Funding Agency: Department of Finance and Administration Opportunity Title: Special Project Grant Program Total Funding Available: $5,050,000.00 Letter of Interest Open Date: August 21, 2023 Letter of Interest Close Date: September 6, 2023 at 3:00 PM MST
Contact Person: Ashley Arellanes P: (505) 617-5995 ashleyannarellanes@gmail.com
A. BACKGROUND During the 2023 New Mexico Legislative Session, the New Mexico Acequia Commission received a General Fund Appropriation to support special projects in Fiscal Year 2023 that benefit NM acequia communities. From this appropriation, the Department of Finance has $5,050,000.00 available for projects that identify and address a need of acequia communities across the state of New Mexico. Letters of interest will be evaluated to determine whether projects directly benefit acequia communities and are “shovel-ready” for the use of funds. The New Mexico Acequia Commission (NMAC) in coordination with the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) is requesting letters of interest (LOI) and will evaluate letters of interest based on the following criteria:
1) Provide brief description of the acequia project; 2) Amount needed to fully fund the project; 3) Can project be phased, and if so at what amount; 4) Project has a fully approved engineering design and is “shovel-ready”; 5) Project will be completed in 18 months; 6) All required permits and easements have been acquired; 7) Acequia has current bylaws; 8) Acequia is in compliance with audits and budgets within the State of New Mexico.
• Note: If project is not shovel ready, identify other needs for your acequia. (ie funding for plan, design, ARC, technical assistance etc. Please provide a cost estimate.) Acequias that qualify may be asked to submit a full application for funding or submit additional paperwork upon request.
Notice of Funding Availability Schedule
NMAC will make every effort to adhere to the following proposed schedule and any changes to this schedule will be published on the NMAC website at: www.newmexicoacequiacommission.com/
NMAC issues Notice of Funding Availability - August 21, 2023 Deadline for Letters of Interest - September 6, 2023 Application review/contact applicants for clarification, if needed - TBD Notice of Award and request for revised budget sent to awardees - TBD DFA initiates the contract process - TBD
B. SCOPE OF WORK
Please submit a maximum of two-page Letter of Interest that describes your project and how it both benefits the acequias in your community and meets the above-mentioned criteria.
C. LETTER OF INTERST INSTRUCTIONS
Please submit a typed letter of Interest (minimum of one-page, but not-to-exceed two pages) describing your project.
Number of Copies We are only accepting electronic Letters of Interest. Entities shall send via email one (1) copy of their Letter of Interest to the email address below.
Delivery Location Letter of Interest must be received via email on or before September 6, 2023 at 3:00 PM MST to:
Attn: Ashley Arellanes
ashleyannarellanes@gmail.com