GLCWMP_Final_2020_RFA_.pdf

U.S. EPA GREAT LAKES NATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE

Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program

2020 Request for Applications

Federal Agency Name: Environmental Protection Agency Funding Opportunity Title: Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program Announcement Type: Request for Applications Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-R5-GL2020-CWMP Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 66.469

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

This Request for Applications (RFA) solicits applications from eligible entities for a cooperative agreement to be awarded pursuant to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan III.

Applications are requested for a project to conduct field sampling and analysis activities to support an annual assessment of status and trends of riverine, lacustrine, and barrier protected coastal wetlands across all five Great Lakes in support of the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program (GLCWMP) from 2021-2015.

Funding/Awards: Under this competition, approximately $10 million may be awarded for one cooperative agreement over a five-year period, consisting of incremental funding of about $2 million per year. Proposed projects must be limited to the specified project duration of five years. All incrementally funded awards will be subject to the availability of funding, future appropriations, satisfactory performance of work, and other applicable considerations.

GLRI’s statutory authority to award cooperative agreements is contained in the Clean Water Act, Section 118(c)(7), as amended by Public Law 114-322. EPA has authority to award grants and cooperative agreements for planning, research, monitoring, outreach and implementation projects in furtherance of the GLRI and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Governmental entities, including state agencies, interstate agencies, Indian tribes, local governments, institutions of higher learning (i.e., colleges and universities), and non-profit organizations (as defined at 2 CFR Part 200) are eligible to apply for funding under this RFA. Individuals, foreign organizations and governments, nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying, and “for-profit” organizations are not eligible.

http://www.glri.us/documents#actionplan

Important Dates

• October 26, 2020– Applications must be received by EPA via Grants.gov (the preferred method), mail, overnight delivery, hand delivery, or courier service by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). See Section IV for further submission information.

• November 2020 (tentative) – EPA will notify finalist.

• December 20, 2020 (tentative) – EPA will make official award.

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.

Other Application Information: For your convenience, an RFA web page has been created at https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/2020-rfa-great-lakes-coastal-wetland-monitoring-program where you will find information relating to the RFA process as well as a link to frequently asked questions (FAQs). We encourage all applicants to sign up for our mailing list and register with us at www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/great-lakes-news-email-list. Further submittal information is described in Section IV.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/2020-rfa-great-lakes-coastal-wetland-monitoring-program http://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/great-lakes-news-email-list

Contents

I. APPLICATION INFORMATION

II. AWARD INFORMATION

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

V. APPLICATION REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

IX. APPENDIX I--BUDGET SAMPLE.................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.2

U.S. EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Request for Applications: EPA-R5-GL2020-CWMP

I. APPLICATION INFORMATION

General Background, Authority, and Funded Activities:

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (“GLRI” or “Initiative”) builds on the prior efforts of federal, state, and local agencies; Indian tribes; businesses; public interest groups; interested citizens; and others to develop a collaborative and comprehensive approach to restoring the Great Lakes.

Information about the Initiative can be found at www.glri.us.

This RFA is expected to result in the award of one cooperative agreement (hereafter collectively referred to as “grants”) to help implement the GLRI. Authorization for GLRI funding is contained in the Clean Water Act, Section 118(c)(7), as amended by Public Law 114-322.

EPA has authority to award cooperative agreements for planning, research, monitoring, outreach and implementation projects in furtherance of GLRI and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). The statutory authority to act to implement the U.S. responsibilities under GLWQA and for GLRI funding is contained in the Clean Water Act, Section 118(c)(7), as amended by Public Law 114-

322. The principal goal of GLWQA is the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Funded activities must advance protection and restoration of the Great Lakes ecosystem in support of: (i) the GLRI Action Plan III and (ii) EPA’s Strategic Plan. Projects must also either: (i) protect, enhance, and/or restore the Great Lakes, including projects impacting Great Lakes connecting river systems [i.e., St. Marys River, Lake St. Clair, St. Clair- Detroit River System, Niagara River, and St. Lawrence River (at or upstream from the point at which the St. Lawrence River becomes the international boundary between Canada and the United States)]; or (ii) protect Great Lakes ecosystem health, including human health. Information about the GLRI can be found at www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/great-lakes-restoration-initiative-glri. Applications for other activities will be rejected.

The activities to be funded under this announcement support EPA’s FY 2018-22 Strategic Plan. Awards made under this announcement will support Goal 1: A Cleaner, Healthier Environment, Objective 1.2:

Provide for Clean and Safe Water of the EPA Strategic Plan (https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan). All applications must be for projects that support the goals and objectives identified above.

For projects with international aspects, the above statutes are supplemented, as appropriate, by the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(F).

This RFA solicits applications from eligible entities for a cooperative agreement to be awarded pursuant to the statutory authorities referenced above and the GLRI Action Plan. Up to $10 million may be https://www.glri.us/ https://www.epa.gov/glwqa https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan http://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/great-lakes-restoration-initiative-glri https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan awarded under this RFA over an approximately five-year period, consisting of incremental funding of about $2 million per year, contingent on the quality of applications received, funding availability, future appropriations, satisfactory performance of work, and other applicable considerations. Funding each year is not guaranteed. The application should include an annualized budget and budget detail narrative for the project, and a detailed workplan covering each year of the project.

All projects will be evaluated as described in Section V.

Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs):

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

Subawardees and/or Contractors:

If you name subawardees/subgrantees and/or contractor(s), including individual consultants, in your application as partners to assist you with the proposed project, pay careful attention to the information in Section III regarding "Coalitions" and to the “Contracts and Subawards” provisions at www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses (incorporated by reference in Section IV).

CWMP Background, Goals, and Objectives:

Coastal wetlands serve as important elements of a healthy and fully functioning Great Lakes ecosystem.

Coastal wetlands are critical habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species during their life cycles, providing http://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses spawning, nursery, feeding, and resting opportunities. Coastal wetlands sequester nutrients and sediment. Coastal wetlands protect shoreline property against erosion and wave damage. Nevertheless, greater than 50% of Great Lakes coastal wetlands have been lost relative to historic levels due to agricultural practices (e.g., diking, ditching) and industrial activities. Currently, approximately 500,000 acres of coastal wetlands still exist in the Great Lakes and understanding the overall quality of these remaining coastal wetland habitats is of high importance.

The lack of a standardized and robust monitoring protocol to determine the quality of coastal wetlands across the Great Lakes was highlighted by the EPA Great Lakes National Program Office (EPA- GLNPO) and the greater scientific community in the late 1990s. In response, the Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Consortium (GLCWC) was created in 2000 with support from EPA-GLNPO and the Great Lakes Commission. The GLCWC developed and evaluated metrics and protocols for measuring ecosystem health of Great Lakes coastal wetlands. These protocols included the quantification and characterization of animal and plant communities as well as the determination of water quality and surrounding landscape characteristics at sampled locations. More information on these protocols can be viewed at: https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-monitoring.This effort resulted in the definition of coastal wetlands as wetlands whose water level fluctuations, either surface or subsurface, were influenced by changing water levels in the Great Lakes. The development of these protocols enabled federal, state, and non-governmental entities, for the first time, to begin to assess coastal wetlands across the basin in a standardized way and inform future management.

Following development of these protocols, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) provided funding necessary for EPA-GLNPO and a consortium of academic and government entities to begin a long-term comprehensive monitoring program to determine the status and trends of coastal wetlands across all the Great Lakes. To achieve this goal, a statistical design was chosen to optimize both one-time and repeat sampling of approximately 1,000 known coastal wetlands greater than >4 hectares (approximately >10 acres) in size with a surface water connection to the Great Lakes. All of the coastal wetlands that have been sampled for this effort can be viewed at:

http://www.greatlakeswetlands.org/map/.

The GLRI provided support for the first 10 years (field years 2011-2020) of this long-term program.

Data generated by this program has been disseminated to project managers and stakeholders for a variety of purposes. For example, CWMP data has been provided to managers and other GLRI partners looking for background and baseline information to inform protection, restoration, and enhancement activities in coastal wetlands.

The primary objective of the 2010-2015 CWMP work was to establish the statistical sampling design and to refine the methods for a standardized basin‐wide coastal wetland monitoring program. The chosen sampling design used rotating panels of wetland sites to be sampled across years, ensuring system-wide conditions could be tracked continuously. The chosen monitoring parameters built upon the work of the GLCWC, with indicators for wetland condition based on amphibian, bird, invertebrate, fish, and plant community data and water quality parameters. During the first five years of CWMP sampling, conditions were assessed at all of the wetland sites that met the >4 hectare criteria, and the program showed the power of the resulting datasets to inform decision‐makers on coastal wetland conservation and restoration priorities throughout the Great Lakes basin. During the first five years, considerable https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-monitoring progress was also made towards the development of: 1) a database management system; 2) Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), and other methods documents; and 3) background documents on the indicators used to evaluate condition.

From 2016-2020, the program repeated the sampling of the sites. During this second round of sampling, there were also investigations and adjustments made to indicators. In addition, monitoring of additional wetland sites outside of the original sampling design was included to inform restoration project design and to help identify locations that would benefit from restoration.

The first 10 years of this EPA-GLNPO monitoring program have resulted in a greatly improved understanding of the status of Great Lakes coastal wetlands. However, it is important to note that this improved understanding was developed during a time period of significant federal investments in restoration and enhancement of coastal habitats, as well as dramatically changing lake levels. The implementation of restoration projects and the ongoing fluctuation of lake levels may be changing the trends in coastal wetland conditions in ways not yet understood.

EPA expects to provide up to approximately $10 million for one cooperative agreement over a 5-year period, consisting of incremental funding of about $2 million per year, to support: 1) the continued documentation of coastal wetland conditions summarized by lake, year, and by the three wetland types (i.e., riverine, lacustrine, barrier) identified during the first 10 years of this program; 2) the assessment of trends associated with the established coastal wetland indicators; and 3) the delivery of data to EPA consistent with the EPA coastal wetlands database structure.

Program Activities:

Applicants are expected to conduct activities through the GLCWMP in support of the above goals and objectives and may also include other activities associated with conducting monitoring, assessments and special research. The following provides a brief description of the of expected activities; more extensive details can be found in Section IV.D.2.

1. Technical Process and Study Design

Applicants must outline an approach for monitoring coastal wetlands that maintains continuity with previous work and proposes any supplementary data collection (if needed).

a. Monitoring Approach to Maximize Coastal Wetland Characterization and Maintain Historical Data Continuity Applicants are expected to propose a basin-scale monitoring program that allows for the greatest incorporation of individual coastal wetland sites and types into a monitoring approach that determines status and trends by lake, year, and wetland type. Applications must demonstrate the capability and intent to use and/or modify the existing coastal wetland monitoring sampling design and protocols in order to maintain continuity between the historical data and new data to be collected. Past monitoring protocols and analytical methodology can be viewed at: https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-monitoring/summary-great-https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-monitoring/summary-great-lakes-coastal-wetland-monitoring-program-cwmp lakes-coastal-wetland-monitoring-program-cwmp. Applications that do not demonstrate how they will ensure continuity and comparability of sampling and analytical methods with historic GLCWMP data will be rejected.

b. Collaboration with EPA on incorporation of Additional Coastal Wetland Sites Above Study Design Needs During the first two cycles of the CWMP, some additional wetlands outside the base design mentioned in Section I.1.a. were incorporated into the monitoring program to inform decisions related to coastal wetland restoration and or protection, as well as to assess wetland areas of local or regional interest and significance that are not part of the base design. Additional sites can be added to future sampling efforts provided that the applicant coordinates with EPA on the inclusion of such additional wetlands. Applicants will outline a systematic approach and process to collaborate with EPA and incorporate additional coastal wetland sites identified into the monitoring program while not comprising overall study objectives, study designs, and data quality.

c. Special Studies and Applied Research Applicants are expected to discuss how additional special studies and/or enhancements to the long-term monitoring program will be implemented.

2. Data Management, Interpretation, and Dissemination Applicants are expected to manage data generated through monitoring and assessment and to submit the data to EPA in electronic format. Applicants must interpret data through statistical analysis and report findings to the EPA, publish in peer-reviewed venues, and contribute to annual GLCWMP technical reports. Applicants should include a detailed plan for data management that accommodates large data sets including spatial/GIS data. Semiannual progress summaries and a final report at the end of the five-year cycle are also required. A brief summary of the results may be requested for inclusion in up to two GLWQA State of the Great Lakes Reports.

3. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Applicants are expected to develop, implement, and maintain a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). See EPA’s QAPP guidance for further information on QAPP requirements (https://www.epa.gov/quality/guidance-quality-assurance-project-plans-epa-qag-5).

Required Activities: To be eligible under this request, applicants must demonstrate how they will:

• Assess and report on annual status and trends (during 2021-2025) of the condition indicators (water quality, vegetation, anuran, bird, fish, macroinvertebrates) for riverine, lacustrine, and barrier protected coastal wetlands (see https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-monitoring) across all five Great Lakes, in both U.S. and Canadian waters, including connecting channels, while maintaining continuity with previous coastal wetland monitoring;

• Update EPA’s coastal wetlands database in a manner that provides timely information on survey results;

https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-monitoring/summary-great-lakes-coastal-wetland-monitoring-program-cwmp https://www.epa.gov/quality/guidance-quality-assurance-project-plans-epa-qag-5 https://www.epa.gov/quality/guidance-quality-assurance-project-plans-epa-qag-5 https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-monitoring

• Identify specific elements of existing protocols (e.g., sampled taxa groups, seasons, wetland zones) that could be changed to improve the accuracy of the indicator outputs or overall assessment or to address issues such as high-water levels;

• Deliver to EPA the data and information needed for annual reporting on coastal wetland indicators consistent with previous State of the Great Lakes Reports or other EPA reporting requirements;

• Engage and collaborate with local, state, and tribal environmental managers, academia and/or other interested stakeholders seeking to use collected data for on-the ground management of coastal wetlands; and

• Communicate and collaborate with the EPA GLCWMP Technical Lead to revise and define the contaminants to monitor according to federal, state and tribal priorities.

Outputs and Outcomes

For purposes of this RFA:

• 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 over the term of the cooperative agreement funding period.

• The term “outcome” means the result, effect or consequence that will be achieved by carrying out an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work product that is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic in nature, must be quantitative, and may not necessarily be achievable within a cooperative agreement funding period.

Outputs must include one or more of the following and applicants must link proposed outputs to the GLRI Action Plan III Measures of Progress or goals and objectives:

• A quantification of Great Lakes coastal wetland quality with attention to continuity and consistency of those measurements with previous protocols, so that trend data are not biased by changes in program operations or personnel;

• An evaluation of the spatial and temporal trends of coastal wetland quality in the Great Lakes using both raw and summarized data by lake, year, and wetland type for each indicator;

• An evaluation of elements of the protocols that are most sensitive to representing coastal wetland quality and changes due to anthropogenic perturbations and targeted restorations activities;

• Documentation of additional coastal wetlands sampled outside of the study design;

• Sample collection, sample analysis, data management, data interpretation, statistical analysis, and report writing;

• Development of Great Lakes scientists through the education of graduate and undergraduate students in Great Lakes ecosystem science;

• Dissemination of results via peer-reviewed journal articles and other media; and

• Development of coastal wetland indicator reports consistent with previous State of the Great Lakes report formats

Applicants should also demonstrate how their proposed project will achieve one or more of the following outcomes:

• Increased understanding of structure and function of Great Lakes coastal wetlands across a gradient of geographies and human impacts including degradation and restoration;

• Increased understanding of efficient and cost-saving sampling methods to continue to track Great Lakes coastal wetland quality long-term (e.g., >10 years)

II. AWARD INFORMATION

Amounts, Targets, and Number of Projects: Approximately $10 million in EPA funding is expected to be awarded under this RFA for one cooperative agreement over an approximately 5-year period, consisting of incremental funding of approximately $2 million per year. Awarding and funding of the cooperative agreement is contingent upon funding availability, the quality of applications received and other applicable considerations. The anticipated total amount and annual increments are estimates only and are being provided solely for application preparation purposes. Applications requesting funding above the anticipated total amount will not be considered.

The actual total and incremental award amount may differ from what is estimated for many reasons, including funding availability. In addition, EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no award under this announcement or make an award for less than expected.

Anticipated Project Start and End Dates: This Request for Applications (RFA) instructs applicants to submit certifications and other documentation required for a full and complete funding package so that their projects could, if selected, proceed expeditiously. Applications should specify a start date on or around, November 1, 2020 and must specify an end date no later than October 31, 2025.

Additional Awards: 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 selections are made. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than 6 months after the original selection decisions.

Funding Type: The successful applicant will be issued a cooperative agreement. EPA intends to award a cooperative agreement 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 being funded. EPA expects to have substantial involvement in this project in the form of technical assistance, network guidance, use of the R/V Lake Guardian as appropriate, provision of historic data, evaluation of project progress, and quantification and reporting of results. EPA will negotiate the precise terms and conditions of “substantial involvement” as part of the award process. Federal involvement may include close monitoring of the successful recipient’s performance to verify the results proposed by the applicant; collaboration during the performance of the scope of work; in accordance with 2 CFR 200.317 and 2 CFR 200.318, as appropriate, review of proposed procurements; approving qualifications of key personnel (EPA will not select employees or contractors employed by the award recpient); and/or review and comment on the content of printed or electronic publications prepared. 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.

Future Funding: Selection or award of funding under this RFA is not a guarantee of future funding.

Partial Funding: 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.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Applicant Eligibility (CFDA 66.469): Qualified non-federal entities eligible to apply for grants include non-federal governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions. This includes state agencies;

any agency or instrumentality of local government; interstate agencies; federally-recognized tribes and tribal organizations; colleges and universities; non-profit organizations; and other public or non-profit private agencies, institutions, and organizations.

Nonprofit Definition: Non-profit organization, as defined by 2 CFR 200.70, 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 CFR 200.70 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 CFR 200.70, public or nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this RFA

Note that 2 CFR Part 200 specifically excludes the following types of organizations from the definition of non-profit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation: (i) institutions of higher education; and (ii) state, local and federally recognized Indian tribal governments. While not considered to be a non-profit organization(s) as defined by 2 CFR Part 200, Institutions of Higher Education and state, local and federally-recognized Indian tribal governments are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this RFA.

Encouraging Minority Serving Institutions To Compete: Eligible Minority Serving Institutions, as described in Section I, are strongly encouraged to apply for funding under this competition.

EPA recognizes that scientific, technical, engineering and mathematical (STEM) competence is essential to the Nation's future well-being in terms of national security and competitive economic advantage. For instance, the health and vitality of the economy is predicated, in part, on the availability of an adequate supply of scientists, technicians, engineers and mathematicians, to develop innovative technologies and solutions. In other words, this country must engage all available minds to address the challenges it faces.

Minorities, women, and persons with disabilities historically have been under-represented in the STEM fields. For this reason, EPA strongly encourages all eligible applicants including, women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to apply.

Coalitions: Groups of two or more eligible applicants may choose to form a coalition and submit a single application under this RFA; however, one entity must be responsible for the grant. Coalitions must identify which eligible organization will be the recipient of the grant and which eligible organization(s) will be subawardees of the recipient. Subawards and subgrants must be consistent with the definitions of those terms in 2 CFR 200.92. The recipient that administers the grant will be accountable to EPA for proper expenditure of the funds and reporting and will be the point of contact for the coalition. As provided in 2 CFR 200.331(d), subrecipients or subgrantees are accountable to the recipient or grantee for proper use of EPA funding.

Coalitions may not include for-profit organizations that will provide services or products to the successful applicant. For-profit organizations are not eligible for subawards. For-profit organizations are eligible to receive contracts. Any contracts for services or products funded with EPA financial assistance must be awarded under the competitive procurement procedures of 2 CFR 200.319, as applicable. The regulations also contain limitations on consultant compensation. (Please see 2 CFR 1500.9, formerly at 40 CFR 30.27(b) or 31.36(j), as applicable.) For additional information, please review the following Federal Register: edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-7867.pdf.

Match or Cost-Share: There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement as a condition of eligibility under this RFA.

Threshold Eligibility Criteria: These are requirements that, if not met by the applicant by the time of application submission, will result in elimination of the application from consideration for funding. Only applications for eligible activities from eligible entities that meet these criteria by the time of application http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-7867.pdf submission will be evaluated against the ranking factors in Section V of this RFA. Applicants deemed ineligible for funding consideration as a result of the threshold eligibility review will be notified by email within 15 calendar days of the ineligibility determination.

A. Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section IV of this RFA or else they will be rejected. However, where a page limit is stated in Section IV with respect to the application, of parts thereof, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed.

B. In addition, initial 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 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 Matt Pawlowski (pawlowski.matthew@epa.gov) as soon as possible after the submission deadline—failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed.

D. Unless specifically excluded under this RFA, assistance is available to eligible applicants for planning, research, monitoring, outreach, and implementation of the GLRI and GLWQA.

Proposed projects must also either: (i) protect, enhance, and/or restore the Great Lakes, including projects impacting connecting waterways such as Lake St. Clair and the St. Lawrence River (at or upstream from the point at which the St. Lawrence River becomes the international boundary between Canada and the United States); or (ii) protect Great Lakes ecosystem health, including human health. Applications for other activities will be rejected.

E. Applications requesting funding above the anticipated total amount specified in Section II ($10 million) will not be considered.

F. Applications for projects lasting beyond the maximum end date of October 31, 2025 will be rejected.

Ineligible Activities: If an application is submitted that includes any ineligible tasks or activities, including, but not limited to, those listed above, 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.

Applicants should contact the applicable individual listed in Section VII with any questions about the threshold eligibility requirements.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:pawlowski.matthew@epa.gov https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/great-lakes-restoration-initiative-glri https://www.epa.gov/glwqa

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. 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 Jessica Durand USEPA Headquarters William Jefferson Clinton Building 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N. W.

Mail Code: 3903R Washington, DC 20460

Courier Address:

OGD Waivers c/o Jessica Durand Ronald Reagan Building 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.

Rm # 51278 Washington, DC 20004

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

1. Funding Opportunity Number (FON)

2. Organization Name and DUNS

3. Organization’s Contact Information (email address and phone number)

4. 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 Grants.gov.

EPA will only consider alternate submission exception requests based on the 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 https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:OGDWaivers@epa.gov https://www.grants.gov/ 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, 2019, it is valid for any competitive or non-competitive application submission to EPA through December 31, 2019). 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, 2018 with a submission deadline of January 15, 2019, the applicant would need a new exception to submit through alternative methods beginning January 1, 2019.

NOTE: 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.

B. Grants.gov Application 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 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 Unique Entity Identifier (e.g. 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 in advance of the submission deadline. Registration on Grants.gov, SAM.gov, and DUNS number assignment is FREE.

Applicants need to ensure that the AOR who submits the application through Grants.gov and whose Unique Entity Identifier (e.g., DUNS number) is listed on the application is an AOR for the applicant listed on the application. Additionally, the Unique Entity Identifier listed on the application must be registered to the applicant organization's SAM account. If not, the application may be deemed ineligible.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.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-R5-GL2020-CWMP, or the CFDA number that applies to the announcement (CFDA 66.469), 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 Grants.gov. To find the synopsis page, go to 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.

Please Note: All applications must now 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: Your organization’s AOR must submit your complete application package electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than October 26, 2020, 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time (ET). Please allow for enough time to successfully submit your application process and allow for unexpected errors that may require you to resubmit. Please allow for enough time to successfully submit your application 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. All documents must be submitted as PDF files.

Application Materials: The following forms and documents are required under this announcement:

Mandatory Documents:

1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

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

3. EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54

4. EPA Form 4700-4 – Pre award Compliance Review Report

5. Narrative Proposal (Project Narrative Attachment Form)-prepared as described in Section IV of the announcement

Optional Documents:

6. This is requested before time of award.

7. Resumes and/ or CVs

8. Other Attachments, if applicable https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

Applications submitted through Grants.gov will be time and date stamped electronically. If you have not received a confirmation of receipt from EPA (not from Grants.gov) within 30 days of the application deadline, please contact Matt Pawlowski at 312-886-7834. Failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed.

Technical Issues with Submission: 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.

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. The 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.

Transmission Difficulties: If transmission difficulties result in a late transmission, no transmission, or rejection of the transmitted application, and following the above instructions does not resolve the problem so that the application is submitted to 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 pawlowski.matthew@epa.gov with the FON in the subject line. If you are unable to email, contact Matt Pawlowski at 312-886-7834. Be aware that EPA will only consider accepting applications that were unable to transmit due to Grants.gov or relevant 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 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 https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ to Grants.gov, such as extreme weather interfering with internet access, contact Matt Pawlowski at 312-886-7834.

B. Unsuccessful transfer of the application package: If a successful transfer of the 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 pawlowski.matthew@epa.gov 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 pawlowski.matthew@epa.gov 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 the entire application should be attached in PDF format.

NOTE: Successful submission through Grants.gov or via email does not necessarily mean your application is eligible for award.

C. Content of Application Submission The application package must include all of the following materials:

1. Grant Application Forms: Please complete the forms as appropriate.

a. Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance. Please note that the organizational

Dun 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.

b. Standard Form 424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs

c. EPA Form 4700-4, Pre-Award Compliance Review Report for All Applicants Requesting

Federal Financial Assistance

d. EPA Form 5700-54, Key Contacts Form

e. Project Narrative Attachment Form (See Section IV.C.2. below for additional information)

f. Other Attachment Form, if applicable (See Section IV.C.8.