EPA-I-R4-GM-2023 Final.pdf

U.S. EPA GULF OF MEXICO DIVISION

Healthy and Resilient Gulf of Mexico 2023

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or BIL) Request for Applications

Federal Agency Name: Environmental Protection Agency - Region 4 Funding Opportunity Title: Healthy and Resilient Gulf of Mexico 2023 BIL Announcement Type: Request for Applications Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-I-R4-GM-2023 Assistance Listing: 66.475

KEY DATES: All dates listed below are tentative.

December 6, 2023 A recorded webinar presentation will be posted to provide helpful hints to developing your application. You can find the presentation, Q&A, and the common errors document at the Gulf of Mexico Environmental Justice Grants Program link at www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico. If you have a question not included in the Q&A or presentation, please submit questions to GMP-RFP@epa.gov. Q&A will be updated weekly if new questions are received. EPA will respond to questions through March 28, 2024 but cannot guarantee a response to questions received thereafter.

April 4, 2024 Applications due to the Gulf of Mexico Division (GMD) at 11:59pm ET July 2024 Anticipated Notification of Selection November 2024 Anticipated Award https://usepa.sharepoint.com/sites/R4-GMD/Shared%20Documents/PROJECT%20MANAGEMENT/Request%20for%20Applications/2023%20BIL/1%20-%20RFA%20Development/www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico

Contents

I. APPLICATION INFORMATION

I.A. Background and Authority

I.B. Scope of Work

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

I.D. RFA Terms

II. AWARD INFORMATION Amounts, Targets, and Number of Projects

II.A. Award Amounts

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

III.A. Eligible Entities:

III.B. Partnerships:

III.E. Threshold Eligibility Criteria:

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

V. APPLICATION REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

V.A. Evaluation Criteria

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

VIII.A. Quality Assurance

Appendix A. Grants.gov Application Submission Instructions

Appendix B. Helpful Links (including Grant and Budget Development Training)

Appendix C. Project Narrative and Budget Table Format

Appendix D. Eligible Coastal County List for Florida and for Priority Area 4: Strengthen Community Resilience

I. APPLICATION INFORMATION

I.A. Background and Authority

Gulf of Mexico Division (GMD) is a non-regulatory division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) founded to facilitate collaborative actions to protect, maintain, and restore the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico in ways consistent with the economic well-being of the Region. To carry out its mission, GMD continues to maintain and expand partnerships with state and federal agencies, federally recognized Tribes, local governments and authorities, academia, regional business and industry, agricultural and environmental organizations, and individual citizens and communities. For more information, please see https://www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico. This Request for Applications (RFA) is expected to result in the award of assistance agreements. GMD’s statutory authority to award assistance agreements is the Clean Water Act, §104(b)(3), which authorizes the award of assistance agreements to conduct and promote the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of pollution as codified in 33 U.S Code 1254(b)(3). Funded awards must advance protection and restoration of the Gulf of Mexico watershed in support of EPA’s FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. Awards made under this solicitation will support Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities, Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds.

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.

I.A.1 Disadvantaged Communities

The GMD supports Administration and Agency priorities, including Justice40, through actions to improve conditions in disadvantaged communities by investing in projects to improve water quality, habitat(s), community resilience, and environmental education.

For purposes of this competition and the evaluation of applications, “disadvantaged communities” refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life such as communities with environmental justice concerns and/or vulnerable populations, including, but not limited to, people of color, low income, rural, tribal, indigenous, and homeless populations that may be disproportionately impacted by environmental harms and risks. More examples are identified in Section 2 of the Biden Administration’s Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities.

For purposes of this RFA, “disadvantaged communities” also includes “environmentally overburdened communities.” Environmentally overburdened communities are adversely and disproportionately affected by environmental, climate and human health harms and risks including remote, rural, and urban communities.

I.A.2 Objectives for Disadvantaged Communities

Projects submitted under this funding opportunity should support the Gulf of Mexico Objectives for https://www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2021-title33/html/USCODE-2021-title33-chap26-subchapI-sec1254.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2021-title33/html/USCODE-2021-title33-chap26-subchapI-sec1254.htm https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses https://www.whitehouse.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government

Disadvantaged Communities detailed below:

1. Demonstrate community-driven projects, which are projects that include activities where community residents and/or representatives are integrally involved in the planning and execution of those activities.

2. Show connections to the identified disadvantaged community(ies) (e.g., letters of support from community leaders, prior collaborations).

3. Use “meaningful involvement” to ensure success of project goals. Meaningful involvement entails:

a. Residents have an opportunity to participate in decisions that affect their environment and/or health within their communities.

b. Community participants’ concerns will be considered in the decision-making process.

c. Partners will seek out and facilitate the involvement of impacted communities.

4. Build the capacity of communities with environmental concerns and help them create self-sustaining, community-based partnerships that will continue to improve their community.

5. Promote learning and understanding within communities.

6. Establish collaborative and coordinated efforts, processes or procedures, and communication strategies between neighborhoods and communities with local governments regarding ongoing environmental projects and initiatives at local levels to maximize use of local resources and reduce duplication of efforts.

7. Document the beneficial impact the project has on the community.

I.B. Scope of Work

This RFA seeks applications for a partnership of five or more eligible entities (a partnership of the applicant with four or more other organizations) to submit a single application under this RFA to fund multiple projects/activities authorized by CWA 104(b)(3). Two of the partners must be small community-based organizations (for purposes of this RFA, this is defined as 10 or fewer full time equivalent employees). Projects must address one or more of the four Gulf of Mexico Division Priority Areas for this RFA listed below. Applications must identify which eligible organization will be the recipient of the grant (the “pass-through entity”) and which eligible organizations will be subrecipients. EPA expects that the recipient and subrecipients will implement activities to support the following Priority Areas: 1. Water Quality Improvement; 2. Protect, Enhance, or Restore Habitat; 3. Environmental Education; and/or 4. Strengthen Community Resilience. The application must describe the activities of each.

The applications will be evaluated on how they are community-driven and include activities where residents and/or representatives are integrally involved in the planning and execution of these activities; therefore, recipients and subrecipients will also be evaluated on their plan for working with disadvantaged communities impacted by environmental harms, risks, and needs, and where the project activities will occur. All projects must be located in disadvantaged communities. Projects that address Priority Areas 1 and 2 must be located in the five Gulf states (see map in Figure 2; for projects in Florida, see also the eligible counties in Appendix D). For projects that identify Priority Area 4 as the focus, all project activities must be located in the eligible coastal counties of the five Gulf states (see map in Figure 1 and eligible counties in Appendix D). Priority Area 3 may be a component of any project, so the eligible location is dependent on whether the primary Priority Area is 1, 2, or 4.

Applications must identify disadvantaged communities where projects will take place and describe how the community was identified. Applications will be evaluated on how well they identify and address the needs of the disadvantaged community. EPA expects the applicant to partner with organizations that are knowledgeable about the needs of their respective communities. Applicants may address multiple priority areas with their projects.

Applicants must identify the primary Priority Area for the application as 1. Water Quality Improvement; 2.

Protect, Enhance, or Restore Habitat; or 4. Strengthen Community Resilience. Priority Area 3 Environmental

Education projects may be included but may not be the primary Priority Area of the application. At least 50% of the budget should be dedicated to subawards and subrecipient projects with no more than 25% dedicated to Priority Area 3 Environmental Education. Additionally, each application must include a measurable outreach component.

EACH APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE AN OUTREACH COMPONENT. The outreach component could include, but is not limited to:

• News releases, articles, and events for digital, print and television media

• Project presentations to community groups, schools, local/state government organizations, etc.

• Stakeholder and community involvement meetings

• Best practices and lessons learned to stakeholders

Priority Area 1: Water Quality Improvement

The following output must be included in projects addressing this priority:

Demonstrate improvement in and/or understanding of water quality conditions of the Gulf of Mexico watershed through monitoring in at least one water quality parameter in a water body and/or segment by the end of the project period as compared to the initial project baseline. Examples of water quality parameters that could be demonstrated in a water quality improvement project include, but are not limited to: dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, bacteria, nutrients, temperature, and garbage/trash (e.g., trash traps; cleanups coupled with prevention outreach; implementing creative prevention methods). This information must be included in quarterly reports, as appropriate, and in the final report.

Activities:

GMD seeks to fund projects to improve understanding of water quality conditions and/or improve water quality in a water body and/or segment within the five Gulf states (see map in Figure 2; for projects in Florida, see also the eligible counties in Appendix D). Please identify the eight-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) in which activities will occur. For more information on HUC identification see:

https://enviroatlas.epa.gov/enviroatlas/InteractiveMapEntrance/InteractiveMap/index.html. Zoom to your location, click supplemental maps, expand units, and select HUC 8 or 12. Projects are encouraged to take advantage of currently existing baseline water quality data to provide efficiency in measuring water quality improvement. Applicants are encouraged to leverage resources and increase efficiency of practices to improve water quality.

Potential Community-Driven Project Ideas:

• Studies or assessments and demonstration projects that identify and apply solutions to improve understanding of water quality conditions or to improve water quality via the following:

o Nutrient Reduction o Blue or green infrastructure o Stormwater runoff prevention/infiltration o Water quality monitoring o Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) prevention o Trash Free Waters/Litter Reduction/Prevention o Marine Debris (microplastics, trash, reduction/prevention) o Sustainable agricultural practices o Septic System monitoring or studies for replacement https://enviroatlas.epa.gov/enviroatlas/InteractiveMapEntrance/InteractiveMap/index.html o Watershed priorities (non-regulatory solutions)

Priority Area 2: Protect, Enhance, or Restore Habitat

The following output must be included in any project addressing this priority:

Estimate the expected number of habitat acres that will be enhanced, restored and/or protected in the application. Provide in quarterly reporting, as appropriate, and in the final report the actual number of acres enhanced, restored, and/or protected.

Activities: GMD seeks to fund projects that protect, enhance, or restore habitat acreage within the five Gulf states (see map in Figure 2; for projects in Florida, see also the eligible counties in Appendix D) that benefit the Gulf of Mexico region, native species (e.g., pollinators, birds, non-native removal), and communities (including collaboration with private landowners).

• Demonstration projects that identify and apply nature-based solutions to improve habitat which improve ecosystem and community health (e.g., reduce flooding, expand wetland to reduce nutrients/runoff, etc.)

• Green way and blue way habitat

• Riparian zone enhancement

• Coastal prairie, dune, marsh and/or forest restoration or enhancement

• Innovative restoration or protection of wildlife corridors

• Habitat window studies

• Study controlled burning to maximize ecosystem health

• Community habitat/garden (especially related to pollinators and Gulf migratory species benefit)

• Living Shorelines (non-construction)

• Fund innovative efforts to produce native plants for restoration efforts

• Demonstrate the effectiveness of animal grazing to aid restoration efforts

Priority Area 3: Environmental Education

The following output must be included in any Priority Area project that includes Environmental Education In your application, estimate the number of expected audience(s) and/or individuals to be reached. In quarterly reporting, as appropriate, and in final reporting, track and report the actual number of individuals reached and the method(s) used to reach them as a result of the project.

Activities: GMD seeks to fund projects that engage disadvantaged communities located within the place of performance to:

• Promote and support environmental education and/or training

• Develop and/or improve existing environmental education programs that can include, but are not limited to, building stewardship as it relates to improving water quality; protecting, enhancing and/or restoring habitat; promoting smart growth practices; and promoting community resiliency.

• Dedicate no more than 25% of project funds to Priority Area 3 (Environmental Education). Applicants must identify the primary Priority Area for the application as 1. Water Quality Improvement; 2. Protect, Enhance, or Restore Habitat; or 4. Strengthen Community Resilience. Environmental Education projects may be included but may not be the primary Priority Area of the application.

• Develop and demonstrate programs that will educate and provide job training for students or adults for careers in:

o Habitat creation, restoration o Water quality issues and management o Water quality testing o Community resilience, smart growth o Climate/climate change adaptation o Oyster farming, aquaculture, aquaponics o Green infrastructure design, installation, and/or operation and maintenance o Living shorelines o Subsidence, flood, and stormwater mitigation o Home septic system maintenance and upkeep

• Student led research projects focused on habitat restoration, water quality or community resilience

Priority Area 4: Strengthen Community Resilience

The following output must be included in any resilience project:

In the application, estimate how the community will become more resilient by the end of the project. In quarterly reporting, as appropriate, and in the final report, report the actual number of communities made more resilient and how a resilience assessment tool or program served to strengthen the community resilience.

Activities: GMD seeks to fund projects that engage disadvantaged communities located in the eligible coastal counties in the five Gulf states (see map in Figure 1 and Appendix D) to:

• Develop and/or demonstrate programs, projects and/or tools that improve a community’s understanding of vulnerabilities and/or strengthen resilience

• Utilize existing or new techniques, tools, and information to assist coastal stakeholders in assessing risks and vulnerabilities to natural or man-made disasters

Potential Community-Driven Projects Ideas:

• Studies or assessments and demonstration projects that identify and apply nature-based solutions to improve resilience as it relates to heat island, subsidence, stormwater, and/or flooding impacts such as:

o Living shorelines o Community or pollinator gardens o Green or Blue Infrastructure o Multi-Use Conservation/Restoration o Flood Mitigation o Vulnerability Assessments o Community planning o Climate Change Resilience/Adaptation o Nature-Based Resilience o Resilience tool or application development

EPA plans to award approximately five grants of up to $6,000,000 each. At least 50% of the budget should be dedicated to fund subawards to conduct activities with no more than 25% dedicated to Priority Area 3 (Environmental Education). For Priority Areas 1 and 2, recipient and subrecipient projects must be located within the five Gulf states eligibility map (see map in Figure 2; and for projects in Florida, see also the eligible counties in Appendix D). Priority Area 3 may be a part of any project and location is dependent on project focus.

Priority Area 4 must be within the eligible coastal counties of the five Gulf states (see map in Figure 1 and eligible counties in Appendix D).

FIGURE 1: Eligible Coastal Counties Map for Priority Area 4 Strengthen Community Resilience

Figure 1: Eligible Coastal Counties Map for Priority Area 4 Strengthen Community Resilience

FIGURE 2: Eligibility Map for the Priority Areas of 1. Water Quality Improvement and 2. Protect, Enhance or Restore Habitat. [For these two Priority Areas, projects must take place in one or more of the five Gulf states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida) AND be within the Gulf of Mexico watershed. Please see the map below. For Florida projects, please also see the eligible county listing in Appendix D.

Figure 2: Eligibility Map for the Priority Areas of 1. Water Quality Improvement and 2. Protect, Enhance or Restore Habitat.

Responsibilities of the successful recipient(s) include, but are not limited to:

• Establish and administer a partnership of eligible entities that fund projects/activities authorized by CWA 104(b)(3) and address one or more of the four priority areas listed in Sec. I.B.

• Projects must be community-driven and include activities where community residents and/or representatives are integrally involved in the planning and execution of these activities. Award recipients are to collaborate with leadership from disadvantaged communities affected by environmental and human health harms or risks.

• Develop and execute project(s) that will be led by the recipient.

• Administer subawards to the partners (subrecipients that must be named in the application).

• Dedicate 50% or more of the budget to fund at least four subawards for subrecipient projects.

• Ensure recipient and subrecipient activities achieve the Objectives for Disadvantaged Communities in I.A.2 and environmental results in a cost-effective manner (ensuring the majority of subaward funds go directly to project activities).

• Disburse monies to subrecipients in a timely manner to reduce unliquidated obligations and as required by the applicable regulations.

• Establish and follow a system for monitoring subrecipient performance that includes the elements required by 2 CFR 200.332(d) and report the monitoring results in performance reports submitted to EPA.

• Comply with EPA’s Subaward Policy (see section I.B.1) and Establishing and Managing Subawards in EPA’s General Term and Condition.

• Track the environmental results (quantitative and qualitative outputs and outcomes) of the recipient led projects and subrecipient projects and ensure that data and results are communicated to EPA GMD via quarterly progress reports and to stakeholders and the community via education and outreach.

• Document lessons learned from the recipient and subrecipient projects and ensure project results are disseminated to the broader stakeholder community to inform future practices.

• Provide final project presentation to EPA GMD.

• Ensure redundant subawards are not being received by related federal or non-federal partners.

I.B.1 Subawards

The subrecipient projects must be authorized by CWA 104 (b)(3) and address one or more of the Priority Areas in Sec. I.B. The subawards funded under the grant are anticipated to have project periods up to four years and must be completed in sufficient time to allow the award recipients to aggregate results, lessons learned, and ensure subrecipients have been reimbursed for eligible incurred costs. The environmental and financial benefits of the recipient and subrecipient projects must be targeted to disadvantaged communities that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life. Projects should be community-driven.

The application will be evaluated on how well it describes the work each subrecipient will accomplish and how they will meet EPA requirements for reporting environmental and/or programmatic outputs, outcomes, and metrics. This includes identifying how metrics will be collected from subrecipients and reported to EPA. The recipient must comply with applicable provisions of 2 CFR Part 200 and the EPA Subaward Policy, which may be found at https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients, including the National Terms and Conditions for Subawards, which may be found at https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-general-terms-and-conditions-effective-october-1-2023-or-later. Additional guidance on compliance is available in EPA’s Subaward Frequent Questions.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd/section-200.332 https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-general-terms-and-conditions-effective-october-1-2023-or-later https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-general-terms-and-conditions-effective-october-1-2023-or-later https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-subaward-frequent-questions

I.B.2 Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)

EPA recognizes that it is important to engage a diverse group of stakeholders to address the environmental challenges the nation faces. At the same time, EPA seeks to expand the environmental conversation by including members of communities which may not have previously participated in such dialogues to participate in EPA programs. For this reason, EPA strongly encourages all eligible applicants identified in Section III.A., including MSIs, to apply and/or partner under this opportunity. For purposes of this solicitation, the following are considered MSIs:

1. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1061(2)). A list of these schools can be found at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

2. Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059c(b)(3) and (d)(1)). A list of these schools can be found at American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities.

3. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1101a(a)(5)). A list of these schools can be found at Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

4. Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions; (AANAPISIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059g(b)(2)). A list of these schools can be found at Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions. and

5. Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act of 2008, 20 U.S.C.

1059e(b)(6). A list of these schools can be found at Predominately Black Institutions.

I.B.3 Federally Recognized Tribes

EPA recognizes the importance of the nation-to-nation relationships with Federally Recognized Tribes in the environmental challenges the U.S. faces. For this reason, EPA strongly encourages Federally Recognized Tribes in the Gulf states to apply and/or partner under this opportunity.

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

Pursuant to Section 6a of EPA Order 5700.7A1, “Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements,” EPA must link proposed assistance agreements with the Agency’s Strategic Plan. EPA also requires that grant applicants and recipients adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see EPA Order 5700.7A1, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements, https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results- under-epa-assistance-agreements).

1.Linkage to EPA Strategic Plan The activities to be funded under this solicitation must support the FY2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan. Awards made under this solicitation must support Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities, Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds. Applicants are also encouraged but not required to describe if project activities will also support EPA’s Goal 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis, Objective 1.2: Accelerate Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts.

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

https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/hispanic-serving-institutions-hsis/ https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=3&source=embed&ll=40.58644586187277%2C-148.28228249999984 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=3&source=embed&ll=40.58644586187277%2C-148.28228249999984 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY&ie=UTF&msa=0&ll=37.35160769312534%2C-96.17229800000001&z=4 https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan

a. Outputs Outputs (or deliverables) refer to an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to an environmental goal or objective that will be produced or provided by a specified date. Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during an assistance agreement project period. Outputs as a result of training, education, monitoring, surveys, demonstrations and other activities authorized by CWA 104(b)(3) are required and must include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The number of subawards to organizations that perform the work to support the objectives identified in Section I.A.1

• Development and verification of subrecipient tracking (reporting) process to track expenditures and environmental results/data

• Quarterly reporting of recipient and subrecipient activities which must include at least one of the following:

• Estimated number of segments or bodies with water quality improved; an initial baseline must be included to provide an accurate view of water quality parameter improved (if this is nutrient reduction project, please indicate if it resulted in effective practices and tools to manage or reduce nutrients)

• Number of habitat acres enhanced, protected, or restored

• Number of individuals reached through education activities

• Number of communities educated on adopting or have implemented resiliency practices

• Outreach events/presentations (number of events and individuals reached) that share the successful outcomes, lessons learned, technologies developed, approaches gleaned, and practices employed.

Progress reports and a final report are required, as specified in Section VI.B. Reporting Requirements of this announcement.

b. Outcomes Outcomes are the result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out a program or activity that is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective and are used to gauge a project's performance.

Outcomes may be qualitative and environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic in nature, but must also be quantitative. Outcomes may be short-term (changes in learning, knowledge, attitude, skills), intermediate (changes in behavior, practice, or decisions), or long-term (changes in condition of the natural resource).

Applicants should describe how their proposed project will achieve Objectives for Disadvantaged Communities in Section I.A.2.

One or more of the following outcomes as a result of training, education, monitoring, surveys, demonstrations and other activities authorized by CWA 104(b)(3) are required:

• Improvement in at least one water quality parameter in a water body and/or segment over the life of the project, with quarterly milestones clearly reflected. Applicant should evaluate the baseline conditions as a part of their project to provide an accurate view of progress (e.g., % change against baseline).

Pollutant reduction and/or prevention (e.g., nutrient load reductions in the Gulf of Mexico watershed) Examples of water quality parameters that could be used include nutrients (primarily nitrogen and phosphorus) and associated indicators (chlorophyll, turbidity, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, and pH).

• Acres of habitat enhanced, protected, or restored over the life of the project, with quarterly milestones clearly reflected. An initial baseline must be included to provide an accurate view of progress.

• Number of individuals with improved understanding of environmental issues in their community. The applicant should describe how the change will be measured.

• Number of communities that are more resilient over the life of the project as a result of increased willingness to adopt, fund, and implement resiliency projects. The applicant should describe how the change will be measured and how resiliency was improved.

Additional outcomes may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Stormwater and/or flood mitigation improvements

• Improvements made to state, county, or local environmental programs, requirements or policies that better protect human health and the environment

• Climate change improvements should identify project impacts to acidification, algal blooms, biodiversity loss, cultural resources loss, flood, heat, infrastructure destruction, public health, sea level rise, seasonal shifts, subsistence resources loss, warming ocean and other water bodies, and/or weather events. For additional information, see EPA’s Climate Adaptation page.

Additional information regarding the EPA’s discussion of environmental results in terms of “outputs” and “outcomes” can be found at: www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1- epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements.

3. Performance Measures Applicants should describe how they plan to track and monitor their project performance and progress throughout the project period. The applicant should also develop performance measures they expect to achieve through the proposed activities and describe them in their application. These performance measures will help gather insights and will be the mechanism to track progress concerning successful processes and output and outcome strategies and will provide the basis for developing lessons to inform future recipients. It is expected that the description of performance measures will directly relate to the project outcomes and outputs.

Outputs and outcomes are critical components of an applicant’s overall plan for measuring project performance.

The following are questions to consider when developing output and outcome measures of quantitative and qualitative results:

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

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

• Are the projected outputs and outcomes specific and detailed? Are specific target measures included where possible? Are target measures reasonable and achievable within the project period and for the funding amount?

I.D. RFA Terms

The following are defined for the purposes of this RFA only:

Community: The term “community(ies)” means any group of people working on or planning for strengthening community resilience. This can include municipalities, cities, towns, states, specific Gulf of Mexico watershed waters, regional planning commissions, and other groups. Community should be defined within the project by the https://www.epa.gov/climate-adaptation https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements applicant.

Community driven: The term “community driven” means a community of individuals, partners, and stakeholders, including residents, businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies, who are committed and eager to accomplish a common goal and integrally involved in the planning and execution of project decisions and activities.

Demonstration Project: The term “demonstration project" means a project that must involve new or experimental technologies, methods, or approaches, where the results of the project will be disseminated so that others can benefit from the knowledge gained in the demonstration project. The applicant must clearly explain in the proposal how the technologies, methods, or approaches used are new or experimental and how the project otherwise meets the requirements of a demonstration as described in this RFA. If your project uses technologies, methods or approaches that have been used previously in other geographic areas and/or other situations, then your proposal must include an explanation as to how your demonstration project is different from such prior projects. The applicant must also explain what will be learned from the demonstration project.

Environmental Justice: The term “Environmental Justice” is defined as the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of income, race, color, national origin, tribal affiliation or disability, in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect human health and the environment. See EO 14096 for more information.

Green Infrastructure: The term “Green Infrastructure” means the range of measures that use plant or soil systems; permeable pavement or other permeable surfaces or substrates; stormwater harvest and reuse; or landscaping that allows storage, infiltration, or evapotranspiration of stormwater and reduces flows to sewer systems or to surface waters.

Heat Island: The term “Heat Island” is defined as urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas. Structures such as buildings, roads, and other infrastructure absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat more than natural landscapes such as forests and water bodies. Urban areas, where these structures are highly concentrated and greenery is limited, become “islands” of higher temperatures relative to outlying areas. High temperatures of pavement and rooftop surfaces can heat up stormwater runoff, which drains into storm sewers and raises water temperatures as it is released into streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. Water temperature affects all aspects of aquatic life, especially the metabolism and reproduction of many aquatic species.

Metropolitan Statistical Area: The term “Metropolitan Statistical Area” is a Core Based Statistical Area associated with at least one urbanized area that has a population of at least 50,000. The Metropolitan Statistical Area comprises the central county or counties containing the core, plus adjacent outlying counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the central county or counties as measured through commuting.

Microbial Source Tracking: The term “Microbial Source Tracking” is an approach used to identify and track sources of fecal contamination impacting water quality in stream, river, lakes, and marine (including beaches) ecosystems.

Partners: The term “partners” means the eligible organizations, defined in Sec. III.A, who have partnered with the applicant for this grant and will be subrecipients (receive subawards) to carryout project activities. See additional information for partnerships in Sec. III.B. As provided in 2 CFR 200.332(d), subrecipients (partners) are accountable to the recipient for proper use of EPA funding.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/26/2023-08955/revitalizing-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/26/2023-08955/revitalizing-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all

Partnership: The term “partnership” is defined as a formal relationship between two or more eligible [grant or cooperative agreement] recipients that is memorialized in writing and is legally binding under applicable law. The partnership agreement must specify which member of the partnership will enter into the assistance agreement with EPA for the purposes of accountability for the proper expenditure of Federal funds, performance of the assistance agreement, liability for claims for recovery of unallowable costs incurred under the agreement and must specify roles in performing the proposed scope of work for the assistance agreement. One eligible recipient in the partnership must receive EPA funding as the direct recipient of the [grant or cooperative agreement] and the other partner(s) receiving funding as a subrecipient(s).

II. AWARD INFORMATION Amounts, Targets, and Number of Projects

II.A. Award Amounts

Approximately $30 million in EPA funding is expected to be awarded under this RFA for approximately five awards. The amount of federal funding per award is up to $6,000,000. Applications seeking EPA funding more than $6,000,000 will be rejected. The number of awards EPA will fund as a result of this RFA will be based on the quality of applications received, the availability of funding, and other applicable considerations. In addition, EPA reserves the right to increase or decrease (including decreasing to zero) the total number and amount of awards. EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards under any or all of the funding opportunities identified in this RFA or make fewer awards than anticipated.

II.B. Anticipated Project Start and End Dates

The estimated project period for awards resulting from this solicitation will begin in Calendar Year 2024.

Proposed project periods may be up to five years.

II.C. Funding Type

Successful applicants will be issued a grant or cooperative agreement as appropriate. A cooperative agreement is an assistance agreement that is used when there is substantial federal involvement with the recipient during the performance of an activity or project. EPA awards cooperative agreements for those projects in which it expects to have substantial interaction with the recipient throughout the performance of the project. EPA will negotiate the precise terms and conditions of “substantial involvement” as part of the award process. Federal involvement may include close monitoring of the recipient’s performance; collaboration during the performance of the scope of work; in accordance with 2 CFR 200.317 and 2 CFR 200.318, as appropriate, review of proposed procurements;

reviewing qualifications of key personnel; and/or review and comment on the content of printed or electronic publications prepared. EPA does not have the authority to select employees or contractors employed by the recipient. The final decision on the content of reports rests with the recipient.

II.D. Additional Funding Information

Additional Awards: EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with Agency policy and guidance, if additional funding becomes available after the original selections are made. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than 6 months after the original selection decisions.

Award Funding: Awards may be fully or incrementally funded, as appropriate, based on funding availability, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR45ddd4419ad436d/section-200.317 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR45ddd4419ad436d/section-200.318 satisfactory performance, and other applicable considerations.

Future Funding: Selection or award of funding under this RFA is not a guarantee of future funding.

Partial Funding: In appropriate circumstances, EPA reserves the right to partially fund applications by funding discrete portions or phases of proposed projects. If EPA decides to partially fund an application, then it 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, and therefore maintains the integrity of the competition and selection process.

Pre-Award Costs: Recipients may incur otherwise eligible and allowable pre-award costs up to 90 days prior to award at their own risk without prior approval from EPA’s award official. Pre-award costs must comply with 2 CFR

200.458 and 2 CFR 1500.9. If EPA determines that the requested pre-award costs comply with the relevant authorities, and that the costs are justified as allocable to the project, then these costs may be included as allowable expenditures at the time that the assistance award document is prepared. However, if for any reason EPA does not fund the application or the amount of the award is less than the applicant anticipated, then EPA is under no obligation to reimburse the applicant for these costs incurred. Thus, applicants incur pre-award costs at their own risk. Costs incurred more than 90 days prior to award require the approval of EPA Region 4’s grant official.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Note: Additional provisions that apply to this section can be found at EPA Solicitation Clauses.

III.A. Eligible Entities:

In accordance with Assistance Listing 66.475, governmental entities, including state agencies, interstate agencies, Indian tribes, local governments, institutions of higher learning (i.e., colleges and universities), and non-profit organizations (as defined at 2 CFR 200.1) are eligible to apply for funding under this RFA. School districts or high schools designated as one of the eligible entities above are eligible.

An intertribal consortium must meet the definition of eligibility in the Environmental Program Grants for Tribes Final Rule, at 40 CFR 35.504 (66 FR 3782. January 16, 2001) (FRL-6929-5) and be a non-profit organization within the meaning of 2 CFR 200.1. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

Consistent with the definition of Nonprofit organization at 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 and is not organized primarily for profit;

and uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operation of the organization. The term includes tax-exempt nonprofit neighborhood and labor organizations. Note that 2 CFR 200.1 specifically excludes Institutions of Higher Education from the definition of non-profit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation. While not considered to be a nonprofit organization(s) as defined by 2 CFR 200.1, public or nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this RFA. For-profit colleges, universities, trade schools, and hospitals are ineligible.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.458 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.458 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XV/part-1500/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFRafb95c49532a236/section-1500.9 https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c/section-200.1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-35/subpart-B/subject-group-ECFR7560dab1b022383/section-35.504

Nonprofit organizations that are not exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code must submit other forms of documentation of nonprofit status such as certificates of incorporation as nonprofit under state or tribal law.

For-profit organizations are not eligible entities for this funding opportunity. Additionally, non-profit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply.

III.B. Partnerships:

For the purposes of the RFA, groups of five or more eligible entities must form a partnership and submit a single application under this RFA; however, one entity must be responsible for the grant. Applicants must identify which eligible organization will be the recipient of the grant and which eligible organization(s) will be subrecipients. Subawards and subrecipients must be consistent with the definitions of those terms in 2 CFR

200.1. The recipient must administer the grant, will be accountable to EPA for proper expenditure of the funds and reporting, and will be the point of contact for the partnership. As provided in 2 CFR 200.332(d), subrecipients are accountable to the recipient or grantee for proper use of EPA funding.

Partners may not include for-profit organizations that will provide services or products to the successful applicant. For-profit organizations are not eligible for subawards. For-profit organizations are eligible to receive contracts. Any contracts for services or products funded with EPA financial assistance must be awarded under the competitive procurement procedures of 2 CFR 200.319, as applicable. The regulations at 2 CFR 1500.10 contain limitations on the extent to which EPA funds may be used to compensate individual consultants. Refer to the Best Practice Guide for Procuring Services, Supplies, and Equipment Under EPA Assistance Agreements for guidance on competitive procurement requirements and consultant compensation.