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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Buzzards Bay Watershed Municipal Mini-grant Program<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Grant Announcement<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program would like to announce the availability of
</span><span class="BodyTextChar"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">$182,897
</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">in grant funds. The FY24 Buzzards Bay Watershed Municipal Mini-grant Program Announcement has been posted on the COMMBUYS website. We are seeking proposals for projects that implement recommendations in the Buzzards
Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and will be located within the Buzzards Bay Watershed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> Eligible projects include:</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoEndnoteText" style="color:black;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;layout-grid-mode:both">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;background:white">Feasibility, assessment, and design of stormwater facilities to treat, eliminate, or reduce discharges to impaired surface waters.</span></span><span class="eop"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoEndnoteText" style="color:black;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;layout-grid-mode:both">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;background:white">Construction of stormwater facilities to treat, eliminate, or reduce discharges affecting surface waters.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li class="MsoEndnoteText" style="color:black;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;layout-grid-mode:both">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;background:white">Permanent land preservation through direct acquisition or easement.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;layout-grid-mode:both">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Update or digitizing of wetland boundaries or land elevations from wetland permits.</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoEndnoteText" style="color:black;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;layout-grid-mode:both">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Restoration of wetlands, habitat, migratory fish passage, and culvert replacements to improve aquatic conductivity and wildlife migration.</span></span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoEndnoteText" style="color:black;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;layout-grid-mode:both">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Construction of a boat pump-out facility in a municipality or harbor when none exists,</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoEndnoteText" style="color:black;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;layout-grid-mode:both">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Creation of online reporting systems for tracking of operation, maintenance, and monitoring of innovative and alternative septic systems.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;layout-grid-mode:both">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Projects that, through direct action (other than routine maintenance or replacement of existing infrastructure), mitigate or restore coastal waters, or freshwaters,
adversely affected by nutrient loading (nitrogen and phosphorus pollution) or bacteria pollution. Projects to expand municipal sewer networks are not eligible.</span></span><span class="eop"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;layout-grid-mode:both">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Other activities in support of the Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan.</span><o:p></o:p></li></ol>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Note: Categories 1-8 are considered priority categories and receive an additional 2 pt in the scoring criteria.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">This solicitation is open to municipalities within the Buzzards Bay Watershed, including Fall River, Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Acushnet, Fairhaven, Rochester, Mattapoisett,
Marion, Wareham, Middleborough, Carver, Plymouth, Bourne, Falmouth, and Gosnold. However, all projects must lie within the Buzzards Bay watershed boundary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#222222;background:white">Municipalities that contain one or more Environmental Justice (EJ) Population (as defined in the Request for Proposals), and Title 1 schools in the
Buzzards Bay watershed are strongly encouraged to apply under this grant opportunity provided they meet the eligibility criteria and allowable funding categories. Projects that meet EJ or climate goals will receive additional consideration. Visit our </span><a name="_Hlk153275228"></a><a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbuzzardsbay.org%2Ffunding%2Fnep-ej-and-disadvantaged-target-areas%2F&data=05%7C02%7Csemco%40whoi.edu%7C2ae140a41ec7410a1a0f08dc0c63e746%7Cd44c5cc6d18c46cc8abd4fdf5b6e5944%7C0%7C0%7C638398870422832968%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jyem7wcWIDiAeVj4%2Fst%2B3XOSU2HxZWCD02ECLmBV26M%3D&reserved=0" originalSrc="https://buzzardsbay.org/funding/nep-ej-and-disadvantaged-target-areas/" shash="Pp+tqT0uC78L2eIwr9lurExXgE9p0PGG7oCVsulj8sGazfAO8iyzqo/8bxCnIWgspAckz8pwfIhM/OjYFxAk4uVLvOKDvx2Uo9CKT4Wwt0bCC3mG4/LcU1pfUcw+JIix5Cmdm1HaEk4oF8+W4EfrLX9cWa+eMESFy8xIgxRLdBw="><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk153275228"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1A4480;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;background:white">NEP
disadvantaged communities map</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk153275228"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk153275228"></span><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#222222;background:white"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#222222;background:white">to
see target areas that support our Equity Plan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#222222;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h3 style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;font-weight:normal">The sources of funds for this solicitation are federal and provided in accordance with Cooperative Agreements CE00A0887 and CE00A01217</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;font-weight:normal">with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Southeast New England Program (SNEP).<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#222222;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Proposals must be submitted electronically and are due
<b>Tuesday, January 23, 2024, by 4:00 PM</b>. <span style="color:black">Applicants must provide a non-federal match that will equal or exceed 33 percent of requested grant funds (i.e. 25 percent of total project costs).
</span>The RFP's Question and Answer period will close 4:00 PM, Thursday, January 11, 2024.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Municipalities may submit any number of applications and they may receive more than one grant; however, no single grant award may exceed $70,000 and no municipality can receive more
than $140,000. Contracts are expected to begin in March 2024.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The RFP and other details on the program may be found at the following website:
</span><a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commbuys.com%2Fbso%2Fexternal%2FbidDetail.sdo%3FdocId%3DBD-24-1042-CZM-ENV40-96172%26external%3Dtrue%26parentUrl%3Dclose&data=05%7C02%7Csemco%40whoi.edu%7C2ae140a41ec7410a1a0f08dc0c63e746%7Cd44c5cc6d18c46cc8abd4fdf5b6e5944%7C0%7C0%7C638398870422989274%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=FBbqwwPMJFIQRpN%2BV0m%2B2TUBlXKP3%2Fq4c%2FJ1YcXvJd0%3D&reserved=0" originalSrc="https://www.commbuys.com/bso/external/bidDetail.sdo?docId=BD-24-1042-CZM-ENV40-96172&external=true&parentUrl=close" shash="bi3MqV0T9Ik/RDEjHDxY0fK2OaGYKeY7asKoYDLh7fmMvW8cczLtksnanw9Qahgmw0hKR78307Wv5UtE77KYK0SZ0RWGylGt/RDU/tRxLBp78R4wUZzk8HAdqOuH8ULjAO2I7dbMENbis8Oz/B8ZQqaOsMKd2miLYp12XxX/p00=">https://www.commbuys.com/bso/external/bidDetail.sdo?docId=BD-24-1042-CZM-ENV40-96172&external=true&parentUrl=close</a>
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">a</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">nd on the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program’s website:</span><span style="color:black">
</span><a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttp-3A__buzzardsbay.org_our-2Dprogram_funding_%26d%3DDwMFAg%26c%3DlDF7oMaPKXpkYvev9V-fVahWL0QWnGCCAfCDz1Bns_w%26r%3Df5f59Xej6QVJW5gSI_THSabCSOIZvrpzlaM4mMsuy3AZ_bnZd8exCsyC5v_5TcOq%26m%3DxYeSBfW9RlWQ35WhYQ3dW4x3uM-y6NLV296DpQ64eH8%26s%3DQXxTjc6bxGjhlN8lrd1G0TeeGTXLqb8ntErxdEi1hEA%26e%3D&data=05%7C02%7Csemco%40whoi.edu%7C2ae140a41ec7410a1a0f08dc0c63e746%7Cd44c5cc6d18c46cc8abd4fdf5b6e5944%7C0%7C0%7C638398870422989274%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TWuMXgnMsVhBIPnPitnMyHGtPc1gM8nKgBp2fYHMqtk%3D&reserved=0" originalSrc="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__buzzardsbay.org_our-2Dprogram_funding_&d=DwMFAg&c=lDF7oMaPKXpkYvev9V-fVahWL0QWnGCCAfCDz1Bns_w&r=f5f59Xej6QVJW5gSI_THSabCSOIZvrpzlaM4mMsuy3AZ_bnZd8exCsyC5v_5TcOq&m=xYeSBfW9RlWQ35WhYQ3dW4x3uM-y6NLV296DpQ64eH8&s=QXxTjc6bxGjhlN8lrd1G0TeeGTXLqb8ntErxdEi1hEA&e=" shash="KA9YHT9xQ4niSKeVfon1Ih0W28A0hkQJEHnED6KxB26xBvVuoiSR/VMaKIyEOahCu86e0ZRXe1yhps8AcipRGq2d3fHlPZHkLRAO5UMTtCWBjYA4EGzc1uxdUMcO4zLl1UrTtIV8GhceET7GpcArBVawFuxdrMX8HKEVkHHpUuU=">http://buzzardsbay.org/our-program/funding/</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoHyperlink"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#7F7F7F;mso-ligatures:none">Sarah B. Williams | Regional Planner<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#7F7F7F;mso-ligatures:none">Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#7F7F7F;mso-ligatures:none">81-B County Road, Suite E | Mattapoisett, MA 02739<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#7F7F7F;mso-ligatures:none">Direct Line: (774) 377-6002 |
<a href="mailto:Sarah.Williams@mass.gov"><span style="color:#7F7F7F">Sarah.Williams@mass.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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