Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA I R9 SFBWQIF 24 25
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (SFBWQIF) is a competitive grant program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve water quality and restore wetlands across the San Francisco Bay and its connected watersheds. This funding opportunity supports on-the-ground environmental restoration projects that help the Bay Area address long-standing pollution and habitat challenges while also preparing for climate impacts like sea level rise, flooding, and changing precipitation patterns. The program is backed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (commonly called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), which provides dedicated funding for five years, covering 2022 through 2026.
A central focus of this particular Notice of Funding Opportunity is expanding restoration work in ways that directly benefit historically underserved communities. In practice, that means EPA is looking for proposals that not only deliver measurable water quality or wetland restoration outcomes, but also strengthen regional climate resilience and broaden access to federal resources for communities that are economically underserved or otherwise face disproportionate environmental burdens. Projects are encouraged to be built around meaningful partnerships and community-serving efforts, especially where climate and water quality challenges overlap with equity concerns.
Projects must take place within the nine Bay Area counties specifically named in the announcement: Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco. The grants are authorized under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1330), which is the statutory foundation for EPA support of San Francisco Bay water quality improvement and related ecosystem restoration activities. The opportunity is discretionary, meaning applications are competitively reviewed and selected rather than funded by formula.
The opportunity is listed as a grant (not a loan or cooperative agreement) and is categorized under environmental funding activities. The CFDA (now commonly referenced as Assistance Listing) number is 66.126. The posting indicates an award ceiling of up to $2,000,000 per award and anticipates making about 20 awards, suggesting EPA expects to fund a portfolio of projects rather than a single large initiative. One notable feature is that there is no match requirement, which can significantly lower the barrier to entry for smaller organizations, community-based groups, and applicants working in underserved areas that may not have access to substantial non-federal cost share.
Eligibility is summarized in the notice as being defined in Section II.A of the NOFO, with additional detail referenced in Section 2. While the source data lists eligible applicants broadly as "Others," the controlling document for who can apply (and any conditions on eligibility) is the NOFO itself. The opportunity is administered by EPA, with the funding opportunity number EPA I R9 SFBWQIF 24 25, indicating it is managed through EPA Region 9. The application deadline shown is April 17, 2025, and the opportunity record was created on October 25, 2024.
Overall, this funding opportunity is aimed at accelerating Bay Area wetland and water quality restoration while intentionally pushing benefits toward communities that have historically received less investment and carried heavier environmental impacts. Strong proposals will typically align ecological restoration with climate resilience outcomes and demonstrate credible partnerships, community involvement, and clear benefits to underserved neighborhoods within the eligible nine-county region.Apply for EPA I R9 SFBWQIF 24 25
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment, iij sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.126.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-04-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (SFBWQIF)?
The BIL San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (SFBWQIF) is a competitive grant program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It funds on-the-ground projects that improve water quality and restore wetlands across the San Francisco Bay and its connected watersheds.
What is this funding opportunity trying to achieve?
This opportunity supports environmental restoration projects that address long-standing pollution and habitat challenges in the Bay Area, while also helping the region prepare for climate impacts such as sea level rise, flooding, and changing precipitation patterns.
Which agency administers this grant?
The program is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through EPA Region 9.
Is this program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law?
Yes. The program is backed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), with dedicated funding over a five-year period covering 2022 through 2026.
Is this a competitive program or formula funding?
This is a discretionary, competitive grant program. Applications are reviewed competitively and selections are made based on the merits of the proposals, rather than distributed by formula.
What type of award is this (grant, loan, cooperative agreement)?
The opportunity is listed as a grant (not a loan and not a cooperative agreement).
What kinds of projects are supported?
The opportunity supports on-the-ground environmental restoration projects focused on improving water quality and restoring wetlands in the San Francisco Bay and connected watersheds. Projects are also encouraged to strengthen climate resilience, especially where climate and water quality challenges overlap.
How does climate resilience factor into project priorities?
Projects are encouraged to include outcomes that improve regional climate resilience in addition to measurable water quality or wetland restoration results, with particular attention to climate stressors such as sea level rise, flooding, and shifts in precipitation.
Is there an equity focus in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)?
Yes. A central focus is expanding restoration work in ways that directly benefit historically underserved communities. EPA is looking for proposals that deliver measurable environmental outcomes while also broadening access to federal resources and supporting communities that are economically underserved or face disproportionate environmental burdens.
What does it mean for a project to benefit historically underserved communities under this NOFO?
Based on the description provided, EPA is seeking projects that combine water quality and/or wetland restoration outcomes with community-serving benefits, particularly for communities that are economically underserved or experience disproportionate environmental burdens. The emphasis includes meaningful partnerships and efforts that help underserved communities access federal resources.
Are partnerships and community involvement encouraged?
Yes. Projects are encouraged to be built around meaningful partnerships and community-serving efforts, especially where equity concerns intersect with climate and water quality challenges.
Where must projects be located to be eligible?
Projects must take place within the nine Bay Area counties named in the announcement: Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco.
Does the project have to be in the San Francisco Bay watershed?
The opportunity is described as supporting work across the San Francisco Bay and its connected watersheds, and the project location must be within one of the nine specified Bay Area counties.
What is the legal authority for this grant program?
The grants are authorized under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1330), which provides the statutory foundation for EPA support of San Francisco Bay water quality improvement and related ecosystem restoration activities.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) number is 66.126.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is EPA I R9 SFBWQIF 24 25.
What is the maximum award amount?
The posting indicates an award ceiling of up to $2,000,000 per award.
How many awards does EPA expect to make?
EPA anticipates making about 20 awards, indicating an expected portfolio of projects rather than a single award.
Is there a cost share or match requirement?
No. The opportunity indicates there is no match requirement, which can reduce barriers for smaller organizations and community-based applicants.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is defined in Section II.A of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), with additional detail referenced in Section 2. The source summary lists eligible applicants broadly as "Others," but the NOFO is the controlling document for eligibility and any related conditions.
Where should applicants look for the definitive eligibility rules?
Applicants should rely on the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), specifically Section II.A (and the referenced Section 2), for the definitive eligibility requirements and any applicant conditions.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline shown is April 17, 2025.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record was created on October 25, 2024.
What category of funding activity does this fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under environmental funding activities.
What would a strong proposal generally include based on this description?
Based on the information provided, strong proposals will typically (1) align ecological restoration with climate resilience outcomes, (2) demonstrate measurable water quality and/or wetland restoration benefits, (3) show credible partnerships and meaningful community involvement, and (4) clearly direct benefits toward historically underserved communities within the eligible nine-county region.
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