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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoTitle style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Request for Comments on DRAFT RFP for the <span style='color:black'>Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Water Quality Management Grants</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoTitle style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";font-weight:normal'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoTitle style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";font-weight:normal'>The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program is seeking comments on its DRAFT Request for Proposals for the <span style='color:black'>Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Water Quality Management Grants. </span><span style='color:black'>Please note that while this request for proposals is focused on the Buzzards Bay watershed, applicants in the Narragansett Bay watershed should also comment on the various criteria because the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program's request for proposals will closely mirror this solicitation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoTitle style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>This grant program supports the U.S. EPA's SNEP mission to protect and restore the southeast New England ecosystem by connecting communities through collaboration and partnerships throughout the region; fostering and promoting innovative approaches; and engaging public stewardship. This grant round is focused on nutrient and pathogen water quality issues. Although certain elements of this draft Request for Proposals may change, potential applicants should use this notification as an opportunity to formulate potential projects.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoEndnoteText style='text-align:justify;page-break-after:avoid'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>We are particularly interested in comments on <span style='color:black'>eligible and ineligible projects and applicants, scoring criteria, and the overall schedule and timing. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoEndnoteText style='text-align:justify;page-break-after:avoid'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoEndnoteText style='text-align:justify;page-break-after:avoid'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Please send your written comments, by July 22, 2015 to:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoEndnoteText style='text-align:justify;page-break-after:avoid'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Sarah Williams, Regional Planner<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program/CZM<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> 2870 Cranberry Highway<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> East Wareham, MA 02538<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> Fax (508) 291-3628<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="mailto:sarah.williams@state.ma.us">sarah.williams@state.ma.us</a><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoEndnoteText style='text-align:justify;page-break-after:avoid'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoEndnoteText style='text-align:justify;page-break-after:avoid'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>The draft request for proposals can be found at: </span><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><a href="http://restore.buzzardsbay.org/grants.html">http://restore.buzzardsbay.org/grants.html</a><span style='color:black'>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>For those in the Narragansett Bay watershed (in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts), go to <a href="http://neiwpcc.org/contractors/opportunities.asp">http://neiwpcc.org/contractors/opportunities.asp</a> to apply to that grant program when the request for proposals is issued.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoEndnoteText style='text-align:justify;page-break-after:avoid'><a name="_GoBack"></a><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Please forward this notice to interested parties.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>