Opportunity Information: Apply for R16 NOI DO 005
Apply for R16 NOI DO 005
- The DOI-BOR in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent to Award - Center for the Development and Use of Alternative Water Supplies" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.506.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 08, 2015 and posted on Nov 08, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 23, 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 $2,100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity is a Notice of Intent to Award for a cooperative agreement focused on expanding research around "alternative water" supplies, meaning water sources that exist in large quantities but are not immediately usable because of their marginal quality. The announcement specifically calls out brackish groundwater and produced water (often associated with oil and gas operations) as key examples. The basic premise is that, across New Mexico and much of the western United States, long-term water scarcity makes it increasingly important to develop reliable new supplies beyond traditional freshwater sources. Alternative waters could become a meaningful part of the solution, but only if they can be treated and managed in ways that are technically sound, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible.
The project is framed as a continuation of work that Congress directly authorized and funded in prior years. In 2008 and 2009, Congress authorized and appropriated funds specifically for New Mexico State University, working through the Bureau of Reclamation, to improve how marginal-quality waters are treated and used. A central element of that earlier effort was the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility (BGNDRF) in Alamogordo, New Mexico, which serves as a national research platform for testing desalination and related water treatment technologies. The funds that will be used for this award are described as unspent federal dollars from the original five-year cooperative agreement that ended on September 30, 2015, meaning the new agreement is essentially extending and completing that previously approved research scope rather than launching a wholly new initiative.
From a technical and programmatic standpoint, the notice emphasizes that making alternative waters practical at scale requires progress on several fronts at once. It highlights the need for new treatment technologies that can handle complex water chemistry, new or improved approaches for concentrate management and disposal (the high-salinity waste stream left over after desalination or other treatment), and better assessment tools to evaluate both the quality and the quantity of available alternative water sources. Just as important, it calls for tools and methods that show how these individual advances can be combined into integrated systems, so that treatment, concentrate handling, source-water characterization, and operational decision-making work together as one coordinated approach rather than as isolated technical fixes.
The stated objectives of the cooperative agreement are broad but clearly oriented toward applied research and real-world adoption. They include augmenting water supplies by unlocking new usable sources, reducing environmental impacts associated with treatment and waste handling, encouraging commercialization of treatment technologies so that promising ideas can move beyond the lab into deployable products and services, and making active use of the BGNDRF as a key testing and demonstration venue. In other words, the work is not only about producing academic findings; it is also meant to push technologies and systems closer to practical implementation in the arid West, where communities, agriculture, and industry face mounting constraints.
The administrative details show this is an earmark-style opportunity managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (DOI-BOR), under CFDA 15.506, categorized under science and technology and other research and development. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by the federal agency during performance, such as collaboration on technical direction, milestones, and reporting. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $2,100,000 with an expectation of a single award. It was posted on November 8, 2015, with a closing date of November 23, 2015, and eligibility is listed as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility text (not included here), consistent with the fact that the work is tied to a congressionally directed effort centered on New Mexico State University.
Finally, the notice makes clear that dissemination is a required outcome. Results are intended to be made publicly available through final reports and scientific publications, which supports broader adoption and ensures that knowledge developed under the agreement can be used by utilities, researchers, technology developers, and policymakers working on water resilience and alternative supply development across the region.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is a Notice of Intent to Award for a cooperative agreement focused on expanding research and applied development related to "alternative water" supplies, particularly water sources that exist in large quantities but are not immediately usable due to marginal quality.
What does "alternative water" mean in this notice?
"Alternative water" refers to non-traditional, marginal-quality water sources that could potentially be used if they are properly treated and managed. The notice specifically calls out brackish groundwater and produced water as key examples.
Which water sources are specifically emphasized?
The notice highlights:
- Brackish groundwater (saline or partially saline groundwater)
- Produced water (water associated with oil and gas operations)
Why is this research important for New Mexico and the western United States?
The notice frames the work around long-term water scarcity in New Mexico and much of the arid West. It emphasizes that developing reliable new supplies beyond traditional freshwater sources is increasingly important, and that alternative waters could contribute meaningfully if they can be treated and managed in technically sound, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible ways.
Is this a new initiative or an extension of prior work?
This is presented as a continuation/extension of previously authorized and funded work. The funds are described as unspent federal dollars from an original five-year cooperative agreement that ended on September 30, 2015. The new agreement is intended to extend and complete the previously approved research scope rather than launch a wholly new initiative.
What is the historical basis for this award?
The notice states that Congress directly authorized and appropriated funds in 2008 and 2009 specifically for New Mexico State University, working through the Bureau of Reclamation, to improve how marginal-quality waters are treated and used.
What role does the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility (BGNDRF) play?
The BGNDRF in Alamogordo, New Mexico is described as a central element of the effort. It serves as a national research platform for testing desalination and related water treatment technologies, and the notice emphasizes making active use of BGNDRF as a key testing and demonstration venue.
What kinds of technical work does the notice prioritize?
The notice emphasizes that making alternative waters practical at scale requires progress across multiple areas, including:
- New treatment technologies that can handle complex water chemistry
- New or improved approaches for concentrate management and disposal (the high-salinity waste stream left after desalination or other treatment)
- Better assessment tools to evaluate the quality and quantity of available alternative water sources
- Tools and methods that integrate treatment, concentrate handling, source characterization, and operational decision-making into coordinated systems
What is "concentrate" in the context of this opportunity?
The notice uses "concentrate" to mean the high-salinity waste stream that remains after desalination or other treatment processes. Managing and disposing of this concentrate is identified as a major technical and programmatic need.
What are the stated objectives of the cooperative agreement?
The notice lists broad objectives oriented toward applied research and practical adoption, including:
- Augmenting water supplies by unlocking new usable sources
- Reducing environmental impacts associated with treatment and waste handling
- Encouraging commercialization of treatment technologies so promising approaches can move toward deployable products and services
- Actively using the BGNDRF as a testing and demonstration venue
Is the work intended to be purely academic research?
No. While scientific outputs are expected, the notice emphasizes applied progress and real-world adoption, including commercialization and demonstration/testing through BGNDRF. The work is meant to help move technologies and systems closer to practical implementation in arid regions facing water constraints.
What is the funding instrument and what does it imply?
The instrument is a cooperative agreement. The notice notes that this typically implies substantial involvement by the federal agency during performance, such as collaboration on technical direction, milestones, and reporting.
Which agency is managing this opportunity?
The opportunity is managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (DOI-BOR).
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The notice lists CFDA 15.506.
How is this opportunity categorized?
The notice categorizes it under Science and Technology and Other Research and Development.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The notice lists an award ceiling of $2,100,000.
How many awards are expected?
The notice indicates there is an expectation of a single award.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on November 8, 2015 and closed on November 23, 2015.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Others", with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility text (not included here). The notice also indicates the work is tied to a congressionally directed effort centered on New Mexico State University, which is consistent with an earmark-style award structure.
Is this opportunity described as an earmark-style award?
Yes. The administrative details describe it as an earmark-style opportunity tied to a congressionally directed effort, with the work historically centered on New Mexico State University.
What outputs or dissemination requirements are included?
The notice makes dissemination a required outcome. Results are intended to be made publicly available through final reports and scientific publications.
Who is expected to benefit from the published results?
The notice indicates that making results publicly available supports broader adoption and helps ensure the knowledge can be used by utilities, researchers, technology developers, and policymakers working on water resilience and alternative supply development across the region.
Does the notice emphasize integrated systems or isolated technical advances?
It emphasizes integrated systems. In addition to individual advances in treatment, concentrate handling, and assessment tools, the notice calls for tools and methods showing how these components can be combined so they function as one coordinated approach.
What geographic or regional focus is implied by the notice?
The notice explicitly references New Mexico and much of the western United States, describing the work as aimed at practical implementation in the arid West where communities, agriculture, and industry face mounting water constraints.
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