NEIWPCC COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY
NEIWPCC is committed to providing a working environment that keeps all staff as safe as possible and promotes the well-being of our community. All RFP applicants who may come into close contact with NEIWPCC staff are required to be fully vaccinated. Close contact may occur during the course of a project with a QAPP (via a QAPP audit), during project planning meetings, during project implementation, or other occasions. While some of these may occur virtually, please note that NEIWPCC reserves the right to audit a project at any time. Applicants must be prepared to show proof of vaccination prior to any close contact with NEIWPCC staff. Accepted proof of vaccination includes the original vaccination card, a printed copy of the vaccination card, or a digital photograph of the vaccination card. To protect confidential information, NEIWPCC will not maintain copies of these documents, and any records provided will be discarded.
In addition, NEIWPCC is committed to providing events that keep all participants as safe as possible and promote the well-being of our community. NEIWPCC requires all individuals who participate in NEIWPCC-funded events to be fully vaccinated in order to attend. Any events hosted with funding from NEIWPCC must follow our pandemic procedures.
This policy also applies to the contractor’s subcontractors
All contractors applying for new work (or amending existing agreements) must be vaccinated.
Request for Proposals
Since 1992, the LCBP has awarded more than 1,000 grants to local organizations to support a variety of pollution prevention, habitat restoration, and other projects that improve the quality of Lake Champlain. In that same time, the LCBP and its partner organizations also have funded numerous projects conducted by universities, consultants, research foundations, nonprofit organizations, and others. These projects include scientific research, best management demonstration projects, education and outreach efforts, and other initiatives that are key to implementing Opportunities for Action.
Current LCBP RFPs
(details for each RFP can be found below)
| Local Grants | Release Date | Due Date |
| Small Education and Outreach Grants | 11/12/21 | 1/14/22 |
| Organizational Support | 11/12/21 | 12/17/21 |
| Program Grants | Release Date | Due Date |
| Large Education and Outreach Project Grants | 11/18/21 | 1/21/22 |
| NY Agriculture Innovation | Dec 2021 | TBD |
| Unifying Stormwater RFP | 11/16/21 | 1/31/22 |
| Other Grants | Release Date | Due Date |
| Educator Mini-grants | ongoing | ongoing |
| Professional Development Mini-grants | ongoing | ongoing |
LOCAL GRANTS
Small Education and Outreach and Organizational Support Grants
The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), in coordination with NEIWPCC, is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects in the following categories:
| Category | Description | Award amounts | Proposals due |
| Organizational Support | Projects that will support increased organizational capacity and long-term effectiveness of watershed organizations working to implement elements of Opportunities for Action. | Up to $4,000 | Friday December 17, 2021 at 12pm (noon) EST |
| Small Education and Outreach Grants | Projects that will inform students or adults about key Lake Champlain Basin issues identified in the management plan Opportunities for Action to develop awareness, knowledge, skills, and commitment on a Basin issue so that informed decisions and constructive actions will benefit Lake Champlain. | Up to $15,000 | Friday January 14, 2022 at 12pm (noon) EST |
ELIGIBILITY
Organizational Support – All organizations seeking grants in the organizational support category must have nonprofit 501(c)(3) status (NY Soil and Water/VT Natural Resource Conservation Districts are also eligible) AND must have an organizational mission statement focused on achieving water quality improvements in the Lake Champlain watershed. Up to $40,000 is available to support awarded projects in this category.
Education and Outreach, Small Grants – Eligible organizations for the Education and Outreach – Small category include colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations, and non-federal/non-state government agencies. Up to $200,000 is available to support awarded projects in this category.
This work will support the Informed & Involved Public and Thriving Communities goals of LCBP’s long-term management plan, Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin. This grant opportunity is supported by funds awarded to NEIWPCC on behalf of the Lake Champlain Basin Program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC).
Applicants must submit proposals no later than 12pm (noon) EST on the due date listed for each category above. Complete details and proposal format requirements are provided below. LCBP anticipates granting multiple awards from this RFP. All awards are subject to funding availability.
Link to full RFP >>
Education and Outreach – large grants
The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), in partnership with NEIWPCC is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals for services to further the mission of the LCBP and address the tasks outlined in our guiding document, Opportunities for Action. The total request for each project may range from $15,000 – $50,000.
The proposal should be a five-page document to introduce the project, adhering to the format requirements in the RFP. After review of the submitted proposals next spring, the proposals will then be reviewed by the Lake Champlain Steering Committee in April. Recipients will be notified in May 2022. Successful projects will begin after October 1, 2022.
All awards are subject to available funding.
LCBP seeks proposals for projects that address strategies and tasks outlined in the Informed and Involved Public chapter of Opportunities for Action. For this funding cycle, LCBP is also interested in receiving proposals on the following outreach topics: road salt reduction programs, climate change impacts in the Lake Champlain watershed, septic system maintenance, and bringing scientific programs into local communities.
We anticipate these projects will be supported with funds awarded to NEIWPCC by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission in support of the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
PROPOSAL DEADLINE NOTICE: Only Microsoft Word-compatible submissions will be accepted and must be submitted no later than 12pm (noon) EST on January 21, 2022 via the submission portal below.
Late or incomplete proposals will not be considered.
PROGRAM GRANTS
Unifying Stormwater Technical Assistance Programs for Private Properties in the Lake Champlain Basin
The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), in partnership with NEIWPCC, is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the facilitation of practitioner meetings to better strategize, coordinate, and amplify the collective messaging of non-regulatory stormwater property assessments and homeowner education initiatives in the New York and Vermont portions of the Lake Champlain Basin. The successful applicant will propose a project that completes the outputs described in the attached RFP according to the required project timeline. Up to $100,000is available to support this project, and the LCBP anticipates offering one (1) award for this RFP.
Please note that this is an updated issuance of this RFP, originally released in February 2021.
This work is applicable to the Clean Water Goal of the LCBP’s long-term management plan – Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin. This project is supported by funds awarded to NEIWPCC on behalf of the Lake Champlain Basin Program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
To receive a copy of the RFP via U.S. Postal Service, contact the Lake Champlain Basin Program office at (802) 372-3213 or toll free at (800) 468-LCBP in New York and Vermont.
DEADLINE NOTICE:
Applicants must submit proposals via the submission portal below no later than:
January 31, 2022 at 12pm (noon) EST
Late, incomplete, or hardcopy proposal submissions will not be considered.
Successful applicants will be notified in March 2022. LCBP anticipates issuing one award from this opportunity, but reserves the right to make no awards if no suitable applications are received. All awards are subject to funding availability.
The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), in coordination with NEIWPCC, will soon announce Request for Proposals (RFP) for the following project:
Agricultural Innovation Grant promoting enhanced BMPs to reduce phosphorus losses on farms in the New York portion of the Lake Champlain Basin
Up to $50,000
LCBP anticipates granting one (1) award from this RFP.
Please check back soon for proposal requirements and guidelines.
OTHER GRANTS
Educator Mini-grants
These mini- grants provide educators with funds to buy materials for their classroom that will aid in teaching students about Lake Champlain Watershed issues. The LCBP wants to help you build “your classroom toolkit” for teaching about watersheds. Materials requested can be for indoor or outdoor work, and should last for more than one academic year.
Qualifying recipients: Educators working within the Lake Champlain Basin may apply for Educator Mini-Grants on behalf of their school provided they meet the following criteria:
- Educators must have been a past participant in either the CBEI Watershed for Every Classroom Course (11-day course) OR have submitted student entries in CBEI World Water Day events OR be teaching about the Lake Champlain watershed 2020-2021.
- Only one grant will be awarded per school. The school must be located within the Champlain Watershed.
How the funds can be used:
- Funds can be used to purchase products which enhance student learning about watersheds and water quality in the Lake Champlain basin, including the streams and rivers that flow to the Lake, or to strengthen the educational materials in the classroom that will help students learn about watershed issues.
- Examples include, but are not limited to: resource guides for field work, boots and waders for stream work, bug collection nets, field lenses, macroinvertebrate tray sorters, binoculars, microscopes, or classroom posters relevant to water quality work.
- Please note: These funds cannot be used for food, transportation, or entrance fees.
Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through December 30, 2021, although available funds likely will be disbursed quickly; apply sooner rather than later. Awards will be announced shortly after applications, ideally within 10 business days.
Funding: Educators may be awarded a grant of up to $1,000. Applicants may apply for less than $1,000, but one application is permitted per school in this grant opportunity.
Review: Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the LCBP on a rolling basis.
Download the Educator Mini-Grants: Instructions, Application & Reimbursement Form →
Watershed Association Professional Development Mini-Grants
These mini-grants provide professional development funds for the staff and volunteers of qualified watershed organizations in the Lake Champlain Basin, to cover expenses such as travel, meals, registration and accommodations at meetings, conferences, workshops and other venues designed to enhance the organizations’ capacity to operate. Qualifying Organizations: Watershed types of organization within the Lake Champlain Basin may apply for Watershed Association Professional Development Mini-grants. Up to $500/year is available per organization subject to availability of funds. Please read the attached instructions for more details about qualifying.
Download the Watershed Association Professional Development Mini-Grants: Instructions, Application & Reimbursement Form →
View a list of recently closed RFPs, or search our Publications Database to read the technical reports that have resulted from past projects.