Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR DO 16 015

  • The DOI-BOR in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research and Development Office: Science and Technology (S&T) Program Pitch to Pilot Projects for Fiscal Year 2016" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.560.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jun 02, 2016 and posted on Jun 02, 2016.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 2016. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for BOR DO 16 015

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Opportunity Summary:

The Bureau of Reclamation (U.S. Department of the Interior) offered this Fiscal Year 2016 Science and Technology (S&T) Program funding opportunity as a "Pitch to Pilot" pathway aimed at moving promising water treatment innovations out of the lab and into real-world testing. The focus is on practical, field-relevant advances in water treatment technologies and processes, especially those that have already progressed beyond the early concept or bench-scale stage. In other words, this grant was designed for teams that are ready to build or refine a prototype and run pilot-scale demonstrations using actual source waters, with the goal of showing performance under realistic operating conditions.

The opportunity is a discretionary grant under Funding Opportunity Number BOR DO 16 015, categorized under science and technology and other research and development (CFDA 15.560). Reclamation positioned the program as a partnership builder, encouraging collaboration among private industry, universities, water utilities, and other organizations that can help translate an innovation into a workable pilot system. The underlying public need driving the solicitation is improved water treatment capability, and the program supports the kind of development work that bridges the gap between research results and deployable solutions.

A key feature of this FOA is its two-phase review process, which functions like a competitive down-select. In Phase 1, all submitted applications are evaluated and scored by an Application Review Committee (ARC) made up of subject-matter experts. Those Phase 1 scores determine which proposals are recommended to move forward. Applicants who advance to Phase 2 are then invited to present and discuss their proposal in person with a final judging panel. This live pitch element reflects the "Pitch to Pilot" structure and gives finalists a chance to explain technical readiness, implementation plans, and likely pilot outcomes directly to decision-makers.

Phase 2 presentations were planned to take place at the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility (BGNDRF) in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Finalists were expected to be on site October 19 to 20, 2016, with the notice indicating that selected Phase 2 applicants would have time to prepare for travel. Holding the final round at BGNDRF signals that Reclamation was aligning the program with real testing environments and expertise connected to desalination and treatment of challenging waters, consistent with the program's emphasis on pilot-scale validation.

In terms of funding scale, the award ceiling listed for this opportunity was $100,000, with an expectation of about three awards. The application deadline was July 15, 2016, and the announcement was posted June 2, 2016. While the dollar amount suggests relatively modest awards compared to large infrastructure programs, it is well-suited to targeted prototype development, pilot system construction or modification, field testing runs, and performance evaluation activities that can produce credible data and de-risk further deployment or scale-up.

Eligibility was broad, reflecting Reclamation's goal of pulling in strong ideas from many corners of the water sector. Eligible applicants included local governments (counties, cities, townships), public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, individuals, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, as listed), and other entities as clarified in the FOA. The wide net suggests that Reclamation was prioritizing technical readiness and practical impact over organizational type, as long as the applicant could credibly execute prototype and pilot-scale work.

Overall, this FOA was built to accelerate late-stage applied R&D in water treatment by funding projects that are ready to prove themselves outside the lab. The combination of a capped award amount, a small number of expected awards, and a live Phase 2 pitch at a specialized federal desalination research facility points to a competitive, demonstration-oriented program intended to quickly identify a handful of high-potential technologies and help push them into pilot validation with real water sources.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is the Bureau of Reclamation (U.S. Department of the Interior) Fiscal Year 2016 Science and Technology (S&T) Program funding opportunity offered through a "Pitch to Pilot" pathway. It was designed to move promising water treatment innovations out of the lab and into real-world pilot testing.

What is the official funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?

The Funding Opportunity Number is BOR DO 16 015. It is categorized under science and technology and other research and development and is listed under CFDA 15.560.

What is the main purpose of the "Pitch to Pilot" pathway?

The purpose is to accelerate practical, field-relevant advances in water treatment technologies and processes by supporting projects that are ready to build or refine a prototype and demonstrate performance at pilot scale using actual source waters.

What types of projects is this grant meant to support?

The opportunity targets water treatment innovations that have progressed beyond early concept development or bench-scale work. The emphasis is on prototype development or refinement, pilot-scale demonstrations, and evaluation under realistic operating conditions using real source waters.

Is this program focused on early-stage research or later-stage demonstration?

Based on the description, this program is oriented toward later-stage applied R&D: taking technologies that are already past early concept or bench-scale stages and validating them through pilot testing outside the lab.

What does "pilot-scale" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In this FOA, "pilot-scale" refers to testing a prototype or system under realistic conditions using actual source waters, with the goal of generating credible performance data and reducing risk before broader deployment or scale-up.

What is the underlying public need this solicitation is trying to address?

The stated public need is improved water treatment capability. The solicitation supports development work that bridges the gap between research results and deployable solutions.

Does the opportunity encourage partnerships or collaborations?

Yes. Reclamation positioned the program as a partnership builder and encouraged collaboration among private industry, universities, water utilities, and other organizations that can help translate an innovation into a workable pilot system.

What kind of grant is this?

This is described as a discretionary grant under the Bureau of Reclamation S&T Program.

How much funding is available per award?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity was $100,000.

How many awards were expected to be made?

The FOA indicated an expectation of about three awards.

When was the opportunity posted and when was the application deadline?

The announcement was posted June 2, 2016, and the application deadline was July 15, 2016.

What is the review and selection process?

The FOA used a two-phase review process. Phase 1 involved scoring by an Application Review Committee (ARC) made up of subject-matter experts, and those scores determined which proposals were recommended to move forward. Phase 2 involved an in-person presentation and discussion with a final judging panel.

Who evaluates applications in Phase 1?

In Phase 1, applications are evaluated and scored by an Application Review Committee (ARC) composed of subject-matter experts.

How are applicants selected to advance from Phase 1 to Phase 2?

Phase 1 scores determine which proposals are recommended to move forward to Phase 2.

What happens in Phase 2?

Applicants who advance to Phase 2 are invited to present and discuss their proposal in person with a final judging panel. This live pitch format is part of the "Pitch to Pilot" structure and is intended to let finalists explain technical readiness, implementation plans, and likely pilot outcomes directly to decision-makers.

Where were Phase 2 presentations planned to take place?

Phase 2 presentations were planned to take place at the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility (BGNDRF) in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

When were Phase 2 presentations scheduled?

Finalists were expected to be on site October 19 to 20, 2016.

Does the FOA indicate that finalists would have time to plan travel?

Yes. The notice indicated that selected Phase 2 applicants would have time to prepare for travel.

Why is the Phase 2 event tied to BGNDRF?

Holding the final round at BGNDRF signals alignment with real testing environments and expertise connected to desalination and treatment of challenging waters, which fits the FOA's emphasis on pilot-scale validation with realistic water sources.

What kinds of activities could the $100,000 award support?

The FOA framing suggests the funding is well-suited to targeted prototype development, pilot system construction or modification, field testing runs, and performance evaluation activities that produce credible data and de-risk further deployment or scale-up.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included local governments (counties, cities, townships), public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, individuals, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, as listed), and other entities as clarified in the FOA.

Are individuals allowed to apply?

Yes. Individuals are explicitly included among the eligible applicant types described.

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations are included in the eligibility description (noted as "other than small businesses, as listed").

Are universities and colleges eligible?

Yes. Public and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.

Are local governments eligible?

Yes. Local governments including counties, cities, and townships are included in the eligibility description.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible.

Are nonprofits eligible, and does 501(c)(3) status matter?

Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status are included in the eligibility description provided.

What is the program trying to achieve overall?

Overall, the FOA was built to accelerate late-stage applied R&D in water treatment by funding projects that are ready to prove themselves outside the lab. It aims to quickly identify a small number of high-potential technologies and support pilot validation using real water sources.

What makes this opportunity competitive?

The FOA indicates a capped award amount ($100,000), an expectation of about three awards, and a two-phase down-select process that culminates in an in-person pitch to a final judging panel.

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