Solicitation for Proposals Using TMDL-Dedicated Funding
Using Interagency Agreements and Contracts
This year EPA Region 10's TMDL Program expects to receive approximately $450,000 to address regional TMDL priorities for fiscal year 2010 (FY10) using contracts and Interagency Agreements (IAs) between federal agencies. Under this solicitation, we seek projects using IAs or EPA's National Watershed Contract (NOT grants). EPA will hold a separate solicitation for projects using assistance agreements such as grants.
EPA encourages Region 10 States and Tribes to submit proposals for TMDL support activities by November 9, 2009 which address any of the following funding factors:
Funding Factors:
- Developing TMDLs affecting tribal interests, on federal lands and/or on multi-jurisdictional waters.
- Developing innovative TMDLs that will likely lead to successful implementation and/or have potential national technology transfer capability.
- Developing TMDLs that help states meet their legal obligations and/or TMDL schedule.
- Developing 303(d) listing methodologies to determine specific impairments (affecting tribal interests, federal lands or multi-jurisdictional waters) that will lead to easier development of TMDL targets.
- Measuring the effectiveness of the TMDLs that will lead to improved future TMDLs.
- Developing 4b demonstrations1 affecting tribal interests, federal lands, or multi-jurisdictional waters.
- Developing or revising existing watershed-based plans to meet both the requirements for Category 4b of the Integrated Report1 AND the requirements of National Measure SP-122 and/or for nonpoint source (NPS) watershed based plans3 for those areas affecting tribal interests, federal lands or multi-jurisdictional waters.
- Developing or expanding watershed approach to implement TMDL(s) AND meets the requirements of National Measure SP-122 for those areas affecting tribal interests, federal lands or multi-jurisdictional waters.
- Developing training, workshops, conferences and outreach to enhance the capability of state, EPA and tribal staff to develop TMDLs and related programs.
In EPA’s experience, IAs and Contracts often are not appropriate mechanisms for monitoring projects.
EPA will rank project proposals based on the factors above and the quality of the project proposals. EPA also will consider other factors such as an equitable distribution of funds among Region 10 states, priority placed on project proposals by the State/Tribe, EPA’s priorities, and project variety.
EPA is setting aside up to 25% of the funding for:
- a noncompetitive emergency reserve TMDL fund for projects not anticipated at the time of this solicitation and that meet the criteria;
- unanticipated additional costs for selected proposals; and or
- EPA projects covering EPA Region 10 needs and priorities.
Use of the National Watershed Contract
One of the most popular contracting mechanisms for TMDL-related projects is the EPA’s National Watershed Contract. Under the National Watershed Contract, we cannot directly choose the contractor who will perform the project. Instead, the contractor will be selected using a competitive bidding process between the four contractors under the National Watershed Contract: Battelle Memorial Institute, The Cadmus Group, Inc., Research Triangle Institute, and Tetra Tech Inc. If we select a project, then we will form a team which includes staff from EPA and the state and/or tribe; the team will jointly develop a more detailed work plan and evaluation criteria in order to rank the bids received from the contractors listed above.
Project Proposal Format and Content
No state or tribe may submit more than five project proposals. Proposals should be no longer than three (3) pages and include the following information:
- Title of Project
- Contact (Name, Affiliation, Telephone Number, fax number, E-Mail Address)
- Projected Cost (The “independent government cost estimate” spreadsheet (Excel) (217K) will assist in estimating the cost for the proposal. This spreadsheet is for your information only; you do not need to submit this spreadsheet to EPA).
- Funding Mechanism: IA or EPA’s National Watershed Contract
- Identification of Watershed(s)/Segment(s)
- Pollutant(s) Addressed
- Scheduled Due Date(s) for TMDL(s)
- Is a Quality Assurance Project Plan Needed?
- Time frame (Starting Date, Completion Date)
- Description of Project
- Describe the proposed work to be accomplished, including specific tasks, activities and anticipated outputs and deliverables.
- Explain how the project addresses one or more of the factors listed above. Include a description of the impairment and how it impacts designated uses of the waters or the environmental significance of and geographical area impacted by the project. Explain why this project is a priority at this time.
- Address what will happen if the project does not receive this funding.
- Address whether this project has been submitted to EPA or other agencies for funding. If so, please provide name of funding source and contact person (and e-mail address and telephone number if available).
- Direct Federal Government Interest: Describe how this project supports the TMDL program or 4b documentation 1) in States where EPA is a party to a consent decree, court order, or settlement agreement; 2) affecting tribal interests; federal lands; or multi-jurisdictional waters; or 3) where States have fallen substantially behind in their efforts to maintain an 8 - 13 year pace to develop TMDLs, as memorialized in a work plan, memorandum of understanding, or other form of agreement with the Region.
Proposals for projects will be accepted through November 9, 2009. If you are submitting more than one proposal, please rank your proposals in priority order.
Please send your funding proposals electronically (or via fax if electronic mail is unavailable) to Jayne Carlin at carlin.jayne@epa.gov or at (206) 553-0165 (fax).
EPA Region 10 anticipates making initial funding decisions during December 2009. Additional decisions are likely to be made throughout the year based on available funding. EPA Region 10 will notify you of the funding decisions through e-mail. Please direct any questions to Jayne Carlin at (206) 553-8512.
For more information concerning 2008 Clean Water Act Sections 303(d), 305(b), and 314 Integrated Reporting and Listing Decisions - Diane Regas -- Oct. 12, 2006” located in www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/policy.html for additional information on 4b demonstrations.
For more definitions of the National Measures: www.epa.gov/water/waterplan/pamsfy08/def_wq08.html
For more information on Nonpoint Source Program and Grants Guidelines for States and Territories (Oct. 23, 2003)” under “EPA Guidance”: http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/cwact.html
Footnotes:
1See “Information Concerning 2008 Clean Water Act Sections 303(d), 305(b), and 314 Integrated Reporting and Listing Decisions - Diane Regas -- Oct. 12, 2006” located in www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/policy.html for additional information on 4b demonstrations
2See definitions of the National Measures at www.epa.gov/water/waterplan/pamsfy08/def_wq08.html
3See “Nonpoint Source Program and Grants Guidelines for States and Territories (Oct. 23, 2003)” under “EPA Guidance” contained in http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/cwact.html