Skip Maine state header navigation

Agencies | Online Services | Help

Skip First Level Navigation | Skip All Navigation

Home > DWP Sections > Field Services > SRF > Capacity Development > Grants

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

 

The Maine Drinking Water State Revolving Fund has grant money available for assistance to public water systems to enhance system capacity.

 

What it’s about.

The following information describes how eligible public water systems can receive grant monies for the preparation of documentsthat will assist them in the maintenance or enhancement of water quality by identifying possible improvements in systems’ technical, financial and managerial operations (capacity development). Grants are awarded on a matching basis after the document is submitted to the Drinking Water Program (DWP) for approval and acceptance.

 

Who is eligible?

Community public water systems and non-profit, non-community public water systems are eligible for Capacity Development grant awards. Privately owned non-community water systems and Federally owned systems are not eligible. At the present time, each eligible water system may only receive one grant award for any one document until the DWP determines the total demand for these grant funds.

 

What documents are covered?

The following professionally prepared documents are eligible for matching grants:

  • Comprehensive System Facilities Plans.
  • Capital Improvement Plans.
  • System Hydraulic Modeling Studies/Reports.
  • Comprehensive Operations and Maintenance Manuals.
  • System Vulnerability Assessments.
  • Emergency Response Plans.
  • Management Review Studies/Reports.
  • Other professionally prepared documents that enhance system capacity, as determined by the DWP.

Each eligible public water system must demonstrate a need for the document for which it is applying. This may be satisfied with a copy of the minutes of a meeting where the water system officials have discussed the need for a document and a grant award. No water system may receive a grant award for a document it has produced within the previous five years if it is the same or similar to any one listed above.

 

Who can prepare the document?

A consulting firm or consulting professional, selected through a request for qualifications(RFQ) process OR a qualifications-based selection/request for proposal (QBS/RFP) process, can produce the document. The scope of the study must be approved up front by the DWP through the application process. Work performed by the water system’s personnel in support of a grant activity is not a reimbursable expense under the grant program.

How much money is available?

Individual matching grant amounts are for 50% of document cost up to a maximum grant amount of $10,000 and are awarded on a reimbursement basis.

 

When can a system apply?

Eligible water systems may apply at any time. Applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis until funds are exhausted.

 

When is the money awarded?

The individual grant amounts of 50% to a maximum reimbursement amount of $10,000 will be awarded after the document is submitted to the DWP and is accepted and approved by the DWP. The following steps define the process:

  • Apply for the grant with a defined scope for the document.
  • Put the document preparation out for bid on a RFQ or QBS/RFP process. You must make a good faith effort to make disadvantaged business enterprises aware of the RFQ or RFP. With a RFQ or QBS/RFP process, the awardee need not choose a firm based on low bid.
  • The grant procedure requires you to present evidence to the DWP of: a documented need for the plan or study, the publication of the RFQ or RFP notice, copies of consultant proposals and documentation of the final selection process.
  • The finished document and associated invoices are submitted to the DWP for review and approval.

 

Still have questions?

For more information please call:

Bill Johnson, Capacity Development Coordinator at (207) 287-5678, or by e-mail: william.johnson@maine.gov

Drinking Water Program TTY (207) 287-5550.

 

Capacity Development Grant Application

 

PWS Name:

PWSID #:

Contact person’s name: Tel. number:

Proposed document or plan:

Scope of proposed document:

 

Signature:_____________________________________

Title:

Printed name: Date:

Print and mail to :

Capacity Development Coordinator
Drinking Water Program
11 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0011