EPA-I-R8-EJE-23-01 Revised 2023 09 06.pdf

AGENCY: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

TITLE: Region 8 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities

Technical Assistance Centers Program (EJ TCTAC)

ACTION: REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) AMENDMENT

TYPE: AMENDMENT

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NO: EPA-I-R8-EJE-23-01

ASSISTANCE LISTING NO: 66.309

DATE: SEPTEMBER 6, 2023

SUMMARY: This notice is issued to amend the Region 8 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program (EJ TCTAC)’s 2023 request for applications (RFA). This amendment includes the following change:

Extended deadline date to October 11, 2023, and new Period of Performance start date.

All applications are now due on or before October 11, 2023, at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time). Due to the extended deadline, all applicants should now plan for a period of performance start date of February 1, 2024. (See pages 2, 18, 23, and 39).

This amendment supersedes all previous versions.

AGENCY: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

TITLE: Region 8 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities

Technical Assistance Centers Program (EJ TCTAC)

ACTION: REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

TYPE: INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NO: EPA-I-R8-EJE-23-01

ASSISTANCE LISTING NO: 66.309

DATES: ANNOUNCEMENT DATE: July 13, 2023

CLOSING DATE: October 11, 2023

DEADLINE: Application packages must be submitted on or before October 11, 2023 at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) through Grants.gov. Applications received after the closing date and time will not be considered for funding.

Note - Prior to naming a contractor (including consultants) or subrecipient in your application as a “partner”, please carefully review Section IV.d, “Contracts and Subawards”, of EPA’s Announcement Clauses that are incorporated by reference in this announcement (See Section I.G). EPA expects recipients of funding to comply with competitive procurement contracting requirements as well as EPA’s rule on Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in EPA Programs in 40 CFR Part 33. The Agency does not accept justifications for sole source contracts for services or products available in the commercial marketplace based on a contractor’s role in preparing an application.

FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT CONTENTS BY SECTION

I. Funding Opportunity Description II. Award Information

III. Eligibility Information IV. Application and Submission Information V. Application Review Information

VI. Award Administration Information VII. Agency Contacts

VIII. Other Information/Appendices

• Appendix A: Optional EJ TCTAC Itemized Budget Sheet Template

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Executive Orders and Definitions

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as other federal government agencies/departments as part of a government-wide effort, are working to address environmental, public health, and energy challenges affecting communities, and specifically those adversely and disproportionately affected by environmental, climate, and human health harms and risks. This includes communities historically underserved and adversely impacted by persistent poverty, inequality, and lack of funding/resources.

In furtherance of this effort, this RFA is being issued to support Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity And Support For Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government, issued on January 20, 2021, which expressed Administration policy that the federal government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. The Executive Order defines “underserved communities” as “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…”. As described further in the Executive Order, “underserved communities” include communities such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. For purposes of this RFA, “underserved communities” has the meaning set forth in Executive Order 13985 and includes “environmentally overburdened communities” (that is, communities adversely and disproportionately affected by environmental, climate and human health harms and risks including remote, rural, and urban communities), and disadvantaged communities.

This RFA also supports Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, issued on January 27, 2021, which deepened the Administration’s commitment to advancing environmental justice by creating the Justice40 Initiative. The Justice40 Initiative establishes a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments—including those in climate change; clean energy and energy efficiency; clean transit; affordable and sustainable housing; training and workforce development; the remediation and reduction of legacy pollution; and the development of critical clean water infrastructure—flow to disadvantaged communities. Increased technical assistance and community engagement of disadvantaged communities was included as a benefit under Justice40 per the Interim Implementation Guidance for the Justice40 Initiative (M-21-28). This RFA also supports Executive Order 14091, Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, and Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All.

“Environmental justice” as defined by the EPA is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no one group of people, including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal environmental programs and policies.

Meaningful involvement means that:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/01/2021-02177/tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/M-21-28.pdf https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/02/22/2023-03779/further-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/26/2023-08955/revitalizing-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/learn-about-environmental-justice

• People have an opportunity to participate in decisions about activities that may affect their environment and/or health;

• The public's contribution can influence the regulatory agency's decision;

• Community concerns will be considered in the decision-making process; and

• Decision makers will seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected.

“Energy justice” as defined by the Department of Energy (DOE or Department) is “the goal of achieving equity in both the social and economic participation in the energy system, while also remediating social, economic, and health burdens on those disproportionately harmed by the energy system” (Initiative for Energy Justice, 2019). At its core, energy justice applies the basic principles of civil rights to the climate space1.

Environmental justice and energy justice are based on the same equitable principles providing EPA and DOE an opportunity to further their common goals and core missions through this RFA.

B. Background and Objectives

The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment for all people with an emphasis on assisting those communities adversely and disproportionately affected by environmental, climate, and human health harms and risks. EPA, as illustrated by the funding provided under the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and annual appropriations, intends to make significant investments in the health, equity, and resilience of these, and all communities, to address past, current, and future environmental health and justice challenges. To maximize these significant investments, new and innovative strategies and approaches for issues such as community engagement and participation in environmental programs, equitable distribution of financial resources, capacity-building and outreach, and technical assistance and training to enhance access to financial assistance2 opportunities and promote effective grants management and performance, are necessary especially for underserved communities that have, and continue to be, plagued by environmental pollution and health, and environmental justice, challenges.

One such strategy is to cooperate with other federal agencies whose mission also includes addressing these types of objectives, such as DOE, which has an added focus on energy justice as noted above. The DOE Equity Action Plan, released in April 2022, is designed to ensure that DOE eliminates barriers to access, and transforms programs and policies to open even broader pathways for under-represented groups, including underserved communities, to access DOE resources. Cooperating with EPA to advance shared environmental and energy justice goals furthers DOE’s programmatic mission and its commitment to embed equity in its work through all initiatives consistent with the Justice40 Initiative. EPA and DOE intend that the awards to be made under this RFA will be an integral component of government-wide collaborative efforts to support partners with capacity constraints, including

1 How Energy Justice, Presidential Initiatives, and Executive Orders Shape Equity at DOE | Department of Energy 2 Financial assistance includes grants and cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreements will be awarded under this RFA, but the terms are used interchangeably in the RFA.

https://www.energy.gov/diversity/articles/how-energy-justice-presidential-initiatives-and-executive-orders-shape-equity underserved communities and rural/remote communities, in accessing federal resources and funding sources, and engaging in decision- making processes to address environmental and energy justice challenges.

Historically, underserved communities have been disproportionately burdened by environmental hazards and health consequences and have faced environmental and energy justice challenges. These communities are often exposed to unhealthy land uses, poor air and water quality, dilapidated housing, lead exposure, and other environmental threats that drive health disparities. Many of these communities are also surrounded by social inequities such as job insecurity, underemployment, linguistic isolation, underperforming schools, noise pollution, crowded homes, face high energy burden or fossil fuel dependence, and lack access to healthy foods and transportation. In addition, they often lack adequate resources and experience to navigate complex grant application and award making processes and have been limited in their ability to have meaningful access to, and participation in, governmental decision-making processes that affect them, including those relating to environmental health and justice, and energy justice. The combination of environmental risks and social inequities creates a cumulative, disproportionate impact that hinders optimal environmental health and justice particularly for these communities.

Consistent with EPA’s mission and Administration priorities, including those set forth in Executive Orders 13985, 14008, 14091 and 14096, and using funding available for environmental justice, as well as potential DOE funding to be provided through an interagency agreement, and other potential funding as available and appropriate, EPA is seeking applications from eligible entities as described in Section III to establish and operate an Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC) for EPA Region 8. There was no award for a dedicated Region 8 EJ TCTAC under the national competition (Funding Opportunity No. EPA-I-OP-EOJ-22-02), and EPA has determined that for program effectiveness and to successfully serve communities within this geographic area, it is appropriate to open a competition for a Region 8-specific EJ TCTAC.

The Region 8 EJ TCTAC will provide technical assistance, training, and other eligible forms of assistance, resources, and support (henceforth referred to as “Eligible Services”), as described below, to “program participants (as used throughout this RFA)” throughout EPA Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming) including but not limited to:

• Nonprofit organizations.

• Community-based and grassroots organizations.

• Philanthropic and civic organizations.

• Underserved communities and organizations.

• Rural and Remote communities and organizations.

• Faith-based organizations and churches.

• Educational institutions (e.g., schools, colleges, and universities), including Minority

Serving Institutions.

• Individuals of underserved communities.

• Disadvantaged Businesses.

• Local, tribal, and state governmental units.

• US Territories.

• Utility providers.

• Health care providers and clinics.

While the cooperative agreement expected to be awarded under this RFA is part of a multifaceted approach to benefit all communities facing environmental and energy justice challenges, EPA and DOE are especially interested in the Region 8 EJ TCTAC providing Eligible Services to program participants within Region 8 in underserved communities, rural and remote areas, and to those with the highest degree of burden and capacity constraints.

The Region 8 EJ TCTAC will serve as a resource for program participants in Region 8 interested in participating in environmental and energy justice programs and policy development and understanding and utilizing environmental and energy grant programs to advance environmental and energy justice. In sum, the purpose of the cooperative agreement to be awarded under this RFA is to provide program participants in Region 8 with Eligible Services such as:

• Guidance, information, and technical assistance to identify and address environmental and energy justice needs and challenges in their community.

• Local environmental justice analyses and the ability to identify environmental justice issues and challenges that need to be addressed such as disposal of solid and hazardous wastes.

• Assistance and training resulting in a strengthened ability to identify, successfully apply for, and effectively manage grants related to environmental and energy justice.

• Assistance in navigating government systems used in the grant process such as www.sam.gov, www.grants.gov, EERE Exchange, and OCED Exchange.

• Knowledge and understanding of environmental and energy justice-related grant programs and how they can be used to help underserved communities address environmental health, pollution, and justice challenges.

• Assistance to facilitate community engagement and partnership building to address environmental and energy justice issues.

• Translation and interpretation services with respect to grant program awareness and application, award, and management processes to provide program participants a meaningful opportunity to participate in environmental and energy justice efforts.

• Knowledge and understanding of federal, state, local, and private foundation grant laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and programmatic requirements, to facilitate understanding of complex grant award making and management processes to enhance their ability to effectively perform and manage grants.

• Assistance and training to have an increased ability to meaningfully participate in decision-making related to environmental and energy justice challenges to ensure that their perspectives, experiences, and expertise inform policy development and program design and delivery at all levels of government and with the private sector.

• Assistance to build capacity, including strengthening human capital to focus on environmental justice and energy justice issues and fostering third-party “community champions” (e.g., community advocates and volunteer leaders) to engage in decision-making process so they will be in a strengthened position to participate in environmental and energy justice programs and address related challenges.

http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/ https://oced-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx

By increasing program participants, particularly underserved and rural/remote communities, access to and awareness of grant opportunities, knowledge of the grant application and management process, understanding of financing sources and grant requirements, and the ability to participate and engage in environmental and energy justice decision-making, they will be better positioned to advance and address environmental and energy justice issues across Region 8. This will lead to progress towards achieving the objectives of Executive Orders 13985, 14008, 14091 and 14096.

EPA and DOE also recognize that it is important to engage all available minds to address the environmental and energy justice challenges the nation faces. Accordingly, both agencies want to expand the environmental and energy conversation by including members of communities which may not have previously participated in such dialogues to participate in this technical assistance program. For this reason, EPA and DOE strongly encourage all eligible applicants identified in Section III, including Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), as well as university business schools and business programs, to apply under this opportunity.

For purposes of this RFA, 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.

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.

To find the latest information about the EJ TCTAC program, visit the following links:

• https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-thriving-communities-technical-assistance-centers

• https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/region-8-environmental-justice-thriving-communities-technical-assistance

C. Authority

Congress provided EPA with both funding and expanded authority to further environmental justice through financial assistance programs in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328), which provided funding for environmental justice implementation and https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.ed.gov%2Fwhhbcu%2Fone-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities%2F&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zeNNPJ%2FwKKF8vriTJOn7mpqEZi%2FlAAVr%2F7p%2BeWGbfCA%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.ed.gov%2Fwhhbcu%2Fone-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities%2F&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zeNNPJ%2FwKKF8vriTJOn7mpqEZi%2FlAAVr%2F7p%2BeWGbfCA%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.ed.gov%2Fwhiaiane%2Ftribes-tcus%2Ftribal-colleges-and-universities%2F&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=KrCQVvclEk6KSzT64i9gWPrno81b90cuDr60dRZ6bqo%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.ed.gov%2Fwhiaiane%2Ftribes-tcus%2Ftribal-colleges-and-universities%2F&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=KrCQVvclEk6KSzT64i9gWPrno81b90cuDr60dRZ6bqo%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.ed.gov%2Fhispanic-initiative%2Fhispanic-serving-institutions-hsis%2F&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3sdzswlzNzDz%2F1%2FVgl%2FVSGGdNUJFI6xkEZ80Fp58rQc%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.ed.gov%2Fhispanic-initiative%2Fhispanic-serving-institutions-hsis%2F&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3sdzswlzNzDz%2F1%2FVgl%2FVSGGdNUJFI6xkEZ80Fp58rQc%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fd%2Fviewer%3Fmid%3D1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94%26msa%3D0%26ie%3DUTF8%26t%3Dm%26z%3D3%26source%3Dembed%26ll%3D40.58644586187277%252C-148.28228249999984&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=SSl%2BS31sbtvx9If6NJqJ3E7nwUZ8ua2YSE9ZlqwTOWE%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fd%2Fviewer%3Fmid%3D1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94%26msa%3D0%26ie%3DUTF8%26t%3Dm%26z%3D3%26source%3Dembed%26ll%3D40.58644586187277%252C-148.28228249999984&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=SSl%2BS31sbtvx9If6NJqJ3E7nwUZ8ua2YSE9ZlqwTOWE%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fd%2Fviewer%3Fmid%3D1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY%26ie%3DUTF%26msa%3D0%26ll%3D37.35160769312532%252C-96.17229800000001%26z%3D4&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=n0WeAe8Vh93Tpb3zbddqvoGYiVafTebE2Ms%2BVBmq85g%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fd%2Fviewer%3Fmid%3D1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY%26ie%3DUTF%26msa%3D0%26ll%3D37.35160769312532%252C-96.17229800000001%26z%3D4&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=n0WeAe8Vh93Tpb3zbddqvoGYiVafTebE2Ms%2BVBmq85g%3D&reserved=0 https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-thriving-communities-%20technical-assistance-centers https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-thriving-communities-%20technical-assistance-centers https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/region-8-environmental-justice-thriving-communities-technical-assistance https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/region-8-environmental-justice-thriving-communities-technical-assistance training grants. EPA also has statutory authority to award cooperative agreements for technical assistance for environmental and/or energy justice activities under Section 103 of the Clean Air Act, Section 104 of the Clean Water Act, and Section 8001 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. In order to receive Section 8001 funding, applicants must specifically address in their applications how they will perform training and public education activities to address environmental harms caused by solid and hazardous wastes. EPA interprets the term “training” in these statutes to include technical assistance.

DOE has authority to enter into cooperative agreements and other similar transactions that support its functions and missions under Section 646 of the DOE Organization Act of 1977, and, further, to advance clean energy initiatives and related activities under but not limited to the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the IIJA.

Potential DOE funding towards the awards under this RFA is authorized under the IIJA and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022.

Additional and future funding for the award under this RFA is contingent on the availability of future appropriations.

D. Technical Assistance, Training, and Support Activities

The award under this RFA will be for the establishment and operation of a Region 8 EJ TCTAC, with a physical location and virtual/technological presence, providing the technical assistance, training, and other eligible forms of support summarized above (the Eligible Services), and more fully described below. Consistent with the objectives of this RFA, applicants should describe in their applications and workplan (See Section IV), and will be evaluated based on, the type of Eligible Services they will provide, how they will do so, and how program participants within Region 8, and especially underserved communities and rural and remote communities, will be made aware of, and can access, the Eligible Services.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to design their Region 8 EJ TCTAC to provide the types of Eligible Services described below to meet the objectives of this RFA, to program participants in Region 8.

The Eligible Services to be provided by the recipient operating a Region 8 EJ TCTAC should be based on accomplishing the following objectives to assist program participants, with a special emphasis on underserved communities and rural and remote communities, with information, tools, and assistance:

• To identify potential grant opportunities (e.g., federal, state, local, or private) related to environmental protection, health, and justice, and energy justice, and subaward (including loans under revolving loan funds) and procurement opportunities under those grants3.

• On applying for grants related to environmental protection, health, and justice, and energy justice, preparing applications responsive to competitive solicitations, and effectively managing grants from an administrative and programmatic perspective - See Section I.E for limitations on this service.

3 EPA’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) regulation, 40 CFR Part 33, describes EPA requirements for encouraging DBE participation in EPA financial assistance programs.

• On environmental protection, health and justice, and energy justice, programs and policies and information on how to effectively participate in their development.

• For capacity-building support to effectively engage with decisionmakers at all levels of government to ensure that their perspectives, experiences, and expertise inform policy development and program design and delivery on environmental and energy justice issues.

• For capacity-building support to effectively engage with private sector entities, such as project developers and electric or gas utilities and solid and hazardous waste treatment and disposal facilities, on environmental and energy justice matters to ensure their perspectives, experiences and expertise inform project design and implementation, including through cohort support (e.g., supporting communities with shared objectives and/or characteristics as a group through delivering curated capacity building, training, peer learning and support).

• To identify, analyze, and understand financing options for pursuing projects, including partnership opportunities, that support environmental and energy justice objectives in coordination with other technical assistance providers to minimize the potential for duplication of effort.

Consistent with these parameters, applicants should design their Region 8 EJ TCTAC to provide, at a minimum, the Eligible Services described below. Applicants may also propose approaches to addressing each area and service that differs from or supplements what is described below and may propose other types of technical assistance activities that meet the objectives of this RFA to provide the Eligible Services in Region 8 as long as the activities are eligible for funding under the appropriate authorities. Priority should be placed on ensuring that efforts are made to make undeserved communities, communities in remote and rural areas, and program participants with the highest degree of burden and capacity constraints, aware of the Region 8 EJ TCTAC and how to access their services. Strategies should be informed by applicants’ experience and established relationships within Region 8, as well as knowledge of Region 8’s unique geographic, demographic, and other characteristics.

1. Outreach Efforts

Applicants should describe their plan and approach to make program participants within Region 8, particularly underserved communities, communities in remote and rural areas, and program participants with the highest degree of burden and capacity constraints, aware of their EJ TCTAC and the Eligible Services they intend to provide. Information disseminated through outreach efforts should include at a minimum:

a. The types of Eligible Services to be offered to program participants.

b. Instructions on how to access the Eligible Services in a user-friendly and expeditious manner, including in the predominate local language(s).

c. Information about events, including workshops, seminars, or other training, that the EJ TCTAC plans to offer or participate in that may benefit program participants.

Applicants should design their outreach efforts to reach the widest possible audience and are expected to significantly invest in outreach to underserved communities, communities in remote and rural areas, and to program participants with the highest degree of burden and capacity constraints, in EPA Region 8. In doing so, they should be drawing upon existing strong local partnerships and continuing to build these relationships, allocating resources to employee, contractor, and program participant travel for outreach activities, and creating awareness of the assistance, training, and support/resources to be offered by the Region 8 EJ TCTAC through social media and/or other types of outreach mechanisms4.

2. Grant Technical Assistance, Training, Support, and Engagement

Applicants should demonstrate how they will provide program participants in Region 8, particularly underserved communities, communities in remote and rural areas, and program participants with the highest degree of burden and capacity constraints, with Eligible Services on environmental protection, health, and justice programs, and energy justice programs, and how to participate in them, apply for funding under them, and effectively manage grants administratively and programmatically. This may include but is not limited to assistance with environmental justice issues under air, water, energy, and solid and hazardous waste programs. Applicants should describe how they will provide these services to program participants through the most efficient and effective means practicable and how they will provide translation and other interpretive services to make this assistance available to those not fluent in English or that have limited English proficiency.

In providing the Eligible Services under this RFA, applicants should design an approach intended to assist program participants in Region 8 with assistance and information on:

a. How to meaningfully engage with governmental decisionmakers and the private sector to ensure that their perspectives, experiences, and expertise inform policy development and program design and delivery on environmental and energy justice issues including issues relating to energy generation, energy efficiency, and solid and hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities.

b. How to find and approach grant and program offices for information, and grantees for contract or subaward opportunities available under grants, to further environmental and energy justice.

c. How to identify, understand, and analyze financing options to pursue projects that meet environmental and energy justice needs in a manner that minimizes duplication of effort with other federally funded programs.

d. How to prepare and submit applications for grants for environmental and energy justice projects including helping program participants understand the requirements of competitive solicitations and how to prepare a responsive application to a solicitation - See Section I.E. for limitations on this activity.

4 Refer to EPA Guidance on Participant Support Costs for information on the allowability of costs for program participant travel and stipends.

e. How to register, properly use, and access information from government grant systems, including but not limited to the System for Award Management (SAM)5 at www.sam.gov, Grants.gov at www.grants.gov, EERE Exchange, and OCED Exchange.

f. Understanding and complying with administrative and programmatic post-award grant functions and responsibilities and federal grant regulations (e.g., 2 CFR Part 200, as adopted and amended by 2 CFR Part 910 and 2 CFR Part 1500, 2 CFR Part 35, 40 CFR Part 35) as well as applicable state regulations and private funding governance.

g. Any other activities they believe will be effective in providing technical assistance, training, and support to program participants, and especially underserved, rural, and remote communities, to facilitate their participation in funding programs for environmental and energy justice and in the environmental and/or energy decision- making process.

3. Community Collaboration, Facilitation, and Engagement Services

Applicants should design their EJ TCTAC to have the capability to help program participants across Region 8 facilitate meetings with local stakeholders, build partnerships and coalitions, and develop sustainable partnerships with other program participants and stakeholders to advance environmental and energy justice.

Collaborations, and relationships with program participants, and especially underserved communities and communities in rural and remote areas, are essential to sustainable and effective community work. This includes coordination and/or facilitation services and similar activities for meetings and communications between program participants/underserved, rural and remote communities/other environmental and energy justice stakeholders (e.g., community champions, such as advocates and volunteer leaders, local governmental officials, community groups) to address and discuss environmental protection and justice concerns, energy justice issues, and inform program and policy development and implementation. This approach to collaborations can also include a cohort approach (e.g., supporting communities with shared objectives and/or characteristics as a group through delivering curated capacity building, training, peer learning and support). This activity may also require performing analyses, and preparing reports, identifying environmental justice needs and challenges affecting certain communities and proposing recommendations to address them.

4. EJ TCTAC Geographic Coverage and Coordination

As stated in Section II, EPA intends to award one cooperative agreement under this RFA for approximately $10,000,000 to provide technical assistance related to the Eligible Services to program participants in Region 8 which is comprised of CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY, and 28 Tribes.

Applicants should describe how they will collaborate with other EJ TCTACs and with other technical assistance providers (e.g., EPA Environmental Finance Centers and

5 This includes the Entity Information and Assistance Listings sections of SAM.gov.

http://www.grants.gov/ https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/

Technical Assistance for Brownfields recipients) to avoid duplication of effort, and share best practices among EJ TCTACs to maximize the value of the Eligible Services provided to program participants as envisioned by this RFA. This may include such things as including links on their EJ TCTAC website to help prospective and existing program participants determine which EJ TCTAC to access, and how to do so.

Additionally, as provided in EPA’s General Terms and Conditions “Copyrighted Material and Data” (a link to which can be found in Section VI.w of EPA’s solicitation provisions-see Section I.G), EPA may authorize all EJ TCTACs to use copyrighted works or other data developed with Agency funds by other EJ TCTACs when such use promotes efficient and effective use of Federal grant funds.

5. Resources To Operate the EJ TCTAC

Applicants should have the appropriate staff (e.g., project manager and other key personnel), resources, organizational expertise and experience, knowledge, and administrative/programmatic infrastructure necessary to provide the Eligible Services described above, either through their own organization and/or through the ability to obtain it through properly procured contracts, authorized subawards, or other appropriate non-financial partnerships and collaborative mechanisms. This also includes the technical competency and knowledge of how to use government grant systems (e.g., www.grants.gov, www.sam.gov, EERE Exchange), and the ability to interpret and translate grant requirements, policies and procedures into plain language and other languages besides English as necessary.

Applicants should also demonstrate in their application that they have specific knowledge, expertise, and experience with issues unique to Region 8 related to Eligible Services, established relationships with program participants and other environmental stakeholders in Region 8, as well as experience providing outreach and working with rural, remote, and Tribal communities.

Applicants should also describe their plan and approach for establishing their EJ TCTAC to ensure that the Eligible Services described above will be able to start being provided to program participants, especially underserved, rural, and remote communities, as expeditiously as possible following award. Note that EPA will include a “sufficient progress” term and condition in all EJ TCTAC awards that will require recipients to meet specified benchmarks for project implementation in a timely manner.

Applicants should also describe the facility(s), website presence, virtual means, or other technological abilities and means/tools for providing the Eligible Services described above to program participants that is easily accessible to all of them particularly underserved communities and communities in remote and rural areas. This should include ensuring that the EJ TCTAC will be accessible to program participants during normal business hours and the recipient should be able to, if necessary, adjust their accessibility and hours to meet the needs of program participants including underserved communities, communities in remote and rural areas, those in different time zones than that of the recipient, and/or those with internet or other technological challenges that may affect http://www.grants.gov/ https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/ their ability to access EJ TCTAC services. Applicants should also describe how their EJ TCTAC website will contain relevant grant technical assistance, training, and support/research information including links to relevant grant and environmental program laws, regulations, policies and procedures (e.g., www.grants.gov, www.sam.gov, EERE Exchange), environmental justice resources (e.g., Executive Orders, governmental documents), state and private funding, and EJ TCTAC events/training.

6. EJ TCTAC Results, Success Stories, and Feedback

To facilitate program effectiveness, applicants should describe an approach for documenting and measuring the success of their EJ TCTAC, which may include information on success stories attesting to the Eligible Services provided to program participants and make this information available to EPA upon request. A success story is generally one that demonstrates an effort of the EJ TCTAC to help a program participant that generated a grant or other financial award, engagement by program participants to inform environmental or energy justice decision-making, or similar successes or benefits to a program participant.

Applicants should also describe an approach for seeking feedback on their EJ TCTAC from program participants and prospective program participants, that includes their satisfaction with the EJ TCTAC, ideas on ways to make it more effective and additional types of assistance it should consider providing (e.g., technical assistance should be a “two-way street”), and what steps the applicant will take to address the feedback to improve the operation of the EJ TCTAC. Applicants should make a concerted effort to obtain relevant feedback on their EJ TCTAC from underserved communities and communities in rural and remote areas. If the applicant intends to use EPA or DOE funds to develop and administer surveys or other information collections subject to 5 CFR Part 1320 for feedback, compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act by EPA may be necessary.

7. Energy Justice Activities

Applicants should explain how they will provide the following energy justice technical assistance, training and capacity building activities to program participants, and especially underserved communities and communities in rural and remote areas, and those in proximity to current and former mine land:

• Identifying energy justice objectives that are aligned with a clean energy transition including community opportunities and assets to advance these objectives and transition through clean energy demonstration, deployment, workforce development, and outreach projects, including on current and former mine lands.

• Identifying, understanding, and analyzing financing options, including public-private partnerships and innovative financing structures, to pursue clean energy demonstration, deployment, workforce development, and outreach projects that meet energy justice needs.

http://www.grants.gov/

• Creating effective materials to enable underserved communities to collaborate with the private sector and investors, including venture and angel investors, public and philanthropic organizations, on clean energy demonstration, deployment, workforce development and outreach opportunities that advance energy justice objectives and the clean energy transition.

E. Ineligible Activities

The following are examples of ineligible activities under the awards to be made from this

RFA6:

• General business training or financial assessments including assistance with business plans or marketing. For example, EJ TCTACs cannot offer training, advice, or assistance on topics such as human resources, hiring, retention, health care, health benefits, quality certifications, Lean, Six Sigma, or manufacturing, except where the assistance specifically relates to compliance with grant requirements.

• The Recipient acting as the program participant’s representative (e.g., the recipient cannot call federal or state personnel and assert that they speak for program participants or call a help desk and act as if they are the program participant). The Recipient must maintain their role as providing assistance, training, and support/resources to program participants and not act as their representatives in communications with other parties.

• Training (e.g., vocational type training) for program participant personnel unrelated to the purpose of an EJ TCTAC.

• Assistance in establishing a new organization, business, entity.

• Legal advice, services, or representation.

• Funding from EPA and DOE may not be used by EJ TCTAC recipients for the writing and/or submittal of individual grant applications for, or on behalf of, program participants to a requesting entity. EPA funds, however, may be used by EJ TCTAC recipients to provide assistance to program participants on preparing applications for funding which includes providing assistance or “tips” to strengthen an application to enhance its competitiveness and responsiveness to funding opportunity announcements. Conversely, DOE funds may not be used by EJ TCTAC recipients for any assistance to program participants in connection with preparing, reviewing, negotiating, or submitting any application or workplan for DOE funding, or to provide support regarding the administrative policies and requirements, cost principles, or audit requirements for individual DOE awards. Any form of eligible technical assistance from recipients to program participants on how to prepare and submit applications does not guarantee a program participant will receive funding.

See Section VI.C for additional information on requirements to separately track and report on DOE funding and EPA funding.

F. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage and Anticipated Outputs, Outcomes and

Performance Measures

6 This is not an exhaustive list of ineligible activities. All activities receiving EPA and DOE funding are subject to requirements for cost allowability in applicable regulations including limitations on consultant fees in 2 CFR Part 1500. Additionally, only activities described in the EPA approved scope of work are eligible for funding.

This announcement supports key priorities of the Administration as detailed in Executive Order 13985 signed by President Biden on January 20, 2021 titled Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, Executive Order 14008 signed by President Biden on January 27, 2021, titled Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, Executive Order 14091 signed by President Biden on February 16, 2023, titled Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, and Executive Order 14096 signed by President Biden on April 21, 2023, titled Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All. Specifically, the projects selected under this RFA will support the federal government’s efforts to advance racial equity and environmental and energy justice, address health outcome disparities, and support underserved communities.

In addition, pursuant to Section 6a of EPA Order 5700.7, “Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements,” (see https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements), EPA must link assistance agreements to the Agency’s Strategic Plan. EPA’s current Strategic Plan for 2022-2026 is available at: https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.

The activities to be funded under this RFA support the FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan.

Awards made under this RFA will support Goal 2 (Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights), Objective 2.1, (Promote Environmental Justice and Civil Rights at the Federal, Tribal, State, and Local Levels) of the Strategic Plan which states that: “Building Community Capacity and Climate Resilience and Maximizing Benefits to Overburdened and Underserved Communities: EPA will increase support for community-led action by providing unprecedented investments and benefits directly to communities with environmental justice concerns and by integrating equity throughout Agency programs.”

Applicants should explain in their application how their project will further this goal and objective and they will be evaluated on this under the evaluation criteria in Section V.A.

EPA Order 5700.7 also requires that applicants adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements. 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 goals and objectives…