Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program FY 2026
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- R25AS00210
- Agency
-
Bureau of Reclamation
Department of the Interior
- Applications due
- Award size
- $300,000 to $999,999
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Science and Technology and other Research and Development
- Eligible applicants
-
- Public or Indian Housing Auth.
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Small Businesses
- County Governments
- Special District Governments
- City/Township Governments
- Individuals
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Independent School Districts
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- State Governments
- Other
- For Profit Organizations
- Points of contact
-
- Christina Munoz bor-sha-fafoa@usbr.gov
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Bureau of Reclamation's Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program FY 2026 seeks proposals to conduct aerial LiDAR snow surveys and deploy emerging snow monitoring technologies to improve water supply forecasting across western U.S. watersheds. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, higher education institutions, nonprofits, tribal governments, businesses, and individuals. Projects must demonstrate partnerships with water management and forecasting agencies, integrate data into operational forecasts, and locate work within the Reclamation 17-State domain (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming). The merit review process evaluates applications on seven criteria totaling 100 points: non-federal cost sharing (25 points), impacts and benefits for water management (15 points), water management agency involvement (10 points), integration into operational forecasts (15 points), evaluation methodology (10 points), schedule and quality assurance (5 points), and alignment with Presidential and Department of Interior priorities including artificial intelligence technologies (20 points). The application deadline is May 5, 2026, at 4:00 PM Mountain Time, with awards issued as Cooperative Agreements providing substantial federal agency involvement.
The program will distribute approximately $6,500,000 in total estimated funding across approximately 7 awards, with individual award amounts ranging from $300,000 to $999,999. Selected projects will operate for 36 months, with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2026, and completion date of September 30, 2029. Aerial LiDAR snow surveys must represent at least 80 percent of requested federal funding. Non-federal cost sharing is strongly encouraged but not required, with maximum evaluation points awarded to proposals offering 50 percent or greater matching funds. All work must be performed within the designated Reclamation 17-State region, and recipients must comply with federal reporting requirements, including annual Program Performance Reports and a final report upon project completion.
Synopsis
The Bureau of Reclamation"s Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program aims to improve the skill of water supply forecasts by enhancing snow monitoring using emerging technologies to complement existing monitoring techniques and networks. This program was authorized in December 2020 by P.L. 116-260, Sec. 1111.This NOFO invites proposals from eligible applicants to conduct aerial LiDAR snow surveys to improve water supply forecasting. Strong applications should include partnerships with water management and forecasting agencies to share knowledge, use data in forecasts, and assess the usefulness of information for water management decisions. 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 enhanced estimates of future water availability.The Snow Water Supply Forecasting 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).
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Foa_Content_of_R25AS00210 FINAL.pdf | ||
| Submission Instructions & Tips.pdf | ||
| General NOFO FAQ.pdf | ||
| Attachment B - Budget_Narrative_Guidance_v2025_March.docx | DOCX document | |
| Attachment A - Budget Detail and Narrative template 2.0.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Foa_Content_of_R25AS00210 FINAL.pdf |
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