Professional Service/Other Grants

The Professional Service/Other Grants program is offered by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) as part of its Solid Waste Management funding initiatives. DEQ is the state agency responsible for overseeing environmental protection efforts related to pollution prevention, control, and abatement, particularly in the area of solid waste. Through statutory authority granted under Oklahoma law, DEQ administers funding programs that support projects aligned with environmental quality goals. This specific grant category is designed to fill gaps by funding projects that do not fall within other predefined grant types. The purpose of the Professional Service/Other Grants is to support specialized services and unique environmental projects that contribute to solid waste management outcomes. These grants are particularly intended for nonprofit organizations that can demonstrate sole-source provision of services, meaning they provide a unique capability not otherwise available through competitive procurement. In addition, the program supports projects such as one-time clean-ups, technical assistance, facility start-up support, and other initiatives that advance waste reduction, pollution prevention, and environmental stewardship at the community level. Funding under this program is provided on a reimbursement basis, requiring awardees to incur eligible expenses before receiving payment from DEQ. Grants typically range from 1000 to 50000 dollars. A specific provision allows DEQ to reimburse up to 80 percent of equipment costs for items priced between 5000 and 50000 dollars. However, several categories of expenses are not eligible for reimbursement, including buildings, vehicles, laptops, drones, and certain law enforcement equipment. All awarded funds must be used within the designated fiscal year, and any expenses incurred before the execution of a formal agreement and purchase order are not eligible for reimbursement. Eligibility for the Professional Service/Other Grants includes a range of public and nonprofit entities operating within Oklahoma. Eligible applicants include units of local government, political subdivisions, tribal entities, public higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations that can demonstrate sole-source service capability. The program is structured to ensure that funding supports entities capable of delivering measurable environmental benefits and advancing solid waste management objectives within the state. The application process requires submission of a detailed application that includes organizational information, a requested funding amount, and comprehensive project documentation. Applicants must provide a detailed scope of work and budget, as well as responses to questions regarding environmental impact, public outreach, partnerships, sustainability, and program evaluation. Applications are reviewed and scored based on criteria such as environmental improvement, collaboration, quality of proposal, and past performance. Applicants may be asked to revise their submissions before final decisions are made. Once an application is approved, DEQ prepares a formal agreement that must be executed before any project work begins. Awardees must register as vendors and receive a purchase order prior to incurring reimbursable expenses. During the project period, recipients are required to submit monthly invoices along with supporting documentation, including metrics, photographs, and descriptions of work completed. DEQ processes reimbursements within approximately 45 days. Final invoices must be submitted by August 31 following the fiscal year, and agreements expire on June 30. For the Fiscal Year cycle referenced, the application period opened on November 1, 2025 and closed on February 28, 2026. The program operates on an annual cycle aligned with the state fiscal year, indicating that future funding opportunities are expected in subsequent years. This grant emphasizes accountability, measurable outcomes, and strict adherence to reimbursement and reporting requirements, making it a targeted funding source for specialized environmental service projects in Oklahoma.

Emphasize measurable environmental impact and sustainability; ensure budget aligns with reimbursement rules; clearly demonstrate sole-source capability if nonprofit