Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA I R9 SFBWQIF 23 01
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (SFBWQIF) opportunity for fiscal year 2023 is an EPA discretionary funding competition (EPA-I-R9-SFBWQIF-23-01) designed to support projects that measurably improve water quality and environmental conditions in the San Francisco Bay and its watersheds, with a strong emphasis on benefits for underserved communities. The program is framed around producing clear, quantifiable environmental and community outcomes, especially in places experiencing disproportionate environmental burdens and increasing climate-related stressors such as flooding, sea level rise, extreme storms, and related water quality impacts. The overall intent is to improve both the ecological health of the Bay and the well-being of communities that are most affected by pollution and climate risks.
Funding is provided through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and awarded by EPA under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1330). For FY 2023, EPA indicated roughly $5 million available total, with individual awards expected to fall between about $200,000 and $1,000,000, and an estimated 15 awards. The funding instruments include grants and cooperative agreements, meaning some projects may involve a closer working relationship with EPA depending on the structure of the award. A notable feature of this BIL-funded round is that there is no match requirement, which can make it more accessible to smaller organizations and community-based applicants that may not have the capacity to provide non-federal cost share.
Projects must take place within the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area region: Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco. EPA notes that a broad range of entities may be eligible to apply, with eligibility described in the full announcement (Section III.A.). In practice, this type of EPA watershed and estuary funding often attracts applications from local governments, special districts, tribes, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and other regional partners, but applicants need to confirm their fit under the specific eligibility language in the solicitation.
Applications are expected to be complete and specific, including a thorough description of the project scope, a detailed budget, and a clear articulation of environmental results. EPA plans to evaluate proposals using the review criteria in Section V of the announcement, which typically focuses on factors such as alignment with program priorities, technical approach, feasibility and readiness, community benefits (particularly for underserved communities), measurable outputs and outcomes, and the applicant's capacity to successfully manage and report on the award. The stated focus on "measurable positive impacts" signals that EPA is looking for well-defined deliverables and credible methods for tracking improvements, not just general plans or aspirational goals.
Key timing details from the notice include an original closing date of June 29, 2023, with the instruction to consult Section IV of the funding opportunity announcement for any additional submission deadline information or requirements. The assistance listing is under CFDA (Assistance Listing) number 66.126, and the opportunity category is discretionary. Overall, this solicitation is positioned as a targeted Bay Area investment that uses BIL funding to accelerate water quality improvements while prioritizing projects that directly advance environmental justice and climate resilience outcomes in communities that have historically been under-resourced.Apply for EPA I R9 SFBWQIF 23 01
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the infrastructure investment and jobs act (iija) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (BIL) - SAN FRANCISCO BAY WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FUND, FISCAL YEAR 2023" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.126.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 17, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 29, 2023 See Section IV of funding opportunity announcement for closing date information.. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (SFBWQIF) FY 2023 opportunity?
This is an EPA discretionary funding competition for fiscal year 2023 under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), focused on supporting projects that measurably improve water quality and environmental conditions in the San Francisco Bay and its watersheds, with a strong emphasis on benefits for underserved communities.
2) What is the official funding opportunity ID?
The opportunity is identified as EPA-I-R9-SFBWQIF-23-01.
3) What is the main goal of the program?
The overall intent is to improve both (1) the ecological health of San Francisco Bay and (2) the well-being of communities most affected by pollution and climate risks, by funding projects that produce clear, quantifiable environmental and community outcomes.
4) What kinds of outcomes does EPA emphasize in this solicitation?
The solicitation emphasizes measurable positive impacts, meaning applicants should propose well-defined deliverables and credible methods for tracking improvements in water quality and environmental conditions, along with tangible community outcomes (especially for underserved communities).
5) How does the opportunity address environmental justice and underserved communities?
The opportunity places a strong emphasis on projects that benefit underserved communities and areas experiencing disproportionate environmental burdens. It also highlights the need to address increasing climate-related stressors that can worsen water quality and environmental conditions.
6) What climate-related stressors are specifically mentioned?
The notice specifically references flooding, sea level rise, extreme storms, and related water quality impacts as increasing stressors that the program is concerned with.
7) What law and authority provide the funding for this program?
Funding is provided through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and is awarded by EPA under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1330).
8) How much total funding is expected to be available in FY 2023?
EPA indicated roughly $5 million in total funding available for FY 2023 under this competition.
9) What is the expected size of individual awards?
Individual awards are expected to range from about $200,000 to $1,000,000.
10) How many awards does EPA expect to make?
The notice estimates about 15 awards.
11) What types of funding instruments may be used?
EPA may issue awards as grants and/or cooperative agreements. This means some projects may involve a closer working relationship with EPA depending on the award structure.
12) Is there a cost share or match requirement?
No. A notable feature of this BIL-funded round is that there is no match requirement.
13) Where must projects be located?
Projects must take place within the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area region: Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco.
14) Are projects outside the nine-county Bay Area eligible?
Based on the notice, projects are required to take place within the specified nine-county San Francisco Bay Area region, so projects outside that area would not meet the stated geographic requirement.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
The notice states that a broad range of entities may be eligible, with eligibility described in the full announcement (Section III.A.). Applicants should confirm they fit the specific eligibility language in the solicitation.
16) What types of organizations commonly apply for funding like this (as described in the notice)?
The notice indicates that programs like this often attract applications from local governments, special districts, tribes, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and other regional partners, but eligibility must be verified against the specific solicitation language.
17) What should a complete application include?
Applications are expected to be complete and specific, including a thorough description of the project scope, a detailed budget, and a clear articulation of environmental results.
18) How will applications be evaluated?
EPA plans to evaluate proposals using the review criteria in Section V of the announcement. The notice indicates this typically focuses on alignment with program priorities, technical approach, feasibility and readiness, community benefits (particularly for underserved communities), measurable outputs and outcomes, and the applicant's capacity to manage and report on the award.
19) What does EPA mean by "measurable positive impacts" in practice?
In the context of this notice, it signals that EPA is looking for projects with well-defined deliverables and credible approaches to measuring and tracking improvements, rather than general plans or purely aspirational goals.
20) What is the original closing date mentioned for this opportunity?
The notice lists an original closing date of June 29, 2023.
21) Where should applicants look for details about deadlines and submission requirements?
The notice instructs applicants to consult Section IV of the funding opportunity announcement for additional submission deadline information or requirements.
22) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The Assistance Listing number is 66.126.
23) What is the opportunity category?
The opportunity category is discretionary.
24) What is the overall purpose and positioning of this solicitation?
The solicitation is positioned as a targeted Bay Area investment using BIL funding to accelerate water quality improvements while prioritizing projects that advance environmental justice and climate resilience outcomes in historically under-resourced communities.
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