Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR DO 20 F006
The WaterSMART Grants: Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BOR DO 20 F006) is a discretionary funding program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, under CFDA 15.507. It provides financial assistance through grants and/or cooperative agreements to support small-scale water efficiency projects in the western United States. The program is built around the idea that applicants have already done the planning work to identify and prioritize a specific project and are now ready to move into implementation with a well-defined, near-term scope.
This funding is intended for projects that are typically already in the final design stage, with key readiness items underway or completed. In practical terms, that means environmental and cultural resources compliance has at least been initiated (and may already be complete), and the applicant has secured the non-federal cost share along with the permits and approvals needed to proceed. The Bureau of Reclamation is aiming to fund projects that are not just concept-level ideas, but implementation-ready efforts that can deliver measurable water savings or efficiency gains in a relatively short timeframe.
Eligible applicants are described broadly as entities with water or power delivery authority, including states, tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other similar organizations (with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the full announcement). The focus is on entities that manage, deliver, or oversee water systems and can directly implement improvements that reduce water losses, improve operational efficiency, or otherwise conserve water supplies.
The program emphasizes benefits that strengthen water supply reliability and reduce future risk. Projects are expected to conserve water and use available supplies more efficiently, and the description also highlights reducing conflict risk in areas that are at high risk of future water conflict. In other words, the Bureau of Reclamation is looking for investments that not only save water, but also help communities and water managers avoid or soften future disputes and supply disruptions by making systems more resilient and dependable.
For this specific posting, the award ceiling is $75,000 per project, and the Bureau of Reclamation anticipated making about 30 awards. The original closing date listed is March 4, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, for proposals to be considered for FY 2020 funding. The notice also indicates the FOA could be updated with a second application deadline within FY 2020 for consideration under FY 2021 funding, contingent on appropriations. If the agency were to change evaluation criteria, priorities, or eligibility for that later round, it would finalize those changes at least 60 days before the second deadline.
Overall, this opportunity supports modestly sized, implementation-ready efficiency projects that have already been prioritized through local or regional planning led by the applicant, and it provides a targeted federal contribution to help get those projects built and delivering water reliability benefits. More background on the broader WaterSMART program is available at www.usbr.gov/watersmart/index.html.Apply for BOR DO 20 F006
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WaterSMART Grants: Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.507.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 18, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 04, 2020 Proposals received before March 4, 2020, 400 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST), will be considered for fiscal year (FY) 2020 funding.This FOA will be updated to provide a second application deadline in FY 2020 for proposals to be considered for FY 2021 funding, contingent on appropriations.Any amendment to evaluation criteria, priorities, or eligibility would be finalized at least 60 days prior to the second application deadline.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the WaterSMART Grants: Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects opportunity?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. It provides financial assistance (through grants and/or cooperative agreements) to support small-scale water efficiency projects in the western United States.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is BOR DO 20 F006.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.507.
What types of funding instruments are used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The Bureau of Reclamation may provide financial assistance through grants and/or cooperative agreements.
Where must projects be located to be eligible?
Projects must be located in the western United States.
What kind of projects is this funding intended to support?
The funding supports small-scale water efficiency projects that conserve water and use available supplies more efficiently. The program is oriented toward projects that improve water supply reliability, reduce future risk, and deliver measurable water savings or efficiency gains.
Is this program meant for early-stage planning or for implementation?
It is intended for implementation-ready projects. The program is built on the assumption that applicants have already completed planning work to identify and prioritize a specific project and are ready to move into implementation with a well-defined, near-term scope.
How "ready" does a project need to be at the time of application?
The opportunity emphasizes projects that are typically already in the final design stage, with key readiness items underway or completed. In practical terms, environmental and cultural resources compliance should have at least been initiated (and may already be complete), and applicants should have secured the non-federal cost share and the permits/approvals needed to proceed.
What are the main goals or benefits the Bureau of Reclamation is looking for?
The program emphasizes measurable water savings or efficiency gains, strengthened water supply reliability, and reduced future risk. It also highlights reducing the risk of conflict in areas at high risk of future water conflict by making systems more resilient and dependable.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are described broadly as entities with water or power delivery authority. Examples mentioned include states, tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other similar organizations. Additional eligibility clarification is referenced in the full announcement.
Does the applicant need to have authority over water or power delivery systems?
Yes. The eligibility description centers on entities with water or power delivery authority, particularly those that manage, deliver, or oversee water systems and can directly implement efficiency improvements.
What kinds of improvements are in scope for these projects?
Projects are expected to reduce water losses, improve operational efficiency, or otherwise conserve water supplies, resulting in measurable water savings or efficiency gains.
What is the maximum award amount per project?
The award ceiling for this posting is $75,000 per project.
How many awards did the Bureau of Reclamation anticipate making?
The Bureau of Reclamation anticipated making about 30 awards.
What was the application deadline for proposals to be considered for FY 2020 funding?
The original closing date listed is March 4, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
Could there be a second application deadline?
Yes. The notice indicates the funding opportunity announcement could be updated with a second application deadline within FY 2020 for consideration under FY 2021 funding, contingent on appropriations.
If there is a second round, could the Bureau of Reclamation change the rules?
The notice states that if the agency were to change evaluation criteria, priorities, or eligibility for a later round, it would finalize those changes at least 60 days before the second deadline.
What does the program mean by "planning work" already being done?
It means applicants have already identified and prioritized a specific project through local or regional planning led by the applicant, and the proposal is meant to fund the implementation of that prioritized project rather than develop the concept.
What is expected regarding environmental and cultural resources compliance?
The opportunity indicates that environmental and cultural resources compliance should have at least been initiated by the time of application, and it may already be complete for more implementation-ready projects.
What is expected regarding cost share and approvals?
The Bureau of Reclamation describes projects as implementation-ready when the applicant has secured the non-federal cost share and has the permits and approvals needed to proceed.
Where can applicants find more background on the broader WaterSMART program?
More background is available at www.usbr.gov/watersmart/index.html.
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