State of Nebraska
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
RETURN TO:
Department of Environment and Energy
245 Fallbrook Blvd, Suite 100
Lincoln, NE 68521
PHONE: (402) 471-2186
FAX: (402) 471-2909

SOLICITATION NUMBER
RELEASE DATE
SWPG2024
03/20/2024
PROPOSAL DUE DATE AND TIME
PROCUREMENT CONTACT
07/01/2024 at 04:45 PM
ndee.moreinfo@nebraska.gov
This form is part of the specification package and must be signed and returned, along with proposal documents, by the opening date and time specified.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
SCOPE OF SERVICE
2024 Invitation for Source Water Grant Proposals

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) is inviting proposals for source water protection projects. Funding is authorized through section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act as administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.

These funds are a potential source of support for drinking water protection projects in Nebraska. Program overview, grant process, general program information, funding priority, project requirements and format are outlined in the attached guidance.

Project proposals will be reviewed by staff at Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy and representatives of other organizations. Projects recommended by the reviewers will be forwarded to the Director of NDEE for approval.

Any questions you may have regarding this invitation may be submitted to the Source Water Coordinator at the address below. Questions will be answered directly and then posted on the NDEE website for reference.

Proposals must be submitted to the NDEE office in Lincoln by 5:00 PM July 1, 2024.




SOURCE WATER GRANT PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Funding under section 1452 of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act
ESTIMATED ANNUAL FUNDS
$150,000+
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
    Political subdivisions in Nebraska that operate a public water system serving a population of 10,000 or less that can show financial hardship.

    Hardship eligibility criteria:
    · MHI (Median Household Income) of the political subdivision population must be less or equal to 120% of the statewide MHI reported in the 2018-2022 ACS five-year estimate of $57,378.
    · 120% of State MHI: $71,722
    · Applicants that don’t meet the hardship eligibility may submit a financial hardship report to the Department for additional consideration justifying the grant request.

    To obtain your MHI contact the Source Water Protection Coordinator at 402-471-9249 or ndee.moreinfo@nebraska.gov
GENERAL PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
    · Projects must focus on the protection of Nebraska public drinking water sources, not operation and maintenance of the system or water treatment.
    · Projects must include activities in one or more of the three categories: water quality, water quantity, and/or water public education.
    · Projects must have a good potential for success (i.e., tasks must yield measurable improvement in water quality, reduction of water use, increased resource reliability, citizen knowledge and/or behaviors, etc.).
    · Commitment must be demonstrated by the public water system and local government to develop, implement, support, and sustain a local protection program after funding is received.
    · On-the-ground activities must take place within existing wellhead protection areas, source water protection areas, designated future wellhead protection areas, or the associated area served by the community Public Water Supply System.
    At least a 10% non-federal match to the total project cost is required. For example: a project totaling $20,000 will receive $18,000 in grant funds and would have a requirement of $2,000 in match. Match can be in-kind and/or cash.
ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES
    · Projects that provide long-term benefits to drinking water quality, quantity, and/or education.
    · Contaminant source identification – research / investigation.
    · Contaminant pathway removal – includes the closure of abandoned or unused wells.
    · Contaminant removal – pollution prevention and waste reduction.
    · Contaminant source management – implementation of best management practices (BMPs), ordinance development, and implementation of a Source Water or Wellhead Protection Plan.
    · Information and education sharing – workshops, brochures, meetings, and media campaigns.
    · Development of a Drinking Water Protection Management Plan which is an alternative to 9-element watershed management plans. These plans will focus on wellhead protection areas. Plans must address implementable groundwater best management practices. (For additional information please refer to the Fact Sheet below).
INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES
    · Activities related to the operations and maintenance of drinking water systems including: treatment, transmission, distribution, consolidation or storage.
    · Land purchases.
    · Projects that only develop a traditional Wellhead Protection Plan and do nothing toward implementation of the plan; these plans should not be confused with a Drinking Water Protection Management Plan.
    · Projects requesting only personnel expenses.
    · Projects geared towards the security aspect of Source Water, such as security fencing and cameras.
FUNDING PRIORITY
    Prioritization will be given for the following status/activities:
    · Developing phase one or two of a Drinking Water Protection Management Plan.
    · Projects where activities will be sustained beyond the term of the grant.
    · Projects implementing on-the-ground management activities.
    · Projects addressing nitrate contamination/loading.
    · Public Water Supply Systems that have a NDEE-approved Wellhead or Watershed Protection Plan and/or are a designated Groundwater Guardian.
    · Projects that focus on community education and awareness about how to protect and improve the local drinking water source.
DRINKING WATER PROTECTION MANAGEMENT PLANS
    Drinking Water Protection Management Plans are an alternative to 9-element watershed management plans. These plans will be specific to Wellhead Protection Areas and/or defined future WHP areas and must develop implementable groundwater best management practices (BMPs). The purpose of this plan is to provide an analytic framework for managing efforts to restore and protect a community’s drinking water. With the approval of this plan by EPA, communities will be eligible to apply for Clean Water Act section 319 Nonpoint Source Program grants to assist in the implementations of these management practices. *Detailed information about DWPMPs can be found in Fact Sheet Below*

    Applicants that receive funding must adhere to EPA’s Subaward Policy, CFR §200.320, which states that procurement of services or supplies of more than $3,000 must obtain price or rate quotations from at least three qualified sources. It is highly recommended to obtain price or quotes prior to application submission to ensure costs remain within project budget and to expedite the start of project work. Learn about EPA’s Subaward Policy here: https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients

    Project areas include:
    · Wellhead protection areas - groundwater systems,
    · Officially designated future wellhead protection areas, and
    · Populations served by the community Public Water Supply System.
REQUIRED
MATCH
    10% of Total Project Cost
TIMELINE
    July 1, 2024
    Proposals, including a DUNS number, must be received at the NDEE Lincoln office by 5:00 PM of this due date.

    July/August 2024
    Proposals are reviewed by committee.

    August 2024
    Projects selected and sponsors notified. Funding is made available to begin projects pending approval of a final Work Plan and finalization of a funding agreement.

    September 2024
    Projects may start no earlier than September, 2024 as all project funding is dependent on NDEE’s receipt of the EPA Capitalization Grant. Contracts will not be signed prior to NDEE receiving funds. Any work done prior to the signed agreement date is not eligible for reimbursement.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
    July 1, 2024 - 5:00pm
SUBMITTAL PROCESS
    Hand deliver, mail, or email a PDF to:
    Email:
    ndee.records@nebraska.gov

    Deliver:
    Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy
    245 Fallbrook Blvd
    Lincoln, NE 68521

    Mail:
    Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy
    PO Box 98922
    Lincoln, NE 68509-8922
Written questions may be submitted to ndee.moreinfo@nebraska.gov or at (402) 471-9249.


PROPOSALS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED VALID.
PROPOSALS WILL BE REJECTED IF NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS.

    1. Proposals must be received in NDEE Offices (address above) by the date and time of proposal due date indicated above and in the RFP. NO late proposals will be accepted. NO fax proposals will be accepted.

    2. Proposals must meet all specifications, terms, and conditions of the RFP.

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Written questions are due no later than and should be submitted via e-mail to ndee.moreinfo@nebraska.gov.
Written question may also be sent by facsimile to ndee.moreinfo@nebraska.gov @ (402) 471-2909

Bidder should submit one (1) Original and copies of the entire proposal must be submitted by the proposal due date and time.
PROPOSALS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED VALID.
PROPOSALS WILL BE REJECTED IF NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS.

  1. Proposals must be received in NDEE Offices (address above) by the date and time of proposal opening indicated above. NO late proposals will be accepted. NO fax proposals will be accepted.
  2. Proposals must meet all specifications of the RFQ and terms and conditions of this form.
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Additional Information:
No additional information at this time.
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Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
245 Fallbrook Blvd, Suite 100
Lincoln, Nebraska 68521
(402) 471-2186