Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR DO 19 F005

WaterSMART Grants: Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects for Fiscal Year 2019 is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (CFDA 15.507), released on January 24, 2019 under opportunity number BOR DO 19 F005. The program is aimed at supporting practical, on-the-ground water efficiency improvements that can be implemented at a small scale, with an emphasis on projects that conserve water, improve water management, or make existing water supplies go further through increased efficiency. The overall intent is to stretch limited water supplies through targeted investments that deliver measurable benefits in real operating systems rather than research-only or planning-only efforts.

A central feature of this opportunity is cost sharing. The Bureau of Reclamation is looking for applicants that will leverage their own funding and capacity alongside federal support, effectively multiplying the impact of the federal dollars. The language of the opportunity focuses on entities that already have responsibility or authority for delivering water or power, which signals that proposed projects should be closely tied to operational infrastructure and management decisions, and that applicants should be positioned to implement improvements quickly and credibly within their service areas.

Eligibility is oriented toward organizations involved in water and power delivery, including states, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other qualifying organizations as described in the opportunitys additional eligibility information. Awards are offered through grants and cooperative agreements, meaning recipients may receive straightforward financial assistance (grant) or may work more collaboratively with Reclamation (cooperative agreement), depending on the nature of the project and anticipated federal involvement.

For FY 2019, the maximum federal award amount listed is $75,000, indicating the program is designed for smaller, focused projects rather than large capital builds. The expected number of awards is 60, suggesting a competitive process intended to fund a wide spread of localized improvements across multiple communities and systems. The application window closed on April 24, 2019, which is the original closing date stated in the announcement.

In practical terms, the opportunity supports projects that produce tangible water savings or improved efficiency through upgrades, retrofits, operational changes, or other implementable measures. While the source summary does not list specific project types, the stated objective makes clear that proposals should be implementation-oriented, tied to real water delivery or management needs, and framed around conserving water, improving management, or increasing efficiency of existing supplies.

  • The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WaterSMART Grants:Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects for Fiscal Year 2019" 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 Jan 24, 2019.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 24, 2019. (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 $75,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for BOR DO 19 F005

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WaterSMART Grants: Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects (FY 2019) - FAQs

What is this funding opportunity?

WaterSMART Grants: Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects for Fiscal Year 2019 is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. It is associated with CFDA 15.507 and was released on January 24, 2019 under opportunity number BOR DO 19 F005.

What is the main goal of the program?

The program is intended to support practical, on-the-ground water efficiency improvements that can be implemented at a small scale. The emphasis is on projects that conserve water, improve water management, or make existing water supplies go further through increased efficiency.

What kinds of projects does it prioritize?

It prioritizes implementation-oriented projects that deliver measurable benefits in real operating systems. The focus is on tangible improvements such as upgrades, retrofits, operational changes, or other implementable measures that result in water savings or improved efficiency.

Are research-only or planning-only projects a good fit?

Based on the stated intent, the opportunity is aimed at real, operating-system improvements rather than research-only or planning-only efforts. Projects should be framed around implementation and measurable outcomes.

Why does the opportunity emphasize "small-scale" projects?

The maximum federal award amount is $75,000 for FY 2019, which signals that the program is designed for smaller, focused efforts rather than large capital builds.

What is the maximum federal funding amount per award?

For FY 2019, the maximum federal award amount listed is $75,000.

How many awards were expected to be made?

The expected number of awards is 60, indicating the funding was intended to support a wide range of localized projects across multiple communities and systems.

Who is the awarding agency?

The awarding agency is the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.

What is CFDA 15.507 in this context?

CFDA 15.507 is the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance identifier referenced for this Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART grant opportunity.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is BOR DO 19 F005.

When was the opportunity released?

The opportunity was released on January 24, 2019.

When did the application window close?

The application window closed on April 24, 2019 (the original closing date stated in the announcement).

Is cost sharing required or encouraged?

Cost sharing is a central feature of this opportunity. The Bureau of Reclamation is looking for applicants who will leverage their own funding and capacity alongside federal support, multiplying the impact of federal dollars.

What does "leveraging" mean for this grant?

In the context of this opportunity, leveraging means the applicant contributes their own funding and/or capacity in addition to the federal award, so that the federal dollars support a larger overall project effort than the federal share alone would cover.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is oriented toward organizations involved in water and power delivery. Examples listed include states, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other qualifying organizations as described in the opportunity's additional eligibility information.

Does the program target organizations that operate real water or power systems?

Yes. The language emphasizes entities that already have responsibility or authority for delivering water or power, which indicates projects should be closely tied to operational infrastructure and management decisions.

What does the opportunity mean by "measurable benefits"?

The stated intent is to deliver benefits that can be demonstrated in real operating systems, such as tangible water savings or improved water-use efficiency resulting from implementable improvements.

What types of outcomes should a strong proposal highlight?

A strong proposal, based on the stated objectives, would emphasize conservation of water, improved water management, or increased efficiency of existing supplies, with results that can be measured in an actual operating environment.

What award instruments are used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

Awards are offered through grants and cooperative agreements. A grant generally provides financial assistance, while a cooperative agreement may involve more collaboration with the Bureau of Reclamation depending on the nature of the project and anticipated federal involvement.

Does this opportunity fund large construction projects?

The maximum federal award amount of $75,000 suggests the program is geared toward smaller, targeted improvements rather than large capital construction projects.

How does the program describe its overall intent?

The overall intent is to stretch limited water supplies through targeted investments that deliver measurable benefits in real operating systems, focusing on practical efficiency improvements rather than purely theoretical or planning-focused work.

Is the funding competitive?

The opportunity lists an expected 60 awards and describes a process intended to fund a broad spread of localized improvements, which implies a competitive selection process for funding.

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