Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR DO 21 F001
The WaterSMART Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Year 2021 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BOR DO 21 F001) is a discretionary funding program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. It offers federal support through grants and cooperative agreements for practical, on-the-ground projects that improve how water is managed and delivered in the western United States. The core idea is cost sharing: applicants are expected to bring their own funding and resources to the table and use federal dollars to leverage bigger, more durable improvements than either party could achieve alone.
The program is aimed at organizations that have authority or responsibility for delivering water or power, especially those that operate or manage water distribution systems and related infrastructure. Eligible applicants include states, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other qualifying entities described in the program's eligibility language. In general, the focus is on entities that can implement system-level efficiency upgrades or operational improvements with measurable public benefits, rather than purely research or planning-only efforts.
Projects funded under this opportunity are expected to produce concrete benefits tied to water conservation, efficiency, and reliability. Priority outcomes include conserving water and using it more efficiently across delivery systems, improving or increasing hydropower production where applicable, and reducing the risk of conflict in places where future water disputes are more likely. The opportunity also emphasizes enabling farmers to make additional on-farm improvements later on, including upgrades that may align with or become eligible for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs, which signals an interest in projects that create downstream opportunities for agricultural water savings and improved irrigation performance. Overall, the program is designed to strengthen long-term water supply reliability across the West by funding improvements that reduce waste, modernize aging systems, and support better water management under increasing scarcity and competing demands.
The financial structure reflects mid-to-large project support. The award ceiling is listed at $2,000,000 per award, and the Bureau of Reclamation anticipated making about 40 awards under this cycle. Because this is a competitive discretionary program, applicants typically need to present a well-developed project with a clear scope, credible budget, strong cost-share commitments, and a solid explanation of benefits and outcomes.
Key administrative details include a creation date of June 16, 2020, and an original application closing date of September 18, 2020. The opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources and is associated with CFDA number 15.507.Apply for BOR DO 21 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 Year 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 Jun 16, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 18, 2020. (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 $2,000,000.00 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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WaterSMART Grants (Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for FY 2021) - FAQs
What is this grant opportunity?
The WaterSMART Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Year 2021 (Funding Opportunity Number BOR DO 21 F001) is a discretionary funding opportunity run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. It provides federal support through grants and cooperative agreements for practical, on-the-ground projects that improve water management and water delivery in the western United States.
Which agency runs this program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.
What kinds of funding instruments are offered (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity supports projects through both grants and cooperative agreements, depending on the specific award and project circumstances.
What is the main purpose of the WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants?
The purpose is to fund practical improvements that conserve water, increase water-use efficiency, improve water supply reliability, modernize aging infrastructure, reduce waste, and support better water management under increasing scarcity and competing demands in the western United States.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. The core idea of the program is cost sharing. Applicants are expected to contribute their own funding and resources, using federal dollars to leverage larger and more durable improvements than either party could achieve alone.
Who is this funding intended for?
The program is aimed at organizations that have authority or responsibility for delivering water or power, particularly entities that operate or manage water distribution systems and related infrastructure.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include states, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other qualifying entities described in the program's eligibility language. In general, the opportunity targets entities positioned to implement system-level efficiency upgrades or operational improvements that provide measurable public benefits.
What types of projects are a good fit?
Projects should be practical and on-the-ground, focused on improving how water is managed and delivered. The opportunity emphasizes system-level efficiency upgrades, modernization of existing systems, and operational improvements tied to measurable benefits such as water conservation and improved reliability.
Are research-only or planning-only projects the focus of this program?
No. The focus is on implementation and concrete improvements rather than purely research efforts or planning-only work.
What outcomes does the program prioritize?
Priority outcomes include: conserving water and improving efficiency across water delivery systems; improving or increasing hydropower production where applicable; and reducing the risk of conflict in areas where future water disputes are more likely.
How does hydropower relate to this opportunity?
Where applicable, projects may be prioritized if they improve or increase hydropower production as part of broader water and energy efficiency improvements.
How does the program address water conflict and disputes?
One emphasized benefit area is reducing the risk of conflict in locations where future water disputes are more likely, by improving efficiency, reliability, and management practices.
Does the opportunity connect to agricultural or on-farm improvements?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes enabling farmers to make additional on-farm improvements later on, including upgrades that may align with or become eligible for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs. This signals an interest in projects that create downstream opportunities for agricultural water savings and improved irrigation performance.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is listed at $2,000,000 per award.
How many awards were anticipated for this cycle?
The Bureau of Reclamation anticipated making about 40 awards under this funding cycle.
Is this a competitive program?
Yes. It is a discretionary, competitive program. Applicants typically need a well-developed project with a clear scope, a credible budget, strong cost-share commitments, and a solid explanation of benefits and outcomes.
What does a strong application typically include?
Based on the opportunity description, strong applications generally present: a clear and well-developed project scope; a credible and detailed budget; firm cost-share commitments; and a compelling explanation of measurable benefits and outcomes tied to program priorities like conservation, efficiency, and reliability.
Where is this program focused geographically?
The program focuses on projects in the western United States.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is BOR DO 21 F001.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.507.
What category does this funding opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources.
What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity creation date is June 16, 2020, and the original application closing date is September 18, 2020.
What does "practical, on-the-ground" mean in this context?
In this program context, it refers to implementable projects that directly improve water management or delivery systems in the field (for example, system upgrades and operational improvements), with measurable public benefits, rather than work that is primarily conceptual, research-based, or limited to planning.
What kinds of benefits are expected from funded projects?
Funded projects are expected to deliver concrete benefits tied to water conservation, improved water-use efficiency, increased reliability of water supplies, and in some cases improved hydropower production, along with broader public benefits such as reduced risk of future water conflict.
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