Innovative Water Technology Grant Program

 

The purpose of this program is to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative water technologies that address pressing drinking water supply, quality, treatment, or security challenges of public water systems, areas served by private wells, or source waters. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2023: This program will support grants: (1) to develop, test, and deploy innovative water technologies; or (2) to provide technical assistance to deploy demonstrated innovative water technologies.

Active 66.521 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2021 Applications received - FY 21: 4. New awards - FY 21: 1.
Fiscal Year 2022 Applications received - FY 22: 10. New awards - FY 22: 2.
Fiscal Year 2023 Applications received - FY 23: 0. New awards - FY 23: 0. America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, Section 2007 (42 US Code 300j-1a)
National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(I) For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. Public water systems, institutions of higher education (IHEs), research institutions or foundations, regional water organizations and certain nonprofit organizations as further described below, located in the U.S. or its territories or possessions are eligible to apply. Profit-making firms and individuals are not eligible to apply. Public water system, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 300f(4), means a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least fifteen service connections or regularly serves at least twenty-five individuals. Such term includes (i) any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system, and (ii) any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system. A Regional Water Organization, for purposes of this program, is an association or similar incorporated non-profit or governmental entity that represents or coordinates the operations of public water systems in a defined geographic area under a compact, charter or binding contractual agreement. Consistent with the definition of Nonprofit organization at 2 CFR ? 200.1, the term nonprofit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that is operated mainly for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purpose in the public interest and is not organized primarily for profit; and uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operation of the organization. Note that 2 CFR ? 200.1 specifically excludes Institutions of Higher Education from the definition of non-profit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation. While not considered to be a nonprofit organization(s) as defined by 2 CFR ? 200.1, public or nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this program. As provided at 42 U.S.C. 300j-1a(a)(2)(E) and 42 U.S.C. 300j-1(e)(8)(A) eligibility is limited to ". . . nonprofit organizations that provide to small public water systems onsite technical assistance, circuit-rider technical assistance programs, multistate, regional technical assistance programs, onsite and regional training, assistance with implementing source water protection plans, and assistance with implementing monitoring plans, rules, regulations, and water security enhancements." For-profit colleges, universities, trade schools, and hospitals are ineligible. Nonprofit organizations that are not exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code must submit other forms of documentation of nonprofit status; such as certificates of incorporation as nonprofit under state or tribal law. Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible for EPA funding as provided in the Lobbying Disclosure Act, 2 U.S.C. 1611. Foreign governments, international organizations, and non-governmental international organizations/institutions are not eligible to apply. National laboratories funded by Federal Agencies (Federally-Funded Research and Development Centers, "FFRDCs") may not apply. FFRDC employees may cooperate or collaborate with eligible applicants within the limits imposed by applicable legislation and regulations. They may participate in planning, conducting, and analyzing the research directed by the applicant, but may not direct projects on behalf of the applicant organization. An award recipient may provide funds through its assistance agreement from the EPA to an FFRDC for research personnel, supplies, equipment, and other expenses directly related to the research. Federal Agencies may not apply. Federal employees are not eligible to serve in a principal leadership role on an assistance agreement. Federal employees may not receive salaries or augment their Agency's appropriations through awards made under this program unless authorized by law to receive such funding. The applicant institution may enter into an agreement with a Federal Agency to purchase or utilize unique supplies or services unavailable in the private sector to the extent authorized by law. Examples are purchase of satellite data, chemical reference standards, analyses, or use of instrumentation or other facilities not available elsewhere. A written justification for federal involvement must be included in the application. A letter of intent from the Federal Agency, documenting commitment, should be included. Public nonprofit institutions/organizations and private nonprofit institutions/organizations located in the U.S.; state and local governments; U.S. territories or possessions; Anyone/General Public; Graduate Student; Scientists/Researchers. The EPA may request that applicants demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary resources to carry out the research. EPA may ask applicants to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. EPA may also ask the lead principal investigator/contact principal investigator for information documenting past performance. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through Grants.gov. See RFA at https://www.epa.gov/research-grants for description of the steps for applying for assistance. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. Customarily, applicants are notified of award decisions within six months of the close of the RFA. After being recommended for award, applicants will be required to submit additional certifications and may be requested to submit an electronic version of the project abstract, provide responses to comments or suggestions offered by the peer reviewers, and provide a revised budget. EPA Project Officers will contact the Lead Principal Investigator/Contact Principal Investigator to obtain these materials. The official notification of an award will be made by the Agency's Grants and Interagency Agreement Management Division. Before or after award, certain applicants will be expected to provide additional quality assurance documentation. For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in the competitive announcement. Approximately 150-180 days from the close of the solicitation. Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Not applicable. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will be described in the competitive announcement. Assistance awards will focus on the development, testing, and deployment of innovative water technologies or technical assistance to deploy demonstrated innovative water technologies. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: Geospatial Resources at EPA. Performance Reports: Performance Monitoring is required under this program. Requirements and frequency will be determined at time of award. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, and other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients grants and cooperative agreements records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of final expenditure reports as required by 2 CFR 200.334. If questions, such as those raised because of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. As required under 42 U.S.C. 300j-1a(e), each recipient must contribute a minimum non-federal cost share/match of 35% of the total allowable project costs. This is equivalent at a minimum to 53.846% of the federal amount. Cost share may include in-kind contributions. In order to be eligible for funding consideration, applicants must demonstrate in their applications how they will meet the required minimum cost share/match in accordance with 2 CFR §200.306. The cost share/match may be provided in cash or can come from in-kind contributions, such as the use of volunteers and/or donated time, equipment, etc., subject to the regulations governing matching fund requirements at 2 CFR §200.306. Cost share/matching funds are considered grant funds and are included in the total award amount. As provided in 2 CFR §200.306, all contributions, including cash and third party in-kind, shall be accepted as cost sharing or matching when such contributions meet all of the following criteria: (1) Are verifiable from the non-Federal entity's records; (2) Are not included as contributions for any other Federal award; (3) Are necessary and reasonable for proper and efficient accomplishment of project or program objectives; (4) Are allowable under Subpart E—Cost Principles of 2 CFR Part 200; (5) Are not paid by the Federal Government under another Federal award, except where the Federal statute authorizing a program specifically provides that Federal funds made available for such program can be applied to matching or cost sharing requirements of other Federal programs; (6) Are provided for in the approved budget when required by the Federal awarding agency; and (7) Conform to other provisions of 2 CFR Part 200, as applicable. Any restrictions on the use of grant funds also apply to the use of cost share/matching funds.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Grants are normally funded for a minimum of 3 years (over 180 days). Total approved project period may not exceed 5 years. Assistance is either fully funded (lump sum) or incrementally funded on an annual basis. EPA may incrementally fund grants and cooperative agreements under this program. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to EPA's priorities and availability of funds. Renewals and extensions of funding are not available. Applicants are encouraged to communicate with the appropriate EPA contacts listed in the solicitation. Solicitations are located at: https://www.epa.gov/research-grants. Ron Josephson, Eligibility Contact
Environmental Protection Agency, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004 US
josephson.ron@epa.gov
Phone: 202-564-7823 https://www.epa.gov/research-grants 68-0107-0-1-304 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$1,998,000.00; FY 23 est $1,000,000.00; FY 24 FY 21$936,000.00; FY 20$0.00; FY 19$0.00; - New awards range from $998,295 to $1,000,000. Average award total is $999,150. 2 CFR 1500 (EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards); 40 CFR Part 33 (Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in United States Environmental Protection Agency Programs); 40 CFR Part 40 (EPA Research and Demonstration Grants). Fiscal Year 2021 An example of a type of project funded under this assistance listing includes developing and validating approaches for obtaining approval of new or alternative technologies for very small drinking water systems aimed to ensure that approvals can transfer from state to state without compromising public health protection.
Fiscal Year 2023 No new awards have been made in Fiscal Year 2023.