Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Training Grants and Cooperative Agreements – Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act

CFDA 66.436 Active Cooperative Agreement
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$11M FY2026
$7.1M
FY24
$8.3M
FY25
$11M
FY26*
* estimated

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2025 Competitions are held throughout the year at Headquarters and in the Regions based on available funds and Agency priorities. The number of applications and the number of awards made is dependent on the competitive announcement issued. The announcement will typically include the number of anticipated awards. In FY 2025, EPA continued to fund projects to support training, surveys, studies, investigations, and demonstrations for water quality improvement, watershed planning and management, treatment technologies, water efficiency, and environmental management systems.

Program Objective

To support the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. Funding priorities include, but are not limited to training, surveys, studies, investigations, and demonstration projects to support water quality improvement, watershed planning and management, nonpoint source planning, wetlands protection, coastal and estuarine planning, treatment technologies, water efficiency, and environmental management systems.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Interstate Organization
  • U.S. State Government
  • State
  • Local
  • Federally Recognized Tribal Government
  • Tribal
  • U.S. Territory Government

Assistance under this program is generally available to States, local governments, territories, Indian Tribes, and possessions of the U.S. (including the District of Columbia); public and private universities and colleges; public or private nonprofit institutions; and intertribal consortia. Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply. An intertribal consortium must meet the definition of eligibility in the Environmental Program Grants for Tribes Final Rule, at 40 CFR 35.504 (66 FR 3782. January 16, 2001) (FRL-6929-5) and be a non-profit organization within the meaning of 2 CFR 200. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency’s Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.
For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency’s Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

Beneficiaries

  • Interstate Organization
  • U.S. State Government
  • Local
  • Federally Recognized Tribal Government
  • Nonprofit Organization
  • U.S. Territory Government

State and local governments, U.S. territories and possessions, Indian Tribes, universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public and private nonprofit institutions.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. For non-competitive awards made under this assistance listing, EPA will conduct an administrative evaluation to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to grant regulations and to technical and program evaluation to determine the merit and relevance of the project. The Agency will then advise the applicant if funding is being considered. A final work plan will then be negotiated with the applicant.

Approximately 180 days.

Program details & compliance

Description

Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3) statutory authority supports the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution.

Mission Categories

Primary: Water Pollution Control

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

The funds will support conducting and promoting the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. Implementation activities are generally not eligible. Specific uses and restrictions on funds will be described in detail in the competitive announcements. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: Geospatial Resources at EPA. This program makes Federal awards on a discretionary basis. A discretionary award means an award in which the Federal awarding agency, in keeping with specific statutory authority that enables the agency to exercise judgement (“discretion”), selects the recipient and/or the amount of Federal funding awarded through a competitive process or based on merit of proposals. A discretionary award may be selected on a non-competitive basis, as appropriate. For further information, please contact the Headquarters or regional office.

Required Documentation

Documentation of nonprofit status may be required. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. EPA may ask applicants or principal investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications.

Matching Requirements

For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may include matching requirements consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. Match may be cash or in-kind consistent with the regulations governing match requirements at 2 CFR 200 and 1500 as applicable. Specific matching requirements will be described in detail in the competitive announcements.

Reporting & Compliance

Audit Required
Yes — Determined at Time of Award
Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Connie Cahanap
2025661382
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., (Mail Code 4101M), Washington, DC 20460
Tracey Miller
202-564-0783
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Immediate Office, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., (Mail Code 4101M), Washington, DC 20460
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-06-16. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-07-08 03:04:05.