CVA Grant Program Information

Note: At this time, CVA grantees will be allowed to operate facilities pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order 7H  and the associated DECD Guidance  which covers marine maintenance, service and sanitary facilities including all stationary and mobile pumpout facilities.
(March 22, 2020)

For pumpouts and dump stations at boating facilities (not for individual boats)

• Introduction

• Purpose of the Program

• Who May Apply

• Eligible Projects

• How to Apply

Introduction

Participating in the Federal Clean Vessel Act (CVA) grant program is a great way to upgrade your marina's boat waste handling facilities and provide your customers with quick and convenient waste handling. A Harbormaster or Harbor Management Commission can develop a presence on the water by operating a CVA funded pumpout boat program. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Boating Division administers the CVA Grant Program in Connecticut. This program provides federally funded grants for qualifying projects which provide boat sewage disposal facilities. Up to 75% of the cost of an approved project may be reimbursed.

Purpose of the Program

The purpose of the program is to increase the availability of proper waste handling facilities for boaters (known as Marine Sewage Disposal Facilities or MSDFs). Increased use of MSDFs will reduce the discharge of poorly treated or untreated sanitary wastes into the waters of Long Island Sound and its harbors thereby helping to improve water quality.

Who May Apply

Any owner/operator of a public or private marine facility desiring to install a new MSDF, with an existing MSDF in need of substantial repairs or upgrade, or desiring to obtain funding to operate and maintain a new or existing MSDF may apply. Additionally, municipal entities and non-profit entities that are interested in operating a pumpout boat may apply. Grantees must agree to make the funded MSDF available to the general public for free.

Should response to this program be larger than anticipated and funding becomes limited, facilities within targeted harbors may receive a higher level of priority over other areas. All selected grant recipients will be required to enter into a contractual grant agreement with the Department.

The fact that a marina facility is not currently in compliance with the state's regulatory programs does not preclude the submission of an application for the funding of your MSDF project. However, boating facilities applying for a grant must bring their facilities into compliance with these regulatory programs in order to receive funding.

Eligible Projects

Funding is currently available for MSDF projects statewide. A solicitation for new and continued projects is issued each year. It is anticipated that funding will be available for projects through December 31 of the upcoming boating season.

Grants are available for installation, operation and maintenance (O&M) of MSDFs.  Central vacuum pumpout systems which are incorporated within the dock system are MSDFs and are eligible for funding.  These systems will be a secondary priority for funding following funding of new  or replacement pumpouts and O&M of existing facilities.  We are also encouraging the development of pumpout boat programs in harbors across the state.

For facilities who have already installed a Marine Sewage Disposal Facility (MSDF), funding for operation and maintenance (O&M) projects for the upcoming boating season is also now available.  Grants will be made for reimbursement of up to 75% of the project cost of O&M of existing MSDFs for the upcoming boating season. The operator of any existing MSDF is eligible for O&M funding provided the pumpout or dump station is publicly available for a reasonable daily/weekly/seasonal period, at no cost. Central vacuum pumpout systems which are incorporated within the dock system are MSDFs and are eligible for funding.  These systems will be considered as a secondary priority for funding. 

How to Apply

Download the current Request for Proposals and Instructions (DEEP-BOR-CVA2021). 

Please Note: Prior to completing the fillable PDF application, save the fillable PDF application on your computer first. Then open the fillable PDF application that was saved to your computer and complete. Save your work periodically.

All proposals can be submitted by hand, e-mail, fax or mail. The proposal must be submitted to:

Maegan Senerth
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Boating Division
P.O. Box 280
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, CT 06371
maegan.senerth@ct.gov
FAX: (860) 434-3501

Communications Notice **IMPORTANT**

Proposers may submit questions about the RFP to the Official Agency Contact by May 14, 2020. All questions must be e-mailed. Anonymous questions will not be answered. The agency reserves the right to provide a combined answer to similar questions.

Questions received by the May 14, 2020 deadline will be answered as an addendum to the RFP by May 21, 2020 on the state contracting portal. Proposers are responsible for checking the state contracting portal for amendments.

RFP Timeline

• Application Instructions
• A Guidebook for Marina Owners and Operators for the Installation and Operation of Sewage Pumpout and Dumpout Stations

Federal Aid Project
funded by your purchase
of fishing equipment
and motor boat fuels

Content Last Updated April 1, 2020.