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<br /> <br /> Proposal for Grant Writing Services | Santa Ana Public Works Agency Page 3 <br />1. STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS <br />B. AGREEMENT STATEMENT <br /> <br />TPA concurs with the provisions contained within the standard agreement attached as Attachment <br />2 in the Appendix of the RFP and is prepared to enter into agreement under those terms. <br />C. UNDERSTANDING OF NEED <br /> <br />TPA has been proud to work with the Agency for the last five years to identify creative funding <br />solutions for the Agency’s priority projects. TPA has been successful in securing $4 million for the <br />Agency for advanced metering infrastructure and is prepared to continue to work with the Agency <br />on a variety of water and energy projects that will help create a more sustainable Santa Ana. <br />The majority of the Agency’s potable water comes from an underground basin and is pumped <br />through 21 existing wells to serve about 44,500 water accounts. Given the limited water supplies <br />in the region, recent reoccurring droughts, and the previous contamination levels, the Agency has <br />needs for a new groundwater well, expansion of the recycled water system to add additional <br />distribution infrastructure and new connections, and PFAS clean-up projects. TPA is prepared to <br />continue to work with the Agency to identify grant funding opportunities as well as legislative <br />directed opportunities to improve overall water system reliability and reduce the burden on other <br />water production facilities, including on imported water. <br />In addition, the Agency has several energy related projects including an expansion of the natural <br />gas fuel station at the City Yard, incorporation of hydro-electric generation and battery storage, <br />and the design and construction of solar parking lot canopies with electric vehicle chargers. <br />TPA believes that funding success for our clients requires much more than simply reacting to <br />existing grant programs when they are announced. TPA believes that maximum funding success <br />for our clients requires aggressive PROACTIVE strategy and effort to CREATE new funding <br />opportunities via budget earmarks or grant programs that are tailored to ensure eligibility and <br />maximum competitiveness for client projects. <br /> <br />Therefore, in order to successfully pursue the Agency’s funding needs, TPA strongly suggests <br />the Agency utilizes the following approach to generate and secure additional funding beyond the <br />opportunities identified in traditional grant programs. While these activities are above and beyond <br />the typical grant writing scope of work, TPA believes a creative funding advocacy component is <br />critical to maximize funding success for the Agency. <br />State Budget Opportunities: TPA has worked with several municipal clients to secure project <br />funding in the State Budget through legislative-directed grants, also referred to as “earmarks”. <br />This has led to success for the Santa Ana Public Works Agency, which received a direct project <br />allocation in the form of a $4 million earmark for Advanced Water Metering Infrastructure. Looking <br />forward to future budget cycles, earmarks are likely to be included in the State’s 2023-24 budget <br />cycle. TPA will work with the Agency to identify priority projects and leverage legislative <br />connections to advocate for this funding in upcoming budget cycles. <br />In addition to project specific funding, current opportunities in Sacramento include $2.7 billion in <br />new water drought funding that was included in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget that will need to be <br />allocated in early August. That funding will likely replenish existing programs that will fund <br />recycled water, habitat restoration, and drought relief, and could provide additional funding <br />opportunities for Agency projects.