5star-rfp-jan-22-deadline.pdf

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of

Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds

Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2016 Support of the Five Star Restoration Training Grant

Announcement Type: Request for Proposals (RFP)

Catalog of Domestic Assistance Number: 66.462

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-OW-OWOW-15-03

Dates: The closing date and time for receipt of proposal submission is January 22, 2016 by

11:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time (EST) in order to be considered for funding. Proposals must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov/) no later than January 22 2016, 11:59 P.M. EST in order to be considered for funding. Questions about this RFP must be submitted in writing via e-mail and must be received by the Agency

Contact identified in Section VII before December 23, 2015. Written responses will be posted on

EPA’s website at: http://www2.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants.

Note to Applicants: Following EPA’s evaluation of proposals, all applicants will be notified regarding their status. Final applications will be requested from the eligible entity whose proposal has been successfully evaluated and preliminarily recommended for award. The entity will be provided with instructions and a due date for submittal of the final application package.

If you name subawardees/subgrantees and/or contractor(s) including individual consultants in your proposal as partners to assist you with the proposed project, pay careful attention to the information in the CONTRACTS AND SUBAWARDS provision found at http://www2.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses.

SUMMARY

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to manage the Five Star Restoration Training Grant. Specifically, EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to: 1) prepare and advertise to a wide variety of potential subaward applicants a Request for Proposals (RFP), establish review criteria for evaluating and selecting subawardee proposals, and make subawards to support environmental training through voluntary, community/watershed-based wetland restoration projects that provide ecological and socioeconomic benefits to the surrounding communities and their citizens; 2) oversee and monitor subawardees for successful completion of the restoration training projects; 3) provide technical support to subawardees through peer-to-peer outreach to broaden participation in restoration training projects; 4) qualitatively and quantitatively measure and report on the environmental results of the restoration training projects accomplished through the subawards; and 5) develop a strategy to promote and grow the Five Star Restoration Training Grant program over the life of the cooperative agreement. The competitive subaward process proposed by the applicant must be on a national scale by allowing for subaward proposals for restoration training projects from across the 50 United States, Tribal Lands, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the U.S.

Territories. For the purpose of this announcement, wetlands include, but are not limited to, areas with any one of the following characteristics: appropriate hydrology, hydric soils or hydrophilic plants including marine systems, the continental shelf and mudflats; estuarine fresh, brackish, and saltwater systems; stream or river-corridors; lake associated systems; and palustrine systems (see

Cowardin et al., at http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Documents/Classification-of-Wetlands-and-

Deepwater-Habitats-of-the-United-States-2013.pdf). Funding provided under this announcement http://www.grants.gov/ http://www2.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants http://www2.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Documents/Classification-of-Wetlands-and-Deepwater-Habitats-of-the-United-States-2013.pdf http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Documents/Classification-of-Wetlands-and-Deepwater-Habitats-of-the-United-States-2013.pdf supports the following goal and objective of EPA’s Strategic plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 –

2018: Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters, Objective 2.2: Protect and Restore Watershed and

Aquatic Ecosystems. Information on the EPA Strategic Plan is available at http://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.html.

Eligible applicants under this announcement are non-profit, non-governmental organizations, interstate agencies, and intertribal consortia which are capable of undertaking activities that advance wetland programs on a national basis.1 Non-profit private universities and colleges and non-profit institutions of higher education are considered non-profit organizations and are eligible under this announcement. Individual states, tribes, local governments, and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply under this announcement. Non-profit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply under this announcement.

The total federal amount of funding expected to be available under this announcement is approximately $1,100,000, depending on Agency funding levels, the quality of proposals received, and other applicable considerations. EPA will fund a maximum of 75 percent of the total project cost (see Section III.B for information on the minimum non-federal 25 percent cost share /match requirement). It is anticipated that one cooperative agreement will be incrementally funded under this announcement with a four-year project period. Subawards awarded under the cooperative agreement are anticipated to have project periods ranging from one to two years.

Funding for each subaward in the past has ranged from $5,000 to $40,000, with $20,000 as the average amount awarded per project. Note: Applicants can identify a slightly different range and average amount for each subaward as part of their proposal narrative. The subawards funded under the cooperative agreement must be completed prior to the end of the cooperative agreement project period. The subawards need to be completed in sufficient time for the recipient to, for example, aggregate results and ensure that subawardees have been reimbursed for all incurred costs.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. FIVE STAR RESTORATION TRAINING GRANT OBJECTIVES

The Five Star Restoration Training Grant was initiated in FY 1999 to provide subawards to eligible subawardees to bring together citizen groups, corporations, youth conservation corps, students, landowners, and government agencies to undertake projects that achieve environmental training through voluntary, community/watershed-based wetland restoration projects. For the purpose of this announcement, wetlands include, but are not limited to, areas with any one of the following characteristics: appropriate hydrology, hydric soils or hydrophilic plants including marine systems, the continental shelf and mudflats; estuarine fresh, brackish, and saltwater systems; stream or river-corridors; lake associated systems; and palustrine systems (see Cowardin et al., at http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Documents/Classification-of-Wetlands-and-Deepwater-

Habitats-of-the-United-States-2013.pdf). A brief description of all the restoration training projects funded under previous Five Star Restoration Training Grants since FY 1999 and other additional information can be found on EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore/5star/.

1 In accordance with the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act at 31 USC Sec. 6101, the term “nonprofit organization” means “any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that: (A) is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest; (B) is not organized primarily for profit; and (C) uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operations of the organization.”

http://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.html http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Documents/Classification-of-Wetlands-and-Deepwater-Habitats-of-the-United-States-2013.pdf http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Documents/Classification-of-Wetlands-and-Deepwater-Habitats-of-the-United-States-2013.pdf http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore/5star/

In their proposals, applicants should demonstrate their ability, and describe an approach, for serving as an intermediary organization to manage the Five Star Restoration Training Grant.

Specifically, as part of their project approach in the proposal narrative, applicants should demonstrate their ability to, for example:

1) Prepare and advertise to a wide variety of potential subaward applicants an RFP, establish criteria for evaluating and selecting subawardee proposals, and make subawards to support environmental training through voluntary, community/watershed-based wetland restoration projects;

2) Oversee and monitor subawardees for successful completion of restoration training projects;

3) Provide technical support to subawardees through peer-to-peer outreach to broaden participation in restoration training projects;

4) Qualitatively and quantitatively measure and report on the environmental results of the restoration training projects accomplished through the subawards; and

5) Develop a strategy to promote and grow the Five Star Restoration Training Grant program over the life of the cooperative agreement.

The competitive subaward process proposed in the project approach must be on a national scale by allowing for subawardee proposals for restoration training projects across the 50 United States, Tribal Lands, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories (i.e., Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa). At a minimum, the projects funded as subawards should have the following components: 1) include an environmental training component; 2) include a variety of partners; 3) incorporate ecological and socioeconomic benefits; 4) be part of a watershed or community-based plan; and 5) demonstrate on-the ground, voluntary restoration for wetlands. Applicants may include any other subaward activities in the RFP for the subawards that they believe will help promote and attain the objectives and goals described in the announcement.

Eligible entities for the competitive subaward program include public and private nonprofit institutions/ organizations, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, states, local governments, U.S. territories, interstate agencies, and individuals. For the purposes of this announcement, EPA has determined that the following types of entities are ineligible for the competitive subaward program: for-profit entities and all federal agencies. EPA award officials will disapprove the costs of proposed subaward work to 501(c)(4) organizations identified in an application, or workplan changes requiring prior approval, if the work involves lobbying activities or would otherwise violate the principles of EPA’s subaward policy.

Effective partnerships are very important to the Five Star Restoration Training Grant program. In their proposals, applicants should identify appropriate and necessary partnerships to successfully conduct the Five Star Restoration Training Grant program. Applicants should also include a clear description of the roles of specific partners in the project’s components/tasks. If the applicant chooses to identify any partner entities who will receive subawards or procurement contracts

(including consultants) please refer to the CONTRACTS AND SUBAWARDS provision found at http://www2.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses, before doing so as EPA will not consider their qualifications unless the applicant selects them in compliance with applicable regulations and provisions. Partnerships between organizations focused on wetland and ecological restoration, education, training, and socioeconomic concerns can greatly benefit from one another’s experience.

http://www2.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses

B. STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The statutory authority for the assistance agreement to be awarded under this announcement is section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Section 104(b)(3) of the CWA restricts the use of assistance agreements to the following activities: conducting or promoting the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. For the purposes of this announcement, proposals must be limited to activities that conduct or promote the coordination and acceleration of training relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution.

Implementation projects are not eligible for funding under this announcement. The recipient of the cooperative agreement will issue subawards under the Five Star Restoration Training Grant with the training authority contained in section 104(b)(3) of the CWA and applicable federal grant regulations.

Funds received through this competition cannot be used for the purchase of land or conservation easements. Proposal tasks that are or might be required by a previous or pending permit (e.g., CWA Section 404 permit, CWA Section 402 permit, CWA Section 401 certification) or federal, state, tribal, or local government regulatory requirement(s) are not eligible for funding because they are implementation tasks. Implementation of individual mitigation projects, mitigation banks, or in-lieu-fee mitigation programs are not eligible for funding. Wetland restoration training projects cannot include wetlands constructed only for the purposes of treating wastewater or stormwater. Funds cannot be used to fund payment of taxes for landowners who have a wetland on their property. Purchase of vehicles (including boats, motor homes, etc.) and office furniture are not eligible for funding under this program. The lease of vehicles may be eligible for funding, but is contingent on justification of need in the proposal narrative. Proposed projects must comply with all state and federal regulations applicable to the project area. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure compliance.

C. EPA’S STRATEGIC PLAN AND ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL RESULTS

The Five Star Restoration Training Grant supports EPA’s FY 2014-2018 Strategic Plan. Awards made under this announcement will support Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters; Objective 2.2:

Protect and Restore Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems. For more information on EPA’s

Strategic Plan go to http://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.html.

Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters -- Protect and restore waters to ensure that drinking water is safe and sustainably managed, and that aquatic ecosystems sustain fish, plants, wildlife, and other biota, as well as economic, recreational, and subsistence activities.

Objective 2.2: Protect and Restore Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems – Protect, restore, and sustain the quality of rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands on a watershed basis, and sustainably manage and protect coastal and ocean resources and ecosystems.

All proposed projects must demonstrate a linkage to the Strategic Plan and 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 demonstrate how the project will contribute to the overall goal of restoring watersheds and protecting aquatic ecosystems.

Environmental outputs (or deliverables) refer to an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to an environmental goal or objective, that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during an assistance agreement funding period.

http://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.html

Examples of anticipated environmental outputs from the assistance agreement to be awarded under this announcement include, but are not limited to:

o The number of community/watershed-based wetland restoration training projects funded through subawards.

o Development of outreach materials and tools to help local governments or community-based groups incorporate their restoration training project into the larger community activities.

o The number of individuals trained.

o Development and verification of subawardee tracking (reporting) systems.

Environmental outcomes are the result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective, and are used as a way to gauge a project’s performance. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related or programmatic in nature. Outcomes must be quantitative and may not necessarily be achieved within an assistance agreement funding period.

Outcomes may be short term (changes in learning, knowledge, attitude, skills), intermediate

(changes in behavior, practice, or decisions), or long-term (changes in condition of the natural resource).

Examples of anticipated environmental outcomes from the assistance agreement to be awarded under this announcement include, but are not limited to:

o Number of acres or miles of created, re-established, rehabilitated, or enhanced wetlands.

o Increased community capacity for environmental stewardship.

o Change in knowledge about community/watershed-based wetland restoration.

o Change in behavior for those involved in each community/watershed-based wetland restoration training project.

As part of the proposal narrative, an applicant will be required to describe how the project results will link the outcomes to the Agency’s Strategic Plan. Additional information regarding EPA’s discussion of environmental results in terms of “outputs” and “outcomes” can be found at:

http://www2.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AMOUNT OF FUNDING

EPA anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement under this announcement with a total federal funding level of approximately $1,100,000. The cooperative agreement is anticipated to be incrementally funded at approximately $250,000 for each year of the project with a maximum federal award amount of $1,100,000 over a four-year project period, depending on Agency funding levels, the quality of proposals received, and other applicable considerations. The successful applicant should provide EPA with a negotiated, four-year work plan covering four distinct one-year periods of performance. Subawards awarded under the cooperative agreement are anticipated to have project periods ranging from one to two years. The subawards need to be completed in sufficient time for the recipient to, for example, aggregate results and ensure that subawardees have been reimbursed for all incurred costs. Funding for each subaward in the past has ranged from $5,000 to $40,000, with $20,000 as the average amount awarded per project.

Note: Applicants can identify a slightly different range and average amount for each subaward as part of their proposal narrative.

http://www2.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements

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

EPA reserves the right to make no awards under this announcement. In addition, EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with Agency policy, if additional funding becomes available. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than six months after the original selection decisions.

B. TYPE OF FUNDING

It is anticipated that a cooperative agreement will be funded under this announcement. When cooperative agreements are awarded, EPA will have substantial involvement with the project workplans and budget. Although EPA will negotiate precise terms and conditions relating to substantial involvement as part of the award process, the anticipated substantial federal involvement for the project selected may include:

1. Close monitoring of the recipient’s performance to verify the results proposed by the applicant;

2. Collaboration during the performance of the scope of work;

3. In accordance with the applicable regulations at 2 CFR 200 Subpart D (200.317 through

200.326), as appropriate, review of proposed procurements;

4. Review of qualifications of key personnel (EPA does not have authority to select employees or contractors employed by the recipient);

5. Review and comment on content of tasks/deliverables and reports prepared under the cooperative agreement (the final decision of the content of reports rests with the recipient);

6. Review of evaluation criteria in selecting subawardees (the final decision on the evaluation criteria rests with the recipient);

7. EPA staff will review the subaward RFP and may provide comments to ensure consistency with the applicant's scope of work (the recipient is responsible for the content of, and all final decisions regarding, the subaward RFP including the disposition of any

EPA comments on the subaward RFP);

8. EPA staff participation in the review process for selection of subawardees (the majority of the selection panel members must be non-federal members);

9. EPA review and approval of the substantive terms of subawards to verify compliance with federal requirements (the final decision on the selection of subawardees rests with the recipient); and

10. Upon request by the recipient and subject to the availability of personnel, EPA will provide the recipient with access to EPA scientific expertise, sampling protocols, publicly available data, and other forms of technical assistance.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants under this announcement are non-profit, non-governmental organizations, interstate agencies, and intertribal consortia which are capable of undertaking activities that advance wetland programs on a national basis.2 Non-profit private universities and colleges and non-profit institutions of higher education are considered non-profit organizations and are eligible under this announcement. Individual states, tribes, local governments, and for-profit organizations are not eligible under this announcement. Non-profit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply under this announcement. EPA may ask applicants to demonstrate that they are eligible for funding under this announcement including demonstrating that they are capable of undertaking activities that advance wetland programs on a national basis.

The term “interstate agency” is defined in CWA section 502 as “an agency of two or more states established by or pursuant to an agreement or compact approved by the Congress, or any other agency of two or more states, having substantial powers or duties pertaining to the control of pollution as determined and approved by the Administrator.” An intertribal consortium is a partnership between two or more tribes that is authorized by the governing bodies of those tribes to apply for and receive assistance (see 40 CFR 35.502.). The intertribal consortium is eligible only if the consortium demonstrates that all of its members meet the eligibility requirements and authorize the consortium to apply for and receive assistance in accordance with 40 CFR 35.504 at the time of proposal submission. An intertribal consortium must submit with its proposal to EPA adequate documentation of the existence of the partnership and the authorization of the consortium by its members to apply for and receive the grant (see 40 CFR 35.504.). Nonprofit organizations may be asked to provide documentation that they meet the definition of a nonprofit organization in Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Cost Circular 2 CFR Part 230 (non-profit organizations). Copies of OMB circulars can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/. Interstate agencies may be asked to provide a citation to the statutory authority, which establishes their status.

B. COST SHARING/MATCH REQUIREMENTS

All applicants must demonstrate in their proposal submission how they will contribute a minimum non-federal cost share/match of 25 percent of the total project cost (which equals the requested total federal share and match) in accordance with 40 CFR 35.385 and 40 CFR

35.615. This means that EPA will fund a maximum of 75 percent of the total project cost. Cost shares/matches can be in the form of cash or can come from in-kind contributions, such as the use of volunteers and/or donated time, equipment, expertise, etc., subject to the regulations governing matching fund requirements described in 2 CFR 200 and 1500, as applicable. In-kind contributions often include salaries or other verifiable costs and this value must be carefully documented. In the case of salaries, applicants may use either minimum wage or fair market value. The cost share/match must be for allowable project costs. Cost share/matching funds are considered grant funds and are included in the total award amount and should be used for the reasonable and necessary expenses of carrying out the work plan. All grant funds are subject to federal audit. Any restrictions on the use of grant funds (examples of restrictions are outlined in

Sections I.B and III.D of this announcement) also apply to the use of cost share/matching funds.

Other federal grants may not be used as cost shares/matches without specific statutory authority.

Applicants that do not demonstrate how they will meet the minimum cost share/match requirement in their proposal submission will not be considered for funding.

2 In accordance with the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act at 31 USC Sec. 6101, the term “nonprofit organization” means “any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that: (A) is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest; (B) is not organized primarily for profit; and (C) uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operations of the organization.”

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/

The minimum match is determined by dividing the total project cost by four. EPA will use the following formula:

Total Project Cost ($) = minimum cost share/match ($)

For example, if the total project cost is $1,466,667 the applicant must be able to provide

$366,667 in cost share/match and the total federal portion would be $1,100,000.

OR

Total Federal Funds Requested ($) = minimum cost share/match ($)

For example, if the total federal funds requested are $1,100,000 the applicant must be able to provide $366,667 in cash or in-kind contributions as cost share/match.

C. THRESHOLD ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

These are requirements which if not met by the time of proposal submission will result in elimination of the proposal from consideration for funding. Only proposals that meet all of these criteria will be evaluated against the ranking factors in Section V of the announcement.

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. An applicant must meet the eligibility requirements in Section III.A of this

2. An applicant must demonstrate that it can meet the cost share/match requirements in

Section III.B of this announcement at the time of proposal submission.

3. Proposals must address how the applicant will establish and manage a competitive subaward program on a national scale by allowing for subaward proposals for restoration training projects from across the 50 United States, Tribal Lands, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories.

4. Proposals must be limited to activities that conduct or promote the coordination and acceleration of training relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. Other activities under CWA section 104(b)(3) will not be considered for funding. Implementation projects are not eligible for funding under this announcement.

5. Proposals must substantially comply with the proposal submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section IV of this announcement or else they will be rejected.

Where a page limit is expressed in Section IV.C.3 with respect to the proposal narrative, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed. Section IV.C.3 establishes a

12-page, single-spaced proposal narrative page limit that includes the cover page.

6. In addition, initial proposals must be submitted through Grants.gov as specified in

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

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

7. Proposals submitted after the submission deadline will be considered late and deemed ineligible without further consideration unless the applicant can clearly demonstrate that http://grants.gov/ it was late due to the EPA mishandling or because of technical problems attributable to

Grants.gov or relevant Sam.gov system issues and not the applicant. An applicant’s failure to timely submit their proposal through Grants.gov because they did not timely or properly register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov will not be considered an acceptable reason to consider a late submission. Applicants should confirm receipt of their proposal with

Myra Price at price.myra@epa.gov as soon as possible after the submission deadline— failure to do so may result in your proposal not being reviewed.

8. If a proposal is submitted that includes any ineligible activities set forth in Section III.D, that portion of the proposal will be ineligible for funding and may, depending on the extent to which it affects the application, render the entire proposal ineligible for funding.

D. INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES

Funds cannot be used to fund payment of taxes for landowners who have a wetland on their property.

Funds cannot be used for the purchase of land or conservation easements.

Proposal tasks that are or might be required by a previous or pending permit (e.g., CWA

Section 404 permit, CWA Section 402 permit, CWA Section 401 certification) or federal, state, tribal, or local government regulatory requirement(s) are not eligible for funding because they are implementation tasks.

Funds cannot be used for implementation of individual mitigation projects, mitigation banks, or in-lieu-fee mitigation programs.

Wetland restoration training projects cannot include wetlands constructed for the purposes of only treating wastewater or stormwater.

Purchase of any type of equipment including vehicles, boats, motor homes office furniture valued at $5,000 or more is not eligible for funding.

Lease of a vehicle(s) may be permitted, but is contingent on justification of need in the proposal narrative.

Projects must be performed entirely within the 50 United States, Tribal Lands, the District of

Columbia, and the U.S. Territories (i.e., Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the

Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa).

IV. PROPOSAL 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 Barbara Perkins

USEPA Headquarters

William Jefferson Clinton Building

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N. W.

http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:Grants.gov mailto:OGDWaivers@epa.gov

Mail Code: 3903R

Washington, DC 20460

Courier Address:

OGD Waivers

C/o Barbara Perkins

Ronald Reagan Building

1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.

Rm # 51267

Washington, DC 20004

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

Funding Opportunity Number (FON)

Organization Name and DUNS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://www.grants.gov/

B. Grants.gov Proposal Submission Instructions

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

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

Management (SAM) and the process of obtaining both could take a month or more. Applicants need to ensure that the AOR who submits the application through Grants.gov and whose DUNS number is listed on the application is an AOR for the applicant listed on the application.

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

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.

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

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

Grants” at the top of the page and enter the Funding Opportunity Number, EPA-OW-OWOW-15-

03 or the CFDA number that applies to the announcement (CFDA 66.462), in the appropriate field and click the Search button. Alternatively, you may be able to access the application package by clicking on the Application Package button at the top right of the synopsis page for the announcement on http://www.grants.gov. To find the synopsis page, go to http://www.grants.gov and click “Browse Agencies” in the middle of the page and then go to

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

Application Submission Deadline: Your organization’s AOR must submit your complete application package electronically to EPA through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) no later than 11:59 PM EST January 22, 2016. Please allow for enough time to successfully submit your application process and allow for unexpected errors that may require you to resubmit.

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

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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. Proposal Narrative (Project Narrative Attachment Form)-prepared as described in Section

IVC.3 of the announcement

Optional Documents:

4. Other Attachments, if applicable

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 Myra Price, at (202) 566-1225. Failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed.

c. Technical Issues with Submission

1. Once the application package has been completed, the “Submit” button should be enabled.

If the “Submit” button is not active, please call Grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726.

Applicants who are outside the U.S. at the time of submittal and are not able to access the toll-free number may reach a Grants.gov representative by calling 606-545-5035. Applicants should save the completed application package with two different file names before providing it to the AOR to avoid having to re-create the package should submission problems be experienced or a revised application needs to be submitted.

2. Submitting the application. The application package must be transferred to Grants.gov by an AOR. The AOR should close all other software before attempting to submit the application package. Click the “submit” button of the application package. Your Internet browser will launch and a sign-in page will appear. Note: Minor problems are not uncommon with transfers to Grants.gov. It is essential to allow sufficient time to ensure that your application is submitted to Grants.gov BEFORE the due date identified in

Section IV of the solicitation. The Grants.gov support desk operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except Federal Holidays.

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

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

3. Transmission Difficulties. If transmission difficulties that result in a late transmission, no transmission, or rejection of the transmitted application are experienced, and following the above instructions do not resolve the problem so that the application is submitted to www.Grants.Gov by the deadline date and time, follow the guidance below. The Agency will make a decision concerning acceptance of each late submission on a case-by-case basis. All emails, as described below, are to be sent to Myra Price with the Funding Opportunity

Number, EPA-OW-OWOW-15-03 in the subject line. If you are unable to email, contact

Myra Price at 202-566-1225. Be aware that EPA will only consider accepting applications that were unable to transmit due to www.Grants.gov or relevant www.Sam.gov system issues or for unforeseen exigent circumstances, such as extreme weather interfering with internet access. Failure of an applicant to submit timely because they did not properly or timely register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov is not an acceptable reason to justify acceptance of a late submittal.

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

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

5035. Be sure to obtain a case number from Grants.gov. If the problems stem from unforeseen exigent circumstances unrelated to Grants.gov, such as extreme weather interfering with internet access, contact Myra Price at 202-566-1225.

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 price.myra@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 Myra Price with the Funding Opportunity Number, EPA-OW-

OWOW-15-03, in the subject line within one business day of the closing date of this solicitation. The email should include any materials provided by Grants.gov and attach the entire application in PDF format.

C. CONTENT OF PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Applicants should read the following section very carefully and address all requirements.

All proposal packages must include the following three documents:

1. Signed Standard Form 424 (SF-424), Application for Federal Assistance

Complete the form and have it signed. Please be sure to include the organization fax number and e-mail address in Block 5 of the SF 424.

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 http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:price.myra@epa.gov no cost by calling the toll-free DUNS number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or by visiting the web site at www.dnb.com.

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

Complete the form. The total amount of federal funding requested for the project period should be shown on line 5(e) and on line 6(k) of the SF 424A. If indirect costs are included, the amount of indirect costs should be entered on line 6(j). The indirect cost rate (i.e., a percentage), the base

(e.g., personnel costs and fringe benefits), and the total indirect amount should also be indicated on line 22. In Section B: Budget Categories column (1) should be filled out for federal funds, column (2) should be filled out for non-federal cost-share/match, and column (5) should be filled out for total project cost (federal funds and non-federal cost share/match).

3. Proposal Narrative

Note: The Proposal Narrative must include sections A-E below. The Proposal Narrative is limited to no more than twelve (12) typewritten single-spaced 8.5 x 11 inch pages (a page is one side of paper) (except for documents specifically excluded from the page limit as noted below). Pages should be consecutively numbered for ease of reading. It is recommended that applicants use a standard 12-point type with 1-inch margins. While these guidelines establish the minimum type size recommended, applicants are advised that readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in selection of an appropriate font for use in the proposal narrative. Additional pages beyond the 12 page limit will not be considered. Supporting materials (such as letters of support from potential partners and annotated resumes) are not included within the page limit for the proposal narrative. Any documentation pertaining to Quality Assurance/Quality Control and

Invasive Species Control is also not included in the page limit for the proposal narrative.

The Proposal Narrative must be typewritten and must include the information listed below in items A-E. If a particular item is not applicable, clearly state this in the Proposal Narrative.

A. Cover Page including:

a. Project title;

b. Name of applicant;

c. List of all potential partners associated with the project;

d. Key personnel and contact information (i.e., e-mail address and phone number);

e. Total project cost,(specify the amount of federal funds requested, the non-federal cost share/match, and the total project cost); and

f. Abstract/project summary (recommended 75 words or less): Provide a brief description of the proposed project.

B. Project description containing:

a. Project Goals and Objectives (describe a plan for tracking and reporting progress toward achieving the expected project outputs and outcomes which would include the following elements):

i. Stated Objective/Link to EPA Strategic Plan – Provide the objective of the project and describe the linkage to the EPA Strategic Plan Goal 2:

Protecting America’s Waters, Objective 2.2: Protect and Restore

Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems (see Section I.C);

ii. Results of Activities (Outputs) – Describe the anticipated products/results which are expected to be achieved from accomplishment of the project, and an approach for tracking and reporting your progress http://www.dnb.com/ toward achieving the expected project output(s) (examples of outputs can be found in Section I.C); and

iii. Anticipated Environmental Improvement (Outcomes) - List the anticipated environmental improvements to be accomplished as a result of this project. These improvements are changes or benefits to the environment which are a result from the accomplishment of project commitments and outputs. Describe an approach for tracking and reporting progress toward achieving the expected project outcome(s)

(examples of outcomes can be found in Section I.C).

b. Project Approach: Describe your approach for serving as an intermediary organization to manage the Five Star Restoration Training Grant (see Section

I.A). The competitive subaward process proposed in the project approach must be on a national scale by allowing for subawardee proposals for restoration training projects across the 50 United States, Tribal Lands, Puerto Rico, the

District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories. The project approach should demonstrate the applicant’s ability to:

i. prepare and advertise an RFP, establish criteria for evaluating and selecting subawardee proposals, and make subawards to…