Occurrence and Impact of Simultaneous Nitrification/Denitrification (SND) in BNR Processes Program

The Water Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that funds, manages, and publishes research addressing drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems. Its Research Priority Program is designed to address broadly relevant subscriber issues, challenges, and opportunities, with projects prioritized and approved for funding through WRF's research process and individual projects awarded competitively through requests for proposals. Project 5423, Occurrence and Impact of Simultaneous Nitrification/Denitrification (SND) in BNR Processes, is offered through this competitive Research Priority Program framework. The project seeks research that will improve understanding and application of simultaneous nitrification/denitrification in biological nutrient removal processes. The objectives are to establish a definition of successful SND based on published and unpublished datasets and develop a framework identifying where SND has worked and where it has struggled; identify and characterize the operational, physical, and biological conditions that promote or inhibit SND at full-scale water resource recovery facilities, including microbial community characteristics and the effects of different carbon sources; and assess the accuracy and limitations of commonly used modeling software for predicting SND relative to current operations, with recommendations for modeling improvements and calibration approaches. WRF lists a funding level of $250,000 for this project. Under the Research Priority Program guidelines, the funding level specified in an RFP is the maximum amount WRF will provide toward achieving the stated objectives, and proposals requesting more than the RFP funding level will not be considered. RFPs require a contribution of at least 33 percent of the project award through cost share or third-party contribution. Third-party contributions included in the budget must be supported by commitment letters identifying the contribution type and exact estimated dollar value. WRF has also established a 15 percent ceiling on authorized indirect cost rates for reimbursement. WRF does not pay for the purchase of major equipment for research tasks, so researchers must already possess, purchase or lease independently, or otherwise have access to the equipment and instruments required for the work. Proposals must be submitted through WRF's My Portal online system using an organizational account. Submissions outside the online system are ineligible, and applicants are encouraged to obtain an organizational account early enough to avoid submission delays. Proposal files must be submitted as unsecured PDF files and must follow WRF's required packet structure. Required materials include a project abstract, project description, application potential section, quality assurance and quality control documentation, management plan, communication plan, budget narrative, schedule, resumes or curriculum vitae for key team members, Current and Pending Forms, applicable third-party contribution letters, applicable Co-Funding Support Forms, the Budget Form, financial statements, applicable indirect cost documentation, the Financial Grant Management Capabilities Form, certification and assurance forms, and a signed IRS Form W-9 for U.S. entities or the applicable W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E form for non-U.S. entities. The technical proposal must address the research objectives, background and understanding of the problem, technical approach, and originality and innovation of the proposed research. Applicants must explain the practical application potential of the work, establish appropriate quality assurance and quality control procedures, describe team roles and management accountability, and provide a communication plan addressing target audiences, end users, appropriate deliverables, communication timing, and opportunities for coordination with related work. The schedule must identify project tasks, start and end dates, deliverables, and responsible parties. The budget narrative must itemize, explain, justify, and time project costs and must reconcile to the detailed WRF budget form. WRF reviews proposals on technical merit, cost analysis, and the submitting organization's financial and grant management capabilities. Evaluation criteria allocate up to 20 points for understanding the problem and responsiveness to the RFP, 30 points for technical and scientific merit, 20 points for qualifications, capabilities, and management, 15 points for communication, deliverables, and applicability, and 15 points for budget and schedule. WRF staff and an independent Project Advisory Committee conduct the technical review, while WRF also evaluates whether proposed costs are reasonable, allocable, allowable, complete, and consistent with the project period. WRF generally expects to fund a single proposal for each RFP unless otherwise specified, but may elect not to fund any proposal. Applications are due September 14, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time. No separate letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, or other advancement gate is identified in the supplied materials. The project-specific WRF RFP contact is Maitreyi Nagarkar at mnagarkar@waterrf.org. If selected, the researcher will enter into a Project Funding Agreement with WRF. WRF establishes a 45-business-day negotiation period beginning with issuance of the draft agreement. Most funded projects require a Project Information Summary approximately one month after the project start, quarterly periodic reporting, more extensive technical summaries and website updates every six months, and a final deliverable responsive to the project objectives and practical needs of the water sector. No recurring annual or other repeating application cycle is stated for Project 5423.

Prioritize technical and scientific merit because it carries 30 of 100 evaluation points. Demonstrate clear understanding and responsiveness to all RFP objectives, provide a technically sound and innovative approach with adequate QA/QC, clearly define team roles and management, show practical water-sector application and an effective communication plan, and submit a realistic budget and schedule. Keep all components within stated page limits, make the Budget Narrative agree with the Budget Form, document at least 33% cost share or third-party contribution, and ensure third-party commitment letters state exact contribution amounts.