Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR DO 20 F001
The WaterSMART Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021 funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BOR DO 20 F001) was issued by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, under CFDA 15.507, and falls within the Natural Resources funding activity category. It offers federal support through grants and cooperative agreements, with the central goal of partnering with eligible water and power delivery entities to carry out projects that strengthen water management and long-term supply reliability across the western United States. A key feature of the program is cost sharing: applicants are expected to bring their own funding and resources to the table and leverage Reclamation support to complete projects that might otherwise be delayed or scaled back.
At its core, the FOA is aimed at practical, on-the-ground improvements that conserve water and increase efficiency in how water is conveyed, delivered, measured, and used. The opportunity targets projects that reduce losses, improve system performance, and make existing water supplies go farther, rather than relying solely on developing new supplies. In addition to water savings, the FOA explicitly encourages projects that can increase hydropower production, reflecting the program's emphasis on the water-energy connection. By improving operations or infrastructure in ways that reduce energy use per unit of water delivered or that unlock additional hydropower generation, projects can deliver both resource conservation and operational savings over time.
Beyond conservation and efficiency, the FOA highlights broader resilience and risk-reduction benefits. It invites proposals that help mitigate the risk of future water conflict in areas identified as having a high likelihood of conflict over water, recognizing that scarcity, competing demands, and changing hydrology can strain relationships among users and jurisdictions. The program also emphasizes enabling conditions for future improvements, particularly in agriculture. A stated objective is to help farmers set up the ability to make additional on-farm improvements later, including upgrades that may align with and potentially qualify for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funding. This points to an intent to create stepping-stones: projects funded here can modernize delivery systems, measurement, or operational controls so that producers can more readily adopt efficient irrigation practices and other conservation measures in subsequent phases with complementary funding.
In terms of who can apply, the FOA is directed to states, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations that have authority related to water or power delivery. The eligibility field is broadly labeled "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," indicating that while the primary audience is public and quasi-public water and power delivery entities, there may be additional eligible applicant types depending on the specific eligibility language in the full announcement. The program is structured to support a substantial set of awards, with an expected 40 awards and a maximum (award ceiling) of up to $1,500,000 per award, making it suitable for medium to large implementation-focused projects rather than purely conceptual planning efforts.
The announcement covered two separate application submission periods tied to two fiscal years, each contingent on congressional appropriations. Proposals submitted by October 3, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time were to be considered for FY 2020 funding. Proposals submitted after that date and time, and up to September 30, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. MDT, were to be considered for FY 2021 funding. The FOA creation date was August 5, 2019, and the original closing date listed is September 30, 2020, reflecting the end of the second submission window. Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a cost-shared federal partnership program designed to turn investment into measurable water savings, operational efficiency, energy and hydropower benefits, reduced conflict risk, and stronger water supply reliability throughout the western United States.Apply for BOR DO 20 F001
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WaterSMART Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.507.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 05, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2020 This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) covers two application submittal periodsProposals received before October 3, 2019, 400 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT), will be considered for FY 2020 funding, contingent on appropriations. Proposals received after October 3, 2019 400 p.m. MDT and before September 30, 2020, 400 p.m. MDT, will be considered for FY 2021 funding, contingent on appropriations.. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| USAID/Uganda Biodiversity for Resilience Activity Apply for 72061719RFA00003 Funding Number: 72061719RFA00003 Agency: Agency for International Development, Uganda USAID-Kampala Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $15,000,000 |
| WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021 Apply for BOR DO 20 F002 Funding Number: BOR DO 20 F002 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Restoration of Natural Resources within Death Valley National Park Apply for P19AS00214 Funding Number: P19AS00214 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $399,999 |
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| Aquatic Invasive Species Operations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area Apply for P19AS00164 Funding Number: P19AS00164 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $833,669 |
| Amphibian and Wetland Habitat Monitoring Apply for P19AS00473 Funding Number: P19AS00473 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $40,000 |
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| BLM AK Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Community Fire Assistance Apply for L19AS00104 Funding Number: L19AS00104 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $120,000 |
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| Protect Wildlife Using New, Cost-effective Methods Apply for P19AS00488 Funding Number: P19AS00488 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $96,744 |
| Natural Resource Management Education and Training Opportunities for Botanically Sophisticated Education, Training, and Restoration Apply for W9127N 19 2 0011 Funding Number: W9127N 19 2 0011 Agency: Department of Defense, USACE Portland District Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $35,000 |
| Native American Outreach Programs and Activities Apply for P19AS00493 Funding Number: P19AS00493 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Notice of Intent: Fisheries Ecology of St. Mary’s River Apply for USGS 19 FA 9978 Funding Number: USGS 19 FA 9978 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Visitor Services Intern(s) for Manzanar National Historic Site Apply for P19AS00349 Funding Number: P19AS00349 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $49,976 |
| Notice of Intent: Using ground based LIDAR to monitor accretion rates and biomass in coastal wetlands Apply for USGS FA 19 0355 Funding Number: USGS FA 19 0355 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| Notice of Intent: Midwest Region Fluvial Erosion Hazard Toolkit Apply for USGS FA 19 0358 Funding Number: USGS FA 19 0358 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $20,000 |
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