Dear Colleagues,

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in coordination with the North American Development Bank (NADB), is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects in the Arizona/Sonora and California/Baja California border region: Border 2020. In 1983, the La Paz Agreement designated EPA as the U.S. national coordinator for transboundary pollution and environmental issues. The current binational program, Border 2020, is a partnership with the 10 U.S. and Mexico border states and federal, tribal and local stakeholders to improve public health and the environment along the U.S.-Mexico border. This binational program was recently extended through December 2021.

“EPA is excited to announce Border 2020‘s binational grant opportunity to state, local and tribal stakeholders,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker. “It's through these on-the-ground efforts we realize direct improvements to the environment and public health in the U.S.-Mexico border region.”

"The North American Development Bank is pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with EPA and SEMARNAT in administering program funds that positively impact the U.S.-Mexico border,” said NADB Chief Environmental Officer Salvador Lopez. "The goals outlined in the Border 2020 Program provide solutions to improve the environment and ultimately benefit the quality of life for the 17 million border residents.”

The projects selected under this RFP will meet the goals and objectives of the Border 2020 U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program, whose mission is to protect the environment and public health in the U.S.-Mexico border region. The border region is defined as the area within 62 miles (100 kilometers) on either side of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The RFP highlights priorities under Border 2020 goals are as follows. These priorities reflect opportunities for measurable and sustainable environmental results and build upon existing initiatives.

Priorities can be region-wide or cover a specific geographic area i.e., Arizona/Sonora, or California/Baja California. Competitive proposals will address one or more of the priorities listed below.

1. Improving Air Pollution

2. Improving Access to Clean and Safe Water

3. Promoting Materials Management and Waste Management and Clean Sites

4. Enhancing Joint Preparedness for Environmental Response

5. Enhancing Compliance Assurance and Environmental Stewardship

6. Fundamental Strategy: Promoting Environmental Health

Priorities specific to California/ Baja California include:

• Conduct assessments to prioritize area sources of particulate matter (PM) for paving or other emissions control practices in the California/Baja California binational airsheds where assessments have not been completed or where assessments require updating, such as the previous BECC analysis of road paving projects.
• Conduct monitoring, emissions inventories or other studies to better understand source control options and/or binational transport of air pollution in the California/Baja California nonattainment areas:

             a.  PM10—Imperial/Mexicali

b.  PM2.5—Imperial Mexicali

c.  Ozone—Imperial/Mexicali, San Diego/Tijuana

• Conduct emission reduction activities, including pilot project(s) or community workshop(s) and/or implement pilot project(s) focused on sources identified as needing control in current or future State Implementation Plans (SIP)'s, Tribal Air Programs, or PROAIRE's in the California/Baja California nonattainment areas, including at Ports-of-Entry (POEs):

d. PM10—Imperial/Mexicali

e. PM2.5—Imperial Mexicali

f. Ozone—Imperial/Mexicali, San Diego/Tijuana

The current RFP has a maximum request of $100,000 per project.  Applications are due on September 17, 2019.

For more information and to apply, click on the following link: https://cocef.box.com/s/ajkqefd4vbx5ceyht5pmxfk8hc8uku4c

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)