EPA-OEJECR-OCS-23-03_Amendment_Final_5.19.23.pdf

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Office of Environmental Justice

TITLE: Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (EJ

TCGM)

ACTION: Request for Applications (RFA) Amendment

FUNDING NO: EPA-R-OEJECR-OCS-23-03

ASSISTANCE LISTING NO: 66.615

DATE: May 19, 2023

SUMMARY: This notice is issued to amend the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (EJ TCGM) program’s 2023 Request for Applications (RFA). This amendment includes the following changes:

1) Extended deadline date to June 30, 2023, and new Period of Performance start date.

All applications are now due on or before June 30, 2023, at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time).

Due to the extended deadline, all applicants should now plan for a period of performance start date of February 1, 2024. (See pages 1, 24, 31, and 48).

2) Additional guidance has been included for National Applicants related to the development of a national evaluation and tracking system. In addition to having the ability to issue a number of subgrants to fill potential gaps in coverage, applicants proposing a National Grantmaker should also plan to develop a national evaluation and tracking system to track and organize all Grantmaking program data nationwide.

National Grantmaker applicants should plan to devote the initial 3 – 6 months of their project to substantial coordination with each of the Regional Grantmakers to develop a national evaluation and tracking system that is compatible with the Regional Grantmaker systems (See page 17).

3) Technical Assistance support available to assist Grantmakers and Subgrantees.

Technical assistance resources are anticipated to be made available to Grantmakers through an EPA contract and may include technical assistance on items such as subgrantee internal controls, evaluation, data collection needs, and support on compliance matters. (See pages 8 and 16).

4) Two additions to the Eligible Subrecipient list and scheduling of second EJ TCGM webinar. Local Governments and Institutions of Higher Education are now included as Eligible Subrecipients. (See page 9). An additional Zoom Pre-application Assistance Webinar is scheduled for May 30, 2023, from 2:00 – 4:00 PM (Eastern Time). (See page 37).

This amendment supersedes all previous versions.

-1-

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

Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR)

TITLE: Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program

(EJ TCGM)

ACTION: REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

TYPE: INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NO: EPA-R-OEJECR-OCS-23-03

ASSISTANCE LISTING NO. 66.615

DATES: ANNOUNCEMENT DATE: February 23, 2023

CLOSING DATE: June 30, 2023

DEADLINE: Application packages must be submitted on or before June 30, 2023, at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) through Grants.gov. Applications received after the closing date and time will not be considered for funding.

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

FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT CONTENTS BY SECTION

I. Funding Opportunity Description II. Award Information III. Eligibility Information IV. Application and Submission Information V. Application Review Information VI. Award Administration Information VII. Agency Contacts VIII. Other Information /Appendices

Optional EJ TCGM Itemized Budget Sheet Template

-2-

5. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Executive Orders and Definitions

EPA is issuing this solicitation to request applications for the design and management of a new Environmental Justice (EJ) competitive pass-through program where EPA will competitively select multiple pass-through entities to provide grant funds via subawards to community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible subrecipient groups representing underserved and disadvantaged communities. The definition of the term Pass-through entity in 2 CFR 200.1 provides that a pass-through entity is a non-Federal entity that provides a subaward to a subrecipient to carry out part of a federal program. The EPA provides extensive guidance to pass-through entities in the EPA Subaward Policy and related materials available on the EPA internet website.

EPA plans to award cooperative agreement(s) to pass-through entities (referred to as Grantmakers by the program) who will collaborate with EPA to design and build their own processes to receive and evaluate competitive community project applications from communities for EJ Thriving Communities Subgrant activities. These activities consist of assessment, planning, and/or project development activities addressing local environmental and/or public health issues. Grantmakers will provide EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants (i.e., subawards) to Eligible Subrecipients.

For regulatory purposes, the “Subgrants” referred to in this Notice of Funding Opportunity will be Subawards consistent with the definition of that term in 2 CFR 200.1 and comply with EPA’s Subaward Policy. Grantmakers will be Pass-through entities as that term is defined in 2 CFR

200.1 and used throughout 2 CFR Parts 200 and 1500 as well as EPA’s Subaward Policy.

Eligible Subrecipients are those entities who are eligible to receive pass-through grant funding from a Grantmaker. These awards will help transform disadvantaged and underserved communities into healthy, thriving communities capable of addressing the environmental and public health challenges they have historically faced, as well as current and future challenges.

Additionally, these awards are part of the Federal Partnership supporting the Thriving Communities Network initially funded through the environmental Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022.

This competition is being launched in order to meet the goals and objectives of two Executive Orders (EO 14008 and EO 13985) issued by the Biden Administration that demonstrate the EPA’s and Administration’s commitment to achieving environmental justice and embedding environmental justice into Agency programs.

Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, issued on January 27, 2021, affirmed the Administration’s commitment to advancing environmental justice (EJ) by https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients https://www.transportation.gov/grants/thriving-communities https://www.transportation.gov/grants/thriving-communities https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/01/2021-02177/tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad

-3-creating the Justice40 Initiative. The Justice40 Initiative1 establishes a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments—including those in climate change; clean energy and energy efficiency; clean transit; affordable and sustainable housing; training and workforce development; the remediation and reduction of legacy pollution; and the development of critical clean water infrastructure—flow to disadvantaged communities2. In addition, Section 219 of the Executive Order stressed that environmental and economic justice are key considerations to factor into governmental decision-making and that transforming disadvantaged communities— historically marginalized, underserved, and overburdened—into healthy, thriving communities, and undertaking robust actions to mitigate climate change while preparing for the impacts of climate change across rural, urban, and Tribal areas are governmental priorities. The Executive Order also called for making environmental justice part of Agency missions by developing programs, policies, and activities to address the disproportionately high and adverse human health, environmental, climate-related and other cumulative impacts on disadvantaged communities, as well as the accompanying economic challenges of such impacts.

Complementing Executive Order 14008, is Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity And Support For Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government, issued on January 20, 2021, which stated that the federal government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality

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

Meaningful involvement means that:

• 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.

1 Further information on J40 can be found in OMB’s interim implementation guidance for the Justice40 Initiative (M-21-28).

2 2 EPA is currently in the process of defining the term “disadvantaged communities.”

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/learn-about-environmental-justice https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/M-21-28.pdf

-4-

The underserved and disadvantaged communities for which these projects are focused on include, as defined by Executive Order 13985, “populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life…”. This includes communities such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; children, the elderly, members of religious minorities;

lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities;

persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. For purposes of this RFA, “underserved communities” also includes “environmentally overburdened communities” (that is, communities adversely and disproportionately affected by environmental, climate and human health harms and risks including remote, rural, and urban communities), and disadvantaged communities.

Community-based Nonprofit Organizations (CBOs) For this RFA, the EJ Grants program defines a “community-based nonprofit organization” (CBO) as a public or private nonprofit organization that supports and/or represents a community and/or certain populations within a community through engagement, education, and other related services provided to individual community residents and community stakeholders. A “community” can be characterized by a particular geographic area and/or by the relationships among members with similar interests and can be characterized as part of a broader national or regional community where organizations can be focused on the needs of urban, rural, and/or tribal areas, farmworkers, displaced workers, children with high levels of lead, people with asthma, subsistence fishers, and other similar groups.

5. Background and Objectives

The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment for all people with an emphasis on assisting those communities adversely and disproportionately affected by environmental, climate, and human health harms and risks. Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, EPA received significant investments for environmental justice and in the health, equity, and resilience of these, and all communities, to address past, current, and future environmental health and justice challenges. Additionally, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) created the Environmental and Climate Justice block grant program in section 138 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and provided EPA with $2.8 billion in grant funding for the program for projects to benefit disadvantaged communities. To maximize these significant investments, new and innovative strategies and approaches for issues such as community engagement and participation in environmental programs, equitable distribution of financial resources, capacity-building and outreach, and technical assistance and training to enhance access to financial assistance3 opportunities and promote effective grants management and performance, are necessary. This is especially true for underserved and disadvantaged communities that have, and continue to be, plagued by environmental pollution and health, and environmental justice, challenges.

3 Financial assistance includes grants and cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreements will be awarded under this RFA, but the terms are used interchangeably in the RFA.

-5-

One such strategy is to alleviate much of the burden the federal grants process places on small, resource-constrained community-based nonprofit organizations (CBOs) supporting underserved communities and marginalized populations. The federal grants registration and application submission process can be a significant barrier to entry for those communities and CBOs who are most in need. Additionally, the awards process (i.e., the time it takes for a successful federal applicant to actually receive the funding) can be very time-consuming in which the awarded funding may not be made available to grantees for 6 months or more.

Underserved communities and organizations need access to funds and resources quickly, and a lengthy awards process can significantly impact the long-term sustainability of a CBO. By increasing the access CBOs have to funding, as well as reducing the burden of the federal grants application process, underserved communities will be better positioned to advance and address environmental justice issues nationwide. This will lead to progress towards achieving the objectives of Executive Orders 13985 and 14008.

Historically, underserved communities have been disproportionately burdened by environmental hazards and health consequences and have faced environmental and energy justice challenges.

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

Consistent with EPA’s mission and Administration priorities, including those set forth in Executive Orders 13985 and 14008, and using funding available for environmental justice, and other potential funding as available and appropriate, EPA is seeking applications from eligible entities as described in Section III to become an Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaker. EPA is making available up to approximately $550 million total for the EJ TCGM program. EPA expects to make up to 11 awards for the Grantmakers.

History of EJ Small Grants Program – The EJ Small Grants program (assistance listing 66.604) is the Agency’s longest standing environmental justice grants program specifically designed to address the needs of underserved communities and marginalized groups through the provision of direct funding to address local environmental and/or public health issues impacting communities. Historically, the Agency has managed the EJ Small Grants directly which necessitated that grassroots groups and capacity-constrained organizations navigate the federal SAM.gov and Grants.gov process to apply for small funds. EPA has determined that a pass-through model will be a more effective approach to providing smaller funding amounts to communities for the initial development of their environmental justice projects. The pass-through model removes the requirement of applying through the federal grants process and decreases the amount of time it takes to award federal funds. The competition to select the pass-

-6-through entities (Grantmakers) is issued under assistance listing 66.615, Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program. Moving forward, much of the assessment, planning, and project development work formerly conducted under the EJ Small Grants program will now be managed by the Grantmakers under the new EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants program.

EJ Small Grants Program New EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants Program – The Grantmakers will design and manage the new EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants program, in collaboration with EPA, as a pass-through competitive subaward program. The Agency provides extensive guidance to pass-through entities in the EPA Subaward Policy and related materials.

EPA will award cooperative agreements with Grantmakers who will collaborate with EPA to design and build their own processes to receive and evaluate competitive community project applications from communities for EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants for projects and capacity building efforts addressing local environmental and public health issues.

The EJ Thriving Communities Subgrant application process will be separate from the federal grants application process. Applications for the Grantmaker awards should include a clear description of the proposed streamlined process for competitively receiving, evaluating, selecting and awarding subgrants, working with EPA to monitor performance as well as a plan for managing these transactions in compliance with regulatory requirements. EPA will evaluate applicant proposals describing this process under the Section V evaluation factors.

The pass-through entities (Grantmakers) that administer the cooperative agreement and subgrants will be accountable to EPA for proper expenditure of the funds, reporting on the overall progress and deliverables of the program, providing regular status reports and updates on the progress of all subgrants and will serve as the main point of contact for all subrecipients. As provided in 2 CFR 200.332, subrecipients are accountable to the pass-through entity for completing workplan and project deliverables including proper use of EPA funding. Subrecipients receiving an EJ Thriving Communities Subgrant will also be expected to provide regular project reports to their Grantmaker which will be shared with EPA. EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants will be available for three distinct phases of community-readiness: Phase I subgrants will be for one-year up to $150,000 assessment projects, Phase II subgrants will be for 1-2 year up to $250,000 planning projects, and Phase III subgrants are for two-year up to $350,000 project development projects. Applications should address how these phases will be carried out.

NOTE: This RFA is not for applicants to apply for an EJ Small Grant directly from EPA. This RFA is a competition to select the pass-through entities who will manage their own EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants program in collaboration with EPA over the next 3 years. Those applicants seeking funds to conduct a community project in a specific community may not apply to this competition.

Priority for applications from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) – EPA recognizes the important and historic role Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) serve in supporting communities, especially underserved communities around the nation. For this reason, EPA strongly encourages all eligible applicants identified in Section III, including Minority Serving

-7-

Institutions (MSIs), as well as university business schools and business programs, to apply to become a Grantmaker under this opportunity.

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

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

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

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

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

5. Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act of 2008, 20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)(6). A list of these schools can be found at Predominately Black Institutions.

The Grantmakers will be responsible for the following key activities and applicants should address them in their applications:

1) Designing a competitive application submission and evaluation process for community projects addressing local environmental and public health issues. The process must include an open call for applications where applicants can submit applications by established deadlines. The process should include a range of submission options including approaches accessible to communities and CBOs without reliable access to internet services and significantly minimize the burden on applying entities (as compared to the federal grant application process). The process should minimize the “time to award” for entities selected to receive subaward funding and the competitive application process should be up and running as quickly as possible. NOTE –As part of EPA’s substantial involvement, EPA staff may collaborate with Grantmakers on the preliminary design of the submission and evaluation process, the development of evaluation criteria, and, where capacity allows, EPA staff may, at the request of the Grantmakers, be included as reviewers of applications. However, the final decisions on the submission, evaluation process/criteria, and selection of subrecipients will be made by the pass-through entity, rather than by EPA, provided statutory, regulatory, and Subaward Policy requirements are met.

2) Developing communications plans and conducting outreach activities (e.g., hosting conference calls and webinars and conducting in-person outreach events to notify communities) to reach all disadvantaged and underserved communities to the maximal extent practical, especially urban, rural, and remote communities. Outreach activities should be focused on making potential Eligible subrecipients aware of the availability of the EJ Thriving Communities Subgrant funding, deadlines for submitting applications, tutorials to understand the application and subawards process, and opportunities to ask https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.ed.gov%2Fwhhbcu%2Fone-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities%2F&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zeNNPJ%2FwKKF8vriTJOn7mpqEZi%2FlAAVr%2F7p%2BeWGbfCA%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.ed.gov%2Fwhhbcu%2Fone-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities%2F&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zeNNPJ%2FwKKF8vriTJOn7mpqEZi%2FlAAVr%2F7p%2BeWGbfCA%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.ed.gov%2Fwhiaiane%2Ftribes-tcus%2Ftribal-colleges-and-universities%2F&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=KrCQVvclEk6KSzT64i9gWPrno81b90cuDr60dRZ6bqo%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.ed.gov%2Fwhiaiane%2Ftribes-tcus%2Ftribal-colleges-and-universities%2F&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=KrCQVvclEk6KSzT64i9gWPrno81b90cuDr60dRZ6bqo%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.ed.gov%2Fhispanic-initiative%2Fhispanic-serving-institutions-hsis%2F&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3sdzswlzNzDz%2F1%2FVgl%2FVSGGdNUJFI6xkEZ80Fp58rQc%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fd%2Fviewer%3Fmid%3D1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94%26msa%3D0%26ie%3DUTF8%26t%3Dm%26z%3D3%26source%3Dembed%26ll%3D40.58644586187277%252C-148.28228249999984&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=SSl%2BS31sbtvx9If6NJqJ3E7nwUZ8ua2YSE9ZlqwTOWE%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fd%2Fviewer%3Fmid%3D1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY%26ie%3DUTF%26msa%3D0%26ll%3D37.35160769312532%252C-96.17229800000001%26z%3D4&data=05%7C01%7CBinder.Bruce%40epa.gov%7C8ab13c0dd3d14620db4e08da2d11af2a%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637871851213848414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=n0WeAe8Vh93Tpb3zbddqvoGYiVafTebE2Ms%2BVBmq85g%3D&reserved=0

-8-questions. Applicants should also describe the processes and approaches to coordinate directly with the Regional and/or National Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTACs), Brownfields Technical Assistance Centers, and EPA Environmental Finance Centers as it relates to outreach and communications.

3) Developing an efficient subgrant process to make funds available to selected applicants quickly, monitoring progress of fund expenditures in compliance with federal regulations, terms and conditions of cooperative agreements, and ensuring that all funds received by the pass-through entities are expended within the 3-year project period per the requirements of section 138(b)(1) of the CAA.

4) Designing and implementing a project management process, in collaboration with EPA, which includes quality project oversight for funding subrecipients and a tracking and reporting process that reduces reporting burden on community recipients.

5) Providing technical support to subrecipients to assist in data collection, tracking, evaluation, and reporting of information in alignment with achieving project outputs and outcomes. Applicants should consider including plans to coordinate with the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTACs) to help address technical support and assistance needs of subrecipients. NOTE – EPA expects that each Grantmaker will have access to technical assistance resources that are anticipated to be available through an EPA contract and may include technical assistance on items such as subgrantee internal controls, evaluation, data collection needs, and support on compliance matters.

6) Managing the subgrant application in-take processes, evaluations, subgrants awarding process, subgrant oversight/management and project tracking for communities and/or subgrant funding recipients in one or more Geographic Areas. Details defining the Geographic Areas mentioned above are provided in Section I.D.4.

7) Developing an approach to the Grantmaker role demonstrating participatory governance where one or more community-based nonprofit organizations is involved in the design and decision-making of the subgrants program. Example participatory governance activities could include advisory bodies composed of community-based nonprofit organizations that oversee and provide advice on the development of the subaward process. The participatory governance framework should describe controls for ensuring that representatives of community-based nonprofit organizations involved in the design and decision-making for the subgrants program do not have relationships with organizations competing for subgrants or receiving noncompetitive funding that create actual or apparent conflicts of interest. Note that Grantmakers may compensate representatives of community-based organizations who participate in the governance process with stipends to the extent permissible in EPA’s Guidance on Participant Support Costs.

8) Developing an approach, after discussions with the EPA project officer, to provide a limited number of noncompetitive EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants for severely capacity-constrained communities and CBOs where these entities can receive funding and support from the Grantmakers without submitting a competitive application. The applicant’s approach will include determining criteria to identify these severely capacity-constrained communities and CBOs. Grantmakers, rather than EPA, will select all subrecipients.

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

-9-

9) Disseminating EJ Thriving Communities Subgrant project results, feedback, and success stories through publicly available means.

10) Collaboratively working with EPA environmental justice staff, federal technical assistance providers (such as the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers), the Environmental Finance Centers, Technical Assistance for Brownfields) and other federal grants programs to provide guidance and support to communities seeking to address longstanding environmental injustices impacting their communities.

11) Other activities the successful applicant proposes to carry out and EPA agrees to fund that further the purpose of this Funding Opportunity.

EPA will make awards to up to 11 Grantmakers that coordinate nationwide coverage to provide support and funding opportunities to Eligible Subrecipients (i.e., those entities who are eligible to receive an EJ Thriving Communities Subgrant from a Grantmaker). The Grantmakers will serve as the contact for Eligible Subrecipients interested in applying for EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants and will be the contact for subrecipients of the EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants. As stated above, EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants will be available for three distinct phases:

Phase I = Assessment projects for up to $150,000 for a one-year project period Phase II = Planning projects for up to $250,000 for a 1-2 year project period, and Phase III = Project Development projects for up to $350,000 for a two-year project period.

Eligible Subrecipients are as follows:

Nonprofit organizations Community-based and grassroots nonprofit organizations Philanthropic and civic organizations with nonprofit status Tribal governments (both federally recognized and state-recognized) and intertribal consortia (i.e., a partnership between two or more tribes that work together to achieve a common objective.)

Native American Organizations (includes Indian groups, cooperatives, nonprofit corporations, partnerships, and associations that have the authority to enter into legally binding agreements)

Local governments (as defined by 2 CFR 200.1 – includes cities, towns, municipalities, and counties, public housing authorities and councils of government)

Institutions of higher education (e.g., private and public universities and colleges, including community colleges)

Puerto Rico US Territories Freely Associated States (FAS) – including local governmental entities and local non-profit organizations in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau

Ineligible Subrecipients include:

Individuals https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-thriving-communities-technical-assistance-centers https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-thriving-communities-technical-assistance-centers https://www.epa.gov/waterfinancecenter/efcn https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-technical-assistance-training-and-research https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-technical-assistance-training-and-research https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c/section-200.1

-10-

For profit businesses unless EPA’s Award Official makes an exception based on factors such as those described in Appendix A of EPA’s Subaward Policy.

State governments

The Grantmakers will manage three phases of EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants

Applicants must address all three phases in their applications. Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III Subgrants may address a wide range of environmental issues and consist of a variety of project types including (but not limited to) the following:

Air quality & asthma Fence line air quality monitoring Monitoring of effluent discharges from industrial facilities Water quality & sampling Small cleanup projects Improving food access to reduce vehicle miles traveled Stormwater issues and green infrastructure Lead and asbestos contamination Pesticides and other toxic substances Healthy homes that are energy/water use efficient and not subject to indoor air pollution Illegal dumping activities, such as education, outreach, and small-scale clean-ups Emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency Environmental job training for occupations that reduce greenhouse gases and other air pollutants Environmental justice training for youth

Applicants who do not intend to make subawards under all three phases must include an explanation describing the reasoning behind the decision to focus on a subset of phases.

Phase I: Assessment Communities must gather information, assess, and understand the problem(s) before they can thoroughly develop a plan and then implement those plans to address and eventually resolve the problem(s). The Phase I EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants (managed by the Grantmakers) will be available for severely capacity-constrained community-based organizations and/or “entry-level” applicants to assist them during the initial steps of their work to address specific issues impacting them locally by conducting assessments of environmental and public health concerns. Typically, Phase I EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants will be for up to $150,000 each for a one-year project period. Phase I projects can address multiple environmental issues (e.g., air quality, water contamination, toxic substances, etc.). The following is a list of the types of activities which may be considered by the Grantmakers for Phase I EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants. It is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not all inclusive.

• research (that is incidental to the project design)

• sampling

• testing

-11-

• monitoring

• investigations

• surveys and studies

• public education

Fixed Amount Subawards for Phase I and Noncompetitive Subawards - Successful Grantmakers may, but are not required to, use fixed amount subawards to fund all or part of the $150,000 Phase I competitive planning subawards and must use fixed amount subawards for any noncompetitive $75,000 subawards provided to severely capacity-constrained community based nonprofit organizations with limited capacity to carry out Federally funded projects. (See Section I.D.1.c of the RFA for more details on the noncompetitive fixed amount subawards).

As provided in 2 CFR 200.1 Fixed amount awards are a type of subaward:

[U]nder which . . . a pass-through entity provides a specific level of support without regard to actual costs incurred under the [subaward]. This type of [subaward] reduces some of the administrative burden and record-keeping requirements for both the [subrecipient] . . . [and] pass-through entity. Accountability is based primarily on performance and results.

Additional information on fixed amount awards is available in 2 CFR 200.201(b) and 2 CFR

200.333. Section 9.0 of EPA’s Subaward Policy describes types of fixed amount subawards that EPA will approve. For example, EPA may approve fixed amount awards for training, community meetings or report development that are funded on a milestone completion or unit price basis. Note also that subawards for Phase I competitive planning subawards may be structured to include fixed amount components (e.g., per trainee fees for completed training courses or lump sum payments to conduct community meetings) and cost reimbursement payments for subrecipient program staff compensation as long as the fixed amounts do not duplicate payments made on a cost-reimbursement basis.

Applicants should describe what types of activities they will allow subrecipients to carry out under fixed amount subawards and their approach to pricing those agreements. EPA Project Officers will work with successful applicants to facilitate approval for fixed amount subawards, the process for which can be found in section E of EPA’s Subaward Frequent Questions. Any EPA cooperative agreement that includes fixed amount subawards will include a term and condition that specifies the regulatory requirements that EPA has waived pursuant to 2 CFR 200.102(c).

Phase II: Planning

The Phase II EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants (managed by the Grantmakers) will be available for community-based organizations and other Eligible Subrecipients who already have a strong understanding of their local environmental and/or public health issues and are ready to formulate a community-wide plan to address those issues. Developing key cooperative partnerships with community stakeholders is an essential part of developing a https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=a39fdc0a72cdd370a5f89a619fd74d1d&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1201&rgn=div8 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f07ca25f39421197e4215c741fce2d08&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1333&rgn=div8 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f07ca25f39421197e4215c741fce2d08&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1333&rgn=div8 https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/documents/gpi-16-01-subaward-policy.pdf https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-subaward-frequent-questions https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-subaward-frequent-questions

-12-community-wide plan and later implementing that plan. Therefore, partnership development will be a key aspect of the Phase II subgrants. Typically, a Phase II EJ Thriving Communities Subgrant will be for up to $250,000 each for a 1 to 2-year project period.

Phase II project activities can address multiple environmental issues (e.g., air quality, water contamination, toxic substances) and should also include plan formulation and partnership development activities to address those environmental issues. The following is a list of the types of activities which may be considered by the Grantmakers for a Phase II EJ Thriving Communities Subgrant. It is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not all inclusive.

• Planning

• Partnership-building

• Public outreach and education

• Coordination with community stakeholders to address environmental issues

• Training activities for community organizations and community members

• Projects and activities to spur community involvement (e.g., cleanups of vacant lots)

• Smaller land purchases and acquisitions that require less than half of the total amount of subgrant funding

Phase III: Project Development

The Phase III EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants (managed by the Grantmakers) will be available for community-based nonprofit organizations and other Eligible Subrecipients who already have a strong understanding of their local environmental and/or public health issues, have already formulated a community-wide plan addressing those issues, and/or are now ready to develop the technical aspects of the project (i.e., implement the project on the ground). Developing key cooperative partnerships with community stakeholders is an essential part of developing a community-wide plan and later implementing that plan.

Therefore, partnership development will be a key aspect of the Phase III subgrants as well.

Typically, a Phase III EJ Thriving Communities Subgrant will be for up to $350,000 each for a 2-year project period. Phase III projects can address multiple environmental issues (e.g., air quality, water contamination, toxic substances). The following is a list of the types of activities which may be considered by the Grantmakers for a Phase III EJ Thriving Communities Subgrant. It is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not all inclusive.

• Project Development

• Blueprints for construction or cleanup projects, schematics, and technical development

• Work to get permits in place directly related to an environmental project

• Smaller land purchases and acquisitions that require less than half of the total amount of subgrant funding

• Implementation of project plans

• Public outreach and education

To find the latest information about the EJ TCGM program, visit the following link:

-13-https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-thriving-communities-grantmaking-program

C. Authority

Congress provided EPA with both funding and expanded authority to further environmental justice through financial assistance programs in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103) and Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-238), which provided funding for environmental justice implementation and training grants. EPA has statutory authority to award cooperative agreements to eligible entities to stand-up programs and processes to build the capacity of underserved communities and CBOs. EPA interprets the term “training” in these statutes to include capacity building activities such as technical assistance.

Additionally, in the IRA Congress codified the Environmental and Climate Justice Block grant program at CAA 138 and appropriated $2.8 billion for grants authorized by CAA 138(b).

Eligible activities are described in CAA 138(b)(2) and include: (A) community-led air and other pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation, and investments in low- and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure and workforce development that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants; (B) mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events; (C) climate resiliency and adaptation; (D) reducing indoor toxics and indoor air pollution; or (E) facilitating engagement of disadvantaged communities in State and Federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes. EPA interprets the term “community-led air and other pollution monitoring, prevention and remediation . . .” in CAA 138(b)(2)(A) to allow EPA to fund activities to address water pollution, drinking water contamination, pesticide contamination, toxic substance contamination, solid and hazardous waste contamination, and hazardous substance contamination as well as air pollution.

D. Responsibilities of the EJ Thriving Communities Grantmakers

The awards under this RFA will be for the pass-through subgrant program in which the EPA will award cooperative agreements for up to 11 pass-through entities (known as Grantmakers) who will collaborate with EPA to design application in-take, community outreach, application evaluation, subawards, and project tracking processes for projects proposed by Eligible Subrecipients for EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants for community projects and capacity-building efforts for CBOs. Grantmakers will make final decisions. Consistent with the objectives of this RFA, applicants should describe in their applications and workplan (See Section IV), and will be evaluated based on, the quality of their plans to carry out an EJ Thriving Communities Subgrant program. Eligible Subrecipients, especially from underserved communities and urban, rural, and remote communities, will be made aware of, and can access, the redesigned application, subaward, and project management processes. Applicants will also be evaluated on their plan and approach for competing the subawards to ensure it is designed to result in awards to a diverse group of subrecipients to meet the objectives of this RFA.

https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-thriving-communities-grantmaking-program https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-thriving-communities-grantmaking-program

-14-

Applicants are strongly encouraged to include the following activities, and any others they deem relevant, in their applications to meet the objectives of this RFA:

1. Development of Application Submission, Evaluation, and Subgrant Processes

Applicants should describe their plan and approach to make funds available to Eligible Subrecipients, particularly from underserved communities, communities in urban, remote and rural areas, and those with the highest degree of burden and capacity constraints, as well as increasing awareness of the existence of the Grantmaker and the availability of EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants. Information disseminated through outreach efforts should include at a minimum:

a. Designing a competitive application submission and evaluation process for community projects addressing local environmental and public health issues. The process should include an open call for applications on a “rolling basis” where applicants can submit applications when the applicants are ready. The process should be accessible to communities and CBOs without reliable access to internet services and significantly reduce the burden on applying entities (as compared to the federal grants process).

b. Development of an efficient subgrants process. Overall, the application, evaluation, and subgrant processes should minimize the “time to award” for entities selected to receive subaward funding. EJ TCGM applicants should design their subaward process so that the average time it takes for applications to be submitted, evaluated, and awarded is under 6 months (at a minimum). This timeframe will greatly benefit under-resourced CBOs and in some cases may be the difference between a CBO remaining in operation or dissolving. Additionally, the Grantmakers must develop a plan to ensure that all funds awarded to them are expended within 36 months of receipt of the initial award as required by CAA 138(b)(1) which limits project periods to 3 years. Thus, each applicant to the EJ TCGM program should make clear how they propose to make their subaward process efficient and effective in getting the maximal amount of funding to communities within the required timeframe. NOTE - For applicants applying to be a Regional Grantmaker (see geographic coverage details in Section I.D.4), the application must demonstrate that a minimum of 80% of the total funds proposed to be awarded to the Regional Grantmaker pass through to Eligible Subrecipients. Any application or submitted budget for a Regional Grantmaker award that does not demonstrate this 80% requirement will be deemed ineligible. This requirement does not apply for those applicants applying to be a National Grantmaker, as the National Grantmaker has additional coordination responsibilities in addition to subaward capabilities.

c. Reserving a limited number of noncompetitive EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants for severely capacity-constrained communities and CBOs where these entities can…