Opportunity Information: Apply for R15AS00002
Apply for R15AS00002
- The Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for FY 2015" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.507 WaterSMART (Sustaining and Manage Americas Resources for Tomorrow).
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 15, 2014 and posted on Oct 30, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 23, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $19,000,000.00 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 35 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- States, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, or other organizations with water or power delivery authority located in the western United States or United States Territories as identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, as amended
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Opportunity Summary:
The WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for FY 2015 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number R15AS00002) is a discretionary federal grant program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, under CFDA 15.507 (WaterSMART: Sustaining and Manage Americas Resources for Tomorrow). The grant is designed to help address growing water management pressures across the United States, with a particular emphasis on the western U.S. where prolonged drought and long-term supply constraints have made shortages and conflicts more common. The program is rooted in the idea that traditional water management approaches on their own are no longer enough given modern conditions like aging delivery infrastructure, fast population growth, groundwater depletion, land-use-driven water quality problems, competing demands from agriculture and cities, environmental water needs, and increasing climate variability. WaterSMART frames these issues as closely tied to energy use as well, encouraging projects that improve both water efficiency and the energy efficiency of water delivery and management.
At a practical level, these grants support efforts that make water use more efficient and improve water management reliability, especially where water and energy are linked (for example, reducing pumping and conveyance losses can save both water and electricity). The federal role described in the announcement is to provide leadership and assistance on efficient water use, coordinate conservation activities across Interior bureaus, and integrate water and energy policy goals in a way that supports long-term sustainability of natural resources. In other words, the program is not just responding to short-term drought impacts; it is intended to help water managers modernize systems and practices to better meet future demand and reduce vulnerability to scarcity.
For FY 2015, the Bureau of Reclamation anticipated making about 35 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of $19,000,000. Individual awards could be as high as $1,000,000 (award ceiling), and the award floor is listed as $0, which typically signals flexibility in minimum award size depending on project scope and available funds. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants should expect to contribute non-federal funds and/or eligible in-kind contributions as part of the overall project budget. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is listed as Natural Resources.
Eligibility is aimed at public and quasi-public entities that have authority over water or power delivery in the areas Reclamation serves. Specifically, eligible applicants include states, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations with water or power delivery authority that are located in the western United States or U.S. territories identified under the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, as amended. Although the listing includes “unrestricted” in a general eligibility field, the detailed eligibility statement clarifies that applicants must fall into these categories and be located within the relevant Reclamation service areas.
Key dates show the announcement was posted October 30, 2014, with an original closing date of January 14, 2015, later extended to a current closing date of January 23, 2015. The opportunity archive date is February 13, 2015, indicating the application window has long since closed, but the summary remains useful for understanding the program’s structure and typical requirements. The announcement references the Bureau of Reclamation website (http://www.usbr.gov) for additional information, and provides a contact for access issues: Shaun Wilken at 303-445-3697 and swilken@usbr.gov.
WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants (FY 2015) - FAQs
What is this grant opportunity?
This is the WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants program for FY 2015 (Funding Opportunity Number R15AS00002). It is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, under CFDA 15.507 (WaterSMART: Sustaining and Manage Americas Resources for Tomorrow).
What is the main goal of the WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants?
The grant is intended to support projects that make water use more efficient and improve the reliability of water management, especially where water and energy use are closely linked (for example, actions that reduce pumping needs or conveyance losses and therefore save both water and electricity).
Why does this program emphasize the western United States?
The program places particular emphasis on the western U.S. because prolonged drought and long-term supply constraints have made water shortages and conflicts more common in that region.
What kinds of water management pressures is the program trying to address?
According to the opportunity description, WaterSMART is framed as a response to modern conditions that go beyond traditional water management approaches, including aging delivery infrastructure, rapid population growth, groundwater depletion, land-use-related water quality problems, competing agricultural and municipal demands, environmental water needs, and increasing climate variability.
How does energy efficiency fit into a water grant program?
The announcement describes water and energy as closely tied. Projects that improve water efficiency can also reduce the energy needed to deliver and manage water (for example, by reducing pumping or minimizing losses in conveyance), so the program encourages efforts that improve both water efficiency and the energy efficiency of water delivery and management.
What is the federal role described for this program?
The federal role is described as providing leadership and assistance on efficient water use, coordinating conservation activities across Interior bureaus, and integrating water and energy policy goals in a way that supports long-term sustainability of natural resources.
Is this program meant to address short-term drought only?
No. The description notes that the program is not only responding to short-term drought impacts. It is also intended to help water managers modernize systems and practices to better meet future demand and reduce vulnerability to water scarcity.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type for this opportunity is a grant.
What activity category is this opportunity associated with?
The activity category is listed as Natural Resources.
How much total funding was expected to be available for FY 2015?
The Bureau of Reclamation anticipated an estimated total program funding level of $19,000,000 for FY 2015.
About how many awards did Reclamation expect to make?
The opportunity states Reclamation anticipated making about 35 awards.
What is the maximum award size?
The award ceiling is listed as $1,000,000 for an individual award.
What is the minimum award size?
The award floor is listed as $0. In practice, this usually indicates flexibility on the minimum award amount depending on project scope and available funds.
Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants should expect to contribute non-federal funds and/or eligible in-kind contributions as part of the overall project budget.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is aimed at public and quasi-public entities with authority over water or power delivery in areas served by Reclamation. The announcement lists eligible applicants as states, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations with water or power delivery authority.
Are there geographic eligibility limits?
Yes. The eligible entities must be located in the western United States or U.S. territories identified under the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, as amended, and within the relevant Reclamation service areas described in the opportunity.
The listing says "unrestricted" in a general eligibility field. Does that mean anyone can apply?
No. While a general eligibility field includes the word "unrestricted," the detailed eligibility statement clarifies that applicants must fall into the specific categories (such as states, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations with water or power delivery authority) and be located within the relevant Reclamation service areas.
When was this opportunity posted?
The announcement was posted on October 30, 2014.
What were the application deadlines?
The original closing date was January 14, 2015, and it was later extended to a current closing date of January 23, 2015.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity archive date is February 13, 2015, which indicates the application window has closed.
Where can applicants find more information?
The announcement references the Bureau of Reclamation website at http://www.usbr.gov for additional information.
Who can be contacted for access issues related to this opportunity?
The contact listed for access issues is Shaun Wilken at 303-445-3697 or swilken@usbr.gov.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 15.507 (WaterSMART: Sustaining and Manage Americas Resources for Tomorrow).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is R15AS00002.
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