EPA-HQ-OCSPP-OPP-2025-001 - Final.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Applications Due: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention

PRIA 5 – Pesticide Registrant Training Development

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-OCSPP-OPP-2025-001 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

B. Cost Sharing

3. Program Description

A. Purpose, Priorities, and 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

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 ii

A. Additional Provisions for Applicants

1. Basic Information

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention

PRIA 5 – Pesticide Registrant Training Development

A. Executive Summary The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks applications from land grant colleges and universities, non-land grant colleges of agriculture, and 1994 Institutions to develop training for pesticide registrants on regulatory procedures according to the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA). The goal is to improve the efficiency, clarity, and consistency of EPA's pesticide registration and registration review processes. In addition to developing training, the awardee will also assist EPA in determining agricultural focus areas for crop tours. The overall objectives are to improve skills, align competencies with EPA's mission, address best practices, improve processes, promote consistency, and educate stakeholders on regulatory procedures.

C. Key Dates:

March 31, 2026 11:59 pm ET Application Submission Deadline

June 2026 Anticipated Notification of Selection

July 2026 Anticipated Award Notification

D. Funding Details:

It is anticipated that up to 1 award will be made under this announcement. The amount of funding is expected to be up to $100,000 for the first year and up to $100,000 for the final year of the project, 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 2 year project period.

E. Agency Contact Information:

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

Technical Contact: Jeffrey Chang; 202-566-2213; chang.jeffrey@epa.gov

B. Key Information:

Opportunity Number:

EPA-OCSPP-OPP-2025-001

Assistance Listing:

66.722

Announcement Type:

Initial

Funding Available:

$200,000

Number of Awards:

2. Eligibility

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

• Non-land-grant colleges of agriculture (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)).

• Land-grant colleges and universities (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)).

• 1994 Institutions (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382)).

(1) Other Eligibility Requirements

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

1. Applications must not exceed a performance period of two years or request a funding level of more than $200,000 for the full performance period.

2. Applicants may only submit 1 application under this opportunity. Applicants that submit more than 1 application will be contacted to determine which application to evaluate. The remaining application(s) will be deemed ineligible.

Please see Section 6 for additional threshold criteria.

B. Cost Sharing Cost sharing is not a requirement to be eligible to apply to this funding opportunity. Please note only Federal funds should be listed on the SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Detail.

3. Program Description

A. Purpose, Priorities, and Activities EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) regulates the manufacture and use of pesticides in the United States and establishes maximum levels for pesticide residues in food, thereby safeguarding the nation's food supply. OPP works with other EPA headquarters and regional offices, other Federal agencies, states, and stakeholders on issues related to pesticide use.

The statute authorizing financial assistance directs EPA to administer training and education programs relating to pesticides regulatory responsibilities and policies. Specific training activities include:

• Improving the scientific, technical, and administrative skills of officers and employees authorized to administer pesticides programs;

• Aligning competencies identified by EPA for mission accomplishment;

• Addressing best practices for operational performance and improvement;

• Improving administrative process and procedures and addressing efficiency issues;

• Promoting consistent regulatory decision-making; and

• Educating registrants and regulated stakeholders on regulatory procedures.

The activities to be funded under this cooperative agreement support the purpose and objectives listed above, and include, but are not limited to the following:

1) Update existing training materials and develop new training materials

a) Update existing training materials and develop new training materials to meet the provisions in PRIA 5. Training materials may include written documents, manuals, handbooks, video presentations, and online training courses.

2) Develop training workshops and webinars

a) Develop training workshops and webinars to meet the requirements of PRIA 5. Training may include in-person and online workshops and webinars, hands on training, and field and lab tours.

3) Support delivery of training and education

a) Provide support for webinars or workshops on specific topics.

b) Schedule webinars and workshops and provide technical support. Develop an agenda, identify potential presenters, and develop and deliver presentations.

4) Identify agricultural field opportunities for EPA crop tours and site visits

a) Identify agricultural field opportunities for crop tours and site visits through gap analysis.

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 are 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:

a) Development of new training tools and materials.

b) Development of training workshops and webinars.

c) Delivery of training and education.

d) Identification of new areas for crop tours and site visits

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. EPA anticipates the outcomes from the projects awarded under this announcement may be an increase in the capacity to:

a) Improve the scientific, technical, and administrative skills of officers and employees authorized to administer programs under PRIA.

b) Utilize best practices for operational performance and improvement.

c) Improve administrative processes and procedures and address efficiency issues.

d) Promote consistent regulatory decision-making.

e) Improve registrants and regulated stakeholders‘ understanding of EPA regulatory procedures.

B. Program Goals and Objectives The activities to be funded under this funding announcement support Pillar 3 “Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership” of Administrator Zeldin's Five Pillars.

The objective of this program is to:

• Develop and administer training and education programs relating to the regulatory responsibilities and policies established by PRIA, specifically in educating registrants and regulated stakeholders on regulatory procedures; and

• Identify agricultural field opportunities for EPA crop tours and site visits.

The goal is to improve the efficiency, clarity and consistency of EPA’s pesticide registration and registration review processes. The desired outcome is to reduce backlogs through process improvements, clear instructions, and consistent decision making. Measurements may be the reduction in backlog and customer satisfaction.

C. Statutory Authority The statutory authority for this action is Section 20 of Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 136r which authorizes the Agency to issue assistance agreements for research, public education, training, monitoring, demonstration and studies. Additionally, the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) of 2022, FY 23 Consolidated Appropriations Act PL 117-328 Section 703(a)(1)(I) sets funds aside for partnership grants. This grant will support FIFRA and PRIA by providing training curricula to improve the scientific, technical, and administrative skills of officers and employees authorized to administer pesticides programs.

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

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

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

• collaboration during performance of the scope of work.

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

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

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

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-administrator-lee-zeldin-announces-epas-powering-great-american-comeback https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.317 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.318

4. Application Contents and Format

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

Mandatory Documents:

1. Project Narrative

a. Use ‘Project Narrative Attachment Form’ from Grants.gov to submit.

2. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

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

4. EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54

5. EPA Form 4700-4 Preaward Compliance Review Report

6. Brief resumes (not to exceed two pages each) for the project coordinator and key staff

a. Use ‘Other Attachment Form’ to submit

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.

Each page must be numbered, single-spaced, in 11-point font, 1-inch margins and formatted for 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Calibri or similar font is requested. Electronic files must be readable in Adobe Acrobat PDF or Microsoft Word for Windows. The Project Narrative must not exceed 40 pages (this does not include the attachments). Each page past the 40-page limit will not be considered. Federal forms, resumes, letters, or checklists will not count toward the page limit. Applicants should address each section of the project narrative in detail using clear and concise language to ensure the best comprehension and scoring by EPA program staff and reviewers.

B. Project Narrative Description The Project Narrative must have all parts in sequential order, as shown starting at 1) Cover Page and ending at 4) Proposed Project Workplan.

1) Cover Page: The cover page must list the following information with the letterhead for your organization:

a. EPA funding opportunity number: EPA-OCSPP-OPP-2025-001

b. Project Title:

c. Project Coordinator:

d. Organization Name and Address:

e. Telephone No.: Email Address:

f. Project Duration (anticipated start date and end no later than date):

g. First Year Funding Request:

h. Total Funding Request (for the entire three-year project):

i. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) generated from the System for Award Management (SAM).

(See Section 5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines, B. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM.gov))

2) Table of Contents: A table listing the different parts of the application and the page number on which each part begins.

3) Executive Summary:

• A stand-alone, concise statement on your organization’s anticipated accomplishments and the benefits to the public and potential audience(s) served.

• A concise description of the proposed development of training curricula and education programs with intended goals, objectives, outputs, and outcomes.

• A concise explanation on how your organization meets the eligibility factors in Section 2.

Eligibility, A. Eligible Applicants.

4) Proposed Project Workplan: Clearly describes how the proposed project meets the requirements and guidelines in this announcement under Section 3. Program Description. Clearly addresses each scoring criterion as outlined in Section 6. Application Review Information, B. Review Criteria. The workplan must contain all parts in sequential order as shown below:

a. Project Title

b. Project Description

i. Scope, Goal, and Objectives. Explain how your organization’s overall approach would meet objectives and includes:

1. A concise purpose statement on anticipated accomplishments and how they would benefit the public and potential audience(s).

2. A goal linked to the purpose and a numbered list of concisely written objective(s) that are specific, realistic, and measurable. Include how the goal and objectives link to Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, Pillar 3 “Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership.”

ii. Project Design

• Describe in detail the approach and plan for developing training curricula and education programs for EPA employees of the Office of Pesticide Programs relating to the regulatory responsibilities and policies established by the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA). Describe in detail the project activities to be funded.

• A well-conceived data collection/management and communication plan. For communication activities and data collection/management, as well as any supporting activities, indicate in detail the resources, tools and methodologies that will be utilized.

Indicate explicitly how the data will be collected, compiled, maintained, coded, sorted, reported, and secured. Examples:

1. A list of outputs linked to expected outcomes with respect to the requirements under PRIA 5. Describe in detail the project activities to be funded.

2. How your organization would use or consider lessons learned from previous or existing efforts and how they will benefit this program.

3. A clear and practical approach to evaluate performance. Clearly describe the expected project outputs and outcomes and how progress towards achieving them will be tracked and measured, and how the overall project will be evaluated.

4. The approach for tracking and reporting on progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes to EPA.

a. Regular reports documenting all activities and efforts on implementation, and tracking and measuring progress toward https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-administrator-lee-zeldin-announces-epas-powering-great-american-comeback achieving the outputs, outcomes, and milestones in the overall two-year plan and each annual plan.

b. One final report on all activities and results.

iii. Project Milestone Schedule

1. Provide a schedule that:

a. Covers each of the two years of the cooperative agreement.

b. Lists phases, each with its own tasks and project activities.

c. Estimates timeframes to complete each phase.

2. Describe the approach, with procedures and controls to ensure awarded grant funds, including any subaward funds, are expended in a timely and efficient manner.

c. Outreach, Transferability, and Sustainability

i. Describe your organization’s history of involvement in training and education programs.

ii. Describe how the project will consider existing and relevant resources, programs and/or expertise, the roles of potential collaborators, partnerships, coalitions and/or existing networks and how they would increase overall success.

iii. Describe your organization’s familiarity and knowledge of the EPA pesticide registration and registration review programs and processes.

iv. Describe your approach for providing long-term preservation of and access to, the materials/resources/tools developed under the award (including data generated under subawards and contracts) funded in whole or in part by EPA.

d. Programmatic Capability and Environmental Results Submit a list of federally and/or non-federally funded assistance agreements (includes Federal grants and cooperative agreements but not Federal contracts) that your organization held within the last three years (no more than 5 agreements, and preferably EPA agreements). Provide the names, email addresses, and phone numbers of the Project Officers from the funding entity and your organization and describe:

(i) whether, and how, you were able to successfully complete and manage those agreements; and

(ii) your history of meeting the reporting requirements under those agreements including whether you adequately and timely reported on your progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes of those agreements (and if not, explain why not) and whether you submitted acceptable final technical reports under the agreements; and

(iii) your organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project, and your staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project.

In evaluating applicants under these factors in Section 6, EPA will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources, including information from EPA files and from current/prior grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information provided by the applicant). If you do not have any relevant or available past performance or past reporting information, please indicate this in the application and you will receive a neutral score for these factors (a neutral score is half of the total points available in a subset of possible points). If you do not provide any response for these items, you may receive a score of 0 for these factors.

e. Overview of Project Budget

i. In addition to the SF-424A form, prepare a two-year, up to $200,000 budget. The budget should be divided in two years, with up to $100,000 budgeted for the first year of the cooperative agreement. In the budget, explain the need for funding in the appropriate budget categories (i) thru (vii) (listed under iii below). Include, the appropriate amount for subawards.

ii. Link each task or activity from the proposed project to the associated resources needed to accomplish the activity.

iii. Include sufficient detail for EPA to determine if costs are eligible, allocable, reasonable, allowable, and cost-effective. For more information, see EPA Grants Overview for Applicants and Recipients and the Interim General Budget Development Guidance for Applicants and Recipients of EPA Financial Assistance. If recommended for funding, you will be required to submit a copy of your organization’s Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, if applicable. Please refer to Appendix A. Budget Detail Instructions and Descriptions of this solicitation for additional information.

(i) Personnel: Include only direct costs for salaries of those individuals who will perform work directly for the project. Identify the personnel type by full or part-time employee. Consultants, contractors or employees of other partner organizations are not “personnel.”

(ii) Travel: Include the travel location(s), estimated number of trips, estimated total mileage, applicable reimbursement rate, and number of nights lodging required throughout the entire project period for your personnel only. Travel for consultants, contractors, subawardees, or partner organizations goes in “Other Direct Costs.”

(iii) Equipment: Include only equipment proposed purchased as a direct cost. This does not include equipment to be leased/rented and service/maintenance contracts. Include costs for each item.

(iv) Supplies: Include tangible personal property other than equipment.

Include a brief description of the supplies required to perform the work and categorized by major supply category. Example: office supplies, computer supplies, etc.

(v) Contractual/ (including consultant) Services: List services and associated costs that are to be carried out by an individual or organization other than the applicant in the form of a procurement relationship. Consultants are contractors. Include a brief description of the scope of work or services to be provided.

Note: Refer to Applicants Using Contractors for more information on this important topic

(vi) Other Direct Costs: Include only those types of direct costs that do not fit in any of the other budget categories. Examples include occasional photocopying at commercial locations (printing and binding services are https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-grants-overview-applicants-and-recipients https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-grants-overview-applicants-and-recipients https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2019-g02 https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2019-g02 contractual), rental of meeting space or instructional facilities, and sub-award costs.

(vii) Subawards: Any award of financial assistance by any legal agreement made by the recipient to an eligible sub-recipient. Funding may be used to provide subawards of financial assistance, which includes using subawards to fund partnerships, provided the recipient complies with applicable requirements for subawards including those contained in 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart D - Subrecipient Monitoring and Management. Applicants must provide a line-item amount for subawards in the Budget Narrative in the “Other Direct Costs” category.

EPA funds may only be used for purposes set forth in the assistance agreement and must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award. Assistance agreements funds may not be used to match funds for other federal grants, lobbying or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, federal funds may not be used to sue the federal government or any other governmental entity. All costs identified in the budget must conform to applicable Federal Cost Principles contained in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E.

C. Applicants Using Contractors Applicants must compete contracts for services and products, including consultant contracts, and conduct cost and price analyses, to the extent required by the procurement provisions of the regulations at 2 CFR Part 200.

Do not name a procurement contractor (including a consultant) as a “partner” or otherwise in your application unless the contractor has been selected in compliance with competitive procurement requirements. If an applicant selected for award has named a specific subrecipient, contractor, or consultant in the application, it does not relieve the applicant of its obligations to comply with subaward and/or competitive procurement requirements.

The EPA will not consider the qualifications, experience, and expertise of named subrecipients and/or named contractor(s) during the application evaluation process unless the applicant provides documentation that it has complied with these requirements.

For additional guidance, applicants should review EPA’s Best Practice Guide for Procuring Services, Supplies, and Equipment Under EPA Assistance Agreements, EPA’s Subaward Policy, and EPA’s Subaward Policy Frequent Questions. The EPA expects recipients of funding to comply with competitive procurement contracting requirements in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 1500, as well as the requirements in 2 CFR Part 200.321 and 40 CFR Part 33 Subpart C.

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

A. Submission Dates and Times February 20, 2026 Letter of Intent or Preapplication Materials Deadline

March 31, 2026 11:59 pm ET Application Submission Deadline

March 31, 2026 11:59 pm ET Application Submission Deadline (Local Time) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/subpart-E https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/subject-group-ECFR45ddd4419ad436d https://www.epa.gov/grants/best-practice-guide-procuring-services-supplies-and-equipment-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/best-practice-guide-procuring-services-supplies-and-equipment-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-04/epa_subaward_policy_frequent_questions.pdf https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-04/epa_subaward_policy_frequent_questions.pdf

Grants.gov creates a date and time record when it receives the application. If you submit the same application more than once, we will accept the last on-time submission.

B. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

SAM.gov

You must have an active account with SAM.gov. SAM.gov will provide a UEI for your organization, which is required to apply for grants using Grants.gov. To register, go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and click Get Started. From the same page, you can also click on the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register. Make sure you are current with SAM.gov and UEI requirements before applying for the award.

SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

Grants.gov

You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants.

Please visit How to Register to Apply for Grants for additional information.

C. Submission Instructions You must submit your application through Grants.gov. See Section 5.B. above for information on getting registered.

Important tips:

• To begin the application process under this grant announcement, go to Grants.gov and click the red “Apply” button at the top of the view grant opportunity page associated with this opportunity.

• See the Quick Start Guide for Applicants for instructions on how to submit.

• Make sure your application passes the Grants.gov validation checks.

• Do not encrypt, zip, or password protect any files.

• Your application must be submitted by an official representative of your organization who is registered with Grants.gov and is authorized to sign applications for Federal financial assistance.

• If you receive an error or the button is grayed out, it may be because you do not have the appropriate role to submit in your organization. Contact your organization’s EBiz point of contact or contact Grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

• See Grants.gov Errors for information on other Grants.gov errors.

• The UEI listed on the application must be registered to the applicant organization's SAM.gov account. If not, the application may be deemed ineligible.

D. Technical Issues with Submission If applicants experience technical issues during the submission of an application that they are unable to resolve, follow these procedures before the application deadline date:

• Contact Grants.gov Support Center before the application deadline date.

• Document the Grants.gov ticket/case number.

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://sam.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/entity-checklist.pdf https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://www.epa.gov/grants/how-apply-grants mailto:support@grants.gov

• Send an email with Funding Opportunity Number (FON):EPA-OCSPP-OPP-2025-001 in the subject line to chang.jeffrey@epa.gov before the application deadline time and date and must include the following:

o Grants.gov ticket/case number(s) o Description of the issue o The entire application package in PDF format.

Without this information, the EPA may not be able to consider applications submitted outside of Grants.gov.

Any application submitted after the application deadline time and date deadline will be deemed ineligible and not be considered.

Please note that successful submission through Grants.gov or email does not necessarily mean your application is eligible for award.

Applicants with limited or no access to the internet may request an exception by following the procedures outlined here. The request must be received at least 15 calendar days before the application due date to allow enough time to negotiate alternative submission methods.

E. Intergovernmental Review The application is not subject to Intergovernmental Review.

6. Application Review Information

A. Responsiveness Review Applications must meet the eligibility requirements described in Section 2 to be evaluated. Applicants not meeting these requirements will be deemed ineligible and will be notified within 15 calendar days of the determination.

• Applications must adhere to the page limit requirements. Any pages over the limit(s) in Section 4 will not be reviewed.

• Initial applications must be submitted on or before the application deadline through Grants.gov or through limited circumstances as expressed in Section 5. The EPA will not evaluate applications that are not submitted on time.

• Technical difficulties applying: Applicants having technical difficulties applying must contact the Grants.gov hotline at 1-800-518-4726 and then must email a PDF of the full application to the EPA contact listed in Section 1. The submission must be received prior to the application deadline for consideration.

B. Review Criteria

Criteria Name and Description Points

1. Project Description

A. Scope, Goal, and Objectives 5 https://www.epa.gov/grants/exceptions-grantsgov-submission-requirement

EPA will evaluate applications on quality and the extent to which they have a clear, concise and appropriate:

1. Purpose statement on anticipated accomplishments of the proposal and its benefits to the public and potential audience(s) served. (2 Points)

2. Goal linked to the purpose, and a numbered list of concisely and clearly written objective(s). Objectives should be specific, realistic, and measurable.

Goal and objectives should link to EPA Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative. Awards made under this funding opportunity will support Pillar 3 which aims to increase “Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership.” (3 Points)

B. Program Design

Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate applications on quality and the extent to which they describe in detail a clear, reasonable, logical approach and plan for developing training under the provisions of PRIA 5:

1. A well-conceived approach and plan for developing training curricula and education programs for employees of the Environmental Protection Agency, relating to the regulatory responsibilities and policies established by the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA). (10 Points)

2. A well-conceived data collection/management and communication plan. (5 Points)

3. A list of outputs linked to expected outcomes with respect to the requirements under PRIA 5. (10 Points)

4. A clear and practical approach to evaluate performance. (5 Points)

5. A well-conceived approach for tracking and reporting on progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes to EPA. This includes regular reports documenting all activities and efforts on implementation, and tracking and measuring progress toward achieving the outputs, outcomes, and milestones in the overall three-year plan and each annual plan. (5 Points)

C. Project Milestone Schedule

Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate applications on quality and the extent to which the schedule is detailed, thorough, logical, practical, and include:

1. A list of activities in phases with associated tasks and timeframes for completion for all two years. (5 Points)

2. A logical approach with procedures and controls for ensuring that all funds, including subaward funds, are expended in a timely and efficient manner. (5 Points)

2. Outreach, Transferability, and Sustainability

Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on the extent to which the project accomplishes the following requirements:

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

1. Describes the applicant’s history of involvement in training and education projects. (2 Points)

2. Explains how the project considers existing and relevant resources, programs, and/or expertise. (2 Points)

3. Describe the applicant's familiarity and knowledge of the EPA pesticide registration and registration review programs and processes. (4 Points)

4. Describe how the project will ensure that materials, resources and tools will be preserved and available for future programs after EPA funding ends. (2 Points)

3. Programmatic Capability and Environmental Results

Clearly describe in detail the resources available to support the proposed project and the ability to successfully manage and complete the project.

1. Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on their ability to successfully complete and manage the proposed project considering:

a. Past performance in successfully completing and managing assistance agreements (5 Points)

b. History of meeting the reporting requirements under the assistance agreements including whether the applicant submitted acceptable final technical reports under those agreements and the extent to which the applicant adequately and timely reported on their progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes under those agreements and if such progress was not being made whether the applicant adequately reported why not (5 Points)

2. Applicant’s organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project.

a. Organizational experience and how it would help you successfully achieve the objectives of your application. (5 Points)

b. Staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them to successfully achieve the goals of the project. (5 Points)

NOTE: for 1.a. and 1.b. under this criterion, the Agency will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources including agency files and prior/current grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information supplied by the applicant). Applicants that do not have any relevant or available past performance or past reporting information, should indicate so in the proposal and will receive a neutral score for these subfactors (items 1.a. and 1.b. above

– a neutral score is half of the total points available in a subset of possible points). If an applicant does not provide any response for these items, they may receive a score of 0 for these factors.

4. Budget (Narrative and Forms)

Under this criterion, applications will be evaluated based on the extent and quality to which they demonstrate the adequacy of the information provided in the detailed budget and whether the proposed costs are reasonable and allowable, including whether:

1. The applicant identified the requested federal dollars and the total project cost for each component/task for each budget item from SF-424A. (10 Points)

2. The applicant explained if and how non-federal partners will provide cost share and demonstrated the cost-effectiveness and reasonableness of costs.

(10 Points)

TOTAL 100

Applicants will be evaluated based on the extent and quality to which they demonstrate that they have the capability to successfully perform the project as described in Section 3 of this funding opportunity.

Only eligible entities whose applications meet the threshold criteria in Section 2 of this announcement will be evaluated. Applicants should explicitly address these criteria as part of their application package submittal in the project narrative. Each application will be rated using a point system. Applications will be evaluated based on a total of 100 possible points.

C. Review and Selection Process Applications will first be evaluated against the threshold eligibility criteria listed in Section 2.A. of this NOFO.

Only those applications which meet all the threshold factors will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria listed above by an EPA evaluation team. The panel will recommend the highest ranked applications to the Selection Official (SO).

(1) Other Evaluation Factors

Final funding decisions will be made by the Selection Official. In making the final funding decisions, the selection official may also consider the following factors:

• The EPA’s capacity to provide any requested in-kind services

• availability of funds

• programmatic priorities

D. Risk Review The EPA will consider any comments by the applicant, along with information available in the responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov., when doing the risk review as required by 2 CFR 200.206.

7. Award Notices

The EPA anticipates notification to successful applicants will be made by the Office of Grants and Debarment.

The notification will be sent to the original signer of the application or the project contact listed in the application. This notification is not an authorization to begin work. The official notification of an award will https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.206 be made by the Office of Grants and Debarment. Selection does not guarantee an award will be made.

Statutory authorization, funding, or other issues during the award process may affect the ability of the EPA to make an award. The award notice, signed by an EPA grants officer, is the authorizing document and will be provided through electronic or postal mail. The successful applicant may need to prepare and submit additional documents and forms, which must be approved by the EPA, before the grant can officially be awarded. The time between notification of selection and award of a grant can take up to 90 days or longer.

8. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements The recipient and any sub-recipient must comply with the applicable General Terms and Conditions. These terms and conditions are in addition to the assurances and certifications made as part of the award, terms and conditions, and restrictions reflected on the official assistance award document.

Awards issued as a result of this funding opportunity are subject to the requirements of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards; Title 2 CFR Part 200 and 2 CFR Part 1500.

B. Reporting EPA’s General Terms and Conditions in the Notice of Award will have information on performance and financial reports, including:

• How often you will report.

• Any required form or formatting.

• How to submit them.

C. Subaward and Executive Compensation Reporting The Federal Financial Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) requires:

• Data entry at SAM.gov for all subawards and subcontracts issued for $30,000 or more.

• Reporting executive compensation for both recipient and subaward organizations.

9. Other Information

A. Additional Provisions for Applicants Additional provisions that apply this funding opportunity and/or awards made under this funding opportunity, can be found at EPA NOFO Clauses. If you are unable to access these provisions electronically at the website above, please contact the EPA point of contact to obtain the provisions.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-terms-and-conditions#general https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XV/part-1500 https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-terms-and-conditions#general https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses