RFA 21-07 Ag-NPS-Support.pdf

OVERVIEW

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

TITLE: Chesapeake Bay Program Office Fiscal Year 2021 Request for Applications for

Agriculture and Nonpoint Sources Program Support for the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Request for Applications (RFA)

RFA NUMBER: EPA-R3-CBP-21-07

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 66.466

IMPORTANT DATES

June 23, 2021 Issuance of RFA - RFA posted August 10, 2021 Application Submission Deadline - RFA closes (see Section IV for more information) September 04, 2021 Approximate date for EPA to notify applicants of results September 20, 2021 Approximate date for applicant to submit federal cooperative agreement application October 31, 2021 Approximate date of award

EPA will consider all applications that are submitted via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm EST on August 10, 2021 and consider any applications submitted after the due date as ineligible. EPA will only accept applications submitted via Grants.gov, except in limited circumstances where applicants have no or very limited Internet access (see section IV.).

COVID-19 Update: EPA is providing flexibilities to applicants experiencing challenges related to COVID-19. Please see the Flexibilities Available to Organizations Impacted by COVID- 19 clause in Section IV of EPA’s Solicitation Clauses.

SUMMARY

The EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office (CBPO) is announcing a Request for Applications (RFA) for applicants to provide the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partners with an application for technical and programmatic support related to implementation of the agricultural and other nonpoint source components of the Chesapeake Bay watershed jurisdictions’ (listed below) Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs). This RFA is seeking cost-effective applications from eligible applicants for supporting state, regional, and local partners, and other non-federal stakeholders to build the institutional and programmatic capacity for accelerated implementation of agricultural conservation and other nonpoint source programs. This work will improve coordination and provide technical and logistical support to the CBP partnership’s Water Quality Goal Implementation Team (WQGIT), the Agriculture Workgroup, and the Watershed Technical

Workgroup. Applications should also include technical and coordination support to the non-federal partners and the appropriate CBP technical workgroups for determining the best means for ensuring all implemented nonpoint source (both agricultural and non-agricultural) best management practices (BMPs) are tracked, verified, reported, and simulated in the suite of CBP partnership models.

CBP partners include the seven watershed jurisdictions, federal agencies, and many non-federal organizations; however, work funded under this RFA will support the seven watershed jurisdictions and other non-federal partners. The seven watershed jurisdictions are Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

To support this activity, the selected applicant will provide staff who, for matters of efficiency, will be located at the U.S. EPA CBPO located in Annapolis, Maryland. Office space will be provided by EPA as in-kind assistance under the cooperative agreement.

FUNDING/AWARDS: This RFA will cover the project and budget periods up to and including six years from an expected start date of October 31, 2021. EPA plans to award one cooperative agreement to carry out all activities under this RFA. The total estimated funding for six years is approximately $2,520,000 to $3,000,000 (of which $169,200 is EPA in-kind contribution), with an estimated $420,000 to $500,000 (of which $28,200 is EPA in-kind contribution) available for the first year and each additional year. There is no guarantee of funding throughout this period or beyond.

FULL TEXT OF ANNOUNCEMENT

I. Funding Opportunity Description II. Award Information III. Eligibility Information IV. Application and Submission Information V. Application Review Information VI. Award Administration Information VII. Agency Contacts VIII. Other Information (Appendices)

I: FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Background

1. About the Chesapeake Bay Program The Chesapeake Bay is North America's largest and most biologically diverse estuary. A resource of extraordinary productivity, it is worthy of the highest levels of protection and restoration. Authorized by Section 117 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 1267, the Chesapeake Bay Program is responsible for supporting the Chesapeake Executive Council through many actions, including the coordination of federal, state, and local efforts to restore and protect living resources and water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Section 117 also authorizes EPA to provide assistance grants to support the goals of the program.

The Chesapeake Bay Program is a unique regional partnership that has led and directed the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay since 1983. The CBP partners include the states of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia; the District of Columbia; the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a tri-state legislative body; EPA, representing the federal government; and participating citizen, local government, and scientific and technical advisory groups.

The CBP partnership is guided at the direction of the Chesapeake Executive Council (Executive Council). The Executive Council sets the policy direction for the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed and uses its leadership to rally public support for Chesapeake Bay and watershed restoration and protection. The Executive Council also signs directives, agreements, and amendments that set goals and guide policy for Chesapeake Bay and watershed restoration and protection.

The Principals' Staff Committee (PSC) acts as the senior policy advisor to the Executive Council, accepting items for Executive Council consideration and approval and setting agendas for Executive Council meetings. The PSC also provides policy and program direction to the Management Board.

The Management Board provides strategic planning, priority setting, and operational guidance through implementation of a comprehensive, coordinated, accountable implementation strategy for the Chesapeake Bay Program. It directs and coordinates all of the Goal Implementation Teams (GITs) and their respective workgroups.

The GITs include federal and non-federal experts from throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Thus, academic experts, advocacy organizations, and others become active members of the broad restoration partnership.

Much of the work in this RFA will support the WQGIT and its Agriculture Workgroup, Watershed Technical Workgroup, BMP Verification Ad-Hoc Action Team, BMP Expert Panels, and associated subgroups that could include Agriculture Modeling and a Chesapeake Assessment Scenario Tool (CAST) Ad-Hoc Team.

The charge of the WQGIT is to evaluate, focus, and accelerate the implementation of practices, policies, and programs that will restore water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries to conditions that support living resources and protect human health. The charge of the Agriculture Workgroup is to provide expertise and leadership on development and implementation of policies, programs, and research to reduce pollutant loads delivered from agricultural lands and animal operations to upstream waters and the Chesapeake Bay. Agriculture Workgroup Ad-Hoc Teams can include an Agriculture Modeling Team that provides enhanced agricultural modeling assistance to support recommendations of the Agriculture Workgroup regarding updates to major phases of CAST. The CAST Ad-Hoc Team under the Agriculture Workgroup addresses updates to data sources and methods related to the agriculture sector for CAST.

The charge of the cross-sector Watershed Technical Workgroup is to provide a forum for communication and discussion among the jurisdictions and other CBP participants on technical issues related to BMPs, CAST processes and databases, and management strategy development and implementation.

BMP Expert Panels are convened to develop BMP effectiveness estimates from reviews of the latest science – which is used, in part, in CAST. Since the BMP definitions and values used for the effectiveness estimates have important implications for the CBP and various partners, it is critical that they be developed in a process that is consistent, transparent, and scientifically defensible.

The BMP Verification Ad-Hoc Action Team addresses questions and concerns related to BMP verification implementation and reporting and can revisit components of the CBP partnership’s Basinwide BMP Verification Framework.

Pursuant to Clean Water Act Section 117(b)(2), 33 U.S.C. Section 1267(b)(2), the CBPO is the office within EPA charged with providing support to the Executive Council in the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay. The CBPO and Chesapeake Bay Program, both mentioned above, are two distinct entities.

2. 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement On June 16, 2014, the Executive Council signed a new voluntary Chesapeake Bay agreement (referred to as Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement throughout this RFA) that will guide the CBP partnership’s work into the future. For the first time, Delaware, New York, and West Virginia signed the agreement as full CBP partners in the overall effort. This agreement is one of the most comprehensive restoration plans developed for the Chesapeake region, providing greater transparency and accountability of all CBP partners. With 10 interrelated goals and 31 outcomes, this watershed-wide accord advances the restoration, conservation, and protection of all the lands and waters within the 64,000-square-mile watershed by promoting sound land use, environmental literacy, stewardship, and a diversity of engaged citizens. Additionally, the goals and outcomes aim to better protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay's living resources, water quality, and vital habitats. The new Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement also recognizes the unique and vital role local governments play and how they are essential to the restoration effort.

This cooperative agreement will help fulfill the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement outcomes under several of the agreement’s goals.

3. Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load and Watershed Implementation Plans EPA has established the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (Bay TMDL), a historic and comprehensive “pollution diet” to facilitate implementation of actions to restore clean water to the Chesapeake Bay and the watershed’s streams, creeks and rivers.

The Bay TMDL – the largest ever developed by EPA – identifies the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment across Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia that are necessary to meet applicable state water quality standards in the Chesapeake Bay, its tidal tributaries, and embayments. These pollutant limits were further divided by each of the seven Chesapeake Bay watershed jurisdictions and major river basins based on state-of-the-art modeling tools, extensive monitoring data, peer-reviewed science and close interaction with jurisdictional partners.

Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) are plans for how each of the Bay jurisdictions, in partnership with federal and local governments, will achieve their respective Bay TMDL allocations and planning targets. The Phase I WIPs were developed in 2010 by the jurisdictions to inform the 2010 Chesapeake Bay TMDL wasteload and load allocations. The Phase II WIPs were developed in 2012 by the jurisdictions to meet nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment planning targets based on updated information generated through the Partnership’s Phase 5.3.2 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model. The goal of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL and supporting jurisdictional WIP process is to implement by 2025 all nutrient and sediment pollutant load reduction practices needed to fully restore water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers.

Through the Bay TMDL Midpoint Assessment, the CBP partnership updated and reviewed the latest science, data, models, and decision support tools to be used in estimating progress in nutrient and sediment pollutant load reductions. Phase III WIPs were developed by jurisdictions based on the results of the Midpoint Assessment, the Phase III WIP planning targets, and new information provided by the Phase 6 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model and related updates of the Chesapeake Bay Airshed Models and the Chesapeake Water Quality and Sediment Transport Model. The Phase III WIPs provide information on actions the seven watershed jurisdictions intend to implement between 2019 and 2025 to meet their respective Bay TMDL goals.

4. Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership’s Environmental Models Models of the Chesapeake Bay’s airshed, watershed, estuary, and living resources have been developed by the partners and linked together over the past 30 years. The CBP partnership’s suite of models assists in understanding the important processes affecting the health of the watershed and the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. These modeling tools provide the CBP partners with an understanding of the effect of various control strategies on pollutant levels and the level of nutrient and sediment load reductions needed to restore the Chesapeake Bay and achieve the applicable water quality standards for dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a, underwater bay grasses and water clarity. By quantifying the management actions necessary to restore Chesapeake Bay habitats and the living resources dependent on those habitats, these integrated CBP partnership models provide guidance to environmental managers and citizens on where the most cost-effective reductions can be made so that controls are equitable and broadly supported.

Through the application of airshed, watershed, estuarine, and living resource modeling activities, the CBP partnership’s state and local jurisdictional partners gain access to information that is used directly in decision-making for Chesapeake Bay environmental restoration efforts.

Chesapeake Bay environmental models are developed, calibrated, verified, and applied through an expanding cooperative network of state, federal, regional, and local agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and academic institutional partners. These partnership models help set the pace and direction of Chesapeake Bay restoration by providing information on water quality and biological resource responses to different management actions. One of the key modeling tools in this effort is CAST, which is a web-based tool that provides estimates of the nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment load reductions achieved by different combinations of BMPs in a particular geographical area. CAST also includes information on the cost of implementing various BMPs so that users can select the most cost-effective practices to reduce pollutant loads.

See https://cast.chesapeakebay.net/About for more information.

B. Program Goals, Objective, and Scope of Work under Assistance Listing Number 66.466

This RFA is seeking cost-effective applications from eligible applicants for providing the CBP’s non-federal partners with support on technical and programmatic issues related to implementation of the agricultural and other nonpoint source components of the jurisdictions’ WIPs. Applications should specifically address the need to support state, regional, and local partners, and other non-federal stakeholders to build the institutional and programmatic capacity for accelerated implementation of agricultural conservation and other nonpoint source programs.

The programs should be geographically targeted and cost-efficient with effective practices and technologies for reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution. This support should ensure pollutant reduction outcomes result in clear benefits to the agricultural producers and other local landowners. The successful applicant should also evaluate alternative approaches and innovative solutions to build and strengthen partnerships in the agricultural sector.

The work will support the CBP partners’ accelerated implementation of the most cost-effective, efficient, and targeted nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment reduction actions on agricultural lands throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Applications should specifically address how the applicant will provide this support through improving coordination and providing technical and logistical support to the CBP partnership’s WQGIT, the Agriculture Workgroup, other technical, management and policy committees, and their members’ organizations.

Applications should also include technical and coordination support to the non-federal partners and the appropriate CBP workgroups for determining the best means for ensuring all implemented nonpoint source (agricultural and non-agricultural) BMPs are tracked, verified, reported, and simulated in the suite of CBP partnership models. Applications should describe plans for working directly with U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies, state agricultural and environmental agencies, universities, conservation districts, agribusiness, and non-governmental organizations to continually improve access to and the exchange and sharing of agricultural conservation implementation, land use, agricultural animals, and agricultural production related data, respectful of state and federal privacy laws. This work will involve coordinating with CBP partners and stakeholders in developing model data inputs that give the most accurate and defensible characterization of agricultural land use, cropland, animal operations, and nutrient use. This work also includes providing technical and logistical support to the agricultural and other BMP expert panels as directed by the WQGIT, the Agriculture Workgroup, and the Watershed Technical Workgroup.

While the CBP partnership is comprised of federal and non-federal organizations, any activities funded under this RFA will not directly benefit the federal partners. The recipient of the cooperative agreement awarded under this RFA may work directly with federal agencies, but the nature of that work will result only in direct, significant benefits to the non-federal agencies, partners, and the general public. Any indirect and incidental benefits to EPA are not the purpose of the RFA. The non-federal partners of the CBP will provide programmatic direction to the cooperative agreement recipient through the WQGIT and its Agriculture Workgroup and Watershed Technical Workgroup.

EPA plans to award one cooperative agreement to carry out all activities under this RFA. The estimated funding for six years is approximately $2,520,000 to $3,000,000 (of which $169,200 is EPA in-kind contribution, with an estimated $420,000 to $500,000 (of which $28,400 is EPA in-kind contribution) available for the first year and each additional year.

The selected applicant will provide staff who, for matters of efficiency, will be located at the U.S. EPA CBPO located in Annapolis, Maryland. Office space will be provided by EPA as in-kind assistance under the cooperative agreement.

If your organization has an interest in this project, has the skills to accomplish the activities, and is eligible to receive a federal assistance agreement as described in Section III of this announcement, we encourage you to submit an application. Each eligible application will be evaluated using the criteria described in Section V. The activities are multi-year projects (up to six years) and the application should have a work plan and budget for the first year, broken out by each activity, and an estimated budget detail for each of the subsequent five years. Please note that the EPA in-kind funding estimated for each activity assumes the recipient will have one staff person for each activity located at the U.S. EPA CBPO office space.

Applicants must address each activity listed below in their application. The expectation is that there is a separate recipient staff person for each activity. Please provide separate budget details for each activity.

Activity 1: Agricultural Programmatic Implementation Support Estimated Funding Per Year: $180,000 - $220,000 (of which $9,400 per person is EPA in-kind contribution for CBPO space) per year

This activity provides agricultural program implementation support for the WQGIT, its Agriculture Workgroup, and other technical, management and policy committees. This work will support their efforts to accelerate the CBP partners’ implementation of the most cost-effective, efficient, and targeted nutrient and sediment pollutant load reduction practices and actions on agricultural lands throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The following are examples of the types of activities required to carry out Activity 1. Applicants may consider these tasks as well as describe alternative approaches to providing the requested support. Applicants are encouraged to describe how they would support efforts for building and expanding local, state, and regional agricultural institutional and programmatic capacity necessary for the most efficient and cost-effective sets of nutrient and sediment pollution reduction practices and technologies needed to achieve the agricultural commitments within the jurisdictions’ WIPs and two-year milestones.

Support Building and Expanding Agricultural Institutional and Programmatic Capacity

Directly support efforts by state, regional, local partners, and other stakeholders to build and expand their institutional and programmatic capacity for the implementation of agricultural conservation programs to deliver equal-to or better-than levels defined within the jurisdictions’ Phase III WIPs and two-year milestones.

Provide expert input on the opportunities for using a wide array of academic, programmatic, and policy instruments as the means to support the Chesapeake Bay watershed agricultural community in achieving agricultural goals and outcomes. The opportunities include both non-funding and funding-related with funding being both public and private and including incentive programs in the regulatory and non-regulatory domains.

Use expanded and enhanced partnerships and understanding of agricultural production and conservation practice implementation to prioritize the challenges to achieving Phase III WIP levels of implementation and to systematically address and work to overcome those challenges.

Work with state, regional, and local partners to ensure there are policies, programmatic capacity and capabilities, and underlying delivery mechanisms for implementing the most efficient and cost-effective pollutant reduction practices on agricultural lands.

Building and Strengthening Partnerships

Build and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders, such as U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies (strictly for the direct benefit of non-federal partners), state agricultural agencies, regional and national agricultural interest and trade groups, research universities, environmental groups, and others to advance well-managed agriculture that protects local and regional waters.

Regularly communicate the CBP partnership’s agricultural programs, policies, regulations, and new directions to these key stakeholders and build in-depth understanding of the CBP stakeholders’ interests in order to identify opportunities to coordinate programs and policies that will help advance implementation of conservation approaches and farming techniques to address key agricultural environmental challenges in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Enhanced Access to and Sharing of Agricultural Data and Information

Work with U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies (strictly for the direct benefit of non-federal partners), state agricultural agencies, universities, conservation districts, agribusiness, and non-governmental organizations to continually improve access to agricultural data and improve the exchange of data for agricultural conservation implementation, land use, animal populations and manure characteristics, chemical fertilizer use (farm and non-farm), management of nutrient applications to crops, soil phosphorus levels, and agricultural production. Data shared with the selected applicant will conform to state and federal privacy laws which is typically not sharing data specific to individual agricultural producers.

Design and carrying out research projects, data collection, and data analysis among the broad range of stakeholders involved in agricultural production and conservation implementation.

Work towards timely and routine sharing of data and information, with a focus on consistency across state and local jurisdictions, to ensure the best data is used in the partnership’s shared decision-making processes.

Help close the CBP partnership’s identified gaps in agricultural data among programs and modeling tools.

This objective will require frequent discussions and meetings with signatory and at-large program partners responsible for the research, collection, and verification of agricultural data in an effort to better integrate new agricultural data and improve its systematic use over time.

Provide Direct Technical Support to Improve Jurisdictions’ Ability to Target Resources Towards Planning, Implementing, and Verifying Agricultural Practices and Programs

Utilize the many data and modeling tools designed and maintained by a multi-disciplinary team at the CBPO to coordinate the development of, and access to, agricultural research, technical data, and analyses that will enable partners to target resources in the most cost-effective manner possible.

Focus efforts on partnership-identified challenges to agricultural conservation implementation. This includes research and literature reviews as well as analyses of data about agricultural production, its effect on nutrient and sediment loads, and possible mitigation strategies.

In addition, focus efforts on the CBP partners’ need to understand, evaluate, and utilize trends in tidal and non-tidal monitoring data in their decision-making process to accelerate effective implementation of BMPs. The intent is to connect monitored trends in nutrient and sediment loads in agriculture-dominated watershed to BMP implementation and changing watershed conditions, e.g., changes in manure and chemical fertilizer use.

Serve as a technical resource to a multi-disciplinary team at CBPO and to the jurisdictions to assist with achieving the agricultural verification objectives of the CBP partnership-approved BMP verification protocols. Support efforts to improve BMP data submitted by each jurisdiction so that it better represents changes in new on-the-ground management actions through time. Advise CBP office staff in the annual analysis of implementation data and the conveyance of findings to the jurisdictions. Guide the jurisdictions in the establishment of new or revised verification protocols that meet the intent of BMP verification including, if relevant, training on inspection methods that are consistent across time and space.

Evaluate Alternative Approaches and Innovative Solutions

Evaluate alternative approaches and innovative solutions for accelerating agricultural nutrient and sediment reductions based on the best and latest science and research.

Apply an in-depth understanding of state and federal restoration programs, the effectiveness of BMPs in those programs, and the tools used to measure and close gaps in pollutant reduction goals – to advance agricultural conservation. s

Identify and collaborate with key partners and stakeholders to advance innovative solutions to the critical agricultural challenges facing the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Provide Assistance to Chesapeake Bay Program Agricultural Organizations

Ensure the CBP partnership’s Agriculture Workgroup and its supporting technical groups, subgroups, and Expert Panels are getting the level of technical, coordination, and logistical support they are requesting.

Regularly and proactively reach out to local, state, and regional agricultural agencies, interest groups, agribusinesses, and environmental groups to facilitate discussion and collaboration with the CBP partnership about agricultural concerns, opportunities, and needs.

Communicate Agricultural Research and Technical Findings to Partners and Stakeholder Groups

Communicate and disseminate agricultural research and the data to improve the understanding of agricultural implementation progress towards meeting the CBP partnership’s water quality goals.

Communicate directly with CBP leadership committees (Principals’ Staff Committee and Management Board) and advisory committees (Citizens, Local Government, and Scientific and Technical) regarding programmatic opportunities and challenges facing the Chesapeake Bay watershed’s agricultural communities in advancing well-managed agricultural operations to protect local and regional water resources.

On a continuing basis, proactively communicate the CBP partnership’s assessments of agricultural trends (and their impact on water quality) to local, state, and regional agricultural agencies, interest groups, agribusinesses, and environmental groups.

Work with the CBP partnership’s Communications Workgroup and Communications Office to ensure that the Chesapeake Bay watershed agricultural community’s successes, challenges, and innovative approaches are being communicated to audiences targeted by the Communications Workgroup.

Represent the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership in Local, Regional, and National Forums

Communicate CBP partnership agricultural policies, programs, goals, commitments, protocols, initiatives, and new directions at national, regional, and local agriculture conferences, workshops, forums, and meetings.

Regularly participate in the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s State Technical Committee meetings to support the work of non-federal partners.

Activity 2: Support for Nonpoint Source Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation for the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership Estimated Funding Per Year: $120,000 - $140,000 (of which $9,400 is EPA in-kind contribution per person for CBPO space) per year

This activity generally provides nonpoint source program implementation support to the CBP partnership through assistance with technical, management, and policy issues. The work will assist the jurisdictions’ efforts to expand programmatic capacity and accelerate the CBP partners’ implementation of the most cost-effective, efficient, and targeted nutrient and sediment pollutant load reduction actions in the nonpoint source sector.

The following are examples of the types of activities required to carry out Activity 2. Applicants may consider these tasks as well as describe alternative approaches to providing the requested support. Applicants are encouraged to describe how they would support efforts for building and expanding local, state, and regional institutional and programmatic capacity necessary for the most cost-efficient pollution reduction practices and technologies needed to achieve the nonpoint source commitments within the jurisdictions’ WIPs and two-year milestones.

Expand Partners’ Programmatic Capacity to Achieve Phase III WIP and Two-Year Milestone Implementation Levels

Design and carry out evaluations of partners’ programs and policies as they relate to implementation levels described within the jurisdictions’ WIPs and two-year milestones.

This task will require frequent communication with each jurisdiction as plans are developed, assessed, and executed.

Provide the CBPO and larger partnership with evaluations of gaps in programs, policies, regulations, incentives, funding, and financing that could delay implementation progress and then work directly with jurisdictions to formulate programmatic strategies to close these gaps. The work will initially focus on closing implementation gaps in Pennsylvania, including assistance with developing and executing County Action Plans and other technical and programmatic needs of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. However, this activity will also support other jurisdictions and stakeholder groups in need of assistance.

Assist stakeholders in the development and running of management scenarios on CAST and effectively communicate inputs and outputs so that evaluations of the cause-and-effect relationships of management options and loading reductions are understandable.

Provide technical support to as to how changes to each of the parameters in the environment (land use types and acres, manure and chemical fertilizer applications, BMPs, septic system and wastewater discharges, etc.) affect the outcomes.

Ensure CBP partners, interested parties, and the public have access to the primary and synthesized Chesapeake Bay nonpoint source-related data.

Provide Technical Support to Improve Jurisdictions’ Ability to Plan for what? and Implement Practices in Hydrologically Important Areas

Utilizing the many data and modeling tools designed and maintained by a multi-disciplinary team at CBP, coordinate technical analyses that will enable partners to target their practices in the most cost-effective manner and location possible. Analyses will be focused on gaps in current implementation and offer potential nutrient and sediment pollutant reduction strategies to expand implementation in hydrologically important areas. The task will require coordination with CBPO colleagues to build in additional functionality and data visualization of information from models, monitoring programs, and other decision-support tools.

Expand the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership’s Use of Non-Tidal and Tidal Water Quality and Biological Resource Monitoring Data to Evaluate Implementation Progress and Effectiveness

Work directly with USGS, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Upper Susquehanna, Coalition, and other state and academic partners responsible for collecting and understanding in-stream, real-time nutrient and sediment monitoring data in an effort to improve assessments of water quality progress, their connections to BMP implementation, and changing watershed conditions.

Compile trends in water quality improvement or degradation in the major tributaries and sub-basins throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This task will require knowledge of USGS monitoring data and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Data Dashboard so that the information on the status and trends in watershed and estuary conditions can be clearly communicated, and updates can be tailored for specific stakeholder groups. The purpose is to relay the trend information to improve watershed management decisions and planning.

In explaining trends, the successful applicant should factor in the historical changes in agricultural conservation practices; changes in land use, animal populations and manure, chemical fertilizer use; fluxes from atmospheric deposition of nitrogen, and a host of other watershed characteristics that change through time.

Communicate Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership’s Technical Findings to Partners and Stakeholder Groups to Improve Evaluations of Nonpoint Source Implementation Progress

Communicate CBP technical analyses to the broader public, partners, and stakeholders.

This task will require participation and presentation of technical findings at meetings across the Chesapeake Bay region. The technical material includes information about Chesapeake Bay environmental models, the Chesapeake Bay TMDL, WIPs, two-year milestones, and water quality monitoring trends. The audience includes many types of stakeholders such as local public organizations, watershed groups, agribusiness, and industries in the developed sector. This will require coordination with the CBP partnership’s multi-disciplinary technical teams as well as with the CBP’s Communication Office.

Develop, Evaluate, and Communicate Jurisdictions’ Annual Implementation Progress

Assist in obtaining state and national data of watershed conditions needed for the annual model assessment of progress towards goals including – but not limited to – the latest chemical fertilizer sales and/or land use data.

To ensure reported implementation data better reflects on-the-ground levels and changes in management actions through time, assist in conducting reviews of jurisdictions’ BMP Verification Program Plans (aka Quality Assurance Program Plans; QAPP) and their connection to reported BMPs for the annual model assessment.

Participate in the continual collaborative process of enhancing BMP verification programs through regular review of the jurisdictions’ QAPPs, noting both strengths and weaknesses through correspondence with partners.

Support Technical Outreach and Assistance to Jurisdictions’ Development and Implementation of Restoration Activities

Contribute to the CBPO’s efforts to extend outreach and assistance to the jurisdictions.

Specific tasks are to coordinate the work among the scientific and technical staffs of federal and state agencies, grantees, and contractors – and engage in technical working sessions. This could include setting up meetings, identifying key staff and partners to participate (e.g., state agencies, local partner representatives, and funding distributors), and scheduling follow-up meetings.

Increase the pool of users and the effectiveness of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Data Dashboard to assist in the development and execution of restoration activities.

Fulfill information requests using data reported by jurisdictions, and the inputs and outputs of CAST, that estimates changes in pollutant loads to local waters and the estuary, based on a wealth of time- and spatially-variable data about the watershed’s characteristics including changes in the implementation of practices and control technologies.

Serve on a technical advisory committee for piloting a new BMP mapping tool developed by the Chesapeake Conservancy, Chesapeake Commons, and Drexel University to improve localized targeted planning and implementation of BMPs to enhance BMP performance and maximize the efficient use of limited resources. The project and tool would facilitate outreach to local landowners for possible project initiation as well as track and report BMPs.

Assist with efforts by state and federal agencies, advocacy groups, and private industry to develop and expand a Farm Conservation Certification program in the jurisdictions, beginning with Pennsylvania. The development process includes engaging farmers through their most trusted technical assistance providers, agriculture retail, and the conservation district network. If successful, the program will increase farmer participation, sustainability, and profitability, while providing measurable soil, air, and water quality improvements to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Activity 3: Agriculture Workgroup Coordination Estimated Funding Per Year: $120,000- $140,000 (of which $9,400 is EPA in-kind contribution per person for CBPO space) per year

This activity provides support to accelerate the implementation of the agricultural conservation practices by all involved parties working with the WQGIT and, specifically, its Agriculture Workgroup.

The successful applicant will support efforts by the non-federal CBP partner agencies, non-governmental organizations, and stakeholders to utilize the Agriculture Workgroup and related workgroups as forums for collaboration. This will include but not be limited to the development of i programs, policies, and decision-making efforts by the individual jurisdictions to successfully carry out their WIPs and meet their two-year milestones. Primary focus of the Agriculture workgroup should be on new on-the-ground implementation of practices and programs and continued inspection and maintenance of existing BMPs.

The successful applicant will collaborate with federal, state, and academic researchers, extension agents, and scientists to analyze emerging agricultural nutrient and sediment reduction technologies and research. The objective is to determine their ability to contribute to achieving CBP partnership water quality goals and to identify the best approaches for accelerating pollutant reductions.

The following are examples of the types of activities required to carry out Activity 3. Applicants may consider these tasks as well as describe alternative approaches to providing the requested support. Applicants are encouraged to describe how they would support the actions and activities of the WQGIT’s Agriculture Workgroup.

Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership Agriculture Workgroup Coordination

Directly support the work of the Agriculture Workgroup’s chairperson as coordinator.

Provide leadership in the development and implementation of workgroup strategies for meeting the agricultural nutrient and sediment reductions goals, coordinating partner efforts to meet those goals and evaluating progress in meeting those strategies.

Identify discussion topics and future agenda items for a forward-looking, rolling schedule of Agriculture Workgroup meetings and conference calls that reflect the Agriculture Workgroup’s and the larger CBP partnership’s priorities.

Oversee the development of Agriculture Workgroup meeting agendas, presentations, advance briefing materials, issues and options papers, and meeting summaries.

Provide a forum for discussion, exchange of information, and evaluation among federal, state, and local agencies, conservation districts, universities, agri-business, and the corporate sector on sustainable and cost-effective agricultural production systems that benefit water and air quality.

Augment and maintain representation on the Agriculture Workgroup of federal and state agricultural agencies; federal, state and county conservation agencies engaged with agricultural management; agribusiness and other non-governmental organizations related to agriculture; and academic institutions to provide an expanded expertise in agricultural production, sciences, and programs.

Proactively follow through on actions and next steps agreed to by the Agriculture Workgroup to ensure the priority work proceeds between scheduled meetings.

Serve as spokesperson for the Agriculture Workgroup to agricultural stakeholders and the agricultural community for improving communication, comprehension, and information support for CAST and other decision support tools.

Serve as an Agriculture Workgroup representative on the WQGIT and associated workgroups, teams, and committees.

Serve as the Agriculture Workgroup’s representative for the development and implementation of WQGIT- and Agriculture Workgroup-sponsored workshops and conferences related to agriculture.

Lead or assist with public field days, meetings, conferences, symposiums, workshops, etc., related to agricultural production systems; marketing and economics; and conservation practices and programs to provide educational opportunities for achieving improved water quality.

Serve as an agricultural technical resource to the CBP partnership on regional and state agricultural production systems and programs within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, especially nutrient management and animal agriculture programs.

Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership Collaboration and BMP Expert Panel and Ad Hoc Group Support

Coordinate with the Agriculture Workgroup and the WQGIT to convene expert panels or ad hoc groups to develop recommendations of BMP definitions and effectiveness values that are new to modeling. As required under the CBP partnership’s BMP protocol process, this information will need to be approved through the WQGIT.

Convene BMP expert panels and ad hoc groups and staff those meetings.

Assist the BMP expert panels and BMP ad hoc groups by helping ensure the groups’ recommended BMP efficiencies, data requirements for reporting, and BMP verification protocols are compatible with what agency sources can provide and the CBP partnership’s suite of management and tracking tools can model and relay.

Consult with the CBP partnership workgroups and member agencies for information about BMPs, treatments, and technologies being investigated by the Expert Panels and ad hoc groups.

Interview scientists and/or practitioners identified as lead researchers/implementers by the respective CBP partnership workgroups for specific BMPs, treatment processes, and reduction technologies regarding their knowledge about specific practices being investigated.

Conduct scientific literature searches to aid in the development of new or revised practice definitions and effectiveness values. Compile all available information for each BMP, treatment process, or reduction technology identified by the expert review panel and BMP ad hoc group.

Consult with the CBP Modeling Workgroup and the supporting CBPO Modeling Team to identify how each practice will be simulated in the applicable CBP partnership’s models and other decision support tools.

Assist the BMP expert panels and ad hoc groups in determining which data should be used to develop loading and effectiveness estimates.

Document the recommendations developed by the BMP expert panels and ad hoc groups, addressing the elements listed in the CBP partnership’s BMP Expert Panel Protocols.

Provide support and technical interpretation for workgroup and WQGIT approval of BMP expert panel and ad hoc group recommendations. This could include writing technical appendices.

Review and approve how BMPs are simulated in CAST to ensure that the assumptions accurately reflect real-world conditions, are consistent and equitable among the different sectors, and reflect the CBP partnership’s decisions based on the recommendations of each BMP expert panel and ad hoc group.

Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership Agricultural Programs Technical Support

Provide technical coordination and support to the Agriculture Workgroup and its subgroups for developing recommendations for the improved tracking, reporting, and verification of agricultural conservation practice implementation throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Work to improve how jurisdictions and agencies track, report, and verify BMPs and other agricultural data – and ensure the information accurately reflects real-world conditions and are consistent and equitable among the different sectors.

Support ongoing efforts to continually improve cost and effectiveness estimates for agricultural conservation practices based on the latest scientific, implementation, and economic data.

Assist in the evaluation of agricultural production, practice, and land use inputs in CAST and supporting tools, and how agricultural conservation practices are modeled to ensure accurate representation of agricultural loads and projected nutrient/sediment reductions from reported implementation. Work could include support to a reestablished CBP Agricultural Modeling Subcommittee (AMS) tasked with analyzing nonpoint source data inputs and developing the next version of CAST. This could involve: drafting agendas;

preparing materials in advance of meetings; collecting and analyzing various datasets to better describe nonpoint source pollution across the Chesapeake Bay watershed; working closely with CBPO contractors and grantees to ensure that the methods described by the AMS are adequately captured in draft versions of CAST; and providing regular updates regarding AMS decisions to various CBP workgroups and the WQGIT.

In the Agriculture Workgroup, focus on the CBP partners’ need to understand, evaluate, and utilize trends in tidal and non-tidal monitoring data in their decision-making process to accelerate effective implementation of BMPs. The intent is to use monitoring data to improve assessments of water quality progress, its connection to agricultural BMP implementation, and changing watershed conditions in the agricultural sector.

Assist the CBP partnership in developing materials and tools to strengthen the relationship and understanding of agricultural conservation implementation levels with the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Lead the Agriculture Workgroup on efforts to update or add any agricultural BMP verification protocols as documented in “Strengthening Verification of Best Management Practices Implemented in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Basin-wide Framework.”

Ultimately, ensure additions and updates to the protocols improve the reasonable assurance of whether practices are implemented properly and remain functional and the reliability and quality of reported information so that it better represents changes in new on-the-ground management actions through time.

Assist the CBP partnership with the continuing development and implementation of the National Environmental Information Exchange Network to improve the exchange of agricultural BMP data.

Obtaining Additional Information

For additional background information on CBP achievements and the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement commitments, see the CBP partnership’s website located at http://www.chesapeakebay.net/.

C. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage & Anticipated Outcomes and Outputs

Pursuant to Section 6a of EPA Order 5700.7, “Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements,” EPA must link proposed assistance agreements to the Agency’s Strategic Plan.

EPA also requires that grant applicants and recipients adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see EPA Order 5700.7A1, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements, accessible at https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements).

1. Linkage to EPA’s Strategic Plan

The overall objective of this competition is to provide technical and programmatic support for the CBP partnership in order to advance jurisdictional implementation of two-year milestones and WIPs and, ultimately, achieve water-quality restoration goals and maintain public awareness of Chesapeake Bay restoration.