Invitation for 2011
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION
PROJECT PROPOSALS

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) is inviting proposals for source water protection projects. Funding is authorized through section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act as administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the NDEQ and the Nebraska Health and Human Services System.

These funds are a potential source of support for drinking water protection and source water assessment projects in Nebraska. Program overview, grant process, general program information, funding priority, project requirements and format are outlined in the attached guidance.

Any questions you may have regarding this invitation must be submitted in writing, or by e-mail to the Source Water Coordinator, to the address below no later than May 13, 2011. All questions and their answers will be posted on the NDEQ website by May 31, 2011. Proposals must be delivered to or received by the NDEQ office in Lincoln on or before 3:00pm June 30, 2011. Please direct all questions and requests and proposals to:

Mary Schroer - Source Water Coordinator

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality

1200 N Street, Suite 400, The Atrium

Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8922

Telephone: (402) 471-2186

Website:

http://www.deq.state.ne.us

Email: NDEQ.moreinfo@nebraska.gov

NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

INVITATION FOR SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROJECT PROPOSALS
FUNDING UNDER SECTION 1452 OF THE FEDERAL SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT

I. PROGRAM OVERVIEW

ESTIMATED ANNUAL FUNDS	$100,000
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS	Political subdivisions, in Nebraska, that operate a public water system serving a population of 10,000 or less and have met all requirements of the Source Water Assessment Program.
ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES	Projects that provide long-term benefits to drinking water quality, quantity, education, and/or security.
INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES	Activities related to the operations and maintenance of drinking water systems and water treatment; Land purchases; Projects that only develop a Wellhead or Watershed Protection Plan and do nothing toward implementation of the plan; Projects requesting only personnel expenses.
APPLICATION DEADLINE	June 30, 2011
REQUIRED COPIES	Original application, 6 paper copies and one electronic copy (CD or emailed to mary.schroer@nebraska.gov)
Proposals must be delivered to or received by the NDEQ office in Lincoln on or before 3:00pm June 30, 2011. Late proposals will be returned unopened. Mail or hand deliver applications to: Source Water Coordinator Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality 1200 N Street, Suite 400, The Atrium Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8922 Telephone: (402) 471-2186 Website: http://www.deq.state.ne.us Email: NDEQ.moreinfo@nebraska.gov Phone 402-471-6988 Toll Free: 877-253-2603

II. GRANT PROCESS

Project proposals will be reviewed by staff at NDEQ, Nebraska Health and Human Services, and potentially other individuals and organizations. Projects recommended by the reviewers will be forwarded to the Director of NDEQ for approval. Projects are subject to final approval by the EPA.

Timetable.

May 13, 2011 - All questions regarding this invitation must be received in writing.

May 31, 2011 - All written questions regarding this invitation and their answers will be posted on the NDEQ website or mailed to potential applicants that specifically request such.

To view the Questions and Answers page,

click here

June 30, 2011 - Proposals must be received at the NDEQ Lincoln office by 3:00pm or postmarked on or before the due date.

~July 2011 - Proposals are reviewed by committee.

~August 2011 - Projects are selected and notified. Funding is made available to begin projects pending approval of a final Project Implementation Plan and finalization of a funding agreement.

III. GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

Source Water Protection Grants are available for proactive projects geared toward protecting Nebraska’s drinking water supplies and will address drinking water quality, quantity, security and/or education. Eligible applicants are political subdivisions that operate a public water system serving a population of 10,000 or less.

Source Water Protection project areas include source water protection areas, designated future source water protection areas and the associated communities.

Rather than providing the grant to complete one task such as fencing, it is preferred that grants be provided to help establish and develop comprehensive local source water protection programs, enhance cooperation and education among citizens, local government, businesses, and agricultural producers. Grants can be used for source water protection planning expenditures or for the development of a wellhead protection plan, but only in conjunction with the implementation of pollution prevention tasks. Grants cannot be used for the sole purpose of developing a Source Water or Wellhead Protection Plan or to purchase land. Projects that focus on research or investigation are discouraged.

Examples of projects that have previously been funded can be found on the NDEQ website

www.deq.state.ne.us

under a search for the “Source Water Protection Program.”

IV. FUNDING PRIORITY

Prioritization will be given for the following status/activities:

Projects implementing on-the-ground activities that address nitrate contamination of drinking water.
Projects implementing on-the-ground management activities that address source water protection.
Public Water Supply Systems that have a NDEQ-approved Wellhead or Watershed Protection Plan and/or designated Groundwater Guardian.
Involves stakeholder participation in project planning and implementation.
Source water protection activities will be sustained beyond the term of the grant.

V. GENERAL PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

Projects must focus on protection of public drinking water sources, not operation and maintenance of the system or water treatment.
Projects must include activities in one or more of the four categories: water quality, water quantity, water public education and water security.
Projects must have a good potential for success (i.e., tasks must yield measurable improvement in water quality, reduction of water use, increased resource integrity, citizen knowledge and/or behaviors, etc.).
Commitment must be demonstrated by the public water system and/or local government(s) to develop, implement, support and sustain a local protection program after funding is received. The applicant must be located in the State of Nebraska.
On-the ground activities must take place within an existing source water protection area, designated future source water protection area, or the associated community of a Community Public Water Supply System.
Public Water Supply Systems must have met all requirements of the Source Water Assessment Program in order to qualify for a Source Water Protection grant. Compliance with this program may be verified by calling NDEQ at (402) 471-2186.
There is no match requirement.

VI. PROPOSAL FORMAT AND REQUIRED INFORMATION

The following format and information is required for all proposals. Failure to use this format or to furnish the information requested will disqualify the proposal from funding consideration.

PROJECT PROPOSALS FORMATTING MUST:

Not exceed 7 single-sided pages (including Title Page, Project Description and Project Area Map);
Be printed on 8.5” X 11” white paper;
Use 10 pt or larger type with single-spaced sentences, double spaced paragraphs, and 1” minimum margins.

THE ORIGINAL PLUS SIX (6) COPIES OF THE PROPOSAL AND AN ELECTRONIC COPY ON CD MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT.

Title Page (1 single side)
1. Project Title
2. Project’s Primary Sponsor_:Organization name, address, telephone number, fax number, web-site (if applicable)
3. Project Manager_: Name of contact person, address if different from above, telephone number, and e-mail address
4. Project’s Co-sponsors_: Names of co-sponsoring organizations, if applicable
5. Funds Requested and Match Offered
6. Project Area
7. Project Period_: Initial month/year – final month/year (not to exceed 2 years)
Project Description (4 single sides maximum)
1. Introduction/Background Information
  1. Provide a brief historical perspective and justification for the project.
  2. Define the nature and extent of the need(s) to be addressed.
  3. Describe other activities ongoing or planned in the project area that relate to water quality management or to the project.
2. Project Objectives
  1. Proposals must describe what is expected to be accomplished during the period of the project. Objectives must relate to the identified source water or educational concerns, and reflect progress in source water protection.
3. Project Tasks
  1. Describe specific source water protection actions proposed to be implemented within the scope of the grant. Tasks must be related to specific project objectives. Discuss how each proposed task relates to drinking water quality, quantity, security, and/or education.
  2. Detail the information and education activities that are planned before, during, and after project implementation.
  3. Include in the proposal how public and stakeholder participation is included in project planning, design, and implementation.
  4. Describe the method of evaluation that will be used to determine project effectiveness. The evaluation approach must be tailored to the specific project and will be based on factors such as the project’s size and objectives.
4. Partnerships
  1. Identify the roles and responsibilities of agencies and groups involved in the proposed project regardless of funding source. All activities in the proposed project area relating to source water protection must be discussed. The NDEQ strongly recommends that a project team be assembled to involve the appropriate agencies and stakeholders in planning the project and preparing the project proposal.
5. Project Costs/Funding Sources
  1. Provide a detailed budget for each major task or work element for which requested grant funds or match funds will be allocated. Use the categories as listed in the attached example and blank budget forms. These forms are also available electronically at the NDEQ website_: www.deq.state.ne.us.
  2. The cost of the entire project must be defined and broken out by grant funds and matching funds in the included budget table. If including matching funds, the value of the cash and in-kind match may be combined in the budget. Indirect costs will not be allowed. Any income generated from the project or products produced by the project must be described and estimated. How this income will be used throughout the grant period must be described.
6. Signatory

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Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
1200 "N" Street, Suite 400
P.O. Box 98922
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
(402) 471-2186