Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR DO 20 F002
The WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021 is a discretionary federal funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). It is designed to help organizations that manage or deliver water and, in some cases, power, take practical steps to reduce the impacts of drought. The core idea is cost sharing: applicants are expected to bring their own funding and resources to the table and then leverage Reclamation support to carry out projects that make water supplies more dependable, strengthen day-to-day water management, and support broader environmental outcomes.
The program specifically targets drought resiliency projects that can increase the reliability of water supplies, improve water management, and provide benefits for fish, wildlife, and the environment. In plain terms, the FOA is looking for on-the-ground actions that help communities and water systems cope better during dry periods, recover more quickly, and reduce long-term vulnerability. While the announcement does not list example project types in the text provided, the emphasis is clearly on implemented resiliency work rather than purely planning, and on results that address drought-related risks to water delivery and associated natural resources.
Eligible applicants are described as "others" with clarification in the FOA, but the opportunity explicitly invites participation from states, tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations that have water or power delivery authority. That framing signals that Reclamation is prioritizing entities that have direct responsibility for managing, distributing, or delivering water (and potentially hydropower-related operations) and can therefore implement projects with measurable impacts on system reliability and drought preparedness.
Awards may be made through either grants or cooperative agreements, meaning the federal role can range from relatively hands-off (typical grant administration) to more collaborative involvement (cooperative agreement), depending on the project and how Reclamation intends to participate. The maximum award amount listed is $750,000 per project, and Reclamation anticipated making about 15 awards under this funding opportunity.
Timing is structured around two separate application submission periods covered under the same FOA, corresponding to FY 2020 and FY 2021 funding. For FY 2020, applications were due Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 4:00 pm MDT. For FY 2021, applications were due Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 4:00 pm MDT. The funding opportunity was created on August 6, 2019, and the original closing date is tied to the second submission deadline in October 2020. The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA number 15.514 and is categorized under Natural Resources, reflecting its focus on water supply reliability, drought mitigation, and environmental benefits.
Overall, this FOA is aimed at helping qualifying water-related entities accelerate drought resiliency work by pairing local or organizational investments with federal funding, with an explicit expectation that funded projects will strengthen water management and supply reliability while also accounting for ecological and environmental needs that are often stressed during drought conditions.Apply for BOR DO 20 F002
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.514.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 06, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 14, 2020 This FOA covers two application submittal periods Application due date for FY 2020 funding is Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 400 pm MDT Application due date for FY 2021 funding is Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 400 pm MDT. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects (FY 2020 and FY 2021)?
It is a discretionary federal funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). The focus is on supporting drought resiliency projects that reduce the impacts of drought by making water supplies more reliable, improving water management, and supporting benefits for fish, wildlife, and the environment.
Who is the federal agency offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation).
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is to help organizations that manage or deliver water (and in some cases, power) take practical, on-the-ground steps to reduce drought impacts. Projects are expected to strengthen water supply reliability, improve day-to-day water management, and support environmental outcomes that are often stressed during drought.
Is this opportunity focused on planning studies or implemented projects?
Based on the information provided, the emphasis is on implemented drought resiliency work and measurable results, rather than purely planning activities.
What kinds of benefits should projects aim to provide?
Projects should aim to (1) increase the reliability of water supplies, (2) improve water management, and (3) provide benefits for fish, wildlife, and the environment.
What does "drought resiliency" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, drought resiliency refers to on-the-ground actions that help communities and water systems cope better during dry periods, recover more quickly, and reduce long-term vulnerability to drought-related risks affecting water delivery and related natural resources.
Who is eligible to apply?
The FOA describes eligible applicants as "others" with additional clarification in the FOA, and it explicitly invites participation from states, tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations that have water or power delivery authority.
What types of organizations does Reclamation appear to prioritize?
Based on the eligibility framing, Reclamation is prioritizing entities that have direct responsibility for managing, distributing, or delivering water (and potentially hydropower-related operations) and that can implement projects with measurable impacts on system reliability and drought preparedness.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. The core idea of the program is cost sharing. Applicants are expected to bring their own funding and resources and leverage Reclamation support to carry out drought resiliency projects.
What is the maximum award amount per project?
The maximum award amount listed is $750,000 per project.
How many awards did Reclamation anticipate making?
Reclamation anticipated making about 15 awards under this funding opportunity.
What funding instruments might be used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awards may be made through either grants or cooperative agreements. This means the federal role could range from relatively hands-off (typical grant administration) to more collaborative involvement by Reclamation (cooperative agreement), depending on the project and how Reclamation intends to participate.
How many application submission periods were included under this FOA?
Two submission periods were included, corresponding to FY 2020 and FY 2021 funding.
What was the application deadline for FY 2020?
For FY 2020, applications were due Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 4:00 pm MDT.
What was the application deadline for FY 2021?
For FY 2021, applications were due Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 4:00 pm MDT.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The funding opportunity was created on August 6, 2019.
When did the opportunity close?
The original closing date is tied to the second submission deadline in October 2020 (Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 4:00 pm MDT).
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA number 15.514.
What category does this opportunity fall under?
It is categorized under Natural Resources, reflecting its focus on water supply reliability, drought mitigation, and environmental benefits.
Does the opportunity mention specific example project types?
No. The information provided does not list example project types, but it clearly emphasizes implemented drought resiliency actions and outcomes tied to water supply reliability, water management improvements, and environmental benefits.
What is the overall value proposition for applicants?
The program is designed to help qualifying water-related entities accelerate drought resiliency work by pairing local or organizational investments with federal funding, with the expectation that projects will strengthen water management and supply reliability while accounting for ecological and environmental needs.
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