Indoor Air Program RFA_EPA-OAR-ORIA-20-09_final07-28-20.pdf

AGENCY: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

TITLE: Reducing Public Exposure to Indoor Pollutants

ACTION: Request for Applications (RFA)

RFA NUMBER: EPA-OAR-ORIA-20-09

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NO: 66.034

IMPORTANT DATES

July 28, 2020 RFA OPENS

September 15, 2020 RFA CLOSES – APPLICATIONS DUE

November 5, 2020 ANTICIPATED NOTIFICATION OF SELECTION

January 8, 2021 ANTICIPATED AWARD

The closing date and time for receipt of applications is September 15, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.

Eastern Time (ET) in order to be considered for funding. Application packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) no later than

September15, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. (ET) in order to be considered for funding.

To allow for efficient management of the competitive process, EPA requests submittal of an informal notice of an Intent to Apply by August 3, 2020 to

IndoorAirQualityRFA_2020@epa.gov. Submission of Intent to apply is optional; it is a process management tool that will allow EPA to better anticipate the total staff time required for efficient review, evaluation, and selection of submitted applications.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities that advance national policy or systems-level change to reduce indoor air risks and yield measurable environmental and public health outcomes.

NOTE: If you intend to name a contractor (including an individual consultant) or a subrecipient as a project partner or otherwise in your application, EPA recommends that you carefully review, and comply with, the directions contained in the “Contracts and Subawards” clause that can be accessed under the Section IV.E clause for “Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated

Into the Solicitation.”

FUNDING/AWARDS: The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $800,000 annually, for up to three years. Individual awards are expected to range from $75,000 to $200,000, annually. EPA anticipates awarding up to approximately 5 cooperative agreement(s) from this announcement, subject to availability of funds, the quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations.

http://www.grants.gov/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE: Reducing Public Exposure to Indoor Pollutants

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Background

B. Scope of Work

C. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage, Anticipated Outputs/Outcomes and Performance Measures

D. Statutory Authority

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. What is the amount of funding available?

B. Partial Funding

C. How many agreements will EPA award in this competition?

D. What is the project period for awards resulting from this solicitation?

E. Funding Type

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Entities

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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

B. Grants.gov Application Submission Instructions (see Appendix A)

C. Content of Application Submission

D. Submission Date and Times

E. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Evaluation Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

C. Other Factors

D. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

C. Reporting Requirement

D. Disputes

E. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated Into the Solicitation

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

APPENDIX A – Grants.gov Application Submission Instructions

APPENDIX B – Budget Detail Sample

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Background

EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Program

EPA has identified and characterized significant risks to public health from indoor environmental contaminants that are commonly found in homes, schools, and offices or commercial nonindustrial buildings where Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time. Levels of air pollution indoors are often two to five times higher, and occasionally 100 times higher than outdoor levels. Common indoor air contaminants include radon, environmental asthma triggers, such as secondhand smoke and mold, particulate matter, combustion byproducts and volatile organic compounds. Estimates of the economic costs associated with adverse health and productivity effects of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) fall between $13 and $32 billion annually. Additionally, the annual sales of IAQ products and services are valued at $18–$30 billion and are associated with approximately 150,000–250,000 current jobs.

Indoor contaminants may be of natural origin (e.g., radon, allergens, molds), may derive from products used indoors (e.g., finishes, furnishings, cleaning products), and may result from indoor processes and behaviors (e.g., smoking, use of unvented combustion sources, cleaning, operation and maintenance procedures). Building systems also have a direct influence on the type and amount of exposure to environmental contaminants indoors. IAQ can be improved and exposure to unhealthy indoor air in buildings reduced through better design, construction, operation and maintenance and renovation practices; changes in the personal choices and behaviors of occupants; and mitigation of IAQ problems. National policies and systems provide a framework for indoor air risk reduction, help to address disparities and ensure sustainable improvements.

The goal of EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Program is to reduce the environmental health risks posed by contaminants in indoor environments. This is achieved by understanding the science of both environmental health risks and effective prevention and control methods. This knowledge then is used to promote appropriate, evidence-based environmental risk reduction activities through voluntary actions by the general public and key stakeholders to improve IAQ.

EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Program has addressed this public health goal since the 1980s with seminal science such as the Environmental Tobacco Smoke Risk Assessment1, and has sponsored consensus reports including: Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon (BEIR VI

Report)2, Asthma and Indoor Exposures3, Health Risks of Exposure to Indoor Particulate

1 Respiratory Health Effects of Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer and Other Disorders, EPA 600/6-90/006F, Dec 1992.

2 Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BIER) VI Report: The Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon, National Academy Press, 1999 3 Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Exposures, National Academy Press, 2000

Matter4, and Microbiomes of the Build Environment.5 The program translates this science into guidance and technical products (e.g. Indoor airPLUS residential labeling program, Indoor Air

Quality Tools for Schools), sector specific guidance (e.g. Mold Remediation in Schools and

Commercial Buildings, Citizen’s Guide to Radon), and established action learning networks to support rapid spread of proven interventions and to build state, regional, tribal and community level capacity to sustain environmental and public health improvements (e.g.

AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org, National Radon Action Plan Leadership Council, Radon

Leaders Saving Lives, School Health and Indoor Environments Leadership Development-

SHIELD). These and other program initiatives are described at www.epa.gov/iaq

Today, the Indoor Air Quality Program is aimed at the next big challenge—advancing national policy and systems, reducing disparities, and ensuring programs and practices aimed at indoor air risk reduction are sustainable.

B. Scope of Work

EPA is soliciting applications from eligible entities (as described in Section III.A) to conduct demonstration, technical assistance, training, education, and/or outreach projects that seek to reduce exposure to indoor air contaminants by advancing national policy and systems-level initiatives.

Applications should clearly:

• Articulate a plan to produce results that have implications and/or benefits on a national level. This RFA is not intended to fund small-scale local projects.

• Address one or more of the following EPA Indoor Air Program priority areas:

o Radon o Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers o Comprehensive Indoor Air Risk Reduction

Applicants may submit applications that uniquely address one or more of these priority areas.

However, applicants may not submit multiple applications addressing the same program priority area.

EPA will not consider any applications under this RFA that are exclusively designed to conduct scientific research. However, applications may include research components as a foundation for demonstration, technical assistance, training, education, and/or outreach projects. In such cases, applications should clearly articulate this linkage, explain why the research component is necessary for the project’s success, and ensure that such research does not already exist.

EPA will not consider applications under this RFA which specifically address indoor asbestos, lead, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), or other chemical-specific pollutants. These contaminants are addressed by other EPA program offices.

4 Health Risks of Exposure to Indoor Particulate Matter, National Academy Press, 2016 5 Microbiomes of the Build Environment: A Research Agenda for Indoor Microbiology, Human Health and Buildings, National Academy Press, 2017 http://www.epa.gov/iaq

The following provides information on the type of assistance sought through this RFA:

Radon (www.epa.gov/radon)

Radon is a naturally occurring, colorless, odorless, radioactive gas, and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking. EPA estimates that radon is responsible for approximately 21,000 deaths per year.

Applications should be for projects that build national scale capacity and systems to:

• Increase the number of new homes and schools built with radon-resistant construction techniques.

• Increase the number of existing homes and schools mitigated for elevated levels of radon gas.

• Assist state and tribal radon programs to build their technical capacity to serve their constituents.

• Assist the public to increase knowledge about radon risks and actions to reduce risk (e.g.

the operation of a national radon hotline).

• Support the implementation of the National Radon Action Plan

(https://www.epa.gov/radon/national-radon-action-plan-strategy-saving-lives).

Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers (www.epa.gov/asthma)

Asthma is a serious, life-threatening respiratory disease that affects more than 24 million

Americans, including more than 6 million children. Poor and minority children suffer a greater burden of the disease. Emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths due to asthma are much higher among African American children. American Indian/Alaska Native and

Hispanic children, especially Puerto Ricans, are also disproportionately impacted. Additionally, asthma has a substantial impact on the economy at a cost of more than $56B annually in direct medical costs and lost productivity. Medicaid is the nation’s main public health insurance program for low-income people of all ages, spending more than $10 billion annually to treat asthma in children and adults. Progress has been made to decrease asthma prevalence, yet there is still a critical need for solutions focused at the state and community levels.

EPA has led the national effort to incorporate environmental controls into the standards of asthma care. EPA supports widespread delivery of in-home environmental asthma interventions because it reduces poor health outcomes, health care costs, increases savings, and expands the health care workforce, particularly for children suffering from out-of-control asthma. This strategy supports the Federal Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Asthma Disparities

(https://www.epa.gov/asthma/coordinated-federal-action-plan-reduce-racial-and-ethnic-asthma-disparities).

Today, EPA leads strategies to enable communities and states to find local solutions for delivery and sustainability of in-home environmental interventions. Through the Asthma Community

Network (http://www.asthmacommunitynetwork.org), EPA is currently focused on fostering a national initiative that equips health insurance, housing, and environmental programs to support http://www.epa.gov/radon https://www.epa.gov/radon/national-radon-action-plan-strategy-saving-lives http://www.epa.gov/asthma https://www.epa.gov/asthma/coordinated-federal-action-plan-reduce-racial-and-ethnic-asthma-disparities https://www.epa.gov/asthma/coordinated-federal-action-plan-reduce-racial-and-ethnic-asthma-disparities http://www.asthmacommunitynetwork.org/ the delivery, infrastructure, and sustainability of environmental asthma interventions as a critical component of comprehensive care.

• Increase the number of State environmental, public health, and Medicaid programs working collaboratively to support in-home asthma interventions

• Increase the number of health plans serving Medicaid populations that reimburse in-home interventions

• Build state, tribal, and local capacity to deliver and sustain in-home environmental asthma interventions through technical assistance and training.

With respect to asthma, only those activities that directly address indoor environmental factors that may influence asthma onset or exacerbation are eligible for funding under this RFA

(although ancillary activities related to medical management are acceptable). Applicants are encouraged to integrate indoor environmental trigger avoidance into comprehensive asthma management initiatives, as recommended by the National Asthma Education Prevention Program

(NAEPP). Where substantial non-environmental management (e.g., medical management) activities are described in concept proposals submitted under this RFA, applicants should be prepared to document alternative funding sources for any substantial non-environmental components that are part of comprehensive asthma management initiatives.

Comprehensive Indoor Air Risk Reduction (www.epa.gov/iaq)

Common indoor air contaminants including radon, environmental asthma triggers, such as secondhand smoke and mold, particulate matter, combustion byproducts, and volatile organic compounds can often be addressed holistically through policies and programs. IAQ can be improved in buildings through better design, construction, operation and maintenance, and renovation practices. Policies and programs may support behavior change among occupants.

And mitigation of IAQ problems may be facilitated through building codes, standards of practice, and local and state ordinances, for example.

Applications should focus on projects that improve IAQ in buildings through integration of policies and practices that address indoor air contaminants holistically using strategies that are consistent with EPA guidance found at http://www.epa.gov/iaq.

• Increase capacity of state, tribal, and community programs to comprehensively address indoor air in homes and/or schools;

• Increase the number of new homes and/or schools built with indoor air quality protections;

• Increase the number of existing homes and/or schools renovated to improve indoor air quality;

• Increase the number of schools implementing comprehensive indoor air quality programs;

• Expand development and adoption of local, state and, national building codes and standards of practice that address indoor air quality; or

• Expand the deployment of protective policies and guidance (e.g. smoke-free environments; IAQ in disaster emergency preparedness, response and recovery).

C. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage, Anticipated Outputs/Outcomes and Performance

Measures

Pursuant to Section 6a of EPA Order 5700.7A1, “Environmental Results under EPA Assistance

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

EPA also requires that grant applicants and recipients adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see EPA Order 5700.7A1, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements, www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-

03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf).

1. Linkage to EPA Strategic Plan: 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 1.1, “Improve Air Quality.”

Under this objective, EPA will “Work with states and tribes to accurately measure air quality and ensure that more Americans are living and working in areas that meet high air quality standards.” Applicants must explain in their application how their project will further this objective.

Please read EPA’s FY 2018-2022 Strategic Plan (www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan) for more information.

EPA also requires that grant applicants adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see EPA Order 5700.7A1, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements, www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf).

Applicants must include specific statements describing the environmental results of the proposed project in terms of well-defined outputs and, to the maximum extent practicable, well-defined outcomes that will demonstrate how the project will contribute to the priorities described above.

2. Outputs: The term “output” means an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to an environmental goal and objective that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during an assistance agreement funding period.

Expected outputs from the project(s) to be funded under this announcement may include, but are not limited to:

• Number of radon testers and/or mitigators certified by states;

• Number of radon professionals trained;

• Number of individuals educated through delivery of technical information;

• Number of technical assistance events conducted;

• Number of health professionals trained;

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf

• Number of school-based professionals trained;

• Number of indoor air issues/topics in a searchable policy database;

• Number of standards of practice produced.

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

“Reporting Requirement,” of this RFA.

3. Outcomes: The term “outcome” means the result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic in nature, but must also be quantitative. They may not necessarily be achievable within an assistance agreement funding period.

Expected Short-term and Intermediate outcomes from the projects to be funded under this announcement include, but are not limited to:

• Increase in homes and/or schools tested for radon;

• Increase in homes mitigated for radon;

• Increase in homes built with radon reducing features;

• Increase in States and/or municipalities adopting radon-reducing building code language;

• Increase in State Medicaid programs supporting in-home asthma interventions;

• Increase the schools or school districts implementing IAQ Tools for Schools guidance;

• Increase in privately-owned, multi-family buildings with smoke-free policies;

• Increase in access to IAQ guidance following a disaster.

4. Performance Measures. The applicant should also develop performance measures they expect to achieve through the proposed activities and describe them in their application.

These performance measures will help gather insights and will be the mechanism to track progress concerning successful processes and output and outcome strategies and will provide the basis for developing lessons to inform future recipients. It is expected that the description of performance measures will directly relate to the project outcomes and outputs. The following are questions to consider when developing output and outcome measures of quantitative and qualitative results:

• What are the measurable short term and longer term results the project will achieve?

• How does the plan measure progress in achieving the expected results (including outputs and outcomes) and how will the approach use resources effectively and efficiently?

D. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for this action is the Clean Air Act, §103(b)(3), which authorizes the award of grants for research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, surveys, and studies related to the causes, effects, (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, and control of air pollution. This solicitation relates to EPA’s statutory authority by supporting programs that educate the public about indoor air quality concerns, including radon, and equip specific stakeholders and the general public to take action to reduce potential risks in homes, schools, and workplaces.

Demonstrations must involve new or experimental technologies, methods, or approaches, where the results of the project will be disseminated so that others can benefit from the knowledge gained in the demonstration project. A project that is accomplished through the performance of routine, traditional, or established practices, or a project that is simply intended to carry out a task rather than transfer information or advance the state of knowledge, however worthwhile the project might be, is not considered a demonstration project. Implementation activities are not eligible for funding under this announcement.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. What is the amount of funding available?

The total estimated funding expected to be available for awards under this competitive opportunity is approximately $800,000 per year for up to three years. Award amounts are expected to range from $75,000 to $200,000, annually. Funding is dependent upon agency appropriations, funding availability and other applicable considerations.

The amount of federal funding requested by an applicant must not exceed $200,000 per year.

EPA will not consider or review applications requesting in excess of $200,000 per year in federal funds.

The estimated amount of funding available to address the three program priority areas described in Section I.B is anticipated to be divided as follows, and subject to change. This information is being provided for informational purposes only.

• Radon (60%)

• Indoor Asthma Triggers (20%)

• Comprehensive Indoor Air Risk Reduction (20%)

B. Partial Funding

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

C. How many agreements will EPA award in this competition?

It is anticipated that approximately 3 to 5 cooperative agreements will be made from this announcement subject to the availability of funds, the quantity and quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations.

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

Agency policy and other applicable considerations, if additional funding becomes available after the original selections. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than six months from the date of the original selections.

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

D. What is the project period for awards resulting from this solicitation?

The estimated project period for awards resulting from this solicitation is expected to begin on

January 8, 2021, and may continue for up to three years, with an estimated completion date of

December 31, 2023.

E. Funding Type

The funding for selected projects will be in the form of a cooperative agreement.

Cooperative agreements provide for substantial involvement between the EPA project officer and the selected applicants in the performance of the work supported. Although EPA will negotiate precise terms and conditions relating to substantial involvement as part of the award process, the anticipated substantial federal involvement for these projects may include:

• close monitoring of the successful applicant’s performance to verify the results proposed by the applicant;

• collaboration during performance of the scope of work;

• in accordance with 2 CFR 200.317 and 2 CFR 200.318, review of proposed procurement;

• approving qualifications of key personnel (EPA will not select employees or contractors employed by the award recipient); and

• review and comment on reports prepared under the cooperative agreement (the final decision on the content of reports rests with the recipient).

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Entities

In accordance with CFDA 66.034, applications will be accepted from states, local governments, territories, Indian tribes, and possessions of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, international organizations, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and other public or private non-profit institutions.

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 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 200.270, Institutions of

Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this RFA. Hospitals operated by state, tribal, or local governments or that meet the definition of nonprofit at 2 CFR

200.70 are also eligible to apply. For-profit colleges, universities, trade schools, and hospitals are ineligible.

For-profit organizations are not an eligible entity for this funding opportunity. Additionally, 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.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

No matching funds are required under this competition. Although cost sharing/matching is not required as a condition of eligibility under this competition, under Section V. of this announcement EPA will evaluate applications based on a leveraging criterion.

Leveraging is generally when an applicant proposes to provide its own additional funds/resources or those from third-party sources to support or complement the project they are awarded under the competition which are above and beyond the EPA grant funds awarded. Any leveraged funds/resources, and their source, must be identified in the application (See Section

IV. of the announcement). Leveraged funds and resources may take various forms as noted below.

Voluntary cost share is a form of leveraging. Voluntary cost sharing is when an applicant voluntarily proposes to legally commit to provide costs or contributions to support the project when a cost share is not required. Applicants who propose to use a voluntary cost share must include the costs or contributions for the voluntary cost share in the project budget on the SF-

424. If an applicant proposes a voluntary cost share, the following apply:

• A voluntary cost share is subject to the match provisions in the grant regulations 2

CFR Part 200 as applicable.

• A voluntary cost share may only be met with eligible and allowable costs.

• The recipient may not use other sources of federal funds to meet a voluntary cost share unless the statute authorizing the other federal funding provides that the federal funds may be used to meet a cost share requirement on a federal grant.

• The recipient is legally obligated to meet any proposed voluntary cost share that is included in the approved project budget. If the proposed voluntary cost share does not materialize during grant performance, then EPA may reconsider the legitimacy of the award and/or take other appropriate action as authorized by 2 CFR Part 200 as applicable.

Other leveraged funding/resources that are not identified as a voluntary cost share. This form of leveraging may be met by funding from another federal grant, from an applicant's own resources, or resources from other third-party sources. This form of leveraging should not be included in the budget and the costs need not be eligible and allowable project costs under the

EPA assistance agreement. While this form of leveraging should not be included in the budget, the grant workplan should include a statement indicating that the applicant is expected to produce the proposed leveraging consistent with the terms of the announcement and the applicant's application. If applicants propose to provide this form of leveraging, EPA expects them to make the effort to secure the leveraged resources described in their applications. If the proposed leveraging does not materialize during grant performance, then EPA may reconsider the legitimacy of the award and/or take other appropriate action as authorized by 2 CFR Part 200 as applicable.

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

These are requirements that if not met by the time of application submission will result in elimination of the application from consideration for funding. Only applications from eligible applicants (see Section III.A. of this RFA) that meet all of these threshold eligibility criteria will be evaluated against the ranking criteria in Section V. of this RFA. If necessary, EPA may contact applicants to clarify threshold eligibility questions prior to making an eligibility determination. 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. Application Content and Submission

a. Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and application content requirements set forth in Section IV. and Appendices A and B of this

RFA or else they will be rejected.

b. Where a page limit is expressed in Section IV of this RFA with respect to the project narrative, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed. The page limit of the project narrative is 10 pages.

c. 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 and properly submitted.

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.

http://www.grants.gov/ https://grants.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://grants.gov/

2. Applications must further EPA’s current priorities for improving air quality, which focus on improving air quality to ensure more Americans are living and working in areas that meet high air quality standards. (See Section I.C.)

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

4. Applications which request EPA assistance funds in excess of $200,000 per year, as specified in Section II.A of this RFA, are not eligible and will not be reviewed.

5. Applications should clearly articulate a plan to produce results that have implications and/or benefits on a national level. This RFA is not intended to fund small-scale local projects.

6. Applications must address one or more of the following EPA Indoor Air Program priority areas:

• Radon

• Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers

• Comprehensive Indoor Air Risk Reduction

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 and Appendix A.

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 OMS-ARM-

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 https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:OMS-ARM-OGDWaivers@epa.gov mailto:OMS-ARM-OGDWaivers@epa.gov

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:

• Funding Opportunity Number (FON)

• Organization Name and Unique Entity Identifier (e.g., 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 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 application 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.

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.

B. Grants.gov Application Submission Instructions (see Appendix A)

Your organization’s authorized official representative (AOR) must submit your complete application electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than September 15, 2020, 11:59

PM Eastern Time.

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.3. below for additional information)

2. Project Narrative. The project narrative must explicitly describe how the proposed project meets the guidelines established in Sections I-III of this announcement (including the threshold eligibility criteria in Section III.C.) and must address each of the evaluation criteria set forth in Section V. The project narrative (a through f below) cannot exceed a maximum of 10 single-spaced typewritten pages, including the summary page — excess pages will not be reviewed. Supporting materials, such as resumes and letters of support, can be submitted as attachments and are not included in the 10-page limit.

a. Summary Information Page (recommended not to exceed one page)

i. Project Title;

ii. Applicant Information. Include applicant (organization) name, address, contact person, phone number, fax and e-mail address;

iii. Funding Requested. Specify the amount you are requesting from EPA;

iv. Total Project Cost. Specify total cost of the project. Identify funding from other sources, including cost share or in-kind resources;

v. Project period. Provide beginning and ending dates. (Projects are anticipated to begin date and end no later than date.);

vi. DUNS number.

b. Project Summary/Approach. The summary shall contain the following components:

i. Detailed project summary, description of specific actions and methods to be undertaken and the responsible institutions, including estimated timeline for each task;

ii. Description of the associated work products to be developed;

iii. Explanation of project benefits to the public, and specifically the potential audience(s) served;

iv. Explanation of leveraged funds or other resources that will contribute to the project;

v. Description of the roles of the applicant and partners, if any;

vi. Description of the applicant’s organization and experience related to the proposed project;

vii. Description of staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project.

c. Environmental Results—Outcomes, Outputs, and Performance Measures.

Identify the expected quantitative and qualitative outcomes and outputs of the project

(See Section I), including what performance measurements, timeline of milestones, or other means will be used to track and measure your progress towards achieving the expected outcomes and outputs and how the results of the project will be evaluated.

d. Programmatic Capability and Past Performance. Submit a list of federally funded assistance agreements (assistance agreements include Federal grants and cooperative agreements but not Federal contracts) similar in size, scope, and relevance to the proposed project that your organization performed within the last three years (no more than 5 agreements, and preferably EPA agreements) and describe (i) whether, and how, you were able to successfully complete and manage those agreements and

(ii) your history of meeting the reporting requirements under those agreements including whether you adequately and timely reported on your progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes of those agreements (and if not, explain why not) and whether you submitted acceptable final technical reports under the agreements. In evaluating applicants under these factors in Section V, EPA will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources, including information from EPA files and from current/prior grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information provided by the applicant). If you do not have any relevant or available past performance or reporting information, please indicate this in the application and you will receive a neutral score for these factors (a neutral score is half of the total points available in a subset of possible points). If you do not provide any response for these items, you may receive a score of 0 for these factors.

e. Voluntary cost share/match and leveraged funds (See Section III.B) Demonstrate how you will leverage additional funds/resources beyond the grant funds awarded to support the proposed project activities and how these funds/resources will be used to contribute to the performance and success of the proposed project. This includes but is not limited to funds and other resources leveraged from businesses, labor organizations, non-profit organizations, education and training providers, and/or

Federal, state, tribal, and local governments, as appropriate. Describe the amount and type of leveraged resources to be provided, how you will obtain the leveraged resources, the likelihood the leveraging will materialize during grant performance, the strength of the leveraging commitment, and the role the leveraged resources will play to support the proposed project activities. Selected applicants are expected to abide by their proposed leveraging commitments during grant performance and the failure to do so may affect the legitimacy of the award.

f. Detailed Budget Narrative (See Appendix B, Budget Sample). This section provides an opportunity for a narrative description of the budget found in the SF-

424A. Clearly explain how EPA funds will be used. Selected applicant(s) will need to submit a copy of their current indirect cost rate that has been negotiated with a federal cognizant agency prior to award

i. Description of the budget and estimated funding amounts for each work component/task;

ii. Description of the applicant’s approach, procedures, and controls for ensuring that awarded grant funds will be expended in a timely and efficient manner;

iii. Applicants must itemize costs related to personnel, fringe benefits, contractual costs, travel, equipment, supplies, other direct costs, indirect costs, and total costs. *Selected applicant(s) will need to submit a copy of their current indirect cost rate that has been negotiated with a federal cognizant agency prior to award;

iv. For applicants that provide a voluntary cost share/match, the budget narrative must clearly specify the amount of federal funding and the cost share amount for each category of total project costs for each category. Include an explanation of how the voluntary match will be met. All matching funds are subject to the regulations governing matching fund requirements at 2 CFR

Part 200.

3. Attachments. These are optional and are not included in the 10-page limit.

a. Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

b. Biographical Sketch. Provide resumes or curriculum vitae for all Principal

Investigators and any other key personnel.

c. Quality Assurance Narrative Statement.

d. Support Letters – These should indicate how the supporting organization will assist in the project.

e. If applicable, approval letter to use alternate means to submit initial application.

D. Submission Date and Times

The closing date and time for submission of applications is September15, 2020, 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time (ET). Applications submitted after the closing date and time will not be considered for funding.

E. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

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

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Only eligible entities whose applications meet the threshold criteria in Section III. of this RFA will be evaluated according to the criteria set forth below. Applicants should explicitly address these criteria as part of their application package submittal in the project narrative, following the content requirements set forth in Appendix B. Each application will be rated using a point system. Applications will be evaluated based on a total of 100 points possible.

A. Evaluation Criteria

Criteria Points

Total Possible Points 100

1. Project Summary and Approach: Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate applications based on the extent and quality of the applicant’s project summary and overall approach. Specifically, EPA will evaluate the extent and quality to which the project narrative:

A. (15 points) Includes a well-conceived strategy for addressing the requirements in Section I, Parts B (Scope of Work) and C (EPA

Strategic Plan Linkage and Anticipated Outcomes/Outputs); and

B. (15 points) Sets forth a reasonable time schedule for the execution of the tasks associated with the project and for achieving the project goals and objectives by project end.

2. Environmental Results – Outputs, Outcomes, and Performance

Measures: Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate:

A. (7 points) The effectiveness of the applicant’s plan for tracking and measuring its progress toward achieving the expected project outputs and outcomes, including those identified in Section I of this announcement.

B. (8 points) The performance measures proposed by the applicant and how they will be used to help track and measure the applicant’s progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes.

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

3. Programmatic Capability and Past Performance: Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate applicants based on their ability to successfully complete and manage the proposed project taking into account their:

A. (8 points) Past performance in successfully completing and managing the assistance agreements identified in the project narrative as described in

Section IV.C. of the announcement, B. (8 points) History of meeting the reporting requirements under the assistance agreements identified in the project narrative as described in

Section IV.C. of the announcement, including whether the applicant submitted acceptable final technical reports under those agreements and the extent to which the applicant adequately and timely reported on their progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes under those agreements and if such progress was not being made whether the applicant adequately reported why not;

C. (5 points) Organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project; and

D. (9 points) Staff expertise and qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project.

Note: In evaluating applicants under items A and B of this criterion, the Agency will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources including agency files and prior/current grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information supplied by the applicant). If you do not have any relevant or available past performance or reporting information, please indicate this in the application and you will receive a neutral score for these sub-factors (items A and B above-a neutral score is half of the total points available in a subset of possible points). If you do not provide any response for these items, you may receive a score of 0 for these sub-factors.

4. Budget: Under this…