Division of Municipal Services, 627 Main Street, Worcester MA 01608
UPCOMING GRANT OPPORTUNITY
FFY’12 Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Competitive Grants Program
Request for Responses to be issued on or about April 1, 2011
Two Pre-RFR meetings will be held
Important changes will be discussed
TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:
Section 319 of the Clean Water Act of 1987 established a national program to control nonpoint sources (NPS) of
pollution. Each year the Massachusetts DEP issues a Request for Responses (RFR) for competitive projects to be
funded through Section 319 grants. This year’s RFR is anticipated be issued on or about April 1, 2011. Proposals
will be due on or about June 1, 2011. The RFR will be posted at the Commonwealth’s procurement site,
http://www.comm-pass.com under Open Solicitations, Department of Environmental Protection, Professional
Services.
Two Pre-RFR meetings will be held at MassDEP’s Central Regional Office, 627 Main Street, Worcester, MA.
February 22, 2011 10-12 p.m., Commissioner’s Conference Room
March 10, 2011 10-12 p.m., Commissioner’s ConferenceRoom
The purpose of each meeting is to review project requirements and eligibility and to discuss FFY ’12 program
priorities. Any other aspect of the program may also be discussed. Under state procurement regulations, Department
and other EOEEA staff will not be able to discuss projects with proponents once the RFR is issued on or about April
1. Therefore, potential applicants are urged to take advantage of either or both of the Pre-RFR meetings, and all
other opportunities to engage 319 program staff in discussion about how to develop eligible, competitive projects,
prior to the April RFR issuance.
Please note an important change for FFY 2012: Draft NPDES MS4 General Permits and Residual
Designation Authority (RDA) permits are now available for several Massachusetts watersheds. The new MS4
permit builds upon the requirements of the previous permit, requiring small MS4s to continue to implement the
Stormwater Management Programs required by the previous permits. The new permit contains more specific
requirements and best management practice for each control measure. RDA permits also include new requirements
that are intended to address stormwater impacts. 319 Guidelines specifically preclude the use of 319
funds to meet conditions of draft or final NPDES permits. Given the detailed nature of the
new draft MS4 and RDA permits, MassDEP anticipates that very little 319-eligible
implementation work can be found in the NPDES regulated areas.
Note: Some portions of MS4 municipalities may fall outside the regulated area.
Additional information, including which MA municipalities are covered by this draft permit, is available at
http://www.epa.gov/ne/npdes/stormwater/index.html
PROJECT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Responses to the RFR may be submitted by any Massachusetts public or private organization. Projects from all
basins are eligible and encouraged. Projects should be of manageable size, but should strive to be comprehensive
This information is available in alternate format. Call Michelle Waters-Ekanem, Diversity Director, at 617-292-5751. TDD# 1-866-539-7622 or 1-617-574-6868
MassDEP Website: www.mass.gov/dep
Printed on Recycled Paper
projects addressing all major identified nonpoint sources affecting water quality in the watershed or subwatershed. All
319 projects are required to provide quarterly reporting as well as a Final Report.
PROJECT TYPES FOR FFY 2012
Competitive projects are typically comprised of one or more eligible activities. The majority of s.319 funding is
designated for funding implementation projects in impaired waters. Project evaluation will substantially favor work
that is consistent with the Massachusetts Watershed-based Plan and that will result in meeting water quality
standards and/or restoring beneficial uses (i.e., in removal of the waterbody from the 303d list, i.e. Category 5 of the
Massachusetts 2010 Integrated List of Waters, http://mass.gov/dep/water/resources/tmdls.htm).
A. Implementation Projects in Impaired Waters - Preference will be given to projects that propose to implement
a combination of structural and non-structural BMPs addressing all impairments and leading to restoration in an
impaired watershed or subwatershed. Implementation projects should be of manageable size, but must be
comprehensive, striving to address all sources of NPS pollution in the project area. BMPs should be selected for
optimal pollutant load removal, emphasizing source reduction. Proposed BMPs must be developed at least to the
conceptual design stage, and proposals must contain site specific information to demonstrate that the project is
feasible and ready to be constructed within the project timeline.
B. Outreach and Education – Outreach and education is often recommended as an effective nonstructural BMP.
Successful projects in this category will propose specific outreach and education activities, and will develop and
implement an evaluation method to gauge the effectiveness of these activities. A strong technology transfer
component must also be included to facilitate the use of project results and deliverables in other watersheds.
C. Demonstration Projects – Projects in this category will evaluate new/innovative BMPs, technologies, and/or
institutional approaches, and will accelerate the transfer and adoption of these new/innovative BMPs, technology or
institutional approaches. Preference will be given to demonstration of technologies that will directly lead to
measurable water quality improvements.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The RFR contains a schedule for each step of the application process.
Applications must meet the eligibility requirements and follow the specific format outlined in the RFR.
Applications are reviewed and recommended by an internal screening committee comprised of MassDEP Municipal
Services and Regional staff, EOEEA staff, and EPA. Once approved by the Commissioner of MassDEP, the list of
recommended projects is submitted to EPA. Once the grant application is approved by EPA, the Department begins
contract negotiations with the proponents of the funded projects. As a general rule of thumb, 319 grantees can
expect funds will become available six to eight months after submitting the initial grant application. Funds are paid
on a reimbursement basis, and the Department retains 10% of the award amount until the project is finalized. From
fiscal year 1990 through 2011, individual total project costs (grant funds plus match) have ranged from $10,000 up
to $500,000.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Evaluation criteria include, but are not limited to: nature, extent, severity and understanding of the NPS problem;
logical and comprehensive strategy; feasibility and probability of success; projected benefits; local support and
participation; interagency participation, cooperation and commitment; local funding; amount of funds requested;
consistency with Department and EOEEA goals and priorities; and consistency with the Massachusetts Watershedbased Plan. Project evaluation will substantially favor work that will result in meeting water quality standards
and/or restoring beneficial uses (i.e., in removal of the waterbody from the 303d list, i.e. Category 5 of the Final
Massachusetts 2010 Integrated List of Waters, http://mass.gov/dep/water/resources/tmdls.htm ).
Directions to CERO: http://mass.gov/dep/about/region/centralr.htm
To obtain additional program information, indicative summaries of past 319 projects, or a copy of the 319 RFR,
please call or email Jane Peirce, 319 Program Coordinator at (508) 767-2792, Jane.Peirce@state.ma.us. Hard
copies of the RFR will only be mailed if requested.