Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR DO 19 F012
The WaterSMART Applied Science Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BOR DO 19 F012) is a Bureau of Reclamation (U.S. Department of the Interior) discretionary funding program designed to help non-federal partners turn practical water science into real-world decision support. The core idea is cost-shared applied science: Reclamation is looking for eligible non-federal entities to bring their own funding and capabilities to the table and pair that with federal support to produce usable hydrologic information, water management tools, and improved modeling and forecasting methods. The emphasis is on projects that go beyond research for research's sake and instead deliver outputs that water managers can use directly to make better operational and planning decisions.
This grant focuses on strengthening water supply reliability and improving the flexibility and effectiveness of water operations. Projects should enhance the ability to understand, predict, and manage water conditions through better data, analytics, models, and forecasting approaches. The expectation is that funded work will translate into practical tools and information products that improve day-to-day and long-range water management, especially in the face of variability, drought, and competing demands.
A key requirement is that project results must be readily applicable by water managers. In other words, deliverables should be implementable and decision-oriented, such as improved forecasts, operational models, hydrologic datasets, or toolsets that directly support actions and choices. The program specifically highlights a wide range of on-the-ground management uses, including improving water supply reliability; supporting water delivery management and operational planning; enabling or improving water marketing activities; strengthening drought planning and drought response; supporting conjunctive management of groundwater and surface water; assisting with water rights administration; helping agencies meet endangered species requirements; improving watershed health; and advancing conservation and efficiency. Projects that clearly connect scientific work to one or more of these tangible management outcomes are aligned with the program's intent.
Awards are offered as grants and/or cooperative agreements under the natural resources funding activity category (CFDA 15.557). The maximum award amount listed is $300,000, and the opportunity anticipated roughly 12 awards. Eligibility is described as "Others" with additional eligibility detail provided in the full announcement, but the headline message is that the program is oriented toward non-federal applicants who can share costs and collaborate with Reclamation to produce applied, implementable results.
The funding opportunity was created on June 27, 2019, with an original application deadline of October 30, 2019, at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time for consideration under FY 2019 funding. The announcement also notes that a second deadline for FY 2020 consideration could be added later, depending on appropriations, indicating the program may run in multiple cycles when funding is available.Apply for BOR DO 19 F012
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WaterSMART- Applied Science Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.557.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 27, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 30, 2019 Proposals received before October 30, 2019, 400 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT), will be considered for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 funding.This FOA will be updated to provide a second application deadline in FY 2020 for proposals to be considered for FY 2020 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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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WaterSMART Applied Science Grants (BOR DO 19 F012) - FAQs
What is the WaterSMART Applied Science Grants opportunity (BOR DO 19 F012)?
WaterSMART Applied Science Grants (Funding Opportunity Number BOR DO 19 F012) is a Bureau of Reclamation (U.S. Department of the Interior) discretionary funding program that supports cost-shared applied science projects. The intent is to help non-federal partners turn practical water science into real-world decision support for water managers.
What is the main goal of this program?
The program aims to strengthen water supply reliability and improve the flexibility and effectiveness of water operations by funding projects that improve understanding, prediction, and management of water conditions through better data, analytics, models, and forecasting approaches.
What does "applied science" mean in this grant?
In this program, "applied science" means work that goes beyond research for its own sake and results in practical, implementable outputs that water managers can use directly to make operational and planning decisions. The emphasis is on decision-oriented deliverables rather than purely academic or exploratory research.
Who is this funding designed to support?
The opportunity is oriented toward eligible non-federal partners that can share costs and collaborate with Reclamation to produce applied, implementable results. Eligibility is listed as "Others," with additional detail referenced in the full announcement.
Is cost-sharing required?
Yes. The core idea described is cost-shared applied science, meaning Reclamation expects eligible non-federal entities to bring their own funding and capabilities and pair that with federal support.
What kinds of project outcomes does Reclamation want to see?
Reclamation is looking for usable hydrologic information, water management tools, and improved modeling and forecasting methods that translate into practical tools and information products water managers can apply in day-to-day and long-range management.
What types of deliverables are considered readily applicable by water managers?
The opportunity highlights deliverables that are implementable and decision-oriented, such as improved forecasts, operational models, hydrologic datasets, or toolsets that directly support actions and choices by water managers.
What management needs or use cases are specifically aligned with the program?
The program highlights projects that connect applied science to tangible on-the-ground outcomes, including:
- Improving water supply reliability
- Supporting water delivery management and operational planning
- Enabling or improving water marketing activities
- Strengthening drought planning and drought response
- Supporting conjunctive management of groundwater and surface water
- Assisting with water rights administration
- Helping agencies meet endangered species requirements
- Improving watershed health
- Advancing conservation and efficiency
Does the program prioritize projects that address drought and variability?
Yes. The description emphasizes improving water management in the face of variability, drought, and competing demands, and it explicitly lists drought planning and drought response as aligned uses.
What kinds of projects are a good fit versus a poor fit?
A good fit is a project that produces practical decision support (for example, improved forecasts, operational models, hydrologic datasets, or toolsets) that water managers can implement. A poor fit would be work framed as research without a clear pathway to implementable outputs that directly support operational or planning decisions.
What funding instruments are used for awards?
Awards are offered as grants and/or cooperative agreements.
What is the program's funding activity category and CFDA number?
The funding activity category is natural resources, and the CFDA number listed is 15.557.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount listed is $300,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated roughly 12 awards.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on June 27, 2019.
What was the application deadline for FY 2019 consideration?
The original application deadline was October 30, 2019, at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time for consideration under FY 2019 funding.
Was there any mention of a second deadline or future cycle?
Yes. The announcement notes that a second deadline for FY 2020 consideration could be added later, depending on appropriations, suggesting the program may run in multiple cycles when funding is available.
What federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Reclamation within the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What is the program expecting from partners besides funding?
Beyond cost-share, the program emphasizes that non-federal partners should bring their capabilities and collaborate with Reclamation to produce usable decision-support outputs, such as hydrologic information products, tools, models, and improved forecasting methods.
How should applicants describe their project to match the program's intent?
Based on the program description, applicants should clearly connect their scientific and technical work to specific, tangible water management decisions and outcomes (for example, operational planning, drought response, water rights administration, or conservation/efficiency), and explain how deliverables will be readily implementable by water managers.
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| WaterSMART: Water Reclamation and Reuse Research under the Title XVI Program for Fiscal Year 2019 Apply for BOR DO 19 F009 Funding Number: BOR DO 19 F009 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Monitoring Precipitation Chemistry and Atmospheric Deposition at a High-Elevation Site in Mount Rainier National Park Apply for P19AS00329 Funding Number: P19AS00329 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $58,800 |
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| Youth Engagement and Development Apply for NPSNOIAZRU1900659 Funding Number: NPSNOIAZRU1900659 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $34,624 |
| Youth in Preservation: Acequia Rehabilitation and Historic Resource Preservation Apply for NPSNOISAAN1900729 Funding Number: NPSNOISAAN1900729 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $60,750 |
| Nevada Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management Program Apply for L19AS00099 Funding Number: L19AS00099 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Interactions among vegetation and fluvial geomorphic processes al Apply for P19AS00344 Funding Number: P19AS00344 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $46,529 |
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| Mount Charelston Blue Butterfly Surveys Apply for F19AS00288 Funding Number: F19AS00288 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $155,000 |
| Drivers of early postfire tree regeneration and indicators of forest re Apply for P19AS00346 Funding Number: P19AS00346 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $58,900 |
| Santa Fe NHT Administrative and Volunteer Support FY 19-20 Apply for NPSNOINTIRP19AC00750 Funding Number: NPSNOINTIRP19AC00750 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $147,308 |
| El Camino Real de los Tejas NHT Admin. and Volunteer Support FY 19-20 Apply for NPSNOINTIRP19AC00746 Funding Number: NPSNOINTIRP19AC00746 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,050 |
| Oregon & California NHT Admin. and Volunteer Support FY 19-20 Apply for NPSNOINTIRP19AC00747 Funding Number: NPSNOINTIRP19AC00747 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $135,400 |
| Old Spanish Trail Administrative and Volunteer Support FY 19-20 Apply for NPSNOINTIRP19AC00749 Funding Number: NPSNOINTIRP19AC00749 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $82,500 |
| Trail of Tears NHT Admin. and Volunteer Support FY 19-20 Apply for NPSNOINTIRP19AC00748 Funding Number: NPSNOINTIRP19AC00748 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $149,135 |
| Challenge Cost Share Apply for P19AS00348 Funding Number: P19AS00348 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $386,000 |
| Great Egg Harbor River Comprehensive Management Plan Implem Apply for NPS 19 NERO 0059 Funding Number: NPS 19 NERO 0059 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $140,000 |
| Master Cooperative Agreement for Natural and Cultural Resource Research, Monitoring and Education Apply for P19AS00351 Funding Number: P19AS00351 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Integrated Resource Management Internships and Science at the Seashore Education at Point Reyes National Seashore Apply for P19AS00354 Funding Number: P19AS00354 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $135,489 |
| BLM-ES, Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands Apply for L19AS00075 Funding Number: L19AS00075 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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