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Supported activities

Lake condition monitoring. The MPCA is placing priority on lakes greater than 100 acres that are publicly accessible. Lakes with a declining trend, or those that are near impairment or showing signs of improving water quality are considered high-priority waters.

Stream condition monitoring. The MPCA’s stream condition monitoring efforts focus largely on sampling core sites within each watershed for water chemistry and bacteria levels. Sampling also includes field measurements and observations. These results will be paired with biological and habitat data, collected by the MPCA, to assess stream reaches for aquatic life and aquatic recreational use support.

Eligible expenses

Only eligible expenses will be reimbursed. Eligible expenses are costs directly incurred through work activities that are solely related to and necessary for producing the deliverables as described below and in a subsequent approved work plan and occur during the agreement period. Expenses are eligible only if incurred on or after the date the agreement is executed. Eligible expenses include but are not limited to the following.

Personnel

  • Include hourly rates for staff providing assistance and management (including, but not limited to, data management, report preparation, field planning and reconnaissance, and monitoring) of the project. Actual hourly rates shall be averaged over the entire term of the agreement, or a "not to exceed rate" shall be negotiated.
  • Indirect costs, including employee taxes and insurance costs.
  • Business support and direct rental, insurance, and supply costs. These are costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefiting more than one cost center or program area in the partnering organization, and are also referred to as shared or central services costs. These costs must be reflected in the hourly rate of those employees providing direct assistance and management of the agreement. The proposer may be requested to provide documentation in support of their cost rate calculation. Local partners shall not duplicate costs already itemized as a direct expense within the indirect cost calculations for staff rates.

Subcontractors

Subcontractor costs are actual costs for subcontractors as specifically approved by MPCA. Hourly rates, number of hours, unit cost, quantity, and direct subcontractor expenses must be itemized in the budget and be consistent with eligibility objectives. Mark up of subcontractor rates is not allowed. Hours for staff directly involved with the management or oversight of a subcontractor may be included.

Equipment and supplies

  • Approved equipment and supplies must be specific to the supported activities.
  • Itemized repair and service charges for water quality meters, probes, and displays.
  • The MPCA shall provide Secchi disks and/or Secchi tubes to awarded partners upon request at no charge.
  • Quantities and unit prices of equipment and supplies shall be included with the initial cost proposal. Eligible equipment and supplies include, but are not limited to:
    • Field meter and display
    • Field meter accessories (grease, cable, reel, storage container, etc.)
    • Replacement DO, pH and conductivity/temperature probes, caps and modules
    • Field meter calibration standards, cleaning and storage solutions
    • Water collection sampling devices (Extended rod swing sampler, Van Dorn Sampler, Kemmerer sampler, Integrated sampler)
    • Personal floatation devices
    • Waders/knee-high boots
    • Gloves
    • Rain gear
    • ANSI Class 2 safety vest
    • Roadside safety cones
    • Vehicle safety 360-degree flashing light
    • Hand pump sprayer
    • Consumable supplies (sunscreen, insect repellent, ice, distilled water, packing tape, batteries, permanent markers, coolers, etc.)

Other

  • Laboratory analytical costs.
    • Eligible labs include the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Environmental Laboratory, private laboratories listed on the state Sampling and Laboratory Analyses Services-Environmental Master Contract (Contract Release S-792), and accredited university/college labs within Minnesota.
    • Applicable lab rates shall not exceed the rates listed within Master Contract S-792.
    • The chosen lab must be certified by MDH (for all certifiable parameters) to perform all the analyses listed above or sub-contract the analysis of uncertified parameters to one or more labs in the Master Contract which meet this requirement.
  • Mileage/travel. Detailed within the Commissioner's Plan and billed at current Internal Revenue Service rates.
  • Costs associated with shipping/delivering water samples to the laboratory and equipment shipping fees
  • Watercraft rental/usage fees not to exceed $35/day for canoe/kayak rental or $59.40/day for motorized watercraft use*,
  • Production and distribution of publications related to activities detailed within the work plan,
  • Meals (per diem) of personnel approved in the work plan in the same manner and in no greater amount than provided for in the current Commissioner’s Plan. Reimbursement of meals can only be claimed when sampling over the normal meal period and sampling staff is located beyond a 35-mile radius of the permanent workstation.
    • Breakfast reimbursements may be claimed only if the employee is on assignment away from his/her temporary or permanent workstation in a travel status overnight or departs from home in an assigned travel status before 6 a.m.
    • Eligibility for noon meal reimbursement shall be based upon the employee being on assignment, over 35 miles from his/her temporary or permanent workstation, with the work assignment extending over the normal noon meal period.
    • Dinner reimbursement may be claimed only if the employee is away from his/her temporary or permanent workstation in a travel status overnight or is required to remain in a travel status until after 7 p.m.

*Not applicable to volunteer-owned personal watercraft.
 

Ineligible expenses

  • Any expenses incurred before the contract is fully executed including proposer’s expense for preparing and negotiating the draft work plan and cost proposal.
  • Bad debts, late payment fees, finance charges or contingency funds, interest, and investment management fees
  • Attorney fees
  • Engineering/consultant fees
  • Employee worksite parking
  • Administrative expenses not directly related to or necessary to complete the work
  • Lobbying, lobbyists and political contributions
  • Mark-up on purchases and/or subcontracts
  • Taxes, except sales tax on eligible equipment and expenses
  • Activities addressing enforcement actions that involve a financial penalty
  • Memberships (including subscriptions and dues)
  • Reimbursement to non-staff stakeholders for their attendance at stakeholder participation meetings
  • Food (other than staff per diem)
  • Alcoholic refreshments
  • Entertainment, gifts, prizes and decorations
  • Merit awards and bonuses
  • Length of service or participation awards
  • Donations and fundraising
  • Computer(s) and software, unless unique to the project and specifically approved by the MPCA as a direct expense
  • Purchase or rental of mobile communication devices such as cell phones and/or tablets, unless unique to the project and specifically approved by the MPCA as a direct expense.
  • Continuous flow monitoring equipment
  • Equipment and supplies for sample parameters not listed within the work plan
  • Laboratory analyses for parameters not listed within the work plan
  • Environmental monitoring equipment for compliance purposes
  • Boats, outboard motors, and/or trailers
  • Vehicle, boat, outboard motor, and trailer service fees.