Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR CGB 21 F001
The Bay-Delta Restoration Program: CALFED Water Use Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022 is a competitive, cost-share grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation under the broader CALFED Bay-Delta Program. This program traces back to the CALFED Bay-Delta Program Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement released on July 21, 2000, and the related Record of Decision published on August 28, 2000. Within that long-standing framework, the Bay-Delta Restoration Program advances coordinated strategies aimed at improving ecosystem health, strengthening water supply reliability, and protecting water quality in and around the California Bay-Delta system. Water use efficiency is positioned as a key implementation tool because reducing losses and improving management can free up water supplies, reduce strain on the system, and support multiple environmental and operational objectives.
The grant focuses on practical water use efficiency and conservation activities that deliver measurable benefits tied to the California Bay-Delta. A core eligibility concept is that any proposed project must have a clear, defined relationship to the Bay-Delta, meaning it should directly support outcomes that matter to the Bay-Delta system rather than being a generic conservation project with no meaningful linkage. Reclamation frames this funding as a way for eligible entities to leverage their own funds and capacity by sharing costs with the federal government, with an emphasis on projects that increase water reliability and improve water management. The opportunity also highlights alignment with the October 19, 2018 Presidential Memorandum on promoting reliable water supply and delivery in the West, particularly through expanded technologies and improved management capabilities.
The CALFED objectives that guide the program include reducing existing irrecoverable losses to increase the overall volume of available water, achieving multiple statewide benefits, preserving local flexibility, and building on existing water use efficiency programs. In practice, that means Reclamation is looking for proposals that do more than save water in a narrow sense; they should help reduce waste and losses that cannot be recovered, complement or strengthen ongoing local or regional efficiency efforts, and produce benefits that extend beyond a single project footprint when possible, while still allowing local agencies to tailor solutions to their circumstances.
Administratively, this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is structured around two separate application submission periods: one for FY 2021 and another for FY 2022. The FY 2021 submission period closed January 18, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. PST. The FY 2022 submission period opened immediately after that deadline (January 18, 2021 after 1:00 p.m. PST) and closed November 30, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. PST. Projects are selected through a competitive process, and the evaluation focuses on how well proposals achieve the outcomes identified in the NOFO, rather than being awarded on a first-come basis.
A key restriction in the NOFO is that, during each submission period, a project is not eligible if the applicant has already committed to accomplishing that project under another agreement. In other words, the funding is not intended to reimburse or backfill projects that are already fully obligated elsewhere; it is meant to influence what gets built or implemented by enabling or accelerating projects that still need financial support.
From the opportunity details provided, the funding instrument is a discretionary grant, and the primary eligible applicant type listed is special district governments. The CFDA (assistance listing) number associated with the opportunity is 15.570. Reclamation anticipated making about four awards, with an award ceiling of $500,000 per award. The funding opportunity number is BOR CGB 21 F001, and the opportunity was created on November 18, 2020. Overall, the grant is designed to support cost-shared, Bay-Delta-related efficiency projects that improve water management and reliability while advancing CALFED goals across California's interconnected water system.Apply for BOR CGB 21 F001
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bay-Delta Restoration Program: CALFED Water Use Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.570.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 18, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 18, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Special district governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "The Bay-Delta Restoration Program: CALFED Water Use Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022."
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
This is a competitive, cost-share grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, under the broader CALFED Bay-Delta Program.
What larger program framework does this grant fall under?
The funding is part of the Bay-Delta Restoration Program within the long-standing CALFED Bay-Delta Program framework. The opportunity references the CALFED Bay-Delta Program Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (released July 21, 2000) and the related Record of Decision (published August 28, 2000).
What is the overall purpose of the Bay-Delta Restoration Program in this context?
Within the CALFED framework, the Bay-Delta Restoration Program supports coordinated strategies to improve ecosystem health, strengthen water supply reliability, and protect water quality in and around the California Bay-Delta system.
Why is water use efficiency emphasized in this grant?
Water use efficiency is described as a key implementation tool because reducing losses and improving management can free up water supplies, reduce strain on the system, and support multiple environmental and operational objectives tied to the Bay-Delta.
What kinds of projects does this NOFO support?
The NOFO focuses on practical water use efficiency and conservation activities that deliver measurable benefits tied to the California Bay-Delta. It emphasizes projects that improve water management and increase water reliability while advancing CALFED goals.
Does a project have to be related to the California Bay-Delta?
Yes. A core eligibility concept is that a proposed project must have a clear, defined relationship to the Bay-Delta. It should directly support outcomes that matter to the Bay-Delta system rather than being a generic conservation project with no meaningful linkage.
Is this grant competitive or first-come, first-served?
It is competitive. The NOFO states that projects are selected through a competitive process and are evaluated on how well proposals achieve the outcomes identified in the NOFO, not on a first-come basis.
What does "cost-share" mean for this opportunity?
The opportunity is described as a cost-share grant, meaning the federal government shares project costs with the applicant. The program is positioned as a way for eligible entities to leverage their own funds and capacity with federal cost-sharing support.
What are the key CALFED objectives that guide project selection?
The NOFO describes objectives that include: reducing existing irrecoverable losses to increase the overall volume of available water; achieving multiple statewide benefits; preserving local flexibility; and building on existing water use efficiency programs.
What does "irrecoverable losses" refer to in this program description?
Based on the NOFO summary provided, the program is seeking projects that reduce losses described as "irrecoverable" in order to increase the overall volume of available water. The emphasis is on reducing waste and losses that cannot be recovered.
Does the grant prefer projects that build on existing programs?
Yes. The opportunity highlights building on existing water use efficiency programs and complementing or strengthening ongoing local or regional efficiency efforts, while still preserving local flexibility in solutions.
Does the grant emphasize benefits beyond a single project area?
It can. The NOFO references achieving multiple statewide benefits and indicates an interest in proposals that produce benefits that extend beyond a single project footprint when possible, while still allowing local tailoring.
How is this opportunity aligned with federal policy priorities?
The opportunity highlights alignment with the October 19, 2018 Presidential Memorandum on promoting reliable water supply and delivery in the West, particularly through expanded technologies and improved management capabilities.
How many application submission periods were included in the NOFO?
The NOFO was structured around two separate application submission periods: one for FY 2021 and another for FY 2022.
When was the FY 2021 application submission period deadline?
The FY 2021 submission period closed on January 18, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. PST.
When did the FY 2022 application submission period open and close?
The FY 2022 submission period opened immediately after the FY 2021 deadline (January 18, 2021 after 1:00 p.m. PST) and closed on November 30, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. PST.
Can an applicant seek funding for a project already committed under another agreement?
No. During each submission period, a project is not eligible if the applicant has already committed to accomplishing that project under another agreement. The NOFO describes this as a restriction intended to prevent using these funds to reimburse or backfill projects that are already fully obligated elsewhere.
What is the funding instrument type?
The opportunity uses a discretionary grant funding instrument.
Who is listed as an eligible applicant type?
From the opportunity details provided, the primary eligible applicant type listed is special district governments.
What is the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number for this opportunity?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number associated with this opportunity is 15.570.
How many awards were anticipated?
Reclamation anticipated making about four awards under this opportunity.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is listed as $500,000 per award.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is BOR CGB 21 F001.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on November 18, 2020.
What is the program trying to achieve in practical terms?
In practical terms, the grant is designed to support cost-shared, Bay-Delta-related efficiency projects that reduce losses, improve water management, increase water reliability, and advance CALFED objectives across California's interconnected water system.
If a project is a general conservation effort, is it likely to fit?
The information provided indicates that a project should not be a generic conservation project with no meaningful linkage to Bay-Delta outcomes. To fit, it must have a clear, defined relationship to the California Bay-Delta and deliver measurable benefits tied to that system.
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