Description

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (Department) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department’s priorities. Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to support stakeholder efforts to stretch scarce water supplies and avoid conflicts over water.Through the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program (Title XVI), authorized byP.L. 102-575 in 1992, Reclamation provides financial and technical assistance to local water agencies for the planning, design, and construction of water reclamation and reuse projects. Water recycling is an important tool used to stretch limited water supplies in the Western United States. Title XVI projects develop and supplement urban and irrigation water supplies through water reuse—thereby improving efficiency, providing flexibility during water shortages, and diversifying the water supply. These projects provide growing communities with new sources of clean water which increases water management flexibility and makes water supplies more reliable. The Title XVI Program also provides support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order (E.O.) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and aligned with other priorities, such as those identified in E.O. 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. The WaterSMART Title XVI Program will advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative. Established by E.O. 14008, the Justice40 Initiative has made it a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments, such as climate, clean energy, and other areas, flow to disadvantaged communities.The objective of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to invite sponsors of congressionally authorized water reclamation and reuse projects to request cost-shared funding for the planning, design, and/or construction of those projects. A separate NOFO for projects eligible under section 4009(c) of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, P.L. 114-322, will be releasedThis NOFO will be used to allocate existing program funding and available fiscal year (FY) 2023 enacted appropriations. FY 2023 appropriations include $60 million for the Title XVI Program, a portion of which is being allocated through this NOFO. The amount of funding available under this NOFO will also be based on final appropriations for FY 2024. Funds made available for infrastructure projects are subject to the Buy America Act. Please see Section F.2.6: Application of Buy America Preference and Section F.2.7: Additional BIL Requirements for additional information regarding the Buy America preference as well as Wage Rate Requirements (Davis Bacon Act).Any awards are subject to a determination by Reclamation that appropriations are available. Additional projects may be funded under this NOFO if additional funding becomes available in FY 2024 or subsequently.