EPA-EE-25-01 - Final.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Applications Due: Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Environmental Education and Stewardship Division

Environmental Education Grant Program

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-EE-25-01 i

Contents

1. Basic Information

A. Executive Summary B. Key Information:

C. Key Dates:

D. Funding Details:

E. Agency Contact Information:

2. Eligibility

A. Eligible Applicants

(1) Other Eligibility Requirements

(2) Ineligible Costs and Activities

B. Cost Sharing and Subawards

(1) Cost Share Requirement

(2) Subaward Requirement

3. Program Description

A. Purpose, Priorities, and Activities

(1) Purpose

(2) Priorities

(3) Activities

B. Program Goals and Objectives C. Statutory Authority D. Funding Type

4. Application Contents and Format

A. Application Forms B. Project Narrative Description C. Applicants Using Contractors

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

A. Submission Dates and Times B. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) C. Submission Instructions D. Technical Issues with Submission E. Intergovernmental Review

6. Application Review Information

A. Responsiveness Review B. Review Criteria C. Review and Selection Process

(1) Other Evaluation Factors

D. Risk Review ii

7. Award Notices

8. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements B. Reporting C. Subaward and Executive Compensation Reporting

9. Other Information

A. Additional Provisions for Applicants B. Key Definitions C. Additional Resources D. Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)

1. Basic Information U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Environmental Education and Stewardship Division

Environmental Education Grant Program

Environmental Education Grants Homepage

Helpful Resources for Applying

A. Executive Summary The Environmental Education Grant Program supports locally and regionally focused environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers, and community members. This grant program provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques that increase public awareness and knowledge about local environmental issues and provides participants in its programs the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions toward the environment.

Applications must address both the educational and environmental priorities described in Section 3.A. Eligibility for funding is open to the entities described in Section 2.

C. Key Dates:

February 2026 Informational Webinar

March 3, 2026 11:59 pm ET Application Submission Deadline

June 2026 Anticipated Notification of Selection

October 2026 Anticipated Award Notification

D. Funding Details:

It is anticipated that up to 16 awards will be made under this announcement. The amount of funding is expected to be $3.2 Million, depending on Agency funding levels, the quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations. Awards funded under this opportunity are expected to have project periods between 1 – 2 years.

E. Agency Contact Information:

Further information, if needed, may be obtained from the EPA contact(s) indicated below.

Technical Contact: Michael Band; EEGrants@epa.gov

B. Key Information:

Opportunity Number:

EPA-EE-25-01

Assistance Listing:

66.951

Announcement Type:

Initial

Funding Available:

$3.2 Million

Number of Awards:

13-16 https://www.epa.gov/education/grants https://www.epa.gov/education/grants https://www.epa.gov/education/grants#helpful https://www.epa.gov/education/grants#webinar mailto:EEGrants@epa.gov

Eligibility Contact: Michael Band; EEGrants@epa.gov

Electronic Submissions Contact: Michael Band; EEGrants@epa.gov

2. Eligibility A. Eligible Applicants Only these types of organizations may apply:

• Local Education Agencies

• Nonprofit Organizations

• College or University

• State Education or Environmental Agency

• Local or County Environmental Agencies

• Tribal Organizations that qualify as a nonprofit organization described in Section 501(C)(3) of the

Internal Revenue Code

• Tribal Education Agencies

• Noncommercial educational broadcasting entity as defined and licensed by Federal

Communications Commission (FCC)

Further information and definitions of eligible organization types can be found in Section 3 of The National Environmental Education Act and on the EE Grant Program FAQ webpage.

The following entities are INELIGIBILE to receive an award:

• For-profit organizations

• Individual teachers, educators, faculty members, students, or community members

• Individual schools that are not nonprofit organizations

• Tribal education agencies that are administered by the Bureau of Indian Education

• Nonprofit 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

(1) Other Eligibility Requirements

Applications must meet the following threshold criteria to be considered eligible:

1. Applicant Organization Location: Applicant organizations must be located in the United States or in a U.S. territory.

2. Project Location: Applications must include project activities taking place within the United States or U.S. territories.

3. Funding: Applicants must request between $200,000 - $250,000 in federal funds. Applications requesting amounts outside of this range will be rejected.

4. Priorities: Applications must address the education and environmental priorities listed in Section 3.A(2).

5. Environmental Education: The application must be for a project that satisfies the definition of “environmental education” as defined in Section 9.B.

mailto:EEGrants@epa.gov mailto:EEGrants@epa.gov https://www.epa.gov/education/national-environmental-education-act#s3 https://www.epa.gov/education/national-environmental-education-act#s3 https://www.epa.gov/education/frequent-questions-about-environmental-education-grants-program#elig

6. Cost Share: Applicants must demonstrate how the cost share (non-federal match) requirement will be met, as required in Section 2.B(1). Applicants are encouraged to use the EE Grant Calculator as a tool to help determine the project’s minimum cost share amount.

7. Subawards: Applications must demonstrate how the subaward requirement will be met, as required in Section 2.B(2). Applicants are encouraged to use the EE Grant Calculator as a tool to help determine the subaward calculation.

8. Project: Applicants must demonstrate that their application is for a project for which they (the applicant) have not been previously awarded a grant by EPA’s EE grant program by including a statement to this effect in the Project Summary; or the applicant must demonstrate that they are expanding, building on, enhancing, or otherwise modifying a project previously funded by EPA’s EE Grant Program.

9. Duplication: Applicants may submit more than one (1) application under this announcement so long as each one is for a different project and is separately submitted.

Additional Eligibility Considerations: Eligibility requirements apply to both “prime” recipients and all subrecipients. Further information on this grant program’s eligibility requirements can be found on our FAQ webpage, which will be updated throughout the open application period. Applicants can also email EEGrants@epa.gov with eligibility (prime and subrecipient) related questions prior to the application deadline.

Applications that do not meet all the applicable threshold criteria will be deemed ineligible for funding consideration. EPA may contact applicants to clarify issues relating to threshold criteria compliance prior to making an eligibility determination.

Applicants whose applications are deemed ineligible for funding consideration because of the threshold eligibility review will be notified within 15 calendar days of the ineligibility determination.

Please see Section 6 for additional threshold criteria.

(2) Ineligible Costs and 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. Eligible tasks and activities should be consistent the EPA General Terms and Conditions. Examples of ineligible tasks or activities include:

• Technical training of environmental management professionals;

• Environmental “information” and/or “outreach” projects that have no additional educational component, as described in Section 9.B;

• Advocacy promoting a particular point of view or course of action;

• Lobbying or political activities as defined in 2 CFR Part 200.450;

• Non-educational research and development;

• Construction projects – EPA will not fund construction activities such as the acquisition of real property (e.g., buildings) or the construction or modification of any building; or

• Union organizing

If necessary, the EPA may clarify threshold eligibility issues with applicants prior to making an eligibility determination.

https://www.epa.gov/education/environmental-education-grants-calculator https://www.epa.gov/education/environmental-education-grants-calculator https://www.epa.gov/education/frequent-questions-about-environmental-education-grants-program mailto:EEGrants@epa.gov https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-terms-and-conditions https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.450

B. Cost Sharing and Subawards Applicants must demonstrate in their proposal how it will meet both the cost share and subaward requirements to be considered eligible. Formulas for calculating the minimum cost share requirement and subaward requirement are described below.

(1) Cost Share Requirement

There is a cost share (non-federal match) requirement that all applicants must meet, for a minimum of 25% of the total project amount (Total project amount = EPA Funding Request + Non-Federal Match). To be eligible for funding consideration, applications must demonstrate how the cost share requirement will be met if selected for an award. Under appropriate circumstances, applicants may use partnerships to assist with the cost share requirement. Applicants must be aware that regardless of whether it is a partner(s) or their own organization that is providing the cost share, the applicant itself is responsible for ensuring that the cost share requirement is met. An application will be deemed ineligible if funds for less than 25% of the total project amount are proposed as the cost share. Additionally, an applicant will not be awarded additional points solely on the basis of exceeding the minimum cost share requirement (see Section 6.B for more information on this competition’s evaluation criteria). Selected recipients must comply with 2 CFR 200.306 when meeting this program’s cost share requirement.

Minimum Cost Share Requirement Formula

Minimum Cost Share = (1/3) x EPA Funding Request

Note: Applicants are encouraged to use the EE Grant Calculator to calculate their project’s minimum cost share requirement.

For funding announcements that (1) the Insular Areas (the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) are eligible entities and (2) include a mandatory cost sharing requirement, cost sharing and matching requirements under $200,000 for Insular Area) are waived as a matter of law (Omnibus Territories Act, 48 U.S.C. Section 1469a).

Insular Area applicants with applications that will require a cost share of $200,000 or more are advised to contact the point of contact in this funding announcement to determine if cost share requirements will be waived in whole or in part.

(2) Subaward Requirement

A grantee under this funding opportunity will be required to award exactly 25% (no more and no less) of the funds received from EPA to eligible subrecipients in the form of subawards of $5,000 or less. For example, if a grantee is awarded $200,000, exactly $50,000 must be awarded to subrecipients. The grantee may choose to provide 10 subawards of $5,000 each, 20 subawards of $2,500 each or some other combination where the total subaward amount is equal to exactly 25% of the EPA funding request and individual subawards are given to eligible subrecipients, as described in Section 2.A, in amounts of $5,000 or less. This means that if the total dollar amount proposed to be awarded to subawards in an application is either below or above exactly 25% of EPA funds requested, the application may be deemed ineligible. Awarding a contract will not fulfill this requirement. All subawards must be in the form of a grant. EPA Subaward Policy has detailed information available for differentiating between contractors and subrecipients.

Subaward Requirement Formula

Required Subaward Amount = EPA Funding Request ÷ 4 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306 https://www.epa.gov/education/environmental-education-grants-calculator https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients

Note: Applicants are encouraged to use the EE Grant Calculator as a tool to help calculate the project’s subaward requirement.

Subaward recipients are subject to the same eligibility requirements as “prime” recipients. Applicants that name specific subrecipients in their application must describe how the named subrecipients meet the eligibility requirements in their Work Plan’s Project Summary Cover Letter. Examples of eligible subrecipients include, but are not limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(C)(3) status, individual schools with 501(C)(3) status, and colleges. See Section 2.A for detailed subrecipient eligibility requirements.

Alternatively, if subrecipients are NOT named within the application, you must outline the process and criteria that will be used for selecting eligible subrecipients within the Work Plan’s Project Summary Cover Letter. Failure to demonstrate compliance with these requirements in the application will result in rejection of the application under the Threshold Eligibility Criteria in Section 2.A(1). EPA staff may contact the applicant to clarify issues or obtain additional information before making a final determination of compliance and rejection of the application.

3. Program Description A. Purpose, Priorities, and Activities

(1) Purpose

The Environmental Education Grant Program seeks to address the growing complexity of threats to human health and environmental quality. Today’s environmental challenges involve a wide range of contaminants in the air, water, and land, posing significant risks to quality of life and economic vitality.

Effectively addressing these issues requires a strong foundation of knowledge about both the natural and built environments, an understanding of the sources of environmental problems, and the skills necessary to develop and implement solutions.

Through this program, eligible applicants are invited to propose locally and regionally focused projects that promote environmental stewardship and foster knowledgeable, responsible students, educators, and community members. The program provides financial support for the design, demonstration, and dissemination of environmental education practices, methods, and techniques that:

• Increase public awareness and understanding of local and/or regional environmental issues; and

• Equip participants with the skills needed to make informed decisions and take responsible actions to protect and improve the environment.

Applications submitted under this funding opportunity will receive more favorable consideration under the evaluation criteria described in Section 6.B(ii) if the proposed project clearly describes how it meets the definition of Environmental Education and addresses the full scope of the environmental education continuum defined in Section 9.B.

(2) Priorities

All applications should:

i. Address the EPA educational priority described below,

ii. Address the EPA environmental priority listed below; and,

iii. Be for a project that specifies how the topic, which incorporates both priorities, satisfies the definition of “environmental education” as defined in Section 9.B.

EPA’s Educational Priority: Applications must address the educational priority described below to be considered eligible.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Educating students, educators, and community members on the responsible use and application of artificial intelligence (AI) to address local and/or regional environmental issues. Projects should explore how AI tools can be used or developed to collect, analyze, and visualize environmental data; predict environmental trends; or support environmental stewardship efforts.

EPA’s Environmental Priority: Applications must address the environmental priority described below to be considered eligible.

• Ensuring Clean and Safe Water: These efforts help ensure clean and safe drinking water and/or contribute to the restoration and maintenance of oceans, lakes, rivers, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitats for wildlife and plants.

Sample Topics: The following sample topics are for illustrative purposes only. You may choose one of the sample topics or propose another topic relevant to your project area and consistent with the competition’s educational and environmental priorities.

• Participate in aquatic ecosystem restoration and engage youth, educators and community members in stewardship activities by developing or applying AI models that analyze satellite or drone imagery to identify pollution sources or harmful algal blooms in nearby watersheds or coastal areas for targeted clean-up efforts.

• Introduce project participants to AI tools that forecast rainfall, flooding, or drought risk in their communities and educate them in water conservation techniques and emergency preparedness strategies based on these forecasts.

• Manage stormwater runoff and reduce nutrient pollution by creating or applying AI models that predict high-risk areas for fertilizer and pesticide runoff from nearby agricultural land, while educating farmers and other community members on practices that reduce environmental harm while maintaining crop yield.

• Use AI tools to analyze community water consumption data to identify waste patterns, educate students and community members on water usage trends, and develop school-based interventions and community action plans that result in improved water conservation.

• Develop curriculum modules that teach responsible AI use in environmental monitoring, with hands-on activities where students use AI tools and/or build AI models related to water quality and/or aquatic ecosystem health.

(3) Activities

Applicants must demonstrate in their application how their project activities will directly contribute to the achievement of the program’s goals and objectives. Applications should clearly link proposed activities to EPA’s educational priority of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and environmental priority of Ensuring Clean and Safe Water, and should identify how the activities will generate measurable outputs and contribute to project outcomes. Applicants are encouraged to consider the following types of activities in their proposed projects:

• Designing and implementing hands-on environmental educational programs that introduce students, educators, and community members to the responsible use of AI for addressing local water quality and/or quantity issues.

• Developing and applying AI models to identify pollution sources, forecast flooding or drought risks, or monitor water usage patterns in local watersheds.

• Conducting training workshops for students, teachers, farmers, and community members on how AI can support aquatic ecosystem restoration, nutrient management, and water conservation.

• Creating and piloting curriculum modules for targeted grades that integrate AI applications into water quality and/or quantity education.

• Organizing community engagement activities such as waterway clean-up events, participatory science projects, and school-based water conservation campaigns informed by AI data analysis.

• Facilitating collaboration among schools, farmers, community groups, and local agencies to apply AI insights in planning for water challenges such as stormwater management, nutrient runoff reduction, or drought preparedness.

Applicants are required to describe how funding will help EPA achieve outputs and outcomes in their responses to the criteria in Section 6. Outputs and outcomes specific to each project will be identified as deliverables in the negotiated workplan if the application is selected for award. Recipients will be expected to report progress toward the attainment of expected project outputs and outcomes during the project performance period. Outputs and outcomes are defined as follows:

Outputs are an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to an environmental goal or objective that will be produced or provided over time or by a specified date.

Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during the project period. The expected outputs for the grants awarded under these guidelines may include but are not limited to what is described in the Example Outputs and Outcomes Table below.

Outcomes are the result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out the activities under the grant. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic; must be qualitative or quantitative; and may not necessarily be achievable during the project period. The Example Outputs and Outcomes Table below provides examples of outcomes EPA anticipates for projects awarded under this announcement.

Example Project Topic Example Outputs Example Outcomes

Participate in aquatic ecosystem restoration and engage youth, educators and community members in stewardship activities by developing or applying AI models that analyze satellite or drone imagery to identify pollution sources or harmful algal blooms in nearby watersheds or coastal areas for targeted clean-up efforts.

• Development of an AI model to analyze satellite/drone images for pollution sources and algal bloom detection.

• Number of training workshops held for middle/high school students, educators, and community members on the use of AI for aquatic ecosystem monitoring.

• Increased student and community member knowledge of local watershed health and pollution impacts.

• Adoption of more environmentally responsible practices (e.g., reduced littering, increased reporting of pollution sources).

• Reduction of trash and nutrient load in identified

Example Project Topic Example Outputs Example Outcomes

• Number of community clean-up events targeting identified “hot spots” of pollution in a local watershed.

aquatic ecosystem;

improved community stewardship of aquatic ecosystems.

Introduce project participants to AI tools that forecast rainfall, flooding, or drought risk in their communities and educate them in water conservation techniques and emergency preparedness strategies based on these forecasts.

• Development or use of AI tool customized to provide local flood and drought risk forecasts shared with (#) schools and community centers.

• Development of a water conservation/emergency preparedness curriculum used by (#) students and (#) community members.

• Number of simulation exercises (mock emergency drills) on drought or flood preparedness.

• Improved community preparedness for major rainfall events, flooding, or drought risks (students and residents know what actions to take).

• Decrease in water spending by adopting water conservation practices at household and school levels (e.g., rain barrels, low-flow fixtures, reduced water use).

• Increased collaboration between schools, community members, and local government agencies in planning for water challenges (e.g., flooding/droughts), fostering a culture of proactive environmental responsibility.

Manage stormwater runoff and reduce nutrient pollution by creating or applying AI models that predict high-risk areas for fertilizer and pesticide runoff from nearby agricultural land, while educating farmers and other community members on practices that reduce environmental harm while maintaining crop yield.

• Number of high-risk runoff areas from nearby agricultural lands identified by AI.

• Number of farmer field workshops reaching (#) farmers on nutrient management and runoff reduction techniques.

• Number of educational guides produced on how AI can be used to improve stormwater runoff and water quality distributed to (#) stakeholders.

• Increase in the number of farmers that adopt improved fertilizer/pesticide practices that reduce runoff while maintaining crop yield.

• Stronger collaboration between agricultural stakeholders and local water conservation groups.

• Reduction of nutrient pollution in local rivers/lakes, improving water quality and ecosystem health.

Use AI tools to analyze community water consumption

• Number of communities where AI model is used to

• Increase in public awareness of water waste

Example Project Topic Example Outputs Example Outcomes data to identify waste patterns, educate students and community members on water usage trends, and develop school-based interventions and community action plans that result in improved water conservation.

analyze household and school water usage.

• Number of student-led school-based water conservation campaigns.

• Number of community-wide water conservation action plans developed with input from (#) residents.

patterns and the value of conservation.

• Reduction in water consumption (in gallons or reduction in utility bill) in participating schools and households.

• Increase in the number of schools and/or households that adopt water-saving practices.

Develop curriculum modules that teach responsible AI use in environmental monitoring, with hands-on activities where students build/use AI tools and/or build AI models related to water quality and/or aquatic ecosystem health.

• Number of curriculum modules created that integrate AI and environmental science, piloted in (#) classrooms (grades 8–12).

• Number of students that complete hands-on water quality projects.

• Number of teacher training workshop focused on integrating AI and environmental stewardship in the classroom.

• Increased AI and environmental literacy of project participants

• Increase in teachers using AI to explore and environmental issues and solutions in their classrooms.

• Increase in students/project participants showing interest in careers at the intersection of technology and environmental stewardship.

B. Program Goals and Objectives The goal of this funding opportunity is to fund locally- and regionally- focused EE projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques, as described in this funding opportunity. EPA will provide financial support for projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop informed, knowledgeable, and responsible individuals in the community(ies) in which the project is located. The activities to be funded under this funding announcement are consistent with Pillar 3 of Administrator Zeldin's Five Pillars.

C. Statutory Authority Section 6 of the National Environmental Education Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-619) authorizes the award of these Environmental Education Grants. These awards will be issued under Assistance Listing 66.951.

D. Funding Type It is anticipated that grants will be funded under this funding opportunity.

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-administrator-lee-zeldin-announces-epas-powering-great-american-comeback

4. Application Contents and Format A. Application Forms The following forms and documents are required under this announcement:

Mandatory Documents:

1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

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

3. EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54

4. EPA Form 4700-4 Preaward Compliance Review Report

5. Project Narrative Attachment Form: use this to submit your Project Narrative, which consists of:

a. Work Plan: Use “Project Narrative Attachment Form” in your Workspace on Grants.gov to submit your Work Plan, prepared as described in Section 4.B. The Work Plan, which consist of the Project Summary Cover Letter and Detailed Project Description, has a limit of 10 pages. Please submit your Work Plan as one file using the file name corresponding to the bullet below, replacing “Applicant Name” with the name of your organization.

o Work Plan – Applicant Name

b. Attachments: Use the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” in your Workspace on

Grants.gov to submit the attachments listed below, which are mandatory and do not count toward the Work Plan’s 10-page limit. Please submit separate files for each attachment below (5 total files) using file names corresponding to the bullets below, replacing “Applicant Name” with the name of your organization. Please submit the files in the order presented below.

o Attachment A: Detailed Budget Table and Narrative – Applicant Name o Attachment B: Timeline and Milestones – Applicant Name o Attachment C: Logic Model – Applicant Name o Attachment D: Programmatic Capability and Past Performance – Applicant

Name o Attachment E: Partnership Letters of Commitment - Applicant Name (or explanation and demonstration of how the project will be completed without collaboration. Please NO letters of endorsement or recommendation – they will not be evaluated or considered.)

Optional Documents:

6. Other Attachments Form: Use this to submit other attachments, if applicable. These optional documents are encouraged, but not required, and will not count toward the Work Plan’s 10-page limit. Please limit the number of files in the “Other Attachments Form” by consolidating all files into one document.

o Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, if applicable o References/Works Cited

Applicants are advised that readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in application format, including selecting a legible font type and size for use in the application.

B. Project Narrative Description All applications must include a Work Plan and Attachments A-E as part of the Project Narrative, following the mandatory documents listed in Section 4.A. The Project Narrative should cover the requirements from Section 3 of this funding opportunity, meet any threshold eligibility requirements in Section 2, and address each evaluation criterion in Section 6.B. Reviewers go through many applications, so it’s best to follow the order and format outlined below. Use simple terms to explain the purpose and expected outcomes of your project, ensuring that someone unfamiliar with it can understand it without extra research. The Project Narrative will be scored based on the ranking factors in Section 6.B.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to organize their applications in the order given below, use the Optional Work Plan Template found on the Helpful Resources for Applying website, and limit the number of attachments for the Project Narrative (Work Plan and Attachments) to no more than six when submitting through grants.gov.

a. Work Plan: The work plan must not exceed 10 single-spaced pages total; excess pages will not be reviewed. One page refers to one side of a single-spaced typed page. The pages must be letter-sized (8 ½ X 11 inches), 12-point Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri font, with one column per page with 1-inch margins on all sides. The work plan must include items i and ii below (i.e., Project Summary Cover Letter and the Detailed Project Description). Applicants must ensure that the Work Plan addresses the evaluation criteria in Section 6.B.

Each Work Plan should be organized in the order and with the headings and information requested below. Applicants are encouraged, but not required to, use the Optional Work Plan Template included on the Helpful Resources for Applying website. Applicants that do not use the template will not be penalized.

i. Project Summary Cover Letter (Maximum of two-page in length): Provide a concise overview of your application in the following format. The purpose of this part of the Work Plan is to provide a high-level overview of the project and to help determine the eligibility of the applicant/application.

Detailed explanations should be provided in the Detailed Project Description, not in the Project Summary Cover Letter.

1. Applicant Name – Identify the name of the organization submitting the application.

2. Project Title

3. Eligible Entity Type - Identify your organization’s eligibility type from Section 2.A.

4. Contact Information – Include name, title, email address, and phone number. You can list both a primary project contact and an administrative contact.

5. Project Location - Include the location/s where the project will be taking place (city and state). If project activities will occur in more than one location, please indicate the city and state associated with the primary location of the project as well as listing the secondary cities and states, if applicable.

6. Project Period – Provide the anticipated beginning and end dates for the proposed project.

Periods of performance must be between 1-2 years and applicants should plan for projects to start no earlier than October 15, 2026.

7. Educational and Environmental Priorities

a. Briefly describe how your project goals and objectives address the educational priority of AI, see Section 3.A(2).

b. Briefly describe how your project addresses the environmental priority of Ensuring Clean and Safe Water, see Section 3.A.(2).

https://www.epa.gov/education/grants#helpful

8. Environmental Education - Briefly describe (no more than one paragraph) how your project will meet this funding opportunity’s definition of EE by covering all elements of the EE Continuum.

The definition of EE and the EE Continuum are located in Section 9.B.

9. Costs - List the following information in dollar amounts only (round up to the nearest dollar, do not use cents).

a. The dollar amount of funding you are requesting from EPA ($200,000 - $250,000).

b. The dollar amount of cost share funds you will be providing. This amount must be at least 25% of the total budget for the project.

c. The dollar amount you will be awarding to subrecipients. This amount must be exactly

25% of the dollar amount you are requesting from EPA.

d. The total dollar amount of your budget (EPA Funding Request + Cost Share).

Note: The minimum cost share and subaward formulas are listed in Section 2.B and the EE Grant Calculator can be used as a tool to help determine your minimum cost share and subaward calculations. The SF-424A and the Detailed Budget Table and Narrative are where you will include your full allocation of costs.

10. Subawards

a. If you name a subrecipient(s), list the names of your subrecipient organizations, how each subrecipient meets the eligibility criteria in Section 2.A, and how much you anticipate awarding to each subrecipient. Subrecipients are subject to the same eligibility requirements as “prime” recipients. Or, if you don’t yet know which entities will receive subawards, you must outline the process and criteria that will be used for selecting eligible subrecipients.

b. Describe your plan to ensure that eligible subrecipients, named in application or recruited after the application deadline, implement EE activities that contribute to the success of the project you are proposing with subawards of $5,000 or less.

Note: Naming subrecipients in the application is NOT a requirement. Applications that do not name subrecipients in their application will not receive a lower score in this portion of the evaluation.

11. History of Receiving EE Grants - Provide a concise statement that your organization is not currently receiving and has not previously received funding for this project from EPA’s EE Grant Program or explain clearly how a project previously funded by EPA’s EE Grant Program is being expanded, built on, enhanced, or otherwise modified by these additional funds.

12. Brief Project Description - Describe in 300 words or less, the location of the project, the need for the project/rational for the work proposed, major project activities tied to the environmental and educational priorities, the expected outcomes and anticipated deliverables, the target audience and anticipated number reached (identify audiences by specific types – students, teachers, community members, etc.) and any other unique, interesting, or relevant information.

• Brief Project Descriptions of applications that receive funding may be posted on program-related websites and/or included in notices that EPA may send to members of Congress. Applicants can review brief project descriptions of previously funded EE grant projects on the EE Grant Descriptions webpage.

13. Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP) - Provide a concise statement on whether and why you anticipate needing an approved QAPP prior to beginning work on your project. Refer to Section 9.D for information on EPA’s quality assurance requirements.

https://www.epa.gov/education/environmental-education-grant-descriptions

ii. Detailed Project Description: Under the headings Community Description, Project Strategy and Approach, Environmental and Educational Results (Outputs, Outcomes, and Project Evaluation Plan), describe precisely what your project will achieve, especially how it will serve to increase environmental literacy and encourage behavior that will benefit the environment in the community(ies) in which it is located; how the educational and environmental priorities of the project tie into the project goals; how it will achieve its goals, who it will reach. It is highly recommended that you explain each aspect of your application clearly and address each topic by following the format below, include the headings as given, and do not reorder the paragraphs. The Optional Work Plan Template located on the Helpful Resources for Applying website follows the format below.

Note: Citations and lists of sources should be submitted by using the “Other Attachments Form” on grants.gov and will not be counted in the Work Plan’s 10-page limit.

Section 1 - Community Description - The description should include:

a. Project Location and Significance: Provide a detailed description of the specific target area(s) where project activities will take place (e.g., neighborhood/s, town/s, district/s, city(ies), state/s, and/or region/s), include the names of all communities involved. Explain the water quality and water challenges these areas currently face and describe how your proposed environmental education project will address community needs, strengthen the environmental literacy of your target audience in alignment with the competition’s educational and environmental priorities, and generate meaningful benefits for both community members and the local environment.

b. Target Audience: Describe in detail your target audience, such as educators and students (with specific grade levels) and/or community members, the specific number of individuals within each target audience group your project anticipates reaching.

c. Recruitment Plan: Explain your recruitment plan to attract your target audience and identify incentives that will be used to facilitate recruitment. Examples include, but are not limited to teacher stipends, continuing education credits, or partnerships.

Note: When appropriate, cite sources or studies that verify the need for your project.

Section 2 - Project Strategy and Approach - Do not reference your Logic Model in your response. This description should include:

a. Project Goals and Objectives: Describe your project’s specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-based (i.e., within project period) goals and objectives. Your project goals and objectives must address both the educational priority of AI and the environmental priority of Ensuring Clean and Safe Water. Applicants also ensure their project goals and objectives address all elements of the EE Continuum, ultimately aiming to achieve environmental stewardship.

b. Project Activities: Describe the activities, methods, materials, and other specific actions you will undertake to achieve your project’s goals and objectives, linking them to the elements of the Environmental Education Continuum located in Section 9.B when possible. For all activities described in this subsection, specify whether the activity will be led by the prime recipient or a subrecipient. Note: The EE Grant FAQs provide information about developing, evaluating, and selecting educational materials to be used as part of your application. Additionally, the EE Guidelines for Excellence Series, linked in Section 9.C, includes publications for developing and evaluating educational materials; the initial preparation of environmental educators; and using environmental education to support local elementary, middle and high school education.

https://www.epa.gov/education/frequent-questions-about-environmental-education-grants-program

Section 3 – Environmental and Educational Results (Outputs, Outcomes, and Project Evaluation Plan) – This description should include:

a. Anticipated Outputs and Outcomes: A narrative explanation of how your project’s anticipated outputs and outcomes (short-, intermediate, and long-term), which can include the examples provided in Section 3.A(3), will help you meet your stated educational and environmental goals and objectives. Note: See Section 3.A(3) for additional information on outputs and outcomes.

The information provided in this subsection should directly feed into the Logic Model you create.

b. Project Evaluation Plan: Plans for incorporating program evaluation activities from project initiation through completion to meaningfully document and measure progress, both for your organization and subrecipients, toward achieving expected project outputs and outcomes.

Evaluation should utilize appropriate tools, methods, and qualified personnel or organizations with experience in assessing project progress and success. Examples of evaluation methods include, but are not limited to, pre- and post-tests, participant interviews, questionnaires, and focus groups. The EE Guidelines for Excellence Series, linked in Section 9.C, includes publications with information on developing and implementing project evaluation plans.

b. Attachments: The attachments listed below must be included as part of the Project Narrative and do NOT count toward the Work Plan’s 10-page limit. While there is no page limit for the attachments, typically the range is 10-15 total pages for all attachments. However, all attachment pages of an application will be reviewed regardless of whether they fall into the typical page range. Please submit separate files for each attachment below (5 total) using file names corresponding to the bullets below, replacing “Applicant Name” with the name of your organization. Please submit the files in the order presented below.

• Attachment A: Detailed Budget Table and Narrative – Applicant Name

• Attachment B: Timeline and Milestones – Applicant Name

• Attachment C: Logic Model – Applicant Name

• Attachment D: Programmatic Capability and Past Performance – Applicant Name

• Attachment E: Partnership Letters of Commitment - Applicant Name

Attachment A: Detailed Budget Table and Narrative (the Detailed Budget Table link on the Helpful Resources for Applying website contains additional information on developing your detailed budget table and narrative along with an optional budget table template) – Make sure you:

1. Create a detailed budget table and narrative, using the same order and headings listed on the Budget Form 424A, that clearly explains how the funds will be used.

• Across the top, create three columns titled “EPA Funds”, “Cost Share/Matching Funds” and “Total Project Cost” to show how EPA funds and non-federal cost share funds will be used.

• The line items or cost categories that should be listed along the left side of the table are (as appropriate, since not all applicants will use every cost category): personnel; fringe benefits; travel; equipment (over $10,000); supplies; contractual; other costs (which include subawards); indirect costs; and program income.

2. Demonstrate how you will meet the cost share requirement (a minimum of 25% of the total project amount) described in Section 2.B of this funding opportunity.

3. Describe how you will ensure that exactly 25% of the federal funds received from EPA are awarded to eligible subrecipients in the form of subawards of $5,000 or less. Note: Subaward budget and narrative information should be included in the “Other” cost category of your budget table and narrative.

4. Factor in the costs for all proposed activities; clarify which will be paid by EPA and which will be paid with cost share funds.

5. In a narrative within or below the table, provide details for each expense, such as personnel (number of staff, title or role in project, hourly wage, and percentage of time spent on project), travel (reasons for travel, costs and locations of trips, and costs per mile for travel and per diem per person), supplies (provide categories and detailed listings according to the project tasks in which they will be used), and “other” expenses. “Other” expenses may include costs such as stipends for teachers, expenses for field trips, entrance fees to parks and science centers, printing, postage, conference fees for booths, and other costs that do not fall under the categories listed above. As mentioned above, all subaward funds must be listed in the “Other” cost category.

6. Describe your approach, procedures, and controls for ensuring that grant funds will be expended in a timely and effective manner.

Note: The Detailed Budget Table link on the Helpful Resources for Applying website includes detailed instructions for creating your Detailed Budget Table and Narrative, an example of a Detailed Budget Table and Narrative, as well as an optional template applicants can download and use to create their own Detailed Budget Table and Narrative.

Prior to developing your Detailed Budget Table and Narrative please review EPA’s Interim General Budget Development Guidance for Applicants and Recipients of EPA Financial Assistance and EPA’s How to Develop a Budget online training course designed to introduce EPA grant applicants and recipients to key aspects of grant budget development.

Please note the following funding restrictions:

Indirect Costs: Indirect costs (IDCs) may be budgeted and charged by recipients of Federal assistance agreements in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200. EPA’s Indirect Cost Policy for Recipients of EPA Assistance Agreements (IDC Policy) implements the Federal regulations, and the following applies to all EPA assistance agreements, unless there are statutory or regulatory limits on IDCs.

In order for an assistance agreement recipient to use EPA funding for indirect costs, the IDC category of the recipient’s assistance agreement award budget must include an amount for IDCs and at least one of the following must apply:

• With the exception of “exempt” agencies and Institutions of Higher Education as noted below, all recipients must have one of the following current (not expired) IDC rates, including IDC rates that have been extended by the cognizant agency o Provisional;

o Final;

o Fixed rate with carry-forward;

o Predetermined;

o 15% de minimis rate authorized by 2 CFR 200.414(f) o EPA-approved use of one of the following:

15% de minimis as detailed in section 6.3 of the IDC Policy; or Expired fixed rate with carry-forward as detailed in section 6.4.a. of the IDC

Policy.

• “Exempt” state or local governmental departments or agencies are agencies that receive up to and including $35,000,000 in Federal funding per the department or agency’s fiscal year, and https://www.epa.gov/education/grants#helpful https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2019-g02 https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2019-g02 https://www.epa.gov/grants/how-develop-budget https://www.epa.gov/grants/how-develop-budget https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2018-g02-r2 https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2018-g02-r2 https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2018-08/documents/statutory-restrictions-on-indirect-costs-in-epa-financial-assistance-programs.pdf must have an IDC rate proposal developed in accordance with 2 CFR 200 Appendix VII, with documentation maintained and available for audit.

• Institutions of Higher Education must use the approved rate(s) on the IDC rate agreement in place at the time of award for the life of the assistance agreement (unless the rate was provisional at time of award, in which case the rate will change once it becomes final). As provided by 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix III(C)(7), the term “life of the assistance agreement”, means each competitive segment of the project. Additional information is available in the regulation.”

IDCs incurred during any period of the assistance agreement that are not covered by the provisions above are not allowable costs and must not be drawn down by the recipient.

Recipients may budget for IDCs pending approval of their IDC rate by the cognizant Federal agency or an exception granted by EPA under section 6.3 or 6.4 of the IDC Policy. However, recipients may not draw down IDCs until their rate is approved or EPA grants an exception.

The IDC Policy does not govern indirect rates for subrecipients or recipient procurement contractors under EPA assistance agreements. Pass-through entities are required to comply with 2 CFR 200.331(a)(4) when establishing indirect cost rates for subawards.

See the Indirect Cost Rate Policy and Guidance for Recipients of EPA Assistance Agreement for additional information on Indirect Costs.

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