Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- R26AS00052
- Agency
-
Bureau of Reclamation
Department of the Interior
- Applications due
- Award size
- $100,000 to $800,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement, Grant
- Category
-
- Natural Resources
- Eligible applicants
-
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Special District Governments
- Public or Indian Housing Auth.
- Individuals
- Small Businesses
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Other
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- City/Township Governments
- For Profit Organizations
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- County Governments
- State Governments
- Independent School Districts
- Points of contact
-
- Christina Munoz bor-sha-fafoa@usbr.gov
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Bureau of Reclamation is soliciting applications for laboratory and pilot-scale water treatment research under the Desalination and Water Purification Research Program with an application deadline of September 29, 2026. Foreign entities and federal agencies are ineligible; all other applicant categories including higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, small businesses, state and local governments, tribal governments, and individuals are eligible.
Award ceiling is $800,000 (laboratory-scale projects capped at $300,000; pilot-scale projects up to $800,000) with floor of $100,000. Estimated total program funding is $5.7 million supporting 6–15 awards. Non-federal cost share is not required but is strongly encouraged. The program expects anticipated project start of July 1, 2027, and end of June 30, 2030. Laboratory-scale projects should be completed within 24 months; pilot-scale projects within 36 months.
Laboratory-scale research involves bench-scale studies with small flow rates to determine viability of novel processes or materials. Pilot-scale research tests technology at flow rates above 1 gallon per minute using natural water sources to estimate operational requirements and finished water quality performance. Projects ineligible for funding include planning activities, construction of permanent research facilities, and proposals funded under other water recycling programs.
Merit review criteria allocate 100 points across non-federal cost share (25 points), impact of proposed research (20 points), presidential and Department of Interior priorities (20 points), project readiness (15 points), familiarity in the field of work (10 points), team qualifications (5 points), and schedule/workplan and quality assurance (5 points). Program office will review all applications for activity eligibility before merit review.
The program is authorized under CFDA 15.506 (Water Desalination Research and Development). Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov; applicants must complete registration in SAM.gov and Grants.gov at least six weeks before the deadline.
Synopsis
3 versions
Update #3 · Latest ·
The Bureau of Reclamation"s Desalination and Water Purification Research (DWPR) Program aims to increase water supplies by reducing the costs, energy requirements, and other barriers to adoption of treating impaired water for beneficial uses. This NOFO invites proposals from eligible applicants to conduct innovative laboratory and pilot-scale water treatment research. Strong applications will demonstrate widespread applicability and benefits of the proposed research and provide a pathway for technology commercialization. This initiative supports the Bureau of Reclamation's mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public by providing water managers with new and innovative technologies and approaches to develop additional water resources and increase water supply flexibility. The DWPR Program demonstrably advances Trump administration priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14154 (January 20, 2025): Unleashing American Energy (E.O. 14154) and Secretarial Order 3418, and aligns with other priorities and requirements, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14332 (August 7, 2025): Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking (E.O. 14332).
Update #2 ·
The Bureau of Reclamation"s Desalination and Water Purification Research (DWPR) Program aims to increase water supplies by reducing the costs, energy requirements, and other barriers to adoption of treating impaired water for beneficial uses.This NOFO invites proposals from eligible applicants to conduct innovative laboratory and pilot-scale water treatment research. Strong applications will demonstrate widespread applicability and benefits of the proposed research and provide a pathway for technology commercialization. This initiative supports the Bureau of Reclamation's mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public by providing water managers with new and innovative technologies and approaches to develop additional water resources and increase water supply flexibility.The DWPR Program demonstrably advances Trump administration priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14154 (January 20, 2025): Unleashing American Energy (E.O. 14154) and Secretarial Order 3418, and aligns with other priorities and requirements, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14332 (August 7, 2025): Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking (E.O. 14332).
Update #1 ·
The Bureau of Reclamation"s Desalination and Water Purification Research (DWPR) Program aims to increase water supplies by reducing the costs, energy requirements, and other barriers to adoption of treating impaired water for beneficial uses.This NOFO invites proposals from eligible applicants to conduct innovative laboratory and pilot-scale water treatment research. Strong applications will demonstrate widespread applicability and benefits of the proposed research and provide a pathway for technology commercialization. This initiative supports the Bureau of Reclamation's mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public by providing water managers with new and innovative technologies and approaches to develop additional water resources and increase water supply flexibility.The DWPR Program demonstrably advances Trump administration priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14154 (January 20, 2025): Unleashing American Energy (E.O. 14154) and Secretarial Order 3418, and aligns with other priorities and requirements, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14332 (August 7, 2025): Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking (E.O. 14332).
Eligibility
Foreign entities are not eligible for funding. Federal agencies are not eligible to apply. The program office will review all proposed projects to determine whether the application is an eligible activity under the NOFO and can proceed to merit review evaluation. Applicants can apply for two categories of projects under this NOFO:Laboratory-Scale Projects. Laboratory-scale projects are typically bench-scale studies involving small flow rates. These projects are used to determine the viability of a novel process, new materials, or process modifications. Laboratory-scale projects can also include modeling studies, decision support tools, literature and technology reviews, etc. that address objectives identified in the Program Goals section. Research at this stage can involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty. These projects should be completed within 24 months of award. Pilot-Scale Projects. Pilot-scale projects test a novel technology or process at a sufficiently large scale to determine the practicality of implementing the technology. These projects should involve flow rates above 1 gallon per minute and use natural water sources rather than synthetic or laboratory-made feed water. Pilot-scale studies are used to generate data over a sufficient time period that can be used to estimate the operational requirements (e.g., labor, chemical addition, power requirements) of the process and show performance with respect to finished water quality goals. Pilot-scale projects are generally preceded by laboratory studies (funded previously by the DWPR Program or others) that demonstrate technology feasibility. These projects should be completed within 36 months of award.Projects not eligible for funding under this NOFO include, but are not limited to:Proposals for planning activities eligible under the WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning funding opportunity,Proposals for the construction of permanent research facilities or infrastructure, andProposals for the testing of established water treatment processes for the purposes of generating site specific information.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Foa_Content_of_R26AS00052 Final 7_29_2026.pdf | ||
| Submission Instructions & Tips.pdf | ||
| General NOFO FAQ.pdf | ||
| Attachment B - Budget_Narrative_Guidance_v2025_March (1).docx | DOCX document | |
| Attachment A - Budget_Detail_and_Narrative_template_v2025_March (1).xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet |
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