WaterSMART: Applied Science Grants

Foa_Content_of_R25AS00280_3.2.26 v2.FINAL.pdf

Bureau of Reclamation
Notice of Funding Opportunity
WaterSMART: Applied Science Grants
Funding Opportunity Number
R25AS00280

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Table of Contents
BASIC INFORMATION .................................................................................................................1
ELIGIBILITY ..................................................................................................................................3
Cost Sharing Requirement ...........................................................................................................3
GET READY TO APPLY ...............................................................................................................4
Required System Registrations ....................................................................................................4
PROGRAM OVERVIEW ...............................................................................................................5
Program Goals ..............................................................................................................................5
Program Description ....................................................................................................................5
Legislative Authority ...................................................................................................................7
Type of Award .............................................................................................................................8
PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION ................................................................................................8
Application Content and Format ..................................................................................................8
Application Documents ................................................................................................................8
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES ..............................................................13
Address to Request Application Package ..................................................................................13
Submission Dates and Times .....................................................................................................13
Submission Instructions .............................................................................................................14
APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION ................................................................................14
Eligibility Review ......................................................................................................................15
Merit Review ..............................................................................................................................15
Review and Selection Process ....................................................................................................20
Risk Review ...............................................................................................................................21
AWARD NOTICES ......................................................................................................................21
POST AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION ................................................22
Administration and National Policy Requirements ...................................................................22
Reporting ....................................................................................................................................25
BASIC INFORMATION
Announcement Type: Initial
Funding Opportunity Number: R25AS00280
Assistance Listing Number(s): 15.557
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Estimated Total Program Funding: $6,000,000
Expected Number of Awards: 20
Award Ceiling: $400,000
Award Floor: $0
The Applied Science expects to make $6M available under this Notice of Funding Opportunity
(NOFO). The Bureau of Reclamation anticipates 20 awards, with individual award amounts
ranging from $0 to $400,000.
Funding is contingent upon annual appropriations and apportionment. To assist applicants in
planning, the Bureau of Reclamation provides the following informational breakdown of
anticipated availability:
FY 2024: Up to $3M
FY 2025: Up to $3M
Cost Sharing Required?
Yes
Closing Date Explanation
First application July 8, 2026, at 5:00pm MDT
Second application : April 13, 2027, 5:00PM MDT
OMB Control Number:
Have Questions?
For questions regarding application submission, contact the Grants Officer, Matt Stonebridge
MStonebridge@usbr.gov, 303-445-2029
For questions regarding applicant and project eligibility or application content, contact the
Program Coordinator, Ms. Stephanie Hellekson, shellekson@usbr.gov, 720-799-3158.
Please include the NOFO number R25AS00280 in the subject line of any email correspondence.
Executive Summary
Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-
Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and local entities as they plan and
implement actions to increase water supply and hydropower reliability. The WaterSMART
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). The goal of the WaterSMART Applied Science Grants
(ASG) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to invite eligible entities to apply for funding
to improve access to and use of hydrologic data, develop and improve water management tools,
and improve hydrologic modeling and forecasting capabilities.
Water managers and reservoir operators rely on hydrologic data, modeling, and water supply
forecasts to make decisions to meet future water demands. Water supply forecasts are estimates
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of current and future water supplies based on measured basin conditions (e.g., such as the
quantity of upstream mountain snowpack). Results from these projects will be used by water
managers to increase water supply reliability to meet water delivery requirements (e.g.,
compacts, decrees, etc.), provide flexibility in water operations to be more resilient during
droughts, and enhance water supply forecasts to better predict floods and optimize limited water
supplies. Example projects include improving operational models for irrigation water deliveries
or reservoir operations, improving the use of snow monitoring technologies to enhance the skill
of water supply forecasts, and improving data acquisition, data analysis, and data delivery,
including the development of hydrologic databases.
The ASG NOFO will build on and complement projects funded under the Snow Water Supply
Forecasting Funding Opportunity by providing funding for applicants to improve the integration
of innovative snow measurement data into water supply forecasts.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible Applicants
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Additional Information on Eligibility
Category A Applicants:
• States, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts;
• State, Regional, or local authorities whose members include one or more organizations
with water or power delivery authority; and
• other organizations with water or power delivery authority.
All Category A applicants must be located in the Western United States or United States
Territories, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah,
Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin
Islands, and Puerto Rico.
Category B Applicants:
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, nonprofit organizations, and Federally-funded
research and development centers that are acting in partnership with the agreement of an entity
described in Category A. All Category B applicants must be in the United States or the specific
Territories identified above.
Ineligible Applicants:
Those not eligible include the following entities:
• Federal Governmental Entities
• Individuals
• Commercial/industrial organizations
• Private entities
Cost Sharing Requirement
Cost Sharing Required?
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Yes
At the time of award, applicants must cost share at least 50 percent of the total project cost. For
example, if the total project cost on the SF-424A is $800,000, the minimum amount of non-
Federal cost share would be $400,000, All cost-share contributions must be from a non-Federal
source and meet the requirements of 2 CFR 200.306.
Total Project Cost on the SF-424A $800,000
Minimum required cost share 50%
Applicant non-Federal cost share $400,000
Federal share $400,000
Applicants must be capable of cost sharing 50 percent of the total project costs. The total project
cost is defined as the total allowable costs incurred under a Federal award and all required cost
share and voluntary committed cost share contributions, including third-party contributions.
Cost share may be made through cash, costs contributed by the applicant, or third-party in-kind
contributions. Third-party in-kind contributions include the value of non-cash contributions of
property or services that benefit the federally assisted project and are contributed by non-Federal
third parties, without charge. Cost-share funding from sources outside the applicant’s
organization (e.g., loans or state grants) should be secured and available to the applicant prior to
award.
Other sources of Federal funding may not be counted towards the required cost share. The
exception to this requirement is where the Federal statute authorizing a program specifically
provides that Federal funds made available for such program can be applied to matching or cost
sharing requirements of other Federal programs, such as awards to tribal organizations under
P.L. 93-638, as amended. If it is determined that the Federal funding cannot be applied towards
the non-Federal cost share, the work associated with the funding may be removed from the
proposed project.
GET READY TO APPLY
Required System Registrations
Unique Entity Identifier and SAM.gov Registration
Before applying, all applicants except individuals applying as a natural person must be
registered in SAM.gov. During the SAM.gov registration the entity will obtain their Unique
Entity Identifier (UEI).
The SAM.gov registration process can take several months. If your organization is not
already registered in SAM.gov, begin the registration process as soon as possible.
To register in SAM.gov, go to the SAM.gov website and use the available resources to
complete registration.
• Financial assistance registrants must review and certify compliance with the SAM.gov
“Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications”.
• Already registered? You already have a Unique Entity ID. Before applying, check that
your “Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications” on SAM.gov is
complete. Remember to renew your registration every year to keep it active while you
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have an award or application in progress. You can update your registration whenever you
need, including during renewal.
• Need help? For additional information and contact information on the SAM.gov Help
page.
GRANTS.GOV
This program accepts applications through Grants.gov so once you receive your UEI return to
Grants.gov to register with Grants.gov. Please allow 30 days to register and set up a Workspace
in Grants.gov. See Submission Instructions section below for additional details.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Program Goals
• Through WaterSMART, Reclamation leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work
cooperatively with States, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement
actions to increase water supply reliability through investments in existing infrastructure
and attention to local water conflicts.
The objective of the WaterSMART Applied Science Grants is to provide funding to non-
Federal entities for the development of tools and information to support water
management. Eligible projects include the development of modeling and forecasting
tools, hydrologic data platforms, and new data sets.
Program Description
Applied Science Grants provide water management tools for increased access to information and
improved modeling and forecasting capabilities to help avoid water conflicts and improve our
ability to meet a variety of water management objectives, including but not limited to: support
for water supply reliability, forecasting skill, flexibility in water operations, water deliveries and
drought management activities, and watershed health.
Certified Local Governments are encouraged to prioritize projects in support of the celebration
of America’s 250th birthday (American250). This may include, but is not limited to, preservation
2 planning, interpretation, public engagement, and rehabilitation projects that recognize and
honor the nation’s founding, history, and cultural heritage.
Eligible Projects
To be eligible, Projects must:
• be for the use and benefit of water managers located in the following States or Territories:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,
New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington,
Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin or Puerto Rico,
• be based on known and available (or “mature”) technologies and may not include the
development of new or novel methods or technologies; and
support one or more of the following water management objectives:
• increase water yield
• ensure water supply reliability
• improve water deliveries
• improve drought management
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• flexibility in water operations
• enhance water supply forecast skill
• improve watershed health.
Proposed projects will be reviewed by the Program Office to determine whether the project is
eligible for evaluation. Projects must support the types of water management objectives
described in the bullets immediately above and may include but are not limited to:
Modeling: Eligible projects can include the development or enhancement of existing hydrologic
models to improve management of water resources and include model validation and analysis of
model produced data. Modeling tool projects should be for the improvement of water supply
reliability and be developed for use by water managers to help meet constraints or requirements
(e.g., water delivery, administrative, hydrologic scenarios, or endangered species requirements).
Projects may include improvements to the spatial and temporal resolution of a model,
improvements to model calibration, enhancements to make a model more interactive and agile so
that it can be used to answer specific questions as they arise, or other enhancements to modeling
tools. Projects could include improvements to hydrologic models, reservoir operations models, or
other types of water management models to understand natural processes. Projects may also
include costs to obtain training on how to use new tools and software.
Forecasting: Eligible projects can include the development, improvement, or adaptation of
forecasting tools and technologies to enhance management of water supplies and reservoir
operations. Improving water supply forecasts can assist water managers to better predict the
severity of droughts or floods and can improve estimates of water available for delivery from
reservoirs to water users. Projects can include developing or adapting forecasting tools to meet
the needs of water managers. Forecasting projects can be used to optimize operations and
improve water management, including projects that support the use of forecast informed
reservoir operations (FIRO), help water managers manage risks, and inform water allocation
strategies, or even water marketing. Applicants are encouraged to explore whether there are
existing data sets and forecast products that may be leveraged. Projects may also include costs to
obtain training on how to use new tools and software. Note: Applicants must demonstrate how
the forecast or data will be used to enhance management of water supplies and reservoir
operations, for example, by using the tool in connection with an operations model.
Enhancing Water Supply Forecasting with Snow Measurement Data: Eligible projects can
include enhancements of water supply forecasts using snow monitoring technologies. Projects
should include the use of information from snow measurement technologies, such as aerial light
detection and ranging (LiDAR) snow surveys, in snowpack volume estimation and water supply
forecasting. Projects could include but are not limited to integration of snow survey data into
hydrological or statistical forecast models. Note: Applicants must demonstrate how the forecast
or data will be used to enhance management of water supplies. Conducting and collecting new
snow measurements, such as aerial LiDAR surveys, is not an eligible activity under this NOFO
but is eligible under Reclamation’s Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Funding
Opportunity.
Data: Eligible projects can include improving access to and use of water resources data or
developing new types of data to inform water management decisions. Eligible projects may
include improvements to data acquisition, data analysis, and data delivery. Data acquisition
projects may include incorporating or developing new or previously unavailable data, such as
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remote sensing imagery, hydrologic data acquired using unmanned aerial systems, collection of
water quality and temperature data, or paleo reconstructions of naturalized flows, for example.
Projects may include developing hydrologic databases or decision support tools that resource
managers can use to query or analyze data for to improve water management. Projects may also
include improved data delivery, such as making data available to a broader audience, or
improvements to make data systems compatible with existing systems (e.g., Federal or State
databases). Projects may also include costs to obtain training on how to use new tools and
software.
Ineligible Projects
Projects that are not eligible for funding under this NOFO include, but are not limited to:
• projects to research and/or develop new and novel methods or technologies
• planning studies, such as feasibility studies, appraisal investigations, water marketing
strategies, and drought contingency plans
• projects to develop or demonstrate tools and technologies supporting water reuse, water
recycling, and desalination projects (e.g., projects that are eligible under the Desalination and
Water Purification Research funding opportunity)
• projects considered normal operations, maintenance, and replacement (OM&R)
• construction projects to improve water management
• projects funded under other Federal grants: and
• projects that are collecting new snow measurements, such aerial LiDAR snow surveys.
Multiple Applications
Multiple applications for funding may be submitted for consideration under this funding
opportunity, provided that the project scopes are not duplicative. Category B applicants may
receive a maximum of up to 3 awards provided that the Category A partner entity for each
project is different. In general, if you are seeking funding for multiple project components, and
the components are interrelated or closely related, you should combine these in one application.
However, if the projects are only loosely related, you should submit them as separate
applications.
Technical Assistance
If the proposed project is selected, Reclamation may be able to provide technical assistance or
services after award on a fee for service basis. Before applying, discuss the potential for
technical assistance with Reclamation and include these costs in the budget. For more
information, contact the Program Coordinator identified in the Have Questions section above.
Required Project Components
Applicants whose projects are selected for funding under this NOFO may be asked to participate
in at least one Reclamation-sponsored webinar to discuss application of deliverables to
management questions. In most cases, the webinar will be scheduled when the final report is
ready to be submitted for Reclamation review. The presentation should inform Reclamation
about project accomplishments, the final results of the identified tasks, and any lessons learned.
This presentation may be open to the public as a webinar and may be recorded and made
available on the WaterSMART website.
Legislative Authority
Section 9509 and 9504(b) of the Science and Engineering to Comprehensively Understand and
Responsibly Enhance (SECURE) Water Act, Subtitle F of Title IX of the Omnibus Public Land
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Management Act of 2009, Public Law (P.L.) 111-11 (42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 10364), as
amended.
Type of Award
Projects will be funded through CA (Cooperative Agreement), G (Grant).
Recipient should expect the Federal agency to have substantial involvement in the project.
Awards will be made through grants or cooperative agreements as applicable to each project. If a
cooperative agreement is awarded, the recipient should expect Reclamation to have substantial
involvement in the project. Substantial involvement by Reclamation may include:
• Collaboration and participation with the successful applicant in the management of the
project and close oversight of the successful applicant’s activities to ensure that the
program objectives are being achieved.
• Oversight may include review, input, and approval at key interim stages of the project.
PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION
Application Content and Format
Application Documents
Applicants must submit the following forms with their application as specified below.
Instructions for accessing and submitting application forms are provided in the Submission
Instructions section of this document below. For instructions on completing form fields, see the
form instructions on the Grants.gov Forms Repository.
Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement
SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance
Note: For applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal
funds, the Authorized Representative’s signature (or electronic
Required from all applicants
equivalent) on the Application for Federal Assistance form also
represents their certification of the statements in Appendix A to
43 CFR 18-Certification Regarding Lobbying
Required for non-construction
SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs
projects
Required if requesting more
than $100,000 in Federal
funds and the applicant has
used or plans to use funds
SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
other than Federal
appropriated funds for
lobbying related to the
proposed project.
Project Abstract Summary (OMB 4040-0019). Must include, in
Required from all applicants
plain language:
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Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement
• Award purpose,
• Activities to be performed,
• Expected deliverables or outcomes,
• Intended beneficiaries,
Subrecipient activities (if known or specified at time of award)
DOI Research and Development (R&D) – Current and Pending
(Other) Support
Note: This form is available on the DOI website. Applicants Required for research projects.
must download the form and include the completed form as an
application attachment.
DOI Research and Development (R&D) – Biographical Sketch
Note: This form is available on the DOI website. Applicants
Required for research projects.
must download the form and include the completed form as an
application attachment.
Project Narrative
The project narrative, including responses to the merit review criteria (defined below) shall be
limited to a maximum of 20 consecutively numbered pages. If this section exceeds 20 pages,
only the first 20 pages will be evaluated. The full application, including all attachments,
should not exceed 100 pages. If the application exceeds 100 pages, only the first 100 pages
will be considered in the evaluation.
The font should be at least 12 points in size and easily readable. Page size should be 8½ by 11
inches, including charts, maps, and drawings. Margins should be standard 1-inch margins.
Oversized pages will not be accepted.
Applications will be prescreened for compliance to the page number limitations. Excess pages
will be removed and not considered in the evaluation of the proposed project.
Title Page
Provide a brief, informative, and descriptive title for the proposed work that indicates the nature
of the project. Include the applicant’s name and address and the project manager’s name and
address, email address, and telephone number.
Table of Contents
List all major sections of the proposal in the table of contents.
Executive Summary
The executive summary should include:
• The date, applicant name, city, county, and state.
• A one paragraph project summary that specifies the work proposed, including how funds
will be used to accomplish specific project activities and briefly identifies how the
proposed project contributes to accomplishing the goals of this NOFO.
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Example: Oklahoma State University, with the support of the Lugert-Altus Irrigation
District, the Kansas-Bostwick Irrigation District No. 2, and the Frenchman Cambridge
Irrigation District, will incorporate remotely sensed soil moisture data with proven
statistical techniques to create seasonal forecasts for rainfall dominated regions of the
Great Plains. The project will use remote-sensed soil moisture data, North American
Land Data Assimilation System, and NASA’s Soil Moisture Active-Passive Satellite. The
seasonal forecast tools will inform surface water managers, support improved irrigation
water supply management, and enhance the ability of reservoir operators to anticipate
and respond to extreme events such as droughts and floods.
• The length of time and estimated completion date for the proposed project.
• Whether or not the proposed project is located on a Federal facility.
Technical Project Description
The technical project description should describe the work, including specific activities that will
be accomplished. As part of this discussion, please address the following:
Applicant Category
Please indicate whether you are a Category A applicant or a Category B applicant and provide a
short narrative summary describing how you meet the eligibility requirements of that applicant
category.
If you are a Category B applicant, briefly explain how you are acting in partnership with a
Category A partner and provide a short narrative summary describing how your partnering entity
meets the definition of a Category A entity. In addition, if you are a Category B applicant, you
must include a letter from the Category A partner confirming that they are partnering with you
and agree to the submittal and content of the application and how they intend to participate in the
project (see Eligible Applicants above). Category A partner letters must be submitted with the
application for Category B applicants to be eligible.
Detailed Project Description: Provide a more comprehensive description of the technical
aspects of your project, including the work to be accomplished and the approach to complete the
work. This description should provide detailed information about the project, including your
methodology and approach, and any models, data, and tools you are using, and the work to be
conducted to complete the project. This section provides an opportunity for the applicant to
provide a clear description of the technical nature of the project and the work to be performed
and to address any aspect of the project that reviewers may need additional information to
understand.
Goals: Discuss the preliminary goals and objectives of the project.
Please do not include your project schedule and milestones here; that information is requested in
response to the Project Implementation criterion as described in the merit review criteria,
Criterion C below. In addition, please avoid discussion of the benefits of the project, which are
also requested in response to merit review criteria as described in Criterion A. This section is
solely intended to provide an understanding of the technical aspects of the project and the work
to be performed. Please note, if the work for which you are requesting funding is a phase of a
larger project, please only describe the work that is reflected in the budget and exclude
description of other activities or components of the overall project.
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Project Location
Provide specific information regarding the proposed applied science project’s geographic area of
focus (for example, the proposed project may focus on a particular watershed or basin, county,
State, Territory, or another region). Include a map showing the geographic location of the project
area in one of the following formats:
1. Shapefile (.shp)
2. KMZ/KML (.kmz or .kml) aka Google Earth File
3. PDF map (.pdf)
Data Management Practices
Any spatially explicit data or tools developed in the performance of an award made under this
NOFO must be developed in industry standard formats that are compatible with Geographic
Information System (GIS) platforms.
Merit Review Criteria
See the Merit Review section below for additional details, including a detailed description of
each criterion and subcriterion and points associated with each. The merit review criteria portion
of your application should thoroughly address each criterion and subcriterion in the order
presented to assist in the complete and accurate evaluation of your proposal.
It is strongly suggested that applicants copy and paste the merit review criteria and subcriteria
from the Merit Review Criteria into their applications to ensure that all necessary information is
adequately addressed.
Letters of Support
Applicants should include letters of commitment from third-party cost share sources. Letters of
commitment should identify the amount of funding committed, the date the funds are available,
time constraints on the availability of funds, and any other funding contingencies. Letters of
support from interested stakeholders supporting the proposed project are encouraged, if
applicable. Reclamation will not consider letters of support received after the application
deadline for this NOFO in evaluating an applicant’s proposed project. These letters do not count
within the NUMBER OF PAGES FOR THE TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION page-maximum.
Letter of Partnership (Category B Applicants)
Category B applicants should submit a letter of partnership from the Category A partner, stating
that they are acting in partnership with the applicant and agree to the submittal and content of the
application. Ideally, this letter should be included with the application; however, if selected for
an award, it must be received before the financial assistance agreement is finalized. Additional
information regarding applicant eligibility may be requested during the application review
process.
Budget Narrative
Applicants must describe and justify items and costs listed in their budget. The budget narrative
must identify the following cost items: total estimated costs, non-Federal cost share, third-party
contributions, and any pre-award costs. Total project cost is the sum of all allowable costs,
including required and voluntary cost share and third-party contributions.
Budget items must be:
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• Reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary
• Compliant with 2 CFR §200 Subpart E cost principles
Indirect Costs: Applicants must indicate in their budget narrative how they will charge indirect
costs, including the rate to be applied:
• De Minimis Rate: If eligible, state if your organization is opting to use the de minimis
rate of up to 15% of total modified direct costs. Entities that do not have a current Federal
negotiated indirect cost rate (including provisional rate) may propose to use the de
minimis rate. For more information, refer to 2 CFR 200.414(f).
• Negotiated Rate: State if you will negotiate with your cognizant agency. If your
organization has previously negotiated a rate, attach a copy of the most recently
negotiated rate agreement (active or expired).
Applicants must describe and justify items and costs listed in their budget. The budget narrative
must identify the following cost items: total estimated costs, non-Federal cost share, third-party
contributions, and any pre-award costs. Total project cost is the sum of all allowable costs,
including required and voluntary cost share and third-party contributions.
The budget narrative provides a written description of the costs included in each budget category
on the SF-424A and how they were estimated. While the SF-424A gives the total cost for each
category of the budget, the budget narrative gives the item by item breakdown for each category
and shows the calculations used to derive the costs. The budget description serves two purposes:
1)it explains how the costs were estimated, and 2) it justifies the need for the cost. See
Attachment A for Budget Narrative Guidance. Attachment B is a suggested format for capturing
budget details to support the Narrative.
Pre-award costs (defined at 2 CFR 200.458) are allowed, subject to Grant Officer approval. To
be eligible, pre-award costs must be incurred after the posting date of this NOFO [and insert any
additional programmatic requirements]. Pre-award costs are at the applicant’s risk. Successful
applicants may submit requests for approval of pre-award costs to the awarding Grant Officer.
Program Cost Restrictions
Proposal costs. The costs for preparing and submitting an application in response to this funding
opportunity, including developing data necessary to support the proposal, are not eligible project
costs and must not be included in the project budget.
Other project costs. The costs for the purchase of water or land, or to secure an easement other
than a construction easement are not eligible project costs under this funding opportunity.
Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Costs
Include costs in the budget for completing compliance activities for Federal environmental and
cultural resources laws and regulations. Applicants may contact their local Reclamation office to
discuss the compliance requirements and potential costs. If the project is selected for award,
these costs will be reviewed for accuracy and adjusted as needed. See “Administration and
National Policy Requirements” for additional detail.
Conflict of Interest and Unresolved Matters Disclosures:
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If any actual or potential conflict of interest exists related to this project at the time of
application, the applicant must provide sufficient information to support a program determination
of significance per 2 CFR 1402.112. Refer to 2 CFR 200.112 Conflict of Interest and 2 CFR
200.113.
Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement:
Applicants must state in their application if the activities, costs, or time commitment of key
personnel proposed in this application overlap with those in any other Federal proposal or award
or not. If no overlap exists, include a statement to that effect. If any overlap exists, provide:
• Activities: Description any overlapping activities.
• Costs: Description of any overlapping costs.
• Time: Description of any overlapping key personnel time.
• A copy of any overlapping or duplicative proposal submitted to any other potential
funding entity.
• Details on when any overlapping proposal was submitted, to whom, and the expected
date of the funding decision.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES
Address to Request Application Package
Grants.gov contains a complete application kit to submit a full application in response to this
NOFO. Instructions for the Grants.gov application process are available here. Contact Matt
Stonebridge at MStonebridge@usbr.gov or, if you are unable to access the application materials
electronically at:
Bureau of Reclamation
Financial Assistance Operations Section
Attn: NOFO Team
P.O. Box 25007, MS 84-27133
Denver, CO 80225
Proposals received after the application deadline will not be considered unless it can be
determined that the delay was caused by Reclamation or there were technical issues with
Grants.gov. To document a delay due to a technical issue in Grants.gov, you must furnish a
Grants.gov help desk ticket number to the NOFO team that validates the delay. Difficulties
related to an applicant’s Grants.gov profile (e.g., incorrect organizational representative),
uploading documents to Grants.gov, or an applicant’s SAM.gov registration are not considered
technical issues with the Grants.gov system.
Submission Dates and Times
Closing Date for Applications: 07/08/2026
Closing Date Explanation
First application: July 8, 2026, at 5:00pm MDT
Second application : April 13, 2027, 5:00PM MDT
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Submission Instructions
Apply Through Grants.gov
To apply through Grants.gov, please follow the instructions in the Quick Start Guide for
Applicants. Before applying, ensure that at least one person at your organization is registered and
has the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Only the AOR can submit the
application. If you need more users, they must create their own Grants.gov account. Follow these
steps below to apply:
• Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it
through your organization for review before submitting.
• Complete a Workspace: Invite participants to the workspace so you can collaborate on
the application. Required applications forms are included in the Grants.gov Funding
Opportunity Package and can be completed in the Workspace, unless noted otherwise in
the Required Forms table above. Check for errors before submission.
• Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking
the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab
• Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a
Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the
application.
The system generates a date and time stamp and sends it to the applicant’s AOR via email as
proof of submission. Make sure your application passes the Grants.gov validation checks. Do not
encrypt, zip, or password-protect any files. Only registered individuals in SAM as both a user
and an AOR can submit applications. Please allow 30 days to register in Grants.gov.
Application System Technical Support: For Grants.gov technical registration and submission,
downloading forms, and application packages, contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-
518-4726 or by email at Support@grants.gov.
Applicants can submit a hard copy application by U.S. Mail or express delivery to the addresses
below.
By mail or United States Postal Service overnight services:
Bureau of Reclamation
Financial Assistance Operations Section
Attn: NOFO Team
P.O. Box 25007, MS 84-27133
Denver, CO 80225
By all other express delivery and courier services:
Bureau of Reclamation mail services
Attn: NOFO Team
Denver Federal Center
Bldg. 67, Rm. 152
6th Avenue and Kipling Street
Denver, CO 80225
APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION
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Eligibility Review
During the eligibility review, the application is checked for timely submission, completed
packages (see Application Documents above) and alignment with the requirements of this
announcement. The Federal agency may remove an application if it does not pass the eligibility
review.
Reclamation will remove an application if it does not include:
• Completed SF-424 and SF-424A forms
• SAM.gov registration, with a valid UEI (unless an exemption at 2 CFR 25.110 applies,
see below)
• A project narrative
• A budget narrative
If an applicant selected for funding hasn't finished their SAM.gov registration (see 2 CFR 25.200
and 2 CFR 25.110) when the federal agency is ready to make an award, we may decide that the
applicant is ineligible for the award and choose to grant it to someone else. Please refer 2 CFR
25.205 for more information.
Prior to making an award, the DOI checks the anticipated recipient and their key project
personnel against the current list of prohibited or restricted persons or entities in the System for
Award Management (SAM.gov) Exclusions database. We are prohibited from making an award
if a recipient or any key personnel are found ineligible, prohibited, restricted, or otherwise
excluded from receiving or participating in an award, as their ineligibility condition applies to
this program.
If removed from consideration for ineligibility, the Federal agency will notify the applicant in
writing.
Merit Review
The merit review criteria should be addressed in the Project Narrative. Applications should
thoroughly address each criterion and any sub-criterion in the order presented below.
Applications will be evaluated against the merit review criteria listed below. If the work
described in your application is a phase of a larger project, only discuss the benefits that will
result directly from the work discussed in the technical project description and that is reflected in
the budget, not the larger project.
Merit Review Criteria: Scoring Summary Points:
A.Water Management Challenge 20
B.Project Benefits 25
C.Project Implementation 20
D.Dissemination of Results 10
E.Presidential and Department of Interior Priorities
20
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F.Cost Share Priority
5
Total 100
Note: Projects may be prioritized to ensure balance among the program task areas and to ensure
that the projects address the goals and objectives of the NOFO.
Merit Review Criterion A - Water Management Challenge(s) (20 points)
Up to 20 points may be awarded based on the identification of the water management challenge.
Applicants that demonstrate the severity of the water management challenge for the project will
receive the most points under this criterion. Please respond and provide support for your
responses to each of the following sub-criteria.
1. Describe the water management problem that the proposed project is trying to address.
Describe in detail the problem that is occurring within your project area.
2. Describe the severity of the problem to be addressed with supporting qualitative and
quantitative details. For example, will your project address water supply shortfalls or
uncertainties, the need to meet competing demands for water and the lack of reliable
water supplies for municipal, agricultural, tribal, environmental or recreational water
uses, water quality issues, complications arising from drought, conflicts over water, or
other water management issues.
3. What are the consequences if the problem remains unaddressed.
Merit Review Criterion B - Project Benefits (25 points)
Up to 25 points may be awarded based on the extent to which the project will result in a tool or
information that will benefit partners and stakeholders and the extent to which the tool and
information will be used beyond project completion. Applicants that demonstrate clear benefit(s)
for the project, including documentation and support for those benefits, and can explain how the
project tool, information, or results will be readily applied will receive the most points under this
criterion.
1. How will the project improve water management decisions? How does the project
support one or more of the following water management objectives:
o increase water yield,
o ensure water supply reliability,
o improve water deliveries,
o improve drought management,
o increase flexibility in water operations,
o enhance water supply forecast skill,
o improve watershed health.
2. Describe, in detail, the benefits that can be expected to occur upon completion and
implementation of the project and provide qualitative and quantitative support for your
responses.
o Describe how the project was identified. Was the proposed project identified
using a collaborative process with input from multiple and diverse partners and
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stakeholders? Was the project identified as a specific partner or stakeholder need?
Was it identified through a prior planning effort or previous work?
o Who will use the tool or data developed under this proposal, who else will benefit
from it and how will they benefit from the project? Does someone benefit from
the project without being a direct user of the tool or data developed? Support for
this response could include but is not limited to letters from partners and
stakeholders expressing support for the project and explaining how they will
benefit.
o Describe how the tool, method, or information will be applied and when it will be
applied. Will the tool or information be used immediately or will additional work
need to be done before the tool will be used?
3. Describe if the results of your project will be applicable elsewhere. What additional work
would need to be done to make the project results transferable to others?
4. Explain how your project complements other similar efforts in the area where the project
is located. Will your project complement or add value to other, similar efforts in the area,
rather than duplicate or complicate those efforts? Are there other similar efforts in the
area that have used a similar methodology successfully which can be complimented?
Applicants should make a reasonable effort to explore and briefly describe and related
ongoing projects. Consider efforts by any Federal, state, local agency, or non-
governmental organizations.
5. Describe how the benefits will be assessed and verified. Is there a baseline or any
quantitative metrics to use for comparison purposes. Describe or cite past work/literature
to support the anticipated benefits.
6. Provide an estimate of the cost per acre-foot of water created, conserved, or delivered as
a result of the proposed activity, if applicable.
Merit Review Criterion C - Project Implementation (20 points)
Up to 20 points may be awarded based upon the extent to which the applicant is capable of
proceeding with the project upon entering into a financial assistance agreement. Applicants that
describe a detailed work plan (e.g., estimated schedule that shows the stages and duration of the
proposed work and identifies major tasks, milestones, and dates) and a budget that is appropriate
for the work proposed and has a reasonable level of detail will receive the most points under this
criterion. Your responses should reflect an understanding of the tasks required to complete the
project within the required 2-year timeframe. Please respond and provide support for your
responses to each of the following sub-criteria.
Describe your project implementation plan:
1. Briefly describe and provide support for the approach and methodology that will be used
to meet the objectives of the project. Provide support for your chosen methodology,
including use of any specific models, data, or tools, and why this is the best available
approach.
2. Describe the work plan for implementing the proposed scope of work. Such plans may
include, but are not limited to:
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a. an estimated project schedule that shows the stages and duration of the proposed
work,
b. milestones for each major task,
c. start and end dates for each task and milestones, and
d. costs for each task (proposals with a budget and budget narrative that provide a
reasonable explanation of project costs will be prioritized), along with an
indication of which partner or partners would provide nonfederal cost-share on a
timely basis to allow the work to proceed expeditiously.
3. Provide a summary description of the products that are anticipated to result from the
project These may include data, metadata, digital or electronic products, final reports, and
publications. Note: using a table to list anticipated products is suggested.
4. Provide information on quality assurance / quality control practices that will be used to
ensure the technical and scientific integrity of the tools or products.
5. Who will be involved in the project as project partners? What will each partner or
stakeholder’s role in the project be? How will project partners and stakeholders be
engaged in the project and at what stages? If you are a Category B applicant, be sure to
explain how your Category A partners will be engaged in the project.
6. Identify staff with appropriate credentials and experience and describe their
qualifications. Describe the process and criteria that will be used to select appropriate
staff members for any positions that have not yet been filled. Describe any plans to
request additional technical assistance from Reclamation or via a contract. Please answer
the following:
1. Have the project team members accomplished projects similar in scope to the
proposed project in the past either as a lead or team member?
2. Is the project team capable of proceeding with tasks within the proposed project
immediately upon entering into a financial assistance agreement? If not, please
explain the reason for any anticipated delay.
Merit Review Criterion D - Dissemination of Results (10 Points)
Up to 10 points may be awarded for proposals that can articulate how the results will be
disseminated, transferred, and communicated directly with partners and resource managers
within the Western United States. Please respond and provide support for your responses to each
of the following sub-criteria. Note: All applicants whose projects are selected for funding will be
expected to participate in at least one Reclamation-sponsored webinar to disseminate
deliverable(s) and discuss ways to apply deliverables to management questions. Under this
criterion, proposals will be evaluated based on other efforts, beyond the required webinar, that
they will take to disseminate the results of their project.
Explain how project results will be disseminated, including:
Describe how the tools, frameworks, or analyses developed under the proposed scope of work
will be disseminated, communicated, or made available to water resources managers who may be
interested in the results. Describe a technology transfer plan for how the project will be used and
adopted by others.
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• If the applicant is the primary beneficiary of the project, explain how the project results
will be communicated internally, and to interested partners and stakeholders and
interested water resources managers in the area, if appropriate.
• If the applicant is not the primary beneficiary of the project (e.g., universities or research
institutes), describe how project results will be coordinated and communicated to project
partners and interested water resources managers in the area.
• Describe how the project results will be made available for others. What coordination is
planned to ensure other water managers in the West can use the information to support
water management objectives. What is the likelihood of successful use of the data or
information shared.
Merit Review Criterion E - Presidential and Department of Interior Priorities (20 Points)
Up to 20 points may be awarded based on the extent that the project demonstrably:
• advances the Trump Administration’s priorities, including E.O. 14154: Unleashing
American Energy, justifies alignment with priorities and requirements in E.O. 14332:
Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking;
• includes primary project elements that develop, demonstrate, and or implement artificial
intelligence (AI) technologies that advance the Trump Administration and Department of
Interior’s priorities for AI, including OMB M-25-21 Accelerating the Use of AI through
Innovation, Governance, and Public Trust; S.O. 3444: Leading Interior’s Path to
Artificial Intelligence Transformation;
• aligns with Secretary Burgum’s strategic objectives, including those identified in S.O.s
3417: Addressing the National Energy Emergency, 3418 Unleashing American Energy,
3419 Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-
of-Living Crisis; · aligns with goals and objectives in the U.S. Department of the Interior
FY 2026-2030 Strategic Plan; and
• supports water management and enhanced operational flexibility in Reclamation States,
with priority given to the Colorado River Basin, which is experiencing long-term drought
conditions.
Please address only those priorities that are applicable to your project. All priorities will be
given equal consideration. A project will not necessarily receive more points simply because
multiple priorities are addressed. Points will be allocated based on the degree to which the
project supports, advances, or otherwise demonstrates an enhancement of one or more of the
priorities identified, and whether the connection to the stated priority (or priorities) is (are) well
supported.
Merit Review Criterion F - Cost Share Priority (5 points)
Up to 5 points may be awarded to proposals that include non-Federal cost share contributions
exceeding the minimum by at least 5 percent. Projects with a higher non-Federal cost share may
be awarded more points. State the percentage of non-Federal funding provided using the
following calculation:
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Non-Federal Funding / Total Project Cost = %
See Cost Sharing Requirement and Budget Narrative for more information on cost-share
requirements and eligible costs.
Note: projects selected for award will have reported cost-share amounts verified. If reported cost
share is found to be ineligible, there may be impacts to award. Accordingly, please ensure
reported cost share amounts are accurate and eligible.
Review and Selection Process
This program reviews proposed budgets to ensure:
• figures are correct
• estimated costs are necessary and reasonable and clearly linked to project narratives
• avoid obviously unallowable costs
• identify costs requiring prior approval
• ensure indirect cost rates are applied correctly
• confirm cost sharing requirements are reflected in the budget.
This program reviews applications for potential overlap or duplication between the proposed
project and any other funded or proposed project. Depending on the circumstances, DOI may
choose to not make an award.
Initial Review
Prior to conducting the comprehensive merit review, an initial review will be performed to
determine whether: (1) the applicant is eligible for an award; (2) the information required by the
NOFO has been submitted; (3) all mandatory requirements of the NOFO are satisfied; (4) the
proposed project is responsive to the program objectives of the NOFO (program determination);
and (5) the proposed project is in compliance with all applicable executive and secretary orders,
including the President’s executive order on Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI
Programs and Preferencing as well as the executive order and Secretary order on Restoring Truth
and Sanity to American History. If an applicant fails to meet the requirements or objectives of the
NOFO, or does not provide sufficient information for review, the applicant will be considered
nonresponsive and eliminated from further review.
An Application Review Committee (ARC), made up of experts in relevant disciplines, will
review the technical merit of the application, based on the merit review criteria. The ARC will
also review the application to ensure that the project is eligible and meets the objective of this
NOFO. During ARC review, Reclamation may contact applicants to request clarifications to the
information provided, if necessary.
After the merit review, Reclamation conducts a “red-flag” review of top-ranking applications.
During this review, Reclamation identifies any reasons a project would not be feasible or
advisable, including environmental or cultural compliance, permitting, legal, financial,
performance or other concerns. After the red-flag review, Reclamation conducts a “managerial
review” of top-ranking applications. The managerial review prioritizes applications for selection
based on the objectives of the NOFO. The review of applications will follow the requirements of
E.O. 14332, such as ensuring review by senior appointees, and that selections demonstrably
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advance the President’s policy priorities consistent with applicable law. Geographic dispersion,
project types, applicant types, previous award history, and applicant success in implementing
Gold Standard Science (E.O. 14303) may be considered during the review. Selections are
finalized once these reviews are complete, and all applicants are notified.
Risk Review
Prior to making an award, the applicant will be assessed for their level of risk per 2 CFR
200.206. This assessment includes the applicant's financial management capabilities, project
delivery experience, staffing resources, past award performance, administration and reporting
compliance records, and overall project complexity and potential for challenges. If an award will
be made, special conditions may be applied to the award corresponding to the assessed risk. For
awards over the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $350,000), a review of the applicant's
eligibility and financial integrity information in the applicant's SAM.gov records will also be
performed per 2 CFR 200.206.
The program also assesses financial management capabilities, project delivery experience,
staffing resources, past performance, administration and reporting compliance records, and
overall project complexity and potential challenges.
Reclamation conducts a detailed budget analysis and a business evaluation and responsibility
determination. During this evaluation, Reclamation will consider several factors, such as:
• • Allowability, allocability, and reasonableness of proposed costs
• • Financial strength and stability of the applicant
• • Past performance, including satisfactory compliance with all terms and conditions of
previous awards, such as environmental compliance, reporting requirements, and audit
compliance
• • Adequacy of personnel practices, procurement procedures, and accounting policies and
procedures.
AWARD NOTICES
Notices of Federal Award are sent electronically via GrantSolutions or e-mail. These notices
outline the terms, conditions, and payment instructions per 2 CFR 200.211. The Notice of
Federal Award signed by an authorized Grants Officer is the legal instrument obligating financial
assistance to a recipient. Any other prior notice is not an authorization to begin work. If the
program allows pre-award costs per 2 CFR 200.458, beginning performance before receiving a
Notice of Federal Award is at the applicant’s own risk.
Anticipated Project Start Date: 07/08/2027
Anticipated Project End Date: 09/30/2029
Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates
This funding opportunity has two application submittal periods. For proposals submitted under
the first application period, Reclamation anticipates contacting potential award recipients and
unsuccessful applicants in November 2026 (or later if necessary), subject to the timing and
amount of final appropriations. The anticipated award and completion dates for the first
submittal period are as follows:
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Anticipated Award Date: July 2027
Anticipated Project Completion Date: July 2029
For proposals submitted under the second application period, Reclamation anticipates
contacting potential award recipients and unsuccessful applicants in August 2027 (or later if
necessary), subject to the timing and amount of final appropriations. The anticipated award and
completion dates for the second submittal period are as follows:
Anticipated Award Date: April 2028
Anticipated Project Completion Date: April 2030
Reclamation will contact award recipients individually to discuss the time frame for the
completion of their agreement. A webinar will be held for successful applicants within 30 days
following their notice of selection to review next steps and pre-Financial Assistance Agreement
procedures.
Reclamation may post successful applications on a Reclamation website, after necessary
redaction's, in consultation with the successful applicant.
POST AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION
Administration and National Policy Requirements
For award administration and national policy requirements, see the DOI General Terms and
Conditions. Infrastructure projects require the use of American iron, steel, manufacture products,
and construction materials per 2 CFR 184.
Automated Standard Application for Payments Registration
All recipients must be registered with and willing to process all payments through the
Department of Treasury Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system. All
recipients with active financial assistance agreements with Reclamation must be enrolled in
ASAP under the appropriate Agency Location Code(s) and UEI Number prior to the award of
funds. If a recipient has multiple UEI numbers, they must separately enroll within ASAP for
each unique UEI Number and/or Agency. If your entity is currently enrolled in the ASAP system
with an agency other than Reclamation, you must enroll specifically with Reclamation in order
to process payments. All of the information on the enrollment process for recipients, will be sent
to you by ASAP staff if selected for award.
Approvals and Permits
Recipients must comply with Federal, State, Territorial, Tribal, and local laws, regulations, and
codes, as applicable, and must obtain all required approvals and permits. Recipients must also
coordinate and obtain approvals from site owners and operators.
Environmental and Cultural Resources Compliance
The recipient must comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local environmental, cultural,
and paleontological resource laws and regulations. Data collections supporting compliance
efforts must follow separate compliance procedures. All projects will require compliance with
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and National
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Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) before any ground-disturbing activity may begin.
Recipients are prohibited from any ground-disturbing activities (e.g., biological or water quality
surveys, grading, clearing, excavation, and other preliminary or construction activities) on a
project before environmental and cultural resources compliance is complete. A recipient that
proceeds before environmental and cultural resources compliance is complete risks forfeiting
funding. The Grant Officer will issue a Notice to Proceed that explicitly authorizes work to
proceed once environmental and cultural resource compliance is complete. See appendix X for
additional details.
Official Resolution
Prior to award, the recipient must provide an official resolution adopted by the organization’s
governing body, or, for state government entities, an official authorized to commit the recipient
to the financial and legal obligations of the financial assistance award. The official resolution
verifies:
•The identity of the official with legal authority to enter into an agreement
•The board of directors, governing body, or appropriate official who has reviewed and supports
the application submitted
•That the organization will work with Reclamation to meet established deadlines
Geospatial Data and Data Tools
If you receive financial assistance from the Department of the Interior (DOI), you must follow
these rules for geospatial data:
• Follow Federal Standards: All geospatial data you collect or create must meet the
standards set by the Federal Geospatial Data Committee (FGDC) or the Department of
the Interior. This is required by the Geospatial Data Act of 2018, which is part of Public
Law 115-254, specifically in Subtitle F (Geospatial Data), sections 751-759C (codified at
43 U.S.C. §§ 2801–2811).
• Include Metadata: Your Geographic Information Systems (GIS) files must include
complete metadata. Metadata is information that describes the data, such as where it
came from, how accurate it is, and how it should be used. This is to ensure that anyone
using the data understands its context and quality.
• Check for Existing Data: Before you start collecting new geospatial data, you need to
check GeoPlatform.gov. This is to see if there is already existing geospatial data from
federal, state, local, or private sources that can meet your needs and is available for free.
If such data is available, you should use it instead of gathering new data.
Intangible Property
Title to intangible property acquired under this agreement vests upon acquisition with the
Recipient, however Reclamation reserves the right to obtain, publish, reproduce, or otherwise use
and authorize others to use for Federal purposes in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200.315.
Real Property
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Real property, equipment, and intangible property that is acquired or improved with a Federal
award must be held in trust by the recipient as trustee for the beneficiaries of the project or
program under which the property was acquired or improved, per 2 CFR §200.316. Title to real
property acquired or improved under a Federal award will vest upon acquisition in the recipient.
Except as otherwise provided by Federal statutes or by the Federal awarding agency, real
property will be used for the originally authorized purpose as long as needed for that purpose,
during which time the recipient must not dispose of or encumber its title or other interests. When
real property is no longer needed for the originally authorized purpose, the recipient must obtain
disposition instructions from the Federal awarding agency or pass- through entity.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Please note that any application submitted for funding under this NOFO may be subjected to a
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request (5 U.S.C. §552, as amended by P.L. No. 110-175),
and as a result, may be made publicly available.
In response to a FOIA request for research data relating to published research findings produced
under a Federal award that were used by the Federal Government in developing an agency action
that has the force and effect of law, the Federal awarding agency must request, and the recipient
must provide, within a reasonable time, the research data so that they can be made available to
the public through the procedures established under the FOIA.
Requirements for Agricultural Operations under P.L. 111-11, Section 9504(a)(3)(B)
In accordance with Section 9504(a)(3)(B) of P.L.111-11, financial assistance will not be awarded
for an improvement to conserve irrigation water unless the recipient agrees to both of the
following conditions:
1. Not to use any associated water savings to increase the total irrigated acreage of the
recipient and
2. Not to otherwise increase the consumptive use of water in the operation of the recipient,
as determined pursuant to the law of the state in which the operation of the recipient is
located.
If the recipient is a Tribe, a financial assistance agreement will not be awarded unless the
recipient agrees to not use any associated water savings to increase the total irrigated acreage
or otherwise increase the consumptive use of water more than the water right of the Tribe, as
determined by a court decree, a settlement, a law, or any combination of these authorities.
Title to Improvements P.L.111-11, Section 9504(a)(3)(D)
If the project results in a modification to a portion of a federally owned facility that is integral to
the existing operations of that facility, the Federal government shall continue to hold title to the
facility and the improvements thereto. Title to improvements, P.L.111-11, Section 9504(a)(3)(D)
that are not integral to existing water delivery operations shall reside with the project sponsor.
Operation and Maintenance Costs under P.L.111-11, Section 9504(a)(3)(E)(iv)
All costs for operation and maintenance of any infrastructure or infrastructure improvements
funded through this agreement will be covered 100 percent by the recipient. No federal funds
will be contributed to these expenses.
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Improvements to Federal Facilities
Note that improvements to Federal facilities that are implemented through any project awarded
funding must comply with additional requirements. Reclamation may also require additional
reviews and approvals prior to award to ensure that any necessary easements, land use
authorizations, or special permits can be approved and that the development will not impact or
impair project operations or efficiency, consistent with the requirements of 43 CFR Section 429.
Liability under P.L.111-11, Section 9504(a)(3)(F)
Except as provided under 28 U.S.C. Chapter 171 (commonly known as the Federal Tort Claims
Act), the United States shall not be liable for monetary damages of any kind for any injury
arising out of an act, omission, or occurrence that arises in relation to any facility created or
improved through an agreement awarded under this NOFO, the title of which is not held by the
United States.
Reporting
The recipient’s Notice of Award will detail all reporting requirements, including frequency, due
dates, and instructions for requesting extensions. In general, but not limited to, recipients must:
• Submit Federal Financial reports and Program Performance reports.
• Use the Federal Financial Report (SF-425) form for financial reporting,
• Monitor award activities and report on program performance per 2 CFR 200.329,
• Promptly notify the awarding program in writing of any issues, delays, or conditions
impairing award objectives per 2 CFR 200.329(e),
• Disclose any conflicts of interest related to their award that arise during the award period
per 2 CFR 1402.112,
• Report on the status of real property acquired under the award in which the Federal
government retains an interest per 2 CFR 200.330, and
• Report all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity
violations potentially affecting the Federal award per 2 CFR 200.113.
• Report any matters related to recipient integrity and performance to SAM.gov per
Appendix XII to 2 CFR 200.
• If the Federal share of the award is more than $100,000 and the recipient makes or agrees
to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection to the
award, disclose those activities using the Disclosure of Lobbying (SF-LLL) form per
43 CFR 18.100.
• Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) and 2 CFR 170
requires certain recipients to report information on executive compensation, and
information on all sub-awards, subcontracts and consortiums equal to or over $30,000 to
SAM.gov.
• Report any required mitigation to lessen environmental impacts of the project.
• Recipients of Reclamation awards must include the following information in performance
reports:
o a comparison of actual accomplishments to the milestones established by the
financial assistance agreement for the period,
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o the reasons why the project did not meet established milestones, if applicable,
o the status of milestones not met from the previous reporting period, if applicable,
o whether the project is on schedule and within the original cost estimate,
o any additional pertinent information or issues related to the status of the project,
and
o photographs documenting the project (appreciated, although not required). Note:
Reclamation may print photos with appropriate credit to the recipient.
o Final reports are public documents and may be made available on Reclamation’s
website.
o A final report is required by applicants whose projects are selected. Contents of
the report should include, but is not limited to, an executive summary, project
background, technical approach, comprehensive evaluation, results or
conclusions, benefits realized, as well as lessons learned.
Other Information
Reclamation will host a webinar to provide general information regarding this NOFO and
answer questions. For more information regarding this NOFO, the general information webinar,
and WaterSMART Applied Science Grants, including previously funded projects and
applications, visit https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/appliedscience.
More information on Reclamation’s Snow Water Supply Forecast Program can be found at
https://www.usbr.gov/research/snow.html.
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> Download XLSX file: Attachment A - Budget_Detail_and_Narrative_template_v2025_March.xlsx

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Attachment B - Budget_Narrative_Guidance_v2025_March.docx

A budget estimate and narrative are required for your project. The information in the budget narrative must correspond to Section B of the SF-424A. All budgeted costs, including any costs that will be paid by the applicant or contributed by third-parties, must comply with the cost principles of 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles and be:

Allowable (§ 200.403 Factors affecting allowability of costs),

allocable to the agreement (§ 200.405 Allocable costs) and

reasonable in amount (§ 200.404 Reasonable costs)

• *Other than personnel and fringe benefits costs, all construction-related costs should be included under Object Class Category 6g., Construction.

A detailed budget narrative will aid the administrative review and processing of a recommended award. Amounts included in a budget and budget narrative are estimates; in the event of an award, payments will be based on actual expenditures. The following is guidance for your use in preparing a thorough budget narrative. The budget narrative provides a discussion of, or explanation for, items included in the above budget items. The guidance follows the order of the budget items. The Budget Detail and Narrative template (Attachment B) is a suggested format to present the breakdown of your estimated costs, by category, needed to accomplish project activities.

*Cost-share instructions (if applicable): The budget must include at least the minimum Federal to non-Federal required cost share. Cost share encompasses all contributions to the project incurred and paid for during the project. This includes payments for personnel, supplies, equipment, activities and items necessary for the project. In-kind Cost Share encompasses all third party contributions to the project that do not involve a payment or reimbursement and represent donated items or services that are necessary to the performance of the project. This includes volunteer personnel hours, donated existing equipment, donated existing supplies, etc.

Personnel

This category includes salaries and wages of employees of the applicant organization that will be working directly on the project. Generally, salaries of administrative and/or clerical personnel are included as a portion of the stated indirect costs. If these salaries can be adequately documented as direct costs, they can be included in this section; however, a justification should be included in the budget narrative.

Recommendation: Review § 200.430 Compensation - personal services for more information on the specific requirements regarding compensation costs, including the Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses at §200.430(g).

• Narrative: For key personnel such as the project manager or principal investigator, identify the name and position/title. Other personnel should be identified by position only. For all positions, identify the project tasks that will be performed. Compensation rates can be expressed as hourly rates and number of hours or annual salary and percentage effort that will be contributed to each task, but must be consistent with your organization’s accounting and timekeeping policies. Include estimated hours for compliance with reporting requirements, including the final project report and evaluation. For multi-year projects, identify the level of effort anticipated for each budget year and any estimates increases in compensation rates. Within the budget narrative, provide a certification that the labor rates included in the budget proposal represent the actual labor rates of the identified personnel/positions and are consistently applied to Federal and non-Federal activities. Note: The annual/hourly labor rate must not include fringe benefits.

Examples:

Hourly rate: (Position) will assist the project manager in the performance of all tasks for each budget year as described below. The hourly rate for year two includes a 3% increase which is the average annual increase in compensation for all employees. The hourly rate is based on the average of all personnel occupying this position. Compensation rates are consistently applied to Federal and non-Federal activities.

Task 1: 50 hrs Y1 x $25hr + 0 hrs Y2 x $26hr = $1,250

Task 2: 80 hrs Y1 x $25hr + 100 hrs Y2 x $26 = $4,600

Task 3: 80 hrs Y1 x $25hr + 80 hrs Y2 x $26 = $4,080

Task 4: 80 hrs Y1 x $25hr + 110 hrs Y2 x $26 = $4,860

Total: $7,250 Y1 $7,540 Y2 $14,790

Percentage: (Name, title) will be the project manager and responsible for the day to day direction of the project, participate in the derivation and culture of invasive mussel cells (Task 1), and perform most molecular biology procedures( Tasks 2-4). His salary is $71,400 for both budget years and it i anticipated that he will spend 40% of his time on the project in Year one ($28,560) and 60% during Year two ($42,840), approximately $71,480 for the entire project period. The budgeted rates represent the actual labor rates for the identified personnel and positions and are consistently applied to Federal and non-Federal activities.

Fringe Benefits

Fringe benefits are allowances and services provided by employers to their employees as compensation in addition to regular salaries and wages. Fringe benefits include, but are not limited to, the costs of leave (vacation, family-related, sick or military), employee insurance, pensions, and unemployment benefit plans. Fringe costs should also include employer contributions required by law such as payroll taxes such as FICA, unemployment, and workers compensation. Fringe does not include federal income taxes, employee portion FICA, or other such costs. Recommend reviewing § 200.431 Compensation - fringe benefits for more information on the allowability and allocability of fringe benefits.

Recommendation: Review § 200.431 Compensation - fringe benefits for more information on the allowability and allocability of fringe benefits. Note: Car allowances and cars furnished to employees for personal and work use are unallowable as a fringe benefit, regardless of whether the costs is reported as taxable income, and must be excluded from fringe benefit rates.

• Narrative: Fringe benefits can be expressed as an hourly rate or percentage of personnel costs. In the narrative, identify the fringe benefit rates/amounts for each position. If the fringe benefit rate is less than 35% of the estimated employee compensation, no additional information is necessary. If the fringe benefit rate is more than 35%, provide a description and breakdown of the benefits. If the rate is established within a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA), provide a copy of the agreement with the application. Note: Do not combine the fringe benefit costs with direct salaries and wages in the personnel category.

Examples:

Hourly amount (less than 35% of compensation): Fringe benefits are based on hours for each staff member and include benefits and required taxes paid for each position. Fringe rates have been computed at $8.55 per hour for the Director and $6.97 per hour for the Project Coordinator and are applied to the 475 and 275 hour estimates for each position.

Percentage rate: The City’s fringe benefits costs are estimated at 50% of employee compensation costs and consists of FICA (8%), unemployment insurance (6%) workers compensation (1%), medical and dental (18%), retirement (3%) and annual/sick leave/holidays (14%).

NICRA: current agreement provided, which shows the appropriate fringe benefit rates for each position.

Travel

Travel costs are expenses incurred by personnel in the performance of project activities. Costs can be charged on an actual cost basis, on a per diem or mileage basis in lieu of actual costs incurred, or on a combination of the two, provided that the method used is applied to the entire trip and not to selected days of the trip. All charges must be consistent with those normally allowed under similar circumstances for non-Federally funded activities and any established travel policies.

Recommendation: Review § 200.475 Travel costs for more information.

• Narrative: Provide a narrative describing any travel employees are anticipated to perform. Include the purpose of the travel and how it relates to project tasks, the origin and destination of the trip, number of personnel traveling, length of stay and all travel costs including airfare, per diem, lodging, transportation, and miscellaneous travel expenses. Identify the basis for rates used, (e.g. GSA Per Diem Rates, published prices) and the total of each planned trip. If travel details are unknown, then the basis for proposed costs should be explained (i.e. historical information).

Example:

The budget includes $800 in estimated travel costs for the principal investigator to travel to Denver for the required project presentation. Airfare is estimated at $345 based on published prices. Rental car costs are estimated at $146 based on a quote from a rental car company at the airport. Lodging is estimated at $195 for one night and a per diem of $57/day for meals and incidentals for two days of travel. Lodging and per diem are based on GSA rates for Denver/Aurora geographic area.

The budget includes $1,100 in travel costs for the project facilitator to travel to stakeholder meetings in the watershed. The number of meetings and locations are not known at this time, but the estimate is based on travel costs for 10 meetings with an estimated 100mi roundtrip for each meeting (1000 mi x 0.57/mi = $570). One or more meetings may also require an overnight stay so the estimate includes 2 nights lodging at $150/night ($300) and per diem for 4 days ($56.00 x 4 =$224). Lodging and per diem rates are based on GSA rates for the Durango, CO geographic area.

Equipment

Equipment is defined in §200.1 as tangible personal property (including information technology systems) having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the applicant organization for financial statement purposes, or $10,000.

Recommendation: Review § 200.439 Equipment and other capital expenditures for additional information on the allowability of equipment costs and § 200.313 Equipment for information regarding the title, use, management and disposition requirements for equipment acquired under a Federal award.

• Narrative: If equipment will be purchased, itemize all equipment valued at or greater than your organization's capitalization threshold for financial statement purposes. If your organization's capitalization threshold is greater than $10,000, identify all equipment valued at or greater than $10,000. For each item, identify why it is needed for the completion of the project and how the equipment was priced (published price, quote, etc.). Include in the narrative a comparison of rental and/or lease costs over the purchase of the equipment item. Note: Do not include equipment that will be purchased and/or installed as part of a construction- related activity. Construction costs must be included in Object Class Category 6g.

Example:

This project includes the production of lines of cultured cells from invasive mussel species, and long-term cell culture success is heavily reliant on storage of cells and reagents at ultracold temperatures. The requested new freezer will be used for both primary and back-up storage of cells and reagents to ensure that ultracold storage continues uninterrupted in the event of equipment failure. The $11,000 estimate is based on the published price for a Thermo Scientific Revco RLE Series Ultra-low Freezer. Rental cost of similar freezers range from $475-$530 per month, or approximately $18,000 over the term of the agreement.

Supplies

Supply is defined in §200.1 as all tangible personal property other than those described in the equipment definition. A computing device is a supply if the acquisition cost is less than the lesser of the capitalization level established by your organization for financial statement purposes or $10,000, regardless of the length of its useful life.

Recommendation: Review
§ 200.453 Materials and Supplies Costs, Including the cost of computing devices, regarding the allowability of costs. Supply items must be direct costs to the project and not duplicative of supply costs in the indirect rate. For post-award requirements regarding supplies, recommend reviewing § 200.314 Supplies. For financial management requirements related to supplies, recommend reviewing §200.302(b)(4)

• Narrative: List all expendable supplies noting their purpose in the project and the basis of cost (e.g. vendor quotes, catalogue prices, prior invoices, etc.). For each item, provide the estimated unit cost, quantity, and total cost. General categories may be used, but if a category is viewed as too general or the associated amount is too high, further itemization may be requested.

Example: Pressure gage $102/ea. x 2 = $204

Compression tubing $20/lf. x 10 = $200

Peristaltic pump $3,180/ea. x 1 = $3,180

Instrument consumables $1500 (ls) $1,500

Total $5,084

The pressure gage and tubing to complete the column tests in Task 1. The pump will be used to load and regenerate columns (Tasks 1, 3, 5) and the instrument consumables will be used for the analytical analyses identified in Tasks 1-6. The Instrument consumables were estimated using actual costs from a previous project and the other items were estimated using vendor estimates.

Contractual

Include all contracts and subawards. Per § 200.1, a contract means, for the purpose of Federal financial assistance, a legal instrument by which a recipient or subrecipient purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a Federal award. The term as used in this part does not include a legal instrument, even if the non-Federal entity considers it a contract when the substance of the transaction meets the definition of a subaward.

For additional information on subrecipient and contractor determinations, see § 200.331 Subrecipient and contractor determinations. Recommend reviewing § 200.459 Professional service costs for information regarding the allowability of contractual costs.

Do not include construction contract costs in this section. Construction costs should be included in Budget Object Class Category 6g, Construction.

• Contract Narrative:. For each contract, regardless of dollar value, describe the services to be obtained and the applicability or necessity of each to the project. Identify the total estimated cost and the basis(es) used to develop the estimate. For each contract with an estimated amount meeting or exceeding $250,000 or represents 35% or more of the total project cost, provide a separate detailed description of the estimated costs. A detailed estimate can be included with the application in lieu of a description. For contracts with an estimated cost equal to or greater than the micro-purchase threshold (currently $10,000) identify the anticipated procurement method to be used and the basis of selection.

NOTE: Only contracts for architectural/engineering services can be awarded using a qualifications-based procurement method. If a qualifications-based procurement method is used, profit must be negotiated as a separate element of the contract price. See § 200.318 General procurement standards for additional information regarding procurements, including required contract content.

Recommend reviewing § 200.319 Competition and § 200.318 General procurement standards for additional information regarding procurements, including required contract content. Recommend reviewing § 200.319 Competition and § 200.320 Procurement methods.

Example: Facilitator $150/hr. x 75 = $11,250

Water Quality Consulting $40/hr. x 50 = $2,000

Total $13,250

Consultants will be hired to assist with facilitation and technical assessments and preplanning activities as needed. We have conducted preliminary price analysis and found average fees for facilitation consultants in the area are $150 per hour. The estimate would provide 75 hours of facilitation work focused on the development of the strategic plan. Our procurement policies require that we obtain at least three quotes for services and the selection will be based on best value (qualifications and price). We have researched water quality support cost estimates from XXXXX, who maintains a fee for service pricing structure and provides expertise focused on the watershed. Rates for water quality support average $50 per hour and the project estimate would provide 40 hours of support for pre-planning activities.

• Subaward Narrative: If known, identify the recipient of each subaward. Describe the activities to be performed under each subaward, regardless of dollar value, and indicate the applicability or necessity of each to the project. Identify the total estimated cost and the basis(es) used to develop the estimate. For each subaward with an estimated amount meeting or exceeding $250,000 or representing 35% or more of the total project cost, provide a separate detailed description of the estimated costs. A detailed estimate can be included with the application in lieu of a description. Include any indirect/overhead costs anticipated to be paid and the indirect cost rate used.

Example:

A subaward in the amount of $8,400 will be made to XXXX non-profit to conduct outreach, facilitate stakeholder meetings and perform pre-planning activities. The subaward includes $5,000 for personnel salary and $1,050 for fringe benefits. Salary costs are based on the compensation rate for the subrecipient Project Coordinator ($50/hr. x 100 hours) and a fringe rate of 21%. The subaward also includes $500 in travel costs for the Project Coordinator to travel to 10 stakeholder meetings. It is estimated that the Project Coordinator will travel approximately 50-100 miles round-trip per meeting at a cost of $0.57 per mile. The non-profit has a Federal indirect cost rate agreement (attached) and costs are estimated at $1,850 ($6,550 x 28%).

Construction

Construction costs are costs incurred in the construction, renovation, and/or equipping of a facility or structure. Costs include, engineering, design, permitting, demolition, acquisition of materials, and installation of improvements.

• Narrative: Identify all construction related costs other than applicant organization personnel and fringe benefits costs, including, but not limited to engineering and design, environmental and other regulatory compliance costs, applicant-owned equipment use, rental equipment, construction supplies, equipment that will be purchased and installed, construction contracts, permitting, and environmental compliance. Note: Personnel and fringe benefits costs related to construction should be included in Budget Object Class Category 6a and 6bas applicable.

Equipment use. If equipment is owned by the applicant is proposed for use under the project, provide the use rates and hours for each piece of equipment owned and budgeted. These should be ownership rates developed by the recipient for each piece of equipment (do not include operator costs). If these rates are not available, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineer’s recommended equipment rates for the region are acceptable. Rates for your region can be found at EP1110-1-8 Construction Equipment Ownership and Operating Expense Schedule.

Example:

JCB Excavator $46.42/hr. x 168 = $7,797

CAT 320C Excavator $46.42/hr. x 145 = $6,745

John Deere 690 Excavator $56.34/hr. x 66 = $3,700

CAT D7 Dozer $86.88/hr. x 169 = $14,513

IHC TD-IS Dozer $67.12/hr. x 112 = $7,515

Total $40,269

The District owns all the necessary equipment and machinery that will be required for this project. The hourly rates are the rates established by the United States Army Corps of Engineers within the Construction Equipment Ownership and Expense Schedule for the Region. Estimated number of project hours for each machine were extrapolated from using actual numbers and data from similar sized projects the District has completed in the past.

• Materials. Identify any construction materials and non-movable equipment that will be purchased from a vendor. Include estimated purchase price, quantity, and total cost.

Example:

27' PVC Pipe $26.49 1479 linear feet $39,179

24" PVC Pipe $20.42 2703 linear feet $55,195

27 X 24 reducer $278.23 1 each $278

24 X 21 reducer $185.59 1 each $186

27 X 10 Turnout $970.76 2 each $971

24 X 10 Turnout $382.89 1 each $383

Total $96,192

All of the materials and supplies needed for the project are listed above. The supplies are itemized by major category, unit price, quantity and purpose. All costs were derived from actual product costs or by quotes received on each product within the last 365 days. 

• Contractual services. For each contract, regardless of dollar value, describe the services to be obtained and the applicability or necessity of each to the project. Identify the total estimated cost and the basis(es) used to develop the estimate. For all construction contracts and each contract with an estimated amount meeting or exceeding $250,000 or representing 35% or more of the total project cost, provide a separate detailed description of the estimated costs. A detailed estimate can be included with the application in lieu of a description. For contracts with an estimated cost equal to or greater than the micro-purchase threshold (currently $10,000) identify the procurement method to be used and the basis of selection.

• Example:

Principal Engineer $250/hr. x 460 = $115,000

Construction Manager $135/hr. x 229 = $30,915

Project Manager $150/hr. x 327 = $48,975

Senior Engineering Technician $105/hr. x 224 = $23,520

Senior Construction Inspector $86/hr. x 957 = $82,259

Total $300,669

The City will contract with an engineering services contract will be awarded for final design and engineering, preparation of construction contract bidding documents, and construction oversight and inspection. The principal engineer is anticipated to spend 184 hours on final design, 89 on bidding documents and 89 hours for construction oversight. The construction manager is anticipated to spend 44 hours, 47 hours, and 138 hours on each of the respective tasks, the Project Manager, 183, 44, and 100 hours, the Senior engineering technician 133, 40 and 52, and the Senior Construction Inspector, 30, 27, and 900 hours. The estimate is based on the costs incurred for a previous similar project.

• Other Construction-related Costs. Identify any other construction-related costs (e.g. permitting, etc.) and indicate the applicability or necessity of each to the project. Include quantity, unit cost, total cost, and the basis for the estimate. Note: Do not include costs that are anticipated to be paid by a contractor under the terms of the contract. Those items should be included in the contract estimate.

Example: The budget includes $3,600 for construction-related permits required by law. The estimate is based on the permitting costs for a similar project completed last year.

Other

This category contains items not included in the previous categories, such as third-party in-kind contributions, tuition remission, rental costs, etc. Third-party in-kind contributions are all services and donations made to the project that do not involve a payment or disbursement and represent donated items or services that are necessary to the performance of the project. This includes services provided by project partners that will not be reimbursed, volunteer hours, donated equipment, donated existing supplies, etc.

Narrative: For all costs other than third-party contributions, list items by type or nature of expense, breaking down costs by cost per unit, quantity, and total cost and identify the bases of cost (quote, invoice, etc.). Describe the necessity of the costs for successful completion.

• Narrative: For all costs other than third-party contributions, list items by type or nature of expense, breaking down costs by cost per unit, quantity, and total cost and identify the basis of cost (quote, invoice, etc.). Describe the necessity of the costs for successful completion of the project and exclude unallowable costs. Recommend reviewing § 200.420 through § 200.476, General Provisions for Selected Items of Cost. HYPERLINK "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.420"

Example:

The budget estimate includes $1,200 for rental of a facility for the planned two 2-day public meetings of the watershed group ($300/day x 4 days). The estimated cost is based on the published rental rate of meeting space at a local community college.

• Third-party Contributions Narrative: Describe any third-party servicers and donations (personnel costs, supplies, etc.), including the name of the contributor as well as any work that will be performed by volunteers. Indicate the applicability or necessity of each to the project and describe the basis(es) of the valuation. All third-party contributions must meet the requirements under § 200.306 Cost sharing, including the valuation of the contribution.

Example:

The project budget includes in-kind services from the Conservation District. Two conservation planners will participate in planning meetings and assist with the review of the final plan. The contribution is valued at $1,650 (35 hours x $30/hr. + 20% fringe, $240 in mileage costs, and $150 overhead/indirect costs). Employee compensation costs are based on the District’s compensation schedule for these positions and the actual fringe rate. Travel costs are for mileage to six planning meetings and are estimated at 70 miles per round trip from County offices to the City at $0.58 per mile. The District does not have a current Federal indirect cost rate agreement so the de minimis was used to value indirect costs.

Indirect Costs

Option 1: Show the rate reflected in the current Federal indirect cost rate agreement, cost base, and proposed amount for allowable indirect costs. A copy of the current Federal negotiated indirect cost rate agreement must be included with your application.

Option 2: If your organization does not have a current Federal negotiated indirect cost rate, the budget may include a 15% de minimis rate of modified total direct costs. Per § 200.1 Definitions,

Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $50,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward in excess of $50,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

For further information on the de minimis rate, refer to § 200.414 Indirect costs.

Option 3: If your organization does not have a federally approved indirect cost rate agreement in effect and has sought a rate extension for a Predetermined or Final rate, or to renegotiate a rate that is greater than the de minimus rate (Option 2), include the computational basis for the indirect expense pool and corresponding allocation base for each rate. It is important to note that any subsequent negotiated rate cannot be applied to the award prior to its effective date.

Note: If Option 3 is selected; submit the indirect cost rate proposal to your cognizant Federal agency, provide confirmation of the submission to Reclamation, and obtain indirect rate approval. Information on “Preparing and Submitting Indirect Cost Proposals” is available from Interior, the National Business Center, and Indirect Costs and Acquisition Audit Services at https://ibc.doi.gov/ICS/indirect-cost.

Note: Construction costs are capital expenditures and must be excluded from the indirect cost base.

• Narrative: Identify whether your organization has a current Federal negotiated indirect cost agreement. Describe the costs included in the indirect cost base and identify the indirect cost rate used and total costs. Include the amount of Federal funding that will be used to pay indirect costs.

Example:

The District does not have a current Federal negotiated indirect cost rate agreement so indirect costs were calculated using the 15% de minimis rate against MTDC as detailed below. Federal funding will not be used to pay these costs.

. Personnel $28,000

Fringe Benefits $7,000

. Travel $2,000

Equipment NA

Supplies $5,000

Contractual $10,000

. Construction NA

. Other Direct Costs $1,000

Total $53,000 x 15% = $7,950

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General NOFO FAQ.pdf

Bureau of Reclamation
Financial Assistance Operations
Frequently Asked Questions in response to Notices of Funding Opportunity
Where do I need to register to be able to apply for a grant through the Bureau of
Reclamation?
Registrations are required in multiple systems. Required registrations include (1) establishing a
Unique Entity ID (UEI) in SAM.gov; (2) registering in the System for Award Management
(SAM); (3) and registering in Grants.gov. Your authorized organization representatives (also
referred to as signing officials, entity administrators, or e-business points of contact) are
responsible for ensuring the various organization registrations needed to apply for grant funding
are in place and active. While this process can often be completed in less than two weeks, some
organizations encounter complicated situations that can take six weeks or longer to complete the
mandatory registrations. Failure to start this process in a timely fashion (i.e., six weeks or more
before the application deadline) can lead to your entity application being ineligible for
consideration.
How long will it take to get registered?
It may take six weeks or more to complete the process. While many organizations are able to
complete the process relatively quickly, issues can arise that make this process take much longer.
Be sure to start the registration process at least six weeks before the application deadline. Failure
of an applicant to submit on time because they did not complete registration in SAM.gov or
Grants.gov will result in your application being found ineligible for consideration.
How can I get help with grants.gov?
First, check out the support center website: www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html
If you can’t find your answer there, you can email support@grants.gov or call 1-800-518-4726
(open 24/7 except for federal holidays).
Who can I contact for help with the UEI and/or SAM.gov registration process?
Please visit the Federal Service Desk at www.fsd.gov where you can find answers to many
common issues. Through that website, you may also submit a help desk ticket or use the live chat
feature. You can also call the Federal Service desk at 866-606-8220.
Additional guidance on registration:
SAM Registration (UEI)
First, you must register with SAM.gov to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The UEI is a
12-character alphanumeric identifier assigned to all entities (public and private companies,
individuals, institutions, or organizations) to do business with the Federal Government.
Organizations will also need to designate an E-Business Point of Contact (EBiz POC).

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After obtaining the UEI for the organization from SAM.gov, you must return to Grants.gov to
continue registration.
Your organization’s EBiz POC must:
1. Create a Grants.gov account with the same email address as used in SAM.gov for EBiz
POC, and
2. Add a profile with Grants.gov using the UEI obtained from SAM.gov
www.sam.gov/content/entity-registration
• SAM.gov will assign you a Unique Entity ID as part of entity registration.
• If your entity fails TIN or CAGE code validation, you will receive an email with
instructions on updating your information and resubmitting your registration. Please
check your spam or junk mail for messages during this time; messages will be sent to the
Government Business POC. You may need to work with the IRS or CAGE to update
your information before resubmitting your registration.
How do I check the status of my entity registration?
If you have a role with an entity and are signed in to your SAM.gov account, you can check your
entity registration status. You can also check the status of an entity’s registration as a federal
user. If none of these is the case, you cannot check an entity’s registration status.
1. Sign in to SAM.gov. You must be signed in to check your registration status.
2. From the home page, select the “Check Registration Status” button. The page is also
linked in the footer of all pages on SAM.gov.
3. Enter a Unique Entity ID or CAGE Code and select “Search.” The entity’s registration
status will display below.
What do the different registration statuses mean?
When you request a Unique Entity ID (SAM) and confirm your
organization’s information, your entity is assigned a Unique
Entity ID (SAM). The status of your entity record is “ID
Assigned.” This status indicates you have an identifier assigned
ID Assigned and do not have an active entity registration in SAM.gov. This
status is visible to all authenticated SAM.gov users if the entity
has opted into public display. This status is only visible to users
who have a role with the entity and federal users if the entity
has opted out of public display.
The “Pending ID Assignment” status means your entity
information is in the process of validation and a Unique Entity
Pending ID
ID has not been assigned. You will see this status if you
Assignment
submitted a validation incident ticket while trying to validate
your entity name and physical address during registration or

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receiving a Unique entity ID. This status is visible to the person
who started to register or receive a Unique Entity ID and to
help desk agents.
When SAM.gov has established a Unique Entity ID for an
entity, but that entity has not gotten its UEI on SAM.gov, or
SAM.gov is waiting for the entity to be validated, it will be in
Unvalidated ID
the “Unvalidated ID” status. This status is only viewable by
federal users with permissions to view sensitive entity
information.
If you begin but do not complete an entity registration
in SAM.gov, you will have an entity record with the “Work in
Work in Progress Progress'' status. Work in Progress Registrations are held
Registration in SAM.gov for up to 90 days. If you do not access or submit
your Work in Progress Registration within the 90-day
timeframe, the system will remove it.
If you have submitted a registration, and it is pending the TIN
Submitted and CAGE validation, you will have an entity record in the
Registration “Submitted” status. Once the validations are complete, then the
status will update to the “Active Registration” status.
After you submit your registration for review and it passes all
the required processing and validation, your registration will
have the "Active Registration" status. You must renew your
registration each year to remain in the “Active Registration”
status. Entities with an Active Registration that opted into
Active Registration
public display are searchable and viewable by authenticated
users in SAM.gov. Entities with an Active Registration that
opted out of public display are searchable and viewable only by
authenticated federal users and users who have a SAM.gov role
with the entity.
If you do not take action to renew your entity registration each
year, your registration will expire and have the “Inactive
Registration” status. Inactive Registrations that opted in to
Inactive public display remain searchable and viewable by authenticated
Registration users in SAM.gov. Inactive Registrations that opted out of
public display are only searchable and viewable by
authenticated federal users and authenticated public users with
roles with the entity in SAM.gov.
If an administrator of an entity deactivates a registration
record, the record is removed from the system. It is not
Deleted/Deactivated searchable or viewable by any SAM.gov user, and it is not
recoverable. If you want to re-register the entity, you must wait
24 hours from deactivation and start a new entity registration.

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Why is my entity registration not showing as active yet?
If you notice your registration has had a status of Submitted for longer than 14 days, and you
have not otherwise been contacted to correct or update any information, please contact the
Federal Service Desk at 866-606-8220 or www.fsd.gov
How do I start the application process on Grants.gov?
To begin the application process under this grant announcement, go to www.grants.gov and click
the red “Apply” button at the top of the view grant opportunity page. If you encounter technical
difficulties or the Apply button is grayed out, please contact grants.gov for assistance at the
grants.gov support center at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726. Please note: To apply
through Grants.gov, you must use Adobe Reader software and download the compatible Adobe
Reader version. For more information about Adobe Reader, to verify compatibility, or to
download the free software, please visit Adobe Reader Compatibility Information on Grants.gov.
What if I have multiple accounts with SAM or multiple UEIs?
Applicants need to ensure that the AOR who submits the application through Grants.gov and
whose UEI is listed on the application is an AOR for the applicant listed on the application.
Additionally, the UEI listed on the application must be registered to the applicant organization's
SAM account, and the organization’s name as registered in SAM must match the name of the
organization associated with the UEI. If not, the application may be deemed ineligible.
Can I submit a paper application?
Paper applications are generally not accepted. If you believe you need an exception due to
extenuating circumstances, you must submit a request in writing to the grants contact listed in the
Financial Assistance Contact Section of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) at least 15
days before the application deadline, providing a detailed explanation and supporting
documentation to justify your request. Approval of such requests is subject to the discretion of
the Grants Officer. Failure to register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov is not an acceptable
justification.
If your request is approved, the application must be received by the Bureau of Reclamation
before the deadline.
Can I submit a late application?
Late applications are not accepted. Any applications received after the deadline, regardless of the
form of submission, will be deemed ineligible. We strongly encourage you to plan ahead and
submit early. Failure of an applicant to submit timely because they did not properly or timely
register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov is not an acceptable reason to justify a late submission. Minor

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problems are not uncommon during submissions to Grants.gov. It is essential to allow sufficient time
to ensure that your application is submitted to Grants.gov before the due date identified in the NOFO.
How do I know my application was received?
After submitting an application to Grants.gov, it provides users with the electronic equivalent of
a postmark stamp on a confirmation screen. It contains the date and time the application was
received by Grants.gov. Applicants should print out this page for their records. You may also
verify the status of your application while logged in at this link:
www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/track-my-application.html
Please note that successful submission through Grants.gov does not mean your application is
eligible for award.

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Submission Instructions & Tips.pdf

SUBMISSION SYSTEM REGISTRATIONS
INSTRUCTIONS & TIPS
**Applicants must register in SAM.GOV
SAM.gov and provide a valid
UEI in their application. ** ☐Register in SAM.gov or make sure your current
registration is up to date. Begin as soon as possible. It
• Keep an active registration in can take 2 weeks or more to complete this step.
SAM.gov with current
Get a UEI. You will receive your UEI when you
☐
information for active awards
register in SAM.gov.
or applications.
• Individuals applying as Available resources to complete registration.
• Already registered? Review and update your entity
natural persons (unrelated to
information and financial assistance certification
a business or nonprofit) are
compliance if needed.
exempt from these • Financial assistance registrants must review and
requirements per 2 CFR certify compliance with the SAM.gov “Financial
Assistance General Representations and
25.110(b).
Certifications”.
• This program may allow • Need help? Find help topics and contact
information on the SAM.gov Help page.
applicant to apply while
SAM.gov registration is in
GRANTS.GOV
progress, with prior approval
and following bureau or ☐Register in Grants.gov. See how to register in
Grants.gov.
office policy.
Grants.gov has helpful pages to assist with this process:
• How to register in Grants.gov, see Applicant
Registration
Application System Technical
• How to add a profile for your organization in your
Support
Grants.gov account, see Applicant Registration.
For Grants.gov assistance,
• How to request role creation for the people who
contact:
need to access Grants.gov, see How to Authorize
Grants.gov Customer Support
Grants.gov Roles.
1-800-518-4726
• This function also assigns your authorized
organization representative and point of contact.
See Applicant Contacts.
• How to track your role creation request see Track
Profile Status.

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HOW TO APPLY
GRANTS.GOV
TIP: Make sure that at least one person in your organization has a role that allows them to
create a workspace for your grant application. For more information about assigning roles,
visit Manage Roles for Applicant in the Grants.gov Online Help.
Workspaces provide flexibility for submitting application forms that fit your organization.
Benefits:
• Control access to draft forms
• Anyone with AOR or workspace manager can create a workspace
Three approaches:
1. Basic: Fill out online or download PDFs, then upload completed forms.
2. Intermediate: Workspace owner controls access. Ideal for complex organizations.
3. Advanced: Share access with team members without your UEI, limited access to forms.
Grants.gov provides step-by-step guides with training videos for each approach:
• Basic Approach guide: Quick start
• Intermediate Approach guide: For complex setups
• Advanced Approach guide: Detailed with videos
1. Select the grant opportunity you want to apply for.
Click Search Grants and enter your criteria or an opportunity number. A list of results
will appear.
2. Click an opportunity number.
The system will display the View Grant Opportunity page.
3. Click the Apply button.
The system will display the Apply Now Using Workspace page.
4. Enter a name for your application.
Select a profile if needed, or a workspace owner if you lack privileges.
5. Click Create Workspace.
The system will display the Manage Workspace page. You can now add participants.
Ways to complete forms:
• Online within your workspace.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR — XXXXXX Bureau 2

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• Download, complete offline, then upload.
• Reuse forms from a past application.
Before you submit your application, make sure you have completed all required forms. It is
best to submit your application well before the deadline, just in case a submission error
occurs.
On the Forms tab, click the Check Application button.
If there are any issues, a list of errors will be displayed. Resolve any errors before clicking the
Check Application button again.
Click the Complete and Notify AOR button, if it is available.
This button will be available only if you do not have an AOR role. When you click it, all users in
your organization with an AOR role (or a custom role with one of the Submit Applications
privileges) will receive an email telling them that the application is ready to submit.
Click the Sign and Submit button, if it is available.
This button will be available only if you have a standard or expanded AOR role, or if you have
been assigned a custom role with one of the Submit Applications privileges. If you have one of
these roles, the Sign and Submit button will be available when:
• The forms you select for submission have passed the check application process.
• Your organization's SAM.gov registration is active.
• The grant application deadline has not passed.
Submitting a revised grant application:
If you already submitted a grant application for this opportunity, you will be asked if you want
this submission to replace it. Select Yes. If you submitted your grant application from the same
workspace, the previous grant tracking number will be preserved.
A confirmation window will be displayed with information about tracking your grant
application.
Tracking Your Application
To see whether your application has been received by the awarding agency, you can go to Check
Application Status. You will be notified by the awarding agency after they complete their own
process.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR — XXXXXX Bureau 3

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Grants.gov provides 24/7 support. Call 1-800-518-4726 or email support@grants.gov. You
will be assigned a ticket number, which we'll need to locate your issue later.
You can also find training and videos at Training Resources and Videos for Grants.gov.
For help with SAM.gov, call 866-606-8220. You can also chat with the Federal Service
Desk.
GRANTSOLUTIONS
ToG oap tpol yG ethttrionugg hSt GarrtaendtS –o Rluetiqouness, tf oal lUoswe rt hAecsceo sutenpts -: GrantSolutions.
1. Register your organization. Send an e-mail to help@grantsolutions.gov with:
• Subject: New Organization Request
• Entity name (organization or individual applying as a natural person)
• Entity type
• SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier (not required for individuals)
• Employer Identification Number (individuals, do not include your SSN)
• Address
• Contact details (First and last name, e-mail, phone)
For entities required to register in SAM.gov, this information should be the same as
entered on the entity’s SAM.gov profile.
2. Assign system user roles. Follow the GrantSolutions “Recipient user” registration
instructions. Submit a separate Recipient User Account Request form for each official to
be assigned a system role. At minimum, the Authorizing Official (ADO) and Principal
Investigator/Program Director (PI/PD) must be assigned.
3. Log in. GrantSolutions requires users to log in through Login.gov. Each user must create
a Login.gov account. For instructions, see the GrantSolutions Training Resources web
page.
4. Find and apply to this Funding Opportunity. After logging in, click on either the
“Begin an application” link (first time applicants) or the “Funding Opportunity” link to
go to the “Competing Announcements-Application Kits” list screen. Search the list for
this Funding Opportunity’s title and number. Click on the associated “Apply” link.
Follow the prompts from there. For detailed instructions, see the GrantSolutions Training
Resources web page.
5. Need help? Find help topics and contact information on the GrantSolutions Contact Us
page.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR — XXXXXX Bureau 4