Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water

Background
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides technical assistance (TA) to help communities identify water infrastructure needs, plan for capital improvements, maintain regulatory compliance, improve resiliency, build capacity, and apply for the range of eligible projects under various grant programs. TA is provided through direct interactions with water utilities and communities. The EPA seeks to support communities at the drinking water system level, including operational, environmental, and financial resource challenges they face.

The funds included in this opportunity will ensure that vital services are provided and reach the drinking water systems in communities that need them most.

Grant Details
The EPA is seeking applications from organizations with a demonstrable history of providing effective, results-oriented technical assistance to public water systems. The agency’s priorities include maximizing funds to provide significant benefit to drinking water systems in communities of need; tackling the climate crisis; and advancing environmental justice and equity.

The EPA believes this funding plays a significant role to ensure continued access to resources to support infrastructure improvements that protect public health, safeguard the environment, and mitigate environmental justice concerns at the public water system.

Eligibility Requirements
The EPA encourages all eligible applicants to apply and recognizes that new applicants are essential to expanding the pool of service providers able to address the technical, managerial, and financial capacity needs of small drinking water systems, small publicly owned wastewater systems and onsite/decentralized wastewater systems and private well owners.

New applicants may help to expand the pool and increase diversity in supporting projects that benefit rural, small, or Tribal communities. New applicants are applicants that have not received a Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water award from the EPA in the past two years.

Period of Performance
The closing date for receipt of application submissions is February 2, 2024 by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time.

The project period is anticipated to be two years.

Grant Value
The EPA anticipates awarding approximately two to four cooperative agreements under this National Priority Area, ranging from approximately $6,500,000 to no more than $13,000,000.

The total anticipated amount of federal funding to potentially be made available under this National priority area is approximately $26,000,000.

Place of Performance
The training and technical assistance activities are expected to be provided nationally in all 50 states and the U.S. territories as described under Section I.C.