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Notice of Funding Availability - Increase Boating Access for Recreational Boaters to the Waterways of the District

Friday, October 14, 2016

DOEE seeks eligible entities to support one or more projects to provide boat access to the waterways of the District of Columbia.  Total funding will not exceed $400,000. The Department will provide federal funds for up to 75% of the total project cost for one or more projects.  This amount is subject to availability of funding. The applicant will be expected to supply the rest of the Project budget with a non-federal match of cash or an in-kind donation. The applicant will be the “subgrantee” of the federal funds. As such, it must be prepare to meet the requirements of the federal program providing the funding.

Beginning October 14th, 2016, the full text of the Request for Applications (RFA) will be available. A person may obtain a copy of this RFA by any of the following means:

Download from the attachments below

Email a request to [email protected]  with “Request copy of RFA 2016-1704-FWD” in the subject line.

Pick up a copy in person from the Department’s reception desk, located at 1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002. To make an appointment, call Joanne Goodwin at (202) 535-1798 and mention this RFA by name.

Write DOEE at 1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002, “Attn: Joanne Goodwin RE:2016-1704-FWD” on the outside of the envelope.

The deadline for application submissions is December 5, 2016, at 5:00 pm.  Five hard copies must be submitted to the above address and a complete electronic copy must be e-mailed to [email protected].

Eligibility: All the checked institutions below may apply for these grants:

  • Nonprofit organizations, including those with IRS 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) determinations;
  • Faith-based organizations;
  • Government agencies
  • Universities/educational institutions; and
  • Private Enterprises.

- Please Note that DOEE would like to clarify that docks specifically for boat tie-up are eligible for funding under RFA 2016-1704-FWD.

For additional information regarding this RFA, write to: [email protected].

Questions and Answers

Q1: Are boat tie-up docks with no public launch facility eligible for funding?
A1: Boat tie-up docks do not need public launch facilities.  They do, however, need access to land via a ramp or other means so that the dock is accessible by both land and water.

Q2:  In Section 2.4 Award Announcement the  RFA states that DOEE expects to notify applicants of award status within 6 weeks of the application due date (i.e., Jan 16th).  Later in Section 7.1 Project Period it says DOEE expects to submit its funding application to USFWS by Feb 15, 2017.   In Section 6.2 it states that DDOE will not reimburse the Grantee for work undertaken before DOEE notifies the recipient of the final award of the grant.  Which of the foregoing counts as final award of the grant? 
A2:  Within six weeks of the final date for filing your application with DOEE.  That is the time during which DOEE intends to inform you whether your proposal is being submitted by DOEE to the USFWS.   DOEE plans to send an application to USFWS by February 15, 2017.  Assuming USFWS awards a grant to DOEE, DOEE would award a subgrant to each applicant that DOEE has included in the successful proposal.  DOEE’s dated signature on the subgrant, the award, will denote the project start date.  This probably will be in late summer or fall 2017.

Q3:  Is development of a website to increase awareness of the boat launch facility an eligible expense?
A3:  Website development is eligible.  If there are portions of the site that deal with other aspects of boating or other subjects, only the development of the part of the site that deals with publicizing the launch locations or increases awareness of boating opportunities is eligible.

Q4:  I have attached a letter of support from the property owner of our project.  Would you confirm that it is sufficient for the proposal?
A4: DOEE will not comment on the support letter now. Since a support letter is part of the application, DOEE reviews it along with the rest of the application. In general, support letters should show as strong support as possible.

Q5:  The RFA states that Property Owner must confirm they will be responsible for project maintenance.  In our case the property owner will confirm in the support letter that the grantee will be responsible for project maintenance.  We will confirm that responsibility in the application.   Is this acceptable?
A5:  As stated, yes.  In general, it is acceptable for the landowner and the applicant to agree in writing that the applicant will be responsible for maintenance of the project.  The purpose of the requirement is that DOEE wants assurance that the project will be maintained by somebody for the duration of its useful life.

Q6: How is recreational boating defined?
A6:  Recreational boating refers to boating by individuals or groups for pleasure in personal watercraft.  These could include boats that individuals rent for personal boating activity.  Recreational boating does not include commercial ventures, including, but not limited to, water taxis, dinner boat cruises, boat tours, or charters.

Q7:  The applicant does not have employees therefore we would not have workers comp insurance or automobile liability insurance.  Is this acceptable?
A7:  If work is to be done, construction or operations, or both, then someone has to have these insurances.  The application should address this issue.

Q8: Can funds be advanced to the applicant if selected? Should the applicant build an advance payment into their application?
A8: As described in Section 6.2 of the RFA,  “In limited cases, DOEE may advance funds at the beginning of the grant period for good cause approved by DOEE at its sole discretion. If the Applicant seeks an advance payment, it must request such payment in its proposal and explain why an advance payment is being requested.” Advance payments shall not exceed 25 percent of the grant award or $100,000.  If selected, the applicant seeking an advance payment will have to provide the information requested in the Advance Payment Request Form. The applicant will adhere to a stringent and frequent monitoring schedule. The Advance Payment Request Form is posted on this page.