15-06-bayjournal-final-rfp-061715.pdf

OVERVIEW

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

TITLE: Chesapeake Bay Program Office Fiscal Year 2015 Request for Proposals for Bay

Journal Support

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Request for Proposals (RFP)

RFP NUMBER: EPA-R3-CBP-15-06

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 66.466

IMPORTANT DATES

June 18, 2015 Issuance of RFP

August 3, 2015 Proposal Submission Deadline (see Section IV for more information)

September 4, 2015 Approximate date for EPA to notify applicants of results

October 5, 2015 Approximate date for applicant to submit federal grant application

February 1, 2016 Approximate date of award

EPA will consider all proposals that are submitted via Grants.gov by 5:00 EDT on August 3, 2015. Any proposals submitted after the due date and time will not be considered for funding.

No proposals will be accepted by facsimile or e-mail. EPA will only accept proposals submitted via Grants.gov, except in limited circumstances where applicants have no or very limited Internet access (see section IV.).

SUMMARY

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program Office (CBPO) is announcing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for applicants to provide the Chesapeake Bay

Program (CBP) partners with a proposal for publishing the Bay Journal, a monthly periodical published to inform the public about issues and events that affect the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay

Journal is published monthly with the exception of mid-summer and mid-winter, for a total of 10 issues each year. It is distributed free of charge, has a circulation of approximately 25,000, and is a member of the Associated Press. Content is also distributed through an electronic news service and posted to the Bay Journal website (www.bayjournal.com) with timely submissions of news, information and feature stories produced during the time period between the hard copy publications. This RFP is seeking cost-effective proposals from eligible applicants to provide the content for publication of the Bay Journal as well as the electronic news service and Bay Journal website to raise public awareness of issues surrounding the Chesapeake Bay.

CBP partners include federal agencies, seven watershed jurisdictions, and many non-federal organizations; however, work funded under this RFP will support the seven watershed http://www.bayjournal.com/ jurisdictions and other non-federal partners. The seven watershed jurisdictions are Delaware, the

District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

FUNDING/AWARDS: This RFP will cover the project period up to and including six years from an expected start date of February 1, 2016. CBPO plans to award one grant to carry out all activities under this RFP. The total estimated funding for six years is approximately $1,800,000 to $2,100,000, with an estimated $300,000 to $350,000 available for the first year and each additional year. There is no guarantee of funding throughout this period or beyond.

FULL TEXT OF ANNOUNCEMENT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

II. Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

IV. Proposal and Submission Information

V. Proposal Review Information

VI. Award Administration Information

VII. Agency Contacts

VIII. Other Information (Appendices)

I: FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Background

1. About the Chesapeake Bay Program The Chesapeake Bay is North America's largest and most biologically diverse estuary. A resource of extraordinary productivity, it is worthy of the highest levels of protection and restoration. Authorized by Section 117 of the Clean Water Act, CBP is responsible for supporting the Chesapeake Executive Council through a number of actions, including the coordination of federal, state, and local efforts to restore and protect living resources and water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Section 117 also authorizes EPA to provide assistance grants to support the goals of the program.

CBP is a unique regional partnership that has led and directed the restoration of the Chesapeake

Bay since 1983. The CBP partners include the states of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia; the District of Columbia; the Chesapeake Bay

Commission, a tri-state legislative body; EPA, representing the federal government; and participating citizen, local government, and scientific and technical advisory groups.

The CBP partnership is guided at the direction of the Chesapeake Executive Council (Executive

Council), which, through its leadership, establishes the policy direction for the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and exerts its leadership to rally public support for the Bay effort and signs directives, agreements, and amendments that set goals and guide policy for

Chesapeake Bay restoration.

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/partnerorganizations.aspx http://www.state.md.us/ http://www.state.pa.us/ http://www.state.va.us/ http://www.washingtondc.gov/ http://www.chesbay.state.va.us/ http://www.chesbay.state.va.us/

The Principals' Staff Committee (PSC) acts as the senior policy advisors to the Executive

Council, accepting items for their consideration and approval and setting agendas for Executive

Council meetings. The PSC also provides policy and program direction to the Management

Board.

The Management Board provides strategic planning, priority setting, and operational guidance through implementation of a comprehensive, coordinated, accountable implementation strategy for the CBP. It directs and coordinates all of the goal teams and workgroups under it.

The Goal Implementation Teams (GITs) includes federal and non-federal experts from throughout the watershed. Thus, academic experts, advocacy organizations, and others become active members of the broad restoration partnership.

Pursuant to Section 117(b)(2) of the Clean Water Act, 33 USC 1267 (b)(2), CBPO is the office within EPA charged with providing support to the Council in the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay. CBPO and CBP mentioned above are two distinct entities.

2. 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and Executive Order 13508

On June 16, 2014, the Chesapeake Executive Council, CBP’s governing body signed a new voluntary Chesapeake Bay agreement (referred to as Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement throughout this RFP) that will guide the CBP partnership’s work into the future. For the first time, Delaware, New York, and West Virginia signed the agreement as full CBP partners in the overall effort. This agreement is one of the most comprehensive restoration plans developed for the Chesapeake region, providing greater transparency and accountability of all CBP partners.

With 10 interrelated goals and 31 outcomes, this watershed-wide accord advances the restoration, conservation, and protection of all the lands and waters within the 64,000-square-mile watershed by promoting sound land use, environmental literacy, stewardship, and a diversity of engaged citizens. Additionally, the goals and outcomes aim to better protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay's living resources, water quality, and vital habitats. The new

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement also recognizes the unique and vital role local governments play and how they are essential to the restoration effort.

This grant will help fulfill the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement’s Stewardship goal and its outcomes.

B. Scope of Work

This RFP is seeking cost-effective proposals from eligible applicants for producing appropriate content and publishing and distributing the Bay Journal periodical newspaper, as well as for distribution through an electronic news service and posting to the Bay Journal website to raise public awareness of issues surrounding the Chesapeake Bay. Products should include news stories, feature stories, editorials, digital imagery and other appropriate multimedia to support the production of the hard copy newspaper as well as electronic news service distribution and posting to the website. The successful applicant should develop products in a manner consistent with industry standard journalistic practices that comply with the standards of the Associated

Press Stylebook and are readily adaptable in both print and electronic news delivery. Products will be developed independent of federal agency input as to editorial content or review except as required for accuracy of information regarding established policies or existing published data.

While the CBP partnership is comprised of federal and non-federal organizations, any activities funded under this RFP will not directly benefit the federal partners.

CBPO plans to award one grant to carry out all activities under this RFP. The estimated funding for six years is approximately $1,800,000 to $2,100,000, with an estimated $300,000 to $350,000 available for the first year and each additional year.

If your organization has an interest in this project, has the skills to accomplish the activities, and is eligible to receive a federal assistance agreement as described in Section III of this announcement, we encourage you to submit a proposal. Each eligible proposal will be evaluated using the criteria described in Section V. The activity is a multi-year project (up to six years), and the proposal should have a work plan and budget for the first year and an estimated budget detail for each of the subsequent five years.

Applicants must address each activity listed below in their proposal.

Activity 1: Expert production of content for distribution through the Bay Journal and posting on the Bay Journal website

The partners of the Chesapeake Bay Program established a goal of creating Engaged

Communities as spelled out in the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The agreement calls on the partnership to connect with environmental stewards and encourage future local leaders to keep the restoration effort moving forward. The Bay Journal plays an integral part through its products by raising public awareness of issues and fostering an emotional connection within the communities of the Bay watershed.

The following are examples of the types of tasks required to carry out Activity 1. Applicants may consider these tasks as well as describe alternative approaches to providing the requested support. Applicants are encouraged to describe how they would support efforts to progressively enhance the production of media content for distribution through the printed Bay Journal, an electronic news service and posting to the Bay Journal website.

Produce articles appropriate to support production of the Bay Journal, distribution through an electronic news service and the Bay Journal website.

Research and prepare copy appropriate for either the Bay Journal periodical, an electronic news distribution service, or the Bay Journal website. Content should focus on

Chesapeake Bay Program partnership issues, progress and methods to achieve

Chesapeake Bay and watershed restoration and protection as outlined in the goals of the

2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

Develop news stories and features that are factual and consistent with journalistic and

Associated Press Stylebook standards.

Develop editorials that are clearly marked as being the opinion of the author and not the

CBP partnership, its members, or as the official position of any federal agency.

Produce digital media appropriate to support production of the Bay Journal, distribution through an electronic news service and the Bay Journal website.

Either in support of articles or as stand-alone products, professionally generate digital media, including photographs, graphics, videos, animations or other multimedia, appropriate for inclusion in the printed Bay Journal periodical, the electronic Bay

Journal website, or for release through an electronic news service.

Produce photographs and videos that meet established industry norms and are credited in accordance with the standards of the Associated Press Stylebook.

Produce digital media for the printed Bay Journal periodical that is easily transferable to the Bay Journal website.

Activity 2: Distribution of hard copies of the Bay Journal periodical publication throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and electronic distribution of associated content.

In order to meet the desire of the CBP partnership to raise public awareness of issues surrounding the Chesapeake Bay watershed, information contained in the Bay Journal should be distributed through the most effective manner that will reach the intended audience. It is impractical and not cost-effective to generate hard copies of the Bay Journal periodical for each of the nearly 18 million residents of the watershed; therefore, maximum use of electronic distribution is needed, accompanied by a highly targeted distribution of the hard copy.

The following are examples of the types of tasks required to carry out Activity 2. Applicants may consider these tasks as well as describe alternative approaches to providing the requested support.

Publish and distribute hard copies of the Bay Journal periodical to the public.

Consistent with current industry standards for editorial layout and design, compile associated content from Activity 1 to publish and distribute up to 25,000 hard copies of up to 10 issues (28-40 pages) per year for distribution to the public.

Arrange for or provide professional printing of the periodical.

Arrange for or provide professional mail processing, shipping and delivery of the periodical.

Electronically distribute and track Bay Journal articles and digital media through an electronic news service and the Bay Journal website.

Establish or use an existing electronic news distribution service to share content with appropriate news agencies in order to maximize coverage of issues surrounding

Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.

Track use of articles distributed through the electronic news service to determine to the extent possible the audience reach of the media outlets through which the articles are published.

Utilize email distribution systems for interested subscribers to receive an electronic version of the Bay Journal periodical and/or articles distributed through the electronic news service.

Host and maintain the Bay Journal website with timely content and design consistent with established industry practices.

Use social media platforms to expand reach and draw traffic to the Bay Journal website.

Obtaining Additional Information

For additional background information on the CBP achievements and commitments, see the CBP

Partnership’s website located at http://www.chesapeakebay.net/ or call 1-800-YOUR-BAY to receive information by mail.

C. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage & Anticipated Outcomes and Outputs

Pursuant to Section 6a of EPA Order 5700.7, “Environmental Results under EPA Assistance

Agreements,” EPA must link proposed assistance agreements to the Agency’s Strategic Plan.

EPA also requires that grant applicants and recipients adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see EPA Order 5700.7, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements, http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/award/5700.7.pdf).

1. Linkage to EPA’s Strategic Plan

The overall objective of this grant is to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem through increased public awareness and public engagement in addressing water-quality restoration goals and Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. Under EPA’s FY2014–2018 Strategic

Plan (see: http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan), this objective supports Strategic

Goal #2: Protecting America’s Waters; Objective 2.2: Protect and Restore Watersheds and

Aquatic Ecosystems; specifically, Improve the Health of the Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem. The project funded under this announcement must be linkable to these strategic goals.

2. Outputs

The term “output” means an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to an environmental goal and objective that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during an assistance agreement funding period. Expected outputs from the project(s) to be funded under this announcement may include the following:

Activity 1:

Sufficient number of news stories, features and editorials produced for the Bay Journal periodical, distribution through an electronic news service and posting to the Bay Journal website;

Sufficient amount of appropriate digital media produced to support the Bay Journal, electronic news service and Bay Journal website.

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/ http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/award/5700.7.pdf http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan

Activity 2:

Publish up to 10 issues (28-40 pages) of the Bay Journal periodical annually, with up to

25,000 hard copies for distribution to the public;

Number of articles and digital media posted electronically;

Track Bay Journal articles and digital media through an electronic news service;

Host and maintain the Bay Journal website;

Number of emails maintained in email distribution systems for distributing an electronic version of the Bay Journal periodical and/or articles;

Use social media platforms to expand reach and draw traffic to the Bay Journal website.

Increased traffic to the Bay Journal website.

Progress reports and a final report will also be required outputs as specified in Section VI.C., Reporting, of this announcement.

3. Outcomes

The term “outcome” means the result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective. Outcomes may be qualitative and environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic in nature but must also be quantitative. They may not necessarily be achievable within an assistance agreement funding period. An example of an outcome under this proposal is increased public awareness and commitment that would result in improving aquatic health of the

Chesapeake Bay watershed. Another potential outcome is increased number and diversity of trained and mobilized citizen volunteers with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance the health of their local watersheds.

D. Authorizing Statutes and Regulations

The grant made as a result of this announcement is authorized under the Clean Water Act, Section 117(d). Under Section 117(d) (1) of the Act, EPA has the authority to issue grants and cooperative agreements for the purposes of protecting and restoring the Chesapeake Bay's ecosystem. This project is subject to the Office of Management and Budget’ (OMB) Uniform

Grants Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) and EPA-specific provisions of the Uniform Grants Guidance

(2 CFR Part 1500).

II: AWARD INFORMATION

A. Funding Amount and Expected Number of Awards

CBPO plans to award one grant under this RFP. Funding for the activity listed above is approximately $300,000 to $350,000 annually for Fiscal Year 2016 through Fiscal Year 2021, depending on funding availability, satisfactory performance, and other applicable considerations.

The total estimated funding for six years is approximately $1,800,000 to $2,100,000.

EPA reserves the right to reject all proposals and make no award under this announcement.

EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with

Agency policy and guidance, if additional funding becomes available after the original selection is made. Any additional selection for awards will be made no later than six months after the original selection decision.

B. Award Type

Successful applicants will be issued a grant rather than a cooperative agreement as appropriate.

A cooperative agreement is an assistance agreement that is used when there is substantial federal involvement with the recipient during the performance of an activity or project. EPA awards cooperative agreements for those projects in which it expects to have substantial interaction with the recipient throughout the performance of the project. EPA does not have the authority to select employees or contractors employed by the recipient. The final decision on the content of reports rests with the recipient. For the award issued under this RFP, products will be developed independent of federal agency input as to editorial content or review except as required for accuracy of information regarding established policies or existing published data.

C. Partial Funding

In appropriate circumstances, EPA reserves the right to partially fund proposals by funding discrete portions or phases of proposed projects. If EPA decides to partially fund a project, it will do so in a manner that does not prejudice the applicant or affect the basis upon which the proposal or portion thereof was evaluated and selected for award and therefore maintains the integrity of the competition and selection process.

D. Expected Project Period

The expected project period for the grant is six years, with funding provided on an annual basis.

No commitment of funding can be made beyond the first year. The expected start date for the award resulting from this RFP is February 1, 2016.

E. Pre-Award Costs

Recipients may incur otherwise eligible and allowable pre-award costs up to 90 days prior to award at their own risk without prior approval of EPA’s award official. Pre-award costs must comply with 2 CFR 200.458 and 2 CFR 1500.8. If EPA determines that the requested pre-award costs comply with the relevant authorities, and that the costs are justified as allocable to the project, then these costs may be included as allowable expenditures at the time that the assistance award document is prepared.

However, if for any reason EPA does not fund the proposal or the amount of the award is less than the applicant anticipated, then EPA is under no obligation to reimburse the applicant for these costs incurred. Thus, applicants incur pre-award costs at their own risk. Costs incurred more than 90 days prior to award require the approval of EPA Region 3’s grant official.

III: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

Nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, colleges, universities, and interstate agencies are eligible to submit proposals in response to this RFP. For-profit organizations are not eligible to submit proposals in response to this RFP.

B. Cost-Share or Matching Requirements

Pursuant to Clean Water Act 117(d)(2)(A), the agency shall determine the cost-share requirements for awards. The CFDA Number 66.466 states that assistance agreement applicants must commit to a cost-share ranging from 5 percent to 50 percent of eligible project costs as determined at the sole discretion of EPA. For this RFP, EPA has determined that an applicant must provide a minimum of five percent of the total cost of the project as the non-federal cost-share.

Cost-share may be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. Involvement from foundations, watershed groups, private sector, eligible governmental, as well as non-conventional partners can help with the match. This match must be met by eligible and allowable costs and is subject to the match provisions in grant regulations. Proposals that do not demonstrate how the five percent match will be met will be rejected.

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

Only proposals from eligible entities (see Section III.A above) that meet the following threshold eligibility criteria will be evaluated against the criteria in Section V.B. Applicants must meet the following threshold criteria to be considered for funding. Applicants deemed ineligible for funding consideration as a result of the threshold eligibility review will be notified in writing within 15 calendar days of the ineligibility determination.

1. Proposals must substantially comply with the proposal submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section IV of this announcement or else they will be rejected. Where a page limit is expressed in Section IV with respect to the narrative proposal, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed.

2. In addition, initial proposals must be submitted through www.grants.gov as stated in

Section IV of this announcement (except in the limited circumstances where another mode of submission is specifically allowed for as explained in Section IV) on or before the proposal submission deadline published in Section IV of this announcement.

Applicants are responsible for following the submission instructions in Section IV of this announcement to ensure that their proposal/application is timely submitted.

3. Proposals submitted after the submission deadline will be considered late and deemed ineligible without further consideration unless the applicant can clearly demonstrate that it was late due to EPA mishandling or because of technical problems associated http://www.sam.gov/ with Grants.gov or relevant SAM.gov system issues. An applicant’s failure to timely submit their proposal/application through Grants.gov because they did not timely or properly register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov will not be considered an acceptable reason to consider a late submission. Applicants should confirm receipt of their proposal with

Tim Roberts at roberts.timothy-p@epa.gov (see Section VII, Agency Contact) as soon as possible after the submission deadline—failure to do so may result in your proposal not being reviewed.

4. The project funded under this announcement must be linked to the strategic goal outlined in Section I.C.1.

5. For a proposal to be considered eligible for funding, substantive project-related work included in the proposal must take place within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which includes portions of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West

Virginia, and all of the District of Columbia.

6. Proposals must show how they will meet the five percent cost-share requirement described in Section III.B.

7. Proposals requesting funding for more than $350,000 for the first year or more than

$2,100,000 for the full six years will be rejected.

8. Proposals must address all activities in Section I.B. of this RFP to be considered.

9. If a proposal is submitted that includes any ineligible tasks or activities, that portion of the proposal will be ineligible for funding and may, depending on the extent to which it affects the proposal, render the entire proposal ineligible for funding.

IV: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. How to Obtain a Proposal Package

Applicants can download individual grant application forms from Grants.gov.

B. Content and Form of Proposal Submission

Each proposal will be evaluated using the criteria referenced in Section V.B. of this announcement. You must submit a single-spaced proposal of up to 12 pages in length by the date and time specified in Section IV.C below. The format for this proposal is contained in Appendix

A of this announcement. Review the directions for the preparation of the proposal. Proposals that are not prepared in substantial compliance with the requirements in Appendix A will not be considered for funding and will be returned to the applicant.

The proposal package must include all of the following materials:

http://grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://grants.gov/ mailto:roberts.timothy-p@epa.gov

1. Standard Form (SF)-424, Application for Federal Assistance – Complete the form.

There are no attachments. Please be sure to include organization fax number and email address in Block 8 of SF-424. Please note that the organizational Dunn and Bradstreet

(D&B) Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number must be included on the SF-

424. Organizations may obtain a DUNS number at no cost by calling the toll-free DUNS number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or visiting their website at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.

2. SF-424A, Budget Information – Complete the form. There are no attachments. The total amount of federal funding requested for the project period should be shown on line

5(e) and on line 6(k) of SF-424A, the amount of indirect costs should be entered on line

6(j). The indirect cost rate (i.e., a percentage), the base (e.g., personnel costs and fringe benefits), and the amount should also be indicated on line 22.

3. Narrative Proposal – The format for this proposal is contained in Appendix A of this announcement. Review the directions for the preparation of the proposal.

Requirements for Narrative Proposal — See Appendix A

All proposal review criteria in Section V must be addressed in the proposal. The proposal shall not exceed 12 pages in length. Pages refer to one side of a single-spaced, typed page. Font size should be no smaller than 10 and the proposal must be submitted on 8 ½” x 11" paper. Note that the 12 pages include all supporting materials, including budget, budget detail, resumes or curriculum vitae and letters of support. With the exception of documentation of non-profit status, cost-share letters of commitment, and the SF-424, if you submit more than 12 pages, the additional pages will be discarded and will not be reviewed. See Appendix A for additional instructions.

C. Intergovernmental Review

Applicants must comply with the Intergovernmental Review Process and/or consultation provisions of Section 204, Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act, if applicable, which are contained in 40 CFR Part 29. This program is eligible for coverage under

Executive Order (EO) 12372, An Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her state for more information on that state's required process for applying for assistance if the state has selected the program for review. Single Points of Contact can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. Further information regarding this requirement will be provided if your proposal is selected for funding.

D. Funding Restrictions

Administrative Cost Cap Requirement under Statutory Authority

Grantees applying for CBP assistance agreements must adhere to the requirements for

“Administrative Costs” under the Clean Water Act, Section 117 (d)(4), which states that administrative costs shall not exceed 10 percent of the annual grant award (annual grant award = federal share plus cost-share). Appendix B: Administrative Cost Cap Worksheet is provided http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html as an example of a method to calculate the 10-percent limitation. You are not required to submit

Appendix B with your proposal.

Allowable Costs

EPA assistance agreement funds may only be used for the purposes set forth in the grant and must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award. Federal funds may not be used for cost sharing for other federal grants (except where authorized by statute), lobbying, or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, federal funds may not be used to sue the federal government or any other government entity. All costs identified in the budget must conform to the provisions of 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E, Cost Principles. During the grant negotiation, any ineligible costs outlined in the proposal (i.e. lobbying activities) will be excluded in the final grant award.

E. Requirement to Submit Through Grants.gov and Limited Exception Procedures

Applicants, except as noted below, must apply electronically through Grants.gov under this funding opportunity based on the grants.gov instructions in this announcement. If an applicant does not have the technical capability to apply electronically through grants.gov because of limited or no internet access which prevents them from being able to upload the required application materials to Grants.gov, the applicant must contact OGDWaivers@epa.gov or the address listed below in writing (e.g., by hard copy, email) at least 15 calendar days prior to the submission deadline under this announcement to request approval to submit their application materials through an alternate method.

Mailing Address:

OGD Waivers c/o Barbara Perkins

USEPA Headquarters

William Jefferson Clinton Building

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N. W.

Mail Code: 3903R

Washington, DC 20460

Courier Address:

OGD Waivers c/o Barbara Perkins

Ronald Reagan Building

1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.

Rm # 51267

Washington, DC 20004

In the request, the applicant must include the following information:

Funding Opportunity Number (FON)

Organization Name and DUNS

Organization’s Contact Information (email address and phone number) http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:Grants.gov mailto:OGDWaivers@epa.gov

Explanation of how they lack the technical capability to apply electronically through

Grants.gov because of 1) limited internet access or 2) no internet access which prevents them from being able to upload the required application materials through www.Grants.gov.

EPA will only consider alternate submission exception requests based on the two reasons stated above and will timely respond to the request -- all other requests will be denied. If an alternate submission method is approved, the applicant will receive documentation of this approval and further instructions on how to apply under this announcement. Applicants will be required to submit the documentation of approval with any initial application submitted under the alternative method. In addition, any submittal through an alternative method must comply with all applicable requirements and deadlines in the announcement including the submission deadline and requirements regarding proposal content and page limits (although the documentation of approval of an alternate submission method will not count against any page limits).

If an exception is granted, it is valid for submissions to EPA for the remainder of the entire calendar year in which the exception was approved and can be used to justify alternative submission methods for application submissions made through December 31 of the calendar year in which the exception was approved (e.g., if the exception was approved on March 1, 2015, it is valid for any competitive or non-competitive application submission to EPA through December

31, 2015). Applicants need only request an exception once in a calendar year and all exceptions will expire on December 31 of that calendar year. Applicants must request a new exception from required electronic submission through Grants.gov for submissions for any succeeding calendar year. For example, if there is a competitive opportunity issued on December 1, 2015 with a submission deadline of January 15, 2015, the applicant would need a new exception to submit through alternative methods beginning January 1, 2016.

Please note that the process described in this section is only for requesting alternate submission methods. All other inquiries about this announcement must be directed to the Agency Contact listed in Section VII of the announcement. Queries or requests submitted to the email address identified above for any reason other than to request an alternate submission method will not be acknowledged or answered.

F. Submission Instructions

The electronic submission of your application must be made by an official representative of your institution who is registered with Grants.gov and is authorized to sign applications for Federal assistance. For more information on the registration requirements that must be completed in order to submit an application through grants.gov, go to http://www.grants.gov and click on

“Applicants” on the top of the page and then go to the “Get Registered” link on the page. If your organization is not currently registered with Grants.gov, please encourage your office to designate an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and ask that individual to begin the registration process as soon as possible. Please note that the registration process also requires that your organization have a DUNS number and a current registration with the System for

Award Management (SAM) and the process of obtaining both could take a month or more.

Applicants must ensure that all registration requirements are met in order to apply for this opportunity through grants.gov and should ensure that all such requirements have been met well http://www.grants.gov/ in advance of the submission deadline. Registration on grants.gov, SAM.gov, and DUNS number assignment is FREE.

To begin the application process under this grant announcement, go to http://www.grants.gov and click on “Applicants” on the top of the page and then “Apply for Grants” from the dropdown menu and then follow the instructions accordingly. Please note: To apply through Grants.gov, you must use Adobe Reader software and download the compatible Adobe Reader version. For more information about Adobe Reader, to verify compatibility, or to download the free software, please visit http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical-support/software/adobe-reader-compatibility.html.

You may also be able to access the application package for this announcement by searching for the opportunity on http://www.grants.gov. Go to http://www.grants.gov and then click on

“Search Grants” at the top of the page and enter the Funding Opportunity Number, EPA-R3-

CBP-15-06, or the CFDA number that applies to the announcement (CFDA 66.466), in the appropriate field and click the Search button. Alternatively, you may be able to access the application package by clicking on the Application Package button at the top right of the synopsis page for the announcement on http://www.grants.gov. To find the synopsis page, go to http://www.grants.gov and click “Browse Agencies” in the middle of the page and then go to

“Environmental Protection Agency” to find the EPA funding opportunities.

Proposal Submission Deadline Your organization’s AOR must submit your complete proposal electronically to EPA through

Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) no later than 5 p.m. EDT on August 3, 2015. Please allow for enough time to successfully submit your application process and allow for unexpected errors that may require you to resubmit.

Please submit all of the application materials described below using the grants.gov application package that you downloaded using the instructions above. For additional instructions on completing and submitting the electronic application package, click on the “Show Instructions” tab that is accessible within the application package itself.

If you have not received a confirmation of receipt from EPA (not from Grants.gov) within 30 days of the proposal/application deadline, please contact the person listed in Section VII of this announcement. Failure to do so may result in your proposal/application not being reviewed.

Application Materials

The following forms and documents are required under this announcement:

1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

2. Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)

3. Narrative Proposal (Project Narrative Attachment Form) – prepared as described in

Section IV.B. of the announcement http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical-support/software/adobe-reader-compatibility.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical-support/software/adobe-reader-compatibility.html http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/

G. Technical Issues With Submission

1. Once the application package has been completed, the “Submit” button should be enabled. If the “Submit” button is not active, please call Grants.gov for assistance at 1-

800-518-4726. Applicants who are outside the U.S. at the time of submittal and are not able to access the toll-free number may reach a Grants.gov representative by calling 606-

545-5035. Applicants should save the completed application package with two different file names before providing it to the AOR to avoid having to re-create the package should submission problems be experienced or a revised application needs to be submitted.

2. Submitting the application. The application package must be transferred to

Grants.gov by an AOR. The AOR should close all other software before attempting to submit the application package. Click the “submit” button of the application package.

Your Internet browser will launch and a sign-in page will appear. Note: Minor problems are not uncommon with transfers to Grants.gov. It is essential to allow sufficient time to ensure that your application is submitted to Grants.gov BEFORE the due date identified in Section IV of the solicitation. The Grants.gov support desk operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except Federal Holidays.

A successful transfer will end with an on-screen acknowledgement. For documentation purposes, print or screen capture this acknowledgement. If a submission problem occurs, reboot the computer – turning the power off may be necessary – and re-attempt the submission.

Note: Grants.gov issues a “case number” upon a request for assistance.

3. Transmission Difficulties. If transmission difficulties that result in a late transmission, no transmission, or rejection of the transmitted application are experienced, and following the above instructions do not resolve the problem so that the application is submitted to www.Grants.Gov by the deadline date and time, follow the guidance below.

The Agency will make a decision concerning acceptance of each late submission on a case-by-case basis. All emails, as described below, are to be sent to Tim Roberts

(roberts.timothy-p@epa.gov) with the FON in the subject line. If you are unable to email, contact Tim Roberts at 410-267-5770. Be aware that EPA will only consider accepting applications that were unable to transmit due to www.Grants.gov or relevant www.Sam.gov system issues or for unforeseen exigent circumstances, such as extreme weather interfering with internet access. Failure of an applicant to submit timely because they did not properly or timely register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov is not an acceptable reason to justify acceptance of a late submittal.

a. If you are experiencing problems resulting in an inability to upload the application to

Grants.gov, it is essential to call www.Grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726 before the application deadline. Applicants who are outside the U.S. at the time of submittal and are not able to access the toll-free number may reach a Grants.gov representative by calling 606-545-5035. Be sure to obtain a case number from

Grants.gov. If the problems stem from unforeseen exigent circumstances unrelated to

Grants.gov, such as extreme weather interfering with internet access, contact Tim

Roberts.

b. Unsuccessful transfer of the application package: If a successful transfer of the http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:roberts.timothy-p@epa.gov application cannot be accomplished even with assistance from Grants.gov due to electronic submission system issues or unforeseen exigent circumstances, send an email message to Tim Roberts prior to the application deadline. The email message must document the problem and include the Grants.gov case number as well as the entire application in PDF format as an attachment.

c. Grants.gov rejection of the application package: If a notification is received from

Grants.gov stating that the application has been rejected for reasons other than late submittal promptly send an email to Tim Roberts with the FON in the subject line within one business day of the closing date of this solicitation. The email should include any materials provided by Grants.gov and attach the entire application in PDF format.

H. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

Additional provisions that apply to this solicitation and/or awards made under this solicitation, including but not limited to those related to confidential business information, contracts and subawards under grants, and proposal assistance and communications, can be found at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/competition/solicitation_provisions.htm. These, and the other provisions that can be found at the website link, are important, and applicants must review them when preparing proposals for this solicitation. If you are unable to access these provisions electronically at the website above, please communicate with the EPA contact listed in this solicitation to obtain the provisions.

V: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Evaluation Process

After EPA reviews proposals for threshold eligibility purposes as described in Section III, CBPO will conduct a merit evaluation of each eligible proposal. Reviews will be performed by a team of professionals from EPA and other CBP partner organizations with a working knowledge of the technical analysis and programmatic evaluation needs of CBP partnership. All reviewers will sign a conflict of interest statement indicating they have no conflict of interest.

B. Evaluation Criteria: Maximum score: 215 points

Criteria Points

1. Organizational Capability and Program Description: Under this criterion, reviewers will evaluate the application based on:

a. The quality of the proposal and how it demonstrates the ability to timely and successfully achieve the relevant activity to support the CBP partners as described in Section I.B (35 points).

b. How well the proposal demonstrates that the applicant has the skill, experience, and resources for generating media content covering information of a complex scientific nature and potentially of a sensitive and political http://www.epa.gov/ogd/competition/solicitation_provisions.htm nature as well. Must also have the technical skill, experience and resources for producing, distributing and tracking periodicals, articles and associated digital media. (30 points).

2. Programmatic Capability and Environmental Results Past Performance:

Under this criterion, reviewers will evaluate the applicant based on their programmatic capability to successfully perform the proposed activity taking into account the applicant’s:

a. Past performance in successfully completing federally- and non-federally-funded assistance agreements (assistance agreements include federal grants and cooperative agreements but not federal contracts) similar in size, scope, and relevance to the proposed project within the last three years (no more than five, and preferably EPA agreements). Successful completion of federally-funded assistance agreements also includes your organization’s history of meeting reporting requirements and submission of acceptable final technical reports under those agreements (10 points).

b. Extent and quality to which applicant adequately documented and/or reported on their progress in achieving the expected results (e.g., outcomes and outputs) under federal agency assistance agreements performed within the last three years and, if such progress was not being made, whether the applicant adequately documented and/or reported why not (10 points).

c. Skill and experience in:

i. Production of news stories, features and editorials of a scientifically complex and potentially politically sensitive nature.

Production of digital media, including photographs, graphics, video, animations and other multimedia (10 points);

ii. Publishing and distributing hard copy periodicals (10 points);

iii. Effective creation and/or management of an electronic news distribution platform in providing content to media outlets (10 points);

iv. Hosting and maintaining a news platform website. Use of social media platforms to distribute content and/or increase traffic on website (10 points);

Note: In evaluating applicants under Items a. and b. of these criteria, the reviewers will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources, including Agency files and prior/current grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information supplied by the applicant). If you do not have any relevant or available past performance, please indicate this in the proposal and you will receive a neutral score for these subfactors; a neutral score is half of the total points available in a subset of possible points. If you do not provide any response for these items, you may receive a score of zero for these subfactors.

3. Cost-effectiveness: Under this criterion, reviewers will evaluate the application based on the degree to which the proposal is cost-effective, considering the following factors: organizational overhead (indirect costs) and ability to perform the duties within the operational range of budgets provided by the CBP.

4. Transferability of Results to Similar Projects and/or Dissemination to the

Public: Under this criterion, reviewers will evaluate the application based on the degree to which the proposal includes an adequate plan to:

a. Gather information and lessons learned from the project(s) (10 points).

b. Transfer the documentation/information/data/results/recommendations to

CBP partners, stakeholders, and appropriate audience in the Chesapeake Bay watershed in a timely manner (10 points).

5. Modernization of Methods Over Time: Under this criterion, reviewers will evaluate the application based on the extent the proposal addresses the development of recommendations for changes to the existing distribution practices, which will further improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of efforts to raise public awareness and involvement.

6. Timely Expenditure of Grant Funds: Under this criterion, reviewers will evaluate the application based on the approach, procedures, and controls for ensuring that awarded grant funds will be expended in a timely and efficient manner.

C. Review and Selection Process

Eligible proposals will be evaluated and ranked using the criteria stated in Section V.B. above by a panel of reviewers from EPA and other CBP partner organizations with a working knowledge of the technical analysis and programmatic evaluation needs of the CBP partnership. The review team will then forward the highest-ranked proposals to the director or deputy director of CBPO for final selection. In making the final funding decisions, the selection official may also consider programmatic goals and priorities, as described in the Chesapeake Bay Executive Order Action

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