Advisory Committee Coordination Support for the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3 seeks a single eligible recipient organization to provide comprehensive coordination and logistical support for the Chesapeake Bay Program's four Advisory Committees: the Stakeholders' Advisory Committee, Local Government Advisory Committee, Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee, and Agricultural Advisory Committee. Eligible applicants include Indian Tribes, state and local governments, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. The recipient must facilitate quarterly meetings and annual in-person gatherings for each committee, provide administrative support, coordinate scientific research priorities and technical workshops, and maintain compliance with a 10 percent administrative cost cap and minimum 5 percent cost share requirement. Evaluation criteria total 100 points, weighted across project scope and approach (40 points), results (15 points), programmatic capability and past performance (20 points), and budget and internal controls (25 points). Applications are due May 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET through Grants.gov, with anticipated selection notification in May 2026 and award notification in July 2026.

The cooperative agreement will award up to $2,450,000 over a five-year project period, with estimated annual funding of $450,000 in Year 1 increasing to $530,000 by Year 5, with Activity 1 allocated up to $2,175,000 and Activity 2 allocated up to $275,000. Personnel and fringe benefits for the two coordinator positions are capped at $250,000 in Year 1. All funded activities must directly support the Chesapeake Bay watershed encompassing portions of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C., with performance expected throughout the watershed region and associated tributaries.