Open Call: Operationalizing the Benefits of Nature-based Solutions

Deadline Date: November 14, 2024

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 Donor Name: Water Research Foundation

 Grant Size: $100,000 to $500,000

https://www.waterrf.org/serve-file/RFP_5305.pdf

The Water Research Foundation is requesting applications for their new project called Operationalizing the Benefits of Nature-based Solutions to Inform Decisions in a Changing Climate.

Objectives

• To assemble quantitative metrics and synthesize or correlate these with existing qualitative metrics used across disciplines to link the benefits of Nature-based Solution (NbS) to design criteria and implementation. 
• To compare a variety of innovative NbS applications with conventional approaches according to performance, construction costs, operational costs, and multiple benefits. 
• To assist decision-makers with more accurately valuing the benefits and tradeoffs of NbS as part of their holistic water management strategy.

Funding Information

• The maximum funding available from WRF for this project is $250,000. The applicant must contribute additional resources equivalent to at least 33% of the project award. For example, if an applicant requests $100,000 from WRF, an additional $33,000 or more must be contributed by the applicant. Acceptable forms of applicant contribution include cost share, applicant inkind, or third-party in-kind that comply with 2 CFR Part 200.306 cost sharing or matching. The applicant may elect to contribute more than 33% to the project, but the maximum WRF funding available remains fixed at $250,000.
• The anticipated period of performance for this project is 24 months from the contract start date.

Expected Deliverables

• Expected deliverables from this project should include the following:
  • A stand-alone literature review synthesis document, including annotations for the list of publications and resources used. 
  • Summary of survey results with an analysis on how utilities/municipalities have used the framework for quantifying the benefits from NbS. 
  • A utility-focused invitation-only virtual workshop (with two sessions offered at two different times) for peer-to-peer information exchange, along with workshop planning and all supporting materials. 
  • A user-friendly utility-facing guidance, including application case studies. The utility-facing guidance will include a field demonstration/pilot project that can show applicability of research outcomes. In addition, the guidance document will include a separate chapter that summarizes the knowledge gaps, research needs, and preliminary research concepts for recommended future projects. 
  • Webcast and conference presentations. 
  • Submission of at least one open-access peer-reviewed journal article.

Eligibility Criteria

• Proposals will be accepted from both U.S.-based and non-U.S.-based entities, including educational institutions, research organizations, governmental agencies, and consultants or other for-profit entities. 
• WRF’s Board of Directors has established a Timeliness Policy that addresses researcher adherence to the project schedule. Researchers who are late on any ongoing WRF-sponsored studies without approved no-cost extensions are not eligible to be named participants in any proposals.

For more information, visit WRF.