2010 Request for Proposals

Purpose
Eligible Applicants
Eligible Projects
Funding Cycle
Questions

Recently Funded Projects

Individuals and organizations in the following categories may submit proposals:

• Universities and colleges (academic institutions) United States universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges) acting on behalf of their faculty members.

• Non-profit, non-academic organizations Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations in the United States that are directly associated with educational or research activities.

• For-profit organizations United States commercial organizations, especially small businesses with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education. An unsolicited proposal from a commercial organization may be funded when the project is of special concern from a watershed point of view, special resources are available for the work, or the proposed project is especially meritorious. The MCWD and MWMO are interested in supporting projects that couple industrial research resources and perspectives with those of universities; therefore, proposals for cooperative projects involving both universities and the private commercial sector are welcomed.
• Unaffiliated Individuals Scientists, engineers or educators in the US and US citizens may be eligible for support, provided that the individual is not employed by, or affiliated with, an organization, and:
  
  • the proposed project is sufficiently meritorious and otherwise complies with the conditions of any applicable proposal-generating document;
  • the applicant has demonstrated the capability and has access to any necessary facilities to carry out the project; and
  • the applicant agrees to fiscal arrangements that, in the opinion of the MCWD and MWMO Auditor, ensure responsible management of watershed funds.

  Unaffiliated individuals should contact the MCWD or MWMO before preparing a proposal for submission.

All research must include a cost/benefit analysis or a waiver of this requirement approved and by signed by the MCWD and MWMO.

Interdisciplinary proposals are strongly encouraged. Graduate students are not encouraged to submit research proposals, but should arrange to serve as research assistants to faculty members. Proposals will be accepted for doctoral dissertation research when submitted by a faculty member on behalf of the graduate student. Before formal submission, the proposal may be discussed with appropriate Joint Watershed Research Grant Program staff.

Projects eligible for funding under the Joint Watershed Research Grant Program include those that will increase the effectiveness of policies, regulations, programs, and capitol investments in order to:

• reduce the adverse impact of stormwater runoff;
• improve water quality;
• manage stream flow, improve aquatic ecosystems; or
• protect, improve and manage the surface waters and affiliated groundwater resources and the ecosystems of which they are an integral part, within the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

Joint Watershed Research Grant program does not normally support technical assistance, pilot efforts, applied research outside of the boundaries of the MCWD or MWMO, research requiring security classification, the development of products for commercial marketing, or market research for a particular project or invention.
Project managers and partners must be accountable and able to complete project objectives. Proposals will be judged in part on how well they demonstrate

• innovative approaches to solving water resource issues;
• approaches that are measurable and reflect current scientific standards so that they can be evaluated to determine the most effective approaches;
• approaches that are replicable on future projects to more effectively and efficiently solve specific water issues;
• have applicability in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area;
• how they add to the knowledge base of addressing water resource issues;
• clear objectives for what the proposal will accomplish;
• cost effective water and natural resource management.

An economic analysis (cost/benefit analysis) of the project goals shall be included with all applicable research. If an economic analysis is not applicable, the applicant must include the rationale for why it is not applicable in the proposal and, if funded, received a signed waiver of this condition by the MCWD and MWMO. It is strongly recommended that proposals use an interdisciplinary approach for research.
Research areas will be developed and reviewed by the funding partners during each funding cycle to determine research priorities. These priorities will then become the focus of the research program and will be included in subsequent requests for proposals. While all project that meet program guidelines will be considered for funding, the projects that reflect watershed priorities will be given preference. From time to time, the MCWD or MWMO may solicit projects through a “special request for proposal” (SRFP). Responses to SRFPs will also be given preference.

Any questions or comments regarding the Joint Watershed Research Grant should be addressed to:

Joint Watershed Research Grant Program
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
18202 Minnetonka Boulevard
Deephaven, MN 55391

Or by contacting:

Eric Evenson, Administrator
Telephone: 952-471-0590 ext 201
Fax: 952-471-0682
Email: eevenson@minnehahacreek.org

Douglas Snyder, Administrator
Telephone: 651-287-0948 ext 205
Fax: 651-287-1308
Email: dsnyder@mwmo.org