WaterSMART: Desalination Construction Projects Under the WIIN Act for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024
Agency: Bureau of Reclamation
Posted: 2023-09-28 | Closing date: 2024-09-30
This is a Rolling NOFO and will remain open until September 30, 2024, with two application submittal periods. Due date for applications:First Application Submittal Period due date is December 7, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST).Applications received before December 7, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. (MST), will be considered under the First Submittal Period.Second and Final Application Submittal Period due date is September 30, 2024, 4:00 p.m. MDT.Applications received after December 7, 2023, at 4:00 p.m (MST) and before September 30, 2024, 4:00 p.m. MDT, will be considered for the Second and Final Submittal Period.Applications MUST be submitted no later than the due dates and times identified for each application submittal period.Proposals received after the application deadline will not be considered unless it can be determined that the delay was caused by Reclamation or there were technical issues with the Grants.gov application system. Note that difficulties related to an applicant’s Grants.gov profile (e.g., incorrect organizational representative), uploading documents to Grants.gov, or an applicant’s SAM.gov registration are not considered technical issues with the Grants.gov system. If for any reason applicants are unable to submit their application through Grants.gov, they may provide a paper copy of their full application by mail or courier. Prior approval is required for paper submission. For requirements and instructions see section D.4.2.2 below.See section D.4 Submission Date and Time in Full Announcement for further details. 
Award ceiling: 30000000
Award floor: 0
Cost sharing or matching requirement: Yes

The objective of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to invite sponsors of eligible seawater and brackish water desalination projects to request cost-shared funding for planning, design, and/or construction of those projects.This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is issued under the authority of the Water Desalination Act of 1996, Public Law (P.L.) 104-298, as amended by section 4009(a) of Title II, Subtitle J of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, P.L. 114-322.The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (Department) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department’s priorities. Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to support stakeholder efforts to stretch scarce water supplies and avoid conflicts over water.The WIIN Act was enacted in December 2016 to address water resources infrastructure that is critical to the Nation’s economic growth, health, and competitiveness. Section 4009(a) of Subtitle J of WIIN includes amendments to the Water Desalination Act of 1996 that authorize Reclamation to provide funding for construction of desalination projects.Desalination is an essential tool in stretching the limited water supplies in the Western United States. Desalination projects develop and supplement municipal and irrigation water supplies through the treatment of ocean or brackish water, thereby providing a local supply, providing flexibility during water shortages, and diversifying the water supply portfolio. These projects provide growing communities with new sources of clean water and increase water management flexibility, making water supplies more reliable. Desalination Construction Projects also provide support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order (E.O.) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and aligned with other priorities, such as those identified in E.O. 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. WaterSMART Desalination Construction Projects will advance the Biden- Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative. Established by E.O. 14008, the Justice40 Initiative has made it a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments, such as climate, clean energy, and other areas, flow to disadvantaged communities.1 Desalination projects are an important part of the Department’s WaterSMART Program. For further information on the WaterSMART Program, see www.usbr.gov/watersmart/.

Eligibility: Sponsors of seawater or brackish water desalination projects eligible to receive financial assistance to fund activities under this NOFO include state or local sponsors, which may include but is not limited to:States, Indian Tribes, municipalities, irrigation districts, water districts, wastewater districts; and any state, regional, or other organization with water or power delivery authority.All applicants MUST be located in one of the following States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.See section C.1 Eligible Applicants requirement in the Full Announcement.