Item 20 - On-Call Grant Writing Services

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Proposal for Grant Writing Services | Santa Ana Public Works Agency Page 5 1. STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS • Craft Strategic Funding Plan: Utilizing the information gathered during the onboarding process, TPA will coordinate with the Agency to develop a proactive and comprehensive strategic funding plan that serves the needs of the Agency’s priorities. The plan will do more than simply identify Agency projects; it will outline and prioritize multiple funding options for each project, and develop a specific plan of work tailored for each project. It will also identify key “strings attached” to help assess the cost/benefit ratio for each grant opportunity. Funding opportunities will have in mind the Agency’s priority projects, such as infrastructure replacement, green infrastructure, park land acquisitions, recycled water programs, EV charging infrastructure, sewer septic tank removals/conversions, and more. • Identify, Research, and Monitor Grant Funding Opportunities: TPA will utilize list-serve subscription programs, funding workshops, agency canvassing, and other networking tactics to ensure every potential opportunity is identified and reviewed for relevance with the Agency’s projects. TPA will then share these opportunities with the Agency for further assessment and determination if a grant application is warranted. The Agency will also receive a grant matrix of funding programs that is updated regularly as new opportunities arise, which will identify funding opportunities from state and federal agencies such as the US Department of Interior- Bureau of Reclamation, the California Natural Resources Agency, the California Water Quality Control Board, and others. • Grant Application Development and Submittal: TPA will develop, draft, submit, and follow up on each Agency grant application through the following process: o Establishment of Clear Accountabilities: TPA will coordinate with the Agency to ensure the assignment of responsibilities and tasks are made clear so that confusion and inefficiency are avoided and the Agency is burdened as little as possible while TPA pursues a grant opportunity. o Provide Overview of Full Application Requirements: For each grant application, TPA will provide the Agency with a detailed overview of the requirements for the grant program and corresponding application to ensure that the program is a strong fit for the Agency’s project. This will include: ▪ Application timeline ▪ Eligible project types ▪ Funding availability and award maximum and minimums ▪ List of application components, including proposal questions and any required attachments o Assemble Project Background and Details: TPA will conduct a detailed informational interview with Agency staff most involved with each project in order to gain a full understanding of the project background and scope details necessary for developing the grant proposal and addressing all application questions. o Coordinate Technical Project Details: For technical application components such as site plans, detailed cost estimates, project timelines, engineering plans, and cost-benefit analyses, TPA will coordinate with Agency staff to compile all necessary attachments and ensure consistency across all elements of the application. o Draft Written Proposal: TPA will fully draft all narrative components of the application and, when applicable, will indicate where additional input or project detail from the Agency could be provided during the proposal review process.