EPA-OW-OWOW-24-04.pdf

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Funding Opportunity Title: Fiscal Year 2024 Tribal Wetland Program Development Grants

Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-OW-OWOW-24-04

Assistance Listing Number: 66.461

Dates: Application packages must be submitted electronically to the EPA through Grants.gov (Grants.gov) no later than 11:59 PM ET, October 1, 2025, in order to be considered for funding.

Questions about this announcement must be submitted in writing via e-mail and must be received by the agency contact identified in Section VII before September 13, 2025. Written responses to questions will be posted on the EPA’s Wetland Program Development Grant website.

Note to Applicants: Following the EPA’s evaluation of applications, all applicants will be notified regarding their status. If you name subawardees and/or contractor(s) in your application to assist you with the proposed project, pay careful attention to the information in the CONTRACTS AND SUBAWARDS provisions found at: EPA Solicitation Clauses.

Contents of this Request for Applications:

I. Funding Opportunity Description p. 2

II. Award Information p. 12

III. Eligibility Information p. 13

IV. Application and Submission Information p. 18

V. Application Review Information p. 31

VI. Award Administration Information p. 35

VII. Agency Contacts p. 37

VIII. Other Information p. 37 https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants-and-epa-wetlands-grant-coordinators https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Tribal Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) assist tribal governments and intertribal consortia to develop or refine tribal programs which protect, manage, and restore wetlands. All applications submitted under this announcement must be for projects that develop or refine Tribal wetland programs. Tribes and intertribal consortia are eligible to compete under this Request for Applications. States, territories, interstate organizations, local governments, and nonprofit organizations are not eligible to compete under this announcement.

The statutory authority for Tribal WPDGs is Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. § 1254(b)(3). Section 104(b)(3) of the CWA restricts the use of these funds to developing or refining wetland programs by conducting or promoting the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction and elimination of pollution. Projects that are demonstrations must involve new or experimental technologies, methods, or approaches to be eligible for WPDGs. The EPA expects that the results of each project will be disseminated so that others can benefit from the knowledge gained in the demonstration project. For more information on transferring the results of grant outputs see Section IV.B.7.b.viii: Transfer of Results. For reference, a list of previously funded projects is posted in the EPA’s Wetland Grants Database.

A. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The goals of the EPA’s wetland program include increasing the quantity and quality of wetlands in the U.S. by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving wetland condition. In pursuing these goals, the EPA seeks to develop the capacity of all levels of government to develop and/or refine effective, comprehensive programs for wetland protection and management. In addition to developing and/or refining wetland protection and management programs, the EPA seeks to build wetland programs that incorporate climate change and environmental justice considerations as described in Section I.C.2.a: Climate Change and Section 1.C.2.b: Justice40 (J40) of this announcement on the program’s National Priorities.

Wetlands are areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. For this grant program, the term wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas as described in Cowardin et al.

1979.

WPDGs provide Tribes (hereafter referred to as applicants or recipients) an opportunity to develop and/or refine comprehensive Tribal wetland programs. These programs are meant to:

• Develop the capacity of Tribes to increase the quantity and quality of wetlands in the U.S. by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving wetland condition.

• Use one or more of the following “Core Elements” to achieve this goal.

Core Elements. With the work of many states, Tribes and territories, the EPA has distilled a set of core elements, actions and example/suggested activities that together comprise a comprehensive wetland program. The EPA has summarized these common core elements, actions and activities in the Tribal, https://wgd.epa.gov/ https://www.fws.gov/media/classification-wetlands-and-deepwater-habitats-united-states https://www.fws.gov/media/classification-wetlands-and-deepwater-habitats-united-states https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-02/EPA_Core_Elements_Framework_February_2023.pdf

State, Territory Wetlands Program Core Element Framework, also called the Core Elements Framework.

The Core Elements Framework describes in greater detail the four core elements that make up an effective state, Tribal, or territory wetland program. These four core elements are:

1. Monitoring and assessment.

2. Voluntary restoration and protection.

3. Regulatory approaches including CWA Section 401 certification.

4. Wetland-specific water quality standards.

Only program development and/or refinement activities are eligible. Each of these four core elements consists of several broad “phases,” “actions,” and “activities” that if collectively carried out, would complete that core element. The list of activities in the Core Elements Framework is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all activities that can be carried out to develop a “wetland” program. Of this broad array of actions, only some are program development actions (as opposed to implementation actions) and are eligible for funding under this announcement. Examples of actions eligible for funding are listed below as outputs. A larger list of examples of actions that are eligible for funding under this Request for Applications can be found under the "Program Building Activities" menu for each core element at: Wetland Program Development Grant Eligible Activities.

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

Wetland mapping as part of a project to develop or refine a Tribal program to research, investigate, experiment, train, demonstrate, survey and study the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction and elimination of water pollution is eligible for funding. Mapping projects are required to meet the Federal Geographic Data Committee Wetlands Mapping Standards (see Section VIII.C). Wetland mapping and monitoring projects are eligible for funding under this announcement as they are considered studies or investigations that develop or refine Tribal government programs.

Additional details on ineligible activities are provided under Section III. E, “Ineligible Activities,” of this announcement. Proposed projects must comply with all state, Tribal, local and federal regulations applicable to the project area. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure compliance.

Funds awarded under this announcement for wetland meetings/training workshops may be used by recipients to promote participation and to support the travel expenses of non-federal personnel.

Assistance funds may be used by the successful applicant to defray transportation and subsistence expenses for non-federal attendees at training sessions, roundtables, or workgroup meetings. The applicant will select meeting locations, secure meeting facilities (e.g., meeting rooms, accommodations, audio-visual equipment), and develop meeting agendas and materials. The successful applicant will use their logo on any corresponding materials ; the EPA will use its logo on any corresponding materials. The applicant is solely responsible for determining a methodology for selecting and funding reimbursement requests and providing a report on how participating non-federal https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants-eligible-activities attendees benefited from the meetings. The EPA will not participate in the selection or approval of individuals who receive travel assistance.

B. ENVIRONMENTAL RESULTS AND LINKAGE TO STRATEGIC PLAN

The projects to be funded under this solicitation support the EPA’s FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan.

Awards made under this announcement will support Goal 5 - Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities: Provide clean and safe water for all communities and protect our nation’s waterbodies from degradation, Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds: Address sources of water pollution and ensure water quality standards are protective of the health and needs of all people and ecosystems.

All proposed projects must demonstrate the linkage to the Strategic Plan and include specific statements describing the environmental results of the proposed project in terms of well-defined outputs, and to the maximum extent practicable, well-defined outcomes that demonstrate how the project will contribute to the overall goal of restoring and protecting aquatic ecosystems. Additional information regarding environmental results is available at: EPA Order 57007a1 Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements.

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

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

• Development of Tribal Wetland Program Plan (WPP) (described in Section I.C.1.a, Track One: WPP Applications) (All Core Elements).

• Development of training materials and tools to help Tribal decisionmakers integrate wetland protection and restoration into integrated watershed planning especially regarding environmental justice1/hazard mitigation/flood/drought planning and climate change and resiliency. The project can and is encouraged to incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge (Voluntary Restoration/Protection and/or Regulatory Core Elements).

• Development of wetland maps directly or by supporting wetland mapping coalitions that may also incorporate traditionally important and sacred species identification in the wetland types (All Core Elements).

• Development of strategies that take into account hazard mitigation/flood/drought planning, climate change and resiliency and environmental justice into wetland restoration and protection (Voluntary Restoration and Protection Core Element, Regulatory Core Element).

1 See environmental justice definition in Section I.C.3.b Environmental Justice and Justice40 (J40) below.

https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements

• Development of a report on the ambient condition of wetland resources at a Tribal or population scale and may include traditionally important and sacred species, sites, etc.

(Monitoring and Assessment Core Element).

• Development of a permit program to discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the United States or waters of the Tribe. This permit program can include the assumption of the CWA Section 404 permitting program or development of a Tribal permitting program (Regulatory Core Element).

• Development of a water quality certification program under CWA Section 401 (Regulatory Core Element).

• Development of strategies to integrate goals of wetland protection and restoration programs or activities into water reuse planning (Voluntary Restoration/Protection and/or Regulatory Core Elements).

• Development of methods or strategies to incorporate wetland water quality standards into the EPA approved Tribal water quality standards and may include traditional and cultural uses (Wetland-specific Water Quality Standard Core Element).

• Development of methods and studies to address at-risk or vulnerable wetland ecosystems, aquatic resources and wetland-dependent priority species due to hazard mitigation/flooding/drought impacts and climate resilience into wetland protection and watershed planning (Monitoring and Assessment Core Element).

• Development of education and outreach materials for wetland staff, the public and other sectors (All of the Core Elements).

• Development of tools or procedures, or studies and programs, to evaluate the ecological performance of compensatory mitigation projects (e.g., mitigation banks, in-lieu fee projects and permittee-responsible mitigation) and incorporate the results/findings/lessons learned into future compensatory mitigation project decision-making to help determine mitigation program success (Regulatory Core Element).

Outcomes are objectives or goals that will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity. Outcomes are used as a way to gauge a project’s performance. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic in nature. For instance, if there is a great need to improve the knowledge and decision-making ability, with respect to environmental issues, of Tribal government officials who are in the position of creating laws, ordinances, permits, etc. In this context, certain efforts designed to improve decision-making and behavioral changes can be viewed as environmental outcomes (results) if the grantee can show or measure the improvement in the knowledge of decisionmakers who are in the position to create environmental and/or institutional changes that are necessary to restore or protect the environment. In such instances, outcomes are not measured typically by environmental or water quality indicators, but rather by the institutional indicators that lead to the adoption and application of laws and regulations and the active management of programs necessary to provide environmental protection.

Outcomes must be quantitative and may not necessarily be achieved within an assistance agreement funding period. Outcomes may be short-term (e.g., changes in learning, knowledge, attitude, or skills), intermediate (changes in behavior, practice, or decisions), or long-term (e.g., changes in the condition of the natural resource).

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

• Increased quantity of wetlands.

• Increased quality of wetlands.

• Improved wetland protection efforts.

• Increased stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s understanding of a wetland’s condition for a variety of uses/functions, including traditional and cultural uses.

• Increased stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s understanding of wetland ecologic condition and/or function at population scales (i.e., Tribal or regional).

• Increased stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s understanding of the impacts of increased flooding/drought and/or climate adaptation actions on wetlands, especially on traditional and cultural uses.

• Improved wetland inventories and baseline condition assessments to address hazard mitigation/flood/drought effects and climate adaptation.

• Improved data to use in modeling potential hydrologic change, ecosystem/biogeographic shifts, wetland losses, or wetland increases on the landscape that can be used to inform stakeholders and decisionmakers.

• Increased stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s understanding of how to develop a CWA Section 404 Tribal regulatory program.

• Increased stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s understanding of how to develop a CWA Section 401 Tribal water quality certification program or CWA Section 401(a)(2) Tribal neighboring jurisdiction program.

• Increased stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s knowledge through training and outreach for Tribal wetland staff, the public, at-risk communities and/or other partners.

• Improved baseline information on wetland extent, condition and performance to inform Tribal regulatory programs.

• Increased stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s understanding of the ecological success of compensatory mitigation and use to inform stakeholders and decisionmakers.

As part of the application, applicants must describe how the project will protect wetland resources and link the anticipated outputs and outcomes to the Agency’s Strategic Plan. Further information is in Section IV.B, CONTENT OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION, of this announcement. Additional information regarding the EPA’s definition of environmental results in terms of outputs and outcomes can be found at: EPA Order 57007a1 Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements.

C. TRACK CONCEPT AND PRIORITY AREAS

The EPA is soliciting applications from eligible applicants to develop or refine Tribal wetland programs.

Comprehensive wetland programs help enable Tribes to more effectively protect, restore and manage their wetland resources.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements

Under this announcement, the EPA will have two separate applicant tracks for eligible applicants:

• Tribes can apply under Track One: WPP or Track Two: Non-WPP.

• Intertribal consortia can only apply under Track Two: Non-WPP.

Applicants may submit more than one application under the applicable track. Each application must be separately submitted and be for a different project. Applications will be evaluated separately. In addition, Tribal applicants may submit separate applications under both tracks. Each application must be submitted under either Track One: WPP or Track Two: Non-WPP. Applicants cannot submit one application covering both tracks. If an applicant indicates that an application covers both tracks the application will be rejected. If an applicant submits an application under the wrong track, the EPA will determine the most appropriate track in which to evaluate the application.

All applications submitted under this Request for Applications, regardless of track, must be for projects that develop or refine Tribal wetland programs. Accordingly, all applicants must demonstrate in their application how their project will develop or refine a Tribal wetland program as follows:

Track One: WPP Applicants: demonstrate how they will develop or refine a Tribal Wetland Program Plan (and, if they so choose, by also carrying out actions described in the Core Element Framework at Wetland Program Development Grant Eligible Activities ), or reference one or more grant-eligible action(s) from an EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan (see Section I.C.1.a, Track One: WPP Applicant Applications) that they plan to undertake, or

Track Two: Non-WPP Applicants: demonstrate that their application is developing or refining a Tribal wetland program. Applicant should indicate which core element(s) and one or more action(s) under a core element(s) described in the Core Elements Framework at Wetland Program Development Grant Eligible Activities they will be developing or refining. An intertribal consortium applicant can reference one or more grant-eligible action(s) from an EPA-approved Tribal, Wetland Program Plan (see Section I.C.1.b, Track Two: Non-WPP Applicant Applications) that they plan to undertake as part of the proposed project.

Track One: WPP-eligible-applicants will only be ranked against other Track One: WPP-eligible applicants. Track Two: Non-WPP-eligible applicants will only be ranked against other Track Two:

Non-WPP-eligible applicants. See Section V, APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION, for further information.

The two tracks are described in more detail below.

1. Track Concept

a. Track One: WPP Applications (Tribal applicants only) The EPA has found that long-term wetland planning (i.e., Wetland Program Plans or WPPs) helps Tribes develop their wetland programs more effectively and efficiently, therefore, the EPA is emphasizing WPPs as a national priority.

Under Track One: WPP, Tribes must submit applications for either: 1) carrying out grant-eligible actions from a current EPA-approved WPP or 2) developing or updating a WPP (and, if they so choose, also carrying out actions that develop or refine a wetland program described in the Core Elements Framework at: Wetland Program Development Grant Eligible Activities). If a Tribe submits any other type of application (e.g., not having a WPP, having an expired WPP), they will automatically be included and evaluated under Track Two: Non-WPP as long as the application meets the threshold eligibility requirements delineated in Section III.

Wetland Program Plans. WPPs are voluntary plans developed by Tribal agencies that articulate what the Tribe wants to accomplish with their wetland programs over time. WPPs describe overall program goals along with broad-based actions consistent with the Core Elements Framework and more specific activities that will help achieve the goals. Timelines for the WPPs vary between three to six years, with more specific timeframes typically associated with the WPP actions/activities.

WPPs should include the following five minimum components:

1. An overall goal statement(s) for the program over the period covered by the WPP.

2. An overall timeframe for the WPP, with a minimum timeframe of three years starting from the time of WPP submittal to the EPA.

3. A list of planned actions consistent with the Core Elements Framework that the program intends to carry out over the WPP’s timeframe which, if collectively met, will accomplish the overall WPP goal(s).

4. An intended schedule for the achievement of each action.

5. A listing of more specific activities to be accomplished under each action.

WPPs do not need to be elaborate documents. An effective WPP may be a concise list of planned actions to help create a focused and sustainable wetland program. A WPP can refer to both wetland program implementation and program development efforts planned for the upcoming three to six years. Please note, however, that program implementation efforts are not eligible for WPDG funding. WPPs should also include any actions the Tribe anticipates funding through sources other than WPDGs. Actions listed in a WPP should be consistent with the broad actions listed in the relevant core elements chapter of the revised Core Elements Framework. Core Elements Framework actions don’t need to be included verbatim in a WPP, but WPPs should reference the part of the Core Elements Framework that most closely relates to the proposed actions. WPPs are approved by the EPA in a process that is independent of the WPDG application process. The EPA-approved Tribal WPPs can be found at: State and Tribal Wetland-Program Plans.

WPP versus WPDG application. As described above, a WPP is a plan that outlines the goals, broad actions and activities that a Tribal wetland program may want to undertake to develop or refine its wetland program. A WPDG application is a more detailed set of projects and tasks that an eligible applicant may undertake over the next year or two to develop actions or activities in an approved

WPP.

https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/state-and-tribal-wetland-program-plans#r1

If a Tribe already has an EPA-approved WPP, they may submit an application to carry out grant-eligible actions in their approved WPP. The Tribe must indicate in their application(s) which of the development or refinement actions from their EPA-approved WPP they intend to carry out.

If a Tribe does not have an EPA-approved WPP or if their EPA-approved WPP is expiring, they may submit an application to develop/update a WPP. In addition to developing a WPP, a Tribe may want to include in their application other program developing or refining tasks to undertake while also developing their WPP. The Tribe must indicate in their WPDG application which core element(s) the project will include and which associated action(s) the project will take, as described in the Core Elements Framework at: Wetland Program Development Grant Eligible Activities.

A Tribe may submit an application to refine an EPA-approved WPP if the plan needs significant changes. A WPP may be refined when the plan has not expired or is not about to expire but additional changes may need to be made to update the WPP as a whole or in part because of more recent developments in the Tribal wetland program.

Tribes submitting applications to develop or revise a WPP under Track 1 may want to include travel support and meeting set-up and facilitation support to hold meetings for Tribal agencies, stakeholders and/or others. Alternative training workshops due to the impacts of natural disasters and/or health emergencies may include switching from in-person formats to virtual only.

Applicants should consider “green” or climate-neutral meetings, workshops, or in-person training.

b. Track Two: Non-WPP Applications (Tribal and intertribal consortia applicants) Under Track Two: Non-WPP, Tribes and intertribal consortia must submit applications that will develop or refine a Tribe’s wetland program by either carrying out one or more action(s): 1) under a core element(s) from the Core Elements Framework or 2) that advance the grant-eligible actions articulated in an EPA-approved WPP. Applicants must indicate in their applications which core element(s) their project would develop or refine and which associated action(s) their project would take from the Core Elements Framework at: Wetland Program Development Grant Eligible Activities. If the applicant is an intertribal consortium and is carrying out an action(s) from an EPA-approved Tribal WPP they must indicate which EPA-approved Tribal WPP they are working from, which core element(s) their project would develop or refine and which associated action(s) their project would take from the WPP.

Examples of how to link to an EPA-approved WPP include, but are not limited to:

• In their EPA-approved WPP, a Tribe proposes to develop regulations on groundwater withdrawals in areas surrounding vital wetlands. To link to this WPP, an intertribal consortium proposes to study the effect of groundwater withdrawals on particular types of wetlands common in the Tribe and provide the results of the study to the Tribe. The goal would be to inform the regulations governing groundwater withdrawals in areas near vital wetlands.

• In their EPA-approved WPP, a Tribe proposes to survey wetlands identified in its existing wetland inventory to verify location, hydric conditions and wetland type. To link to this https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants-eligible-activities

WPP, an intertribal consortium proposes to perform this verification within an area of the Tribe and other member Tribe’s boundaries.

2. Description of Need It is important to describe specific aspects of your geographic area, specific threats affecting your wetlands/streams/aquatic resources face and how this issue will be addressed by the development of a WPP or through the core element(s)/action(s) you have described in the application. Additional information on the description of need and how it will be evaluated based can be found in Section IV.B.7.b.ii. Description of Need and Section V, APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION, Description of Need evaluation criteria.

3. National Priority Areas

a. Climate Change Taking action on climate change is one of the EPA’s top priorities. Taking action to fight the urgent threat of climate change offers an opportunity to build more resilient infrastructure, protect public health, advance environmental justice, strengthen America’s working communities and spur American technological innovations. The EPA is working to improve society’s understanding of climate change, its impacts on human health and the environment, and actions that can be taken to adapt to climate change and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The data, tools and resources that the EPA and other federal agencies develop can also be used by Tribes, states, territories and communities to help tackle the climate crisis effectively, equitably and sustainably. The term “climate change" refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time, including major changes in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns that occur over several decades or longer. Climate change includes increased air and water temperatures, changes in the timing and intensity of precipitation and sea level rise.

Changes in snowpack, streamflow and forest cover are already occurring and future climate change will likely continue to influence these changes, including the availability of a reliable water source found in mountain snowpack, which melts and runs off into streams and rivers in the late spring and summer, a time when there is very little rainfall. Climate change will threaten this natural storage, with important consequences for the timing of runoff and amount of water available in streams and rivers (streamflow) and wetlands throughout the year. Additional information on this section of the application and how it will be evaluated can be found in Section IV.B.7.b.iii. National Priority: Climate Change and Section V, APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION, evaluation criteria National Priority: Climate Change.

b. Environmental Justice and Justice40 (J40) Initiative EPA currently defines “environmental justice” as the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in agency decision-making and other federal activities that affect human health and the environment so that people: are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects (including risks) and hazards including those related to climate change, the cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of racism or other structural or systemic barriers; and have equitable access to a healthy, sustainable and resilient environment in which to live, play, work, learn, grow, worship, and engage in cultural and subsistence practices. EPA intends to define environmental justice in a manner consistent with Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All (April 21, 2023).2

Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, issued on January 20, 2021, expresses the Administration’s policy that the Federal Government should pursue “a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.” The Executive Order defines “underserved communities” in part as “populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life.”

Factors that may indicate disproportionate and adverse impacts as referenced above include: differential proximity and exposure to adverse environmental hazards; greater susceptibility to adverse effects from environmental hazards (due to causes such as age, chronic medical conditions, lack of health care access, or limited access to quality nutrition);

unique environmental exposures because of practices linked to cultural background or socioeconomic status (for example, subsistence fishing or farming); cumulative effects from multiple stressors; reduced ability to effectively participate in decision making processes (due to causes such as lack of or ineffective language access programs, lack of programs to make processes accessible to persons with disabilities, inability to access traditional communication channels, or limited capacity to access technical and legal resources); and degraded physical infrastructure, such as poor housing, poorly maintained public buildings (e.g., schools), or lack of access to transportation.

Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, signed on January 27, 2021, created the Justice40 (J40) Initiative that for the first time in our nation’s history made it a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain covered federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. The WPDG Program is a J40-covered program.

Applicants that will be submitting tasks or entire projects in their applications that benefit disadvantaged communities must indicate which disadvantaged communities will benefit under this National Priority by using the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) as part of their application to help characterize and describe the affected communities/populations and area(s). Additional information on this section of the application and how it will be evaluated can be found in Section IV.B.7.b.iv. National

2 The EPA is working to develop an Environmental Justice Strategic Plan consistent with EO 14096 and the template contained in CEQ’s Strategic Planning to Advance Environmental Justice (October 2023).

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/04/21/executive-order-on-revitalizing-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all/ 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.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/ https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Strategic-Planning-to-Advance-Environmental-Justice_final-Oct.-2023.pdf

Priority: Justice40 and Section V, APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION, National Priority:

Justice40 evaluation criteria.

4.Transfer of Results – Active transfer of project results (outputs/outcomes), lessons learned and/or methods to other Tribes, states, territories or local governments and agencies within and beyond their own organization is extremely important so that others can better develop their wetland programs.

Additional information on this section of the application and how it will be evaluated can be found in Section IV.B.7.b.xii, Partnership Information and Section V, APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION, Transfer of Results evaluation criteria.

5. Project Partners Effective partnerships are important for the success of projects solicited under this announcement. In their applications, applicants should identify appropriate and necessary partnerships to successfully conduct the project. Applications will be evaluated based on their partnerships described in Section IV.B.7.b.xii, Partnership Information and Section V, APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION, partnership criteria.

D. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR APPLICANTS INCORPORATED INTO THE SOLICITATION

Additional provisions that apply to Sections III, IV, V and VI of this solicitation and/or awards made under this solicitation, can be found at the EPA Solicitation Clauses. These provisions are important for applying to this solicitation and applicants must review them when preparing applications for this solicitation. If you are unable to access these provisions electronically at the website above, please contact the EPA point of contact listed in this solicitation (usually in Section VII) to obtain the provisions.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AMOUNT OF FUNDING

The EPA anticipates approximately $3,800,000 in federal funding to be available for assistance agreements under this announcement depending on funding availability and other applicable considerations. The EPA anticipates awarding approximately $2,800,000 in federal funds under Track One: WPP and approximately $1,000,000 in federal funds under Track Two: Non-WPP. It is anticipated that approximately 11 to 18 awards will be made under Track One: WPP and approximately 4 to 7 awards will be made under Track Two: Non-WPP with the expectation of funding more projects from Track 1 than Track 2. Awards for the selected projects are expected to range from $80,000 to $250,000 in federal funding. The EPA will fund a maximum of 75 percent of the total project cost (see Section III.B, COST SHARING/MATCH REQUIREMENTS, for information on minimum non-federal cost share/match requirement).

It is anticipated that the assistance agreements awarded under this announcement will have one to no more than four-year project periods. The project period for assistance agreements under this announcement should be no more than five years total.

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

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

The actual award amounts and number of projects awarded under Track One and Track Two may differ from the estimated amounts for many reasons including the number of meritorious applications received, agency priorities, and funding availability. In addition, EPA reserves the right to increase or decrease (including decreasing to zero) the total number and amount of awards under each Track, or change the ratio of assistance agreements it awards among the Tracks.

The EPA reserves the right to make no awards under this announcement or make fewer awards than anticipated. In addition, the EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with Agency policy and guidance, if additional funding becomes available after the selections are made. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than six months after the original selection decisions.

B. TYPE OF FUNDING

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

in accordance with 2 CFR 200.317 and 2 CFR 200.318, as appropriate; review of proposed procurements, reviewing qualifications of key personnel and/or review and comment on the content of printed or electronic publications prepared. The 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.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

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

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

In accordance with Assistance Listing 66.461, Tribes and intertribal consortia are eligible to apply for WPDGs under this announcement. Tribes must be federally-recognized, although “Treatment as a State” status is not required. As explained in Section I, there will be two separate applicant tracks with Tribes in Track One: WPP or Track Two: Non-WPP, and intertribal consortia in Track Two: Non-WPP.

Please note:

• Intertribal consortia must meet the requirements of 40 CFR § 35.504 (a) and (c). These sections state that an intertribal consortium is eligible to receive grants only if the consortium demonstrates that all members of the consortium meet the eligibility requirements for the grant and authorize the consortium to apply for and receive assistance. An intertribal consortium must submit to the EPA adequate documentation of: (1) the existence of the partnership between Indian Tribal governments and (2) authorization of the consortium by all its members to apply for and receive the grant(s) for which the consortium has applied.

• States, interstate, local governments as well as non-profit and for-profit organizations are not eligible to compete under this announcement.

B. COST SHARING/MATCH REQUIREMENTS

All applicants, except as noted below, must describe in their application submission how they will contribute a minimum of 25 percent of the total project cost in cost share/matching funds in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.306. The cost share/match must be for allowable costs and may be provided by the applicant, by the applicant’s subawardee, or other third parties. The cost share/match may be provided in cash or by in-kind contributions. In-kind contributions often include salaries, equipment, or other verifiable costs and this value must be carefully documented. In the case of salaries, applicants may use either minimum wage or fair market value.

If the cost share/match is provided by a subawardee, the subawardee’s contribution must comply with 2 CFR § 200.306. Any indirect costs included in the subrecipients’ cost share contribution must be determined consistently with 2 CFR § 200.332(a)(4). Successful applicants are still responsible for proper accounting and documentation of cost share contributions. Other federal grants may not be used as cost share/match without specific statutory authority. All grant funds are subject to a federal audit.

The total project cost is the sum of the total requested federal share and applicant cost share/match.

The minimum cost share/match is determined by dividing the total project cost by four as illustrated by the following formula:

Total Project Cost ($) = minimum cost share/match ($)

For example, if the total project cost (sum of federal and non-federal funds) is $100,000 the applicant must be able to provide $25,000 in cash or in-kind contributions as cost share/match.

OR

Total Federal Funds Requested ($) = minimum cost share/match ($) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-35/subpart-B https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd

For example, if the total federal funds requested are $75,000 the applicant must be able to provide $25,000 in cash or in-kind contributions as cost share/match.

A cost share/match calculator can be found at the Wetland Program Development Grant website:

and at Match Calculator.

Please contact the EPA grant contact person listed in Section VII, AGENCY CONTACTS, of this announcement if you have any questions about calculating cost share/match.

All applicants must describe in their application (Section IV.B.7.a, and IV.B.7.b.vii) how they will contribute the appropriate cost share/match requirement. In addition, if an applicant cannot meet the appropriate cost share/match by the time of award, they will not be eligible to receive funding.

C. NO REQUIRED TRIBAL COST SHARE UNDER A PERFORMANCE PARTNERSHIP GRANT (PPG)

If a Tribe or intertribal consortium includes the funds for a grant awarded under this solicitation in an approved Performance Partnership Grant (PPG), there is no cost-share requirement. Where the applicant’s stated purpose is to include a grant awarded under this solicitation in a PPG, the applicant should prepare a budget and proposed workplan based upon the assumption that the EPA will approve the budget and work plan without cost share included. If the applicant ultimately does not or cannot include a grant awarded under this solicitation as part of an approved PPG, or subsequently chooses to withdraw the competitively awarded grant from their PPG, the Tribe or intertribal consortium must then meet the applicable cost share/match requirements identified above in Section III. and negotiate a new workplan and budget with the EPA project officer based on the same total project cost and work initially proposed. Since the new budget will be based upon the initially proposed total project cost and the applicable cost share/match requirement will be increased, the federal award amount will be reduced accordingly. The purpose of this is to ensure that all workplan activities for a competitively awarded project will be performed as initially proposed and in accordance with the adjusted budget reflecting the applicable cost share/match requirement and federal award amount.

D. THRESHOLD ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

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

All applications will be reviewed for eligibility and must meet the eligibility requirements described in Sections III.A., B., and D. to be considered eligible. These are requirements that if not met by the time of the application submission, will result in the elimination of the application from consideration for funding. Only applications that meet all of these criteria will be evaluated against the ranking factors in Section V. of the announcement. Applicants deemed ineligible for funding consideration as a result of the threshold eligibility review will be notified within 15 calendar days of the ineligibility determination.

1. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements in Section III. A., ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, of this announcement.

https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants-and-epa-wetlands-grant-coordinators https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fdocuments%2F2023-06%2FWPDG%2520Match%2520Calculator.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK https://intranet.epa.gov/ogd/competition/compet/competition_announcement_boiler_plate_provisions_and_guidance.pdf

2. Applicants must demonstrate in their application submission how they will meet the applicable cost share/match requirements in Section III.B., of this announcement. If the applicant has questions about the appropriate cost share/match requirements for their project, please contact the point of contact listed in Section VIII. If a Tribe or intertribal consortium intends to include a grant awarded under this solicitation in a PPG, they must include a statement to that effect.

3. Regardless of track, all applications submitted under this Request for Applications must be for projects that develop or refine Tribal wetland programs. Accordingly, all applicants must demonstrate in their application how their proposed project will develop or refine a Tribal wetland program as follows: A. For Track One: WPP Applicants, by demonstrating how they will develop/update a Wetland Program Plan or by referencing one or more grant-eligible action(s) from an EPA-approved WPP they plan to undertake as part of the proposed project or B. For Track Two: Non-WPP Applicants, by demonstrating which core element(s) and one or more actions under a core element(s) from the Wetland Program Development Grant Eligible Activities their application is developing or refining, or, if the applicant is an intertribal consortia, by referencing one or more grant-eligible action(s) from an EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan they plan to undertake as part of the proposed project.

4. All applications submitted under this solicitation must conduct or promote the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction and elimination of water pollution as described in Section I., of this announcement.

5. Demonstration projects must involve new or experimental technologies, methods, or approaches, where the results of the project will be disseminated so that others can benefit from the knowledge gained in the demonstration project. A project that is accomplished through the performance of routine, traditional, or established practices, or a project that is simply intended to carry out a task rather than transfer information or advance the state of knowledge, however worthwhile the project might be, is not a demonstration and all or parts of the application will be eliminated from consideration. Such projects are implementation projects and are not eligible for funding under this announcement.

Individual project tasks that are for program implementation are not eligible for funding.

See Section III.E. below on ineligible activities.

6. Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section IV. of this announcement, or else they will be rejected.

However, where a page limit is expressed in Section IV. with respect to the application, or parts thereof, pages in excess…