Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA R9 WTR3 12 001
Apply for EPA R9 WTR3 12 001
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "San Francisco Bay Area Water Quality Improvement Fund (FY 2011 Funds)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.126 The San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 8, 2012 and posted on Feb 8, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 16, 2012 Please refer to the announcement, including Section IV, for additional information on submission methods and due dates.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- See Section III of the announcement for additional eligibility information.
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Opportunity Summary:
The San Francisco Bay Area Water Quality Improvement Fund (SFBWQIF) for FY 2011 funds is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), aimed at protecting and restoring watersheds that drain to San Francisco Bay. The program has been operating since 2008 and is structured to support practical, on-the-ground water quality improvement work through partnerships and leveraged funding. By the time of this FY 2011 funding announcement, EPA reported more than $22 million awarded across ten grants that supported 38 projects, attracted and matched more than $40 million in additional resources, and engaged 53 partner organizations, showing that the fund is designed not just to finance isolated projects but to stimulate broader regional collaboration and co-investment.
This particular announcement is a Request for Initial Proposals (RFIP) tied to remaining FY 2011 dollars, with approximately $1,000,000 available in total. EPA anticipated making about five awards under this competition. Individual awards were expected to fall between $200,000 (award floor) and $1,000,000 (award ceiling), which suggests EPA was looking for projects large enough to demonstrate measurable outcomes, while still allowing multiple projects to be funded with the remaining allocation. The funding instrument is a grant, the opportunity category is discretionary, and the program is associated with CFDA number 66.126 (The San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund). A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants needed to contribute non-federal resources (cash or allowable in-kind support) alongside EPA funding, consistent with the fund's emphasis on leveraging and partner participation.
The opportunity was posted on February 8, 2012, with an application deadline of March 16, 2012, and an archive date of April 15, 2012. EPA noted that it planned to issue two solicitations for the SFBWQIF in February 2012, and this RFIP covered the remaining FY 2011 funding specifically. Because this is an initial proposal request, the process typically involves submitting a shorter, preliminary application first, with more detailed materials requested later from the most competitive applicants; however, the exact submission steps, content requirements, and any multi-phase review process were directed to the full announcement, particularly Section IV, which EPA highlighted for submission methods and due date details.
Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others," with the announcement directing applicants to Section III for the precise eligibility rules and any restrictions or priorities. In practice, competitions like this often involve local and regional public agencies, special districts, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and other entities involved in watershed protection, habitat restoration, stormwater management, pollution prevention, green infrastructure, monitoring, or community-based watershed initiatives, but the authoritative guidance for this specific competition is what EPA set out in the eligibility section of the notice. Prospective applicants were also pointed to EPA Region 9's web page with information about prior SFBWQIF awards, which can be useful for understanding the kinds of projects that have historically been competitive and the types of outcomes EPA values.
For applicants who could not access the full announcement electronically, EPA provided a direct contact: Luisa Valiela at EPA (phone 415-972-3400, email valiela.luisa@epa.gov). This contact point was meant to help applicants obtain the full solicitation and clarify access issues, ensuring that organizations without reliable online access could still participate.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the San Francisco Bay Area Water Quality Improvement Fund (SFBWQIF)?
The San Francisco Bay Area Water Quality Improvement Fund (SFBWQIF) is a competitive grant program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect and restore watersheds that drain to San Francisco Bay. The fund is designed to support practical, on-the-ground water quality improvement work and to encourage partnerships and leveraged (matched) funding.
2) What does this specific funding announcement cover?
This announcement is a Request for Initial Proposals (RFIP) tied to remaining FY 2011 SFBWQIF dollars. EPA indicated it planned to issue two SFBWQIF solicitations in February 2012, and this RFIP specifically covered the remaining FY 2011 funding.
3) Who is running this grant competition?
The competition is run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
4) What is the purpose of the funding?
The purpose is to protect and restore watersheds that drain to San Francisco Bay by funding projects that produce real water quality improvements on the ground. The program also emphasizes partnership-based work and leveraging additional resources beyond the EPA award.
5) How much total funding is available under this RFIP?
Approximately $1,000,000 was available in total under this RFIP for remaining FY 2011 funds.
6) How many awards did EPA expect to make?
EPA anticipated making about five awards under this competition.
7) What is the expected size of individual awards?
Individual awards were expected to range from $200,000 (award floor) up to $1,000,000 (award ceiling).
8) What type of funding instrument is this?
The funding instrument is a grant.
9) What is the opportunity category?
The opportunity category is discretionary.
10) What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is associated with CFDA number 66.126 (The San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund).
11) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies. Applicants needed to contribute non-federal resources (cash or allowable in-kind support) alongside EPA funding, consistent with the program's emphasis on leveraging and partner participation.
12) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on February 8, 2012.
13) What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was March 16, 2012.
14) When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was April 15, 2012.
15) What does "Request for Initial Proposals (RFIP)" mean for applicants?
This was an initial proposal request, which typically means applicants first submit a shorter, preliminary proposal. More detailed materials may be requested later from the most competitive applicants. EPA directed applicants to the full announcement (especially Section IV) for the exact submission steps, required content, methods of submission, and due date details.
16) Where can applicants find the authoritative submission instructions and requirements?
EPA indicated that submission methods and due date details are addressed in the full announcement, particularly Section IV. The RFIP summary itself points applicants to that section for the definitive instructions.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others," and the announcement directed applicants to Section III of the full notice for the precise eligibility rules, restrictions, and any priorities.
18) Does the announcement specify which types of organizations are eligible?
The summary information does not provide a definitive list beyond "Others." It notes that, in practice, competitions like this often include local and regional public agencies, special districts, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and other entities involved in watershed protection and related work, but it also states that the authoritative guidance for this competition is what EPA set out in the eligibility section (Section III) of the notice.
19) What kinds of projects is the fund intended to support?
The fund is aimed at practical, on-the-ground water quality improvement work in watersheds draining to San Francisco Bay. The summary notes that projects in similar competitions often relate to watershed protection, habitat restoration, stormwater management, pollution prevention, green infrastructure, monitoring, and community-based watershed initiatives. The specific priorities for this competition would be governed by the full solicitation.
20) How does this program emphasize partnerships and leveraged funding?
The SFBWQIF is structured to support work through partnerships and leveraged funding, reinforced by the cost-share/match requirement and the program's goal of stimulating broader regional collaboration and co-investment rather than funding isolated projects.
21) What results had the program reported prior to this FY 2011 funding announcement?
By the time of this FY 2011 funding announcement, EPA reported more than $22 million awarded across ten grants supporting 38 projects. EPA also reported that these investments attracted and matched more than $40 million in additional resources and engaged 53 partner organizations.
22) Where can applicants look to understand what kinds of projects have been competitive in the past?
Prospective applicants were pointed to EPA Region 9's web page with information about prior SFBWQIF awards. This information can help applicants understand the types of projects that have historically been competitive and the outcomes EPA values.
23) What should an applicant do if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?
Applicants who could not access the full announcement electronically were directed to contact Luisa Valiela at EPA for assistance obtaining the full solicitation and clarifying access issues.
24) Who is the contact person for this opportunity and how can they be reached?
The contact provided is Luisa Valiela at EPA. Phone: 415-972-3400. Email: valiela.luisa@epa.gov.
25) Why does the announcement repeatedly refer applicants to Sections III and IV of the full notice?
Because key rules and instructions (including eligibility specifics and submission methods) were not fully contained in the summary. The announcement explicitly directs applicants to Section III for eligibility rules and to Section IV for submission methods and due date details.
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