Comprehensive Water Quality Management Planning Grant Application
| Location: | Iowa |
|---|---|
| Posted: | Nov 17, 2025 |
| Due: | Jan 16, 2026 |
| Agency: | State Government of Iowa |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Category: |
|
| Solicitation No: | 26ESDWQBCLULL-0017 |
| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
Bid Information
Bid Number
26ESDWQBCLULL-0017
Solicitation
Comprehensive Water Quality Management Planning Grant Application
Solicitation Type
Request for Information
County
Description
Description
This Solicitation is designed to provide Applicants with the information necessary for the preparation of competitive Applications. Successful Applicants will be expected to work with the Iowa DNR to develop a final product that includes the elements described in Section 2 with the goal of replicating the process in other watersheds throughout the state.
In order to fulfill the provisions of Iowa Code section 455B.105 and Iowa Code chapter 466B, subchapters II, the Iowa DNR is seeking Applications from Eligible Applicants. Clean Water Act Section 604(b) funding will be used to fund this Grant; therefore eligibility is limited to entities defined under Iowa Code chapter 466b, subchapter II, as Watershed Management Authorities and to entities demonstrating the characteristics of an RPCPO.
The purpose of this Solicitation is to request Applications for evaluation by Iowa DNR to award planning money to Successful Applicants. Total funding for contracts awarded by the Iowa DNR as a result of this Solicitation process is anticipated to be up to $500,000. The maximum request for award for this Solicitation should be no greater than $125,000.
Comprehensive Water Quality Management Plan
This funding is being made available to support watershed-based water quality management planning and assessment efforts. Details of the final deliverable can be found in Section 2.10 of this Solicitation. This includes, but is not limited to, a physical environment inventory and an assessment of relevant issues. The final deliverable shall include specific Goals / Objectives / Action Steps with quantifiable estimates and expected results, and should then serve the Watershed Management Authority as an implementation guide to reach the goals identified by the WMA.
ISSUING OFFICER: Colton Lullmann at procurement@dnr.iowa.gov. BID CLOSING DATE AND TIME: 01/16/2026 at 4:00 PM CST.
All proposals and questions must be submitted via email to procurement@dnr.iowa.gov.
Agency Information
Number
542
Name
Natural Resources, Dept Of
Address 1
6200 Park Ave.
Address 2
City/State/Zip
Des Moines, IA 50321
Contact Information
Contact Name
Colton Lullmann
Contact Title
Procurement Specialist
Contact Email
Contact Phone Number
(515) 361-0743
Contact Phone Extension
Contact Other Number
Contact Fax Number
Valid Dates
From
11/16/2025 12:01:00 AM
Until
1/16/2026 4:00:00 PM
Documents/Attachments
Attachment Preview
1. PROJECT
Comprehensive Water Quality Management Planning Grant Application Solicitation
Applications due by 4:30 PM, January 16, 2026
Please Send Application and Attachments Electronically to
Issuing Officer Colton Lullmann at: procurement@dnr.iowa.gov.
Project Title:
Project Watershed:
2. APPLICANT STATUS INFORMATION
Lead Entity:
28E Agreement Filing #:
3. APPLICANT CONTACT INFORMATION
Fiscal Agent:
Contact Person:
Email:
Telephone #:
Mailing Address:
City, State, ZIP:
County:
Federal UEI #:
4. DESCRIPTION & COSTS
Project Description: (Maximum of 300 words summarizing the project and use of funds)
Iowa DNR, 26ESDWQBCLULL-0017
2025 WMA Planning Grant Application – Page 1
Summary of Project Costs (Including Required 25% Match):
NEW: Water Quality Management Plan Funds Requested (max $125,000): $
OR: Watershed Management Plan Update Funds Requested (max $50,000): $
Local Share (minimum 25% of DNR request):
Cash Match:
(minimum 5% of DNR request) $
In-Kind Match: (minimum 25% of request when added to cash match) $
Total Project Cost: $
Example: WMA is requesting $100,000 from DNR; $5000 local cash match required, $20,000 in-kind required; total match
provided is $25,000 or 25% of $100,000 (minimum match values represented)
5. GRANT SOLICITATION TIMELINE
Event
Grant Solicitation announced for eligible Applicants
Grant Application due date
Grant Application evaluation by Iowa DNR and selection of the Successful
Applicant(s)
Notification of Successful Applicant and all Applicants of intent to award
Drafting of Contract, Environmental Protection Commission review, and
execution of Contract (start of Contract)
Term of Contract with the Successful Applicant (end of Contract)
Date
November 17, 2025
January 16, 2026
January 16 – January 31, 2026
January 30, 2026
No later than March 17, 2026
End no later than June 30, 2028
NOTE: The intent for this cycle is to also support watershed management plan updates as a new category of award with
a cap of $50,000 per award per watershed management authority (or similar 28E-bound watershed management
intergovernmental cooperative organized under Iowa Code Section 466B.22). For most applicants, only one type of
funding is applicable, e.g., if you have an existing watershed plan for the watershed that is the subject of your 28E
agreement, you are limited to applying for update funds. If you are outside of this example scenario, use the additional
space provided in the Project Description to outline your specific scenario and why you consider yourself eligible for
additional funds. The amount of eligible award will be determined in review by the interagency review team and
justification will be provided if any deviations are disallowed.
Each Applicant must identify the fiscal agent for any Contract resulting from this Solicitation, which can be the applying
entity if suitable, and will be responsible for any reporting requirements and work products. Each Applicant must have a
federal Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number which is available for free from: https://sam.gov/
Iowa DNR, 26ESDWQBCLULL-0017
2025 WMA Planning Grant Application – Page 2
EXAMPLE BUDGET TEMPLATE
A budget must be included with your application. Include brief narrative of what will be the primary uses of the funds
(e.g., hiring a consultant, supporting existing staff), sources of match funds, description of equipment needs, and similar.
The included table is just an example of the budget format that can be used, if providing your own budget spreadsheet
or similar, please attempt to adhere to the budget categories below or provide adequate descriptions if deviating.
Narrative:
Budget Year(s):
Budget Category
Salary & Benefits:
Total
Cost/Item
Indirect Costs:
Travel/Training:
Supplies:
Publication, distribution,
or other media costs:
Contractual:
Equipment (single items
greater than $5,000 each):
Other:
Match Information
DNR Request In-Kind Match1 Cash Match2 Total Match3
Totals:
Total FTEs (If supporting
salary with DNR funds):
Total Project Cost:
Notes:
1. In-Kind Match: Value of local contributions to planned campaign by all partners not provided as cash
2. Cash Match: Total must be at least 5% of DNR request
3. Total Match: Total of in-kind and cash must be at least 25% of DNR request
Example: Max request $125,000; Total Match required = 25% or $31,250; Minimum Cash Match required 5% of
$125,000 or $6250; remaining $25,000 match required can be provided as a combination of in-kind or cash
If using DNR grant funds for salary, please provide FTE estimates for reporting purposes.
Iowa DNR, 26ESDWQBCLULL-0017
2025 WMA Planning Grant Application – Page 3
SECTION 1:
Introduction
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this Grant Application Solicitation is to receive Applications from Responsible Applicants to provide the
services identified on the Grant cover sheet and further described in Section 2 of this document to the Iowa DNR. The
Iowa DNR intends to award a Contract(s) beginning approximately March 17, 2026, and ending roughly 24 months
following the contract start date. As a result of this Grant Application Solicitation, it is anticipated that the Iowa DNR will
notify applicants of the intent to award by January 30, 2026.
1.2 Definitions
For the purposes of this Grant Application Solicitation and the resulting Contract(s), the following terms shall mean:
“Applicant” means any Watershed Management Authority that is formed as a separate legal entity under Iowa Code
chapter 28E and that submits a Responsive Application to the Iowa DNR in response to this Solicitation. “Applicant” also
may include a local or regional entity demonstrating the characteristics of a Regional Public Comprehensive Planning
Organization (RPCPO), as described in Clean Water Act section 205, which is applying on behalf of a Watershed
Management Authority. An RPCPO Applicant shall include a narrative explanation of how it demonstrates the
characteristics of an RPCPO and its specific relationship to any WMA. For purposes of this Solicitation, an RPCPO
Applicant may consider any Iowa Code chapter 466B.22 WMA characteristics to be indicative of its capacity as an
RPCPO.
Each Applicant must identify the fiscal agent for any Contract resulting from this Solicitation, which can be the applying
entity if suitable, and will be responsible for any reporting requirements and work products. Each Applicant must have a
federal Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number which is available for free from: https://sam.gov/
“Application” or “Proposal” means the Applicant’s documentation submitted in response to the Grant Application
Solicitation as their request for consideration for grant funding.
“Contract” or “Subaward” means the subaward contract(s) entered into with the successful Applicant(s) pursuant to
this Solicitation. The “subaward” terminology specifically refers to those contracts where the primary grant recipient
passes funds through to a subrecipient or contractor, and will be interchangeable with “contract” or “subaward
contract” for the purposes of this grant application solicitation.
“Eligible Applicant” means any Applicant that is either a Watershed Management Authority or RPCPO. Applicants that
previously received funding through the Watershed Management Authority Planning Grants program are eligible for
additional funding under this Grant Application Solicitation, especially plan update funding which is new for the 2025
cycle.
“Grant” means the Water Quality Management Planning Grant established by the Iowa DNR using Section 604(b) and
Section 319 Clean Water Act for Watershed Management Authorities.
“Grant Application Solicitation” or “Solicitation” means this solicitation for Grant Applications and any attachments,
exhibits, schedules or addenda hereto.
“Hydrologic Unit Code” or “HUC” means a system by which each hydrologic unit is identified by a unique code, thus
called a hydrologic unit code (HUC) consisting of two to twelve digits based on the six levels of classification:
2-digit HUC - Region
4-digit HUC - Subregion
6-digit HUC - Accounting Unit
8-digit HUC - Cataloguing Unit
10-digit HUC - Watershed
12-digit HUC - Subwatershed
Iowa DNR, 26ESDWQBCLULL-0017
2025 WMA Planning Grant Application – Page 4
“Iowa Code Chapter 28E Agreement” or “Agreement” means an Agreement entered into by qualifying Political
Subdivisions to form a Watershed Management Authority.
“Iowa Department of Natural Resources” or “Iowa DNR” means the agency identified on the Grant Application
Solicitation cover sheet that is issuing the Solicitation.
“Responsible Applicant” means an Applicant that has the capability in all respects to perform the requirements of the
Contract. In determining whether an Applicant is a Responsible Applicant, the Iowa DNR may consider various factors
including, but not limited to, the Applicant’s capabilities and qualifications to provide the goods or services requested,
the Applicant’s integrity and reliability, the past performance of the Applicant and the best interest of the Iowa DNR and
the State, and the extent to which the Applicant complies, in DNR’s judgment, with the requirements of Iowa Code
chapters 466B and 28E and section 205 of the Clean Water Act.
“Responsive Application” means an Application that complies with the material provisions of this Grant Application
Solicitation.
“State” means the State of Iowa and all state agencies, boards, and commissions.
“Successful Applicant” means an Applicant that was recommended for funding and subsequently awarded a contract as
a result of this Solicitation.
“Watershed” means a geographic area of land, water, plants and animals within the confines of a drainage divide.
Watershed boundaries define the aerial extent of surface water drainage to a point and always follow the highest
ridgeline around the stream channels and meet at the lowest point of the land where water flows out of the watershed.
“Watershed Management Authority” or “WMA” means a watershed management authority formed in accordance with
Iowa Code Chapter 466B Subchapter II and that has completed all of its required filings with the Iowa Secretary of State
pursuant to the provisions of Iowa Code section 28E.8. Appendix A includes Subchapter II of Iowa Code chapter 466B.
1.3 Overview of the Grant Application Solicitation Process
Eligible Applicants will be required to submit their Applications in electronic format to the Issuing Officer. It is the Iowa
DNR’s intention to evaluate Applications from all Responsible Applicants that submit timely Responsive Applications in
accordance with Section 3, Evaluation of Applications.
1.4 Background Information
This Solicitation is designed to provide Applicants with the information necessary for the preparation of competitive
Applications. Successful Applicants will be expected to work with the Iowa DNR to develop a final product that includes
the elements described in Section 2 with the goal of replicating the process in other watersheds throughout the state.
In order to fulfill the provisions of Iowa Code section 455B.105 and Iowa Code chapter 466B, subchapters II, the Iowa
DNR is seeking Applications from Eligible Applicants. Clean Water Act Section 604(b) funding will be used to fund this
Grant; therefore eligibility is limited to entities defined under Iowa Code chapter 466b, subchapter II, as Watershed
Management Authorities and to entities demonstrating the characteristics of an RPCPO.
The purpose of this Solicitation is to request Applications for evaluation by Iowa DNR to award planning money to
Successful Applicants. Total funding for contracts awarded by the Iowa DNR as a result of this Solicitation process is
anticipated to be up to $500,000. The maximum request for award for this Solicitation should be no greater than
$125,000.
Iowa DNR, 26ESDWQBCLULL-0017
2025 WMA Planning Grant Application – Page 5
This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
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See also
...Number 542 Name Natural Resources, Dept Of Address 1 6200 Park Ave. Address ...
State Government of Iowa
Bid Due: 6/12/2026
...Information Number 542 Name Natural Resources, Dept Of Address 1 6200 Park Ave. ...
State Government of Iowa
Bid Due: 6/12/2026
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