EPA-OCSPP-OPP-2023-002.pdf

US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs

Funding Opportunity Announcement:

National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)

EPA-OCSPP-OPP-2023-002

June 20, 2023

Funding Opportunity No. EPA-OCSPP-OPP-2023-002

Federal Awarding Agency Name: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (PRD)

Funding Opportunity Title: National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-OCSPP-OPP-2023-002

Assistance Listing Number: 66.716

IMPORTANT DATES

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) OPENS – June 23, 2023 RFA CLOSES - APPLICATIONS DUE – August 7, 2023 ANTICIPATED NOTIFICATION OF SELECTION – January 2024 ANTICIPATED AWARD – February 2024

Application packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) no later than August 7, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Applications received after the closing date and time will not be considered for funding.

To allow for efficient management of the competitive process, EPA requests submittal of an informal notice of an Intent to Apply by July 25, 2023, to OPPGA@epa.gov. Please include the number of this announcement (EPA-OCSPP-OPP-2023-002) on the subject line of the email notice. Submission of Intent to Apply is optional; it is a process management tool that will allow EPA to better anticipate the total staff time required for efficient review, evaluation, and selection of submitted applications. Please note that in order to be considered for funding, complete application packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) by the closing date and time noted above.

http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:OPPGA@epa.gov

Contents

SECTION I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Background

Scope of Work and Objectives

1. Purpose and Scope

2. Objectives

3. Activities to be Funded

EPA Strategic Plan Linkage & Anticipated Outcomes, Outputs & Performance Measures

1. Linkage to EPA Strategic Plan

2. Outputs

3. Outcomes

4. Performance Measures

Statutory Authority

Human Subjects Studies

Minority Serving Institutions

Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

SECTION II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. What is the amount of funding available?

B. Partial Funding Provision

C. How many agreements will EPA award in this competition?

D. What is the project period for awards resulting from this solicitation?

E. Funding Type

SECTION III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Entities

B. Cost Share

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

SECTION IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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

B. Submission Instructions

C. Technical Issues with Submission

D. Application Materials

E. Narrative Proposal

F. Submission Dates and Times

SECTION V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Evaluation Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

SECTION VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notification

B. Pre-award Costs

C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

D. Reporting Requirements

E. Debriefings

F. Disputes

SECTION VII. AGENCY CONTACT

APPENDIX A –Budget Detail Instructions, Descriptions and Sample

APPENDIX B –Application Proposal Checklist (Optional)

APPENDIX C –Background Information regarding Incident Data Index

SECTION I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Pesticide Re-evaluation Division in the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) is soliciting applications from eligible organizations to establish a National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), a program that provides the public with objective, science-based information on pesticide-related subjects through a website, toll-free telephone service, and outreach. Trained experts will respond to questions on the risks associated with pesticide use, restrictions on pesticide use, who to contact for regulatory enforcement, how to report information on a suspected pesticide exposure and more. Secondarily, NPIC program staff will collect information on suspected incidents that callers give voluntarily.

Background

Pesticides released into the environment as a result of their manufacture, processing, use, or disposal can threaten human health and the environment. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) is the primary federal law governing oversight of pesticide manufacture, distribution, and use in the United States. FIFRA (7 U.S.C. 136r) authorizes EPA to monitor incidental exposure to humans, animals, and the environment, and to identify pesticide pollution, trends and sources of contamination and their relationship to human and environmental effects. EPA gathers and assesses information about the risks associated with chemicals and pesticides and implements risk management strategies when needed.

OPP funds outreach and education programs on the safe use of pesticides. One such program is the "National Pesticide Information Center", currently at the Oregon State University (NPIC@OSU). The NPIC@OSU program, which expires in February 2024, is a valuable public resource of unbiased, accurate, scientific information. The program answers complex medical questions on pesticides, instructs groups on expert risk communication and conducts outreach on pesticide safety to multilingual communities, agricultural workers, the pest control community, educators, regulators, and the public.

Many state agencies and health care providers recognize the program as a national, reliable source for consultation and information on pesticide exposure. NPIC collects data and collaborates with organizations and agencies at state and federal levels, including State Lead Agencies, State Health Departments, and EPA offices. NPIC data can be used to identify pesticide use trends, exposures to people or animals, spills, and more, over a limited or extended timeframe.

EPA intends to continue supporting similar public services provided by the NPIC@OSU program, that is, making objective, science-based information available on a wide variety of pesticide-related subjects and collecting data on suspected pesticide exposures for national pesticide surveillance systems. Thus, ensuring that pesticides are properly sold, distributed, and used in a way that is protective of people regardless of race, economic status, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or other minority or underserved community status, and the environment. This Request for Application (RFA) to support a national pesticide information center continues the effort.

Scope of Work and Objectives

1. Purpose and Scope

The purpose of the program is to help protect human health and the environment by assisting the public with informed decision-making regarding pesticides.

The five-year cooperative agreement awarded under this program will provide the public with unbiased, accurate, science-based information on a broad range of pesticide-related issues, in a manner accessible to people who speak different languages at various literacy levels.

NPIC staff will: a) provide accessible, pesticide-related information to the public, b) respond to questions and connect inquirers with local, state, and federal resources on pesticides and pesticide-related issues, c) keep records on inquiries and suspected pesticide exposures, and d) collaborates with state and federal agencies including State Lead Agencies, State Health Departments, and other stakeholders that support national pesticide activities including surveillance efforts. Data can be used to identify pesticide use trends, exposures to people or animals, spills, and more. However, data is not intended for targeted enforcement but may inform priority setting within enforcement programs.

Applicants for this NPIC (cooperative agreement) award should incorporate environmental justice principles into their project’s proposed activities. Applications will be evaluated based on the extent to which they demonstrate how the project will benefit underserved and vulnerable communities in particular, those that might be impacted by pesticide applications.

Environmental justice (EJ) 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. Meaningful involvement means 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. For purposes of this competition Underserved communities means people/communities of color, low income, tribal and indigenous populations, and other vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

The goal of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution’s (OCSPP) environmental justice strategy, consistent with FIFRA, is to ensure that pesticides are properly sold, distributed, and used in a way that is protective of people regardless of race, economic status, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or other minority or underserved community status, and the environment. EPA’s current efforts protect people and ecosystems that may be exposed to pesticides through its pesticide product registration and registration review programs, outreach, technical assistance, and compliance and enforcement programs. Applying an environmental justice lens to our FIFRA work will highlight efforts to protect all people from environmental and health hazards regardless of race, color, national origin, or income. It may also identify new opportunities that can be implemented with existing resources.

Examples of incorporating environmental justice are:

• Seek one or more perspectives on the overall design, planning and/or performance of the NPIC from one or more parties addressing environmental and public health challenges of vulnerable communities. The input could be used before the application is submitted to EPA or as part of implementation after the award. Parties addressing these challenges could be non-profit organizations; universities; state, local or tribal governments; or others. Input can be used in one or more aspects of the proposed NPIC (e.g., development of multilingual/culturally appropriate outreach materials such as infographics and fact sheets, increased outreach to agricultural communities, etc.)

• Provide education and outreach efforts regarding emerging public health pesticide issues to minority, low-income, and indigenous populations.

• Encourage or facilitate collaboration with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).

For example, applicants could identify subaward projects that are environmental justice in scope and encourage collaboration with MSIs, where appropriate. A list of MSIs is available in this announcement under Section I.F.

• Any other approach that incorporates environmental justice into the proposed NPIC, explained in detail.

2. Objectives

EPA Strategic Plan Objective 7.1 is to ensure chemical and pesticide safety by protecting the health of families, communities, and ecosystems from the risks posed by pesticides. The cooperative agreement to be awarded under this solicitation supports this objective and:

a) Serves as a source of factual, unbiased information for diverse audiences,

b) Informs the public on a wide variety of pesticide-related subjects,

c) Supports education and outreach efforts by federal, state and local agencies on pesticide safety topics,

d) Provides education and outreach to the public,

e) Provides accurate, unbiased, scientific information in a manner understandable to a lay audience,

f) Collects and disseminates quality pesticide incident data via a rigorous and well-defined data collection system, and

g) Provides exceptional customer service.

3. Activities to be Funded

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

a) Provide services https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan

1) Provide factual, unbiased pesticide-related information including, but not limited to, the agricultural and pest control community, state and local government agencies, private and public interest groups, chemical manufacturers, healthcare providers, educators, consumers, and the public through a toll-free telephone system, a detailed, interactive website, and other methods as needed. The toll-free phone service will do the following:

i. Be available to callers in the United States and its Territories. The project should operate at least five days per week, six hours per day or more depending on funding, with voicemail available.

ii. Provide exceptional customer service by integrating professionalism, teamwork, integrity, accountability, and a strong commitment to the public, professional, and medical communities.

iii. Inform the public on a wide variety of pesticide-related subjects including, but not limited to, pesticide products, toxicology, environmental chemistry, safety practices, pesticide regulation, enforcement, risk assessment, risk management, environmental effects, clean-up and disposal, understanding the label, recognition and management of pesticide poisonings, and integrated pesticide management (IPM), and current and emerging public health and pesticide-related issues.

2) Respond in real time during business hours and within 24 hours of receipt of voicemail or email requests. Staff should respond in English and Spanish with translations for other languages. Minimally, at least one staff member should be fluent in Spanish.

3) Have instantaneous access for staff to updated information for quick, accurate, and comprehensive responses on EPA-registered active ingredients, consumer pesticide products, clinical and basic toxicology, environmental chemistry, pesticide regulation and related subjects. Examples of resources might include subscriptions to electronic databases and peer-reviewed journals.

4) Collect accurate information on all inquiries, both general information requests and voluntary reports of potential pesticide illness and injury.

(Materials and information generated for the benefit of the public under previous agreements will be provided to the successful awardee.) Collect information on, at a minimum:

i. Narrative summary

ii. Demographic Information (with personally identifying information removed prior to transmittal to recipients, according to state and federal privacy and data collection regulation)

iii. Product names, active ingredients and registration numbers

iv. Entities (e.g., humans, animals, plants, built environment) impacted

v. Type of potential exposure

vi. Signs/symptoms

vii. Action performed by call center

viii. Type of product usage discussed

ix. Types of resources and information sought by inquirer

x. Severity and certainty (based on NPIC existing indices in APPENDIX C of this solicitation and informed by other existing indices for similar surveillance programs developed to guide state-based surveillance efforts and to promote comparability of data across states such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Pesticide Illness & Injury Surveillance guidance documents at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/pesticides/statebase.html).

5) Analyze information for trends in pesticide incidents, misuse of products, label issues, and unexpected dangers to the health of humans, animals, and the environment.

6) Prepare reports

i. on a quarterly basis (or upon EPA’s request) of pesticide inquiries/cases and alerts for sentinel events and emerging trends as needed.

ii. upon request, on pesticide data for state and federal agencies, including but not limited to State Lead Agencies and State Health Departments.

b) Develop outreach and educational pesticide safety materials

1) Develop effective communication and outreach programs targeting multi-lingual communities.

i. Increase the availability of effective multilingual and culturally appropriate training materials and pesticide safety educational resources taking into consideration the unique health and social vulnerabilities of the communities that might be impacted by pesticide applications.

ii. Consider input from subject matter experts and target audiences during the development of materials to ensure they are effective and culturally appropriate (such as, use of focus groups).

2) Develop, update, and/or make available innovative and effective written and verbal (audio) materials and programs, multilingual and in electronic format, with emphasis on the prevention of pesticide exposure and incidents for public use. Examples of pesticide safety materials may include actions that individuals and families can take to prevent/reduce exposures to pesticides from food, drinking water, spray drift, and residential pesticide use.

3) Develop, update, and/or conduct multi-lingual, culturally appropriate outreach to

i. agricultural communities on the importance of pesticide safety, actions that can reduce exposure to pesticides from different pathways, increase awareness of the potential of take-home exposures and encourage agricultural workers and pesticide handlers to utilize NPIC available resources.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/pesticides/statebase.html

ii. public health, sanitation, and hospitality sector workers on the importance of pesticide safety, increase awareness of the NPIC, and encourage workers to utilize available resources.

iii. rural and residential populations regarding bed bugs and other home pest infestations, as well as information on preventing mold and other pests that trigger asthma, which it has been documented as more prevalent among minority populations.

4) Develop a marketing plan to ensure materials are available to all parties so the public fully benefits from efforts funded under this agreement.

c) Develop technical resources for specialized audiences (i.e., risk assessors, medical, and veterinary professionals)

1) Update software applications, tools, mobile applications and/or other professional resources and decision-making aids such as the Herbicide Properties Tool (HPT) and the NPIC Product Research Online (NPRO).

2) Provide the medical and veterinary communities with materials and expert consultation on recognition and management of pesticide poisonings, for human and animal exposure.

d) Develop web-based mechanisms for voluntary incident reporting

1) Provide web-based mechanism(s) for voluntary incident reporting of human health pesticide-related incidents.

2) Provide/update web-based mechanism(s) for

i. public reporting on potential pesticide-related incidents such as the Ecological Pesticide Incident Reporting portal for reporting wildlife or environmental problems associated with a pesticide.

ii. medical and veterinary professionals to report potential pesticide- related incidents such as the Veterinary Incident Reporting portal.

e) Engage in partnerships/collaborations with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and other audiences

1) Collaborate with federal, state, and local government agencies; private public health; veterinary; environmental; and agricultural organizations; and other pesticide surveillance programs to:

i. promote pesticide safety.

ii. encourage correct usage of pesticides according to the label.

iii. promote voluntary reporting and use of pesticide incident surveillance systems.

http://npic.orst.edu/hpt/ http://npic.orst.edu/hpt/ http://npic.orst.edu/NPRO/ http://npic.orst.edu/eco/ http://npic.orst.edu/vet/

2) Engage with partners such as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other community-based organizations (CBOs) such as farmworker advocacy groups to support education on pesticide safety in sectors where pesticide use may adversely impact disadvantaged communities.

3) Collaborate with Land-Grant Universities/Extension Services and state pesticide regulatory agencies (state lead agencies) pesticide safety education programs on communicating pesticide-related information to the public.

f) Utilize program quality control and standard operating procedures

1) Utilize thorough quality control and standardized operating procedures, based on vetted best practices, to ensure reliability and accuracy of data collection and inquiry response. For example, in emergencies where a human or animal has potentially been exposed or experienced an adverse reaction requiring immediate medical evaluation, staff should immediately refer or directly transfer the caller to a human or animal poison control center in a timely manner.

2) Employ a rigorous training program for staff to develop risk communication skills; cultural competency; literacy level variability in callers; technical information; and a high level of professionalism and objectivity when informing and effectively translating scientific information to a lay audience.

3) Implement a strong, continuous evaluation process to ensure success in meeting each objective and activity supported under the project, including formative, process, and outcome/impact evaluations.

4) A full quality assurance/quality control plan will be negotiated with the successful applicant. Submission of a written Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) to EPA for approval is part of the agreement. No environmental data activities may begin until EPA approves the QAPP.

5) Establish measures to ensure the sustainability of the program so information and outcomes will be of use to other organizations and stakeholders, and the project may continue after EPA funding ends.

g) Environmental justice-focused activities

1) Partner with

i. tribal and state agencies, and community organizations to give targeted education, outreach, and technical assistance on pesticide safety, IPM, and guidance managing bed bug infestations to minority, low-income, and indigenous populations.

ii. state, county and tribal agencies and community organizations and programs to educate minority, low-income and/or indigenous populations on emerging public health pesticide issues.

2) Conduct outreach to the agricultural worker community on the importance of pesticide safety, increase awareness of their rights under the Agricultural https://www.epa.gov/grants/implementation-quality-assurance-requirements-organizations-receiving-epa-financial https://www.epa.gov/grants/implementation-quality-assurance-requirements-organizations-receiving-epa-financial

Worker Protection Standard, encourage workers to utilize available resources and report pesticide incidents.

3) As resources permit: support underserved and vulnerable communities with targeted outreach, communication, and training, as appropriate.

4) When possible, provide outreach and education on EPA’s Endangered Species Protection Program to minority populations working in agricultural areas.

EPA Strategic Plan Linkage & Anticipated Outcomes, Outputs & Performance

Measures

Pursuant to Section 6a of EPA Order 5700.7A1, “Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements,” EPA must link proposed assistance agreements to the Agency’s Strategic Plan. EPA also requires that applications and recipients of grants and cooperative agreements adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements. (See Linking Assistance Agreements to Environmental Results at https://www.epa.gov/grants/linking-assistance-agreements-environmental-results)

1. Linkage to EPA Strategic Plan

The activities to be funded under this announcement support the FY2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan. Awards made under this solicitation will support Goal 7 which aims to “Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment” by increasing “the safety of chemicals and pesticides and prevent pollution at the source”; and specifically, Objective 7.1, which aims to “Ensure Chemical and Pesticide Safety” by protecting “the health of families, communities, and ecosystems from the risks posed by chemicals and pesticides”. Please read EPA’s FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan for more information.

OPP works to address the safe use of pesticides and assess the associated risks to human health and the environment. Specifically, EPA’s NPIC agreement is intended to provide objective, science-based information on a wide variety of pesticide-related subjects while collecting data on potential pesticide incidents to support national pesticide surveillance systems more fully. In addition, the NPIC will provide data and analysis of informational inquiries and potential incidents, for stakeholders, supporting national pesticide activities, including surveillance efforts and enforcement priority setting.

EPA also requires that grant applicants adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see EPA Order 5700.7A1, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements). Applicants must describe 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 described above.

https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/agricultural-worker-protection-standard-wps https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf https://www.epa.gov/grants/linking-assistance-agreements-environmental-results https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-03/fy-2022-2026-epa-strategic-plan.pdf https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements

2. Outputs

The term “output” means an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work products related to an environmental goal and objective, 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. The anticipated outputs of this cooperative agreement are to successfully accomplish the activities listed in Section I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION, B. Scope of Work and Objectives, 3. Activities to be Funded, as well as any additional activities proposed by the applicants.

Examples of anticipated outputs from the cooperative agreement to be awarded under this announcement include, but are not limited to:

a) Toll free telephone hotline open five days per week, six hours per day

(depending on the amount of funds), responding promptly to diverse audiences with accurate, unbiased, up-to-date pesticide-related information and resources.

b) Public access, Monday through Friday, to highly knowledgeable, risk communication experts capable of interacting with a diverse audience regarding pesticide-related information.

c) Consultation to the medical and veterinary community on recognition and management of pesticide-related issues.

d) Distribution of innovative, effective outreach materials on pesticide-related information in English and Spanish.

e) Develop and make website available multilingual and culturally appropriate pesticide safety educational resources (such as infographics, videos, factsheets, etc.) taking into consideration the unique health and social vulnerabilities of the communities that might be impacted by pesticide applications.

f) Conduct outreach to agricultural communities on the importance of pesticide safety, increase awareness of the potential of take-home exposures and encourage agricultural workers and pesticide handlers to utilize NPIC available resources.

g) Collaboration with state and federal agencies, public health organizations, medical and veterinary communities to improve awareness of pesticide safety, encourage correct usage of pesticides according to the labels, and promote increased collaboration to improve pesticide incident surveillance systems.

h) A detailed quality control and operating procedure plan.

i) Regular communications with EPA regarding data collected, public concerns and sentinel events.

j) Continuous evaluation plan addressing process, formative, and outcome evaluation, with clearly defined and charted measurements.

Progress reports and a final report will also be a required output, as explained in Section VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION, D. Reporting Requirement.

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 be quantitative and correlate with the objectives of the workplan. They do not have to be achieved within an assistance agreement funding period.

Examples of anticipated outcomes from the cooperative agreement to be awarded under this announcement include, but are not limited to:

a) Increased protection of humans, communities, and ecosystems from illness and injury caused by exposure to pesticides.

b) Expanded reach, impact and effectiveness of pesticide safety and information programs that provide reliable consultation and information on pesticide exposure.

c) Continued distribution of factual, unbiased information, as well as national and local resources to diverse audiences- in a manner understandable and accessible to those audiences- on a wide variety of pesticide-related subjects.

d) Increased access to pesticide-related information by a broad audience including low literacy, low technology users.

e) Increased ability of the public to make informed decisions regarding use of pesticides and treatment regarding potential pesticide exposures.

f) Increased public awareness of the importance and need to report pesticide illness and injuries and utilize existing surveillance systems.

g) Increased recognition and treatment by healthcare providers of pesticide-related illness and injury.

h) Increased availability of quality data on potential pesticide incidents and general pesticide information questions.

4. Performance Measures

The applicant should also develop performance measures they expect to achieve through the proposed activities and describe them in their application. These performance measures will help gather insights and will be the mechanism to track progress concerning successful processes and output and outcome strategies and will provide the basis for developing lessons to inform future recipients. Additional details on reporting requirements are included in Section VI.D.

Descriptions of performance measures should directly relate to project outcomes and outputs, which will include tracking, measuring, and reporting actual accomplishments against proposed outputs/outcomes and timelines/milestones.

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

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

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

The description of performance measures should include:

• Overall five-year and annual goals, objectives, examples of outputs (including projects, programs and resources) and outcomes.

• Regular reports that document all activities and efforts on project implementation, and track and measure progress achieved toward the outputs, outcomes and milestones met in the overall five-year plan and each annual plan including customer satisfaction measures.

• A final report that demonstrates the success of the program provides lessons learned, suggests how to carry the program forward and build on its success, and feedback from stakeholders on needed tools and resources.

Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for this action is Section 20 of Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 136r which authorizes the Agency to issue assistance agreements for research, public education, training, monitoring, demonstration and studies.

Additionally, the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) of 2022, FY 23 Consolidated Appropriations Act PL 117-328 Section 703(a)(1)(I) sets funds aside for partnership grants. This cooperative agreement will support FIFRA and PRIA by providing unbiased, accurate, science-based information on pesticide-related information through a toll-free telephone hotline, website, outreach and training. In addition, this program will support national surveillance efforts and enforcement priority by providing data and analysis of informational inquiries and potential pesticide incidents.

Human Subjects Studies Questions about Human Subjects Studies should be directed to the Human Subjects Research Review Official.

Minority Serving Institutions

EPA recognizes that it is important to engage all available minds to address the environmental challenges the nation faces. At the same time, EPA seeks to expand the environmental conversation by including members of communities which may have not previously participated in such dialogues to participate in EPA programs. For this reason, EPA strongly encourages all eligible applicants identified in Section III, including minority serving institutions (MSIs), to apply under this opportunity.

For purposes of this solicitation, the following are considered MSIs:

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), 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

• 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

• 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 https://www.epa.gov/osa/forms/contact-us-about-programs-office-science-advisor https://www.epa.gov/osa/forms/contact-us-about-programs-office-science-advisor https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/hispanic-serving-institutions-hsis/

Institutions

• Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions;

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

• 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

Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

Additional provisions that apply to Sections III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION, IV.

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION, V. APPLICATION REVIEW

INFORMATION, and VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION of this solicitation and/or awards made under this solicitation, can be found at EPA Solicitation Clauses.

These provisions are important for applying to this solicitation and applicants must review them when preparing applications for this solicitation. If you are unable to access these provisions electronically at the website above, please contact the EPA point of contact listed in this solicitation in Section VII. AGENCY CONTACT to obtain the provisions.

SECTION II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. What is the amount of funding available?

The total funding estimated for this competitive opportunity is anticipated to be $10 million over five years. EPA expects to award up to $2 million in the first year and depending on the Agency’s budget, approximately $2 million for each subsequent year.

The actual NPIC award amount may differ from the estimated amounts subject to the availability of funds, the quality of evaluated applications and other applicable considerations. EPA reserves the right to increase or decrease the total number of awards and award amounts, change the ration of assistance agreements awarded according to priorities, or not make any awards. The award may be fully or incrementally funded, as appropriate, based on funding availability, satisfactory performance, and other applicable considerations.

B. Partial Funding Provision

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

C. How many agreements will EPA award in this competition?

EPA intends to award one cooperative agreement under this solicitation.

https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/hispanic-serving-institutions-hsis/ https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=3&source=embed&ll=40.58644586187275%2C-148.28228249999984 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=3&source=embed&ll=40.58644586187275%2C-148.28228249999984 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY&ie=UTF&msa=0&ll=37.35160769312534%2C-96.17229800000001&z=4 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY&ie=UTF&msa=0&ll=37.35160769312534%2C-96.17229800000001&z=4 https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses

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 selection(s) is made. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than six months after the original selection decisions.

D. What is the project period for awards resulting from this solicitation?

The project period for awards resulting from this solicitation is anticipated to begin in February 2024. Proposed project periods may be up to five (5) years.

E. Funding Type

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

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

• collaboration during performance of the scope of work,

• review of proposed procurement(s) in accordance with 2 Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR) 200.317 and 2 CFR 200.318,

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

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

EPA does not have the authority to select employees or contractors employed by the recipient. The final decision on the content of reports rests with the recipient.

SECTION III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

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

A. Eligible Entities

In accordance with Assisting Listing 66.716 – Research, Development, Monitoring, Public Education, Training, Demonstrations and Studies, and the EPA’s Assistance Agreement Competition Policy (EPA Order 5700.5A1), applications for this National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), award will be accepted from states, U.S. territories and possessions, federally recognized Indian tribal governments and Native American organizations, public and private universities and colleges, other public or private nonprofit institutions, and local governments. Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR45ddd4419ad436d/section-200.317 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR45ddd4419ad436d/section-200.317 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR45ddd4419ad436d/section-200.318 https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57005a1-epas-policy-competition-assistance-agreements

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 announcement. 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. Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible for EPA funding as provided in the Lobbying Disclosure Act, 2 U.S.C. 1611.

EPA recognizes that scientific, technical, engineering and mathematical (STEM) competence is essential to the Nation’s future well-being in terms of national security and competitive economic advantage. For instance, the health and vitality of the economy is predicated, in part, on the availability of an adequate supply of scientists, technicians, engineers and mathematicians, to develop innovative technologies and solutions.

Minorities, women, and persons with disabilities historically have been under-represented in the STEM fields. For this reason, EPA strongly encourages all eligible applicants identified in this Section, including Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), to apply under this opportunity.

B. Cost Share

No cost sharing/matching funds or leveraged resources are required as a condition of eligibility under this competition.

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

Threshold eligibility criteria are requirements that if not met by the time of application submission, will result in the elimination of the application from consideration for funding. Only applications from eligible applicants (see Section III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION, A. Eligible Entities) that meet all these criteria will be evaluated against the ranking criteria in Section V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION of this announcement. If necessary, EPA may contact applicants to clarify threshold eligibility questions prior to making an eligibility determination. Applicants deemed ineligible for funding consideration due to the threshold eligibility review will be notified within 15 calendar days of the ineligibility determination.

The threshold eligibility criteria for application content and submission are as follows:

1. Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section IV. APPLICATION AND https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200

SUBMISSION INFORMATION of this announcement or else they will be rejected.

2. Where a page limit is expressed in Section IV. APPLICATION AND

SUBMISSION INFORMATION with respect to the application, or parts thereof, in excess of the 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.

3. In addition, initial applications must be submitted through Grants.gov as stated in

Section IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION of this announcement (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 announcement. Applicants are responsible for following the submission instructions in Section IV. of this announcement 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 EPA prior to the deadline.

4. 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.

5. EPA will consider only one application from each eligible applicant including units of government and Institutions of Higher Education (IHE).

6. Applications must not exceed a performance period of five years or request a funding level of more than $10 million for the full performance period.

7. Submissions must contain specific outputs and outcomes and state how those will be measured and documented.

8. Ineligible activities: If an application is submitted that includes any ineligible tasks or activities (e.g., trainee stipends), 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.

SECTION IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Note: Additional provisions that apply to this section can be found at 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 IV. C. Technical Issues with Submission below.

B. Submission Instructions

1. System for Award Management (SAM.gov) 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 UEI only validates your organization’s legal business name and address. Please review the Frequently Asked Question on the difference between obtaining an UEI and reregistering an entity 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 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET.

2. Grants.gov Registration Instructions

Once your SAM.gov account is active, you must register in Grants.gov.