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MIDDLE RIO GRANDE NATIVE WATERLEASING PILOT PROGRAM2018 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALSApplicant Webinar [Register Here]: October 18th 2018at 3:00pm-4:30pm Eastern / 2:00pm-3:30pm Central / 1:00pm-2:30pm MountainFull Proposal Due Date: Thursday, November 8th 2018by 11:59pm Eastern / 10:59pm Central / 9:59pm MountainOVERVIEWThe National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is announcing the first funding opportunityfor the Middle Rio Grande Native Water Leasing Pilot Program (“Pilot Program”). NFWF willaward grants to contribute to development of the Pilot Program with the Middle Rio GrandeConservancy District (MRGCD) in New Mexico to assist MRGCD and the U.S. Bureau ofReclamation (Reclamation) meet commitments made under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s2016 “Final Biological and Conference Opinion for Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of IndianAffairs, and Non-Federal Water Management and Maintenance Activities on the Middle RioGrande, New Mexico” (“2016 BiOp”). Up to 860,000 will be available. Major funding isprovided by Reclamation.Grants will be awarded covering three categories: Policy Analysis and Development, WaterRights Inventory, and Water Use Scenario Development. In this Request for Proposals, NFWF isseeking to support projects that align with some combination of these tasks.Program BackgroundFor several years, NFWF and partners in the Middle Rio Grande watershed in New Mexico havebeen exploring conservation efforts that would address issues of environmental water needs andthe potential for voluntary water transactions to support collaborative water management.In September 2017, NFWF entered into a Cooperative Agreement with Reclamation to developand implement a Middle Rio Grande Native Water Leasing and Habitat Restoration PilotProgram in collaboration with the MRGCD. The Pilot Program will develop and implement avoluntary leasing program as a complement to other conservation water management workcurrently underway. Water acquired from willing lessors though the Pilot Program will be usedto support river flows during the irrigation season in areas south of Albuquerque where the riverchannel is prone to drying. Mitigation of channel drying is one of the major water managementgoals for Rio Grande silvery minnow recovery, the primary focus of the 2016 BiOp.Page 1 of 8Middle Rio Grande Native Water Leasing Pilot Program 2018 RFP

The Pilot Program will seek implementation support from local grantee partners to extend itsreach and achieve water leasing, infrastructure improvement, and habitat restoration goals.Program funding priorities include first and foremost development and implementation of aninitiative that works for and with irrigators and irrigation managers to secure water throughvoluntary leasing from willing participants. The Pilot Program will also work with MRGCD toidentify strategic investments in water delivery infrastructure that complement the leasing effort.It will also support identification of habitat restoration sites to benefit from leased water. ThePilot Program will set the stage for expanded water leasing and other voluntary measures at scaleas win-win solutions for the river, local communities, agricultural producers, and MRGCD overthe long term.GEOGRAPHIC FOCUSThis Pilot Program will award grants for work that addresses these tasks within the boundariesand under the jurisdiction of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (Figure 1).Figure 1. Middle Rio Grande Conservacy District Jurisdictional BoundariesPage 2 of 8Middle Rio Grande Native Water Leasing Pilot Program 2018 RFP

PROGRAM PRIORITIESThree strategies necessary for Pilot Program development are addressed in this RFP. For furtherinformation about the strategies described below, contact Kirstin Neff, Manager, SouthwestRivers Program (Kirstin.Neff@nfwf.org).Policy Analysis and DevelopmentGrants will be awarded for projects that support technical policy integration of the Pilot Programinto existing MRGCD operations and policy, State water law, and the local stakeholder context.This includes development of the terms of a detailed Implementation Plan governing programoperations.Water Rights InventoryGrants will be awarded for projects that support identification potential sources of supply for thewater leasing Pilot Program. It comprises research into water rights, especially as they mayinteract with the Pilot Program.Water Use Scenario DevelopmentGrants will be awarded for projects that develop plans for the conservation use of Pilot Programleased water under different hydrological conditions and river management scenarios.Focal SpeciesRio Grande silvery minnowANTICIPATED DELIVERABLESProject deliverables will include:-Reports, tools, and work product specified in the grant scope of workParticipation in recurring team meetings and active coordination with the Pilot ProgramteamInterim written and verbal progress reportsFinal report due at the conclusion of the project termParticipation in Pilot Program meetings in New Mexico with program partnersThese deliverables may be expanded or refined by mutual agreement of NFWF and thegrantee(s).Page 3 of 8Middle Rio Grande Native Water Leasing Pilot Program 2018 RFP

PROJECT METRICSTo better gauge progress on individual grants and to ensure greater consistency of project dataprovided by multiple grants, the Rio Grande Program has a list of metrics in Easygrants tochoose from for future reporting. We ask that full proposal applicants select only the mostrelevant metrics from this list for their project, and that each conservation action be measured bythe 1-3 most relevant metrics. The number of proposed metrics will not have any bearing on thecompetitiveness of the proposal.Funding StrategyPlanning, Research, MonitoringPlanning, Research, MonitoringPlanning, Research, MonitoringPlanning, Research, MonitoringCapacity, Outreach, IncentivesActivityManagement or governanceplanningManagement or governanceplanningResearchTool development for decisionmakingOutreach/ Education/ TechnicalAssistanceMetric Name# plans developed with input frommultiple stakeholdersWater transactions program developed# studies completed whose findings arereported to management# tools developed# individuals reached by outreach,training, or technical assistance activitiesELIGIBILITYEligible and Ineligible Entities Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies,local governments, municipal governments, federal agencies, Indian tribes andeducational institutions. Ineligible applicants include businesses, unincorporated individuals and internationalorganizations.Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds NFWF funds and matching contributions may not be used to support political advocacy,fundraising, lobbying, litigation, terrorist activities or Foreign Corrupt Practices Actviolations. NFWF funds may not be used to support efforts to comply with legal requirements,including permit conditions, mitigation and settlement agreements. However, grant fundsmay be used to support projects that enhance or improve upon existing baselinecompliance efforts.FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND MATCHThe Middle Rio Grande Native Water Leasing Pilot Program will award up to 855,000 in the2018 funding cycle. Grants will vary depending on the scope of work addressed by the project.Applicants may apply to address a single strategy or set of strategies, and may apply asPage 4 of 8Middle Rio Grande Native Water Leasing Pilot Program 2018 RFP

individual entities or a coalition of entities. Projects should begin within one month of the awarddate and be completed by September 30, 2019. These grants do not require matchingcontributions. Reporting of appropriate matching funds (either cash or in-kind) is encouraged.EVALUATION CRITERIAAll proposals will be screened for relevance, accuracy, completeness and compliance withNFWF and funding source policies. Proposals addressing part of the scope will be considered onan equal basis. For example, an applicant’s proposal to complete Task 2.2 only would beevaluated on an equal basis with a proposal to complete all tasks. Proposals will be evaluatedbased on the extent to which they meet the following criteria.Understanding of the Program, Landscape, Local Implementation Context and Scope ofWork – Proposal demonstrates an understanding of water resources and context for waterleasing and habitat restoration in the Middle Rio Grande basin.Program Tasks and Priorities – Project contributes to the Program’s overall programdevelopment and species conservation goals, and has specific, quantifiable performance metricsto evaluate project success. Project addresses one or more of the subtasks in the scope of work.Technical Merit – Project is technically sound and feasible, and the proposal sets forth a clear,logical and achievable work plan and timeline. Project engages appropriate technical expertsthroughout project planning, design and implementation.Local Experience – The applicants have experience working on water issues and restoration inthe Middle Rio Grande.Transferability – Project has potential and plan to transfer lessons learned to other communitiesand/or to be integrated into government programs and policies.Communication – Project includes a detailed plan to communicate information about the projectto appropriate audiences.Past Success – Applicant has a proven track record of success in implementing conservationpractices with specific, measurable results.Partnership – An appropriate partnership exists to implement the project and the project issupported by a strong local partnership that leverages additional funds and will sustain it after thelife of the grant. Identify proposed partners, if known (including potential or contemplatedsubawards to third party subrecipients of the applicant), the roles they will play in implementingthe project, and how this project will build new or enhance existing partnerships. (Note: aproject partner is any local community, non-profit organization, tribe, and/or local, state, andfederal government agency that contributes to the project in a substantial way and is closelyinvolved in the completion of the project.)Page 5 of 8Middle Rio Grande Native Water Leasing Pilot Program 2018 RFP