Puget Sound Action Agenda - Strategic Implementation Leads

Full Announcement

Notice of Funding Opportunity
Applications Due: Monday, May 11, 2026
Puget Sound Recovery National Program Office
Puget Sound Action Agenda –
Strategic Implementation Leads
Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-R10-PS-2025-01

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Contents
1. Basic Information ............................................................................................................................. 1
A. Executive Summary: .................................................................................................................... 1
B. Key Information: .......................................................................................................................... 1
C. Key Dates: .................................................................................................................................... 2
D. Funding Details: ........................................................................................................................... 2
E. Agency Contact Information: ........................................................................................................ 2
F. Other Funding Considerations ...................................................................................................... 2
2. Eligibility .......................................................................................................................................... 3
A. Eligible Applicants ........................................................................................................................ 3
(1) Other Eligibility Requirements................................................................................................ 3
B. Cost Sharing ................................................................................................................................. 4
3. Program Description ........................................................................................................................ 4
A. Purpose, Priorities, and Activities ................................................................................................. 4
B. Program Goals and Objectives ..................................................................................................... 5
(1) Description of the Strategic Implementation Leads: Assignment of Topics and Implementation
Strategies .................................................................................................................................... 7
(2) Outputs and Outcomes .......................................................................................................... 9
C. Statutory Authority .................................................................................................................... 10
D. Funding Type ............................................................................................................................. 10
(1) Funding Restrictions............................................................................................................. 10
4. Application Contents and Format ................................................................................................... 11
A. Application Forms ...................................................................................................................... 11
B. Project Narrative Description ..................................................................................................... 11
C. Applicants Using Contractors ..................................................................................................... 11
D. Coalitions & Subawards ............................................................................................................. 12
E. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Statement (QA/QC) .............................................................. 13
5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines ....................................................................................... 13
A. Submission Dates and Times ...................................................................................................... 13
B. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) ............................ 14
C. Submission Instructions ............................................................................................................. 14
D. Technical Issues with Submission ............................................................................................... 14
E. Intergovernmental Review ......................................................................................................... 15
6. Application Review Information ..................................................................................................... 15
A. Responsiveness Review ............................................................................................................. 15
B. Review Criteria........................................................................................................................... 15
C. Review and Selection Process .................................................................................................... 18
(1) Other Evaluation Factors ..................................................................................................... 19
D. Risk Review................................................................................................................................ 19
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7. Award Notices ............................................................................................................................... 19
8. Post-Award Requirements and Administration ............................................................................... 20
A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements ...................................................................... 20
B. Reporting ................................................................................................................................... 20
C. Subaward and Executive Compensation Reporting ..................................................................... 20
9. Other Information.......................................................................................................................... 20
A. Additional Provisions for Applicants ........................................................................................... 20
10. Appendices ...................................................................................................................................... 20
Appendix A: Work Plan Supporting Material .................................................................................. 20
(1) Summary Information Page .................................................................................................. 20
(2) Workplan ............................................................................................................................. 21
Appendix B: Workplan Task Template ............................................................................................. 24
Appendix C: Budget Detail/Narrative Example................................................................................ 25
(1) Budget Narrative Sample ..................................................................................................... 25
(2) Award (example) .................................................................................................................. 26
(3) Non-federal Cost Sharing ..................................................................................................... 26
(4) Indirect Cost Rate ................................................................................................................ 26
(5) Personnel............................................................................................................................. 26
(6) Fringe Benefits ..................................................................................................................... 27
(7) Travel ................................................................................................................................... 27
(8) Supplies ............................................................................................................................... 27
(9) Other ................................................................................................................................... 27
(10) Details on Non-federal Match Sources................................................................................ 27
(11) Budget Table Example All Years by All Task (Note: All dollar amounts are for illustrative
purposes only) .......................................................................................................................... 28
(12) Staffing Plan Sample .......................................................................................................... 29
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1. Basic Information
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 10 Puget Sound Recovery National Program Office
Puget Sound Action Agenda – Strategic Implementation Leads
2026-2030 Puget Sound Action Agenda draft1 and supporting details of the update process.
A. Executive Summary:
B. Key Information:
The overarching goal of the Puget Sound Action Agenda is to restore
Opportunity Number:
and protect the Puget Sound ecosystem and its beneficial uses for
the public good. The purpose and top priority of this Notice of EPA-R10-PS-2025-01
Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support a funding model that
Assistance Listing:
allows the EPA Puget Sound Recovery National Program to provide a
predictable, transparent, and collaborative local/regional funding 66.123
system with a strategic focus of investments. This funding model
Announcement Type:
would support activities, broadened collaborations, and
communications to increase the Puget Sound National Estuary Initial
Program Management Conference’s capacity to successfully
implement the EPA approved Action Agenda, and to inform future Funding Available:
modifications to that plan. Applicants should demonstrate in their
Up to $120 million
applications how they will approach implementation of the 2026-
2030 Action Agenda, and how they will make measurable progress Number of Awards:
toward the Vital Sign Targets, Progress Measures, and National
3
Estuary Program Reporting Measures in addition to any relevant
priority Outputs and Outcomes described in the Action Agenda.
This NOFO announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible applicants that are
interested in acting as “Strategic Implementation Leads” (SILs), in coordination with the Puget Sound
Partnership, EPA, and other relevant parties. The three focus areas of this NOFO are Habitat/Marine,
Shellfish, and Stormwater.
All the work of the SILs will be consistent with the EPA approved Action Agenda for the protection and
restoration of Puget Sound and any future Action Agenda adopted by the Puget Sound Partnership
Leadership Council and approved by EPA during the project period of this award.
1 The Action Agenda provides a comprehensive approach to all federal and non-federal Puget Sound Partnership actions. There
are actions captured within the Action Agenda that are required by State Law. Federal funding, including required non-federal
matching funds, may not be used for activities that are determined to be inconsistent with statutory requirements,
administration priorities, or existing executive orders.
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C. Key Dates:
March 24, 2026 11:00 am PT Application Preparation Assistance Webinar
May 11, 2026 11:59 pm ET Application Submission Deadline
May 11, 2026 8:59 pm PT Application Submission Deadline
May 2026 Anticipated Notification of Selection
June 2026 Anticipated Award Notification
D. Funding Details:
It is anticipated that up to three awards will be made under this announcement. The amount of funding
is expected to be up to $120 million divided amongst the three awards, depending on Agency funding
levels, the quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations.
Awards funded under this opportunity are expected to have up to a seven year project period.
E. Agency Contact Information:
Further information, if needed, may be obtained from the EPA contact(s) indicated below.
Technical Contact: Haley Lewis; 206-553-2987; lewis.haley@epa.gov
Eligibility Contact: Greg Eide; 360-753-9475; eide.greg@epa.gov
Electronic Submissions Contact: Haley Lewis; 206-553-2987; lewis.haley@epa.gov
F. Other Funding Considerations
EPA anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement for each of the three Strategic Implementation
areas of focus described below for a total of three awards from this NOFO. Funding for each award is
expected to be provided incrementally over a five-year period. Initial award amounts could vary among
the three Strategic Implementation areas based on the scope of each application, work plan, and funding
available from appropriations in year one. Each award could fund an overall project period of up to seven
years. Incremental funding after the initial period of the award is subject to future appropriations,
satisfactory performance of work, adequate and timely expenditure of grant funds, EPA approval of SIL
workplans, and other applicable considerations.
EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards under this funding opportunity or to
make fewer awards than expected. In addition, EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under
this funding opportunity, consistent with Agency policy and guidance, if additional funding becomes
available after the original selections are made. Any additional selections for awards will be made no
later than 6 months after the original selection decisions.
In appropriate circumstances, EPA reserves the right to partially fund applications by funding discrete
portions or phases of proposed projects. If EPA decides to partially fund an application, it will do so in a
manner that does not prejudice any applicants or affect the basis upon which the application was
evaluated and selected for award and therefore maintains the integrity of the competition and selection
process.
EPA anticipates that these awards will be incrementally funded, as appropriate, based on funding
availability, satisfactory performance, and other applicable considerations.
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2. Eligibility
A. Eligible Applicants
Only these types of organizations may apply:
• Washington State & Local Governments organized under Washington State law and located
within the Greater Puget Sound basin.
• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) located in the United States.
• Federally recognized Indian Tribes located within the greater Puget Sound basin and any
consortium of these eligible Tribes.
• Nonprofit organizations.
• Special purpose districts, as defined by Washington State law at RCW 36.93.020 within the
greater Puget Sound Basin.
• Watershed planning units formed under RCW 90.82.040 and RCW 90.82.060, local management
boards organized under RCW 90.88.030, salmon recovery lead entities organized pursuant to
RCW 77.85, regional fisheries enhancement groups organized pursuant to RCW 77.95.060 and
Marine Resource Committees organized pursuant to RCW 36.125.010 and RCW 36.125.020 if
they are located within or their jurisdictions include waters and/or lands within the greater
Puget Sound basin.
Eligible applicants were based on the Assistant Listing and CFR 200 definitions.
An Intertribal consortium must have adequate documentation of the existence of the partnership and
the authorization of the member Tribes to apply for and receive assistance. Documentation that
demonstrates the existence of the partnership of Indian Tribal governments may consist of Tribal
Council resolutions, Intertribal consortia resolutions in conjunction with a Tribal Council resolution from
each member Tribe, or other written certification from a duly authorized representative of each tribal
government that clearly demonstrates that a partnership of tribal governments exists. An Intertribal
consortium resolution is not adequate documentation of the member Tribe’s authorization of the
consortium unless it includes a written certification from a duly authorized representative of each tribal
government.
The greater Puget Sound basin is defined as all watersheds draining to the U.S. waters of Puget Sound,
southern Georgia Basin, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
For-profit business entities, private individuals, and families are not eligible to apply. However, all these
types of entities could partner with an eligible applicant as a sub-awardee.
(1) Other Eligibility Requirements
Applications must meet the following threshold criteria to be considered eligible:
1. Applications must include activities taking place within the greater Puget Sound basin.
2. Applications must not request more than:
Habitat/Marine: $48 million
o
Shellfish: $30 million
o
Stormwater: $42 million
o
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3. Applicants may only submit 1 application under this opportunity. Applicants that submit more
than 1 application will be contacted to determine which application to evaluate. The
remaining application(s) will be deemed ineligible.
4. Applications must address only 1 program priority listed in Section 3. Program Description.
Applications that include more than one priority will be deemed ineligible.
Please see Section 6 for additional threshold criteria.
B. Cost Sharing
Cost sharing of 50% of the total project cost are required under this competition based on the
requirements of Section 320 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. §1330. Accordingly, EPA is requiring applicants to
identify the non-federal cost share of 50% on Form 424(A). A 50% cost share means EPA will fund a
maximum of 50% of the total project cost, which is essentially an equal cost share of the total project
cost with the applicant. Applicants must demonstrate in their proposal how it will meet the cost share
requirement to be considered eligible. Selected recipients must comply with 2 CFR 200.306 when
meeting a cost share requirement.
Cost sharing funds can come in the form of cash and in-kind contributions, such as the use of volunteers
and/or donated time, equipment, etc., consistent with the regulations governing cost sharing fund
requirements (2 CFR §200.306) from your own organization and/or your project partners. Federal funds
may not be used to meet the cost sharing requirement for this grant program unless authorized by the
statute governing their use.
The recipient will be responsible for ensuring that this cost share requirement is met. If a recipient’s
cooperative agreement structure includes multiple organizations with each receiving a portion of
funding, the combined cost share provided by those organizations must meet the 50% cost sharing
requirement. Recipients of cooperative agreement funds are required to show how they will share those
costs over the project period (i.e., the cost share must be verifiable and well documented and identified
in the cooperative agreement approved budget). At the end of the full project period, the total cost
sharing provided by the cooperative agreement holder is required to equal the total amount of National
Estuary Program funds received during that period.
3. Program Description
A. Purpose, Priorities, and Activities
The general purpose of this funding is to provide public federal funds to advance Puget Sound ecosystem
recovery. EPA’s Puget Sound Recovery National Program is responsible for ensuring the best use of these
funds through implementation of the federally approved Puget Sound Comprehensive Conservation and
Management Plan, referred to as the Action Agenda, and is held accountable for doing so.
To be successful, it will be essential for the SILs to work with broad partner networks, at both local and
regional scales, to identify ongoing programs, as well as propose new activities and programs, that can
support the work identified in Implementation Strategies and other supporting plans. Successful
applicants will address priority pressures and make connections across individual Implementation
Strategies and other relevant Action Agenda topics to identify common strategies and activities that will
provide multiple benefits.
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Emphasized in this funding opportunity is the expectation that SILs will maximize the use of their funding
to implement work described in the Action Agenda and other high priority needs identified in supporting
plans including Implementation Strategies and LIO Action Plans. External advisory groups (Topic Pods,
Strategic Initiative Advisory Teams) will be used to solicit input from subject matter experts, Tribes,
interested parties, and others to advise on investment-related decision-making. This approach will
support collective investment portfolios with greater synergy among partners and activities, where the
outcomes are greater than the sum of each output.
The Successful Applicants Will Meaningfully Engage with Tribes and consider Tribal priorities in making
funding decisions
The ongoing programs mentioned above include Tribal natural resource and environmental departments
and all other programs that support the co-manager role. Puget Sound Tribes have natural resource co-
manager status with State agencies in Washington. Leads will be expected to use appropriate
mechanisms resulting in meaningful engagement regarding Tribal co-management status and ongoing
programs in their efforts. In addition, and in every aspect of its Puget Sound recovery work, EPA
recognizes tribal sovereignty and strives to uphold tribal treaty obligations and its trust responsibility to
Tribes.
The Successful Applicants Will Continue to Strengthen and Support the Role of the Puget Sound
Partnership as the Backbone Organization for Puget Sound Recovery.
As the lead for the Puget Sound National Estuary Program and the lead state agency for Puget Sound
ecosystem recovery, the Puget Sound Partnership is responsible for coordinating with regional partners
to develop and implement the shared Puget Sound and salmon recovery plans, the Action Agenda and
the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan Addendum. By taking a more hands-on role, the Puget Sound
Partnership aims to strengthen collaboration, ensure accountability, improve recovery planning, and
accelerate implementation.
Strategic Implementation Leads
The 2026-2030 Action Agenda will contain priority topical themes and associated strategies under the
three SILs discussed in this NOFO as highlighted in Table 1 below. Investments that implement the Action
Agenda will be prioritized to make the greatest progress toward ecosystem recovery targets for the time
and resources spent, and balancing ecological, economic, and human well-being factors. The SILs will
help direct investments and resources and, along with Puget Sound Tribes, LIOs, and other partners, help
guide Puget Sound Partnership’s work with other partners to increase engagement, pursue
implementation funding, seek policy changes, report successes, and challenges, and engage in the
recovery effort.
B. Program Goals and Objectives
The activities to be funded under this funding announcement Assistance Listing 66.123, support Pillar 1:
Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American and Pillar 3: Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism,
and Cross-Agency Partnership of Administrator Zeldin's Five Pillars.
Successful applicants will:
• Meet Puget Sound Recovery National Program high-level goals of managing resources efficiently
and appropriately, emphasizing collaboration with partners, and identifying opportunities to
address emerging issues through new or existing efforts.
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• Comply with the EPA Grants Competition Policy as well as all other applicable Federal
Government, EPA and National Estuary Program grant and other regulations and policies, and
efficient and effective administrative processes.
• Address priority gaps identified within and across Implementation Strategies and other priority
efforts recognized by the Action Agenda that do not have other sources of funding, while being
careful not to duplicate efforts by others.
• Improve integration across Puget Sound ecosystem recovery initiatives to take advantage of
opportunities to leverage federal, state, tribal, and local efforts and synergies, as well as for EPA
Puget Sound awards to serve as a catalyst for transformational investments and planning
decisions. Desired outcomes of this would be multi-benefit and cross-cutting investments.
• Integrate resilience, human well-being, and support of communities into ecological components
in the EPA approved Action Agenda through the funding model.
• Recognize and support the role of all partners at all geographic scales, including transboundary
partners, and their coordination of efforts to achieve priority outcomes.
• Include Puget Sound Partnership staff as an adjunct member for each SIL. This will include
regular meetings between the Puget Sound Partnership and each SIL, helping SILs develop
investment strategies and related Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to competitively solicit projects
that implement the Action Agenda, Salmon Addendum, and LIO Action Plans, and helping to
align SIL work with opportunities preparing for or arising from the Puget Sound Partnership’s
Boards forums and recovery plans and local needs named in LIO Action Plans.
• Allow Puget Sound Partnership staff to develop and facilitate processes and meeting structures
that encourage cross-SIL and cross-Topic coordination, as well as conduct the assessment of
ongoing programs (e.g., Growth Management Act, Shoreline Management Act, State Shellfish
Program, Addressing Total Maximum Daily Loads).
• Work with Puget Sound Partnership staff to address barriers to implementation.
• Actively participate in the Puget Sound Partnership’s accountability, reporting systems, and
adaptive management processes.
The three SILs which EPA is seeking under this NOFO are:
1. Habitat/Marine: protect and restore watersheds and marine habitats.
2. Shellfish: prevent and reduce fecal pollution to protect and increase harvestable shellfish bed
acreage.
3. Stormwater: decrease pollutant concentrations, including toxics, and improve management of
stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces.
The primary roles of the SILs are to:
1) Manage the EPA cooperative agreement awarded under this NOFO effectively and efficiently to
accomplish Puget Sound Action Agenda objectives while minimizing administration costs to the
greatest extent possible.
2) Award and manage subawards to support the implementation of the Action Agenda and
maintain Strategic Initiative Advisory Teams (SIATs) to advise in investment-related decision-
making.
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3) Serve as Implementation Strategy Leads and form technical (e.g., Interdisciplinary Teams) and/or
policy workgroups to develop, refine, adaptively manage, and operationalize Implementation
Strategies.
4) Participate in Puget Sound Partnership and National Estuary Program Management Conference
processes and work groups. Proactively coordinate with LIOs and tribal partners to accomplish
SIL work; and
5) Report on progress, outputs, and outcomes.
Each Strategic Implementation Lead will lead the collaborative effort to:
• Identify and fund actions for implementation.
• Lead development of longer-term sequences of actions identified through Implementation
Strategies with an emphasis on working with partners to identify sustainable support through
ongoing programs.
• Recommend allocations of funding and other resources to implement the specific strategies
through actions and evaluate progress toward identified targets.
SILs should play a convening role to bring together specific communities of practitioners to share best
practices, lessons learned, and to create space for developing specific networks of professionals who are
critical to Puget Sound recovery.
In addition, SILs will work together to address issues that are inherently cross-cutting, including efforts to
improve water quality, and planning and implementing projects to sustain and enhance core
watershed/ecosystem-scale processes and connectivity across urban, suburban, and rural landscapes.
Efforts to address these cross-cutting issues will require collaboration and will result in cumulative
positive effects across the Action Agenda priority topics.
(1) Description of the Strategic Implementation Leads: Assignment of Topics and
Implementation Strategies
Below is a table that identifies the potential scope of Action Agenda priority topics that the SIL 3.0
funding model will cover, topic leads, support roles, cross-topic relationships, and relevant
Implementation Strategies by topic and SIL Implementation Strategy Lead.
Table 1. Description of the Strategic Implementation Leads: Assignment of Topics and Implementation Strategies (IS). Bold type
indicates a lead role.
Action Agenda
Habitat/Marine Shellfish Stormwater
Topic
Fecal Pollution [LEAD] - Cross-Topics: Cross-Topics: Working
Impacts Working Lands Runoff: Lands Runoff:
Agricultural Agricultural; Wastewater
Treatment Plants
IS: Shellfish
IS: Marine Water Quality
Floodplains and [LEAD] - IS: Floodplains
Estuaries and Estuaries; Chinook
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Action Agenda
Habitat/Marine Shellfish Stormwater
Topic
Healthy [LEAD] - IS: Shoreline
Shorelines Armoring; Chinook
Human Health [LEAD] - Cross-Topics: Cross-Topics: Fecal
Fecal Pollution Impacts Pollution Impacts; Toxic
Chemical Prevention;
IS: Shellfish
Working Lands Runoff:
Agricultural; Stormwater
Runoff
IS: Toxics in Fish
Invasive Species [LEAD]
(Marine Focus)
Marine [LEAD] - IS: Marine Cross-Topics: Wastewater
Vegetation Vegetation; Chinook Treatment Plants
IS: Marine Water Quality
Riparian Areas * Currently addressed IS: B-IBI
through EPA Riparian
Systems Lead Award
IS: Land Development
and Cover; Chinook
Smart Growth [LEAD] - IS: Land IS: Shellfish Cross-Topics: Stormwater
Development and Cover; Runoff; Wastewater
Floodplains and Treatment Plants
Estuaries; Shoreline
IS: Toxics in Fish; B-IBI
Armoring; Chinook
Stormwater [LEAD] - IS: Toxics in Fish;
Runoff B-IBI; Marine Water
Quality
Toxic Chemical [LEAD]
Prevention
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Action Agenda
Habitat/Marine Shellfish Stormwater
Topic
Vessel Impacts [LEAD]
Wastewater IS: Shellfish [LEAD] - IS: Marine
Treatment Water Quality; Toxics in
Plants Fish
Working Lands Cross-Topics: Riparian; IS: Shellfish [LEAD] - IS: B-IBI; Marine
Runoff: Working Lands: Water Quality
Agricultural Agricultural Land
Protection; Smart Growth
IS: Land Development
and Cover; Chinook
Working Lands: [LEAD] - Cross-Topics:
Agricultural Smart Growth
Land Protection
IS: Land Development
and Cover; Floodplains
and Estuaries; Chinook
(2) Outputs and Outcomes
Applicants are required to describe how they will help EPA achieve outputs and outcomes in their
responses to the criteria in Section 6. Outputs and outcomes specific to each project will be identified as
deliverables in the negotiated workplan if the application is selected for award. Recipients will be
expected to report progress toward the attainment of expected project outputs and outcomes during
the project performance period. Outputs and outcomes are defined as follows:
Outputs are an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to an
environmental goal or objective that will be produced or provided over time or by a specified date.
Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during the project period.
Outcomes are the result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out the activities under the
grant. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic; must be
qualitative or quantitative; and may not necessarily be achievable during the project period.
This funding model is focused on implementation informed by collaborative planning efforts to-date.
Therefore, it is critical that successful applicants be able to utilize a robust set of environmental metrics
that provide a quantitative framework focused on Action Agenda priority topic areas within each SIL's
scope that demonstrate results on the ground.
There are five sources of environmental metrics that successful applicants will utilize to track their
program's effectiveness. These are 1) National Estuary Reporting metrics that include number of
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acres/miles of shoreline that are permanently protected or restored, number of acres of harvestable
shellfish beds, and leveraging of the federal investment, 2) Vital Signs 3) Progress Indicators 4) EPA
approved Action Agenda which provides examples of potential outputs and outcomes for which metrics
may be developed, and 5) "Measures of Success" reported on the Financial and Ecosystem Accounting
Tracking System (FEATS) reports semi-annually that are negotiated with the EPA project officer.
C. Statutory Authority
The statutory funding authority for the assistance agreements to be funded under this announcement is
Section 320(g) of the Clean Water Act (National Estuary Program) (33 U.S.C. § 1330). EPA’s authority to
obligate grant funds is subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
D. Funding Type
It is anticipated that cooperative agreements will be funded under this funding opportunity.
Cooperative agreements provide for substantial involvement between the EPA Project Officer and the
selected applicant(s) in the performance of the work supported. Although the EPA will negotiate precise
terms and conditions relating to substantial involvement as part of the award process, the anticipated
substantial federal involvement for these projects may include:
• close monitoring of the successful applicant’s performance to verify the results proposed by the
applicant.
• collaboration during performance of the scope of work.
• in accordance with 2 CFR 200.317 and 2 CFR 200.318, review of proposed procurement;
• approving qualifications of key personnel (the EPA will not select employees or contractors
employed by the award recipient); and
• review and comment on reports prepared under the cooperative agreement (the final decision
on the content of reports rests with the recipient).
The EPA does not have the authority to select employees or contractors employed by the recipient. The
final decision on the content of reports rests with the recipient.
In addition, under the awards to be made under this NOFO, EPA involvement may include: (1)
negotiating the initial Scope of Work for the cooperative agreement and annual amendments when
incremental funding is applied for. EPA may re-negotiate work plans and budgets so long as it is done
consistent with the scope of work of the agreement and the solicitation and EPA’s annual federal
budget; (2) monitor project management and execution throughout the assistance agreement’s project
and budget period; (3) provide technical assistance and coordination as requested or needed by the
recipient or as EPA believes necessary; and (4) review and approve technical deliverables, such as
Implementation Strategies.
(1) Funding Restrictions
Actions required under NPDES Phase l and ll stormwater permits existing at the time of this
announcement will generally not be funded. Applicants proposing stormwater-related activities in
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) areas must include a statement certifying that the work
proposed for funding is either not required under a current stormwater discharge permit or it
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strategically supports Puget Sound targets and environmental outcomes that would otherwise not
accrue. EPA may re-evaluate this restriction as future permit changes are made.
Award funds may not be used for cost sharing funds for other federal assistance agreements, lobbying,
or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. Award funding must be authorized by
the statutory authority (e.g. §320) and may not be used to sue the federal government or any other
government entity. In accordance with applicable law, regulation, and policy, any recipient of funding
must agree to comply with restrictions on using assistance funds for unauthorized lobbying, fund-
raising, or political activities (i.e., lobbying members of Congress or lobbying for other federal grants,
cooperative agreements, or contracts). EPA reserves the right to make final decisions regarding actions
or costs incurred that are contrary or damaging to the collaborative intent and purposes of the Puget
Sound National Estuary Program, the Puget Sound Action Agenda and Management Conference, for
which award funds may not be used. All costs incurred under this program must be allowable under 2
C.F.R. 200, Subpart E.
4. Application Contents and Format
A. Application Forms
The following forms and documents are required under this announcement:
Mandatory Documents:
1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)
2. Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)
3. EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54
4. EPA Form 4700-4 Preaward Compliance Review Report
5. Project Narrative Attachment Form: use this to submit your Project Narrative
6. Certification Regarding Lobbying (EPA Form 6600-06)
7. Budget Narrative Attachment Form
Applicants are advised that readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in
application format, including selecting a legible font type and size for use in the application. The
narrative application cannot exceed a maximum of 25 single-spaced, typed pages and should use 12-
point font. Excess pages will not be reviewed. Supporting materials such as resumes and letters of
support can be submitted as attachments and are not included in the above noted 25-page limit.
B. Project Narrative Description
Ensure that your narrative application addresses all the evaluation criteria in Section 6.
For additional guidance on Project Narrative, Workplan and Budget instructions, see Section 10.
Appendices.
C. Applicants Using Contractors
Applicants must compete contracts for services and products, including consultant contracts, and
conduct cost and price analyses, to the extent required by the procurement provisions of the regulations
at 2 CFR Part 200.
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Do not name a procurement contractor (including a consultant) as a “partner” or otherwise in your
application unless the contractor has been selected in compliance with competitive procurement
requirements. If an applicant selected for award has named a specific subrecipient, contractor, or
consultant in the application, it does not relieve the applicant of its obligations to comply with subaward
and/or competitive procurement requirements.
The EPA will not consider the qualifications, experience, and expertise of named subrecipients and/or
named contractor(s) during the application evaluation process unless the applicant provides
documentation that it has complied with these requirements.
For additional guidance, applicants should review EPA’s Best Practice Guide for Procuring Services,
Supplies, and Equipment Under EPA Assistance Agreements, EPA’s Subaward Policy, and EPA’s Subaward
Policy Frequent Questions. The EPA expects recipients of funding to comply with competitive
procurement contracting requirements in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 1500, as well as the requirements in 2 CFR
Part 200.321 and 40 CFR Part 33 Subpart C.
Applicants should:
• clearly indicate which portion(s) of the application are confidential, privileged, or sensitive
information, or
• state ‘n/a’ or ‘not applicable’ if the application does not have confidential, privileged, or sensitive
information;
• not include trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is confidential or privileged,
or sensitive information that would invade another individual’s personal privacy (e.g., an
individual’s salary, personal email addresses, etc.); be aware that if such information is included,
it will be treated in accordance with 40 CFR 2.203.
D. Coalitions & Subawards
Groups of two or more eligible applicants may choose to form a coalition and submit a single application
under this NOFO. EPA encourages coalitions to apply. However, one entity must be responsible for the
cooperative agreement. Coalitions must identify which eligible organization will be the primary recipient
of the cooperative agreement, and which eligible organization(s) will be sub-awardees of the primary
recipient. If selected, the primary recipient will be the point of contact for the other coalition members.
As the cooperative agreement recipient, the lead entity must administer the cooperative agreement and
be accountable to EPA for effectively carrying out its scope of work and proper financial management.
Please note that once the primary recipient submits the application, it becomes the applicant, and the
coalition members may not substitute another eligible entity as the primary recipient after the deadline
for submitting applications has passed. Additionally, the non-primary recipient coalition members may
not be substituted after the deadline for submitting applications has passed. If the application is selected
for funding, the primary recipient must partner with the other coalition members that were named in
the application. The coalition members should identify and establish relationships necessary to achieve
the project’s goal. A process for the successful execution of the project’s goal, including a description and
role of each coalition member, should be established. The primary recipient of the cooperative
agreement may invite its coalition partners to interact with EPA, as it deems appropriate.
Subawards must be consistent with the definition of that term in 2 C.F.R. Part 200. The recipient must
administer the cooperative agreement, will be accountable to the EPA for proper expenditure of the
funds and reporting, and will be the point of contact for the coalition. As provided in 2 C.F.R. Part 200,
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sub-recipients or sub-grantees are accountable to the primary recipient or grantee for proper use of EPA
funding.
Coalitions may not include for-profit organizations that will provide services or products to the
successful applicant. For-profit organizations are not eligible for sub-awards. For-profit organizations are
eligible to receive contracts. Any contracts for services or products funded with EPA financial assistance
must be awarded under the competitive procurement procedures of 2 C.F.R. Part 200. The regulations
also contain limitations on consultant compensation. Please see EPA’s definition of consultants in
Section 2 C.F.R. Part 200, as applicable. For additional information, please review the following Federal
Register announcement titled “Interpretation of Regulations Related to Payments to Consultants Under
Grants”:
E. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Statement (QA/QC)
The selected recipients for this cooperative agreement, along with all subaward projects collecting
environmental data, will require a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), as appropriate. The
subawardees’ QAPPs will need to meet the standards of the lead organization's QAPP. Approval of the
recipient's Quality Management Plan (QMP) by the EPA Project Officer and the EPA Quality Assurance
Manager, may allow delegation of the authority to review and approve QAPPs to the recipient based on
procedures documented in the QMP. All projects collecting environmental data will require a QAPP.
Certain quality assurance and/or quality control (QA/QC) and peer review requirements are applicable to
the collection of environmental data. Environmental data are any measurements or information that
describes environmental processes, location, or condition, ecological or health effects and
consequences, or the performance of environmental technology. Environmental data also include
information collected directly from measurements, produced from models, and obtained from other
sources such as databases or published literature. Regulations pertaining to QA/QC requirements can be
found in 40 C.F.R. 31.45 and on the additional guidance can be found on the EPA website.
Applicants should allow sufficient time and resources for development and approval of a QAPP for their
proposed projects. If your organization does not have a Quality Management System in place, one must
be developed. A project specific QAPP must be submitted and approved by EPA, before sampling is
scheduled to begin. Allow about one month for EPA approval in your timeline.
R10 Quality Assurance Team Contact: Cindy Fields (fields.cindy@epa.gov).
5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines
A. Submission Dates and Times
May 11, 2026 11:59 pm ET Application Submission Deadline
May 11, 2026 8:59 pm PT Application Submission Deadline (Local Time)
Grants.gov creates a date and time record when it receives the application. If you submit the same
application more than once, we will accept the last on-time submission.
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B. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management
(SAM.gov)
SAM.gov
You must have an active account with SAM.gov. SAM.gov will provide a UEI for your organization, which
is required to apply for grants using Grants.gov. To register, go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and click
Get Started. From the same page, you can also click on the Entity Registration Checklist for the
information you will need to register. Make sure you are current with SAM.gov and UEI requirements
before applying for the award.
SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.
Grants.gov
You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by-step instructions at the
Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants.
Please visit How to Register to Apply for Grants for additional information.
C. Submission Instructions
You must submit your application through Grants.gov. See Section 5.B. above for information on getting
registered.
Important tips:
• To begin the application process under this grant announcement, go to Grants.gov and click the
red “Apply” button at the top of the view grant opportunity page associated with this
opportunity.
• See the Quick Start Guide for Applicants for instructions on how to submit.
• Make sure your application passes the Grants.gov validation checks.
• Do not encrypt, zip, or password protect any files.
• Your application must be submitted by an official representative of your organization who is
registered with Grants.gov and is authorized to sign applications for Federal financial assistance.
• If you receive an error or the button is grayed out, it may be because you do not have the
appropriate role to submit in your organization. Contact your organization’s EBiz point of contact
or contact Grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.
• See Grants.gov Errors for information on other Grants.gov errors.
• The UEI listed on the application must be registered to the applicant organization's SAM.gov
account. If not, the application may be deemed ineligible.
D. Technical Issues with Submission
If applicants experience technical issues during the submission of an application that they are unable to
resolve, follow these procedures before the application deadline date:
• Contact Grants.gov Support Center before the application deadline date.
• Document the Grants.gov ticket/case number.
• Send an email with Funding Opportunity Number (FON):EPA-R10-PS-2025-01 in the subject line
to lewis.haley@epa.gov before the application deadline time and date and must include the
following:
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Grants.gov ticket/case number(s)
o
Description of the issue
o
The entire application package in PDF format.
o
Without this information, the EPA may not be able to consider applications submitted outside of
Grants.gov. Any application submitted after the application deadline time and date deadline will be
deemed ineligible and not be considered.
Please note that successful submission through Grants.gov or email does not necessarily mean your
application is eligible for award.
Applicants with limited or no access to the internet may request an exception by following the
procedures outlined here. The request must be received at least 15 calendar days before the application
due date to allow enough time to negotiate alternative submission methods.
E. Intergovernmental Review
The application is not subject to Intergovernmental Review.
6. Application Review Information
A. Responsiveness Review
Applications must meet the eligibility requirements described in Section 2 to be evaluated. Applicants
not meeting these requirements will be deemed ineligible and will be notified within 15 calendar days of
the determination.
• Applications must adhere to the page limit requirements. Any pages over the limit(s) in Section
4 will not be reviewed.
• Initial applications must be submitted on or before the application deadline through Grants.gov
or through limited circumstances as expressed in Section 5. The EPA will not evaluate
applications that are not submitted on time.
• Technical difficulties applying: Applicants having technical difficulties applying must contact the
Grants.gov hotline at 1-800-518-4726 and then must email a PDF of the full application to the
EPA contact listed in Section 1. The submission must be received prior to the application
deadline for consideration.
B. Review Criteria
Criteria Name and Description Points
1. Quality of Application:
Applications will be evaluated based on the quality and extent to which the applicant
demonstrates that it will perform the activities described in Section 3 of the NOFO for
the Strategic Implementation Lead that the application addresses and whether the 25
application reflects the functions and objectives associated with performing as Strategic
Implementation Leads as identified in this NOFO. Reviewers will evaluate whether the
proposed activities are logically presented, technically sound and supportive of the
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Puget Sound National Estuary Program management conference processes. Reviewers
will focus on the following elements:
a. Clarity of the Application – 5 points: The extent to which the applicant includes
a project narrative, workplan, and budget (see examples in Appendices) that
clearly demonstrate the applicant will efficiently and effectively perform the
activities described in Section 3 of the NOFO and the relevance of the
application in developing recommendations for the prioritization of Puget
Sound resources for funding and management of subawards for implementing
the EPA approved Action Agenda;
b. Technical Merit and Feasibility – 10 points: The quality and extent to which the
application demonstrates the ability to develop and apply Implementation
Strategies and other technical criteria; to provide oversight and guidance for
Action Agenda Sound Strategic Implementation subawards and actions; and to
produce technically defensible recommendations for Puget Sound Partnership
National Estuary Program Management Conference Councils and Boards; and
c. National Estuary Program Management Conference support – 10 points: The
quality and extent to which the application demonstrates the applicant’s ability
to successfully partner with and collaborate with Puget Sound Partnership as
the National Estuary Program lead, with other SILs, Puget Sound Tribes, Local
Integrating Organizations and other local organizations, and with the
management conference stakeholders and Action Agenda implementers.
2. Quality of Management Systems:
Applications will be evaluated based on the quality of the proposed management
system(s) based on the following factors:
a. Technical Workgroup/Program Management – 10 points: The applicant's
experience in working with the Management Conference effectively and in
innovative ways, providing education, outreach, and external communications,
and also creating and coordinating technical and policy workgroups and teams
as evidenced by successful program management in areas of work
encompassed by and related to the Strategic Implementation area for which
the applicant is submitting the application. The applicant’s understanding of the
technical basis for identifying, developing and facilitating the use of
Implementation Strategies for ecosystem recovery, and the applicants
experience in utilizing adaptive management processes to guide and improve
outcomes of environmental resource protection and recovery programs will 35
also be evaluated.
b. Subaward Management System - 10 points: The applicant’s approach to
making, managing, and monitoring subawards to ensure they are awarded and
performed efficiently and effectively, including how the applicant will select
subawards for funding in a fair manner; how they will award subawards
competitively and what criteria will be used to ensure program effectiveness;
how they will expeditiously make the subawards and oversee and monitor the
subawards; and how they will help ensure that the subawards achieve the
expected outcomes and outputs including those identified in Outputs and
Outcomes. The thoroughness of the system in place or under development for
making, monitoring, and managing subawards as well as the thoroughness of
the internal controls and internal review processes in place to ensure that the
subaward management system is working as designed will be evaluated, along
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with any experience the applicant has in making and managing subawards. The
ability of the applicant to adjust or modifications to their subaward procedures
will be evaluated such that they can synchronize with or consolidate subaward
procedures with other Puget Sound National Estuary Program funding including
selected Strategic Implementation Leads awarded under this NOFO and the
Tribal Implementation Lead which is competed independently; and
c. Outputs and Outcomes – 15 points: This criterion will assess how the applicant
proposes to achieve the expected outputs and outcomes including those
described in Outputs and Outcomes, and the applicant’s approach for tracking
and measuring progress towards achieving expected outcomes and outputs,
including the tracking of outputs and outcomes from subawards as indicated in
subaward work plans. The clarity and logic demonstrated in the applications
linkage between technical outputs, subaward management and the expected
environmental outcomes from implementation activities will also be
considered.
3. Financial Integrity, Budget, and Non-federal Match:
Applications will be evaluated based on the adequacy of the budget information and
whether it is reasonable to accomplish the proposed objectives, activities and meet
project timelines. The budget information should provide a detailed breakout of the
approximate funding used for each major activity presented and be supported by a
thorough internal financial management system.
a. Budget Information – 5 points: Whether the application provides complete
budget information such that amounts indicated for task areas described in the
narrative application are clearly identifiable, sufficient, and reasonable to
complete the proposed work and it provides justification and/or explanations
sufficient to support costs included in different budget categories; and whether 10
the application describes in the budget narrative how required non-federal
match will accounted for; and
b. Internal financial management system – 5 points: Whether the narrative
application describes the systems, policies and procedures by which the
applicant will track expenditures funded by the EPA assistance agreement and
how they will fiscally manage the proposed subaward program including
procedures for working with subaward recipients to minimize the extent of
unliquidated obligations. In addition, EPA will evaluate the applicant’s
approach, procedures, and controls for ensuring that awarded grant funds will
be expended in a timely and efficient manner.
4. Past Performance and Programmatic Capability:
Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on their:
a. Past Performance – 5 points: Successful completion and management of the
assistance agreements identified in response to Section 6 of the
announcement;
b. Reporting – 5 points: History of meeting the reporting requirements under the 20
assistance agreements identified in response to Section 6.B of the
announcement including whether the applicant submitted acceptable final
technical reports under those agreements and the extent to which the
applicant adequately and timely reported on their progress towards achieving
the expected outputs and outcomes under those agreements, and if such
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progress was not being made whether the applicant adequately explains the
reasons;
c. Organizational Experience – 5 points: Approach for timely and successfully
achieving the objectives of the proposed project and ability to problem-solve;
and
d. Staff – 5 points: Staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, collaboration
with key partners, necessary resources or the ability to obtain them to
successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project.
Note: In evaluating applicants under items a) and b) of this criterion, the Agency will consider the information provided
by the applicant and may consider relevant information from other sources including agency files and prior/current
grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information supplied by the applicant). If you do not have any relevant or
available past performance or past reporting information, please indicate this in the application and you will receive a
neutral score for these sub-factors (items a and b) above; a neutral score is half of the total points available in a subset of
possible points. If you do not provide any response for these items, you may receive a score of 0 for these factors.
5. Adaptive Program Management and Resilience:
a. Adaptive Management – 5 points: Applications will be evaluated based on the
applicant’s approach, practices and experience in applying adaptive
management to programs and projects, and specifically including
implementation strategies, for protecting and restoring ecosystem functions
and environmental outcomes. Information in the applicant’s description of their
program management experience as provided in response to criteria 2.a. –
Technical Workgroup/Program Management – will be considered. The
applicant’s ability to collaborate with Puget Sound Partnership and other 10
Management Conference stakeholders in applying adaptive management
practices and innovations will be assessed; and
b. Resilience – 5 points: Applications will be evaluated for components or
activities proposed that address the potential impacts to resilience and how
technical criteria for actions under the Strategic Implementation areas or
Implementation Strategies will include factors that could increase ecosystem
resilience. An applicant’s experience in applying adaptation and resilience
factors to other programmatic work will also be considered.
TOTAL 100
Applicants will be evaluated based on the extent and quality to which they demonstrate that they have
the capability to successfully perform the project as described in Section 3 of this funding opportunity.
Only eligible entities whose applications meet the threshold criteria in Section 2 of this announcement
will be evaluated. Applicants should explicitly address these criteria as part of their application
package submittal in the project narrative. Each application will be rated using a point system.
Applications will be evaluated based on a total of 100 possible points.
C. Review and Selection Process
Applications will first be evaluated against the threshold factors listed in Section 3. Only those
applications which meet all the threshold factors will be evaluated using the criteria listed above by an
EPA evaluation team. Each eligible application will be given a numerical score and will be rank ordered
according to the score.
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(1) Other Evaluation Factors
Under this competition, the EPA also reserves the right to fund the top ranked proposal contingent on
the quality of the proposals and funding availability. Final funding decisions will be made by the selection
official. In making the final funding decisions, the selection official may also consider the following
factors:
1. Programmatic priorities
2. Geographic distribution of funds
3. Scope of activities
4. Availability of funds
5. The similarity of the project to other projects already being funded by EPA
EPA reserves the right to negotiate and/or adjust the final grant amount and workplan/narrative prior to
award, as appropriate and consistent with Agency policy, including EPA’s Competition Policy (EPA Order
5700.5A1). An approvable final narrative/workplan is required to include:
1. Project components to be funded under the assistance agreement.
2. Estimated work years and the estimated funding amounts for each component.
3. Commitments for each component and a timeframe for their accomplishment.
4. Performance evaluation process and reporting schedule in accordance with 40 CFR §35.115
and 40 CFR § 35.515.
5. Roles and responsibilities of the recipient and EPA (for cooperative agreements only) in
carrying out the commitments.
6. Grant recipients will be expected to provide to EPA project location information for any
grant-funded project. The type of locational information (statewide, county, municipality,
Tribal land boundary, local Transboundary Watershed with borders defined by
latitudinal/longitudinal points, etc.) will be determined by consultation with EPA and will be
determined based on the geographic scale and intent of the project.
In consultation with EPA, grant recipients will be expected to provide to EPA a breakdown of federal
funds that will be spent by “project category” (i.e., the type of effort(s) that is being conducted).
D. Risk Review
The EPA will consider any comments by the applicant, along with information available in the
responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov., when doing the risk review as required by 2 CFR
200.206.
7. Award Notices
The EPA anticipates notification to successful applicants will be made by the Puget Sound Recovery
National Program Office. The notification will be sent to the original signer of the application or the
project contact listed in the application. This notification is not an authorization to begin work. The
official notification of an award will be made by the Grants Management Official in EPA Region 10.
Selection does not guarantee an award will be made. Statutory authorization, funding, or other issues
during the award process may affect the ability of the EPA to make an award. The award notice, signed
by an EPA grants officer, is the authorizing document and will be provided through electronic or postal
mail. The successful applicant may need to prepare and submit additional documents and forms, which
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must be approved by the EPA, before the grant can officially be awarded. The time between notification
of selection and award of a grant can take up to 90 days or longer.
8. Post-Award Requirements and Administration
A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
The recipient and any sub-recipient must comply with the applicable General Terms and Conditions.
These terms and conditions are in addition to the assurances and certifications made as part of the
award, terms and conditions, and restrictions reflected on the official assistance award document.
Awards issued as a result of this funding opportunity are subject to the requirements of the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards; Title 2 CFR
Part 200 and 2 CFR Part 1500.
B. Reporting
EPA’s General Terms and Conditions in the Notice of Award will have information on performance and
financial reports, including:
• How often you will report.
• Any required form or formatting.
• How to submit them.
C. Subaward and Executive Compensation Reporting
The Federal Financial Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) requires:
• Data entry at SAM.gov for all subawards and subcontracts issued for $30,000 or more.
• Reporting executive compensation for both recipient and subaward organizations.
9. Other Information
A. Additional Provisions for Applicants
Additional provisions that apply this funding opportunity and/or awards made under this funding
opportunity, can be found at EPA NOFO Clauses. If you are unable to access these provisions
electronically at the website above, please contact the EPA point of contact to obtain the provisions.
10. Appendices
Appendix A: Work Plan Supporting Material
(1) Summary Information Page
a. We recommend that this page not exceed one page. It should include:
1. Application Title
Identify the Strategic Implementation area from Section 1 that the project addresses.
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2. Applicant Information
Include applicant (lead organization) name, address, contact person, phone number, and e-
mail address.
3. Project Period
Provide proposed beginning date and ending date; awards may be for up to a seven-year
work period.
4. Funding Requested
Specify the amount you are requesting from EPA for the proposed work period. See
Summary paragraph on Page 1 for information on total estimated funding.
5. Total Project Cost
Specify total cost of the project. Identify amount of funding from other sources for required
non-federal match.
6. Abstract
Provide an application abstract of no longer than 150 words. Include a statement of the
proposed objective, the proposed approach affirming capacity to work with the Puget Sound
National Estuary Program Management Conference, and the anticipated outputs and
outcomes.
7. Unique Entity Identifier (e.g., DUNS number)
(2) Workplan
The workplan must address the following information:
1. Project Summary/Approach: The summary shall contain the following components:
• Partnering experience and approach: Outline your SIL Team experience and approach to
collaborating, coordinating, and communicating within the context of large-scale
ecosystem recovery and associated restoration and protection approaches and
project(s). As applicable, specifically discuss how your SIL Team would work with the
other SILs on major issues as a matter of practice, Puget Sound Partnership, the Puget
Sound Management Conference Boards, the EPA Puget Sound Recovery National
Program Office, Puget Sound Tribes, and the affected regional, local and other
stakeholders in the implementation of the EPA approved Action Agenda for the Strategic
Implementation area for which your application is focused on.
• Subaward Projects: Implementation of local and basin-wide actions prioritized under a
priority topic, cross-topic area or Implementation Strategy will be funded by the
recipient through subawards. Briefly describe your SIL Team’s plan for the competitive
selection of activities for funding and address the following:
How the Strategic Implementation Advisory Teams (SIATs) will be engaged and
o
utilized in the process of selecting subawards that support implementation of
the EPA Approved Action Agenda;
How structured decision-making will be employed when selecting subawards
o
competitively;
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How Implementation Strategies will be used to select potential activities for
o
funding;
How activities support primary objectives of the respective SILs;
o
How will selections be made in a fair and impartial manner;
o
How, and under what basis, would the SIL approach development and issue of
o
solicitations (RFPs) for competitive subawards;
How will the SIL coordinate and monitor the work of the organizations receiving
o
subawards under this program; and
How will your SIL achieve funding of local implementation of the Action Agenda?
o
• To effectively manage and oversee subaward work, your SIL Team will need a formal
documented system for making, managing, and monitoring subawards. Your SIL Team’s
application should describe that system and how it functions (provide URLs or “hotlinks”
to the documentation, rules and guidance for applicants or assistance recipients if they
are available on the web or attaching these documents to your application).
• If your SIL Team’s application relies on a subrecipient or collaborating agency to make
and manage subawards, that other SIL Team’s formal documented system must be
described in your SIL Team’s application. The discussion of the subaward management
system should also describe the internal controls that the lead organization has in place
to ensure that the procedures in the subaward management system are being properly
implemented. Alternatively, if there currently is no formal documented system, the
application narrative must describe the lead organization’s plan and schedule for
developing such a system in compliance with applicable State law and 2 CFR part
200.331.
• Applicants acquiring professional or commercial goods or services must comply with the
competitive procurement standards in 2 C.F.R. 200.317 – 200.326 and cannot use a
subaward/subgrant as the funding mechanism. For additional information on subawards
and contracts see Section IV.G. Applicants should also describe how they will draw upon
the SIL Team’s technical expertise to negotiate subaward workplans, review and approve
deliverables, and monitor subaward performance and ensure that the subawards are
made expeditiously, performed effectively, and that utilization/ draw down of subaward
funds will be managed so as to minimize the time periods of unliquidated obligations.
The applicant should describe any prior experience it has had in making and managing
subawards and the degree to which that history has been successful.
• Identifying Multi-Benefit Approaches: The SILs will be expected to build upon efforts of
the previous funding models and look across the set of Implementation Strategies for
connections and leverage points where they might form a more systems-thinking
informed collective investment strategy for supporting multi-benefit approaches.
• Operationalize, Refine, Maintain, and Update Implementation Strategies: Ongoing
curation and leadership of Implementation Strategies (IS) will require a range of
activities to be considered and addressed in the proposed workplan including:
completion of Implementation Strategies still under development, adaptive
management of existing Implementation Strategies including revisions and updates,
dedicated capacity to move the IS priorities forward, proactive work on implementation
with an emphasis on utilizing ongoing programs (and recognizing the status of Puget
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Sound Tribes as co-managers of treaty resources in the State of Washington and the
many ongoing programs that support this role), regular updates (e.g., Puget Sound Info),
and capacity for promoting outreach, communication, and collaboration. This will
require close coordination and collaboration with the Puget Sound Implementation
Strategies-Science Team. Please describe the SIL applicant’s vision of how to
operationalize the Implementation Strategies, and how to make sure they reflect the
entire recovery community, including how to coordinate funding parts of IS within the
Management Conference and other SILs.
• Sustaining and enhancing core watershed/ecosystem-scale processes and connectivity:
Each SIL applicant should consider and describe how to work with key partners to better
protect rural working lands and ecologically important areas that in turn support aquatic
ecosystems and associated beneficial uses, including how targeted conservation and/or
restoration efforts at multiple scales can improve connectivity, habitat value, and water
quality across urban, suburban, and rural landscapes.
• Resilience: Provide a discussion of how the proposed work plan builds ecosystem
resilience and sustains beneficial uses for communities as defined by the Clean Water
Act (see Section I.). Applicants are encouraged to include in their work plan policies and
procedures to work proactively with their sub-awardee(s) to build resilience and
adaptation into subaward project design and implementation.
• Adaptive Management: Describe the system that you will use to monitor and measure
the progress of the Implementation Strategies and the projects funded with subawards.
This discussion should address how your SIL Team would provide monitoring information
to the Puget Sound Partnership and work with the Puget Sound Management
Conference boards and stakeholders and how your SIL Team’s monitoring of
Implementation Strategies and subawards would be used to adaptively manage the
implementation of the Action Agenda.
• Innovation: Provide examples of innovative approaches to Puget Sound protection and
recovery that you will employ.
• Education, Outreach and External Communications: Consider and describe how your
role as a SIL could provide additional outreach to help with recruiting resources and
practitioners to support implementation and to amplify work funded by the SILs (making
sure practitioners are aware of available SIL-funded subaward work products), and how
you would work with Puget Sound Partnership’s backbone communication roles around
the importance of IS as foundation of planning and successful implementation across
key participants.
• Timeline: Include a chart of milestones and timelines for accomplishing tasks, including
estimates of timelines for proposed future tasks that may not yet be fully determined.
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Appendix B: Workplan Task Template
Narrative Summary This task provides…
Task Duration: Work under this task will be ongoing for the duration of the project
period, and staff support will be generally consistent across years.
Accomplishments by end of Project Period:
Reporting:
Staffing Leads:
Staffing:
Key contributions to the staffing of this task include the following:
Description:
Subtasks:
Specific Outputs
Outcomes
Puget Sound
Action Agenda
Links
EPA Puget Sound
Measures Links
Puget Sound Federal
Task Force Action
Plan Links
Lead staff
Subtask 1.a Title of Subtask
Subtask
Description
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Subtask Outputs
with delivery dates
Subtask key
milestones
Potential challenges
Subtask staff lead
Appendix C: Budget Detail/Narrative Example
1. Include a budget narrative with the categories shown in the template below. For additional
guidance in developing a budget, See EPA’s
Interim General Budget Development Guidance for Applicants and Recipients of EPA Financial
Assistance., EPA Subaward Policy for EPA Assistance Agreement Recipients , Indirect Cost Policy
and Guidance for Recipients of EPA Assistance Agreements and Tips for Completing EPA Form
4700-4
2. Include an overview budget that includes all five years of funding; and
• Include a budget for each task and each year. For example, for 3 tasks and a 7-year budget
period, 15 detailed budgets should be submitted in addition to the summary budget that
includes all years of funding. Use the same template as for the overview budget.
(1) Budget Narrative Sample
Cooperative Agreement
This is a seven-year cooperative agreement between the EPA and (primary recipient). Budget and work
plan status are monitored through regular consultations between the EPA project officer and SIL staff.
Given the uncertainty of funding in Year Two through Five, this agreement recognizes that budgets will
be received in increments with corresponding adjustments in work plan tasks and budgets.
Task One Budget Summary - All Years
Federal
Federal Indirect
Federal Total
Recipient
Recipient Indirect
Non-federal Cost share
Recipient Total
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Task One Total
(2) Award (example)
This is an award of $5,000,000 in Year One with $5,000,000 anticipated each year in Years Two through
Five for a total of $25,000,000 in federal funding. The (primary recipient) will provide the match at the
required 50/50 rate for a total cooperative agreement of $50,000,000. The budget of this agreement
occurs across (insert number of tasks here) tasks as described below followed by explanations of non-
federal match and the indirect cost rate:
Task One:
Task Two:
Task Three:
Indirect Costs:
Non-federal Cost Share:
TOTAL: $50,000,000
(3) Non-federal Cost Sharing
The source of the (primary recipient’s) non-federal match is the (fill in source(s) of match here).
(4) Indirect Cost Rate
Indirect costs are based on (fill in Indirect Cost Rate)% of direct expenditures, less contracts, and
subawards over $25,000 and is assessed annually.
• Task One Indirect Costs All Years: $X (total) $X (federal); $X (non-federal)
• Task Two Indirect Costs All Years: $X (total) $X (federal); $X (non-federal)
• Task Three Indirect Costs All Years: $X (total) $X (federal); $X (non-federal)
Total Indirect Costs All Years: $X (total) $X (federal); $X (non-federal)
(5) Personnel
The staffing plan for the award federal funds supports X FTEs at the (primary recipient and large partner
subawardees included in the application). Match for the grant includes approximately X state funded
FTEs at the (primary recipient and large partner subawardees included in the application). Personnel
costs include a modest X% increase in Years X, Y, and Z.
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(6) Fringe Benefits
Scaled to actual salaries and include the cost of Medicare, medical aid, retirement, employee insurance,
and (include other programs included).
(7) Travel
Travel is a required component of this application. The application assumes various advisory groups to
engage partners in our work and to monitor subawards. Costs include agency vehicles, mileage, meals,
ferry fees, parking, and occasional overnight lodging ($X per FTE per year). Travel to conferences is also
anticipated and estimated at $X. International travel is also anticipated for the purpose of (fill in purpose
here) and is estimated at $X.
(8) Supplies
They include basic office supplies used by all staff within the agency. Costs are allocated to fund sources
based on an FTE methodology ($X per FTE per year).
(9) Other
Includes communication and lease costs necessary to support agency staff. Costs are allocated to fund
sources based on an FTE methodology. Communication includes telephones, cellular service, postage,
and data lines ($X per FTE per year). Leases include building rent, utilities, and copier leases ($X per FTE
per year). The Year One subawards in this application include agreements with (partner recipient in
application) for $X (for all tasks) and (partner recipient in application) for $X (Tasks One and Two), and
(partner recipient in application) $X (Tasks One and Two). Provide additional narrative about funding of
partners through subawards past Year One.
Conference fees are also anticipated for several major conferences throughout the span of this award
and those have been estimated at $X.
(10) Details on Non-federal Match Sources
Includes specific information on the amount and source of non-federal match (if not already included).
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(11) Budget Table Example All Years by All Task (Note: All dollar amounts are for
illustrative purposes only)
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(12) Staffing Plan Sample
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