The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced a funding opportunity titled "Bay-Delta Restoration Program: CALFED Water Use Efficiency Grants" for Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026 under Funding Opportunity No. R25AS00432. The program aims to improve water management and enhance water efficiency in California's Bay-Delta region through cost-share funding for eligible projects that conserve water, protect ecosystems, and improve water quality. Applications, due by February 13, 2025, can request up to $500,000 per project, with a minimum non-federal match of 50% of the total project costs. Allocations under this program depend on federal appropriations, with an expected $1.5 million for FY2025 and 2-4 awards granted annually. Eligible applicants include Indian tribes and water authority organizations within the CALFED area, while projects must have a clear connection to the Bay-Delta. The initiative also aligns with Presidential Executive Orders emphasizing climate resilience. The document details application requirements, evaluation criteria, project examples, and submission instructions through Grants.gov, underscoring the government's commitment to water sustainability and improved resource management in California.
The document outlines the guidelines for preparing a budget detail and narrative for federal grants and Requests for Proposals (RFPs). It emphasizes the importance of a thorough budget narrative that accurately reflects project costs, ensuring compliance with federal requirements, particularly under CFR 200. It includes instructions for filling out budget categories, such as personnel, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual, construction, and indirect costs. Each category must detail costs based on actual expenditures and must be directly related to project activities, with a breakdown required for subawards and contractual agreements. The narrative must justify cost estimates, identify funding sources, and comply with cost sharing requirements, including in-kind contributions. The budget summary automatically fills based on previous entries, ensuring consistency between the budget and related federal forms. This structured approach helps streamline the review process for grant proposals, facilitating the effective allocation of federal funds while maintaining accountability and transparency in spending.