EPA-I-OLEM-OBLR-22-02 Final.pdf

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OVERVIEW

AGENCY: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

TITLE: FY23 BROWNFIELDS JOB TRAINING (JT) GRANTS

ACTION: Request for Applications (RFA)

RFA NO: EPA-I-OLEM-OBLR-22-02

Assistance Listing NO.: 66.815

DATES: The closing date and time for receipt of applications is August 2, 2022, 11:59 p.m. ET.

Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov. Applications received after 11:59 p.m. ET on August 2, 2022, will not be considered. Please refer to the Due Date and Submission Instructions in Section IV.B. and Appendix 2 for further instructions.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, to deliver Brownfields Job Training programs that recruit, train, and retain a local, skilled workforce by prioritizing unemployed and under-employed residents to obtain the skills and credentials needed for pathways into full-time employment in the environmental field. This program is being funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58 (the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law”).

While Brownfields Job Training Grants require training in brownfield assessment and/or cleanup activities, these grants also require that Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training be provided to all individuals being trained. EPA encourages applicants to develop their curricula based on local labor market assessments and employers’ hiring needs, while also delivering comprehensive training that results in graduates securing multiple certifications.

COVID-19 Update: EPA is providing flexibilities to applicants experiencing challenges related to COVID-19. Please see the Flexibilities Available to Organizations Impacted by COVID-19 clause in Section IV of EPA’s Solicitation Clauses at https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses and the instructions outlined in Section IV.B. of this announcement.

NEW: Due to additional funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the maximum dollar value for the Job Training Grant awards increased from $200,000 to $500,000. Eligible entities are now able to request up to $500,000 in funding. Due to the larger award amount, OBLR will extend the grant performance period up to 5 years.

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

In addition to transportation stipends, reasonable stipends to compensate trainees for participating in training and reasonable child-care subsidies are now eligible uses of grant funds.

Please be sure to the check the FY 2023 Grant Guidelines and EPA Guidance on Participant Support Costs for additional information on limitations on stipends and other participant support costs. Entities that were awarded a FY22 Brownfields Job Training Grant (EPA-OLEM-OBLR- 21-03) are eligible to apply for a FY23 Brownfields Job Training Grant under this solicitation.

For the purposes of these guidelines, the term “grant” refers to the cooperative agreement that EPA will award to a successful applicant. Please refer to Section II.C for a description of EPA’s anticipated substantial involvement in the financial assistance agreements awarded under these guidelines.

EPA urges applicants to review the Frequently Asked Questions, which can be found at https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/frequently-asked-questions-about-brownfields-job-training-jt-grants.

NOTE: In addition, prior to naming a contractor or subrecipient in your application, please carefully review the “Contracts and Subawards” solicitation clause which can be found by following the link in Section VI.F of these guidelines.

FUNDING/AWARDS: The total funding available under this competitive opportunity for FY 23 is approximately $12,000,000, subject to availability of funds, quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 25 Brownfields Job Training grants at amounts up to $500,000 per award. Please note, applicants cannot submit multiple applications under this solicitation.

EPA expects that funding awarded will advance the Biden Administration’s Justice40 priorities which promises to deliver at least 40 percent of the overall benefits from key federal investments to disadvantaged communities1.

1 Disadvantaged – Consideration of appropriate data, indices, and screening tools to determine whether a specific community is disadvantaged should be based on a combination of variables that may include, but are not limited to, the following: low income, high and/or persistent poverty; high unemployment and underemployment; racial and ethnic residential segregation, particularly where the segregation stems from discrimination by government entities;

linguistic isolation; high housing cost burden and substandard housing; distressed neighborhoods; high transportation cost burden and/or low transportation access; disproportionate environmental stressor burden and high cumulative impacts; limited water and sanitation access and affordability o Disproportionate impacts from climate change; high energy cost burden and low energy access; jobs lost through the energy transition; and access to healthcare. Office of Management and Budget’s Interim Implementation Guidance for the Justice40 Initiative Memo (July 20, 2021).https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/M-21-28.pdf https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/frequently-asked-questions-about-brownfields-job-training-jt-grants https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/M-21-28.pdf iii

CONTENTS BY SECTION

SECTION I – FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION page 1 I.A. Description of Grant I.B. Use of Grant Funds I.C. Eligible Uses of Grant Funds I.D. Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds I.E. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage I.F. Measuring Environmental Results: Anticipated Outputs/Outcomes I.G. Supplementary Information I.H. Additional Provisions For Applicants Incorporated Into the Solicitation

SECTION II – AWARD INFORMATION page 9 II.A. What is the Amount of Available Funding?

II.B. What is the Project Period for Award(s) Resulting from this Solicitation?

II.C. Substantial Involvement

SECTION III – APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY & THRESHOLD CRITERIA page 10 III.A. Who Can Apply?

III.B. Voluntary Cost Share/Leveraging III.C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicant Eligibility

2. Demonstration that Proposed Project Does Not Duplicate Other Federally Funded Environmental Job Training Programs

3. Required HAZWOPER Training

4. Federal Funds Requested/Funding Amount

5. Substantial Conformity with Instructions and Format Requirements

6. Training Curriculum Chart Indicating the Cost of Each Course

7. Target Area

SECTION IV – APPLICATION SUBMISSION INFORMATION page 15

IV.A. How to Obtain an Application Package IV.B. Due Date and Submission Instructions IV.C. Content and Form of Application Submission IV.D. Narrative Information Sheet IV.E. Narrative

1.Community Need 2.Training Program Description

3. Budget

4. Program Structure, Anticipated Outputs and Outcomes

5. Partnerships

6. Leveraging 7.Programmatic Capability

IV.F. Attachments IV.G. Confidential Business Information iv

SECTION V – APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION page 29 V.A. Evaluation Criteria V.B. Other Factors V.C. Review and Selection Process

SECTION VI – AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION page 36 VI.A. Award Notices VI.B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements VI.C. Reporting Requirements VI.D. Programmatic Requirements VI.E. Disputes

SECTION VII – AGENCY CONTACTS page 39

APPENDIX 1 – Prohibitions on Use of Funds page 41

APPENDIX 2 – Grants.gov Application Submission Instructions page 43

APPENDIX 3 – Other Factors Checklist Form page 47

SECTION I – FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

This funding opportunity is made available through EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR). Through the Brownfields Job Training Program, graduates develop skill sets that improve their ability to secure full-time, sustainable employment in various aspects of hazardous and solid waste management and within the larger environmental field, including sustainable cleanup and reuse, and chemical safety.

I.A. Description of Grant

As stated in Assistance Listing 66.815, “The objective of the Brownfields Job Training Program is to recruit, train, and place unemployed and under-employed residents of solid and hazardous waste-impacted communities with the skills needed to obtain full-time, sustainable employment.

This program promotes the facilitation of activities related to assessment, cleanup, or preparation of contaminated sites, including brownfields, for reuse, while simultaneously building a local workforce with the skills needed to perform remediation work that are supportive of environmental protection and environmental health and safety.” A critical part of EPA’s Brownfields Job Training program is to further environmental justice by ensuring that residents living in communities historically affected by economic disinvestment, health disparities, and disproportionate and adverse exposures to environmental contamination, including low-income, minority, tribal and indigenous communities, have an opportunity to reap the benefits of revitalization and environmental cleanup. Through the link to on-the-ground assessment and cleanup activities, Brownfields Job Training Grants provide funding to attract, train, and retain a skilled local workforce by prioritizing unemployed and under-employed residents of communities impacted by a variety of waste facilities, blighted properties, and contaminated sites. Training programs funded by the Brownfields Job Training Grant provide program graduates with the opportunity to seek and obtain environmental jobs that contractors may otherwise fill from outside the affected community. In addition, EPA intends to use the grant opportunity to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and workforce programs, in particular registered apprenticeships, labor management partnerships or other quality workforce training programs, including high quality pre-apprenticeships (tied to Registered Apprenticeships), and Local Hire agreements in project planning stages and program delivery.

Brownfields Job Training Grants help residents take advantage of jobs across a spectrum of brownfield related activities, including the assessment, cleanup, remediation, and planning/site preparation for the revitalization of brownfields. This can involve the assessment and cleanup of solid and hazardous waste; chemical risk management; stormwater management relating to site cleanup; planning and site preparation for low impact development activities; planning and site preparation for green infrastructure installation and maintenance; and vulnerability assessment and contamination mitigation planning.

Applications for grants under the Brownfields Job Training program may be reviewed more favorably under the Section V evaluation criteria if the applicant targets unemployed individuals, dislocated workers, individuals laid off as a result of recent manufacturing plant closures, and severely under-employed or unemployed individuals. Applications may also be reviewed more favorably under the criteria if they target residents of communities disproportionately impacted by environmental harms or risks, including, residents who are low-income, minority, tribal members, formerly incarcerated persons, veterans, and individuals with little to no advanced education past high school level. Applicants must identify the target area that they intend to serve. A target area can be any area (e.g., county, city, neighborhood, watershed, etc.) that is impacted by the presence of one or more brownfield sites. EPA will consider applications that propose to serve large geographical areas, especially rural communities that include a number of towns, as well as applicants able to serve sister-cities (partnership between U.S. cities located in different states).

Applicants will be evaluated, as described in Section V, on the extent to which they partner with and secure hiring commitments from local contractors and other stakeholders in communities where EPA-funded projects are located. Such projects may include brownfields assessment, cleanup and redevelopment activities, solid and hazardous waste management, or the remediation of oil spills located on brownfield or Superfund cleanup sites. Applicants should make efforts to link graduates of Brownfields Job Training programs with environmental employment that involves preventing, assessing, managing, and cleaning up contaminated sites or working in environmental areas in the graduates’ respective communities. Proposed training should be directly linked to ongoing environmental employment opportunities taking place in the respective community.

To date, EPA has funded 371 job training grants totaling approximately $79 million through the Brownfields Job Training Program, previously also known as the Environmental Workforce Job Development Training Program. As of April 2022, approximately 19,700 individuals have completed training, and over 14,700 of those graduates obtained employment in the environmental field, earning average starting wages of over $14 per hour. This equates to a cumulative placement rate of approximately 75% since the program was created in 1998.

I.B. Use of Grant Funds

In addition to brownfields assessment and cleanup training, as well as training in the areas of community involvement and site preparation for sustainability and equitable reuse and development, applicants may choose to deliver a variety of other brownfields related environmental training activities as listed in the examples below. Applicants may tailor curricula to the labor market needs of their targeted community as long as it matches eligible uses. The only required training is OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 40-hour HAZWOPER. Beyond this, the applicant can design a curriculum of eligible courses that meets the training needs identified by a local labor market assessment and/or employer survey.

• Training in “green remediation” technologies, such as phytoremediation, bioremediation, or soil amendments; advanced sampling instrument operator training; or training in the reuse of biosolids and other industry residuals.

• Training in stormwater management; green infrastructure installation, management, and maintenance; or low impact development (LID) training for the purpose of preparing a brownfield site for sustainable reuse.

• Emergency planning, preparedness, and response training for emergencies leading to contamination on brownfields sites, such as organizing and implementing exercises;

outreach to the public; spill response and cleanup, including industrial and environmental (e.g., oil spills, natural disasters, etc.); first responder, disaster site worker certification, and National Incident Management System (NIMS) training; Disaster Recovery.

• Enhanced environmental health and safety training related to site remediation, such as promoting chemical (substance, mixture, or article) safety awareness and stewardship; safe work practices (including an overview of the content of material safety datasheets (MSDS), information on exposure guideline limits (Occupational Exposure Limits and Recommended Exposure Limits), information contained within the NIOSH pocket guide to chemical hazards, or the OSHA/EPA Occupational Chemical Database); isolation of work areas; safe storage and handling of chemicals; prevention of spills; and training in an overview of any existing chemical-specific worker training and certification programs, including but not limited to: lead abatement; lead renovation, repair, and painting (RRP);

asbestos; diisocyanates (auto-refinishing and spray polyurethane foam); pesticide worker protection standards; PFCs; PBDEs/HBCD; and others.

• Energy efficiency, and alternative energy technologies, such as training in retrofitting technologies, in order to prepare brownfield sites for renewable energy installation for reusing and redeveloping former brownfield sites.

I.C. Eligible Uses of Grant Funds

Grant funds must be used for direct programmatic costs associated with implementing a Brownfields Job Training program. Examples of eligible uses of grant funds are listed below.

Please note that this list is intended to be illustrative. Applicants must indicate the specific types of training they propose to deliver in their training program description.

• Personnel costs for instructors to conduct training, fringe benefits, and/or personnel costs for tasks associated with programmatic reporting requirements.

• Personnel and data infrastructure costs to support the performance-management and program-evaluation.

• Costs for screening and placement of individuals in the training program.

• Costs for training materials and work gear associated with the training curriculum.

• Development and refinement of existing curricula for training.

• Implementing job development outreach activities directed toward engaging prospective employers to be involved in the job training program and to hire graduates.

• Training in the assessment, inventory, analysis, and remediation of sites or facilities at which hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, and petroleum products are located, transported, or disposed, including training for jobs in environmental sampling, demolition, underground storage tank removal, groundwater extraction, site remediation, and equitable development associated with brownfields.

• Training in sustainable deconstruction in preparation of a brownfield site cleanup or redevelopment.

• Training participants in the use of techniques and methods for cleanup of hazardous substances, petroleum, and pollutants, such as asbestos abatement; lead abatement; lead renovation, repair, and painting (RRP); mold remediation; and cleaning up sites contaminated by the manufacturing of illegal drugs (e.g., methamphetamine labs), abandoned gas stations, or mine-scarred lands.

• Training in confined space entry.

• Training in first-aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and blood-borne pathogens.

• Training in chemistry, toxicology, and geology to the extent necessary to inventory, assess, remediate, and clean up contaminated sites.

• Training in the requirements and implementation of the All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI)

Final Rule, as required in CERCLA Section 101(35)(B), and due diligence.2

• Training in radiation safety and the cleanup of uranium mine tailings.

• Training in HAZMAT, commercial driver’s license (CDL) 3, forklift, and machine operations associated with the transportation of hazardous waste.

• Training in Freon removal or the removal of hazardous substances from white goods located on a brownfield site.

• Training in the use of compost and soil amendments and associated sampling, testing, and design considerations, and management techniques to support the assessment, cleanup and preparation of sites for urban agriculture and horticulture.

• Training participants in planning and conducting ecological restoration of contaminated land, including general botanical classes or introductory horticultural classes related to land and stream restoration or indigenous species and native plant re-vegetation; landscaping;

and soil science related to preparing sites for reuse and redevelopment.

• Awareness training in Environmental Stewardship and Environmental Justice to promote community involvement in assessment, cleanup and reuse of brownfield sites.

• Training in climate change mitigation and adaptation or resiliency as it relates to preparation of brownfield sites for cleanup and subsequent reuse.

2 Due diligence is the process for evaluating a property for the potential presence of environmental contamination, and for assessing potential liability for any contamination present at the property.

3 Commercial Driver’s License must be incidental to an overall training course related to hazardous waste transportation. It may not be required or used for any other purpose.

• Training in Green Infrastructure and Stormwater Management; and Erosion and Sediment Control for site remediation and preparation for reuse and redevelopment.

• Training in building trades related to constructing berms, caps, synthetic barriers, pumping facilities, bioretention systems, and similar structures to remediate contamination and site preparation.

• Training in national historic preservation and tribal historic preservation regulations associated with cleanup projects.

• Training in vapor intrusion testing and mitigation.

• Training in site surveying, mapping, blueprint reading, computer-aided design and drafting

(CADD), and geographic information systems (GIS).

• On-the-job training insurance for trainees.

• Mentorship associated with on-the-job training

• Costs associated with health exams (e.g., pulmonary function tests), drug testing, or licensing fees directly related to the training and/or the placement of graduates in environmental work.

• Costs used to cover rental fees associated with training facilities or minor alteration of existing facilities. (Construction costs are not allowable.)

• Costs associated with eligible participant support costs, including for:

o Transportation for trainees for site visits during training or to transport trainees to and from class in the form of stipends or other allowable direct costs (e.g.

transportation vouchers or vehicle rental).

o Reasonable stipends to compensate trainees for participating in training. Note that stipends may only be paid for actual time spent in training classes or on-the-job training activities and must not duplicate training support provided through other Federal, state, tribal or local programs.

o Reasonable child-care subsidies. Note that child-care subsidies must not duplicate child-care support provided through other Federal, state, tribal or local programs.

In their training program descriptions, applicants should describe the process they will follow for determining the amounts of allowable stipends, procedures for accounting for participant support cost payments (including receipts), and documenting that the costs are allowable and do not duplicate other support for the trainee. Additional information on participant support costs is available in EPA Guidance on Participant Support Costs.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/documents/epa-guidance-on-participant-support-costs.pdf

I.D. Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds

Examples of ineligible uses of grant funds are listed below. Please note that this list is intended to be illustrative and is not all inclusive. Grant funds may not be used for the following activities:

• Training in general construction skills and trades (e.g., carpentry, plumbing, electricity, etc. relating to constructing buildings).

• Training in natural resource extraction or related processes, such as hydraulic fracturing, oil refinery, or mining operations.

• Conducting actual site assessments or cleanups, except within the context of on-the-job training.

• Conducting response activities often associated with actual cleanups (e.g., landscaping, demolition, and groundwater extraction), except within the context of on-the-job training.

Assessment, cleanup, and associated activity costs must be funded through other means.

• General or life skills, education activities, such as remedial classes in math and reading;

job readiness training, such as developing resumes and acquiring interview skills; GED costs; website development; vehicle or medical insurance; or childcare and daycare costs.

• Scholarship funds to support students’ enrollment in college courses.

• Membership fees, such as fees required to join placement service organizations or environmental organizations.

• Providing food or light refreshments to employees, instructors, and trainees - except at graduation ceremonies.

• Training that seeks to test a product or is intended to expand a business, including training that seeks to expand construction and demolition debris recycling businesses for example, or training that is intended to only serve staff of an existing business who are already employed with that business.

• Costs that are unallowable (e.g., lobbying and alcoholic beverages) under Cost Principles in 2 CFR 200 and 1500, as applicable.

• Matching any other federal funds (unless there is specific statutory authority for the match). The statutory authority for the Brownfields Job Training Program, section 104(k)(7) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) 42 U.S.C. 9604(k)(7) does not provide the requisite authority. Grant funds may be used to match state or local funds, if authorized by the relevant state statute or local ordinance.

• Construction or substantial rehabilitation of buildings or other facilities to house training.

• Foreign travel.

• Application preparation costs.

• Administrative costs, including all indirect costs and direct costs for grant administration in excess of five (5) percent of the total amount of EPA grant funding, with the exception of financial and performance reporting costs (which are considered allowable programmatic costs and not subject to the 5% limitation). (Refer to Appendix 1:

Prohibitions on Use of Funds.)

See https://www.epa.gov/brownfields for additional information on ineligible grant activities.

I.E. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage

The activities to be funded under this announcement support EPA’s FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan.4 Awards made under this announcement will support Goal 6 – Safeguard and Revitalize Communities, Objective 6.1 – Clean Up and Restore Land for Productive Uses and Healthy Communities of EPA’s Strategic Plan. All applications must be for projects that support this goal and objective.

I.F. Measuring Environmental Results: Anticipated Outputs/Outcomes

EPA requires that applicants adequately describe environmental outputs (performance measures), and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements.5 Applicants must include specific statements describing the environmental results of the proposed project in terms of well-defined outputs and, to the maximum extent practicable, well-defined outcomes that will demonstrate how the project will contribute to the Agency’s strategic plan goal and objective described above in Section I.E.

Applicants are required to describe how funding will help EPA achieve environmental outputs and outcomes in their responses to the criteria in Section V. 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:

1. Outputs: The term “output” refers to an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to an environmental goal or objective that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during the project period. The expected outputs for the grants awarded under these guidelines may include but are not limited to:

4 EPA’s Strategic Plan is available at https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.

5 EPA Order 5700.7, EPA’s Policy for Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements is available at https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements.

https://www.epa.gov/brownfields https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-03/fy-2022-2026-epa-strategic-plan.pdf https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-03/fy-2022-2026-epa-strategic-plan.pdf https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-03/fy-2022-2026-epa-strategic-plan.pdf https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements

Number of individuals recruited, trained, certified, and placed in environmental careers in communities impacted by solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities. Each grant award is anticipated to result in at least 50 individuals completing training, with a minimum job placement rate of 70%. These target numbers are approximations and will vary by recipient depending on the comprehensiveness of a curriculum and where the recipient is located (urban versus rural locations where a larger number of individuals may be more easily recruited than locations where recruitment may be more challenging as a result of smaller populations).

Number of classroom style trainings, practical trainings, and curricula modules.

Number of appropriate certifications in environmental sampling and site cleanup methods.

Number of individuals that receive certifications in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 40-hour HAZWOPER training.

2. Outcomes: The term “outcome” refers to 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 of governmental entities and nonprofit organizations to:

Help residents of communities take advantage of jobs created by the assessment and cleanup of brownfields and the assessment, cleanup, and management of solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities while addressing environmental justice concerns.

Provide training that leads to sustainable employment in the environmental field.

Improve community involvement and stimulate the development of constructive partnerships.

Reduce exposures to hazardous substances and other contaminants and improve the health of workers, occupants, and residents.

Foster self-sufficiency and enhance the skills and availability of labor for environmental remediation in environmental justice and other communities impacted by environmental contamination.

Enable residents to participate in the promotion of environmental health and occupational safety, both on the job and in their communities.

I.G. Supplementary Information

The statutory authorities for assistance agreements expected to be awarded by EPA under this announcement is CERCLA Section 104(k)(7).

I.H. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated Into The Solicitation

Additional provisions that apply to sections III, IV, V, and VI of this solicitation and/or awards made under this solicitation, can be found at EPA Solicitation Clauses. These provisions are important for applying to this solicitation and applicants must review them when preparing applications for this solicitation. If you are unable to access these provisions electronically at the website above, please contact the EPA point of contact listed in this solicitation (usually in Section VII) to obtain the provisions

SECTION II – AWARD INFORMATION

II.A. What is the Amount of Available Funding?

The total funding available under this competitive opportunity is approximately $12,000,000, subject to availability of funds, quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations for FY23. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 25 Brownfields Job Training grants. Applicants may apply for up to $500,000 of EPA funds.

EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this competition, consistent with Agency policy, if additional funding becomes available. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than six months from the date of the original selection decision. EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards under this announcement or make fewer awards than anticipated.

In appropriate circumstances, EPA reserves the right to partially fund applications by funding discrete portions, types of training, or phases of proposed projects. To maintain the integrity of the competition and selection process, EPA, if it decides to partially fund an application, will do so in a manner that does not prejudice any applicants or affect the basis upon which the application, or portion thereof, was evaluated and selected for award.

Awards may be fully or incrementally funded, as appropriate, based on funding availability, satisfactory performance, and other applicable considerations.

II.B. What is the Project Period for Award(s) Resulting from this Solicitation?

The project period for Brownfields Job Training Grants is five (5) years. Training is anticipated to conclude by the end of the fourth year, with the fifth year of the project period devoted to the placement of remaining graduates in employment and reporting accomplishments data to EPA.

II.C. Substantial Involvement

The Brownfields Job Training Grant will be awarded in the form of a cooperative agreement.

Cooperative agreements require EPA’s Project Officers to be substantially involved in overseeing the work performed by the selected recipients. Although EPA will negotiate precise terms and conditions related to substantial involvement as part of the award process, the anticipated substantial federal involvement for this project may include:

• Close monitoring of the recipient’s performance to verify the results.

• Collaboration during performance of the scope of work, including participation in project activities, to the extent permissible under EPA policies. Examples of collaboration include:

a. Consultation between EPA staff and the recipients on effective methods of carrying out the scope of work provided the recipient makes the final decision on how to perform authorized activities.

b. Advice from EPA staff on how to access publicly available information on EPA or other Federal agency web sites.

c. With the consent of the recipient, EPA staff may provide technical advice to recipient contractors or subrecipients provided the recipient approves any expenditures of funds necessary to follow advice from EPA staff. The recipient remains accountable for performing contract and subaward management as specified in 2 CFR 200.318 and 2 CFR 200.332 as well as the terms of the EPA cooperative agreement.

d. EPA staff participation in meetings, webinars and similar events upon the request of the recipient or in connection with a co-sponsorship agreement.

• In accordance with 2 CFR 200.325, as appropriate, review of proposed procurements.

• Review and approval of the substantive terms of procurement contracts and subawards

(EPA will not select contractors or subrecipients).

• Reviewing qualifications of key personnel. (EPA will not select employees or contractors employed by the award recipient).

• Reviewing and commenting on reports prepared under the cooperative agreement. (The final decision on the content of reports rests with the recipient.)

• Reviewing outputs and outcomes to ensure substantial progress is made in accordance with the cooperative agreement terms and conditions.

• Approval of project phases, such as curriculum development, prior to the implementation of training.

SECTION III – APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY & THRESHOLD CRITERIA

III.A. Who Can Apply?

In accordance with CFDA 66.815, the following entities are eligible to apply for a Brownfields Job Training Grant:

• General Purpose Unit of Local Government (EPA uses the definition of Local government in 2 CFR 200.1.)

• Land Clearance Authority or other quasi-governmental entity that operates under the supervision and control of, or as an agent of, a general purpose unit of local government.

• Government entity created by State Legislature.

• Regional Council or group of General Purpose Units of Local Government.

• Redevelopment Agency that is chartered or otherwise sanctioned by a State.

• State.

• Indian Tribe other than in Alaska. (The exclusion of Alaskan Tribes in Alaska, with the exception of the Metlakatla Indian Community as noted below, from grant eligibility is statutory at CERCLA §104(k)(1)). Intertribal Consortia are eligible for funding in accordance with EPA’s policy for funding intertribal consortia published in the Federal https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=34183e930e741a04ff06debe9d858069&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1318&rgn=div8 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=fad22b17b4bd4c04ee1eafc308099edd&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1332&rgn=div8

Register on November 4, 2002, at 67 Fed. Reg. 67181. (This policy also may be obtained from your EPA Regional Job Training Coordinator listed.)

• Alaskan Native Regional Corporation, Alaska Native Village Corporation, and the Metlakatla Indian Community. (Alaskan Native Regional Corporation and Alaska Native Village Corporation as those terms are defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 and following).)

• Nonprofit organizations. For purposes of this grant program, consistent with the definition of Nonprofit organization in 2 CFR 200.1 the term “nonprofit organization” means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that is operated mainly for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purpose in the public interest; is not organized primarily for profit; and uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operation of the organization. Eligible nonprofit organizations may, but are not required to be, exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Workforce Investment Boards and organized Labor Unions that meet these criteria may be eligible nonprofit organizations. Public and nonprofit private institutions of higher education (including community colleges and similar 2-year institutions) are eligible to apply. However, 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 are not eligible to apply.

• For-profit or proprietary training organizations or trade schools are not eligible to apply.

III.B. Voluntary Cost Share/Leveraging

Consistent with the direction on cost sharing in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, cost sharing and matching funds are not required under this competition. Although cost-sharing or matching is not required as a condition of eligibility under this competition, EPA will evaluate responses to the Leveraging criterion in Section V. Leveraging is when an applicant proposes to provide its own additional funds/resources or those from third-party sources to support or complement the project awarded under the competition that are above and beyond EPA grant funds awarded. Any leveraged funds/resources, and their source, must be identified in the application. Leveraged funds and resources may take various forms as noted below.

Voluntary cost share is a form of leveraging. As provided in 2 CFR 200.1, Voluntary committed cost sharing is when an applicant voluntarily proposes to legally commit to provide costs or contributions to support the project when a cost share is not required. Applicants who propose to use a voluntary cost share must include the costs or contributions for the voluntary cost share in the project budget on the SF-424. If an applicant proposes a voluntary cost share, the following apply:

• A voluntary cost share is subject to the match provisions in the grant regulations (2 CFR 200.306, as applicable).

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

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

• The recipient is legally obligated to meet any proposed voluntary cost share that is included in the approved project budget as provided in the definition of Voluntary https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=3e88d9d4557754bcb781241135d934ae&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_11&rgn=div8 committed cost sharing in 2 CFR 200.1. If the proposed voluntary cost share does not materialize during grant performance, then EPA may reconsider the legitimacy of the award and/or take other appropriate action as authorized by 2 CFR 200.339 and 2 CFR 200.340.

Other leveraged funding/resources that are not identified as a voluntary cost share. This form of leveraging may be met by funding from another federal grant, from an applicant's own resources, or resources from other third-party sources. This form of leveraging should be discussed in the application but should not be included in the budget narrative or table. Costs covered by this form of leveraging need not be eligible and allowable project costs under the EPA cooperative agreement. While this form of leveraging should not be included in the budget, if selected, the grant workplan should include a statement indicating that the applicant is expected to produce the proposed leveraging consistent with the terms of the announcement and the applicant's application. If applicants propose to provide this form of leveraging, EPA expects them to make the effort to secure the leveraged resources described in their applications. If the proposed leveraging does not materialize during grant performance, then EPA may reconsider the legitimacy of the award and/or take other appropriate action as authorized by 2 CFR Parts 200 or 1500.

III.C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

This section contains the threshold eligibility criteria that ensure applicants are eligible to receive a Brownfields Job Training Grant. Threshold criteria are pass/fail and are based on certain requests for information identified below. The information you submit will be used by EPA solely to make eligibility determinations for grants. The applicant’s responses to the threshold criteria must be included in the Narrative Information Sheet submitted to EPA or the application will be rejected. Only those applications that specifically address and pass all threshold criteria will be evaluated against the evaluation criteria in Section V.A. of this announcement.

Entities may not apply for more than one FY23 Brownfields Job Training Grant even if proposing to serve different target areas. Applicants that exceed the number applications allowable will be contacted, prior to review of any of the applications by EPA, to determine which application(s) the applicant will withdraw from the competition.

In addition, applications must be submitted through www.grants.gov as stated in Section IV. and Appendix 2 of this announcement (except in the limited circumstances where another mode of submission is specifically allowed for as explained in Appendix 2) on or before the application submission deadline. Applicants are responsible for following the submission instructions in Section IV. and Appendix 2 of this announcement to ensure that their application is submitted on time.

Applications received after the submission deadline will be considered late and deemed ineligible without further consideration unless the applicant can clearly demonstrate that it was late due to EPA mishandling or because of technical problems associated with www.grants.gov or relevant www.sam.gov system issues. An applicant’s failure to timely submit their application through www.grants.gov because they did not timely or properly register in www.sam.gov or www.grants.gov will not be considered an acceptable reason to consider a late submission.

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

EPA will verify that the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number listed on the application is the correct UEI number for the applicant’s organization/department. If the correct UEI number is not included in the application, the application may be deemed ineligible. Applicants need to ensure that the correct Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and UEI number of the entity that will receive the award and will be held accountable by EPA for the proper expenditure of funds are listed on the application.

Responses to each item below are required and must be included in the Narrative Information Sheet that is included in the application submitted to EPA. See Section IV.C. for a complete list of required documents that must be submitted.

1. Applicant Eligibility Describe how you are an eligible applicant as described in Section III.A. For entities other than cities, counties, tribes, or states, please attach documentation of your eligibility, such as nonprofit status, resolutions, or statutes.

2. Demonstration that Proposed Project Does Not Duplicate Other Federally Funded

Environmental Job Training Programs Demonstrate that the proposed training project does not duplicate other federally funded programs for environmental job training in your target community, including training provided through EPA’s Superfund Job Training Initiative (SuperJTI); EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Grants Program Assistance Listing 66.604; and EPA’s Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Training, and Special Purpose Activities Relating to Environmental Justice Grants Program Assistance Listing 66.309. Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed training project does not duplicate National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Hazardous Waste Worker Training programs in their target community or Department of Labor (DOL) grant funds that include brownfields remediation, renewable energy, HVAC, or other energy-related training or wastewater treatment technology operator training. Federal agencies maintain lists of these grant programs at the following websites:

EPA: www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-job-training-initiative www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice NIEHS: www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/about_wetp/ecwtp/index.cfm DOL: https://www.dol.gov/general/grants/howto

If you are listed on any of these websites as a recipient, you must demonstrate how services under this proposed project will complement, but not duplicate, the existing federal environmental job training activities (i.e., different target audience, such as a different age group, differing types of certification training).

If you are not listed on the above websites but are the recipient of other federally funded environmental or “green job” training programs serving your area or community(ies), you must similarly demonstrate how services under this proposed project will complement, but not duplicate, the existing federal environmental job training activities. These other programs may include funding provided by Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Energy (DOE), Health and Human Services (HHS), and other federal agencies. EPA may also conduct internal screening to ensure demonstration of non-duplication and will coordinate duplication screening with federal partners. If your https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-job-training-initiative https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-grants-and-resources https://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/about_wetp/ecwtp/index.cfm https://www.dol.gov/general/grants/howto proposed target community is not a recipient of any federally funded environmental or “green job” training programs, a statement to this effect must be included in the threshold criteria section of your Narrative Information Sheet.

3. Required HAZWOPER Training

Your application must document that OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training will be included in your training curriculum and be provided to all trainees in the proposed program. Applications that do not include 40-hour HAZWOPER in their training curriculum will be rejected.

4. Federal Funds Requested/Funding Amount

Applications with project periods exceeding five (5) years or requesting more than $500,000 in federal funds for the entire project period will not be reviewed. Please indicate your requested funding amount and estimated project period.

5. Substantial Conformity with Instructions and Format Requirements Applications must substantially conform to the application submission instructions and format requirements set forth in Section IV of this announcement or they will be rejected.

Pages in excess of the page limitations stated in Section IV will not be reviewed.

6. Training Curriculum Chart Indicating the Cost of Each Course As part of the application, applicants must submit a detailed training curriculum chart with associated costs for each training course as referenced in Section IV.E. Applicants must calculate and indicate what percentage of the grant budget will be allocated for each training course within this chart. The training curriculum chart with associated costs for each training course is not considered an attachment and must be included with responses to the ranking criteria as part of the Narrative. When addressing this threshold criterion in your Narrative Information Sheet, indicate on which page of the application your training curriculum chart can be found.

7. Target Area You must identify the target area (as defined in Section I.A.) you propose to serve, including the town or city, as well as the neighborhood(s). Applicants cannot propose to serve multiple target areas. However, EPA will consider applications that propose to serve large areas, especially in rural communities, that may include a number of towns, as well as applications seeking to serve sister-cities.

Additionally, applicants other than tribal governments: If the target area is smaller than a city/town, list the census tract number(s) within the target area. (Please see the JT FAQs for guidance on how to find a census tract.)

Applicants deemed ineligible for funding consideration as a result of the threshold eligibility review will be notified within 15 calendar days of the…