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Attached to: Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research
Opportunity number: EPA-G2017-ORD-E1
Issued by: Environmental Protection Agency

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Environmental Topics Laws & Regulations About EPA

Research Grants

Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Mid-Continent Ecology Division

Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity.

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-G2017-ORD-E1

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 66.511 - Office of Research and Development Consolidated Research/Training/Fellowships

Solicitation Opening Date: March 16, 2017 Solicitation Closing Date: May 16, 2017, 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time

Technical Contact: Brian Hill (hill.brian@epa.gov); phone: 218-529-5224 Eligibility Contact: Ron Josephson (josephson.ron@epa.gov); phone: 202- 564-7823 Electronic Submissions: Debra M. Jones (jones.debram@epa.gov); phone:

202-564-7839

Table of Contents:

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Synopsis of Program

Award Information

Eligibility Information

Research Grants Home

Funding Opportunities

Research Areas

Air Research Grants

Climate Change Research Grants

Ecosystems Research Grants

Health Research Grants

Safer Chemicals Research Grants

Sustainability Research Grants

Water Research Grants

Research Grants Events

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Share https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa mailto:hill.brian@epa.gov mailto:josephson.ron@epa.gov mailto:jones.debram@epa.gov https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/forms/contact-us-about-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grants-events https://www.epa.gov/research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/air-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/air-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/climate-change-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/climate-change-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/ecosystems-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/ecosystems-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/health-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/health-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/safer-chemicals-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/safer-chemicals-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/sustainability-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/sustainability-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/water-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/water-research-grants https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grants-events https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grants-events https://www.epa.gov/

Application Materials

Agency Contacts

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Introduction

B. Background

C. Authority and Regulations

D. Program Components-Specific Areas of Interest & Expected Outputs and Outcomes

E. Special Requirements

II. AWARD INFORMATION

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Cost Sharing

C. Other

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Grants.gov Submittal Requirements and Limited Exception Procedures

B. Application Package Information

C. Content and Form of Application Submission

D. Submission Dates and Times

E. Funding Restrictions

F. Submission Instructions and Other Submission Requirements

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Technical Review

B. Funding Decisions

C. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices

B. Disputes

C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

Access Standard EPA Forms (How to Apply and Required Forms)

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Synopsis of Program:

The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and the environment. The EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) conducts timely, mission-relevant, solution-oriented research based on the principles of integrity, sustainability, and responsiveness to the needs of the Nation. ORD’s National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory’s (NHEERL’s) research portfolio spans the five goals outlined in EPA’s Strategic Plan, and directly supports efforts to improve air quality, manage chemical risks, and protect America's water.

EPA-ORD seeks applications from eligible entities to enter into a cooperative agreement with EPA that will provide training opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral trainees on-site at ORD’s Mid- Continent Ecology Division (MED) research facilities located in Duluth, Minnesota. It is envisioned that the training program will increase both the effectiveness and number of future environmental scientists. The recipient is responsible for arranging training projects under the mentorship of EPA scientists that complement and extend the trainees’ academic coursework and research experience. Appropriate fields of study for trainees include, but are not limited to, biology, chemistry, computer science, ecology, economics, engineering, environmental science, physical science, social science, toxicology and water policy.

Award Information:

Anticipated Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement Estimated Number of Awards: 1 Anticipated Funding Amount: Approximately $1,200,000 total Potential Funding per Grant: Up to a total of $1,200,000, including direct and indirect costs, with a maximum duration of 3 years. Cost-sharing is not required. Proposals with budgets exceeding the total award limits will not be considered.

Eligibility Information:

This solicitation is available to each State, territory and possession, and Tribal nation of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, State and local government departments, other public or private nonprofit institutions, and foreign entities. Profit-making firms are not eligible to receive assistance agreements from the EPA under this program. See full announcement for more details.

Application Materials:

To apply under this solicitation, use the application package available at Grants.gov (for further submission information see Section IV.F.

“Submission Instructions and other Submission Requirements”). Note:

With the exception of the current and pending support form (available at How to Apply and Required Forms), all necessary forms are included in https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms

If your organization is not currently registered with Grants.gov, you need to allow approximately one month to complete the registration process.

Please note that the registration process also requires that your organization have a unique entity identifier (formerly ‘DUNS number’) and a current registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) and the process of obtaining both could take a month or more. Applicants must ensure that all registration requirements are met in order to apply for this opportunity through Grants.gov and should ensure that all such requirements have been met well in advance of the submission deadline.

This registration, and electronic submission of your application, must be performed by an authorized representative of your organization.

If you do not have the technical capability to utilize the Grants.gov application submission process for this solicitation, see Section IV.A below for additional guidance and instructions.

Agency Contacts:

202-564-7839

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Introduction EPA’s ORD seeks to support a Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research to provide environmental research training for college and university students and postdoctoral researchers. The goal of the Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research is to increase both the effectiveness and number of future environmental scientists and technicians by allowing trainees to collaborate with and be mentored by senior EPA-ORD scientists while working in a fully operational federal research laboratory.

Ultimately, this program is expected to assist in developing the next generation of environmental scientists and engineers to further the Agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment by improving air quality, managing chemical risks, and protecting America's water. Research training will be conducted at EPA’s facility in Duluth, Minnesota. Appropriate fields of study for trainees include, but are not limited to, biology, chemistry, computer science, ecology, economics, engineering, environmental science, physical science, social science, toxicology, and water policy.

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

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

1. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1061). A list of these schools can be found at White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and mailto:hill.brian@epa.gov mailto:josephson.ron@epa.gov mailto:jones.debram@epa.gov https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/

Universities;

2. Tribal Colleges and Universities, as defined by the Higher Education

Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059(c)). A list of these schools can be found at American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities;

3. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1101a(a)(5)). There is no list of HSIs. HSIs are institutions of higher education that, at the time of application submittal, have an enrollment of undergraduate full-time equivalent students that is at least 25% Hispanic students at the end of the award year immediately preceding the date of application for this grant; and

4. Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions; (AANAPISIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059g(a)(2)). There is no list of AANAPISIs. AANAPISIs are institutions of higher education that, at the time of application submittal, have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is not less than 10 % students who are Asian American or Native American Pacific Islander.

B. Background The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), Mid-Continent Ecology Division’s (MED) functional identity is rooted in freshwater ecotoxicology and in watershed and coastal ecology. MED’s ecotoxicology functions are translational and predictive.

Translational toxicology uses physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) and toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling, population modeling, and xenobiotic metabolism at environmental/biological interfaces to inform ecological risk assessments of chemicals, as needed by EPA’s Program Offices and Regions. Predictive toxicology uses the adverse outcome pathways (AOP) framework and systems biology approaches to better understand and characterize the consequences of toxic chemical perturbation of biological systems to reduce uncertainties in chemical risk assessments. Predictive toxicology develops extrapolations across chemicals, species and biological levels of organization with which to support risk assessment of chemicals when few empirical data are available.

MED’s functional identity in freshwater watershed and coastal ecology focuses on the development of environmental, social, and public health indicators for assessing and predicting the impacts of anthropogenic land use, contaminant remediation, ecosystem service restoration, and community revitalization. We use natural and social science approaches to develop innovative strategies that integrate the ecological and socioeconomic dynamics of coastal systems into sustainability decisions made by impacted communities, including advanced coastal observing and assessment systems that link conditions in coastal waters to antecedent watershed conditions. By linking the ecological condition and ecosystem services of watersheds and coastal environments with human benefits, we gain important insights into the interdependencies of ecologic, economic, and human health that are fundamental to EPA’s science and regulatory mission.

MED seeks to establish a cooperative partnership with an eligible applicant capable of managing an environmental training program. One (1) cooperative agreement will be awarded to an eligible applicant or consortium of eligible applicants from this solicitation. The cooperative agreement should provide a training partnership with MED scientists. The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to stimulate interest among undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral trainees in careers involving environmental research, to provide hands-on experience to these trainees https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst-list-pg5.html

Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research | Research Grants | US EPA https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/cooperative-training-partnership-aquatic-toxicology-and-ecosystem-research[3/16/2017 7:21:21 AM] in MED’s research facilities, and to promote career development for university faculty via the collaborative training and mentoring of these student and postdoctoral trainees. It is envisioned that this training program will involve the active participation of EPA scientists as co-mentors with university scientists, and that the trainees will be trained at MED’s research facility.

Research Facilities:

MED’s research facility in Duluth is located on a 13-acre campus adjacent to Lake Superior, the source of water for its aquatic organism cultures and ecotoxicology facilities. This facility comprises 107,000 sq. ft. of laboratories, offices, and research support and maintenance operations.

MED maintains state-of-the-science laboratories and facilities, including advanced analytical capabilities for cellular, molecular, biochemical and chemical analyses of water, sediments and biological materials. MED maintains a complement of research vessels to support field research on the Great Lakes and adjacent watersheds, including the 90-foot RV Lake Explorer II and an autonomous underwater glider for unmanned sampling of physical and chemical conditions of the Great Lakes.

The specific Strategic Goal(s) and Objective(s) from the EPA’s Strategic Plan that relate to this solicitation are:

Goal 2: Protecting America's Waters Objective 2.1: Protect Human Health

Objective 2.2: Protect and Restore Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems

Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development

Objective 3.1: Promote Sustainable and Livable Communities

Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution Objective 4.1: Ensure Chemical Safety

The EPA’s FY 2014-18 Strategic Plan can be found at:

EPA Strategic Plan

The Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research provides opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral trainees to collaborate with and be mentored by EPA scientists at MED in Duluth, Minnesota. The ultimate goal is to produce environmental scientists and technicians who not only have relevant classroom experience, but who also have research field and laboratory experience.

The purpose of this announcement is to request applications to competitively select a technically and administratively qualified recipient to develop and administer a year-round research training program. The Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research will supplement the academic education of the trainees by enabling them to complete mentored projects on-site with EPA scientists at MED’s federal research laboratories located in Duluth, Minnesota. The training can begin at any time during the calendar year and will be structured to occur in conjunction with the trainees’ academic studies.

Training is to be conducted on-site at MED’s facilities in Duluth, Minnesota, and the applicant should describe its approach for managing logistics that are necessary to meet this objective.

https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan

The Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research is expected to include collaborative training opportunities by MED scientists (mentors) and university scientists for undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral trainees. Trainees will gain research experience by working under the mentorship of MED scientists in their EPA laboratory throughout the academic year and may continue their training during the summer session. Applications should propose a balanced approach to include undergraduate, graduate (Masters and Doctoral), and postdoctoral trainees in a manner to meaningfully meet the program’s objective of increasing both the effectiveness and number of future environmental scientists. While actual hours spent at MED’s facilities is likely to vary (e.g., depending on class schedule, hours needed to complete the research project), it is expected that a typical undergraduate or graduate student trainee will spend 10-20 hours per week during the academic year at MED’s facility and 20 or more hours per week at the MED facility if participating in the summer session. Post-doctoral trainees are expected to spend approximately 40 hours per week in the program, with the majority of that time at the MED facility.

Research themes for training opportunities will be identified, collaboratively, by the recipient and MED, and will reflect MED’s Branch missions:

Systems Toxicology Branch (STB) conducts research in pathway-based approaches to predicting toxic effects of chemicals in ecological receptors. Areas of emphasis include adverse outcome pathway development and quantification, extrapolation across chemicals, species and biological levels of organization and development of quantitative structure activity models.

Translational Toxicology Branch (TTB) conducts research using models for determining chemical effects in ecological receptors, and interpreting those effects within the context of ecological risk assessment and other regulatory applications. Areas of emphasis include dosimetry prediction and modeling, bioavailability, bioaccumulation, development of toxicity test methods, synthesis of toxicity test results, and population level effects of chemicals.

Ecosystem Services Branch (ESB) conducts research quantifying the outputs of freshwater ecosystems and how they contribute to human well-being and social welfare. Areas of emphasis include developing ecological, biophysical and socioeconomic indicators of ecosystem services, creating models for translating ecosystem structure and function into services and thence to human benefits, and developing methods to quantify tradeoffs among services resulting from management actions including environmental remediation and restoration.

Watersheds and Water Resources Branch (WWRB) conducts research that links the ecological sustainability of receiving waters to watershed integrity. WWRB uses a systems approach to understanding the impacts of anthropogenic stressors on diverse water body types at multiple spatial scales. Areas of emphasis include conceptual foundations, modeling frameworks, assessment and monitoring methods, biological response functions, and operational tools needed to manage ecosystems, forecast outcomes management decisions, and sustain public benefits from water resources and watersheds.

Projects that are consistent with MED’s research priorities and are suitable for trainees will be coordinated with the EPA mentor(s) and developed by the recipient. Appropriate fields of study for trainees include, but are not limited to, biology, chemistry, computer science, ecology, economics, engineering, environmental science, physical science, social science, Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research | Research Grants | US EPA https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/cooperative-training-partnership-aquatic-toxicology-and-ecosystem-research[3/16/2017 7:21:21 AM] toxicology, and water policy. The objective of the training program is not to provide products or services for EPA’s direct use or to augment its workforce.

It is envisioned that the training program will increase both the effectiveness and number of future environmental scientists. The recipient is responsible for ensuring that the training undergraduate and graduate student trainees receive under the mentorship of MED scientists complements the trainees’ ongoing academic coursework. Additionally, the recipient must ensure that the training experience builds upon any prior training the undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral trainees may have received. Training in professional scientific ethics and quality assurance is expected to be provided by both the recipient and EPA. The MED on-site cooperative training experience will be conducted with MED scientists and includes problem and hypothesis formulation, experimental design, sample collection and analysis, data evaluation, quality assurance, reporting and presenting results, manuscript development and publication, and participation in relevant seminars, research discussions, and training sessions. It is envisioned that trainees would incorporate aspects of their training at EPA into scientific presentations and honors projects, theses and dissertations, and publications. For graduate student trainees, it is envisioned that MED mentors would participate on their advisory committees

C. Authority and Regulations The authority for this RFA and resulting awards is contained in the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1254, Section 104 (b)(3).

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

Note that a project’s focus is to consist of activities within the statutory terms of EPA’s financial assistance authorities; specifically, the statute(s) listed above. Generally, a project must address the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution, toxic substances control, or pesticide control depending on which statute(s) is listed above.

Further note applications dealing with any aspect of or related to hydraulic fracking will not be funded by EPA through this program.

Additional applicable regulations include: 2 CFR Part 200, 2 CFR Part 1500, and 40 CFR Part 45 (Training Assistance).

D. Program Components-Specific Areas of Interest & Expected Outputs and Outcomes Note to applicant: The term “output” means an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work products related to an environmental goal or objective, that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. 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.

Program Components The applicant’s proposed Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research should address the following components:

1. The educational and technical merit of the training program should support EPA’s goal and objective of training the next generation of

Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research | Research Grants | US EPA https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/cooperative-training-partnership-aquatic-toxicology-and-ecosystem-research[3/16/2017 7:21:21 AM] environmental scientists. The program should provide for a partnership between a successful institution or consortium of institutions and MED in Duluth, Minnesota for on-site training of a new generation of undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral trainees who will pursue careers in environmentally-related fields. For students, the training/mentorship will occur during the academic year with the option for continued training/mentorship during the summer session, while for postdoctoral trainees, the training/mentorship is expected to occur on a year-round basis.

2. The applicant is expected to describe the process for matching the identified trainees with the available training opportunities related to MED’s research themes. MED will designate mentors through the EPA Project Officer. After award, the MED mentors will provide research themes for potential projects to ensure a fit between the trainees’ interests and qualifications and the training and research opportunities available at the MED laboratory.

3. The applicant should propose how it will provide and manage financial support to trainees. Training will be conducted on-site at MED’s facilities in Duluth, Minnesota, and the applicant must describe its approach for managing any logistics that are necessary to meet this objective. The typical post-doctoral trainee will spend approximately 40 hours per week under the training program year-round, with the majority of that time expected to be at the MED facility. The typical undergraduate and graduate student trainee will spend approximately 10-20 hours per week during the academic year and 20-40 hours per week if participating in the summer session at MED’s research facilities.

Graduate student trainees will typically undertake research projects that are more substantial (and thus take more hours) than those of undergraduates. The applicant should explain how it will provide scientific oversight for the selected trainees’ research proposals, as well as development of personal training plans which outline their anticipated learning objectives and the anticipated benefits to their career.

4. The applicant should propose how it will 1) disseminate guidance and direction to trainees to ensure they are following the health and safety and quality assurance requirements as described by MED Mentors while working at the EPA laboratory; 2) evaluate training/research plans to ensure human subjects research is identified and properly managed according to EPA’s Human Subject Research Regulations and Policies; 3) assist trainees to accomplish the required coursework for their chosen degree without undue interference from their research responsibilities; and 4) provide the necessary resources for the trainees to accomplish their proposed research.

5. The applicant should describe how the program will advertise the training opportunity in as wide a manner as practicable and on a competitive basis, and how it will receive and manage applications from prospective students and postdocs. The applicant should describe the review criteria to be used in the evaluation of potential trainees, and discuss the rationale for making selections.

6. The applicant should identify an individual who will be designated to serve as the Project Manager. This individual should have the background capable of managing a research training program including administrative experience.

Overall, the recipient, through the activities of the Project Manager (PM), will be expected to be responsible for:

Providing a single point of contact for the EPA Project Officer for all administrative and technical requirements of the cooperative agreement;

Ensuring compliance with the agreement’s terms and conditions;

Competitively advertising training opportunities;

Managing the evaluation and selection process for the trainees and providing relevant information (e.g., areas of study for selected trainees) for the EPA Project Officer to identify a suitable MED mentor;

Providing scientific oversight for training plans in collaboration with the MED mentor;

Developing the research projects (in collaboration with the MED mentor) and ensuring trainees achieve anticipated benefits;

Providing comments to the EPA Project Officer regarding progress of research, problems encountered, and solutions taken;

Providing guidance and instruction, as necessary, ensuring the trainees follow acceptable scientific methods;

Providing budget accounts and progress reports to the EPA Project Officer on an agreed-upon schedule;

Ensuring training results are incorporated in a final report that summarizes all trainees’ project objectives, approaches, outcomes, and learning experiences;

Providing guidance and assistance in the preparation of scientific presentations and publications arising from the traineeships;

Managing all human-resource and supervisory functions for trainees, including but not limited to: compensation and benefits, time and attendance tracking, and record keeping.

Outputs and Outcomes Outputs from the Research Training Program funded under this RFA are expected to include, but are not limited to:

The training of approximately 8 trainees per year;

Reports that summarize the trainees’ projects, objectives, approaches, learning experiences, and budget allocations;

Honors/capstone projects, theses, and dissertations that fulfill requirements for undergraduate or advanced degrees Scientific and technical publications authored or co-authored by trainees;

Attendance and presentations of research results by the trainees at scientific meetings;

Generation of data and information essential to conducting environmental studies.

Examples of expected outcomes include, but are not limited to:

Increase in the number of environmental scientists and technicians that have the training and experience to immediately enter the workforce upon graduation;

Increase in the number of environmental scientists who can productively contribute to the understanding of the science needed to manage environmental risks;

Increase in the overall knowledge and experience of the trainees being mentored and trained.

E. Special Requirements Agency policy and ethical considerations prevent EPA technical staff and managers from providing applicants with information that may create an unfair competitive advantage. Consequently, EPA employees will not review, comment, advise, and/or provide technical assistance to applicants preparing applications in response to EPA RFAs. EPA employees cannot endorse any particular application.

Groups of two or more eligible applicants may choose to form a consortium and submit a single application for this assistance agreement. The

II. AWARD INFORMATION

It is anticipated that a total of approximately $1,200,000 will be awarded under this announcement, depending on the availability of funds, quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations. The EPA anticipates funding one award under this RFA. Requests for amounts in excess of a total of $1,200,000, including direct and indirect costs, will not be considered. The total project period requested in an application submitted for this RFA may not exceed 3years.

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

EPA expects the funding for the selected applicant to be incremental, as suitable trainees are identified and brought on, and reserves the right to partially fund proposals/applications by funding discrete portions or phases of proposed projects. If EPA decides to partially fund a proposal/application, it will do so in a manner that does not prejudice any applicants or affect the basis upon which the proposal/application, or portion thereof, was evaluated and selected for award, and therefore maintains the integrity of the competition and selection process.

EPA will award a cooperative agreement under this announcement. EPA will negotiate the terms and conditions relating to its substantial involvement in this training partnership and anticipates this involvement to include, but not be limited too, the following:

MED mentors will collaborate with recipient staff in identifying suitable trainee opportunities;

MED mentors will review the trainees’ proposed projects to ensure a fit between the trainees’ interests and qualifications and the training and research opportunities available at the MED laboratory and may therefore decline taking on mentorship of trainees deemed to be poorly matched with the available opportunities;

MED mentors will provide assistance with the development of the research project(s) and be responsible for ensuring that research activities performed by the trainees at MED facilities in Duluth, Minnesota fulfill the requirements of the research projects and are a beneficial learning experience for the trainees;

MED staff will train the trainees in field and laboratory health and safety and quality assurance;

MED mentors will provide on-site training in laboratory and/or field techniques, theory and operation of advanced laboratory and/or field instrumentation, experimental design, data evaluation, computer data base management, computer applications, library database search techniques, sample preparation and analysis, computer model application, as appropriate, as well as many other areas related to field and laboratory research;

MED mentors and staff will provide trainees with opportunities to learn about current environmental issues, research, and career options;

MED mentors will provide guidance and assistance in the preparation of scientific publications, as appropriate; and

MED mentors may serve as thesis and dissertation advisors or committee members for student trainees.

Proposals may not identify specific EPA cooperators, although they should describe in general terms how they envision the cooperation working; specific interactions between EPA’s investigators and those of the cooperative agreement recipient will be negotiated at the time of award.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants This solicitation is available to each State, territory and possession, and Tribal nation of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, State and local government departments, other public or private nonprofit institutions, and foreign entities. Profit-making firms are not eligible to receive assistance agreements from the EPA under this program.

Non-profit organization, as defined by 2 CFR Part 200, 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 Part 200, Institutions of Higher Education and state, local and federally-recognized Indian tribal governments 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. Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible to apply.

National laboratories funded by Federal Agencies (Federally-Funded Research and Development Centers, "FFRDCs") may not apply. FFRDC employees may cooperate or collaborate with eligible applicants within the limits imposed by applicable legislation and regulations. They may participate in planning, conducting, and analyzing the research directed by the applicant, but may not direct projects on behalf of the applicant organization. The institution, organization, or governance receiving the award may provide funds through its assistance agreement from the EPA to an FFRDC for research personnel, supplies, equipment, and other expenses directly related to the research. However, salaries for permanent FFRDC employees may not be provided through this mechanism.

Federal Agencies may not apply. Federal employees are not eligible to serve in a principal leadership role on an assistance agreement, and may not receive salaries or augment their Agency's appropriations in other ways through awards made under this program.

The applicant institution may enter into an agreement with a Federal Agency to purchase or utilize unique supplies or services unavailable in the private sector to the extent authorized by law. Examples are purchase of satellite data, chemical reference standards, analyses, or use of instrumentation or other facilities not available elsewhere. A written justification for federal involvement must be included in the application. In

Potential applicants who are uncertain of their organizational eligibility should contact Ron Josephson (josephson.ron@epa.gov); phone: 202- 564-7823.

B. Cost sharing

Institutional cost-sharing is not required.

C. Other

Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section IV of this announcement or they will be rejected. In addition, where a page limitation is expressed in Section IV with respect to parts of the application, pages in excess of the page limit will not be reviewed. 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 (see Section IV.F. “Submission Instructions and Other Submission Requirements” for further information) to ensure that their application is timely 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.

Applications exceeding the funding limits or project period term described herein will be rejected without review. Further, applications that fail to demonstrate a public purpose of support or stimulation (e.g., by proposing research which primarily benefits a Federal program or provides a service for a Federal agency) will not be funded.

Consistent with Agency regulatory obligations, applicants for and/or recipients of EPA financial assistance are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or disability in their programs or activities. Therefore, applications that contain provisions wherein decisions about how to structure and manage a trainee program, including the selection process, based on race, color, national origin, sex or disability will not be considered.

Applications deemed ineligible for funding consideration will be notified within fifteen calendar days of the ineligibility determination.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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 sub-awards under grants, and proposal assistance and communications, can be found at EPA Solicitation Clauses.

mailto:josephson.ron@epa.gov https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.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.

Formal instructions for submission through Grants.gov are in Section F.

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

Mailing Address:

OGD Waivers c/o Barbara Perkins USEPA Headquarters William Jefferson Clinton Building 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N. W.

Mail Code: 3903R Washington, DC 20460

Courier Address:

OGD Waivers c/o Barbara Perkins Ronald Reagan Building 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.

Rm # 51267 Washington, DC 20004

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

Funding Opportunity Number (FON) Organization Name and DUNS Organization’s Contact Information (email address and phone number) 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 proposal content and page limits (although the documentation of approval of an alternate submission https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:OGDWaivers@epa.gov

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, 2016, it is valid for any competitive or non-competitive application submission to EPA through December 31, 2016). 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, 2016 with a submission deadline of January 15, 2017, the applicant would need a new exception to submit through alternative methods beginning January 1, 2017.

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. Application Package Information Use the application package available at Grants.gov (see Section IV.F.

“Submission Instructions and Other Submission Requirements”). Note:

With the exception of the current and pending support form (available at How to Apply and Required Forms), all necessary forms are included in the electronic application package. Make sure to include the current and pending support form in your Grants.gov submission.

An email will be sent by EPA to the Project Manager and the Administrative Contact (see below) to acknowledge receipt of the application and transmit other important information. The email will be sent from receipt.application@epa.gov; emails to this address will not be accepted. If you do not receive an email acknowledgement within 10 calendar days of the submission closing date, immediately inform the Electronic Submissions Contact shown in this solicitation. Failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed. See Section IV.F.

“Submission Instructions and Other Submission…

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