WaterSMART: Applied Science Grants

The WaterSMART Applied Science Grants program is administered by the Bureau of Reclamation within the U.S. Department of the Interior. This program is part of the broader WaterSMART initiative, which focuses on improving water supply reliability and hydropower resilience through collaborative federal and non-federal efforts. The Applied Science Grants specifically aim to enhance water management decision-making by funding projects that improve access to hydrologic data, advance modeling tools, and strengthen forecasting capabilities. The program aligns with federal priorities related to energy, infrastructure, and improved oversight in grantmaking, and is designed to support water managers facing increasing pressures from drought, competing demands, and climate variability. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the development and application of tools and data that improve water resource management. Eligible projects include enhancements to hydrologic models, development or improvement of forecasting systems, integration of snow measurement data into water supply predictions, and improvements to data acquisition, analysis, and dissemination systems. These projects must rely on established technologies rather than experimental or novel methods and must directly benefit water managers by improving water supply reliability, operational flexibility, and forecasting accuracy. The program emphasizes practical, implementable solutions that can be used in real-world water management scenarios. Funding for this opportunity totals approximately 6000000 dollars, with an anticipated 20 awards. Individual awards may be up to 400000 dollars. Funding is distributed across fiscal years, with up to 3000000 dollars available in each of two consecutive fiscal years. A significant requirement of this program is a mandatory cost share of at least 50 percent of the total project cost. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to meet this requirement through non-federal sources, which may include cash contributions or in-kind support. Federal funds generally cannot be used to meet this cost share unless specifically authorized by statute. Eligibility for the program is structured into two categories. Category A applicants include states, tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations with water or power delivery authority located in the western United States or specified U.S. territories. Category B applicants include universities, nonprofit organizations, and research institutions, but they must partner with a Category A entity to be eligible. Federal entities, individuals, and private commercial organizations are not eligible. Projects must be geographically focused within eligible states and territories and must directly support water management objectives such as improving water deliveries, enhancing drought management, or increasing water supply reliability. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes several mandatory components. Applicants must complete standard federal forms such as the SF-424 and SF-424A, as well as provide a detailed project narrative, budget narrative, and supporting documentation. The project narrative is limited to 20 pages and must address technical details, project goals, and responses to merit review criteria. Additional required materials may include letters of support, partnership agreements for Category B applicants, and research documentation forms. Applicants must also maintain active registration in SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier prior to submission. Applications are evaluated through a multi-stage review process that includes eligibility screening, merit review, and risk assessment. Merit review criteria include the significance of the water management challenge addressed, expected project benefits, implementation feasibility, dissemination of results, alignment with federal priorities, and cost share contributions. Projects are scored on a 100-point scale, and top-ranking applications undergo further review for feasibility and compliance. Final award decisions consider geographic distribution, project diversity, and alignment with program objectives. The timeline for this funding opportunity includes two application submission periods. The first deadline is July 8, 2026, and the second is April 13, 2027. Awards for the first cycle are anticipated in July 2027, with project completion expected by July 2029. For the second cycle, awards are expected in April 2028, with completion by April 2030. Projects generally have a two-year performance period. Applicants may be required to participate in webinars to present results and share lessons learned. For inquiries, applicants can contact the Grants Officer or Program Coordinator via the provided email addresses and phone numbers.