Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA R10 PS 2025 01

  • The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Puget Sound Action Agenda - Strategic Implementation Leads" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.123.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2026-03-11.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-11. (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 $48,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others.
Apply for EPA R10 PS 2025 01

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Opportunity Summary:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Puget Sound Action Agenda - Strategic Implementation Leads" (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA R10 PS 2025 01) to strengthen and accelerate implementation of the EPA-approved Puget Sound Action Agenda. The Action Agenda is the region's core blueprint for restoring and protecting the Puget Sound ecosystem and the public benefits it provides. At a practical level, the grant is designed to help the Puget Sound Recovery National Program operate a predictable, transparent, and collaborative local and regional funding system that makes strategically targeted investments rather than isolated, one-off projects. The opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning recipients should expect substantial EPA involvement and ongoing coordination as the work progresses.

The NOFO's main objective is to support organizations that will serve as "Strategic Implementation Leads" (SILs). These SILs are expected to work in close coordination with the Puget Sound Partnership, EPA, and other relevant partners to increase the Puget Sound National Estuary Program Management Conference's capacity to deliver on the Action Agenda. In addition to implementing on-the-ground and programmatic activities, the funding is intended to broaden collaborations and improve communications across the network of agencies, tribes, local governments, and community stakeholders engaged in recovery work. Another explicit purpose is to generate information and learning that can inform future updates and refinements to the Action Agenda, so the program becomes more adaptive and evidence-driven over time.

Applicants are expected to show clearly how they will approach implementation of the 2026-2030 Action Agenda and how their leadership will translate into measurable progress. The NOFO emphasizes accountability through performance measurement: proposals should describe how the applicant will advance Vital Sign Targets, Progress Measures, and National Estuary Program Reporting Measures, along with any relevant priority outputs and outcomes identified in the Action Agenda. In other words, this is not just funding for general environmental work; it is funding tied to a specific regional plan with defined metrics, and applicants need to demonstrate how their work will move those indicators in a trackable way.

The competition is organized around three specific focus areas where EPA intends to fund Strategic Implementation Leads: Habitat/Marine, Shellfish, and Stormwater. While the detailed scope and eligibility rules are in Section 2 of the NOFO, the overall intent is to select leaders that can coordinate strategy, align investments, and drive results in each of these domains. Habitat/Marine work generally aligns with protecting and restoring marine and nearshore habitats and the ecological functions they support; Shellfish aligns with recovery actions that improve shellfish bed health and access (often linked to water quality and contamination controls); and Stormwater aligns with reducing polluted runoff impacts, a major driver of water quality and habitat stress in Puget Sound.

Funding is substantial and competitive. EPA expects to make three awards, consistent with the three focus areas, with an award ceiling of $48,000,000. The closing date listed for applications is May 11, 2026. Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others," but applicants should rely on the eligibility language in the NOFO itself to confirm fit and any constraints. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a leadership-and-delivery grant: EPA is seeking a small number of high-capacity regional implementers that can coordinate partners, guide investment strategy, communicate progress, and demonstrate measurable outcomes aligned to the 2026-2030 Puget Sound Action Agenda.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this EPA funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Puget Sound Action Agenda - Strategic Implementation Leads."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is EPA R10 PS 2025 01.

Who is offering this grant opportunity?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering this discretionary funding opportunity.

What is the overall purpose of the funding?

The purpose is to strengthen and accelerate implementation of the EPA-approved Puget Sound Action Agenda, the region's core blueprint for restoring and protecting the Puget Sound ecosystem and the public benefits it provides.

What is the Puget Sound Action Agenda?

The Puget Sound Action Agenda is the region's core blueprint for restoring and protecting the Puget Sound ecosystem. This grant is specifically tied to implementing that plan and improving the ability of the broader recovery system to deliver results.

What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. Recipients should expect substantial EPA involvement and ongoing coordination as work progresses.

What does "Strategic Implementation Lead (SIL)" mean in this NOFO?

A Strategic Implementation Lead (SIL) is an organization selected to provide leadership and coordination for implementing the Puget Sound Action Agenda within a specific focus area. SILs are expected to help align investments, coordinate partners, communicate progress, and drive measurable results tied to the Action Agenda.

What are the main responsibilities expected of Strategic Implementation Leads?

Based on the description provided, SILs are expected to:

  • Work in close coordination with the Puget Sound Partnership, EPA, and other relevant partners.
  • Increase the Puget Sound National Estuary Program Management Conference's capacity to deliver on the Action Agenda.
  • Implement on-the-ground and programmatic activities.
  • Broaden collaborations and improve communications across agencies, tribes, local governments, and community stakeholders involved in recovery.
  • Generate information and learning that informs future updates and refinements to the Action Agenda so it becomes more adaptive and evidence-driven.

What is the "Puget Sound Recovery National Program" and how does it relate to this funding?

The grant is designed to help the Puget Sound Recovery National Program operate a predictable, transparent, and collaborative local and regional funding system that makes strategically targeted investments rather than isolated, one-off projects.

What does the NOFO mean by "predictable, transparent, and collaborative" funding?

The description emphasizes building a local and regional funding system that coordinates investment decisions and targets resources strategically, rather than funding disconnected, standalone projects.

What time period of the Action Agenda is this funding focused on?

Applicants are expected to show clearly how they will approach implementation of the 2026-2030 Puget Sound Action Agenda.

How many awards does EPA expect to make?

EPA expects to make three awards.

Why are there three expected awards?

The competition is organized around three focus areas, and EPA intends to fund Strategic Implementation Leads in each of those areas.

What are the three focus areas for Strategic Implementation Leads?

The three focus areas are:

  • Habitat/Marine
  • Shellfish
  • Stormwater

What types of activities generally fall under the Habitat/Marine focus area?

Habitat/Marine work generally aligns with protecting and restoring marine and nearshore habitats and the ecological functions they support.

What types of activities generally fall under the Shellfish focus area?

Shellfish work aligns with recovery actions that improve shellfish bed health and access, often linked to water quality and contamination controls.

What types of activities generally fall under the Stormwater focus area?

Stormwater work aligns with reducing polluted runoff impacts, which are described as a major driver of water quality and habitat stress in Puget Sound.

Is this funding intended for general environmental work in the region?

No. The description makes clear that this is funding tied to a specific regional plan (the Puget Sound Action Agenda) with defined metrics. Applicants are expected to demonstrate how their work will move specific indicators in a trackable way.

How does EPA expect applicants to show accountability and results?

The NOFO emphasizes accountability through performance measurement. Proposals should describe how the applicant will advance Vital Sign Targets, Progress Measures, and National Estuary Program Reporting Measures, as well as any relevant priority outputs and outcomes identified in the Action Agenda.

What kinds of metrics are referenced in the opportunity description?

The description references these categories of metrics and reporting expectations:

  • Vital Sign Targets
  • Progress Measures
  • National Estuary Program Reporting Measures
  • Relevant priority outputs and outcomes identified in the Action Agenda

What does it mean that the work should be "trackable"?

It means applicants should connect proposed activities to measurable indicators and describe how progress will be measured and reported in relation to the Action Agenda's defined metrics.

How much funding is available?

The funding is described as substantial, with an award ceiling of $48,000,000.

Is the $48,000,000 ceiling per award or for the entire opportunity?

The information provided states an award ceiling of $48,000,000, but it does not clarify whether that ceiling applies per award or in total. Applicants should rely on the NOFO for the controlling details.

When is the application deadline?

The closing date listed for applications is May 11, 2026.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others." Applicants are expected to rely on the eligibility language in Section 2 of the NOFO to confirm fit and any constraints.

Where can applicants find the detailed scope and eligibility rules?

The description notes that detailed scope and eligibility rules are provided in Section 2 of the NOFO.

What partners are Strategic Implementation Leads expected to coordinate with?

SILs are expected to work in close coordination with the Puget Sound Partnership, EPA, and other relevant partners. The description also highlights coordination and communication across agencies, tribes, local governments, and community stakeholders engaged in recovery work.

What is the role of communications and collaboration in this grant?

In addition to implementation, the funding is intended to broaden collaborations and improve communications across the recovery network, supporting more aligned and effective regional action.

Does the opportunity support learning and adaptation over time?

Yes. An explicit purpose is to generate information and learning that can inform future updates and refinements to the Action Agenda, making the program more adaptive and evidence-driven over time.

What does "substantial EPA involvement" mean in practical terms?

The description indicates that, because this is a cooperative agreement, recipients should expect ongoing coordination with EPA as the work progresses rather than operating entirely independently.

What is EPA primarily looking for in applicants?

This opportunity is described as a leadership-and-delivery grant. EPA is seeking a small number of high-capacity regional implementers that can coordinate partners, guide investment strategy, communicate progress, and demonstrate measurable outcomes aligned to the 2026-2030 Puget Sound Action Agenda.

Is this opportunity designed to avoid isolated, one-off projects?

Yes. The description emphasizes making strategically targeted investments within a predictable, transparent, and collaborative funding system rather than funding isolated projects.

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