Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OW OWOW 15 04
Apply for EPA OW OWOW 15 04
- The EPA in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2015 Support for Water Quality Framework Training Workshop, Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical Assistance, and Hypoxia and Agricultural Nutrient Outreach and Technical Assistance Request for Proposals" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.436.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 29, 2015 and posted on Oct 29, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 14, 2015. (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 $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2015 Support for Water Quality Framework Training Workshop, Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical Assistance, and Hypoxia and Agricultural Nutrient Outreach and Technical Assistance Request for Proposals is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discretionary funding opportunity focused on strengthening how water quality programs are implemented across states, tribes, and key nongovernmental partners. The EPA is looking for applicants that can deliver practical training and technical assistance that improves participants ability to carry out core Clean Water Act (CWA) responsibilities tied to water quality monitoring, assessment, reporting, and restoration planning, specifically within the CWA Section 303(d) impaired waters listing process, CWA Section 305(b) water quality reporting, and the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program.
The opportunity is structured around three national priority activity areas. First, EPA wants support to plan, prepare, and conduct three State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Training Workshops. These workshops are meant to improve the way water quality data are managed and shared, and to help participants use that data more effectively to support impaired waters decisions (303(d)), integrated reporting (305(b)), TMDL development and implementation, and broader monitoring and assessment work. A major theme here is capacity building: helping agencies and partners use consistent approaches, improve data quality and accessibility, and strengthen collaboration so that assessment and restoration decisions are based on solid, well-managed information.
Second, the EPA is seeking proposals that provide and advance Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical Assistance. This component targets one of the most persistent drivers of water quality impairment: diffuse runoff from agricultural lands. The intent is to equip state and tribal staff, along with other stakeholders working in watershed and agricultural settings, with up-to-date knowledge and tools to address nonpoint source pollution. While the announcement text does not list specific curriculum topics, the emphasis on training and technical assistance suggests a focus on practical implementation support, such as improving understanding of best management practices, approaches for planning and evaluating nonpoint source projects, and strategies for coordinating with agricultural producers and partner organizations.
Third, EPA is requesting training and technical assistance related to Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia and agricultural-related nutrient issues. This priority centers on outreach and capacity building to reduce nutrient losses (commonly nitrogen and phosphorus) that contribute to hypoxia in the Gulf. In practice, this area typically involves helping practitioners understand nutrient sources and pathways, improving nutrient management and watershed strategies, and building coordination among agencies, watershed groups, and agricultural stakeholders working in nutrient-impacted basins.
Funding is offered through a Cooperative Agreement, which usually means EPA anticipates substantial involvement with recipients during the project period, such as coordination on work plans, deliverables, and alignment with program needs. The assistance listing is under CFDA 66.436, aligning the work with EPAs water quality program support. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $600,000, and EPA anticipated making about 8 awards under this announcement. The opportunity was posted on October 29, 2015, created the same day, and had a closing date of December 14, 2015.
A notable feature of this announcement is that awarded funds may be used to promote participation and to support travel expenses for non-federal personnel to attend the workshops. That detail signals that EPA wants strong attendance and broad engagement from the state, tribal, and nongovernmental audiences the program is designed to serve, and it gives applicants flexibility to remove common barriers to participation by covering travel and related costs for eligible attendees.
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," indicating that the competition is not limited strictly to state or tribal governments. In many EPA training and technical assistance solicitations, eligible applicants can include nonprofit organizations, universities, interstate entities, and other institutions with demonstrated expertise in convening stakeholders and delivering technical content; however, the exact eligible categories would be defined in the full solicitation language referenced by EPA.
Overall, the grant opportunity is best understood as a capacity-building investment aimed at improving the technical foundation and on-the-ground effectiveness of water quality programs. It combines data management and information sharing (to strengthen assessment, reporting, and TMDL decision-making) with applied agricultural nonpoint source assistance and targeted nutrient outreach tied to Gulf hypoxia, all delivered through structured workshops and hands-on technical support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the FY 2015 Support for Water Quality Framework Training Workshop, Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical Assistance, and Hypoxia and Agricultural Nutrient Outreach and Technical Assistance RFP?
This is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discretionary funding opportunity focused on strengthening implementation of water quality programs by supporting practical training workshops and technical assistance. The work is aimed at improving how states, tribes, and key nongovernmental partners carry out core Clean Water Act (CWA) responsibilities for monitoring, assessment, reporting, and restoration planning.
2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is capacity building: improving participants ability to use sound data, consistent approaches, and effective coordination to support water quality decisions and restoration actions. The opportunity specifically targets improvements in (a) water quality data management and sharing, (b) nonpoint source agricultural pollution training and assistance, and (c) nutrient-related outreach and assistance tied to Gulf of Mexico hypoxia.
3) Which Clean Water Act program areas does this RFP emphasize?
The RFP emphasizes training and technical assistance that improves participants ability to carry out responsibilities related to:
- CWA Section 303(d) impaired waters listing (the impaired waters listing process)
- CWA Section 305(b) water quality reporting (including integrated reporting)
- Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), including development and implementation support
4) How is the opportunity structured?
The opportunity is organized around three national priority activity areas. Applicants are expected to propose work that aligns with one or more of these priority areas, as described in the announcement.
5) What are the three national priority activity areas?
The three priority areas described in the opportunity are:
- Planning, preparing, and conducting three State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Training Workshops
- Providing and advancing Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical Assistance
- Providing training and technical assistance related to Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia and agricultural-related nutrient issues
6) What is included in the State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Training Workshops priority?
This priority calls for support to plan, prepare, and conduct three training workshops focused on improving how water quality data are managed and shared. The intent is to help participants use data more effectively to support key water quality program decisions and activities, including 303(d) impaired waters decisions, 305(b) integrated reporting, TMDL work, and broader monitoring and assessment efforts.
7) What is the intended outcome of the data management and data sharing workshops?
The intended outcomes include improved capacity among agencies and partners to use consistent approaches, improve data quality and accessibility, strengthen collaboration, and ensure that assessment and restoration decisions are grounded in solid, well-managed information.
8) What is meant by Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical Assistance in this RFP?
This priority targets diffuse runoff from agricultural lands, described as a persistent driver of water quality impairment. The intent is to equip state and tribal staff and other stakeholders working in watershed and agricultural settings with up-to-date knowledge and tools to address nonpoint source pollution through practical training and implementation-focused technical assistance.
9) Does the announcement list specific curriculum topics for the agricultural nonpoint source training?
No. Based on the information provided, the announcement does not list specific curriculum topics. It emphasizes practical training and technical assistance to support real-world implementation.
10) Who is the target audience for the agricultural nonpoint source training and assistance?
The described audience includes state and tribal staff and other stakeholders working in watershed and agricultural settings. The RFP frames the work as supporting practitioners who address nonpoint source agricultural runoff and related water quality challenges.
11) What does the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia and agricultural nutrient outreach/technical assistance priority focus on?
This priority centers on outreach and capacity building to reduce nutrient losses (commonly nitrogen and phosphorus) that contribute to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. It emphasizes training and technical assistance tied to agricultural-related nutrient issues and coordination among relevant partners.
12) What types of issues are associated with Gulf hypoxia in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the description, the focus is on nutrient sources and pathways and improving nutrient management and watershed strategies, along with coordination among agencies, watershed groups, and agricultural stakeholders working in nutrient-impacted basins.
13) What type of award is EPA using for this opportunity?
Funding is offered through a Cooperative Agreement. The description notes that this typically means EPA anticipates substantial involvement with recipients during the project period, such as coordination on work plans, deliverables, and alignment with program needs.
14) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The assistance listing is under CFDA 66.436, aligning the work with EPA water quality program support.
15) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum award amount listed for this opportunity is $600,000.
16) How many awards did EPA anticipate making?
EPA anticipated making about 8 awards under this announcement.
17) When was the opportunity posted, and what was the closing date?
The opportunity was posted on October 29, 2015 (and created the same day). The closing date was December 14, 2015.
18) Can awarded funds be used to support travel for workshop participants?
Yes. A notable feature in the announcement is that awarded funds may be used to promote participation and to support travel expenses for non-federal personnel to attend the workshops.
19) Who can receive travel support under this announcement?
The information provided specifies that travel expenses may be supported for non-federal personnel attending workshops. The announcement highlights this as a way to encourage strong attendance and broad engagement from the intended audiences.
20) What does the travel support detail suggest about EPA expectations?
It suggests EPA wants strong attendance and broad engagement from state, tribal, and nongovernmental audiences, and that applicants have flexibility to reduce common barriers to participation by covering travel and related costs for eligible attendees.
21) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." This indicates the competition is not necessarily limited to state or tribal governments, but the exact eligible categories would be defined in the full solicitation language referenced by EPA.
22) Does the description confirm that nonprofits and universities are eligible?
No. The description notes that, in many EPA training and technical assistance solicitations, eligible applicants can include nonprofits, universities, interstate entities, and other institutions with relevant expertise, but it also states that the exact eligible categories would be defined in the full solicitation language. Based on the information provided here, eligibility beyond "Others" is not definitively confirmed.
23) What kinds of organizations does this opportunity appear designed for?
Based on the focus on delivering workshops, convening stakeholders, and providing technical assistance across states, tribes, and nongovernmental partners, the opportunity appears designed for applicants with demonstrated expertise in practical training delivery, technical assistance, and coordination across water quality program audiences.
24) What overall need is EPA trying to address through this RFP?
EPA is aiming to improve the technical foundation and on-the-ground effectiveness of water quality programs by strengthening data management and sharing for decision-making and by providing applied agricultural nonpoint source assistance and nutrient outreach tied to Gulf hypoxia.
25) How does this opportunity connect data management to restoration outcomes?
The opportunity links data management and data sharing to better assessment, reporting, impaired waters decisions (303(d)), and TMDL development and implementation. The central idea is that restoration planning and program decisions are stronger when based on consistent, accessible, high-quality information shared effectively among partners.
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