Contact: Cathy Rofshus, 507-206-2608
St. Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is accepting grant proposals through June 11 for projects that reduce pollutants in streams and lakes from nonpoint sources. Nonpoint sources are indirect sources, such as stormwater runoff and failing septic systems. This type of pollution accounts for almost 90 percent of the state’s water pollution.
The MPCA expects to award $2.5 million in grants, depending on how much Congress appropriates for the Federal Clean Water Act Section 319 program.
The MPCA will consider for grants development, education or applied research projects or implementation work for projects related to Total Maximum Daily Loads (the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can accept and still meet standards) or watershed protection and restoration strategies.
Eligible applicants include tribes, townships, cities, counties, watershed districts, watershed-management groups, and joint powers boards, as well as nonprofit and for-profit groups.
There is a maximum limit of $300,000 per project funding request. Projects must be funded with at least a 45 percent local cash or in-kind match because the federal grant share of the total project cost can be no more than 55 percent. Grant funds are limited and the MPCA urges proposers to request only those funds needed to complete a project by Aug. 31, 2017.
Applicants must submit proposals through SWIFT, the state’s online portal. The complete Request for Proposal (RFP), proposal form and other information is available on the state SWIFT e-supplier portal. Prospective responders must have a SWIFT Vendor ID and Supplier Portal Account set up to apply. (Note that it can take up to four days to receive a vendor ID from SWIFT.) See this SWIFT message for more information.
For help in registering in the supplier portal, call the Minnesota Department of Administration, Materials Management Division at 651-201-8100, option 1, option 1. Then follow the prompts to connect to the correct contact person.
For questions about grant proposals, send an email to contracts.pca@state.mn.us, subject line: CR 6659, 319-13 Grant.
For more information, see the May 20, 2013 issue of Minnesota’s State Register or MPCA’s Section 319 webpage.
