Opportunity Information: Apply for RDRUS 12 01 HWWS
Apply for RDRUS 12 01 HWWS
- The Utilities Programs in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Household Water Well System Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.862 Household Water Well System Grant Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 7, 2012 and posted on May 7, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 4, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $993,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Household Water Well System Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run through the USDA Rural Utilities Service (Utilities Programs) to expand access to safe, reliable household well water by funding local lending programs rather than paying homeowners directly. Under this program, the government awards grants to qualified private nonprofit organizations so they can create and operate revolving loan funds that issue low-interest loans to eligible individuals. Those individuals must own, or plan to own and occupy, an existing home that relies on a private well system. The basic idea is that a nonprofit receives grant capital, adds its required matching funds, lends money out to homeowners for well construction or improvements, and then replenishes the fund as borrowers repay, allowing the same dollars to be reused over time.
Only certain organizations can apply. Eligible applicants are nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The applicant must be able to show it has the legal authority and capacity to carry out the purpose of the grant and that it has real, demonstrated experience in lending activities, since the main responsibility is administering loans and managing a revolving fund. Administrative prerequisites also apply: the organization must have a DUNS number and must maintain an active registration with current information in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database, which was the federal vendor registration system used at the time of this announcement.
A key requirement is cost sharing. The nonprofit must contribute at least 10 percent of the grant amount to capitalize the revolving loan fund, and that contribution must be cash or an eligible financial contribution because in-kind support is explicitly not accepted for this match. Once funded and approved, the nonprofit must establish the revolving loan program and use it to provide low-interest loans to qualifying homeowners or eligible individuals to construct, repair, or upgrade private household well systems. Importantly, this is not a direct-to-consumer grant: homeowners and individuals cannot apply to USDA RUS for these grants and cannot receive HWWS grant funds directly. Their access comes through borrowing from an approved nonprofit lender participating in the program.
From the funding details provided in the announcement, the opportunity number is RDRUS 12 01 HWWS and the CFDA number is 10.862 (Household Water Well System Grant Program). USDA anticipated making about 10 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of $993,000. Individual awards could be up to $300,000 (award ceiling), with no stated minimum (award floor of $0). The opportunity was posted May 7, 2012, with a closing date of June 4, 2012, and it was archived September 30, 2012. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the funding activity category is community development, reflecting the program goal of improving basic household water infrastructure through community-based lending and long-term revolving capital.
For applicants or interested parties who needed help accessing the full announcement at the time, the listed program contact was Joyce M. Taylor, Community Programs Specialist, at 202-720-9589 or JoyceM.Taylor@wdc.usda.gov, with an additional information link described as providing a program overview and links to the announcement and related resources.
Household Water Well System Grant Program (HWWS) FAQs
What is the Household Water Well System Grant Program (HWWS)?
The Household Water Well System Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the USDA Rural Utilities Service (Utilities Programs). Its purpose is to expand access to safe, reliable household well water by funding local lending programs that support construction or improvements to private household well systems.
Who does USDA award HWWS grants to?
USDA awards HWWS grants to qualified private nonprofit organizations (with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education). The nonprofit uses the grant to create and operate a revolving loan fund that provides low-interest loans to eligible individuals.
Do homeowners apply directly to USDA for HWWS grant funds?
No. This program is not a direct-to-consumer grant. Homeowners and individuals cannot apply to USDA RUS for HWWS grant funds and cannot receive HWWS grant dollars directly. Instead, eligible individuals access funding by applying for low-interest loans offered by an approved nonprofit lender operating a revolving loan fund under this program.
How does the revolving loan fund model work under this program?
A nonprofit receives grant capital from USDA and adds its required matching funds. The nonprofit then lends money to eligible individuals as low-interest loans for private household well system construction, repair, or upgrades. As borrowers repay their loans, the money flows back into the revolving loan fund, allowing the same dollars to be loaned again over time.
What kinds of projects can the loan funds support?
Loan funds can be used to construct, repair, or upgrade private household well systems for qualifying homeowners or eligible individuals, consistent with the program goal of improving basic household water infrastructure.
Who is eligible to receive loans from a nonprofit funded under HWWS?
Eligible individuals are those who own, or plan to own and occupy, an existing home that relies on a private well system. Access to financing is provided through the participating nonprofit lender (not directly from USDA).
Which organizations are eligible to apply for the HWWS grant?
Eligible applicants are private nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education. The applicant must also be able to demonstrate legal authority and capacity to carry out the grant purpose and must have real, demonstrated experience in lending activities, since the core responsibility is administering loans and managing a revolving loan fund.
Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply?
No. The eligibility description provided specifies nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
What experience must an applicant nonprofit demonstrate?
The nonprofit must show demonstrated experience in lending activities, because the program centers on establishing and operating a revolving loan fund and issuing low-interest loans to eligible individuals.
What administrative registrations or identifiers were required for applicants?
The organization needed a DUNS number and had to maintain an active registration with current information in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database, which was the federal vendor registration system used at the time of the announcement.
Is cost sharing (matching funds) required under this grant?
Yes. The nonprofit must contribute at least 10 percent of the grant amount to capitalize the revolving loan fund.
What forms of match are acceptable for the 10 percent cost share?
The match must be cash or an eligible financial contribution. In-kind support is explicitly not accepted for the required matching funds.
What is the opportunity number and CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity number is RDRUS 12 01 HWWS. The CFDA number is 10.862 (Household Water Well System Grant Program).
How many awards were anticipated and what was the total estimated funding?
USDA anticipated making about 10 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of $993,000.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed was up to $300,000.
Was there a minimum award amount?
No stated minimum was provided. The announcement listed an award floor of $0.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What is the funding activity category for the program?
The funding activity category is community development, reflecting the program goal of improving basic household water infrastructure through community-based lending and a long-term revolving capital model.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on May 7, 2012. The closing date was June 4, 2012.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was archived on September 30, 2012.
Who was the listed program contact for questions at the time of the announcement?
The listed program contact was Joyce M. Taylor, Community Programs Specialist. Phone: 202-720-9589. Email: JoyceM.Taylor@wdc.usda.gov.
What did the "additional information" link provide?
It was described as providing a program overview and links to the announcement and related resources.
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