WaterSMART: Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects

Stage 1: Planning 
Stage 2: Design – 30% 
Stage 3: Design – 100% 
Stage 4: Construction 

Planning, design, and construction activities for water recycling projects that have a total project cost greater than or equal to $500,000,000 are eligible activities: 

Stage 1: Activities that support the development of a feasibility-level design and cost estimate for the selected project.

• Preparation of appraisal and feasibility-level cost estimates
• Site-specific investigations to gather design data
• Pre-final design activities that contribute to a feasibility-level design and cost estimate
• Collect data and prepare documentation for environmental compliance reviews 

Stage 2: Begins after the feasibility-level planning stage and includes design activities required to reach a 30% final design. 

• Value engineering activities, including the preparation of a Value Engineering Accountability Report, are eligible activities during this stage. 

Stage 3: Begins after 30% final design, which may include Value Engineering (if applicable), and includes design activities required to reach 100% final design. 

Stage 4: All phases of construction for Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects. 

• States; Indian Tribes; Municipalities; Irrigation Districts; Water Districts; Wastewater Districts; and any state, regional, or other organization with water or power delivery authority; 
  
• State, Regional, or Local Authorities, the members of which include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; and  
  
• An agency established under State law for the joint exercise of powers, or a combination of entities described above.

• All applicants are requested to submit their Feasibility Study to Reclamation within 60 days of the application’s submittal period deadline (i.e., Application Deadline: 11/26/2024; thus, Feasibility Study Submittal Deadline: 01/25/2025). 
  
• Feasibility Studies must meet the requirements in Reclamation’s Directives and Standards WTR 11-01 and additional requirements in WTR TRMR-128. 
  
• To the extent possible, environmental compliance will be completed before a financial assistance agreement is signed by the parties. However, under each stage, collecting data and preparing documentation in support of environmental compliance reviews are also eligible project activities.  
  
• Evaluation criteria includes the extent to which the project demonstrates support for the Presidential Administration’s priorities of Climate Change, serving Disadvantaged or Underserved Communities, and Tribal Benefits. 
  
• All Design and Construction applicants are required to submit additional information for a Design and Cost Estimating Review within 60 days of the application deadline. 
  
• Projects that proceed from one stage to the next during the period of the project performance will be required to submit documentation supporting a Design and Cost Estimate Review before funding will be made available for the next stage. 
  
• All applicants and projects must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act (CWA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Davis-Bacon Act, and the Build America Buy America Act (when necessary, recipients may apply for, and DOI may grant, a waiver for the Build America Buy America Act, subject to review by the Made in America Office). 

Proposals may include requests for funding of activities at more than one stage. 
The costs for preparing and submitting an application or feasibility studies are not eligible project costs. 
By request, Reclamation can provide technical assistance after the award of a project; assistance should be discussed with Reclamation staff prior to applying. 

Title: Reclamation Financial Assistance Contact - USBR 
Name: Chandrika Nasstrom – cnasstrom@usbr.gov 
Title: Reclamation Program Coordinator Contact - USBR 
Name: Maribeth Menendez – mmenendez@usbr.gov; and (303) 445-2094 
*Please include the NOFO number R23AS00433 in the subject*