OpportunityTitle: Border Needs Assessment TAT
CategoryExplanation: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is announcing a special Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 application window for a Colonias Needs Assessment to be completed through the Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program (TAT). The five-phased project intends to identify small communities&#146; gaps in  water and wastewater infrastructure development and in technical capacity in the Mexico Border region. Once the gaps are identified, the project intends to support appropriate water and wastewater infrastructure projects that meet the specific needs of small communities. The ultimate goal would be to reduce health risks and increase  economic development in Colonias regions. Phase 1 is completed and consisted of RUS/EPA research and  collection of data related to socioeconomic  factors, public health and Federal and State investments in infrastructure in Colonias regions. This Colonias TAT will provide funding for Phase 2 of the project: to conduct a detailed  assessment of water and wastewater infrastructure needs in select Colonias areas in four states, including California,New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: Eligibility criteria for TAT grants is as follows:    (a) Entities eligible for grants must be  private nonprofit organizations with tax  exempt status, designated by the  Internal Revenue Service. A nonprofit  organization is defined as any  corporation, trust, association,  cooperative, or other organization that:  (1) Is operated primarily for scientific,  education, service, charitable, or similar  purposes in the public interest.  (2) Is not organized primarily for profit.  (3) Uses its net proceeds to maintain,  improve, and/or expand its operations.  (b) Entities must be legally established  and located within a state as defined in  &#239;&#191;&#189; 1775.2.  (c) Organizations must be incorporated by December 31 of the year the application period occurs to be eligible for funds.  (d) Private businesses, Federal agencies, public bodies, and individuals are ineligible for these grants.  (e) Applicants must also have the proven ability, background, experience (as evidenced by the organization&#239;&#191;&#189;s satisfactory completion of project(s)similar to those proposed), legal  authority, and actual capacity to provide technical assistance and/or training on a  regional basis to associations as provided in &#239;&#191;&#189; 1775.33. To meet the requirement of actual capacity, an applicant must either:  (1) Have the necessary resources to provide technical assistance and/or training to associations in rural areas through its staff, or  (2) Be assisted by an affiliate or member organization which has such background and experience and which agrees, in writing, that it will provide the assistance, or  (3) Contract with a nonaffiliated organization for not more than 49 percent of the grant to provide the proposed assistance.
Description: The U.S.-Mexico Border Region is a dynamic area where public health and environmental challenges are interconnected, populations intermingle, and water resources are shared by both countries. USDA and EPA work collaboratively with partnersto address critical public health and environmental problems at the source by providing often first-time drinking and wastewater services to underserved communities. The agencies haveembarked on a joint project to improve estimates of gaps in community infrastructure and to pilot approaches to technical assistance and capacitybuilding that can be applied more broadly and be provided in a manner that can be sustained long term by building capacity in the communities toimprove and maintain adequate infrastructure. Ultimately, the project will identify and vet approaches to support small communities that can be supported cooperatively by all stakeholders.The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) supports the sound development of rural communities and the growth of our economy without endangering theenvironment. RUS provides financial and technical assistance to help communities bring safe drinking water and sanitary, environmentally soundwaste disposal facilities to rural Americans in greatest need. The additional funding for the Colonias Studies, under the TAT Grant Program, will allow coloniascommunities to better plan and secure dependable water supplies for rebuilding their community&#146;s health and economic development. Qualifiedprivate non-profit organizations may apply to receive a grant to conduct water infrastructure studies to evaluate infrastructure gaps, determine local stakeholders and institutions, access community funding opportunities andprovide technical support to colonias communities.Deliverables required under this colonias TAT grant are:1. Creation of a searchable database of information required to be collected as part of the needs assessment. A full list of the information collection requirements is detailed in the application guide, and includes such data as population, general demographics, existing water and waste disposal infrastructure, incidence rate of water borne infectious disease,assessment of access to indoor plumbing, etc. The database must include geospatial information thatallows for mapping.2. A report (in electronic and paper form) summarizing and analyzing the data collected that:&#149; Identifies areas of greatest need andwhere investment will have highest economic and public health impact (including maps).&#149; Identifies areas that lack access to water and/or waste disposal infrastructure.&#149; Estimates the capital investment needed in water and waste disposal infrastructure in the study area (modest in scope and design). The estimate should include a listing of each coloniaassessed, identification of the type of infrastructure required and the recommended approach (i.e., connection to existing system, newcluster system, centralized system and estimated capital costs).&#149; Provides information on communities&#146; capacity to apply for funding, and operate and maintainutilities.&#149; Identifies the areas where other technical assistance is needed and for what purposes;3. Lists of local institutions/ community leaders that can serve as points of contacts for the targeted communities.4. Recommends approaches for technical assistance and outreach to communities in high needs areas.5. This report is due by December 31, 2014.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Government Address
GrantorContactText: Anita OBrien &lt;br/&gt;Loan Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 202-690-3789