WCFSP-FOA-SCAO-Final.docx

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

No. R15AS00017

Lower Colorado Region – Southern California Area Office Water Conservation Field Services Program Grant Program for FY 2015

Request for Proposals No. R10SF30001

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region

FOA R15AS00017

Mission Statements

The U.S. Department of the Interior protects America’s natural resources and heritage, honors our cultures and tribal communities, and supplies the energy to power our future.

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

Southern California Area Office Water Conservation Field Services Program

FUNDING OPPORUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA)

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation

SYNOPSIS OF OPPORTUNITY

· Electronic Submittal via Grants.gov; or

· Hard-Copy Submittal

Under no circumstance will an application be accepted by facsimile or email.

1. Provide a Duns & Bradstreet (DUNS) number on their application.

1. Register at SAM.gov prior to submittal of an application under this FOA

Federal Funding Amount:

Reclamation will limit total funding to no more than $100,000 in federal funding to each applicant. Any awards are subject to a determination by Reclamation that FY 2015 appropriations are available and that awards can be made consistent with all program requirements.

Three to seven awards, depending on submittals and budget.

Water conservation education and training activities will not be funded in FY 2015 under this FOA.

Application Checklist

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

DUNS Number is required - Make sure that DUNS Number is on the first page.

Assurances

Standard Form SF-424B or Standard Form 424D, as applicable. See Sec. IV.C.4.

Table of contents

Technical Proposal

· Executive Summary

· Technical project description

· Evaluation criteria Project Schedule

· Schedule narrative

· Schedule summary table See Sec. IV.C.4., Sec. VII.C., and Sec. VII.D.

Budget Detail and Narrative Funding Plan Standard Form SF 424A or Standard Form 424C, as applicable. See Sec. IV.C.4. and Sec. VIII.B.

Table of Contents

SECTION I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

I.A Water Conservation Field Services Program Overview The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Southern California Area Office (SCAO), is requesting proposals to fund projects for activities in support of its Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP) within the Southern California Area. The SCAO’s service area includes all of southern California south of the Tehachapi Mountains, east of the Sierras except for the Imperial, Coachella, and Colorado River Valleys. An area map of the SCAO can be viewed at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/images/maps/scao_boundaries.jpg.

The mission of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Reclamation has a major responsibility, in partnership with water users, states, and other interested parties, to help improve water resource management and water use efficiency in the western United States. More efficient water use is a key component of Reclamation's water resource management strategy.

Reclamation established the WCFSP in 1996 with the purpose to fulfill its water conservation-related obligation as outlined in Section 210 of the Reclamation Reform Act (RRA) of 1982. The RRA directs the Secretary to encourage and implement water conservation measures on Federal Reclamation projects. Directives and Standards (WTR 01-02) were developed for the program which outlined Reclamation's procedures for administering the WCFSP pursuant to the RRA and other existing authorities, including the provision of technical and financial assistance to Federal and non-federal entities and the administration of water conservation plans.

I.B. Objective of Funding Opportunity Announcement The objective of this FOA is to invite irrigation and water districts, states, local governments, water providers, and other entities that have an association with a Reclamation project or project water to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on activities/projects that make more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation and efficiency in the LCROA. Activities/Projects will be selected through a competitive process using the selection criteria identified in Section V.

I.C. Program Authority This Program and FOA are administered in accordance with the authority of Section 9504(a) of the Secure Water Act, Subtitle F of Title IX of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, Public Law 111-11 (42 United States Code 10364).

SECTION II. AWARD INFORMATION

II.A. Total Project Funding It is anticipated that between three to seven agreements will be awarded under this FOA, depending on the total amount of funding requested by successful proposals and the amount of funding provided in the budget appropriation. The amount of funding available to fund projects through this FOA will be determined once Congress approves final FY 2015 appropriations.

Federal funds provided through this FOA will be available for the full length of the project. Management will evaluate each project to determine whether funding the project as a phased project on an annual (federal fiscal year) basis would be appropriate (i.e., a phased project would provide part of the funds this fiscal year and the remaining funds in the next fiscal year—recipients will not be asked to reapply to receive funding in the approved future years). Federal fiscal years are from October 1-September 30. The applicant will be consulted on particulars of any project that is determined to be appropriate for separate annual funding.

II.B. Project Funding Limitations In accordance with Section 9504(a) of Public Law 111-11, the federal share (Reclamation and other sources of federal funding) of any one proposed activity/project shall not exceed 50 percent of the total activity/project costs and, under this FOA, will not exceed $100,000.

Reclamation will limit total funding to no more than $100,000 in federal funding to each applicant. Any awards are subject to a determination by Reclamation that FY 2015 appropriations are available and that awards can be made consistent with all program requirements.

Water conservation education and training activities will not be funded in FY 2015 under this FOA.

II.C. Reclamation Responsibilities Project awards will be made through grants or cooperative agreements as applicable to each project. If a cooperative agreement is awarded, the recipient should expect Reclamation to have substantial involvement in the project. Substantial involvement by Reclamation may include:

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

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

At the request of the recipient, Reclamation can provide technical assistance after award of the project. If you receive Reclamation’s assistance, you must account for these costs in your budget.

II.D. Anticipated Award Date Reclamation expects to begin awarding financial assistance agreements, to applicants who successfully pass all pre-award reviews and administrative requirements on or before June 2015 with an anticipated activity/project start date on or around July 1, 2015, subject to the date of appropriation and allotment of the Federal budget.

SECTION III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

III.A. Eligible Applicants Under P.L. 111-11, Section 9502, an eligible applicant is a State, Indian tribe, irrigation district, water district, or other organization with water or power delivery authority. Applicants must also be located in the SCAO area of operation. Please see the location map at <http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g2000/wtrconsv.html>.

Those not eligible for financial assistance under this FOA include the following entities:

· Federal governmental entities

· Institutions of higher education

· Individuals

Also, to be eligible for financial assistance under this FOA, the applicant must have a definable relationship to the watershed of one, or more, specific Reclamation water projects in the LCROA boundaries. For the purposes of this funding announcement, a Reclamation project is defined as a specific Reclamation water project that was authorized by Congress and constructed by Reclamation. This includes everything within the project service area (i.e., project features and facilities, project service area, watershed, water systems or water supplies affected by a specific Reclamation project) and the Colorado River. Validation of a Reclamation water supply contract is one way to show a relationship to a Reclamation project.

III.B. Eligible Activities/Projects Proposed projects should seek to conserve and use water more efficiently.

All proposals will be ranked upon Evaluation Criteria stated in Section V of this FOA. Projects to be considered should address one of the following task component areas:

III.B.1. Water Management PLANNING Development of written water management and conservation plans. Water conservation plans are required for Colorado River water contractors in the Lower Colorado Region, in accordance with the RRA. The Plans should be modeled after plans described in Achieving Efficient Water Management: A Guidebook for Preparing Municipal Water Conservation Plans, and Achieving Efficient Water Management: A Guidebook for Preparing Agricultural Water Conservation Plans, Second Edition (Guidebooks). These publications are available at www.usbr.gov/waterconservation/publications.html. The proposed planning activity/project should address one or more of the planning tasks discussed in the Guidebooks. Priority is given to development of plans under requirements supported by the WCFSP.

III.B.2. IMPLEMENTATION of Efficiency Measures Implement more efficient water management/conservation measures with special emphasis on outdoor water management practices as part of its water management and conservation program. This component involves the implementation of best management practices or water conservation measures outlined in the entity’s water management or water conservation plan.

III.B.3. DEMONSTRATION Projects Demonstrate innovative technologies in water conservation to increase technical understanding of unfamiliar water management and conservation principles and practices that have not been previously used locally. A demonstration activity/project's purpose is to install or apply a particular technology in a new way, or in a new setting, with the intent of reporting the results to others for potential wider adoption. The proposed activity/project should not only “publicly” demonstrate a new or unfamiliar practice; it should contain a process for informing interested individuals and organizations about the outcome of the demonstration.

PLEASE NOTE: Reclamation recognizes that education is an important part of any water conservation program; however, education activities will not be funded until clear authority exists for education grants under WCFSP. Please assure that all education activities are removed from any proposals.

III.C. Ineligible Projects Projects that do not meet the requirements of the WCFSP are not eligible under this FOA.

Projects that are considered normal Operations, Maintenance, and Replacement (OM&R) are not eligible. OM&R is described as system improvements that replace or repair existing infrastructure or function without providing increased efficiency or effectiveness of water distribution over the expected life of the improvement.

Examples of ineligible OM&R projects include:

· Replacing malfunctioning components of an existing facility with the same components.

· Improving an existing facility to operate as originally designed.

· An activity that is performed on a recurring basis even if that period is extended (i.e., 10-year interval).

· Sealing expansion joints of concrete lining because the original sealer or the water stops have failed.

· Replacing old or broken meters with new meters of the same type.

· Replacing leaky pipes with new pipes of the same type.

III.D. Length of Activity/Project Applicants should propose activities/projects that can be completed within one year from the estimated project start date or propose separated annual funding for projects that last more than one year. Projects that are more than one year will be evaluated by management to determine whether the project should be funded in separate fiscal years, as described in the Project Funding Section (Section II.A.) above, and any proposals that extends beyond a two-year length shall provide an explanation for the need.

III.E. Cost-Sharing Requirements Applicants must provide at least 50 percent or more non-federal cost-share of the total project costs. Cost sharing may be made through cash or in-kind contributions from the applicant or third-party partners. Cost-share funding from sources outside the applicant’s organization, e.g., loans or state grants, should be secured and available to the applicant prior to award. Reclamation will execute a financial assistance agreement once non-federal funding has been secured or Reclamation determines that there is sufficient evidence and likelihood that non-federal funds will be available to the applicant subsequent to executing the agreement.

III.E.1. Cost-Sharing Regulations All cost-share contributions must meet the criteria established in 2 CFR 200.

III.E.2. In-Kind Contributions In-kind contributions constitute the value of noncash contributions that benefit a federally assisted project. These contributions may be in the form of real property, equipment, supplies and other expendable property, as well as the value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the project or program. The cost or value of in-kind contributions that have been or will be relied on to satisfy a cost-sharing or matching requirement for another Federal financial assistance agreement, a Federal procurement contract, or any other award of Federal funds may not be relied on to satisfy the non-federal cost-share requirement for the WCFSP grant applications.

III.E.3 Pre-Award Costs Project pre-award costs that have been incurred prior to the date of award but after the date of authorization and appropriation for this Program may be submitted for consideration as allowable costs for the project. In no case will pre-award costs incurred prior to October 1, 2014 be reviewed for consideration for cost share purposes.

For example, such costs might include design or construction plans and environmental compliance costs directly supporting the proposed project. Reclamation will review the proposed pre-award costs to determine if they are allowable in accordance with the authorizing legislation and applicable cost principles. To be considered allowable, any pre-award costs proposed for consideration under the new awards must comply with all applicable requirements under this FOA. The pre-award costs should be incorporated into the proposal.

III.E.4. Indirect Costs Indirect costs that will be incurred during the development or construction of a project, which will not otherwise be recovered, may be included as part of the applicant’s project budget. Indirect costs are those: (1) incurred for a common or joint purpose benefiting more than one cost objective, and (2) not readily assignable to any one cost objective. If the applicant proposes indirect costs in the budget, then the applicant must either supply a copy of a current federally-negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or obtain an agreement within one year of award. For further information on indirect costs, refer to the applicable OMB cost principles circular available at <www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars>.

III.F. Environmental and Cultural Resources Compliance All projects being considered for award funding will require compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) before any ground-disturbing activity may begin. Compliance with all applicable state, Federal and local environmental, cultural, and paleontological resource protection laws and regulations is also required. These may include, but are not limited to, the Clean Water Act (CWA), the ESA, NHPA, consultation with potentially affected tribes, and consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office.

Reclamation will be the lead Federal agency for NEPA compliance and will be responsible for evaluating technical information and ensuring that natural resources, cultural, and socioeconomic concerns are appropriately addressed. As the lead agency, Reclamation is solely responsible for determining the appropriate level of NEPA compliance. Further, Reclamation is responsible to ensure that findings under NEPA, and consultations, as appropriate, will support Reclamation’s decision on whether to fund a project. Environmental and cultural resources compliance costs are part of an applicant’s cost share. These costs will be considered in the ranking of applications.

Under no circumstances may an applicant begin any ground-disturbing activities (including grading, clearing, and other preliminary activities) on a project before environmental and cultural resources compliance is complete and Reclamation explicitly authorizes work to proceed. This pertains to all components of the proposed project, including those that are part of the applicant’s non-federal cost share. Reclamation will provide a successful applicant with information once such compliance is complete. An applicant that proceeds before environmental and cultural resources compliance is complete may risk forfeiting Reclamation funding under this FOA.

III.G. Requirements for Agricultural Operations In accordance with Section 9504(a)(3)(B) of Public Law 111-11, grants and cooperative agreements under this authority will not be awarded for an improvement to conserve irrigation water unless the applicant agrees to both of the following conditions:

· Not to use any associated water savings to increase the total irrigated acreage of the eligible applicant; and

· Not to otherwise increase the consumptive use of water in the operation of the eligible applicant, as determined pursuant to the law of the State in which the operation of the eligible applicant is located.

III.H. Other Requirements Applicants shall adhere to Federal, state, territorial, and local laws, regulations, and codes, as applicable, and shall obtain all required approvals and permits. Applicants shall also coordinate and obtain approvals from site owners and operators.

III.H.1. Title to Improvements In accordance with Section 9504(a)(3)(D) of Public Law 111-11, If the activities funded through an agreement awarded under this FOA result in a modification to a portion of a federally owned facility that is integral to the existing operations of that facility, the Federal government shall continue to hold title to the facility and the improvements thereto. Title to improvements that are not integral to existing water delivery operations shall reside with the project sponsor.

III.H.2. Liability In accordance with Public Law 111-11, Section 9504(a)(3)(F), the following applies for liability:

In General—Except as provided under chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (commonly known as the “Federal Tort Claims Act”), the United States shall not be liable for monetary damages of any kind for any injury arising out of an act, omission, or occurrence that arises in relation to any facility created or improved through an agreement awarded under this FOA, the title of which is not held by the United States.

Tort Claims Act—Nothing in this section increases the liability of the United States beyond that provided in chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (commonly known as the “Federal Tort Claims Act”).

III.H.3. System for Award Management (SAM) All applicants must be registered in the System for Awards Management (SAM) prior to award under this FOA. Instructions for registering for SAM are located at <https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM>. All applicants must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times while they have an active Federal grant award or an application under consideration.

SECTION IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

IV.A. Address to Request Application Package This document contains all information, forms, and electronic addresses required to obtain the information required for submission of an application.

If you are unable to access this information electronically, you can request paper copies of any of the documents referenced in this FOA by contacting:

Attn: Diana Blake, LC-10104 P O Box 61470 Boulder City NV 89006

Phone: 702-293-8550 IV.B. Application Submission Date and Delivery Instructions IV.B.1. Submission Date and Time Applicants shall submit an original of all proposal documents, unless submitted electronically. Proposals will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. MST on January 27, 2015.

Please note that any application submitted to Reclamation for grant funding may be subjected to a Freedom of Information Act request (5 United States Code § 552, as Amended by Public Law No. 110-175), and as a result, may be made publicly available. Reclamation, in consultation with the recipient regarding any necessary redactions, will make successful applications publically available.

IV.B.2. Application Delivery Instructions Applications may be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov or hard copies may be submitted to either one of the following addresses.

Attn: Diana Blake, LC-10104

Attn: Diana Blake, LC-10104 500 Fir Street Boulder City NV 89005 Telephone: 702-293-8550

IV.C. Instructions for Submission of Application Each applicant shall submit an application in accordance with the instructions contained in this section.

IV.C.1. Applications Submitted by Mail Please follow these instructions to submit your application by mail.

· Applicants shall submit an original of all application documents for hardcopy submissions.

· Please only staple or binder clip documents submitted.

· Hard copy applications may be submitted by mail or express methods to the addresses listed in Section IV.B.1., above.

· Do not include a cover letter or company literature/brochure with the application. All pertinent information must be included in the application package.

IV.C.2. Applications Submitted Electronically If the applicant chooses to submit an electronic application it must be submitted through Grants.gov at <www.grants.gov>. Reclamation encourages applicants to submit their applications for funding electronically through <http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp>. Applicant resource documents and a full set of instructions for registering with Grants.gov and completing and submitting applications online are available at: <http://www.grants.gov/applicants/resources.jsp>.

· Please note that submission of an application electronically requires prior registration through Grants.gov, which may take 7-21 days. Please see registration instructions at <www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp>.

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

If the applicant submits a proposal via www.grants.gov electronic filing, please notify Reclamation by sending an email to Diana Blake at dmblake@usbr.gov, so that the proposal is not missed. However the email to Ms. Blake does not serve as submission of the applications it is still the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the proposal is received by Reclamation either through grants.gov or hard copy by the due date.

Regardless of the delivery method used, you must ensure that your proposal arrives by the date and time deadline stated in Section IV.B.1., above.

IV.C.3. Application Format and Length The Project Narrative/Technical Proposal shall be limited to fifteen (15), one sided, single spaced, 8-1/2 X 11 inch pages, excluding any forms required in these instructions. The font used should be easy to read and at least 11 points in size. The Standard Form 424 (used as the cover sheet), Assurances (Standard Form 424B or D, as applicable), Budget Form (Standard Form 424A or C), blank pages, title pages, blueprints, Appendices, environmental compliance documentation, budget narrative, funding plans, and table of content pages, will not be counted towards the fifteen (15) page limit. All pages shall be consecutively numbered, including tables, appendices, and exhibits.

Do not include a cover letter, organization literature, and/or brochures with your proposal. Do not place proposals in binders or plastic.

Applications will be prescreened for compliance to the page number limitations. If the proposal narrative exceeds fifteen pages, only the fifteen pages will be evaluated.

IV.C.4. Application Content The application must include the following elements to be considered complete:

1. SF-424 Application cover page

1. SF-424A or SF-424C Budget Information Form (as applicable to project)

1. SF-424B or SF-424D Assurances (as applicable to the project) SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-424C and SF-424D forms may be obtained at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15\

1. Project Narrative/Technical Proposal and Evaluation Criteria (limited to 15 pages)

1. Environmental and Cultural Resources Compliance

1. Project Budget

5. Budget Proposal

5. Budget Narrative

5. Funding Plan and Letters of Commitment

a. SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance Cover Page The proposal cover page shall consist of a fully completed SF 424 - Application for Federal Assistance. This fully completed form must be signed by a person legally authorized to commit the applicant to performance of the project. Failure to submit a properly signed SF-424 may result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

b. SF-424 Budget Forms (SF-424A or C, as applicable to the project)

· For Non-Construction Projects, submit an SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs.

· For Construction Projects, submit an SF-424C, Budget Information – Construction Programs.

· For projects comprised of both construction and non-construction aspects, submit only the SF-424C, Budget Information – Construction Programs.

c. SF-424 Assurances (SF-424B or D, as applicable to the project)

· For Non-Construction Projects, submit an SF-424B, Assurances – Non-Construction Programs.

· For Construction Projects, submit an SF-424D, Assurances – Construction Programs.

· If your project is comprised of both construction and non-construction aspects, submit the SF-424D, Assurances – Construction Programs only.

This form must be signed by a person legally authorized to commit the applicant to performance of the project.

d. Project Narrative/Technical Proposal and Evaluation Criteria (limited to 15 pages)

· On a separate line, on the first page of the Project Narrative, clearly identify which task area component will be addressed through the proposed activity/project. To ensure your proposal receives the points it deserves, applicants are strongly encouraged to explain how your proposed project relates to the Evaluation Criteria outlined in Section V. DO NOT attempt to address ALL of the criteria. Applicants must select the ONE task area component that most directly applies to the proposed activity/project and must address the criteria for that ONE selected area component. If your project has aspects of more than one emphasis area, you must choose which one is the better fit or best describes the primary reason for the project.

· Briefly discuss the background and location of your organization. Identify the purpose and objective of the proposed project, and identify whether the project is a component of an approved conservation or management plan.

· Describe – in detail –the technical work to be carried out. Applicants should break out the proposed work into major tasks/milestones, and discuss the approach and evaluation techniques that will be used to accomplish the proposed work. This discussion should provide sufficient detail to permit a comprehensive evaluation of the proposal and its outcomes. If applicable, include engineering plans, designs, and analyses as part of the proposal. These plans and designs should be included as an Appendix of the proposal. Multi-year applications should include such information for each year of the proposed activity.

· Project Schedule - Provide the anticipated schedule with milestone completion dates for the project by identifying the anticipated start and end dates of all major stages/tasks/milestones of the project proposal. Explain any variations from proposed start dates shown in Section II.D., under Anticipated Award Date. Multi-year applications should include such information for each year of the proposed activity.

· Performance Measures - Describe the anticipated benefit(s) and “performance measures” for each proposed task. Please quantify estimated water savings in acre feet per year and provide all information explaining how water savings was calculated and it can also include information about expected project life. The “performance measures” refer to the means by which the applicant will quantify actual project benefits, including water conserved, water better managed, or water marketed. Note: The performance measure(s) suggested in the proposal may be written into the award for future monitoring results. Estimates of expected project life should be included. Also, provide a detailed description of how the applicant will verify benefits achieved.

· Evaluation Criteria - See Section V for a detailed description of each criterion, subcriterion and points associated with each. The evaluation criteria portion of your application should thoroughly address each criterion and subcriterion in the order presented to assist in the complete and accurate evaluation of your proposal. It is suggested that applicants copy and paste the evaluation criteria and subcriteria in Section V into their applications to ensure that all necessary information is adequately addressed. As identified above, the applicant should only address criteria from the component that pertains to the proposed project.

· Potential Water Management Benefits - Reclamation is required to report on potential water management benefits resulting from its financial assistance. Each application shall identify as many benefits (shown below) that may apply to their proposed activity/project. The PROPOSAL SHALL DESCRIBE how the activity/project would achieve the benefit(s) and it must provide numerical estimates, where applicable. The following list provides some examples of benefits that, at a minimum, should be addressed:

· Reduces leaks and seepage - Estimated acre-feet per year

· Reduces system spills – Estimated acre-feet per year

· Saves Water/Makes more water available for other uses – Estimated acre-feet per year

· Reduces operation costs – Estimated savings per year in dollars

· Reduces energy costs - Estimated savings per year in dollars

· Reduces waste treatment costs - Estimated savings per year in dollars

· Improve crop yield – Estimated percent per year

· Reduces on-farm costs - Estimated savings per year in dollars

· Reduces per capita use - Estimated reduction in gallons per capita per day per year

· Provides technical training - Estimated number of participants per year

· Provides water conservation education - Estimated number of participants per year

· Improves water supply/delivery reliability – Describe increased water transmission efficiency

· Delays construction of new M&I facilities – Describe benefits

· Reduces drainage and erosion – Describe benefits

· Improves water quality – Describe benefits

· Enhances aquatic/riparian habitat – Describe benefits

· Protects/assists endangered species efforts – Describe benefits

Applicants can submit the attached Benefits Form to aid in completion of this requirement.

e. Environmental and Regulatory Compliance – Applicants are required to comply with all applicable state, Federal, and local environmental, cultural, and paleontological resource protection laws and regulations. These may include, but are not limited to, the NEPA, including the Council on Environmental Quality and Department of the Interior regulations implementing NEPA; the Clean Water Act; and the NHPA, which requires consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office; the ESA; and could require consultation with potentially affected Tribes.

Reclamation is the lead Federal agency for NEPA compliance for projects funded by this FOA. As the lead agency, Reclamation is solely responsible for determining the appropriate level of NEPA compliance, which could be a categorical exclusions checklist, environmental assessment, or environmental impact statement (EIS). However, a project partner (or their contractor) may provide much of the necessary information and data analyses.

In order to allow Reclamation to assess the probable environmental impacts and associated costs for each proposal, all applicants must respond to the following list of questions focusing on the requirements of NEPA, the ESA, and the NHPA. Please answer the following questions to the best of your knowledge. If any question is not applicable to your activity/project, please explain why. If you have any questions, please contact your local Reclamation office.

The following questions/items must be addressed to receive any points for the Environmental and Regulatory Compliance criterion:

(1) Will your activity/project impact the surrounding environment (i.e. soil [dust], air, water [quality and quantity], animal habitat, etc.)? It is especially important to address this if any activities will be performed that include surface disturbance—this includes access points and roads. If so, please explain the impacts and any steps that could be taken to minimize the impacts.

(2) Are you aware of any species listed or proposed to be listed as a Federal threatened or endangered species, or designated critical habitat in the project area? If so, would they be affected by any activities associated with the proposed project?

(3) Are there wetlands or other surface waters inside the activity/project boundaries that potentially fall under Clean Water Act jurisdiction as “waters of the United States”? If so, please estimate and describe any impact your activity/project will have.

(4) If the project affects any structures, when were the structures constructed? Facilities, including irrigation systems, dams, etc., that are 50 years old or older meet the minimum basic requirement for consideration for eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Your answers to this will help us understand whether this applies to the proposed project.

(5) If your activity/project will affect individual features of an irrigation system (e.g., headgates, canals or flumes), state when those features were constructed and describe the nature and timing of any extensive alterations or modifications to those features completed previously.

(6) Are any buildings, structures, or features in your irrigation district listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places? A cultural resources specialist at your local Reclamation office or the State Historic Preservation Office can assist you in answering this question, if needed.

(7) Are there any known cultural resources sites in the proposed activity/project area?

(8) Will the project have a disproportionately high and adverse effect on low income or minority populations?

(9) Have any NEPA documents, biological assessments, biological opinions, cultural reports already been prepared for this action (e.g. programmatic EA or EIS, biological opinion, etc.) or similar actions in the area? If yes, please identify.

(10) Applicants must obtain all required approvals and permits, and shall coordinate and obtain any approvals required from site owners and operators. Please state whether any other Federal (e.g. 401, 404, etc.), state, county, municipality permits or approvals are required and explain the applicant’s plan for obtaining such permits or approvals.

(11) Project Location should be provided, including a legal description with Section, Township, Range, State, County and City where the activity or project will take place. Also, USGS topographic map(s), other land status map(s), engineering drawing(s)/plat map(s), vicinity, plan view, and elevation depictions may be required in order to establish the area and scope of the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the activity or project.

Answers provided to the above questions will aid in the completion of this important requirement.

Environmental compliance must be completed for all projects selected for award, no matter how slight the disturbance of the environment appears. Under no circumstances may an applicant begin any ground-disturbing activities (including grading, clearing, and other preliminary activities) on a project before environmental compliance is complete and Reclamation explicitly authorizes work to proceed. This pertains to all components of the proposed project, including those that are part of the applicant’s non-federal cost share. An applicant that proceeds before environmental compliance is complete may risk forfeiting Reclamation funding under this FOA.

f. Funding Plan and Letter of Commitment Information – The proposal shall include a funding plan that describes how the non-federal share of the activity/project costs and/or resources will be obtained. This includes whether the applicant has budgeted for the cost of the project and what budgeted funds will be used. Reclamation will use this information in making a determination of financial capability. Applicants must be able to fund at least 50 percent of the activity/project total costs with non-federal funding and provide documentation showing the sources of non-federal funding that totals 50 percent or more of the total activity/project costs. Additionally, if the activity/project funding is being provided by other than the applicant, the applicant shall submit letter(s) of commitment from each additional source.

Letters of commitment shall identify the following elements: 1) the amount of funding commitment; 2) the date the funds will be available to the applicant; 3) any time constraints on the availability of funds, and 4) any other contingencies associated with the funding commitment. Commitment letters from all third party funding sources should be submitted with your project application. Cost share funding from sources outside the applicant’s organization (e.g., loans or state grants) should be secured and available to the applicant prior to grant award.

g. Project Budget – The activity/project budget shall clearly identify all activity/project costs and the funding source, i.e., Reclamation, or other funding sources. An example of an acceptable budget format is included in Section VIII.B. The budget narrative should include the following categories: 1) Salaries and Wages, 2) Fringe Benefits, 3) Travel, 4) Equipment, 5) Supplies, 6) Consultants/Contractual Costs, 7) Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Costs, and 8) Other Expenses. If the projects does not includes costs in one of these categories, list it and show it as not applicable. NOTE: If the proposal is accepted for award, detailed information about estimated costs will be required to complete the grant agreement. Please keep all documentation available from budget estimates and quotes for this purpose. You may also submit the information with the proposal.

· Indirect Costs – Indirect costs are those costs that are not directly attributable to the project (such as for computing, maintenance, security, administrative support) because they are incurred in joint usage. If the applicant chooses to include indirect costs, the proposal must show the proposed rate, cost base, and proposed amount for allowable indirect costs based on the applicable OMB circular cost principles for the applicant's organization. It is acceptable for the applicant to pay for indirect costs outside of the grant. It is not acceptable to incorporate indirect rates within other direct cost line items. If the applicant has separate rates for recovery of labor overhead, general, and administrative costs, each rate shall be shown. The applicant should propose rates for evaluation purposes that will be used as fixed or ceiling rates in any resulting award. Include a copy of any Federally-approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. If a federally approved indirect rate agreement is not available, provide supporting documentation for the rate. This can include a recent recommendation by a qualified certified public accountant (CPA) along with support for the rate calculation. Information on “Preparing and Submitting Indirect Cost Proposals” is available from the Department of the Interior, Interior Business Center, Indirect Cost Section, at http://www.doi.gov/ibc/services/indirect_cost_services/ICS_Services.cfm

SECTION V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

V.A. Proposal Evaluation Criteria All applications will be evaluated and selected on a competitive basis. During the evaluation process, all applications will be given a score based upon the overall merit of the proposals. The exact number of agreements to be funded will depend upon available funds. The evaluation criteria portion of your application should thoroughly address each of the following criterion and subcriterion in the order presented to assist in the complete and accurate evaluation of your proposal. (Note: it is suggested that applicants copy and paste the below applicable criteria and subcriteria into their proposal to ensure that all necessary information is adequately addressed).

The evaluation criteria are Reclamation-wide criteria. The criteria are intended to reflect a Reclamation-wide priority on actual water savings, water conservation planning, and on-the-ground efficiency improvements. The relative importance to be placed on the evaluation criteria is shown below. Proposals will be evaluated by the appropriate program officials in accordance with these criteria and the corresponding points assigned to each criterion.

The three task area components and amount of available evaluation points are:

1. Water Management Planning – 100 total points available

2. Implementation of Efficiency Measures – 95 total points available

3. Demonstration of Innovative Water Conservation Technologies – 90 total points available (See Section III.B. for more information on these task area components.)

In order to evaluate the proposal, the applicant must identify the task area component for the proposed activity/project. If there is more than one type of task area component in the proposed work, please select the ONE that depicts the primary purpose of the activity/project. The following are the types of task areas and prospective points available for each:

V.A.1. Water Management Planning – 100 Points Available:

a. Association with Reclamation Project Water Supplies--This criterion addresses the applicant’s relationship with Reclamation projects. Priority is given to water user entities that receive water supplies from Reclamation projects or have water contracts with Reclamation. The applicant should explain its tie to a Reclamation project activity and specify Reclamation’s water supply contract number, if applicable. (up to 23 points)

b. Reasonableness of cost--

Please provide the following ratio calculation for total project cost to annual acre-feet conserved (or better managed), and the expected life of the improvement:

Total Project Cost (Acre-Feet Conserved or Better Managed x Improvement Life)

(up to 22 points)

c. Likelihood that the proposed activity/project would be completed by applicant if no Federal funding is available. This criterion addresses whether the proposal demonstrates what impact the lack of Federal assistance would have on the proposed work, including impact on the applicant’s water management or water conservation program. (up to 10 points)

d. Amount and sources of non-federal funding above and beyond required 50%(i.e., cost share)--This criterion evaluates whether the proposal discusses the recipient’s cost share percentage for its non-federal funding or in-kind services and whether the cost share funds are secure. The applicant’s proposal shall include a funding plan that describes how the non-Reclamation share of the activity/project costs has been obtained. Reclamation will use this information in making a determination of financial capability. (up to 2 points)

e. Potential issues related to environmental and cultural resources compliance—this criterion evaluates whether or not the…