DEP-BWR-NOI-FY27-319 Grant ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Watershed Planning Program, Bureau of Water Resources, is requesting proposals for Section 319 Nonpoint Source Implementation Program Grants to fund best management practice projects that mitigate nonpoint source pollution and restore or protect water quality, with proposals due October 28, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. EDT.

Eligible applicants are Massachusetts public and private organizations, including municipalities, nonprofits, regional agencies, and tribes. Proposals must be based on a nine-element Watershed-Based Plan that must be completed and MassDEP-accepted prior to contract finalization. Eligible project types address impaired waters in Category 4a, 4c, or 5 classifications; nitrogen-sensitive coastal waters; or healthy watersheds. Priority focus areas under the 2025-2029 Massachusetts Nonpoint Source Management Plan are developed land, septic systems, and agriculture. Proposals must include conceptual designs, site-specific information, estimated costs, estimated pollutant removal data, project budget, milestone schedule, maps showing BMP locations, and qualifications statements. All projects must comply with Build America, Buy America requirements and demonstrate robust community engagement components. Grant administration costs cannot exceed 10 percent of the award amount, and 10 percent of total funds will be withheld as retainage.

Approximately $2.5 million in federal Clean Water Act Section 319 funds is available across federal fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Individual grants typically range from $50,000 to $600,000. The anticipated grant contract duration is two and one-half years with a potential one-year extension option at MassDEP's sole discretion. No non-federal match is required for this funding cycle; the standard 40 percent non-federal match requirement has been waived, although voluntary match contributions provide competitive advantage. Reimbursement payment is made within 45 days of invoice submission with supporting documentation.

Evaluation is on a 125-point scale weighting community engagement (20 points), strategy and approach (20 points), applicant technical and project management strength (15 points), project viability (15 points), problem definition (10 points), watershed-based plan status (10 points), NPS priority focus (10 points), eligibility form completion (10 points), proposal quality and responsiveness (10 points), and permitting status (5 points). Proposals must not exceed 12 single-sided pages, submitted electronically in Word and PDF formats limited to 10 MB to Malcolm.Harper@mass.gov and Padmini.Das@mass.gov. MassDEP anticipates notifying awardees in early 2027, with contract start dates estimated for March 2027. A pre-RFP informational meeting was held July 23, 2026.