EPA-OAR-ORIA-24-01.pdf

AGENCY: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

TITLE: Reducing Indoor Air Risks

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Request for Applications (RFA)

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: EPA-OAR-ORIA-24-01

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 66.034

IMPORTANT DATES

December 20, 2023 NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity) Opens January 26, 2024 Final Date to Submit Questions February 5, 2024 NOFO Closes – Application Deadline March 15, 2024 Anticipated Notification of Selection June 15, 2024 Anticipated Awards

Application packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) no later than February 5, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) in order to 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. of EPA’s Solicitation Clauses that are incorporated by reference in this announcement and discussed in relevant part here. Applicants must compete contracts for services and products, including consultant contracts, and conduct cost and price analyses, to the extent required by the procurement provisions of the regulations at 2 CFR Part

200. Applicants are not required to identify subrecipients and/or contractors (including consultants) in their grant1 application. However, if they do, the fact that an applicant selected for award has named a specific subrecipient, contractor, or consultant in the application EPA selects for funding does not relieve the applicant of its obligations to comply with subaward and/or competitive procurement requirements as described in Section IV.D. of EPA’s Solicitation Clauses. Please note that applicants may not award sole source contracts to consulting, engineering, or other firms assisting applicants with the application solely based on the firm's role in preparing the application or based on an assertion that the individual or firm has “unique qualifications.”

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

1 For the purposes of this RFA, the term “grant” refers to the cooperative agreement that EPA will award to a successful applicant.

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

For additional guidance, applicants should review EPA’s Best Practice Guide for Procuring Services, Supplies, and Equipment Under EPA Assistance Agreements, EPA’s Subaward Policy, and EPA’s Subaward Policy Frequent Questions. EPA expects recipients of funding to comply with competitive procurement contracting requirements in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 1500 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 such as consulting, data analysis, or project management.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/best-practice-guide-procuring-services-supplies-and-equipment-under-epa-assistance https://www.epa.gov/grants/best-practice-guide-procuring-services-supplies-and-equipment-under-epa-assistance https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/documents/gpi-16-01-subaward-policy_attachments.pdf https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-04/epa_subaward_policy_frequent_questions.pdf

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE: Reducing Indoor Air Risks

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Background and Summary

B. Program Goals and Objectives

C. Environmental Results and Strategic Plan Information

D. Statutory Authority

E. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

A. Amount of Funding Available

B. Number and Amount of Awards

C. Partial Funding

D. Additional Awards

E. Award Funding and Incremental/Full Funding

F. Period of Performance

G. Funding Type

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Entities

B. Voluntary Cost Sharing or Matching Funds

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

D. Ineligible Activities and Other Considerations

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Requirement to Submit Through Grants.gov and Limited Exception Procedures

B. Project Narrative Instructions, Optional Format, and Content

C. Coalition Coverage

D. Releasing Copies of Applications

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Evaluation Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

C. Other Factors

D. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices

B. Combining Successful Applications into One Award

C. Reporting Requirement

D. Disputes

VII. CONTACT INFORMATION

APPENDIX A – Further Information Regarding Contracts, Subawards, and Participant Support Costs

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Background and Summary

This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities to advance national policy or systems-level change to reduce indoor air risks and yield measurable environmental and public health outcomes. The EPA has identified and characterized significant risks to public health from indoor environmental contaminants that are commonly found in homes, schools, and offices or commercial non-industrial buildings where Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time. Levels of air pollution indoors are often two to five times higher, and occasionally 100 times higher than outdoor levels. Common indoor air contaminants include:

• Radon

• Environmental asthma triggers (e.g., secondhand smoke; cockroaches and other pests;

chemical irritants; dust mites; pet dander; nitrogen dioxide; wood smoke; and mold)

• Pathogens transmitted through the air (e.g., SARS-COV-2, Influenza)

• Particulate matter

• Combustion byproducts

• Volatile organic compounds

Estimates of the economic costs in the US associated with adverse health and productivity effects of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) fall between $13 and $32 billion annually. Additionally, the annual sales of IAQ products and services are valued at $18–$30 billion and are associated with approximately 150,000–250,000 current jobs in the US.

Indoor contaminants may be of natural origin (e.g., radon, allergens, molds), may derive from products used indoors (e.g., finishes, furnishings, cleaning products), and may result from indoor processes and behaviors (e.g., smoking, use of unvented combustion sources, cleaning, operation and maintenance procedures). Building systems also have a direct influence on the type and amount of exposure to environmental contaminants indoors. IAQ can be improved and exposure to unhealthy indoor air in buildings reduced through better design, construction, operation, maintenance, and renovation practices; changes in the personal choices and behaviors of occupants; and mitigation of IAQ problems. National policies and systems provide a framework for indoor air risk reduction, help to address disparities, and ensure sustainable improvements.

The goal of the EPA’s Indoor Environmental Division is to reduce the environmental health risks posed by contaminants in indoor environments. This is achieved by understanding the science of both environmental health risks and effective prevention and control methods. This knowledge then is used to promote appropriate, evidence-based environmental risk reduction activities through voluntary actions by the general public and key stakeholders to improve IAQ.

The EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Program has addressed this public health goal since the 1980s with seminal science such as the Environmental Tobacco Smoke Risk Assessment2, and has sponsored

2 Respiratory Health Effects of Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer and Other Disorders, the EPA 600/6-90/006F, Dec 1992.

consensus reports including: Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon (BEIR VI Report)3, Asthma and Indoor Exposures4, Health Risks of Exposure to Indoor Particulate Matter5, and Microbiomes of the Build Environment.6 The program translates this science into guidance and technical products (e.g., Indoor airPLUS residential labeling program, Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades and Other Remodels), sector specific guidance (e.g. Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, Citizen’s Guide to Radon), and establishes action learning networks to support rapid spread of proven interventions and to build State, regional, tribal, and community level capacity to sustain environmental and public health improvements (e.g., AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org, National Radon Action Plan Leadership Council, Radon Leaders Saving Lives). These and other program initiatives are described at www.epa.gov/iaq.

Currently, the EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Program is focused on addressing the next big challenges—advancing national policy and systems, reducing disparities, and ensuring programs and practices aimed at indoor air risk reduction are sustainable.

B. Program Goals and Objectives

The EPA is soliciting applications from eligible entities (as described in Section III.A) to conduct demonstration, technical assistance, training, education, and/or outreach projects that seek to reduce exposure to indoor air contaminants by advancing national policy and systems-level initiatives.

All applications should clearly:

• Articulate a plan to produce results that have implications and/or benefits on a national level. This NOFO is not intended to fund small-scale local projects.

• Address one or more of the following EPA Indoor Air Program priority areas:

o Radon.

o Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers.

o Comprehensive Indoor Air Risk Reduction.

Applicants may submit multiple applications that uniquely address one or more of these program priority areas. However, applicants may not submit multiple applications addressing the same program priority area.

The EPA will not consider any applications under this NOFO that are exclusively designed to conduct scientific research. However, applications may include research components as a foundation for demonstration, technical assistance, training, education, and/or outreach projects. In such cases, applications should clearly articulate this linkage, explain why the

3 Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BIER) VI Report: The Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon, National Academy Press, 1999.

4 Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Exposures, National Academy Press, 2000.

5 Health Risks of Exposure to Indoor Particulate Matter, National Academy Press, 2016.

6 Microbiomes of the Build Environment: A Research Agenda for Indoor Microbiology, Human Health and Buildings, National Academy Press, 2017.

research component is necessary for the project’s success, and ensure that such research does not already exist.

The EPA will not consider applications under this NOFO which specifically or solely address indoor asbestos, lead, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), or other chemical-specific pollutants. These contaminants are primarily addressed by other EPA program offices.

The following paragraphs provide information on the types of assistance sought through this

NOFO:

Radon (www.epa.gov/radon)

Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas found all over the U.S. in any type of building, including homes, offices, and schools. Radon causes an estimated 21,000 deaths each year in the United States. Further, radon is currently the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

Moreover, one in 15 homes are estimated to have elevated radon levels nationally. In many communities, this ratio is much higher.

Applications should be for projects that build national scale technical capacity and systems to:

• Increase the number of radon professionals trained and/or credentialed.

• Increase the number of buildings (e.g., new homes, multi-unit and affordable housing, and schools) tested for radon.

• Increase the number of buildings (e.g., existing homes, multi-unit and affordable housing, and schools) mitigated for elevated levels of radon gas.

• Increase the number of buildings (e.g., new homes, multi-unit and affordable housing, and schools) built with radon reducing features.

• Increase in States and/or municipalities adopting radon-reducing building code language.

• Increase the number of State and/or tribal radon programs to reduce radon exposure through convening public/private stakeholder meetings.

• Increase the number of State and/or tribal radon programs developing and using voluntary consensus standards.

• Increase the number of State and/or tribal radon programs to collect and use data and analytics to support the identification of areas or groups that are in greatest need of indoor environmental services to improve community health outcomes.

• Provide technical assistance, resources, and support designed to increase the number of States, tribes and communities well-positioned to take action to reduce risk to radon exposure (e.g., the operation of a national radon hotline).

• Support the implementation of the National Radon Action Plan (https://www.epa.gov/radon/national-radon-action-plan-strategy-saving-lives).

Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers (www.epa.gov/asthma) http://www.epa.gov/radon https://www.epa.gov/radon/national-radon-action-plan-strategy-saving-lives https://www.epa.gov/asthma

Asthma is a serious, life-threatening respiratory disease that affects approximately 25 million Americans, including more than 4 million children. Poor and minority children suffer a greater burden of the disease. Emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths due to asthma are much higher among African American children. American Indian/Alaska Native and Hispanic children, especially Puerto Ricans, are also disproportionately impacted by asthma. Furthermore, in households with children, those receiving rental assistance have a higher rate of childhood asthma than renter households not receiving assistance and owner households. Additionally, asthma has a substantial impact on the economy at a cost of more than $81 billion annually in direct medical costs and lost productivity. Medicaid is the nation’s main public health insurance program for low-income people of all ages, spending more than $10 billion annually to treat asthma in children and adults. While progress has been made to decrease asthma prevalence, there is still a critical need for solutions focused on state and community levels that help ensure children with hard-to-control asthma have access to comprehensive asthma care, including in-home environmental interventions.

The indoor environmental determinants of health (IEDOH), a subset of the social determinants of health (SDOH), are modifiable environmental factors indoors—such as household air pollution, the presence of pests, mold and moisture, chemicals and irritants—that influence risk and experience of chronic disease, including asthma. The EPA has led the national effort to incorporate environmental interventions into the standards of asthma care and emphasize the importance of addressing IEDOH to improve asthma health outcomes. The EPA promotes technical solutions that directly address IEDOH, as well as strategies for packaging and delivering these solutions so that they are coordinated to address other SDOH categories, such as medical care, individual behavior, and social circumstances. In service of this, the EPA supports widespread delivery of in-home environmental asthma interventions, a key IEDOH solution, because it reduces poor health outcomes and health care costs, increases savings, and expands the healthcare workforce, particularly for children suffering from hard-to-control asthma. This strategy supports the Federal Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Asthma Disparities (https://www.epa.gov/asthma/coordinated-federal-action-plan-reduce-racial-and-ethnic-asthma-disparities). Furthermore, the EPA understands that these solutions are multisector, requiring collaboration between the public health, housing, and healthcare sectors, and provides spaces for cross-sector conversation and learning through its Asthma Community of Practice and AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org.

Applications should propose projects that use technical assistance and training to expand national-scale capacity to address IEDOH by equipping State, tribal, and local communities to build and improve systems aimed to:

• Increase the number of State environmental, public health, housing, and Medicaid programs effectively collaborating to develop and/or expand infrastructures that will support the access to, delivery and financing of in-home asthma interventions.

• Increase the number of health plans serving Medicaid populations that expand coverage for and/or reimburse in-home interventions.

https://www.epa.gov/asthma/coordinated-federal-action-plan-reduce-racial-and-ethnic-asthma-disparities https://www.epa.gov/asthma/coordinated-federal-action-plan-reduce-racial-and-ethnic-asthma-disparities

• Build and/or improve State, tribal, and local capacity to use IEDOH data and analytics to inform and target in-home interventions and focus indoor environmental investments to have the greatest impacts on asthma health outcomes.

With respect to asthma, only those activities that directly address indoor environmental factors that may influence asthma onset or exacerbation are eligible for funding under this NOFO (although ancillary activities related to medical management are acceptable). Applicants are encouraged to integrate indoor environmental trigger avoidance into comprehensive asthma management initiatives, as recommended by the National Asthma Education Prevention Program (NAEPP). Where substantial non-environmental management (e.g., medical management) activities are described in concept proposals submitted under this NOFO, applicants should be prepared to document alternative funding sources for any substantial non-environmental components that are part of comprehensive asthma management initiatives.

Comprehensive Indoor Air Risk Reduction (www.epa.gov/iaq)

Common indoor air contaminants include radon, environmental asthma triggers (e.g., secondhand smoke, cockroaches and other pests, chemical irritants, dust mites, pet dander, nitrogen dioxide, wood smoke, and mold); pathogens transmitted through the air (e.g., SARS- COV-2, Influenza); particulate matter; combustion byproducts; and volatile organic compounds.

IAQ can often be addressed holistically through policies and programs and improved in buildings through better design, construction, operation and maintenance, and renovation practices.

Policies and programs may support behavior change among occupants. Applications should focus on projects that improve IAQ in buildings through integration of policies and practices that address indoor air contaminants holistically using strategies that are consistent with the EPA guidance found at http://www.epa.gov/iaq.

Applications should be for projects that build national scale capacity and systems to address radon, asthma, and comprehensive indoor air quality to:

• Increase capacity of State, tribal, and community programs to comprehensively address indoor air in homes, particularly in low-income or disadvantaged communities.

• Increase capacity of State, tribal, and community programs to transition action on comprehensive indoor air risk reduction into systems-level and/or policy changes.

• Increase capacity of State, tribal, and community programs to identify and verify effective housing interventions to improve health at the household or community level.

• Increase the number of new homes, including multi-unit and affordable housing, built with indoor air quality protections.

• Increase the number of new homes, including multi-unit and affordable housing built with ventilation and filtration improvements that reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission indoors.

https://www.epa.gov/iaq http://www.epa.gov/iaq

• Increase the number of existing homes, including multi-unit and affordable housing renovated to improve indoor air quality.

• Expand the number of local and/or state governments developing and/or adopting national building codes and standards of practice that address indoor air quality.

• Expand the number of local and/or state governments deploying IAQ policies and guidance (e.g., smoke-free environments; IAQ in disaster emergency preparedness, response, and recovery).

Environmental Justice and Disadvantaged Communities: EPA is committed to advancing environmental justice (EJ) in communities overburdened by pollution through this program. This program is responsive to the Administration’s call for agencies to advance EJ in Executive Order 14096: Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All. Environmental justice 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 no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or policies.

For purposes of this competition and the evaluation of applications, “disadvantaged communities” means a geographic area meets the following criteria:

• Any census tract that is included as disadvantaged in the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CJEST); and/or

• Any geographic area within Tribal lands as included in EJScreen.7

Data, analyses, and results from relevant disadvantaged communities identified by CEJST or Tribal areas from EJScreen may be included as an optional attachment, which will not count toward the project narrative 10-page limit; see Section IV.B. for more information. Additional details on the contents of applications, including specifics on what should be included in the project narrative, are included in Section IV.B.

C. Environmental Results and Strategic Plan Information

Pursuant to Section 6.a. of the EPA Order 5700.7A1, “Environmental Results under the EPA Assistance Agreements,” the EPA must link proposed assistance agreements with the Agency’s Strategic Plan. The EPA also requires that grant applicants and recipients adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see the EPA Order 5700.7A1, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements). Applicants must include specific statements describing the environmental results of the proposed project in terms of well-

7 The Tribal Lands category in EJScreen to use for this purpose includes Alaska Native Allotments (EPA Metadata Record), Alaska Native Villages (EPA Metadata Record), American Indian Reservations (EPA Metadata Record), American Indian Off-reservation Trust Lands (EPA Metadata Record), and Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Areas (EPA Metadata Record).

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 https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/ https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/ http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf defined outputs and, to the maximum extent practicable, well-defined outcomes that will demonstrate how the project will contribute to the Strategic Plan goals listed below.

1. Linkage to the EPA Strategic Plan: The activities to be funded under this announcement support the EPA’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. Awards made under this announcement will support Goal 4, “Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities;”

Objective 4.2, “Reduce Exposure to Radiation and Improve Indoor Air.” Under this objective, “the EPA will limit unnecessary radiation exposure and achieve healthier indoor air quality, especially for vulnerable populations.” All applications must be for projects that support the goals and objectives above. For more information, see FY 2022 - FY 2026 EPA Strategic Plan.

2. Outputs: The term “output” means an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to an environmental goal and objective that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during an assistance agreement funding period.

Expected outputs from the radon, asthma, and comprehensive indoor air quality projects to be funded under this announcement include, but are not limited to:

• Number of radon professionals trained/or credentialed.

• Number of individuals, including State, local, and tribal leaders, educated through delivery of technical information on radon, asthma or comprehensive indoor air quality.

• Number of technical assistance events on radon, asthma, or comprehensive indoor air quality conducted.

• Number of communities receiving technical assistance on radon, asthma, or comprehensive indoor air quality.

• Number of indoor air issues/topics in a searchable policy database.

• Number of standards of practice produced.

• Number of specific and/or comprehensive policy briefs, technical assistance documents, and resources on various indoor air quality topics.

Progress reports and a final report will also be required outputs, as specified in Section VI. C.

“Reporting Requirement,” of this NOFO.

3. Outcomes: The term “outcome” means the result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic in nature, but must also be quantitative. They may not necessarily be achievable within an assistance agreement funding period.

Expected outcomes from the radon, asthma, and comprehensive indoor air quality projects to be funded under this announcement include, but are not limited to:

• Increase in homes and/or schools tested for radon.

https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan

• Increase in homes mitigated for radon.

• Increase in homes built with radon reducing features.

• Increase in States and/or municipalities adopting radon-reducing building code language.

• Increase in State Medicaid programs supporting in-home asthma interventions.

• Increase in State, tribal, and local capacity and readiness to deliver and sustain in-home asthma interventions and other IEDOH solutions.

• Increase in State, tribal, and local capacity to collect and use data and analytics to support the identification of areas or groups that are in greatest need of indoor environmental services to improve community health outcomes.

• Increase in specific and/or comprehensive housing interventions to improve indoor air.

• Increase the number of new homes, including multi-unit and affordable housing, built with indoor air quality protections.

• Increase the number of new homes, including multi-unit and affordable housing built with ventilation and filtration improvements that reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission indoors.

• Increase the number of existing homes, including multi-unit and affordable housing renovated to improve indoor air quality.

• Providing technical assistance, resources, and support designed to increase the number of states, tribes, and communities well-positioned to drive action on indoor air risk reduction.

• Increase in privately-owned, multi-family buildings with smoke-free policies.

• Increase in access to IAQ guidance following a disaster.

D. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for this action is the Clean Air Act, §103(b)(3), which authorizes the award of grants for research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, surveys, and studies related to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, and control of air pollution. This solicitation relates to the EPA’s statutory authority by supporting programs that educate the public about indoor air quality concerns, including radon, and equip specific stakeholders and the general public to take action to reduce potential risks in homes, schools, and workplaces.

Demonstrations 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. A project that is accomplished through the performance of routine, traditional, or established practices, or a project that is simply intended to carry out a task rather than transfer information or advance the state of knowledge, however worthwhile the project might be, is not considered a demonstration project. Implementation activities are not eligible for funding under this announcement.

E. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

Additional provisions that apply to Sections III, IV, V, and VI, and/or awards made under this solicitation, can be found at the EPA Solicitation Clauses. These provisions are important for applying to this solicitation and applicants must review them when preparing application 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 Section VII of this solicitation to obtain the provisions.

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

A. Amount of Funding Available

The total estimated funding expected to be available for awards under this competitive opportunity is approximately $1,000,000 or more, annually, for up to three years. Funding is dependent upon agency appropriations, funding availability, Agency priorities, and other applicable considerations.

B. Number and Amount of Awards

The EPA anticipates awarding a total of approximately 3 to 7 cooperative agreement(s) under this announcement, subject to the availability of funds, the quantity and quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations. Awards are expected to be between $75,000 and $200,000, annually.

The amount of federal funding requested by an applicant must not exceed $200,000 per year, and $600,000 for a three-year project period. The EPA will not consider or review applications requesting in excess of $200,000 per year in federal funds.

The estimated amount of funding available to address the three program priority areas described in Section I.B is anticipated to be divided as follows and is subject to change. This information is being provided for informational purposes only.

• Radon (60%)

• Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers (20%)

• Comprehensive Indoor Air Risk Reduction (20%)

C. Partial Funding

In appropriate circumstances, the EPA reserves the right to partially fund applications by funding discrete portions or phases of proposed projects. If the EPA decides to partially fund an application, 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, thereby maintaining the integrity of the competition and selection process.

http://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses

D. Additional Awards

The EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this solicitation, 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. In addition, the EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards under this announcement or to make fewer awards than anticipated.

E. Award Funding and Incremental/Full Funding

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

F. Period of Performance

The estimated period of performance for awards resulting from this solicitation will be up to 3 years. The estimated project start date for awards is July 1, 2024.

G. Funding Type

It is anticipated that cooperative agreements will be funded under this solicitation.

The EPA awards cooperative agreements for those projects in which it expects to have substantial involvement/interaction with the recipient throughout the recipient’s performance of the project. Although the EPA will negotiate the precise terms and conditions of “substantial involvement” as part of the award process, the anticipated substantial federal involvement for cooperative agreements under this NOFO may include, but is not limited to:

• Close monitoring of the recipient’s performance to verify compliance with the EPA-approved workplan and achievement of environmental results.

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

• Reviewing proposed procurements in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.325, as well as the substantive terms of proposed contracts or subawards as appropriate. This may include reviewing requests for proposals, invitations for bids, scopes of work and/or plans and specifications for contracts over $250,000 prior to advertising for bids.

• Reviewing the qualifications of key personnel (EPA does not have the authority to select employees or contractors, including consultants, employed by the award recipient or subrecipients receiving pass-through awards).

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

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

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

A. Eligible Entities

Consistent with Assistance Listing No. 66.034 and the EPA’s Policy for Competition of Assistance Agreements (the EPA Order § 5700.5A1), the following entities are eligible to apply under this NOFO: States, local governments, territories, Indian tribes, and possessions of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, international organizations, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and other public or private non-profit institutions.

Local government, as defined at 2 CFR § 200.1, means “any unit of government within a state, including: (1) County; (2) Borough; (3) Municipality; (4) City; (5) Town; (6) Township; (7) Parish; (8) Local public authority, including any public housing agency under the United States Housing Act of 1937; (9) Special district; (10) School district; (11) Intrastate district; (12) Council of governments, whether or not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law; and (13) Any other agency or instrumentality of a multi-, regional, or intra-State or local government.

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 NOFO. Hospitals operated by State, tribal, or local governments or that meet the definition of Nonprofit organization at 2 CFR § 200.1 are also eligible to apply as nonprofits or as instrumentalities of the unit of government depending on the applicable law.

For-profit colleges, universities, trade schools, and hospitals are ineligible. 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.

Note, for-profit organizations and nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible to receive financial assistance under this NOFO.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57005a1-epas-policy-competition-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57005a1-epas-policy-competition-assistance-agreements

B. Voluntary Cost Sharing or Matching Funds

No cost sharing/matching funds or leveraged resources are required as a condition of eligibility under this competition. Although cost sharing/matching is not required as a condition of eligibility under this competition, under Section V of this announcement, the EPA will evaluate applications based on a leveraging criterion.

1. Voluntary Cost Sharing/Matching Funds Voluntary cost sharing as defined at 2 CFR § 200.1 is when an applicant voluntarily proposes to legally commit to provide costs or contributions to support the project when a cost share is not required. Applicants who propose to use a voluntary cost share must include the costs or contributions for the voluntary cost share in the project budget on the SF-424 and SF-424A. If an applicant proposes a voluntary cost share, the following apply:

• A voluntary cost share is subject to the provisions in the grant regulations 2 CFR Part

200 as applicable.

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

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

The recipient is legally obligated to meet any proposed voluntary cost share that is included in the approved project budget. If the proposed voluntary cost share does not materialize during the performance period of the grant or cooperative agreement, the EPA may reconsider the legitimacy of the award and/or take other appropriate action as authorized by 2 CFR Part 200.

2. Leveraged Resources Leveraged resources or “leveraging” is when an applicant proposes to provide its own additional funds/resources or those from third-party sources (including another federal grant) to support or complement the project they are awarded under this competition above and beyond the EPA grant funds awarded. Leveraging resources may materialize during the cooperative agreement period of performance or after the cooperative agreement has ended.

These resources do not need to be eligible or allowable project costs under the cooperative agreement. Additionally, these resources should only be described in the applicant’s project narrative and should not be included in the project budget on the SF- 424 or SF-424A. If applicants propose to leverage funds, the EPA expects them to secure the leveraged resources described in their applications. If the proposed leveraging does not materialize during the performance period of the grant or cooperative agreement, the EPA may reconsider the legitimacy of the award and/or take other appropriate action authorized under 2 CFR Parts 200 and/or 1500. The grant workplan should include a statement indicating that the applicant is expected to produce the proposed leveraging consistent with the terms of the announcement and the applicant's application.

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

All applications will be reviewed for eligibility and must meet the eligibility requirements described in Sections III.A., B., and C., to be considered eligible. If necessary, the EPA may contact applicants to clarify threshold eligibility questions prior to making an eligibility determination.

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

1. Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section IV or else they will be rejected. However, where a page limit is expressed in Section IV with respect to the application, or parts thereof, pages in excess of the 10-page limitation will not be reviewed. Applicants are advised that readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in application format, including selecting a legible font type and size for use in the application.

2. All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov as stated in Section IV of this solicitation (except in the limited circumstances where another mode of submission is specifically allowed for as explained in Section IV) on or before the application submission deadline published in Section IV of this solicitation. Applicants are responsible for following the submission instructions in Section IV of this solicitation to ensure that their application is timely submitted. Please note that applicants experiencing technical issues with submitting through Grants.gov should follow the instructions provided in Section IV which include both the requirement to contact Grants.gov and email a full application to Bagnoli.Peggy@epa prior to the deadline.

Applications submitted outside of Grants.gov will be deemed ineligible without further consideration unless the applicant can clearly demonstrate that it was due to EPA mishandling or technical problems associated with Grants.gov or SAM.gov. An applicant’s failure to timely submit their application through Grants.gov because they did not timely or properly register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov will not be considered an acceptable reason to consider a submission outside of Grants.gov.

The EPA will only consider accepting applications outside of Grants.gov from applicants that are able to demonstrate that they are unable to submit through Grants.gov due to Grants.gov or relevant SAM.gov system issues or for unforeseen exigent circumstances, such as extreme weather interfering with internet access. Failure of an applicant to submit prior to the application submission deadline date because they did not properly or timely register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov is not an acceptable reason to justify acceptance of an application outside of Grants.gov. NOTE: DO NOT WAIT! Register in SAM.gov and Grants.gov as soon as possible. Finalizing these registrations could take a month or mailto:Bagnoli.Peggy@epa https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ more. You do not want a late registration to prevent you from being able to properly and timely submit your application through Grants.gov.

3. Applications must support Goal 4 “Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities”;

Objective 4.2: “Reduce Exposure to Radiation and Improve Indoor” of the EPA’s Strategic Plan described in Section I.C.

4. Applications that request EPA assistance funds in excess of $200,000, as specified in Section II.B of this NOFO, are not eligible and will not be evaluated for this award opportunity.

5. Applications must address one or more of the following EPA Indoor Air Program priority areas:

• Radon.

• Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers.

• Comprehensive Indoor Air Risk Reduction.

D. Ineligible Activities and Other Considerations.

Any of the following may lead to a portion or all of the application not being reviewed:

1. Ineligible Costs or Activities. If an application is submitted that includes any ineligible tasks or activities, that portion of the application will be ineligible for funding and may, depending on the extent to which it affects the application, render the entire application ineligible for funding. Activities must meet the following requirements to be eligible for funding:

a. Articulate a plan to produce results that have implications and/or benefits on a national level. This NOFO is not intended to fund small-scale local projects.

b. Address one or more of the following EPA Indoor Air Program priority areas:

• Radon.

• Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers.

• Comprehensive Indoor Air Risk Reduction.

c. Applicants may submit multiple applications that uniquely address one or more of these priority areas. However, applicants may not submit multiple applications addressing the same program priority area.

d. The EPA will not consider any applications under this NOFO that are exclusively designed to conduct scientific research. However, applications may include research components as a foundation for demonstration, technical assistance, training, education, and/or outreach projects. In such cases, applications should clearly articulate this linkage, explain why the research component is necessary for the project’s success, and ensure that such research does not already exist.

e. The EPA will not consider applications under this NOFO which specifically address indoor asbestos, lead, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), or other chemical-specific pollutants. These contaminants are addressed by other EPA program offices.

f. The EPA will not consider applications under this NOFO that are focused on medical management of asthma instead of indoor environmental factors.

2. Other Considerations:

a. Where a page limit is expressed in Section IV.B. with respect to the project narrative, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed. The page limit of the project narrative is 10 pages.

b. Applicants can include multiple types of projects within one application, but they cannot include the same project(s) in multiple applications. If an applicant submits more than one application that requests funding for the same project, the applicant will be contacted prior to the EPA review of any of the applications to determine which application(s) the applicant will withdraw from the competition.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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

A. Requirement to Submit Through Grants.gov and Limited Exception Procedures

Applicants must apply electronically through Grants.gov under this funding opportunity based on the Grants.gov instructions in this announcement. If your organization has no access to the internet or access is very limited, you may request an exception for the remainder of this calendar year by following the procedures outlined here. Please note that your request must be received at least 15 calendar days before the application due date to allow enough time to negotiate alternative submission methods. Issues with submissions with respect to this opportunity only are addressed in section 2. Technical Issues with Submission below.

1. Submission Instructions

a. SAM.gov (System for Award Management) Registration Instructions

Organizations applying to this funding opportunity must have an active SAM.gov registration. If you have never done business with the Federal Government, you will need to register your organization in SAM.gov. If you do not have a SAM.gov account, then you will create an account using login.gov1 to complete your SAM.gov registration. SAM.gov registration is FREE. The process for entity registrations includes obtaining Unique Entity ID (UEI), a 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned an entity by SAM.gov, and requires assertions, representations and certifications, and other information about your organization. Please review the Entity Registration Checklist for details on this process.

If you have done business with the Federal Government previously, you can check your entity status using your government issued UEI to determine if your registration is active.

SAM.gov requires you renew your registration every 365 days to keep it active.

Please note that SAM.gov registration is different than obtaining a UEI only. Obtaining an https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.epa.gov/grants/exceptions-grantsgov-submission-requirement https://login.gov/ https://www.fsd.gov/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=51a2fa061b0bcd500ca4a97ae54bcb18

UEI only validates your organization’s legal business name and address. Please review the Frequently Asked Question on the difference for additional details.

Organizations should ensure that their SAM.gov registration includes a current e-Business (EBiz) point of contact name and email address. The EBiz point of contact is critical for Grants.gov Registration and system functionality.

Contact the Federal Service Desk for help with your SAM.gov account, to resolve technical issues or chat with a help desk agent: (866) 606-8220. The Federal Service desk hours of operation are Monday – Friday 8am – 8pm ET.

b. Grants.gov Registration Instructions

Once your SAM.gov account is active, you must register in Grants.gov. Grants.gov will electronically receive your organization information, such as e-Business (EBiz) point of contact email address and UEI. Organizations applying to this funding opportunity must have an active Grants.gov registration. Grants.gov registration is FREE. If you have never applied for a federal grant before, please review the Grants.gov Applicant Registration instructions. As part of the Grants.gov registration process, the EBiz point of contact is the only person that can affiliate and assign applicant roles to members of an organization. In addition, at least one person must be assigned as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Only person(s) with the AOR role can submit applications in Grants.gov.