Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OW OGWDW 12 01
Apply for EPA OW OGWDW 12 01
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.424 Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Training Grants Section 1442 of the Safe Drinking Water Act 66.436 Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Training Grants and Cooperative Agreements Section 104(b)(3) of.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 6, 2012 and posted on Feb 23, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 13, 2012 Please see the announcement including Section IV for additional submission information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $14,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Please see Section 3 of the announcement for eligibility information.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offered a discretionary funding opportunity, issued as a cooperative agreement, focused on strengthening the ability of smaller water and wastewater entities to protect public health and improve water quality. Titled "Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water," the program centered on practical training and hands-on technical assistance rather than infrastructure construction. The overarching goal was to help systems and communities build the knowledge, operational practices, and long-term capacity needed to deliver safe drinking water and reduce water quality problems.
The grant was organized around three National Priority Areas. The first priority area targeted small public water systems and emphasized day-to-day operational competence and regulatory compliance. Projects under this area were meant to help small systems operate and maintain their treatment and distribution systems in ways that achieve and sustain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). In practice, this could include operator training, troubleshooting treatment processes, improving monitoring and reporting practices, strengthening maintenance routines, and addressing common compliance challenges that smaller systems face due to limited staff, technical expertise, or resources.
The second priority area also focused on small public water systems, but with a different emphasis: building financial and managerial capacity to ensure safe drinking water over the long term. Instead of concentrating primarily on technical operations, this area supported assistance that helps systems become more sustainable and resilient as organizations. This can include training and tools related to budgeting, rate setting, asset management, governance, managerial controls, long-term planning, and other fundamentals that allow a small system to keep delivering safe water year after year, even as equipment ages, regulatory requirements evolve, and costs increase.
The third priority area expanded beyond drinking water systems to address broader water quality needs tied to wastewater and non-municipal sources. Under this area, EPA solicited projects providing training and technical assistance to small publicly owned wastewater systems, communities served by onsite or decentralized wastewater systems (such as septic systems), and private well owners. The intention was to reduce water quality impacts by improving how wastewater is managed and by educating or supporting those who maintain decentralized systems or rely on private wells. This priority recognizes that water quality problems are not only driven by centralized utilities, but can also stem from small municipal wastewater operations, failing septic systems, and poorly maintained private wells.
EPA indicated it expected to make awards across all three priority areas, but it did not guarantee that every area would ultimately receive awards. The total estimated funding amount was $14.5 million, with an anticipated seven awards. Individual awards were expected to range from a floor of $500,000 up to a ceiling of $10,000,000, reflecting the possibility of both moderate-sized projects and larger, multi-region or multi-audience technical assistance efforts.
Cost sharing or matching funds were not required for eligibility, meaning applicants could propose projects without committing non-federal match as a condition to apply. However, EPA planned to evaluate proposals using a voluntary cost share or match criterion described in the announcement, which effectively meant applicants could strengthen their competitiveness by offering a voluntary contribution of non-federal resources, even though it was not mandatory.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on February 23, 2012, with a revised closing date of April 13, 2012, and it was later archived on May 13, 2012. It was listed under CFDA numbers 66.424 (Section 1442 of the SDWA) and 66.436 (Section 104(b)(3)), both of which relate to surveys, studies, investigations, demonstrations, training, and related assistance. Eligibility was not fully specified in the summary text provided and was instead directed to Section 3 of the full announcement, with the eligible applicant category broadly labeled as "Others" and clarified in the complete solicitation. A point of contact was provided for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement: Stephen Hogye at EPA.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the purpose of this EPA funding opportunity?
This discretionary EPA opportunity (issued as a cooperative agreement) was designed to strengthen the ability of smaller water and wastewater entities to protect public health and improve water quality. It emphasized practical training and hands-on technical assistance to build knowledge, improve operational practices, and increase long-term capacity for delivering safe drinking water and reducing water quality problems.
What is the official title of the program?
The program was titled "Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water."
Is this funding intended for building or construction of infrastructure?
No. The program centered on training and technical assistance rather than infrastructure construction.
What type of award did EPA use for this opportunity?
EPA issued this opportunity as a cooperative agreement.
What are the National Priority Areas for this grant?
The grant was organized around three National Priority Areas: (1) improving day-to-day operational competence and regulatory compliance for small public water systems, (2) building financial and managerial capacity for small public water systems, and (3) training and technical assistance related to wastewater systems, decentralized/onsite wastewater, and private wells to reduce water quality impacts.
Who does Priority Area 1 focus on?
Priority Area 1 targeted small public water systems, with an emphasis on day-to-day operational competence and maintaining regulatory compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
What kinds of activities were envisioned under Priority Area 1?
Examples described include operator training, troubleshooting treatment processes, improving monitoring and reporting practices, strengthening maintenance routines, and addressing common compliance challenges that small systems face due to limited staffing, technical expertise, or resources.
What does Priority Area 2 focus on?
Priority Area 2 also focused on small public water systems, but emphasized building financial and managerial capacity so systems can provide safe drinking water over the long term.
What kinds of activities were envisioned under Priority Area 2?
Examples described include training and tools related to budgeting, rate setting, asset management, governance, managerial controls, long-term planning, and other fundamentals that support sustainability and resilience as equipment ages, requirements evolve, and costs increase.
What does Priority Area 3 focus on?
Priority Area 3 expanded beyond drinking water systems to broader water quality needs by supporting training and technical assistance for small publicly owned wastewater systems, communities served by onsite or decentralized wastewater systems (such as septic systems), and private well owners.
Why does Priority Area 3 include septic systems and private wells?
EPA recognized that water quality problems are not only driven by centralized utilities; they can also stem from small municipal wastewater operations, failing septic systems, and poorly maintained private wells. Priority Area 3 aimed to reduce impacts by improving wastewater management and supporting/educating people responsible for decentralized systems or private wells.
Did EPA plan to fund projects in all three priority areas?
EPA indicated it expected to make awards across all three priority areas, but it did not guarantee that every area would ultimately receive awards.
How much total funding was estimated for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding amount was $14.5 million.
How many awards did EPA anticipate making?
EPA anticipated making seven awards.
What was the expected size of individual awards?
Individual awards were expected to range from a minimum (floor) of $500,000 up to a maximum (ceiling) of $10,000,000.
Does the award range suggest both small and large projects could be funded?
Yes. The stated range reflected the possibility of moderate-sized projects as well as larger efforts serving multiple regions and/or audiences with technical assistance.
Was cost sharing or matching required to apply?
No. Cost sharing or matching funds were not required for eligibility.
Could voluntary cost share or match improve an application?
Yes. While not mandatory, EPA planned to evaluate proposals using a voluntary cost share or match criterion described in the announcement, meaning a voluntary non-federal contribution could strengthen competitiveness.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on February 23, 2012, and had a revised closing date of April 13, 2012.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. It was later archived on May 13, 2012.
What CFDA numbers were associated with this funding opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 66.424 (Section 1442 of the SDWA) and CFDA 66.436 (Section 104(b)(3)).
What kinds of work do the listed CFDA authorities relate to?
Both CFDA listings relate to surveys, studies, investigations, demonstrations, training, and related assistance.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was not fully specified in the summary provided. The eligible applicant category was broadly labeled as "Others," and applicants were directed to Section 3 of the full announcement for the complete eligibility details.
What should someone do if they cannot access the full announcement?
A point of contact was provided for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement: Stephen Hogye at EPA.
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