Opportunity Information: Apply for R15AS00037
Apply for R15AS00037
- The Bureau of Reclamation in the agriculture community development environment natural resources other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Colorado River Basinwide and Basin States Salinity Control Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.509 Title II, Colorado River BasinSalinity Control Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 27, 2015 and posted on Apr 27, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 17, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $36,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $6,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Individuals Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments City or township governments County governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The "Colorado River Basinwide and Basin States Salinity Control Program" grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number R15AS00037) was offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, to support projects that reduce salinity (salt loading) in the Colorado River system. The program exists to help meet the Colorado River Basin Water Quality Standards, which include an implementation plan intended to prevent further degradation of water quality in a river system that supplies major municipal, agricultural, and industrial water uses across the Southwest, including southern California, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. In practical terms, the opportunity targets work that can measurably lower the amount of salt entering or accumulating in the basin, with an emphasis on cost-effective, regionally scalable solutions rather than isolated fixes.
The funding instrument types listed for this opportunity were grants and cooperative agreements, signaling that awards could range from more independent, recipient-led projects (typical of grants) to more collaborative arrangements where the Bureau of Reclamation may have substantial involvement in technical direction or project execution (typical of cooperative agreements). The funding activity categories tied to the announcement reflect the cross-cutting nature of salinity control: agriculture (where irrigation practices can mobilize salts), natural resources and environment (where watershed and soil processes drive salinity), community development (because water quality affects local economies and infrastructure), and science and technology/research and development (to improve salt-reduction methods and evaluate performance). The category explanation is straightforward: the core purpose is salt reduction in the Colorado River.
Financially, the announcement estimated a total of $36,000,000 available, with an expected six awards. Individual awards were anticipated to fall between an award floor of $1,000 and an award ceiling of $6,000,000, which suggests the program could support both smaller targeted efforts and large, multi-year, multi-partner projects depending on the proposal scope. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement indicated, meaning applicants were not required to provide a non-federal match to be eligible, although applicants sometimes still choose to leverage additional funds or in-kind support to strengthen competitiveness.
Eligibility was broad and included state governments; county, city/township, special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in the 501(c)(3) category as listed); individuals; and other public entities as specified. This wide eligibility aligns with how salinity sources and solutions are distributed across jurisdictions and land ownership patterns in the basin, and it allows for proposals ranging from public works and watershed improvements to on-the-ground agricultural conservation measures and applied research or monitoring initiatives.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on April 27, 2015, with an original and current closing date of July 17, 2015, and an archive date of July 20, 2015, indicating the application window has closed and the opportunity is no longer active in its 2015 form. The CFDA (now commonly referenced as Assistance Listing) number associated with the program is 15.509, titled "Title II, Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program," which is the federal assistance program underpinning this funding opportunity. Applicants were directed to Grants.gov for full announcement materials, and the listed point of contact for access issues or questions was Heidi Hansen, Grants Officer at the Bureau of Reclamation (801-524-3760, heidihansen@usbr.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Colorado River Basinwide and Basin States Salinity Control Program" grant opportunity?
It is a U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number R15AS00037) intended to support projects that reduce salinity (salt loading) in the Colorado River system.
What problem is this funding intended to address?
The opportunity focuses on reducing the amount of salt entering or accumulating in the Colorado River Basin. The goal is to help meet the Colorado River Basin Water Quality Standards and to prevent further degradation of water quality in a river system used for major municipal, agricultural, and industrial water needs across the Southwest.
What is meant by "salinity control" in this program?
In this context, salinity control refers to actions and projects that measurably lower salt loading in the Colorado River system, meaning they reduce the amount of salt contributed to, transported by, or built up within the basin.
What types of projects does the opportunity emphasize?
The opportunity emphasizes cost-effective, regionally scalable solutions that can measurably reduce salinity, rather than isolated fixes that do not translate well across the broader basin.
Which states and areas are highlighted as beneficiaries of improved water quality?
The description highlights major uses across the Southwest, including southern California, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico.
Who offered this funding opportunity?
The opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.
What are the available funding instrument types?
The instrument types listed were grants and cooperative agreements.
What is the practical difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement for this opportunity?
Based on the announcement description, grants generally indicate more independent, recipient-led projects, while cooperative agreements suggest a more collaborative arrangement where the Bureau of Reclamation may have substantial involvement (for example, in technical direction or project execution).
What funding activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to multiple categories reflecting the cross-cutting nature of salinity control: agriculture; natural resources and environment; community development; and science and technology/research and development.
Why are agriculture and environmental categories included?
The description links agriculture to irrigation practices that can mobilize salts, and natural resources/environment to watershed and soil processes that influence salinity in the basin.
Why are community development and research categories included?
Community development is included because water quality affects local economies and infrastructure. Science and technology/research and development is included to improve salt-reduction methods and evaluate performance.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The announcement estimated a total of $36,000,000 available.
How many awards were expected?
The announcement anticipated an expected six awards.
What was the minimum and maximum anticipated award size?
The award floor was listed as $1,000 and the award ceiling as $6,000,000.
Does the wide award range mean both small and large projects could be funded?
Yes. The stated floor and ceiling suggest the program could support smaller targeted efforts as well as large, multi-year, multi-partner projects, depending on proposal scope.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement was indicated in the information provided.
Can applicants still use leveraged funds or in-kind support?
The description notes that while a non-federal match was not required for eligibility, applicants sometimes still choose to leverage additional funds or in-kind support to strengthen competitiveness.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility included: state governments; county, city/township, and special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (with the noted exclusion in the 501(c)(3) category as listed); individuals; and other public entities as specified.
Why is eligibility so broad?
The description explains that salinity sources and solutions are distributed across jurisdictions and land ownership patterns in the basin, so broad eligibility allows proposals from many types of entities involved in public works, watershed improvements, agricultural measures, and applied research or monitoring.
When was the opportunity posted?
It was posted on April 27, 2015.
What was the application deadline?
The original and current closing date were July 17, 2015.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The archive date was July 20, 2015, and the listed closing date has passed, indicating the opportunity is no longer active in its 2015 form.
What is the CFDA or Assistance Listing number associated with this program?
The CFDA (now commonly referenced as an Assistance Listing) number associated with the program is 15.509, titled "Title II, Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program."
Where were applicants directed to find the full announcement materials?
Applicants were directed to Grants.gov for the full announcement materials.
Who was the point of contact listed for questions or access issues?
The listed point of contact was Heidi Hansen, Grants Officer at the Bureau of Reclamation, reachable at 801-524-3760 and heidihansen@usbr.gov.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for reference?
The Funding Opportunity Number is R15AS00037.
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