The Department of Environmental Protection plans to hold a Pre-RFR Informational Meeting to discuss potential projects before the FFY09 604(b) RFR is issued. We recommend potential respondents attend this meeting that will be held in the Concord Room at MassDEP's Central Regional Office in Worcester on Monday, October 6, 2008 from 10:00 AM to Noon to discuss your ideas on new projects for priority and other watersheds. See www.mass.gov/dep/about/region/centralr.htm for directions.

The focus of the FY2009 grants will be for watershed- or sub-watershed-based non-point source assessment activities that support MassDEP's assessment efforts, including data needs that are identified in:

• the Massachusetts Watershed based plans (http://public.dep.state.ma.us/Watershed/Intro.aspx),
• the EOEEA watershed action plans (www.mass.gov/envir/water/publications.html),
• the Massachusetts Nonpoint Source Management Plan (www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/nonpoint.htm),
• MassDEP's watershed water quality assessment reports (www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/wqassess.htm),
• the Massachusetts Estuaries Project, TMDL development, and water supply source protection planning.

Respondents, however, are encouraged to propose other suitable water quality assessment/planning projects. According to the 5-year basin planning cycle, priority or target watersheds for FFY09 include: Deerfield, Millers, Ipswich, Buzzards Bay, Islands, Farmington, Westfield, SuAsCo, Taunton and South Coastal basins.

As the Commonwealth's procurement rules prohibit MassDEP or any other RFR issuer from consulting with potential applicants to develop project ideas once an RFR is issued, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact MassDEP before the RFR issue date to refine project ideas and obtain feedback. Contact Gary Gonyea (617-556-1152 or email gary.gonyea@state.ma.us) for a discussion of ideas and program objectives.

The tentative schedule is as follows:

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