Youth NOFO_2023_508.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity No. R23AS00166

Reclamation Youth Interns and Resource Assistants Master Cooperative Agreement

U.S. Department of the Interior May 2023

Mission Statements

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

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

Cover photo: Rio Grande, New Mexico. Reclamation

Synopsis Federal Agency Name: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Funding Opportunity Title: Reclamation Youth Interns and Resource Assistants Master Cooperative

Agreement Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Funding Opportunity Number:

R23AS00166

Assistance Number: 15.546 Dates:

(See NOFO Sec. D.4)

Application due date:

Tuesday, September 26, 2023, 4:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time

Eligible Applicants:

(See NOFO Sec. C.1)

Applicants eligible to receive financial assistance to fund activities under this NOFO include nonprofit organizations.

Applicants eligible to apply under this NOFO include nonprofit organizations capable of recruiting qualified youth interns for positions located at Reclamation offices and facilities. Reclamation offices and facilities are generally located within Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, Utah, and Washington and Washington DC.

Recipient Cost-Share:

(See NOFO Sec. C.2)

In subsequent task order agreements, 25% or more of the total costs of each participant who has been recruited and placed through the recipient organization.

Federal Funding Amount:

(See NOFO Sec. B.1)

The amount of funding available for awards under this NOFO will depend on the demand for funding.

Estimated Number of Agreements to be Awarded:

(See NOFO Sec. B.1)

Approximately 10-15 master cooperative agreements are estimated to be awarded.

Intergovernmental Review:

(See NOFO Sec. D.5)

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

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

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

Mandatory Application Components: Required content Page

Mandatory Federal Forms:

• SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance

(Office of Management and Budget [OMB])

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

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

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

Project Narrative Attachment Form (Technical Proposal and Evaluation Criteria)

Budget Narrative Attachment Form 15

Recommended Application Components: Required content Page

Required permits or approvals

Overlap or duplication of effort statement Section D.2.8 16

Conflict of interest disclosure statement Section D.2.9 16

Uniform audit reporting statement Section D.2.10 17

SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable)

(OMB)

Section D.2.10 17

Letter of Funding Commitment i

This page is intentionally left blank.

Acronyms and Abbreviations ASAP Automated Standard Application for Payments ARC Application Review Committee CE Categorical Exclusion CEC Categorical Exclusion Checklist CFDA Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance CFR Code of Federal Regulations CWA Clean Water Act CWMP Cooperative Watershed Management Program Department U.S. Department of the Interior (also DOI) EA Environmental Assessment EIN Employer Identification Number EIS Environmental Impact Statement E.O. Executive Order ESA Endangered Species Act FAIN Federal Award Identification Number FAPIIS Federal Award Performance Integrity Information System FGDC Federal Geospatial Data Committee FOIA Freedom of Information Act FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact IBC Interior Business Center GIS Geographic Information System IBC Interior Business Center MCA Master Cooperative Agreement MST Mountain Standard Time NAICS North American Industry Classification System NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NHPA National Historic Preservation Act NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOFO Notice of Funding Opportunity NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service OMB Office of Management and Budget P.L. Public Law PSC Product Service Code Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation SAM System for Award Management SF Standard Form SPOC Single Point of Contact UEI Unique Entity Identifier U.S.C. United States Code USACE United States Army Corp of Engineers USDA United States Department of Agriculture USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service West Western United States iii

Contents Page

Application Checklist ...................................................................................................................... i Acronyms and Abbreviations ....................................................................................................... iii Section A: Program Description

A.1. Authority A.2. Background and Program Requirements A.3. Notice of Funding Opportunity Purpose and Objectives A.3.1. Purpose A.3.2. Objectives A.3.3. Definitions

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

Section C. Eligibility Information C.1. Eligible Applicants C.2. Ineligible Applicants C.3. Cost Sharing or Matching C.4. Other

Section D. Application and Submission Information D.1. Address to Request Application Package D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) D.4. Submission Date and Time D.5. Intergovernmental Review

Section E: Application Review Information E.1. Technical Proposal: Evaluation Criteria E.2. Review and Selection Process E.3. Federal Award Performance Integrity E.4. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

Section F: Federal Award Administration Information F.1. Federal Award Notices F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements F.3. Reporting Requirements and Distribution F.4. Disclosures F.5. Data Availability (2 CFR §1402.315)

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

Section A. Program Description

Section A: Program Description

A.1. Authority This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is issued under the authority of the Public Lands Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. §1721-1730), as amended by the John D. Dingell, Jr., Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019.

A.2. Background and Program Requirements The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is the largest wholesaler of water in the country and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the western United States. Our mission is to assist in meeting the increasing water demands of the West while protecting the environment and the public's investment in our 58 power plants. Reclamation also plays a major role in meeting the increasing public demands for water-based outdoor recreation facilities and opportunities. The 289 recreation areas developed as a result of Reclamation water projects are among the Nation’s most popular for water-based outdoor recreation.

Reclamation projects include approximately 6.5 million acres of land and water that is, for the most part, available for public outdoor recreation.

Reclamation is committed to providing educational and work opportunities to youth so they can gain a better understanding of Reclamation’s role in conserving water and power resources. Additionally, Reclamation wants to provide opportunities for youth to be involved in conserving Reclamation’s natural and cultural resources and recreational opportunities.

Meaningful experiences such as these provide an opportunity for these youth to develop professional and life skills as well as an increased awareness of environmental ethics and stewardship.

Reclamation has an opportunity to partner with multiple qualified nonprofit organization(s) to build and grow youth Public Lands Corps programs. Substantial involvement between Reclamation and successful applicants is anticipated during the performance of the resulting Master Cooperative Agreements (MCAs) and subsequent Task Agreements.

The nonprofit organization(s) will have (at a minimum) the following responsibilities:

• Recruit, screen, place, and pay participants based on an approved work description and cost amount.

• Supply eligible and qualified candidates appropriate to project work. Eligible candidates are defined per project and are restricted to U.S. Citizens and legal residents between the ages of 16 and 30 years of age, and veterans up to 35 years of age. Note: Resource assistant candidates must be at least 17 years of age.

• Screen applicants and forwards qualified applicants to Reclamation for review and consideration.

• Use funds provided by Reclamation for recruiting, screening, enrolling, and administering payroll and benefits for selected participants. Administrative functions also include processing training and travel reimbursements for all required and/or approved travel and training.

• Provide payroll, time record maintenance, record keeping, and administrative support to participants.

• Provide orientation to the new enrollees on administration of payroll, benefits, and other procedures and protocol of the participant’s program. Address all questions and provide guidance pertaining to these matters.

• Ensure participants are notified of acceptance, receive a copy of the position description, and reporting dates.

• Participants may be authorized to use government owned vehicles to conduct official government business. Participants can work between assisting Reclamation on various mission-focused projects.

• Adhere to Federal, State, tribal, territorial, and local laws, regulations, and codes, as applicable, and shall obtain all required approvals and permits.

• Report on the status of the project on a regular basis. Failure to comply with reporting requirements may result in the recipient being removed from consideration for funding under future funding opportunities. See Section F.3. Reporting Requirements and Distribution for more information.

Restrictions include:

• MCA recipients shall not publicize or otherwise circulate promotional material (such as advertisements, sales brochures, press releases, speeches, still and motion pictures, articles, manuscripts or other publications) which states or implies governmental, Departmental, bureau, or government employee endorsement of a product, service, or position which the recipient represents. No release of information relating to an MCA or

Task Agreement may state or imply that the Government approves of the recipient’s work products or considers the recipient’s work product to be superior to other products.

• All information submitted for publication or other public releases of information regarding this project shall carry the following disclaimer: “The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government.”

• Recipients must obtain prior Government approval for any public information releases concerning an MCA or Task Agreement which refer to the Department of the Interior (Department or DOI) or any bureau or employee (by name or title). The specific text, layout photographs, etc. of the proposed release must be submitted with the request for approval.

Reclamation will:

• Collaborate and participate with recipients to create and manage educational and job training opportunities.

• Develop position descriptions in conjunction with the nonprofit organization(s). Selection of qualified applicants is done in cooperation with the designated Reclamation Program Manager and assigned Technical Advisor (This person oversees the work activities of one or more participants and verifies the participant’s time sheet).

• Make recommendation on selection to the nonprofit organization for placement.

A.3. Notice of Funding Opportunity Purpose and Objectives

A.3.1. Purpose

Reclamation would like to invite nonprofit organizations to leverage their money and resources by cost-sharing the recruitment and placement of Public Lands Corps individual placements into Corps, youth, and resource assistant internship programs to:

• build understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural resources;

• further the development and maintenance of these resources by America’s youth;

• prepare the next generation for the ultimate responsibility of maintaining and managing these resources for the American people; and

• provide relevant work experience in Reclamation’s mission-critical occupations.

This program will support the following administrative priorities and legislative initiatives:

• The John D. Dingell, Jr., Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act

• Biden-Harris President’s Management Agenda, Priority 1: Strengthening and Empowering the Federal Workforce

• The John S. McCain III 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act

• The Public Lands Corps Act

• Indian Youth Service Corps

• The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

• The Inflation Reduction Act

• Justice40

• Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce

Establishing these MCAs will support the following priorities of the Secretary of the Interior:

• Identifying steps to accelerate responsible development of renewable energy on public lands and waters.

• Strengthening the government-to-government relationship with sovereign Tribal Nations.

• Making investments to support the Administration’s goal of creating millions of family-supporting and union jobs.

• Working to conserve at least 30 percent each of our lands and waters by the year 2030.

• Centering equity and environmental justice.

A.3.2. Objectives

The objective(s) of this NOFO is to award MCAs to the selected nonprofit entitles to enter into a 5-year partnership, providing an efficient mechanism for funding youth and/or resource assistant intern projects.

Reclamation youth program participants will gain on-the-job experience in environmental education, community service, or natural and cultural resource management through placements lasting from 2 weeks to 1 year. Participants will engage in projects that address some of the most https://www.doi.gov/ourpriorities critical conservation issues on Reclamation land, including engineering, environmental education, ecological restoration, species preservation, fuels treatments, research and monitoring activities provide critical support to program/specialist capacities, and species preservation.

Some projects may be technological or administrative but will retain a clear and direct connection to natural and cultural resource conservation.

Reclamation hopes to partner with MCA awardees to build upon current youth programs to develop, pilot, and implement new youth programs, to include (but not limited to):

• Reclamation’s Direct Hire Authority for Resource Assistant Internship Program;

• Public Lands Corps Program; and

• Indian Youth Service Corps Program.

A.3.3. Definitions

Master Cooperative Agreement – An MCA is an agreement with a non-Federal entity in which more than one project is anticipated. This type of cooperative agreement includes a detailed description of all types of work that can be done under the agreement. The MCA will also establish the overarching terms and conditions agreed to by Reclamation and the non-Federal entity and are not funded. Specific projects and funding under an MCA are identified through Task Agreements, which are issued under the applicable legal authority documented in the MCA. A specific Task Agreement will always reference, and be subject to, the terms and conditions of the MCA.

Section B. Federal Award Information

Section B: Federal Award Information

B.1. Total Funding

An award of one or more MCAs will be made as a result of this competitive NOFO. MCAs will remain in effect for 5 years. The period of performance for individual projects executed via individual Task Agreements ) will vary.

Under an MCA, Reclamation and the recipient will cooperatively develop individual Task Agreements that have detailed project descriptions and budgets, detailing any required cost-share allocation and the amount of funding to be provided by Reclamation. There is no guarantee of a set number of projects or funding.

Notification of a successful proposal does not constitute authority to incur costs. Only a Task Agreement issued by Reclamation and signed by a Reclamation Grants Officer GO ) obligates Reclamation funds. Costs incurred prior to receipt of a signed MCA and subsequent Task Agreement may not be reimbursed. Once the MCA and Task Agreement are signed by a Reclamation GO, the recipient may incur costs as specified in the approved budget.

B.2. Expected Award Amount

Total available funding has not been determined. Project funding will be available on a Task Agreement basis as specific positions for youth program participants are identified by Reclamation. See Section B.1. for more information.

Awarding of an MCA under this NOFO does not guarantee an award of funding. Costs incurred prior to receipt of a signed MCA and Task Agreement may not be reimbursed. Once an MCA and subsequent Task Agreement are signed by a Reclamation GO, the recipient may incur costs as specified in the approved budget.

The maximum award amount in Federal funds may be awarded to an applicant over the 5-year period will vary based on Task Agreements and number of project participants. East project Task Agreement will require an agreeable budget in place prior to executing project or funding. See Section C.3. Cost Sharing Requirements for cost share information.

B.3. Expected Award Funding and Anticipated Dates Anticipated Award Date: Spring 2024 Reclamation expects to contact potential award recipients and unsuccessful applicants in the Fall of 2023 (or later if necessary), subject to the timing of final fiscal year 2024 appropriations.

B.4. Number of Awards Approximately 10-15 MCAs are expected be awarded under this NOFO.

B.5. Type of Award Project awards will be made through master cooperative agreements. As funding becomes available for potential projects, individual Task Agreements will be prepared under the master cooperative agreement(s) without further competition.

Under cooperative agreements, the successful applicant should expect Reclamation to have substantial involvement in the project:

• Describing the goals and parameters of each Task Agreement, and jointly developing the scope and the activities to be accomplished.

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

• Providing the services of a Program Manager to serve as liaison to (the non-Federal entity) for the work under this agreement. This includes consulting and working specifically with the non-Federal entity’s program coordinator and team leaders on recruiting, interviewing, and recommending appropriate candidates.

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

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

Agency Contacts.

Section C. Eligibility Information

Section C: Eligibility Information

C.1. Eligible Applicants Applicants eligible to apply under this NOFO include nonprofit organizations capable of recruiting qualified youth program participants for positions located at Reclamation offices and facilities nationwide. Reclamation offices and facilities are generally located within Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, Utah, and Washington and Washington DC.

In accordance with 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §200.70, a nonprofit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization, not including institutions of higher education that:

a) Is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest;

b) Is not organized primarily for profit; and

c) Uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operations of the organization.

Preference may be given to applicant organizations who demonstrate the ability to recruit individuals enrolled in an institution of higher education as well as women and participants from historically Black, Hispanic, and Native American schools.

Note: The Application Review Committee (ARC) (see Section E.2.2. Application Review Committee has the discretion to determine which group an applicant is eligible for.

C.2. Ineligible Applicants Those not eligible include, but are not limited to, the following entities:

• Federal Governmental Entities

• For Profit

• Institutes of Higher Education

C.3. Cost Sharing or Matching Under this NOFO, in subsequent Task Agreements of MCA recipients, 25 percent or more of the total costs of each participant in the program who has been recruited and placed through the recipient organization. The Federal share (Reclamation’s share in addition to any other sources of Federal funding) for any MCA Task Agreement shall not exceed 75 percent of the total costs.

Generally, the non-Federal share of costs must be expended at the same or greater rate as the Federal share of costs. All cost-share contributions must meet the applicable administrative and cost principles criteria established in 2 CFR Part 200.

In-kind contributions constitute the value of noncash contributions that benefit the federally assisted project (e.g., youth intern program, resource assistant intern program, etc.). 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. Applicants should refer to 2 CFR §200.434 for regulations regarding the valuation of in-kind donations and contributions, available at www.ecfr.gov.

C.3.1. Third-Party In-Kind Contributions 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 cost-share requirement for an MCA Task Agreement.

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

http://www.ecfr.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/exclusions https://sam.gov/content/exclusions

Section D. Application and Submission Information

Section D: Application and Submission Information

D.1. Address to Request Application Package

This NOFO contains all the information, forms, and electronic addresses required to submit an application. If you are unable to access this information electronically, you may request paper copies of any of the documents referenced in this NOFO by emailing the Financial Assistance NOFO Operations Section staff at bor-sha-fafoa@usbr.gov. All of the required application forms are available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov.

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

All applications must conform to the requirements described in this section.

D.2.1. Application Format and Length

To facilitate fair and timely reviews by the ARC, it is highly recommended that application packages be structured in the order identified above. Applications will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete or noncompliant applications, or applications not meeting the formatting criteria or not including required materials will be eliminated from competition.

The total technical proposal and criteria section (defined below) shall be limited to a maximum of 70 consecutively numbered pages. If this section exceeds 70 pages, only the first 70 pages will be evaluated. The font shall be at least 12 points in size and easily readable. Page size shall be 8½ by 11 inches, including charts, maps, and drawings. Margins should be standard 1-inch margins. Oversized pages will not be accepted.

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

mailto:bor-sha-fafoa@usbr.gov https://Grants.gov

Application Content The application must include the following elements to be considered complete:

D.2.2. Mandatory Federal Forms The application must include the following standard Federal forms. Questions regarding forms should be referred to the Financial Assistance Point of Contact under Section G.1 “Reclamation Financial Assistance Contact.”

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

SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance A fully completed SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance form signed by a person legally authorized to commit the applicant to performance of the project must be submitted with the application. Applications that fail to include a SF-424 by the submission deadline will be considered ineligible and will not pass initial screening.

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

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

SF-424A Budget Information Form A fully completed SF-424A Budget Information – Nonconstuction Program must be submitted with the application.

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

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

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

Technical Proposal and Evaluation Criteria Content Submission of a technical proposal and evaluation criteria (limited to 70 pages) is mandatory and must be received by the application deadline. While an application will not be removed from consideration if the technical proposal does not address each of the following, it is highly http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html recommended that applicants address each component listed below to ensure that your proposal is competitive.

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

D.2.3. Title Page Provide a brief, informative, and descriptive title for the proposed work that indicates the nature of the project. Include the name and address of the applicant, and the name and address, email address, and telephone of the Project Manager.

D.2.4. Table of Contents List all major sections of the proposal in the table of contents.

D.2.5. Executive Summary The executive summary should include:

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

• A one paragraph summary of the purpose of the organization. Describe the mission and history of your organization, including when the organization was established, why it was formed, membership, and any significant accomplishments.

• A description of the geographic area served by the organization. Provide a map of the area(s) served by your organization showing the geographic boundaries of the service area. If your service area is nationwide, a map does not need to be provided.

• Identify any past working relationships with Reclamation, other Federal Agencies or non- Federal partner. This should include the date(s), description of prior relationships, and a description of the project(s), facility(s), or activity(s)

D.2.6. Evaluation Criteria

Section E.1. Technical Proposal: Evaluation Criteria provides a detailed description of each criterion and weight associated with each. The evaluation criteria narrative portion of your application should thoroughly address each criterion in the order presented to assist in the complete and accurate evaluation of your proposal.

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

Budget Narrative

Please note that the costs for preparing and submitting an application in response to this NOFO, including developing data necessary to support the proposal, are not eligible project costs under this NOFO and must not be included in the project budget. In addition, budget proposals must not include costs for the purchase of water or land, or to secure an easement other than a construction easement. These costs are not eligible project costs under this NOFO.

The total project cost is the sum of all allowable items of costs, including all required cost sharing and voluntary committed cost sharing, including third-party contributions, that are necessary to complete the project. Please include the following chart (Table 1) to summarize all funding sources. Denote in-kind contributions with an asterisk (*).

Table 1. —Summary of Non-Federal and Federal Funding Sources

FUNDING SOURCES AMOUNT

Non-Federal Entities

1. $

2. $

3. $

Non-Federal Subtotal $

REQUESTED RECLAMATION FUNDING $

Table 2. —Total Project Cost Table

SOURCE AMOUNT

Costs to be reimbursed with the requested Federal funding $ Costs to be paid by the applicant $ Value of third-party contributions $

TOTAL PROJECT COST $

Submission of a budget narrative is mandatory. The budget narrative provides detailed information on the items included in the budget Object Class Categories on the SF-424A (Task A projects) or Cost Classification categories identified on the SF-424C (Task B projects). The budget narrative must clearly identify all items of cost (total estimated project cost), including those that will be contributed as non-Federal cost share by the applicant (required and voluntary), third-party in-kind contributions, and those that will be covered using the funding requested from Reclamation, and any requested pre-award costs. The types of information to describe in the narrative may include, but are not limited to, those identified in the Budget Narrative Guidance attached to this NOFO (Attachment A). Applicants may elect to use the Budget Detail and Narrative spreadsheet (Attachment B to this NOFO) for their budget narrative.

Costs, including the valuation of third-party in-kind contributions, must comply with the applicable cost principles contained in 2 CFR Part 200, available at the electronic CFR (www.ecfr.gov).

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecfr.gov%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cskeiffer%40usbr.gov%7Cf52f1eef1df94c82eecf08db1f5cee76%7C0693b5ba4b184d7b9341f32f400a5494%7C0%7C0%7C638138256213902305%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BUa5gT7JbZFStJv7TZ5%2FgOLXrYgMuqfUYoSZg6B1iWI%3D&reserved=0

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

Failure to submit a completed Project Budget will result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

Pre-Award Costs Costs incurred prior to receipt of a signed MCA and subsequent Task Agreement may not be reimbursed. Once the MCA and Task Agreement are signed by a Reclamation GO, the recipient may incur costs as specified in the approved budget. In no case will pre-award costs incurred prior to the receipt of a signed MCA and subsequent Task Agreement be considered.

Please note that the costs for preparing and submitting an application in response to this NOFO, including the development of data necessary to support the proposal, are not eligible project costs under this NOFO and must not be included in the project budget.

D.2.7. Indirect Costs You may include indirect costs that will be incurred during the development or construction of a project, which will not otherwise be recovered, as part of your project budget. Show the proposed rate, cost base, and proposed amount for allowable indirect costs based on the applicable cost principles for your organization. It is not acceptable to simply incorporate indirect rates within other direct cost line items.

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

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

If the proposed project is selected for award, the successful applicant will be required to submit an indirect cost rate proposal with their cognizant agency within 3 months of award. The Federal awarding agency that provides the largest amount of direct funding to your organization is your cognizant agency for indirect costs, unless otherwise assigned by OMB. If DOI is your organization’s cognizant agency, the Interior Business Center (IBC) will negotiate your indirect cost rate. Contact the IBC by phone 9169303803 or email at ICS@ibc.doi.gov. Visit their website https://ibc.doi.gov/ICS/icrna, for information regarding email submission forms.

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

D.2.8. Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement Applicants should provide a statement that addresses if there is any overlap between the proposed project and any other active or anticipated proposals or projects in terms of activities, costs, or commitment of key personnel. If any overlap exists, applicants must provide a description of the overlap in their application for review.

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

D.2.9. Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement Conflict of Interest Disclosure Per the Financial Assistance Interior Regulation (FAIR), 2 CFR §1402.112, you should state in your application if any actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission.

Applicability

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

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

Notification

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

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

Restrictions on Lobbying

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

Review Procedures

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

Enforcement

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

D.2.10. Uniform Audit Reporting Statement All U.S. states, local governments, federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations expending $750,000 in U.S. dollars or more in Federal award funds in your organization’s fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System in accordance with 2 CFR §200 subpart F. U.S. state, local government, federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, and nonprofit applicants must state if your organization was or was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year. If your organization was required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year, provide the Employer Identification Number (EIN) associated with that report and state if it is available through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse website.

SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if Applicable)

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

https://harvester.census.gov/facides/Account/Login.aspx https://harvester.census.gov/facides/Account/Login.aspx https://harvester.census.gov/facdissem/Main.aspx https://harvester.census.gov/facdissem/Main.aspx

Letters of Funding Commitment

If a project is selected for award under this funding opportunity and cost share funding is anticipated to be provided by a source other than the applicant, the third-party cost share must be supported with letters of commitment prior to award. Letters of commitment should identify the following elements:

• The amount of funding commitment

• The date the funds will be available to the applicant

• Any time constraints on the availability of funds

• Any other contingencies associated with the funding commitment

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 not execute a financial assistance agreement until non-Federal funding has been secured or Reclamation determines that there is enough evidence and likelihood that non- Federal funds will be available to the applicant after executing the agreement.

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

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

• Be registered in SAM before submitting an application. Instructions for registering are available at https://sam.gov/content/home

• Provide a valid UEI in its application

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

Meeting the requirements set forth above is mandatory.

D.3.1. Register with the System for Award Management Each applicant must be registered in SAM before submitting an application.

Register on the SAM.gov website. “Help” tab on the website contains User Guides and other information to assist you with registration. The Grants.gov Register with SAM page also provides detailed instructions. You can also contact the supporting Federal Service Desk for help registering in SAM. Once registered in SAM, entities must renew and revalidate their SAM https://sam.gov/content/home https://sam.gov/content/home https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration registration at least once every 12 months from the date previously registered. Entities are strongly encouraged to revalidate their registration as often as needed to ensure their information is up to date and reflects changes that may have been to the entity’s Internal Revenue Service information.

See the “Submission Requirements” section of this document below for more information on SAM.gov registration.

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

NOTE: An organization’s SAM.gov registration process may take several weeks to complete, so please allow sufficient time to ensure applications are submitted before the closing date.

Applicants that do not have an active SAM registration will not be able to submit an electronic application in Grants.gov.

D.3.2. Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier You are required to register in SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) prior to submitting a Federal award application. A UEI will be assigned to entities upon registering in SAM.gov.

D.3.3. Maintain an Active SAM Registration and UEI Number Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. The Federal awarding agency may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

D.4. Submission Date and Time Due Date for Applications: Tuesday, September 26, 2023, 4:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time Applications must be submitted to Grants.gov no later than this due date and time.

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

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

D.4.1. Application Delivery Instructions Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) Under no circumstances will applications received through any other method ( such as email or fax be considered eligible for award.

D.4.2. Instructions for Submitting the Project Application Each applicant must submit an application in accordance with the instructions contained in this section.

Applications Submission

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

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

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

Applicants have experienced significant delays when attempting to submit applications through Grants.gov. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications 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 case number will provide evidence of your attempt to submit an application prior to the submission deadline.

Late applications will not be considered unless it is determined that a delay was caused by Reclamation mishandling or technical issues with the Grants.gov application system. Please note that difficulties related to an applicant’s Grants.gov profile (e.g., incorrect organizational representative), uploading documents to Grants.gov, or an applicant’s SAM registration are not considered technical issues with the Grants.gov system. To document a delay due to a technical issue in Grants.gov, you must furnish a Grants.gov helpdesk ticket number to sha-dro-fafoa@usbr.gov that validates the delay.

Acknowledgement of Application Receipt

Applicants will receive an email acknowledging receipt of the application from Grants.gov. In addition, you will receive an email acknowledgement when your application is successfully downloaded from Grants.gov.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/applicants/%20apply-for-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/applicants/%20apply-for-grants.html mailto:sha-dro-fafoa@usbr.gov mailto:sha-dro-fafoa@usbr.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov https://Grants.gov

D.5. Intergovernmental Review Prior to application submission, U.S. state and local government applicants should visit the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Office of Federal Financial Management website and view the “State Point of Contact (SPOC) List” to determine whether their application is subject to the state intergovernmental review process under Executive Order 12372 “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” States not on the list do not participate in the intergovernmental review process, and therefore do not have a SPOC. If you are located within a State that does not have a SPOC, you may send application materials directly to a Federal awarding agency.