Section 104(b)(3) of the CWA.

The total amount of expected federal funding available under this announcement is approximately $3,915,000, depending on Agency funding levels and other applicable considerations. It is anticipated that up to ten awards will be made under this announcement to be funded incrementally. The following are the expected total of awards for each of the seven National

Priority Activities:

one award for the CWA Section 303(d) National Listing and TMDL Training

Workshops (National Priority Activity I) will be incrementally funded for a total of

$900,000 with a five year project period.

one to three awards for providing training and technical assistance to advance CWA

Section 303(d) Program Implementation (National Priority Activity II) will be incrementally funded for a total of $200,000 per award with a five year project period;

one award for the State and Tribal Aquatic Resource Monitoring Technical Training

Workshops (National Priority Activity III) will be incrementally funded for a total of

$975,000 with a five year project period;

one award for State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Workshops in support of CWA Section 303(d), CWA Section 305(b), TMDLs, and water quality monitoring and assessment (National Priority Activity IV) will be incrementally funded for a total of $80,000 with a two year project period.

one award for State and Tribal Nonpoint Source Program Training Workshops

(National Priority Activity V) will be incrementally funded for a total of $160,000 with a five year project period.

two awards for Nonpoint Source Agricultural Technical Training Workshops

(National Priority Activity VI) will be incrementally funded for a total of $300,000 per award with a five year project period.

one award for Wetland Program Training Workshops (National Priority Activity VII) will be incrementally funded for a total of $600,000 with a six year project period.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. BACKGROUND

EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to provide support for training and technical assistance activities to build the capacity of state and tribal officials and nongovernmental stakeholders in the CWA Section 303(d) Program, the Nonpoint Source (CWA Section 319)

Program, the Wetlands Program, and the Water Quality Monitoring Program. The seven

National Priority Activities identified in this announcement and discussed in further detail in

Section I.B below are: (I) CWA Section 303(d) National Listing and TMDL Training

Workshops; (II) Training, Studies, and/or Tools to Advance CWA 303(d) Program

Implementation; (III) State and Tribal Aquatic Resource Monitoring Technical Training

Workshops; (IV) State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Workshops in support of

CWA Section 303(d), CWA Section 305(b), TMDLs, and water quality monitoring and assessment; (V) State and Tribal Nonpoint Source Program Training Workshops, (VI) Nonpoint

Source Agricultural Technical Training Workshops; and (VII) Wetland Program Training

Workshops. Funds awarded under this announcement for training and technical assistance support activities may be used to promote participation and to support travel expenses of non-federal personnel to attend the training workshops.

The seven National Priority Activities support Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters, Objective 2.2:

Protect and Restore Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems, of EPA’s Strategic Plan for FY 2014 –

2018. As discussed in Section I.D, the statutory authority for the awards expected to be made under this announcement is section 104(b)(3) of the CWA.

B. NATIONAL PRIORITY ACTIVITIES

Each proposal submitted under this announcement must address one, and only one, of the seven

National Priority Activities described below. Applicants may submit more than one proposal package

(including SF 424, SF 424A, and proposal narrative) under this announcement as long as each one is separately submitted and addresses only one National Priority Activity. The cover page of each proposal package must clearly indicate the National Priority Activity addressed in the proposal. If an applicant submits a proposal that addresses more than one National Priority Activity, it will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed.

National Priority Activity I: CWA Section 303(d) National Listing and TMDL Training

Workshops Under this National Priority Activity, the goal is to conduct training workshops to enhance the capabilities of state and tribes to support the achievement of CWA Section 303(d) listing and

TMDL programmatic requirements.

EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to plan, prepare, and conduct five annual

CWA Section 303(d) National Listing and TMDL Training Workshops. Project components described below provide some detail on roles and responsibilities the successful applicant may be expected to assume in order to establish and manage the CWA Section 303(d) National

Listing and TMDL Training Workshops. The description below does not attempt to be comprehensive. Applicants are encouraged to identify additional workshop training topic areas and/or project components that may not be included in this announcement, but that may contribute to overall project success in their proposals.

The target audience for the CWA Section 303(d) National Listing and TMDL Training

Workshops is expected to include primarily state, tribal and territorial TMDL CWA 303(d) program personnel and may also include local and regional officials, stakeholders, and national experts. If fully funded, an estimated 80-100 participants are expected to attend each training workshop with representatives from 50 states, some territorial and tribal representatives, and some non-state/non-federal representatives, and federal representatives (mostly EPA CWA

303(d) program personnel); approximately 70% state, tribal, and other non-federal (e.g., university, non-profit, etc.), and 30% federal. Applicants may propose to use a portion of the assistance funds to defray transportation and subsistence expenses for non-federal attendees to attend the training workshops. The applicant is solely responsible for determining a methodology for selecting and funding reimbursement requests and providing a report on how participating non-federal attendees benefited from the training workshops. EPA will not participate in the selection or approval of individuals who receive travel assistance.

The overall goals of the CWA Section 303(d) National Listing and TMDL Training Workshops are: (1) to support implementation of the CWA Section 303(d) Program Vision issued on

December, 2013 (see http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/tmdl/programvision.cfm);

(2) to build on lessons learned and advance the Section 303(d) program and development of

TMDLs nationally; and (3) to foster close coordination among CWA Section 303(d) Listing and

TMDL Program practitioners by bringing together state, tribal, federal, and other interested stakeholders involved with implementing the December, 2013 Vision and other program activities under Section 303(d) of the CWA.

The training workshops should focus on new developments in state/tribal Listing and TMDL programs, particularly those related to implementation of the new CWA 303(d) Program Vision;

best management practices in program implementation (including strategic management);

programmatic, technical or innovative approaches for the Listing and TMDL program (such as those related to water quality assessments, Section 303(d) listing approaches, water quality modeling best management practices, nonpoint source loadings, approaches for dealing with agriculture-related impairments, stormwater and other wet weather sources, and/or other pollutant-specific TMDL development and implementation issues); and/or, improvements in state and federal coordination in implementing the CWA Section 303(d) Program.

In their proposals, applicants should outline the steps they will take to plan, prepare, and conduct the training workshops and describe the roles and responsibilities of the applicant in carrying out the training workshops. The proposal should describe the approach for consulting with states, tribes, territories and other interested stakeholders to determine the training priorities. The proposal should also include a description of how the applicant will transfer the results of the training workshops to state, tribal, and territorial governmental agencies and other interested stakeholders. In their proposals, applicants should demonstrate their experience working with and convening state, tribal, and territorial CWA 303(d) program personnel as well as federal agencies responsible for implementing the CWA Section 303(d) program.

The training workshops should be located in or near major U.S. cities accessible to transportation to most effectively accommodate travel needs of participants and to bring as many state, tribal, and territorial CWA 303(d) program participants as possible. Applicants should demonstrate their intent to coordinate, where possible, the technical training workshops with existing meetings to increase interaction among state, tribal and territorial and federal CWA 303(d) program personnel and to reduce the travel burden on non-federal attendees.

The successful applicant will provide the overall leadership for the training workshops, select workshop locations, secure workshop facilities (meeting rooms, accommodations, audio-visual equipment, etc.), develop workshop agendas and materials, and select the speakers. EPA will support the workshops by providing technical and programmatic assistance, workshop promotion, and review of workshop agendas and materials. The successful applicant will use its logos on any materials it provides; EPA will use it logos on any materials it provides.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria in Section V including how well and thoroughly the National Priority Activity is addressed. EPA anticipates funding one cooperative agreement under this National Priority Activity for a total available funding of approximately $900,000, depending on the amount requested and the overall size and scope of the project. It is anticipated that the project period for this award will be five years and that the award will be incrementally funded up to $180,000 per year, depending on Agency priorities, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance of the recipient.

National Priority Activity II: Training and Technical Assistance to Advance CWA Section

303(d) Program Implementation The overall goals of the training and technical assistance for this National Priority Activity are:

(1) to share the scientific, technical and/programmatic issues or innovations to advance the development and/or implementation of TMDLs or alternatives to TMDLs by a diverse group of non-governmental stakeholders of the CWA Section 303(d) Program together with state and federal CWA 303(d) Program personnel; (2) to foster such communication between the target audience and state and federal CWA Section 303(d) program staff; and (3) to share such communication with a broader group of stakeholders by disseminating reports, papers or presentations.

Under Section 303(d) of the CWA, states, territories, and authorized tribes, collectively referred to in the Act as "states," are required to develop lists of impaired waters. These are waters for which technology-based regulations and other required controls are not stringent enough to meet the water quality standards set by the states. The CWA requires that states establish priority rankings for waters on the lists and develop TMDLs for these waters.

To meet the goals noted above for this National Priority Activity, EPA is soliciting proposals for training and technical assistance that support listing of impaired waters, TMDL development, use of non-TMDL alternative approaches by point sources and nonpoint sources to restore water quality. Project components described below provide some detail on roles and responsibilities the successful applicant may be expected to assume. The description below does not attempt to be comprehensive. Applicants are encouraged to identify additional project components that may not be included in this announcement, but that may contribute to overall project success in their proposals.

EPA does not anticipate proposals will cover more than one type of training or technical assistance project. Examples of potential training and technical assistance projects include, but are not limited to the following:

Trainings (either at the national or regional level) among non-governmental water professionals and stakeholders together with state and federal CWA Section 303(d)

Program personnel on innovative and effective approaches for implementing the CWA

Section 303(d) Program nationally or regionally. Trainings could be either separate workshops or part of an existing conference. The target audience is expected to include primarily non-governmental practitioners and stakeholders of the CWA 303(d) program and state/federal CWA 303(d) Program personnel. Topics should be of national or regional significance related to the CWA 303(d) Program; or, Reports on or compendiums of best TMDL development approaches (including reasonable assurance demonstrations to support nonpoint source allocations), non TMDL restoration plan approaches, and TMDL implementation approaches to restore waters impaired by both point and nonpoint sources. Topics should be of national significance related to the CWA 303(d) Program; or, Technical information exchange among non-governmental stakeholders of the CWA

303(d) Program and state/federal CWA 303(d) Program personnel to keep them apprised of current issues and developments through series of conference calls, series of webinars, newsletters, social media and other appropriate mechanisms. Topics should be of national significance related to the CWA 303(d) Program.

In their proposals, applicants should outline the steps they will take to plan, prepare, and provide for training and technical assistance that support listing of impaired waters, TMDL development, and TMDL implementation by point sources and nonpoint sources to restore water quality. The proposal should also describe the applicant’s approach for consulting with a diverse group of non-governmental stakeholders involved in the CWA 303(d) program to determine topics for training and technical assistance. Additionally, in order to further accelerate dissemination of information arising from the training and technical assistance proposed under this activity, proposals should include a description of how the applicant will transfer the results of the http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/glossary.html#section303d http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/glossary.html#303dthreatenedimpairedwaters http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/glossary.html#waterqualitystandards http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/glossary.html#totalmaxdailyload training and technical assistance to state, tribal, and local governmental agencies and other CWA

303(d) Program stakeholders and the general public. In their proposals, applicants should demonstrate their experience working with and convening non-governmental practitioner stakeholders and state/federal CWA 303(d) Program personnel of the CWA Section 303(d)

Program.

Training proposed under this National Priority Activity should be located in or near major U.S.

cities accessible to transportation to most effectively accommodate the travel needs of participants. Trainings do not need to be stand alone, but can be held in conjunction with other trainings, workshops, or similar events already planned by other organizations. The successful applicant will provide the overall leadership for the training, identify appropriate timeframes, select training locations, secure training facilities, develop training agendas and materials, and select speakers. EPA will support the training by programmatic assistance, training promotion, and review of training agendas and materials. The successful applicant will use its logo on any training materials it provides. EPA will use its logo on any training materials it provides.

Applicants may propose to use a portion of the assistance funds to defray transportation and subsistence expenses for non-federal attendees (such as state, tribal or territorial CWA 303(d)

Program personnel or nongovernmental stakeholders of the CWA 303(d) Program) to attend the proposed training. The applicant is solely responsible for determining a methodology for selecting and funding reimbursement requests and providing a report on how participating non-federal attendees benefited from the training workshops. EPA will not participate in the selection or approval of individuals who receive travel assistance.

the National Priority Activity is addressed. EPA anticipates funding one to three cooperative assistance agreements under this National Priority Activity for a total available funding of approximately $200,000 per award, depending on the amount requested and the overall size and scope of the project(s). It is anticipated that the project period for the awards will be five years and that the awards will be incrementally funded up to $40,000 per year, depending on Agency priorities, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance of the recipient.

National Priority Activity III: State and Tribal Aquatic Resource Monitoring Technical

Training Workshops

Under this National Priority Activity, the goal is to conduct technical training workshops to build the capacity of states and tribes to more effectively assess water quality at the national, regional, and state-scale focusing on technical training on topics related to the National Aquatic Resource

Surveys. Information about the National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) can be found at http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/nationalsurveys.html.

EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to plan, prepare, and conduct State and

Tribal Aquatic Resource Monitoring Technical Training Workshops to build the capacity of states and tribes to more effectively assess water quality. These technical training workshops will include:

(a) Five to ten technical training workshops (i.e., one to two workshops per year for five years with each workshop one to three days in length) focused on specific aquatic http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/nationalsurveys.html resources or issues. During any given year, these smaller training workshops do not have to focus on the same aquatic resource type and may cover different topics.

(b) Up to two national technical training workshops (e.g., one national workshop in FY

2016 and one national workshop in FY 2018) covering all aquatic resource types.

The project components described below provide some detail on roles and responsibilities the successful applicant may be expected to assume in order to establish and manage the State and

Tribal Aquatic Resource Monitoring Technical Training Workshops. The description below does not attempt to be comprehensive. Applicants are encouraged to identify additional workshop training topic areas and /or project components that may not be included in the announcement, but that may contribute to overall project success in their proposals.

The target audience for the State and Tribal Aquatic Resource Monitoring Technical Training

Workshops is expected to include state and tribal monitoring, assessment, and wetland program personnel and other national experts engaged in developing and implementing the NARS and state/tribal scale statistical surveys. The target audience is also expected to include individuals from the university, research, and non-profit community and EPA staff from Headquarters and the Regional Offices with expertise in the specific training topic identified.

Approximately 25-75 people are expected to attend each of the aquatic resource specific technical training workshops depending on the specific topic(s) covered; approximately 60% state, 5% tribal, 10% other non-federal (e.g., university, non-profit, etc.), and 25% federal. Up to

300 attendees are expected to attend the national technical training workshops covering all aquatic resource types; approximately 55% state, 5% tribal, 10% other non-federal (e.g., university, non-profit, etc.), and 30% federal. Applicants may propose to use a portion of the assistance funds to defray transportation and subsistence expenses for non-federal attendees to attend the training workshops. The applicant is solely responsible for determining a methodology for selecting and funding reimbursement requests and providing a report on how participating

The overall goals of these technical training workshops are to: (1) enhance communication, coordination, and technology transfer among states, tribes, and federal agencies to ensure state and tribal interests are effectively represented in the continued development and implementation of the NARS; (2) facilitate increased understanding and technology transfer of probability-based sampling, methods comparability, and other issues of interest to states and tribes; and (3) increase inter-jurisdictional collaboration among states and tribes and to build or expand state and tribal aquatic resource monitoring capacity.

The smaller technical training workshops should focus on technical and programmatic issues including refining ecological indicators, developing data analysis procedures, establishing reference condition, integrating multiple field methods, and improving state and tribal use of monitoring data to inform decision-making. A portion of these workshops could also be dedicated to technical training on developing a probability-based survey design, data analysis techniques, or field-based monitoring demonstrations. Face-to-face meetings are preferred for the smaller aquatic resource specific technical training workshops, but depending on the specific training topics to be covered, applicants instead may propose to use webinars or other remote training tools to facilitate training as appropriate.

The national technical training workshops covering all aquatic resource types should focus on training participants on successful approaches for enhancing state, tribal, and national assessments of condition of the nation’s waters consistent with CWA Section 305(b). Issues that applicants might consider in designing the national technical training workshops covering all aquatic resource types include successful approaches for implementing probability surveys and using probability data, conducting methods comparability studies, and applying the biological condition gradient to assessments at multiple scales. It is anticipated that the national technical training workshops will be held on a biennial basis (e.g., one national workshop in FY 2016 and one national workshop in FY 2018).

the technical training workshops and describe the roles and responsibilities of the applicant in carrying out the training workshops. The proposal should also describe the approach for consulting with states, tribes, and other interested stakeholders to determine the training priorities. The proposal should include a description of how the applicant will transfer the results of the training workshops to state, tribal, and local governmental agencies and other interested stakeholders. In their proposals, applicants should demonstrate experience working with and convening state, tribal, and federal agencies to effectively respond to the range of aquatic resource monitoring needs nationally.

Whenever possible, the smaller and national technical training workshops should be located in or near major U.S. cities accessible to transportation to most effectively accommodate travel needs of participants. Applicants should demonstrate their intent to coordinate, where possible, the technical training workshops with existing meetings to increase interaction among state, tribal, and other monitoring experts and organizations and to reduce the travel burden on non-federal attendees. For example, the applicant is encouraged to combine the technical training workshops

(smaller or national) with other meetings, provided that the applicant can demonstrate that the appropriate audiences will still be served by doing so.

The successful applicant will provide the overall leadership for the technical training workshops, identify appropriate timeframes for each technical training workshop, select workshop locations, secure workshop facilities (meeting rooms, accommodations, audio-visual equipment, etc.), develop workshop agendas and materials, and select speakers. Applicants should consider the

NARS schedule (available on the EPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/monitoring/nationalsurveys.html), including the timeframe for survey implementation and data analyses/national report development. EPA will support the workshops by providing programmatic assistance, workshop promotion, and review of workshop agendas and materials. The successful applicant will use its logos on any workshop materials it provides; EPA will use its logos on any workshop materials it provides.

under this National Priority Activity for a total available funding of approximately $975,000 depending on the amount requested and the overall size and scope of the project. It is anticipated that the project period for the award will be five years and that the award will be incrementally funded up to $195,000 per year, depending on Agency priorities, availability of funds, and

National Priority Activity IV: State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing

Workshops in Support of CWA Section 303(d), CWA Section 305(b), TMDLs, and Water

Quality Monitoring and Assessment Under this National Priority Activity, the goal is to conduct training workshops to educate states and tribes on new approaches for sharing CWA Sections 303(d) and 305(b) data as well as

TMDL data. EPA is developing new approaches for sharing this data as part of EPA’s Water

Quality Framework (Framework). A goal of the Framework is to more fully integrate water quality monitoring, assessment, and restoration data. As a first step in this effort, EPA is redesigning the Assessment TMDL Tracking and Implementation System (ATTAINS). This system tracks state 303(d), 305(b), and TMDL data. The new ATTAINS system will also integrate national statistical surveys with statewide statistical surveys and site specific assessment. It is anticipated that these training workshops will educate states and tribes on new approaches, as well as get state and tribal input on these approaches.

EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to plan, prepare, and conduct four State and

Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Workshops in support of CWA Section 303(d), CWA

Section 305(b), TMDLs, and water quality monitoring and assessment. The project components described below provide some detail on roles and responsibilities the successful applicant may be expected to assume in order to establish and manage these workshops. The description below does not attempt to be comprehensive. Applicants are encouraged to identify additional workshop training topic areas and/or project components that may not be included in this announcement, but that may contribute to overall project success in their proposals.

The target audience for the State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Workshops is expected to include primarily state and tribal monitoring, assessment, and TMDL program personnel and may also include local and regional officials, stakeholders, and national experts.

An estimated 15-30 participants are expected to attend each training workshop; approximately

75% state, 10% tribal, 15% federal (mostly EPA). Applicants may propose to use a portion of the assistance funds to defray transportation and subsistence expenses for non-federal attendees to attend the training workshops. The applicant is solely responsible for determining a methodology for selecting and funding reimbursement requests and providing a report on how participating

The overall goals of the State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Workshops are: (1) to provide training to states and tribes on the new approaches for capturing monitoring, assessment, and TMDL data; (2) to solicit feedback from state and tribal personnel on the new data model for tracking these data; and (3) to provide information for scoping the integration of these data.

The training workshops should focus on new approaches for tracking and reporting monitoring, assessment, and TMDL information. The training workshops should be structured in such a way as to allow discussions on the new data model, presentations on the state and tribal approaches for tracking and reporting these data, and opportunity to solicit feedback from the states and tribes on these new approaches.

the training workshops and describe the roles and responsibilities of the applicant in carrying out the training workshops. The proposal should describe the approach for consulting with states, tribes, and other interested stakeholders to determine the training priorities. The proposal should also include a description of how the applicant will transfer the results of the training workshops to state, tribal, and local governmental agencies and other interested stakeholders. In their proposals, applicants should demonstrate their experience working with and convening state, tribal, and federal agencies responsible for implementing the CWA Section 303(d), CWA

Section 305(b), and TMDL programs.

The training workshops should be located in or near U.S. cities accessible to transportation to most effectively accommodate travel needs of participants. Applicants should demonstrate their intent to coordinate, where possible the training workshops with existing meeting to increase interaction among state, tribal, and monitoring personnel and TMDL program personnel and to reduce the travel burden on non-federal attendees. The successful applicant will provide the overall leadership for the training workshops, select workshop locations, secure meeting facilities (meeting rooms, accommodations, audio-visual equipment, etc.), develop workshop agendas and materials, and select the speakers. EPA will support the workshops by providing technical and programmatic assistance, workshop promotion, and review of workshop agendas and materials. The successful applicant will use its logos on any materials it provides; EPA will use it logos on any materials it provides.

under this this National Priority Activity for a total available funding of approximately $80,000, depending on the amount requested and the overall size and scope of the project. It is anticipated that the project period for the award will be two years and that the award will be incrementally funded up to $40,000 per year, depending on Agency priorities, availability of funds, and

National Priority Activity V: State and Tribal Nonpoint Source Program Training

Under this National Priority Activity, the goal is to conduct training workshops to ensure that nonpoint source program practitioners understand current issues and advancements in the national Nonpoint Source Program and to provide technical training on nonpoint source management practices. The national Nonpoint Source Program is authorized under Section 319 of the CWA, and is focused on implementing state nonpoint source management programs.

Territories and Tribes also receive Section 319 grant funds and implement nonpoint source programs. This National Priority Activity description uses ‘State and Tribal’ to refer collectively to all these entities.

EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to plan, prepare, and conduct two biennial

State and Tribal Nonpoint Source Training Workshops (i.e., one workshop every two years with each workshop up to four days in length). The project components described below provide some detail on roles and responsibilities the successful applicant may be expected to assume in order to establish and manage the State and Tribal Nonpoint Source Program Training

Workshops. The description below does not attempt to be comprehensive. Applicants are encouraged to identify additional workshop training topic areas and/or project components that may not be included in this announcement, but that may contribute to overall project success in their proposals.

It is anticipated that the training workshops will be held on a biennial basis (e.g., one in CY 2016 and one in CY 2018). The target audience for the State and Tribal Nonpoint Source Program

Training Workshops is primarily state, territorial and tribal nonpoint source program personnel and may also include local and regional officials, other federal agency personnel, stakeholders, and national experts. An estimated 130-180 participants are expected to attend each training workshop; approximately 60% state (representatives of up to 50 states), 5% tribal, 5% territorial, 10% non-state/non-federal, and 20% federal (mostly EPA but also U. S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA) representatives), U.S. Forest Service, etc. .). In general, state, tribal, and territorial attendees will cover their own travel expenses. Applicants may propose to use a portion of the assistance funds to promote participation by defraying transportation and subsistence expenses for non-federal attendees and/or speakers to attend the training workshops.

The applicant is solely responsible for determining a methodology for selecting and funding reimbursement requests and providing a report on how participating non-federal attendees benefited from the training workshops. EPA will not participate in the selection or approval of individuals who receive travel assistance.

The overall goals of the State and Tribal Nonpoint Source Program Training Workshops are: (1) to ensure participants understand current issues and advancements in the national Nonpoint

Source Program; (2) to foster close coordination among nonpoint source program practitioners and partners by bringing together state, tribal, territorial, federal, and other interested stakeholders involved with program activities under section 319 of the CWA; and (3) to provide technical training on nonpoint source management practices.

The training workshops should focus on new developments in state/tribal/territorial nonpoint source programs, best management practices (including strategic management), innovative approaches for the nonpoint source program, and/or improvements in state and federal coordination in implementing the national nonpoint source program. The training workshops should also address technical and programmatic issues impacting the nonpoint source program, such as the balance of restoration and protection activities, coordination with other water quality programs such as the CWA Section 303(d) and source water protection programs, and coordination with USDA conservation programs. Other workshop topics applicants might consider in designing the training workshops include programmatic alignment with the Nonpoint

Source Program and Grants Guidelines for States and Territories

(http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/upload/319-guidelines-fy14.pdf), watershed-based planning, and state NPS management program updates and priorities among other programmatic issues that may arise.

http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/upload/319-guidelines-fy14.pdf the training workshops and describe the roles and responsibilities of the applicant in carrying out the training workshops. The proposal should describe the approach for consulting with states, territories, tribes, and other interested stakeholders to determine the training priorities. The proposal should also include a description of how the applicant will transfer the results of the training workshops to state, territorial, tribal, and other interested stakeholders. In their proposals, applicants should demonstrate their experience working with and convening state, territorial, tribal, and federal agencies responsible for implementing nonpoint source and/or water quality management programs.

to most effectively accommodate travel needs of participants. The successful applicant will provide the overall leadership for the training workshops, select workshop locations, secure workshop facilities (meeting rooms, accommodations, audio-visual equipment, etc.), develop workshop agendas and materials, and select the speakers. EPA will support the workshops by providing technical and programmatic assistance, workshop promotion, and review of workshop agendas and materials. The successful applicant will use its logos on any materials it provides;

EPA will use it logos on any materials it provides.

under this this National Priority Activity for a total available funding of approximately $160,000, depending on the amount requested and the overall size and scope of the project. It is anticipated that the project period for the award will be five years and that the award will be incrementally funded up to $32,000 per year, depending on Agency priorities, availability of funds, and

National Priority Activity VI: Nonpoint Source Agricultural Technical Training

Workshops:

Under this National Priority Activity, the goal is to conduct training workshops to build the capacity for agricultural professional advisors to work with farmers and producers in adding conservation practice systems into farm management conservation plans for the long term. The trainings will focus on conservation practice systems that control and trap nutrients that move over and through cropland that will improve both on-site and downstream water quality.

EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to plan, prepare, and conduct Nonpoint

Source Agricultural Technical Training Workshops to Technical Service Providers (TSPs), Certified Crop Consultants (CCAs), members of the National Alliance of Independent Crop

Consultants (NAICC), members of Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA), soil and water conservation district staff and engineers, and other agricultural consultants and professionals on conservation practice systems that protect and restore water quality and/or provide training to conservation professionals working at the small watershed scale on effective integration of conservation practice systems in the landscape.

The project components described below provide some detail on roles and responsibilities the successful applicant may be expected to assume in order to establish and manage the technical training workshops. The description below does not attempt to be comprehensive. Applicants are encouraged to identify additional workshop training topic areas and/or project components that may not be included in this announcement, but that may contribute to overall project success in their proposals.

The overall goal of the technical training workshops is to continue to train the professional workforce that advises private landowners on the implementation of targeted conservation practice systems that improve water quality, including agricultural drainage water management systems that control and trap water and associated agricultural pollutants; these systems also provide significant water quantity benefits to farmers and producers. There are many conservation systems that can provide benefits to farmers and producers but currently there are a limited number of trained professionals available to plan, design, build, implement, and assist in long-term management of these practices. These conservation practices include but are not limited to nutrient management as part of an overall system, various tile water drainage management practices including water control structures (e.g., flash board structures attached directly to the tile outlets), wetlands placed at the end of the tile lines, riparian buffer strips in areas where lateral seepage is the dominant flow, constructed bioreactors utilizing de-nitrification walls or trenches to intercept tile flow, and saturated buffers.

There are many certification organizations whose members provide information directly to landowners, farmers and producers. The technical training workshops should provide open training opportunities for all those with technical assistance certifications, or other qualified conservation professionals. In their proposal the applicant should include a plan for advertising the trainings to certification organizations including for example, but not limited to, TSPs, CCAs, NAICC, LICA, etc. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has developed materials and provided technical trainings to field staff with these materials; these materials could be used as the basis for the trainings. The training should include instruction on developing USDA Conservation Activity Plans specifically for Drainage Water Management

Practice Standard 554 (USDA CAP 130 plans). The training materials should also include educational information on the state of nutrient pollution in the U.S. and the impact of it on water quality both at the local level and downstream.

It is anticipated that the successful applicants will hold five to ten technical training workshops

(i.e., one to two workshops per year for five years with each workshop being one to three days in length) focused on specific conservation practices systems tailored to the need in the area of the training. The successful applicant will provide the overall leadership for the technical training workshops, identify appropriate timeframes for each technical training workshop, select workshop locations, secure workshop facilities (meeting rooms, accommodations, audio-visual equipment, etc.), develop workshop agendas and training materials, and select speakers. EPA, with input from USDA, will support the workshops by providing programmatic assistance, workshop promotion, and review of workshop agendas and materials. The successful applicant will use its logos on any workshop materials it provides; EPA will use its logos on any workshop materials it provides.

The target audience for the Nonpoint Source Agricultural Technical Training Workshops is

TSPs, CCAs, members of the NAICC and of LICA, soil and water conservation district staff and engineers, and other agricultural consultants and professionals including federal and state agency staff. An estimated 50 – 100 participants are expected to attend each training workshop;

approximately 70% non-state/non-federal, 15% state (representatives of up to 50 states), 2% tribal, and 13% federal (mostly USDA representatives). Applicants may propose to use a portion of the assistance funds to promote participation by defraying transportation and subsistence expenses for non-federal attendees to attend the training workshops. The applicant is solely responsible for determining a methodology for selecting and funding reimbursement requests and providing a report on how participating non-federal attendees benefited from the training workshops. EPA will not participate in the selection or approval of individuals who receive travel assistance.

the technical training workshops and describe the roles and responsibilities of the applicant in carrying out the training workshops. The proposal should describe the approach for consulting with leadership of the targeted audience organizations, the Agricultural Drainage Water

Management Task Force (http://hostedweb.cfaes.ohio-state.edu/usdasdru/ADMS/ADMSindex.htm), the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition

(http://admcoalition.com/), states, USDA and EPA to determine the training priorities. The proposal should also include a description of how the applicant will transfer the results of the technical training workshops to these same entities and other interested agricultural groups. In their proposals, applicants should demonstrate their experience in disseminating technical and engineering design standards through a variety of multimedia and working with the agricultural industry, USDA, and planning design principals..

The successful applicants should determine where there are concentrations of these professionals in need of training that work with landowners, farmers and producers that implement conservation practices systems. The technical training workshops should be planned for in-person delivery with supplemental information available through multimedia platforms including webpages and smartphone apps. The technical training workshops should be located in or near centralized areas to agricultural communities with identified priorities that include protecting and restoring local and downstream water quality.