Advisory Committee Coordination Support for the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3, through the Chesapeake Bay Program Office (CBPO), has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled “Advisory Committee Coordination Support for the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership.” This cooperative agreement opportunity (EPA-R3-CBP-26-01) aims to fund an organization capable of providing high-quality coordination and logistical support to four key advisory committees operating under the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership. The CBP is a long-standing regional collaboration among federal, state, and local governments and organizations committed to restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay and its vast watershed. Established in 1983, the CBP’s work is guided by the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, which outlines goals for ecological restoration, water quality enhancement, and community engagement throughout the watershed. The purpose of this award is to enhance the representation and participation of local stakeholders, including community members, local government officials, scientists, and agricultural leaders, in Chesapeake Bay restoration initiatives. Specifically, the successful applicant will support the Stakeholders’ Advisory Committee (SAC), the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC), the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), and the Agricultural Advisory Committee. These bodies play a critical role in advising the CBP partnership and its Executive Council by providing independent, conflict-free insights on restoration strategies, scientific assessments, policy implementation, and stakeholder priorities. The awardee will be required to complete two key activities. Activity 1 entails coordinating quarterly and annual in-person meetings, producing reports and strategic talking points for committee chairs, advising the CBP partnership, and reviewing governance materials such as bylaws. This activity is budgeted at up to $2,175,000 over a five-year period. Activity 2 involves providing full administrative and logistical support for STAC's scientific events, peer reviews, and technical workshops that support CBP goals. The total funding for Activity 2 is capped at $275,000 over five years. Administrative costs are subject to a statutory cap of 10% of the annual award, and the awardee must provide a minimum 5% non-federal cost share of the total project cost. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations, Indian tribes, local or state governments, and institutions of higher education. For-profit entities, individuals, and federal agencies are not eligible. Only one application per entity is allowed, and applications must address both Activity 1 and Activity 2 to be considered. Applicants must submit a complete proposal that includes required federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, etc.), a project narrative (20-page maximum), and a detailed budget narrative. Optional documents such as letters of support and staff CVs may be included in the supplemental materials section. All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by April 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and current SAM.gov registration are required prior to submission. Applicants experiencing technical difficulties must follow strict procedures for email submission, including providing a Grants.gov support ticket and the full application. Review of eligible proposals will be conducted by a panel of subject matter experts, with scoring based on criteria including project design, collaboration strategy, staff expertise, and budget reasonableness. Applicants will be notified of the selection outcome in May 2026, and the award is expected to be finalized by July 2026. Funding will be distributed annually and is not guaranteed beyond the first year. The project period spans five years, with anticipated annual adjustments to budget levels based on performance and need. Further inquiries should be directed to the EPA technical contact, Autumn Rose, at [email protected] or by phone at 410-267-5765. The official NOFO can be accessed at https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-your-region-information-specific-epa-region-3. This grant opportunity is a critical component of EPA’s continued commitment to robust stakeholder involvement and science-based governance in the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.