2025 South Florida Program | EPA I R4 SFL 2025 01

2025 South Florida Program (EPA) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 2025 South Florida Program?

The 2025 South Florida Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) focused on improving water quality and aquatic habitat across the South Florida ecosystem.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The program aims to support applied, results-driven projects that can demonstrate tangible improvements or actionable learning for restoring water quality and aquatic habitat in South Florida. EPA is prioritizing demonstration projects with practical outcomes that can help advance, test, and scale future interventions.

Where must projects be located to be eligible?

Projects must be carried out within the 16 counties that overlap with the South Florida Water Management District. Proposals need to clearly connect the project work to that geography and to ecosystem restoration needs in that region.

Does the project need to address the South Florida ecosystem specifically?

Yes. The opportunity is specifically focused on the South Florida ecosystem, and proposals should be clearly tied to ecosystem restoration needs related to improving water quality and aquatic habitat in that region.

What kinds of projects is EPA prioritizing?

EPA is prioritizing demonstration projects that produce tangible, practical outcomes. The program emphasizes applied science frameworks and projects designed to advance, test, and scale interventions that could be expanded or replicated to support longer-term restoration and management objectives in South Florida.

Are planning-only or purely theoretical projects competitive?

The program description indicates EPA is not looking for projects that are only planning documents or purely theoretical work. The emphasis is on on-the-ground or operational projects that can show measurable results and contribute to future implementation.

What is meant by a "demonstration project" in this opportunity?

Based on the description, demonstration projects are efforts that can be implemented in a practical way, produce measurable outcomes, and generate usable lessons that can inform broader adoption or scaling of similar interventions across South Florida.

What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?

Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement. This typically means EPA expects an active partnership role during the project period rather than a simple pass-through grant relationship.

What does "cooperative agreement" imply for how the project will be managed?

The description notes that a cooperative agreement generally involves EPA having an active partnership role during the project period. Applicants should be prepared for involvement beyond a standard grant relationship.

How important is evaluation, monitoring, and study design for this program?

Evaluation is a central expectation. EPA is looking for scientific and statistical rigor in how outcomes are assessed. Projects should include well-designed studies, surveys, research, investigations, and/or monitoring that allow results to be evaluated credibly.

Does EPA expect pre- and post-project monitoring?

Where it makes sense for the proposed work, EPA is looking for pre- and post-project monitoring and data collection. This is intended to help measure whether the project worked and to strengthen the evidence base used by EPA and its partners.

Is sharing or disseminating results required?

The opportunity description indicates that, where appropriate, EPA is looking for dissemination of results so the work contributes to the broader evidence base and improves future decision-making related to restoring water quality and aquatic habitat in South Florida.

Is the program interested only in measuring success, or also in generating new knowledge?

Both. The intent is not only to measure whether a project worked, but also to generate follow-on research questions and insights that improve future decision making for restoration in the South Florida ecosystem.

What is the official title of the funding opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under the title "2025 South Florida Program."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is EPA I R4 SFL 2025 01.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?

The CFDA (Assistance Listing) number is 66.484.

What type of funding activity is this categorized as?

It is categorized as an environmental funding activity.

Who is eligible to apply?

The opportunity is open to "Others" as eligible applicants, which generally indicates eligibility extends beyond only state or local governments. Applicants are advised to verify the specific definitions and eligibility requirements in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), particularly Section 2, as referenced in the description.

How many awards does EPA expect to make?

EPA anticipates making about 12 awards.

What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $1,000,000 per award.

When is the application due?

The original application closing date is March 16, 2026.

What makes a proposal more competitive for this opportunity?

Based on the description, competitive proposals will typically combine practical restoration or intervention activities with rigorous study design and clear plans for collecting, analyzing, and sharing data. Strong proposals are also likely to show how a tested approach could be expanded or replicated to support longer-term restoration and management objectives in South Florida.

What should applicants do to confirm detailed eligibility rules and requirements?

The description points applicants to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), particularly Section 2, to verify specific definitions and eligibility requirements for "Others" and any additional conditions.