2022 LPIPE RFA revised 3.7.22.pdf

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, REGION I

2022 LEAD PIPE INVENTORY AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT DEMONSTRATION

GRANT PROGRAM

Announcement Type: Request for Applications Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-R1-PB-2022 Assistance Listing Number: 66.424

Executive Summary: The Lead Pipe Inventory and Public Engagement (LPIPE) Demonstration Grant Program is EPA Region 1’s competitive grant program to fund work directly with overburdened and underserved communities in New England that still have high prevalence of lead pipes to support EPA’s mission to reduce environmental risks from lead in drinking water, protect and improve human health, and improve the quality of life by reducing exposure to lead in drinking water through identification of lead service lines and public engagement. The LPIPE Demonstration Grant Program will achieve this through identifying and funding projects that:

• Target resources to benefit pollution overburdened and underserved communities1, including environmental justice areas of potential concern2 and sensitive populations (e.g., children, and those who have pre-existing medical conditions and are therefore at increased risk from lead poisoning.

• Reduce environmental and human health risks associated with lead in drinking water from lead service lines.

• Increase collaboration through partnerships and community-based projects that raise awareness of the presence of lead service lines and provide education and outreach to families to prevent exposure to lead in drinking water.

To qualify as eligible projects under the LPIPE Demonstration Grant Program, proposed projects must: (1) be located in and/or directly benefit overburdened and underserved communities in New England that still have high prevalence of public and private lead pipes (2) identify how the proposed project will achieve measurable environmental and/or public health results identifying presence of lead service lines and conducting education and outreach to families to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. Please see Section III for further information on eligibility requirements.

Target Investment Areas: Environmental Justice Areas of Potential Concern; Sensitive

Populations (e.g., children and others at increased risk from lead in drinking water exposure)

Target Program Areas: Lead Pipe Identification; Lead Education & Public Engagement

The LPIPE Demonstration Grant Program anticipates awarding approximately $350,000 through this announcement. Applications may be submitted for amounts ranging from $75,000-$100,000 per project. Project periods may be for one or two years, starting no earlier than June 1, 2022.

COVID-19 Update: EPA is providing flexibilities to applicants experiencing challenges related to COVID-19. Please see the Flexibilities Available to Organizations Impacted by COVID- 19 clause in Section IV of EPA’s Solicitation Clauses.

Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates March 2022 Request for Applications (RFA) is released.

1 Underserved communities refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of “equity.”

2 Areas with potential environmental justice concerns are areas that are disproportionately and adversely impacted by environment and health harms or risks.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses

March - April 2022 Eligible grant recipients develop and complete their applications.

March 31, 2022 EPA Region 1 hosts information session via /webinar. The webinar is open to all applicants to discuss the grant program.

See Attachment F to RSVP.

April 25, 2022 Application submissions must be received by 11:59 PM via https://www.grants.gov.

April 25 – May 13, 2022 Application package submissions are reviewed and evaluated.

May 27, 2022 Applicants will be contacted via telephone if their preapplication is being recommended for funding. Some applicants may be asked to make minor revisions to their proposed project work plans. Formal letters will be sent to all applicants to notify them of the status of their submissions.

June 2022 EPA Region 1 expects to formally announce recipients.

This application guidance includes the following information:

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description Section II. Award Information Section III. Eligibility Information Section IV. Application and Submission Information Section V. Application Review Information Section VI. Award Administration Information Section VII. Agency Contact https://www.grants.gov/

SECTION I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Description The Lead Pipe Inventory and Public Engagement (LPIPE) Demonstration Grant Program is new in 2022 and supports EPA’s mission by working directly with overburdened and underserved communities in New England that still have high prevalence of public and private lead pipes to reduce public health risks from lead pipes, protect and improve human health and improve the quality of life by reducing exposure to lead in drinking water through public education and engagement. The goal of the program is to combine available resources and identify competitive projects that will achieve measurable environmental and public health results in communities with high prevalence of lead pipes across New England. Eligible applicants are invited to apply to EPA New England for funding consideration under this competitive grant program.

The LPIPE Demonstration Grant Program will achieve this through identifying and funding projects that:

• Target resources to benefit pollution overburdened and underserved communities including environmental justice areas of potential concern and sensitive populations (e.g., children and others at increased risk from lead exposure).

• Reduce environmental and human health risks associated with lead in drinking water from lead pipes.

• Increase collaboration through partnerships and community-based projects that raise awareness of the presence of lead service lines and provide education and outreach to families to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water.

The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment (air, water, and land) upon which life depends. EPA's purpose is to ensure that:

• All individuals in the United States are protected from significant risks to human health and the environment where they live, learn and work.

• National efforts to reduce environmental risk are based on the best available scientific information.

• Federal laws protecting human health and the environment are enforced fairly and effectively.

• Environmental protection is an integral consideration in U.S. policies concerning natural resources, human health, economic growth, energy, transportation, agriculture, industry, and international trade, and these factors are similarly considered in establishing environmental policy.

• All parts of society (e.g., communities, individuals, business, state and local governments, tribal governments) have access to accurate information to effectively participate in managing human health and environmental risks.

• Environmental protection contributes to making our communities and ecosystems diverse, sustainable and economically productive.

• The United States plays a leadership role in working with other nations to protect the global environment.

EPA Region 1 takes these broad goals and applies them directly to service the needs of New England residents in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and federally recognized tribes in New England. Within the broad landscape of these states and tribes, EPA New England recognizes that not all communities share the same environmental and public health conditions. For example, in urban, rural, and environmental justice communities of potential concern throughout New England, residents are exposed to a multitude of environmental and public health hazards. Lead poisoning from drinking water, paint, dust, and soil remains a concern for many communities. Cumulatively, the disproportionate and adverse effects of these hazards on residents are intended to be mitigated by this grant funding in an effort to prevent disproportionate health outcomes.

To maximize effectiveness and resources, the Region 1 Drinking Water Program is working in partnership to reduce lead in drinking water exposure of residents, families and children across New England. This grant program seeks to competitively identify projects that will achieve measurable environmental and public health results in specific Investment Areas and Program Areas across New England (see Section I, B, Investment Areas & Program Areas, for more details).

Staff and leadership from the Region 1 Drinking Water Program and other relevant EPA Programs including, but not limited to the Children’s Environmental Health Program, Environmental Justice Program, and others will jointly review and select projects for funding using the criteria listed in Section V of this announcement.

The Region 1 Drinking Water Program is the sole contributing program for this grant announcement. The Drinking Water Program works with regulated entities including municipalities and drinking water systems to protect the environment and public health. Through regulations like the Lead and Copper Rule, EPA’s Water Program supports federal, state and local partners to sustain the adequacy and integrity of water infrastructure in overburdened and underserved communities throughout New England that may represent environmental justice areas of potential concern. Emphasis has been placed on working with communities to identify public and private lead pipes, monitor tap water, and as needed, optimize corrosion control.

Statutory Authority The LPIPE Demonstration Grant Program consists of activities authorized under Safe Drinking Water Act Section 1442. Eligible activities include those that support research, investigations, studies, demonstrations, and training associated with source water and drinking water. Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved scopes of work, plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Funding awarded for research does not include research within the purview of EPA's Office of Research and Development.

Demonstrations must involve new or experimental technologies, methods, or approaches, and it is encouraged that the results of these projects will be disseminated so that others can benefit from the knowledge gained. A project that is accomplished through the performance of routine, traditional, or established practices, or a project that is simply intended to carry out a task rather than transfer information or advance the state of knowledge, however worthwhile the project might be, is not considered a demonstration project.

To learn more about additional requirements for authorized activities, applicants are encouraged to attend the information session. Please see Section IV, F, Information Session for further details.

B. Investment Areas, Program Areas, EPA Strategic Plan Linkage, & Anticipated

Outcomes/Outputs

In order to qualify as eligible projects under the LPIPE Demonstration Grant Program, proposed projects must meet the following criteria: (1) be located in and/or directly benefit both Target Investment Areas described below; and (2) identify how the proposed project will achieve measurable environmental and/or public health results in both Target Program Areas described below.

The LPIPE Demonstration Grant Program seeks to fund projects that are in and/or directly benefit both Target Investment Areas: Environmental Justice Areas of Potential Concern and Sensitive Populations in one or more of the EPA New England States of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and/or tribal lands. Every application must clearly identify and explain how the project will link to each of the Target Investment Areas listed and described below.

Investment Areas: Environmental Justice Areas of Potential Concern and Sensitive

Populations

a. Environmental Justice Areas of Potential Concern: For the purposes of this grant program, “Environmental Justice Areas of Potential Concern” refers to communities, neighborhoods, geographic areas or tribes in New England that potentially have been disproportionately affected by environmental and/or public health burdens in a defined geographic area. EPA New England is committed to promoting and supporting Environmental Justice, which is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no group of people, including any racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies. “Meaningful Involvement” means that: (1) potentially affected community residents have an appropriate opportunity to participate in decisions about a proposed activity that will affect their environment and/or health; (2) the public's contribution can influence the regulatory agency's decision; (3) the concerns of all participants involved will be considered in the decision-making process; and (4) the decision-makers seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected. To qualify under this Investment Area, applicants must provide a description of the characteristics of the overburdened and underserved population and challenges facing the community, neighborhood, or tribe benefitting from the proposed activity, an identification of the potential environmental and health burdens experienced associated with lead exposure or a high prevalence of lead poisoned children. In addition, an explanation must be submitted which explains how the proposed project will address the identified burdens to demonstrate that their project will provide fair treatment and meaningful involvement to members of communities, neighborhoods, or tribes in New England that potentially have been disproportionately affected by environmental and health burdens.

b. Sensitive Populations: For the purposes of this grant program, “sensitive populations” refers to the most robustly studied and most susceptible subpopulations to lead exposure including pregnant women, the developing fetus, infants and young children. Even low lead level exposure is of particular concern to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20 percent or more of a person’s potential exposure to lead. Infants who consume mostly formula mixed with tap water are also at increased risk depending on the level of lead in the system and other sources of lead in the home environment. Scientists have linked lead’s effects on the brain with lowered intelligence quotient (IQ) and attention disorders in children. Young children and infants are particularly vulnerable to lead because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children than in adults.

To qualify under this Target Investment Area, applicants must demonstrate how the project will clearly address lead in drinking water exposure in areas with high prevalence of children, lead-exposed children, pregnant women, and those who have pre-existing medical conditions and/or other sensitive population particularly vulnerable to lead exposure in drinking water.

Every application must clearly identify how the proposed project will achieve measurable environmental and/or public health results in each of the Target Program Areas described below.

Program Areas: Lead Pipe Inventories

a. Lead Pipe Inventories: Projects that help water utilities, states, municipalities, communities and/or residents identify lead service lines that connect the water mains to homes.

Inventories shall include the identification of both public and private lead service lines. The project shall demonstrate a number of methodologies and collaborative programs to develop comprehensive lead pipe inventories in one or more overburdened communities, including environmental justice communities of potential concern. Innovative methods to display and publicly share the locations of lead lines will also be demonstrated through this project.

Project Examples:

• Develop, improve upon existing, and/or promote comprehensive public and lead pipe inventories to identify lead service lines in need of replacement.

• Develop innovative methods to publicly display the location of public and private lead lines in communities, including EJ areas, served by public water systems.

• Provide a baseline and final updated statistical analysis of public and private pipe materials identification, including known and unknown materials, lead pipes, lead pipe components (e.g., goosenecks), copper, galvanized pipe, and other materials.

• Enhance coordination and partnerships between water utility staff, homeowners, and other stakeholders to advance lead pipe inventories.

Example Outputs:

• Increased number of public and private lead drinking water pipes and respective percentage of total drinking water pipes identified in overburdened and underserved communities.

• Number of methods and lessons learned used to publicly display drinking water pipe materials inventories.

• Number of new standard operating procedures and partnerships put in place for continuous improvement to increase lead pipe inventories in the long-term.

• Number of households that have identified lead pipes or other materials as a result of this project.

b. Public Engagement on Lead Pipe Locations: Projects that demonstrate how collaborative partnerships can advance the knowledge of lead pipe locations across households in environmental justice communities of potential concern. Water utilities and communities shall utilize innovative inventory displays and outreach programs to engage state and local advocacy groups in getting the word out to families about the location of lead pipes. Educational and instructional public-focused tools shall be demonstrated, including EPA’s Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead (see www.epa.gov/pyt).

Project Examples:

• Design and conduct a collaborative public engagement campaign to get the word out about location of lead pipes and share steps families can take to reduce lead in drinking water exposure.

• Provide technical assistance to enable residents, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to identify lead service line identification and understand lead risks and steps that can be taken to reduce risks.

• Demonstrate tools, including EPA’s Protect Your Tap, for engaging homeowners and advocacy groups to help identify lead pipes, and enhance informational sharing with water utilities.

Output Examples:

• Number of households in overburdened communities, including EJ communities, and throughout the water utilities’ service areas reached through this project that have learned of the existence of their residential lead lines.

http://www.epa.gov/pyt

• Number of partners and families that have utilized EPA’s Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead, and other innovative tools and materials to help households identify and document lead pipes.

• Increase in understanding of Lead in drinking water exposures and steps that can be taken to reduce risks.

• Design and conduct an education and outreach campaign to identify housing at risk for lead and provide in-home education to families to improve children’s health, such as a reduction of lead exposure

• Number of families, caregivers, individuals, stakeholders, or geographic areas serviced through education, outreach, training or intervention to reduce lead in drinking water exposure.

• Number of advocacy groups working with water utilities to get the word out about locations of lead pipes and steps that families can take to reduce exposure.

Outputs & Outcomes: Outputs refer to measurable quantitative or qualitative activities, efforts, deliverables, or work products that the applicant proposes to undertake during the project period.

The anticipated outputs for LPIPE Demonstration Grant Program cooperative agreements will vary from applicant to applicant but will be identified as "Project Deliverables" in the application narrative and work plan. All applicants will be expected to clearly identify their outputs depending on the Target Program Area(s) selected by the applicant and achieve them during the proposed project period. Grant recipients will be required to submit quarterly status reports about their progress towards achieving outputs once the project is implemented.

The anticipated outputs for LPIPE Demonstration projects will vary depending on the scope of the project and linkage to one or more Target Program Area(s). Anticipated outputs for potential projects are organized by Target Program Area above.

Outcomes refer to the result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out the activities or outputs of the project. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related or programmatic, should be quantitative, and may not necessarily be achievable during the project period. Short-term outcomes include, but are not limited to, increased learning, knowledge, skills, attitudes, and motivation, and must occur during the proposed project period. All awards made under this announcement are expected to result in the general short-term outcomes identified below.

The anticipated short-term outcomes listed below are expected to result in reducing environmental risks to protect and improve human health and the quality of life in order to create healthy communities and ecosystems related to many of the goals in EPA’s Strategic Plan. Anticipated short-term outcomes include, but are not limited to:

• Measurable improvements to environmental and/or public health conditions including, but not limited to the number of households taking action to reduce lead exposure.

• Increased resources to benefit communities at risk.

• Increased access to information and tools that increase understanding and reduction of environmental and human health risks.

• Increased public understanding of chemicals at risk in their community.

Improved institutional and community capacity to understand and solve environmental and human health problems.

• Measurable improvements in public health conditions.

In addition, the projects may result in additional outcomes which will vary depending on the Target Program Area(s) identified by the applicant. Both the expected short-term outcomes identified above, and any other expected outcomes should be defined in the Application Narrative and the Work Plan.

Linkage to EPA Strategic Plan: The activities to be funded under this solicitation support the Draft FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan. Awards made under this solicitation will support Goal 2 (Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights), Objective 2.1 (Promote Environmental Justice and Civil Rights at the Federal, Tribal, State, and Local Levels), Goal 5 (Ensure Clean and Safe Water for all Communities), Objective 5.1 (Ensure Safe Drinking Water and Reliable Water Infrastructure). All applications must be for projects that support the goals and objectives identified above.

EPA also requires that grant applicants adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see EPA Order 5700.7A1, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements, https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements). Applicants must include specific statements describing the environmental results of the proposed project in terms of well-defined outputs and, to the maximum extent practicable, well-defined outcomes that will demonstrate how the project will contribute to the priorities described above.

C. Minority Serving Institutions

Minority Serving Institutions EPA recognizes that it is important to engage all available minds to address the environmental challenges the nation faces. At the same time, EPA seeks to expand the environmental conversation by including members of communities which may have not previously participated in such dialogues to participate in EPA programs. For this reason, EPA strongly encourages all eligible applicants identified in Section III, including minority serving institutions (MSIs), to apply under this opportunity.

For purposes of this solicitation, the following are considered MSIs:

1. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1061(2)). A list of these schools can be found at Historically Black Colleges and Universities;

2. Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059c(b)(3) and (d)(1)). A list of these schools can be found at American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities;

3. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1101a(a)(5)). A list of these schools can be found at Hispanic-Serving Institutions;

4. Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions; (AANAPISIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059g(b)(2)). A list of these schools can be found at Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions; and

5. Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act of 2008, 20 U.S.C. § 1059e(b)(6). A list of these schools can be found at Predominately Black Institutions.

D. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into The Solicitation Additional provisions that apply to sections III, IV, V, and VI of this solicitation and/or awards made under this solicitation, can be found at EPA Solicitation Clauses. These provisions are important for applying to this solicitation and applicants must review them when preparing applications for this solicitation. If you are unable to access these provisions electronically at the website above, please contact the EPA point of contact listed in this solicitation (usually in Section VII) to obtain the provisions.

https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/hispanic-serving-institutions-hsis/ https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=3&source=embed&ll=40.58644586187277%2C-148.28228249999984 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY&ie=UTF&msa=0&ll=37.35160769312532%2C-96.17229800000001&z=4

SECTION II. AWARD INFORMATION

The total estimated funding expected to be available for awards under this competitive opportunity is $350,000. The LPIPE Demonstration Grant Program anticipates awarding a total of approximately 3-5 cooperative agreements under this announcement, subject to the availability of funds, the quantity and quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations. Applications may be submitted for amounts ranging from $75,000-$100,000 per project. Project periods may be for one or two years, starting no earlier than April 1, 2022. Although the project can last up to two years, the total amount requested for federal resources cannot exceed the $100,000 limit.

EPA intends to award cooperative agreements under this solicitation. Cooperative agreements provide for substantial involvement between the EPA Project Officer and the selected applicant(s) in the performance of the work supported. Although EPA will negotiate precise terms and conditions relating to substantial involvement as part of the award process, the anticipated substantial federal involvement for these projects may include:

• Close monitoring of the successful applicant’s performance to verify the results proposed by the applicant.

• Collaboration during performance of the scope of work;

• In accordance with the procurement regulations found at 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.317 through

200.327, review of proposed procurements; and

• Approving qualifications of key personnel (EPA will not select employees or contractors employed by the award recipient); and review and comment on reports prepared under the cooperative agreement (the final decision on the content of reports rests with the recipient).

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.

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

EPA also reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with Agency policy and guidance, and without further competition, if additional funding becomes available after the original award selections are made. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than six months after the original selection decisions.

In addition, EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards under this announcement or make fewer than expected.

SECTION III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants In accordance with Assistance Listing 66.424, eligible applicants for awards under this announcement include State and Local Governments, water utilities, public nonprofit institutions/organizations, private nonprofit institutions/organizations, quasi-public nonprofit institutions/organizations, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, and non-profit organizations (e.g., grassroots and/or community-based organizations). Private businesses, federal agencies, and individuals are not eligible to be grant recipients. However, they are encouraged to work in partnership with eligible applicants on projects.

Non-Profit Status: Non-profit organization, as defined by 2 C.F.R. § 200.1, means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative or other organization that: (1) is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable or similar purposes in the public interest; (2) is not organized primarily for profit; and (3) uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve and/or expand its operations.

Note that 2 C.F.R. § 200.1 specifically excludes Institutions of Higher Education from the definition of non-profit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation. While not considered to be a non-profit organization(s) as defined by 2 C.F.R. § 200.1, public or nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this RFA.

Hospitals operated by state, tribal, or local governments or that meet the definition of nonprofit at 2 C.F.R. § 200.1 are also eligible to apply as nonprofits or as instrumentalities of the unit of government depending on the applicable law. For-profit organizations such as colleges, universities, trade schools, and hospitals are ineligible.

Nonprofit organizations that are not exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code must submit other forms of documentation of nonprofit status; such as certificates of incorporation as nonprofit under state or tribal law. Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible for EPA funding as provided in the Lobbying Disclosure Act, 2 U.S.C. § 1611.

B. Voluntary Cost Sharing/Matching Funds The grant program does not require cost sharing/match funds.

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria In order to qualify as eligible projects under this solicitation, proposed projects from eligible applicants as defined above must meet the threshold eligibility criteria listed below. Applicants deemed ineligible for funding consideration as a result of the threshold eligibility review will be notified within 15 calendar days of the ineligibility determination.

1. Must be an eligible applicant as outlined in Section III,A of this solicitation.

2. Projects must: (1) Be located in and/or directly benefit the Target Investment Areas within

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and/or tribal lands in New England and (2) Identify how the proposed project will achieve measurable environmental and public health results in each of the Target Program Areas. Please see Section I, B, Target Investment Areas & Target Program Areas for additional information.

3. Application Content and Submission

a. Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and application content requirements set forth in Section IV or else they will be rejected. However, where a page limit is expressed in Section IV with respect to the project narrative, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed.

b. Applications must be submitted through 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 Application 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 application is timely submitted.

c. Applications 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 with Grants.gov or relevant System for Award Management (SAM.gov) system issues. An applicant’s failure to timely submit their 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 application with Zac Degler by e-mail at Degler.zachary@epa.gov or by phone at 617-918-1630 as soon as possible after the submission deadline — failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://sam.gov/ http://www2.epa.gov/grants/dispute-resolution-procedures https://sam.gov/

4. Applications that request more than $100,000 in Federal funding will not be reviewed.

5. Funds for all awarded projects must support research, investigations, experiments, trainings, demonstrations, surveys and/or studies related to restoring or revitalizing the environment;

provide education, outreach, and training; or organize/conduct community planning activities in the Target Program Areas defined in Section I, B, EPA Strategic Plan Linkage and Anticipated Outcomes/Outputs.

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

7. Projects that do not fit within the statutory authorities listed in Section I will be considered ineligible and will not be reviewed. Please see Section I, A, Program Description for further information.

SECTION IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Content of Application Submission

Application Package Submission The application package must include the following materials:

(1) Completed Application Forms

(2) Five single-spaced page Project Narrative (see format in Attachment A)

(3) Work Plan

(4) Budget Detail with match information

(5) Documentation demonstrating non-profit or not-for-profit status, if applicable

(6) Resumes of up to three key project staff

(7) Letters of Commitment from all project partners (if the project involves partners)

(8) Environmental Results Programmatic Capability and Past Performance Attachment (see description below for more information)

1. Grant Application Forms (All required).

a. Standard Form (SF) 424 - Application for Federal Assistance Complete the Standard Form (SF) 424 in its entirety. There are no attachments for this form.

b. SF424A – Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs

c. EPA Form 5700-54 - Key Contacts

d. EPA Form 4700-4 – Preaward Compliance Review Report

2. Project Narrative This should be submitted using the Project Narrative Attachment Form. A Application narrative outline is included in Attachment A. Applicants must include all information in the Application Narrative Format. The narrative for the Application is limited to five single-spaced pages; excess pages will not be reviewed. The narrative section of the Application package must follow the format outline, answer the questions listed, and address all the Application evaluation factors identified in Section V. A copy of your Project Summary, work plan, detailed budget and information describing Environmental Results & Past Performance must also be submitted for each Application; these are not considered part of the five-page limitation for the Application narrative.

3. Work Plan This should be submitted using the Project Narrative Attachment Form. The work plan should follow the format included in Attachment B. The work plan schedule should align with the information that the applicant includes in the project narrative.

4. Budget Detail This should be submitted using the Project Narrative Attachment Form. The applicant should include all information related to the expenses for the proposed project, including both the requested grant amount and any match information. Please see RAIN-2019-G02 to access the Interim General Budget Development Guidance for Applicants and Recipients of EPA Financial Assistance for guidance on preparing a budget. Attachment C of this document includes a sample budget detail and narrative.

5. Proof of Non-Profit Status This should be submitted using the Project Narrative Attachment Form. All non-profit applicants, except public agencies, municipalities, and Federally recognized Tribes, must attach documentation demonstrating non-profit status or articles of incorporation.

Application package submissions without this documentation will not be considered. For more information, please read Section III, A, Eligible Applicants.

6. Resumes These should be submitted using the Project Narrative Attachment Form. The applicant can include up to 3 resumes for staff that are involved in the proposed project. Each resume should be no more than 2 pages in length.

7. Commitment Letters These should be submitted using the Project Narrative Attachment Form. Letters of commitment from all partners collaborating on the project and/or contributing any matching funds (cash or in-kind) to the project must be submitted with your Application package, not sent separately. Letters must be submitted on letterhead (if applicable), signed by the project partner, and include the partner’s telephone number and address. The commitment letters should be addressed to the applicant and be submitted as part of the Application package. Commitment letters sent directly to EPA New England will not be accepted.

Commitment letters must specify the nature of the match, if any, (cash or in-kind services) and must describe the role of the project partner in the project. If the partner is providing matching funds, the organization providing the match must be able to certify that the funds will be available during the project period. Applications for projects that have listed partners but do not include commitment letters from every listed project partner will not earn full points under Criterion 4 during the evaluation process. Please do not send letters of general support from others not directly involved in the project; they will not be considered during the evaluation and review process.

8. Environmental Results, Programmatic Capability and Past Performance This information should be submitted using the Project Narrative Form. These issues will be evaluated under Section V.

b. Programmatic Capability and Past Performance Submit a list of federally [and/or non-federally if offices want to allow that also] funded assistance agreements (assistance agreements include Federal grants and cooperative agreements but not Federal contracts) that your organization performed within the last three years (no more than 5 agreements, and preferably EPA agreements) and describe:

(i) whether, and how, you were able to successfully complete and manage those agreements; and

(ii) your history of meeting the reporting requirements under those agreements including whether you adequately and timely reported on your progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes of those agreements (and if not, explain why not) and whether you submitted acceptable final technical reports under the agreements; and

(iii) your organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project, and your staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-05/documents/applicant-budget-development-guidance.pdf https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2019-g02 https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2019-g02

In evaluating applicants under these factors in Section V, EPA will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources, including information from EPA files and from current/prior grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information provided by the applicant). If you do not have any relevant or available past performance or past reporting information, please indicate this in the application and you will receive a neutral score for these factors (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 0 for these factors.

In addition, provide information on your organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project, and your staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project. This should include a description of the organizational and administrative systems (e.g., accounting programs) that you have in place that will be used to appropriately manage, expend, and account for Federal funds.

C. Grants.gov Application Submission Instructions, Dates and Times

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

Applicants must apply electronically through Grants.gov under this funding opportunity based on the grants.gov instructions in this announcement. If your organization has no access to the internet or access is very limited, you may request an exception for the remainder of this calendar year by following the procedures outlined here. Please note that your request must be received at least 15 calendar days before the application due date to allow enough time to negotiate alternative submission methods. Issues with submissions with respect to this opportunity only are addressed in Attachment D.

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 Grants.gov and click on "Applicants" on the top of the page and then go to the “Organization Registration” link listed under the "Get Registered" section and follow the instructions. Please note, this process can take a month or more for new registrants. 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 in advance of the submission deadline.

Registration on Grants.gov, SAM.gov, and obtaining a DUNS number assignment is FREE.

NEW – PLEASE READ: Existing and new SAM.gov registrants are also assigned a free SAM-issued Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Applicants must use their UEI, not their DUNS number, when filling out forms in the package for this funding opportunity. Please see RAIN-2021- G01 for information about EPA's implementation of the upcoming Government-wide transition from DUNS to UEI. Please note that until April 4, 2022, applicant organizations registering for the first time in SAM.gov will need a DUNS number.

Applicants need to ensure that the AOR who submits the application through Grants.gov and whose UEI is listed on the application is an AOR for the applicant listed on the application.

Additionally, the UEI listed on the application must be registered to the applicant organization's SAM account. If not, the application may be deemed ineligible.

To begin the application process under this grant announcement, go to Grants.gov and click the red “Apply” button at the top of the view grant opportunity page. If you encounter technical https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.epa.gov/grants/exceptions-grantsgov-submission-requirement https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2021-g01 https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2021-g01 difficulties or the Apply button is grayed out please contact grants.gov for assistance at the grants.gov support center at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726 before the application deadline. 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 Adobe Reader Compatibility Information on Grants.gov

To begin the application process under this grant announcement, go to 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 Adobe Reader Compatibility Information on Grants.gov

You may also be able to access the application package for this announcement by searching for the opportunity on Grants.gov. Go to Grants.gov and then click on "Search Grants" at the top of the page and enter the Funding Opportunity Number, EPA-R1-PB-2022, or the CFDA number that applies to the announcement (CFDA 66.424), in the appropriate field and click the Search button.

Please Note: All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov using the "Workspace" feature. Information on the Workspace feature can be found at the Grants.gov Workspace Overview Page.

Application Submission Deadline (April 25, 2022): Your organization’s AOR must submit your complete application package electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than April 25, 2022, 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET). Please allow for enough time to successfully submit your application and allow for unexpected errors that may require you to resubmit. Applications submitted after the closing date and time will not be considered for funding.

Please submit all of the application materials described in Section IV.B using the Grants.gov application package accessed using the instructions above.

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 above. Please see Attachment D for more information on Grants.gov technical issues.

E. Information Sessions In order to answer applicant questions, the LPIPE Demonstration Grant Program will sponsor a webinar to address questions before the application is due. The information session is optional, but registration is required for participation. After submitting the registration form, you will receive instructions on how to participate in the webinar. Please see Attachment E of this application guidance for the schedule and registration information for the information session.

SECTION V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Evaluation Criteria Only eligible entities who applications meet the threshold eligibility criteria in Section III.C of this RFA will be evaluated according to the criteria set forth below. Applications should explicitly address these criteria as part of their application package submittal in the project narrative, following the content requirements set forth in Attachment A. Each application will be rated using a point system.