EPA-R-OAR-HFC-24-01 Revised 2023 11 20.pdf

AGENCY: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

TITLE: Hydrofluorocarbon Reclaim and Innovative Destruction Grants

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Request for Applications (RFA)

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: EPA-R-OAR-HFC-24-01

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 66.047

IMPORTANT DATES

11/17/2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Opens

12/7/2023 Information Session

12/15/2023 Optional Intent to Apply

2/2/2024 Final Date to Submit Questions

2/16/2024 NOFO Closes – Application Deadline

April 2024 Anticipated Notification of Selection

Summer 2024 Anticipated Awards

Application packages must be submitted electronically to the EPA through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) no later than February 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) in order to be considered for funding.

To allow for efficient management of the competitive process, the EPA requests submittal of an optional informal notice of an Intent to Apply by December 15, 2023, to HFCgrants@epa.gov.

Submission of Intent to Apply is optional; it is a process management tool that will allow the EPA to better anticipate the total staff time required for efficient review, evaluation, and selection of submitted applications. The Submission of Intent to Apply should contain:

• Information about the applicant including name of the organization and contact details;

• Identification of the type of project that will be submitted in the application (see Section I.B);

• The amount of funds that will be requested; and

• A brief description of no more than five sentences of the project.

NOTE: The EPA does not require nor encourage applicants to name procurement contractors (including consultants) or subrecipients in applications for grant funding. However, if you intend to name a contractor (including an individual consultant or equipment vendor) or a subrecipient as a project partner or otherwise in your application, the EPA recommends that you carefully review, and comply with, the directions contained in the “Contracts and Subawards” clause at the EPA Solicitation Clauses.

Refer to the EPA’s Best Practice Guide for Procuring Services, Supplies, and Equipment Under EPA http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:HFCgrants@epa.gov http://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses https://www.epa.gov/grants/best-practice-guide-procuring-services-supplies-and-equipment-under-epa-assistance

Assistance Agreements, the EPA’s Subaward Policy, and supplemental Frequent Questions for additional guidance. Applicants must demonstrate that named contractors (including individual consultants and equipment vendors) were selected in compliance with the competitive requirements of the Procurement Standards in 2 CFR Part 200 as interpreted in EPA guidance and/or that named subrecipients meet the eligibility requirements in the EPA’s Subaward Policy for the EPA to consider their qualifications and role in the proposed project.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/best-practice-guide-procuring-services-supplies-and-equipment-under-epa-assistance https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Background and Summary

B. Program Goals and Objectives

C. Environmental Results and Strategic Plan Information

D. Statutory Authority

E. Minority Serving Institutions

F. Requirements for Increasing Access to Results of EPA-Funded Extramural Scientific Research

G. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

A. Amount of Funding Available

B. Number and Amount of Awards

C. Funding Set-Asides

D. Partial Funding

E. Additional Awards

F. Award Funding and Incremental/Full Funding

G. Period of Performance

H. Funding Type

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Entities

B. Voluntary Cost Sharing or Matching Funds

C. Threshold Criteria

D. Ineligible Activities and Other Considerations

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. How to Register to Apply for Grants Under This Competition

B. Application Process

C. Project Narrative Instructions, Format, and Content

D. Coalition Coverage

E. Scientific Data Management Plan (SDMP)

F. Releasing Copies of Applications

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Evaluation Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

C. Other Factors

D. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices

B. Combining Successful Applications into One Award

C. Reporting Requirement

D. Buy America Requirements

VII. CONTACT INFORMATION

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

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Background and Summary

This NOFO announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities to develop projects for hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) reclamation and innovative destruction technologies. Section 60109 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided the EPA with $15 million for competitive grants for “reclaim and innovative destruction technologies” consistent with subsections (a) through (i) and subsection (k) of section 103 division S of Public Law 116-260 (42 U.S.C. 7675) (also known as the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act). Enacted in 2020, the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act authorizes the EPA to address climate-damaging greenhouse gases (GHGs) called HFCs by: phasing down their production and consumption, maximizing reclamation and minimizing releases from equipment, and facilitating the transition to next-generation technologies through sector-based restrictions on HFCs. HFCs are potent GHGs commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, as well as foams and many other applications. A global phasedown of HFCs is expected to avoid up to 0.5°C of global warming by 2100. There are hundreds of possible HFC compounds. The 18 HFCs listed as regulated substances by the AIM Act are some of the most commonly used HFCs and have high impacts as measured by the quantity emitted multiplied by their respective global warming potentials (GWPs). For more information on the AIM Act and its implementing regulations, please visit https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction.

The IRA sets aside 5% of the $15 million for administrative purposes; therefore, $14.25 million is available for competitive grants under this opportunity. The EPA anticipates approximately four to nine awards under this opportunity with funding ranging from $450,000 to $5 million, depending on the type of project and subject to the availability of funds, the quality of proposals received, and other applicable considerations. For grants under the technology project areas (1 and 3, described below), the EPA expects to make awards in the range of $3-5 million; for grants under the market dynamics project area (2 below), the EPA expects to make awards in the range of $450,000 to $1.5 million. This opportunity has set aside $1.5 million for federally recognized tribes. The EPA anticipates that the competition under this NOFO will award all the competitive funding under Section 60109 of the IRA.

“Reclaim” is defined in 40 CFR 84.3 as the reprocessing of regulated substances (used interchangeably with “HFCs” in this NOFO) to specifications in appendix A of 40 CFR part 82, subpart F that are applicable to that regulated substance. Reclamation refers to the reprocessing of a recovered regulated substance to meet at least the purity described in Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) standard AHRI 700–2016 (or an appropriate successor standard adopted by the Administrator); the purity of the reclaimed regulated substances must be verified using, at a minimum, the analytical method described in that standard. Reclaimed HFCs help reduce the need for new HFCs and support a smooth transition as HFCs are phased down under the AIM Act.

“Destruction” is defined in 40 CFR 84.3 as the expiration of a regulated substance to the destruction and removal efficiency actually achieved. Such destruction might result in a commercially useful end product, but such usefulness would be secondary to the act of destruction. As part of these competitive grants, the EPA will only fund projects that advance or innovatively deploy the https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/part-84/section-84.3#p-84.3(Reclaim) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/part-84/section-84.3#p-84.3(Destruction) technologies listed in 40 CFR 84.29.

There are three broad categories of destruction technologies listed in 40 CFR 84.29: thermal oxidation (incineration), plasma, and conversion (other, non-incineration) technologies. As finalized in an October 2021 rule (“Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Establishing the Allowance Allocation and Trading Program under the AIM Act” (86 FR 5516)), there are two lists of destruction technologies: one for HFCs other than HFC-23 and one for all HFCs including HFC-23.

The following twelve destruction technologies are approved by the EPA for destruction of all regulated substances except for HFC-23:

• Incineration (6 technologies): Cement kilns, gaseous/fume oxidation, liquid injection incineration, porous thermal reactor, reactor cracking, and rotary kiln incineration.

• Plasma (3): Argon plasma arc, nitrogen plasma arc, and portable plasma arc.

• Conversion (3): Chemical reaction with hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), gas phase catalytic de-halogenation, and superheated steam reactor.

The following eight technologies are approved by the EPA for the destruction of HFC-23:

• Incineration (4): Gaseous/fume oxidation, liquid injection incineration, reactor cracking, and rotary kiln incineration.

• Plasma (2): Argon plasma arc and nitrogen plasma arc.

• Conversion (2): Chemical reaction with H2 and CO2 and superheated steam reactor.

These technologies are capable of either destroying HFCs at a destruction removal efficiency of at least

99.99 percent or converting them into non-regulated substances. Innovative technologies are those that demonstrate efficacy in destroying HFCs and are not yet widely available, particularly in the United States (U.S.) (e.g., chemical conversion or portable plasma arc).

B. Program Goals and Objectives

The objectives of the HFC Reclaim and Innovative Destruction Grants, as described under Assistance Listing 66.047, are to support and contribute to addressing HFCs under the AIM Act by funding the following three project areas (listed order below does not indicate preference):

(1) Reclaim Technologies – pilot projects for new/better technologies to increase the reclamation of HFCs by expanding access to reclamation and improving the reclamation process;

(2) Reclaim Market Dynamics – programs or pilot projects for innovative strategies that address market dynamics to increase HFC reclamation by lowering barriers; or

(3) Innovative Destruction Technologies – pilot projects for innovative technologies or innovative deployment of technologies to destroy unusable and/or unwanted HFCs.

When applying, applicants should clearly indicate under which project area their proposed project falls:

(1) reclaim technology, (2) reclaim market dynamics, or (3) innovative destruction technologies. If applicants do not indicate a project area, the EPA will assign a project area to the application after https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-84/subpart-A/section-84.29 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-84/subpart-A/section-84.29 consulting with the applicant. These project areas are intended to guide applicants in project design and assist the EPA reviewers to gain a better understanding of the proposed projects’ goals and outcomes. Each application will be scored and ranked independently of its project area. However, based on the number of meritorious applications received in each project area, the EPA intends to make at least one award in either of the reclaim project areas (1 and 2) and at least one award in the innovative destruction technologies project area (3).

Successful projects will provide a plan to thoughtfully and actively engage with and mitigate any potential negative human health or environmental risks and hazards to disadvantaged communities in the project design and implementation. Additionally, any projects that propose to build fixed infrastructure will have to comply with the Build America Buy America Act requirements, as described in Section VI.D. Successful implementation of these funds by grantees will result in the advancement of improved technologies, the deployment of technologies for HFC reclamation or destruction, and the identification of successful strategies to address barriers to HFC reclamation.

This NOFO allows for coalitions (described in greater detail in Section IV.D) of multiple organizations that are eligible entities to co-develop a proposed project together, with one organization as the lead applicant under the grant. Applicants are encouraged to think about potential project partners that could strengthen the design and implementation of potential projects. NOTE: for-profit organizations are not eligible for subawards under this grant program but may receive procurement contracts.

Expected projects to be funded under this announcement and the corresponding project area(s) could include, but are not limited to, the following (examples are provided for illustrative purposes):

• Project Area 1 (Reclaim Technology): Demonstrations1, pilot projects, and/or improved technologies that advance knowledge and technical capacity for HFC reclamation using metrics such as reduced time or cost to process HFCs, ability to handle mixed or contaminated refrigerants, unique and innovative deployment of existing technologies (e.g., portable reclaim), etc. Funding range: $3 million to $5 million.

o Example potential project: Two eligible entities apply as a coalition to address highly mixed or contaminated refrigerants by developing and testing a new technology that reduces the time required to reclaim those kinds of refrigerants. One entity provides the technical capability to develop the technology, and the other entity supports the field testing, community engagement, and workforce development components. At the end of the project, new technologies (or new applications of existing technologies) are developed that can reduce the time and/or cost of treating highly contaminated refrigerants that previously would have been destroyed. As a result, 1 The statutory term "demonstration" can encompass the first instance of the application of pollution control and prevention techniques, or an innovative application of a previously used method. Demonstrations generally 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.

these technologies are ready to be scaled up for more widespread use, or for additional testing and confirmation by external parties.

• Project Area 2 (Reclaim Market Dynamics): Pilot projects demonstrating effective strategies to increase the amount of HFCs reclaimed by creatively overcoming barriers and improving and/or addressing market dynamics. Funding range: $450,000 to $1.5 million.

o Example potential project: An eligible entity proposes a pilot project at the state or county scale that address barriers to reclaim in that geography and designs and implements innovative strategies to increase the amount of refrigerants reclaimed in that area. To gain a better understanding of the barriers to reclaim, the entity procures services under a competitive contract solicitation for private-sector reclaimers to inform the design of the project and its implementation. The project would include active engagement with the community about solutions. At the end of the project, the entity shares results that indicate a 30% increase in reclaimed refrigerants from their baseline data based on implementation of these innovative practices in their pilot location.

• Project Area 3 (Innovative Destruction Technologies): Demonstrations and/or pilot projects that advance knowledge and technical capacity for innovative HFC destruction technologies and/or innovative deployment of HFC destruction technologies (e.g., developing portable HFC destruction technology for use at ports, for example, which eliminate transportation externalities). Funding range: $3 million to $5 million.

Example potential project: An eligible entity develops techniques to deploy existing destruction technologies (approved for use under 40 CFR 84.29) in innovative new ways, such as by making the technology more compact and portable so that it is readily available to destroy unusable and/or unwanted HFCs, including illegally imported HFCs. The project is innovative in that it is utilizing technology that is not widely used in the U.S. and applying that technology in novel ways. The project contains a workforce development component to train existing and new technicians on its use. The project considers any potential negative human health or environmental risks and hazards to the local community and has a plan to mitigate them. As a result of the project, the new technology is ready to be deployed or further tested and reduces the time and potentially the cost to destroy unusable and/or unwanted HFCs by 20% based on field testing and baseline data collected during the duration of the project.

Disadvantaged Communities: The EPA is committed to accelerating environmental justice in communities overburdened by pollution through its IRA investments, including through this grant program. This program is responsive to the Administration’s call for agencies to advance environmental justice in Executive Order 14096: Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All.

Accordingly, applications should describe how proposed projects will advance environmental justice by meaningfully including disadvantaged communities in decision-making and discuss how it will mitigate any potential disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental risks and hazards to them. The EPA will evaluate applications under this NOFO for community involvement and avoided risks and hazards to disadvantaged communities from the proposed HFC reclaim or destruction projects under criterion 3 of Section V.A. Examples of community involvement and mitigated risks and hazards could include, but are not limited to:

• Effective community engagement resulting in an increased awareness of the environmental benefits of reclamation or destruction of unusable and/or unwanted HFCs.

• Mitigation of potential localized negative human health or environmental risks and hazards from project implementation.

For the purposes of this NOFO, the EPA defines disadvantaged communities as any community that meets at least one of the following characteristics:

1. Any census tract that is included as disadvantaged in the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) 2;

2. Any census block group that is at or above the 90th percentile for any of EJScreen’s Supplemental Indexes when compared to the nation or relevant state3; or,

3. Any geographic area within tribal lands as included in EJScreen4. (The HFC Reclaim and Innovative Destruction grants consider that federally recognized tribes meet the definition of disadvantaged communities for the purposes of this grant program.)

The EPA provides a geospatial map layer that combines the methodologies of 1, 2, and 3 above to facilitate identification of disadvantaged communities as defined for the EPA IRA programs. This map layer can be found on the EJScreen website.5 Although some states may have state-specific definitions of disadvantaged communities, applicants for HFC reclaim and innovative destruction grants must use the EPA’s definition.

Data, analyses, and results from CEJST and EJScreen may be included as an optional attachment, which will not count towards the project narrative 15-page limit; see Section IV.C. for more information.

2 CEJST has an interactive map and uses datasets that are environmental and socioeconomic indicators of burdens.

Percentiles show how much burden each Census tract experiences compared to other tracts. To qualify as a disadvantaged community in the CEJST, one of the burden indicators must be at or above the 90th percentile. In addition, lands within the boundaries of Federally Recognized Tribes are also considered to be disadvantaged communities.

3 EJScreen is the EPA's environmental justice mapping and screening tool that uses national datasets for environmental and socioeconomic indicators to show how a selected area compares to the state, the EPA region, or the nation. EJScreen operates at a finer geographic scale of Census block groups than the CEJST, allowing EJScreen Supplemental Indexes to identify smaller areas that may be disadvantaged within a larger non-disadvantaged area. To identify areas in EJScreen that meet one of the above definitions of a disadvantaged community, applicants should use the “Supplemental Indexes” option under the tool’s map layers.

4 As set forth in M-23-09, the Addendum to the Interim Implementation Guidance for the Justice40 Initiative, M-21-28, on using the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), “all Federally Recognized Tribal entities are considered disadvantaged communities for the purposes of the Justice40 Initiative.” The CEJST uses the Bureau of Indian Affairs Land Area Representation dataset to depict American Indian land areas for Federally Recognized Tribes. The Tribal Lands category in EJScreen to use for this purpose includes Alaska Native Allotments (EPA Metadata Record), Alaska Native Villages (EPA Metadata Record), American Indian Reservations (EPA Metadata Record), American Indian Off-reservation Trust Lands (EPA Metadata Record), and Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Areas (EPA Metadata Record).

5 The EJScreen mapping tool is available at: https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/. To locate the map layer displaying areas that meet the EPA definition of disadvantaged communities, go to the “Places” Tab, then select “Justice40/IRA” from the drop-down menu, and then select “EPA IRA Disadvantaged Communities.” At the time of release of this NOFO, EJScreen version

2.2 was the current version.

https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/ https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/ https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen https://epa.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=f3be939070844eac8a14103ed6f9affd https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen/ej-and-supplemental-indexes-ejscreen https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/

Additional details on the contents of applications, including specifics on what should be included in the project narrative and other optional attachments such as partnership letters, are included in Section

IV.C.

C. Environmental Results and Strategic Plan Information

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

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

Objective 4.1, “Improve Air Quality and Reduce Localized Pollution and Health Impacts.” Under this objective, “EPA will reduce air pollution on local, regional, and national scales to achieve healthy air quality for people and the environment.” All applications must be for projects that support the goals and objectives above. For more information, see the EPA’s FY 2022 – FY 2026 EPA Strategic Plan.

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

Expected outputs from the projects to be funded under this announcement include, but are not limited to:

• Pilot projects or demonstration projects that show advancements in HFC reclamation technologies and innovative destruction technologies; innovative deployment of HFC destruction technologies; and/or addressing HFC reclaim market dynamics leading to increased availability of reclaimed HFCs.

• Reduced time or cost to reclaim or destroy HFCs compared to baseline data.

• Expansion of types of refrigerants that can be reclaimed (i.e., highly contaminated or mixed refrigerants).

• Increased knowledge and understanding of HFC reclamation (e.g., co-pollutants (as applicable), supply chain transportation), innovative destruction technologies, innovative deployment of HFC destruction technologies, and/or strategies to increase http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan reclaimed HFCs. References that may be useful include the EPA’s HFC Reclamation Market Report6 or Frequent Questions on the Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons.7

• Publicly shared research, technical reports, papers, and/or webinars, including applicable quantifiable data, to the extent it is available, that identify and provide information about technological and/or market improvements to increase the reclaim and innovative destruction of HFCs and/or the innovative deployment of HFC destruction technologies.

• Demonstration of technologies that are scalable and practical for use beyond laboratory settings.

• Demonstration of strategies that reduce barriers to HFC reclamation that are scalable and replicable.

• Evidence for development and scale-up process, demonstration scenarios, and cost structures/business models to apply reclaim or destruction technologies nationally.

• Outreach materials for the public demonstrating the benefits of HFC reclaim or destruction technologies.

• Outreach and training materials for technicians (working in the field or supply chain) emphasizing best practices for HFC reclamation or destruction, as well as technician safety.

For projects under project areas 1 (reclaim technology) and 3 (innovative destruction technology), the EPA will prioritize funding for projects with expected results that can be practically applied in real-world settings and potentially transform HFC reclaim or destruction; proof-of concept or bench-scale projects are a lower funding priority. While this NOFO solicits innovative HFC technology projects, in general, applicants should not propose a new prototype but rather a system that can be demonstrated to improve HFC reclaim or destruction outcomes.

Assessment with Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) is a formal approach to evaluate the maturity of a technology and has been widely adopted by the industry to manage technology development.8 There are three main stages of development. The first stage (technology with TRL 1-3) involves designing a feasibility prototype based on an invention. The second stage (technology with TRL 4-6) requires prototype development, aiming to deliver the α prototype, which embeds all the essential features in the final product. The final stage (technology with TRL 7-9) involves commercial product development. This NOFO will prioritize HFC technology that is ready to be validated and demonstrated outside the lab, equivalent to a TRL of 5-6. Applications should clearly define the TRL of their technology. Projects with a lower TRL may not be rated as highly as those with a higher

6 EPA, October 2022, Analysis of the U.S. Hydrofluorocarbon Reclamation Market: Stakeholders, Drivers, and Practices.

Available at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-10/Draft_HFC-Reclamation-Report_10-13- 22%20sxf%20v3.pdf (Note: An updated reclamation market report is available at:

https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0606-0021).

7 EPA, Frequent Questions on the Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/frequent-questions-phasedown-hydrofluorocarbons.

8 See: Mankins J. (1995). Technology Readiness Levels – A White Paper. NASA Office of Space Access and Technology.

Available at: http://www.artemisinnovation.com/images/TRL_White_Paper_2004-Edited.pdf. Also: Tzinis I. (2012).

Technology Readiness Level. NASA. Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/space-communications-navigation-program/technology-readiness-levels/.

https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-10/Draft_HFC-Reclamation-Report_10-13-22%20sxf%20v3.pdf https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-10/Draft_HFC-Reclamation-Report_10-13-22%20sxf%20v3.pdf https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0606-0021 https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/frequent-questions-phasedown-hydrofluorocarbons https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/frequent-questions-phasedown-hydrofluorocarbons http://www.artemisinnovation.com/images/TRL_White_Paper_2004-Edited.pdf https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/space-communications-navigation-program/technology-readiness-levels/ https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/space-communications-navigation-program/technology-readiness-levels/

TRL. (NOTE: grant funding cannot be used for commercialization or for-profit initiatives such as business creation.)

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

“Reporting Requirements,” of this NOFO.

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

Expected outcomes from the projects to be funded under this announcement include, but are not limited to:

• Reduction of HFCs released into the atmosphere through reclaim and effective destruction of unusable and/or unwanted HFCs.

• Increased amount of HFCs reclaimed to the purity standards described in AHRI Standard 700-2016 (or an appropriate successor standard adopted by the Administrator).

• Strategies to lower barriers to HFC reclamation (e.g., reduced costs in reclaiming HFCs, amount of time reduced in reclaiming HFCs, etc.) to support increased amounts of reclaimed HFCs.

D. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for this action is Section 60109 of the IRA (Public Law 117-169), which authorizes the award of grants for HFC reclaim and innovative destruction technologies. This funding opportunity will award grants that address the goals of Section 60109 of the IRA by supporting the goals and objectives of the AIM Act.

E. Minority Serving Institutions

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

For purposes of this solicitation, 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. § https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/

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.

F. Requirements for Increasing Access to Results of EPA-Funded Extramural Scientific Research

1. It is the EPA policy to ensure that the results of the EPA-funded extramural scientific research are accessible to the public to the greatest extent feasible consistent with applicable law, policies, and Orders; the Agency’s mission; resource constraints; and U.S. national, homeland and economic security. This entails maximizing, at no charge, access by the public to peer-reviewed, scientific research journal publications or associated author manuscripts, and their underlying digital research data, created in whole or in part with EPA funds, while protecting personal privacy; recognizing proprietary interests, confidential business information, and intellectual property rights; and avoiding significant negative impact on innovation and U.S.

competitiveness. The EPA’s Policy for Increasing Access to Results of the EPA-Funded Extramural Scientific Research and the terms and conditions may be accessed at: Non-EPA Researcher Requirements. Applications submitted under this solicitation shall include a Scientific Data Management Plan (SDMP) that addresses public access to the EPA-funded scientific research data. See the SDMP clause in Section IV for details on the content of an SDMP. Applicants will also be asked to provide past performance information on whether journal publications or associated author manuscripts, and the associated underlying scientific research data and metadata, under prior assistance agreements were made publicly accessible.

These items will be evaluated prior to award.

Reasonable, necessary, and allocable costs for data management and public access may be included in extramural research applications and detailed in the budget justification described in Section IV.

2. Agency policy and ethical considerations prevent the EPA technical staff and managers from providing applicants with information that may create an unfair competitive advantage.

Consequently, the EPA employees will not review, comment, advise, and/or provide technical assistance to applicants preparing applications in response to the EPA funding opportunities.

The EPA employees cannot endorse any particular application.

3. Multiple Investigator applications may be submitted as: (1) a single Lead Principal Investigator (PI) application with Co-PI(s) or (2) a Multiple PI application (with a single Contact PI). If you choose to submit a Multiple PI application, you must follow the specific instructions provided in Sections IV and V of this NOFO. For further information, please see the EPA Implementation Plan for Policy on Multiple Principal Investigators.

4. These awards may involve the collection of “Geospatial Information,” which includes information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/hispanic-serving-institutions-hsis/ https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=3&source=embed&ll=40.58644586187277%2C-148.28228249999984 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY&ie=UTF&msa=0&ll=37.35160769312532%2C-96.17229800000001&z=4 https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grants-guidance-and-policies https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grants-guidance-and-policies features or boundaries on the Earth or applications, tools, and hardware associated with the generation, maintenance, or distribution of such information. This information may be derived from, among other things, a Geographic Positioning System (GPS), remote sensing, mapping, charting, surveying technologies, or statistical data.

G. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

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

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

A. Amount of Funding Available

The total estimated funding expected to be available for awards under this competitive opportunity is approximately $14,250,000. Funding is dependent upon agency appropriations, funding availability, Agency priorities, and other applicable considerations.

B. Number and Amount of Awards

The EPA anticipates awarding a total of approximately four to nine grants under this announcement, depending on the type of project and subject to the availability of funds, the quality of proposals received, and other applicable considerations. Awards are expected to be between $450,000 and $5 million. The funding cap for an award is $6.5 million. As described in Section I, the following are approximate funding ranges for specific project areas:

Project Area 1 (Reclaim Technology): approximately $3 million to $5 million.

Project Area 2 (Reclaim Market Dynamics): approximately $450,000 to $1.5 million.

Project Area 3 (Innovative Destruction Technologies): approximately $3 million to $5 million.

Each applicant can submit up to a total of three applications. As stated in Section I, the EPA intends to make at least one award in either of the reclaim project areas (1 and 2) and at least one award in the innovative destruction technologies project area (3). If the EPA selects multiple applications from an applicant, the EPA may combine the selected applications into one grant award for the successful applicant (See Section VI.B. Combining of Successful Applications into One Award).

C. Funding Set-Asides

Approximately $1.5 million is available for competitive grants under this opportunity as a set-aside for federally recognized tribes. The actual award amounts and number of projects awarded under the set-aside described in Section I may differ from the estimated amounts for many reasons, including the http://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses 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 this set-aside or change the ratio of assistance agreements it awards among the set-asides.

D. Partial Funding

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

E. Additional Awards

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

F. Award Funding and Incremental/Full Funding

Awards are expected to be fully funded, as appropriate, based on funding availability, satisfactory performance, and other applicable considerations.

G. Period of Performance

The estimated period of performance for awards resulting from this solicitation will be up to five years.

The estimated project start date for awards is Fall 2024.

H. Funding Type

It is anticipated that grants will be funded under this solicitation.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

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

A. Eligible Entities

Consistent with Assistance Listing No. 66.047 and the EPA’s Policy for Competition of Assistance Agreements (EPA Order § 5700.5A1), competition under this solicitation is available to states (including the District of Columbia); local governments; U.S. territories and possessions; Indian tribes; public universities and colleges, hospitals, and laboratories; and other public or private nonprofit institutions.

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

Consistent with the definition of nonprofit organization at 2 CFR § 200.1, the term nonprofit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that is operated mainly for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purpose in the public interest and is not organized primarily for profit; and uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operation of the organization. The term includes tax-exempt nonprofit neighborhood and labor organizations. Note that 2 CFR § 200.1 specifically excludes Institutions of Higher Education from the definition of nonprofit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation. While not considered to be a nonprofit organization as defined by 2 CFR § 200.1, public or nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this NOFO. Hospitals operated by state, tribal, or local governments or that meet the definition of nonprofit at 2 CFR § 200.1 are also eligible to apply as nonprofits or as instrumentalities of the unit of government depending on the applicable law. For-profit colleges, universities, trade schools, and hospitals are ineligible.

Nonprofit organizations that are not exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code must submit other forms of documentation of nonprofit status, such as certificates of incorporation as nonprofit under state or tribal law. Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under section 501 I (4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible for the EPA funding as provided in the Lobbying Disclosure Act, 2 U.S.C. 1611.

For-profit organizations are not an eligible entity for this funding opportunity. Additionally, nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply.

B. Voluntary Cost Sharing or Matching Funds

Cost sharing/matching is not required as a condition of eligibility under this competition.

C. Threshold Criteria

All applications will be reviewed for eligibility and must meet the eligibility requirements described in Sections III. A., B., and C., to be considered eligible. If necessary, the EPA may contact applicants to clarify threshold eligibility questions prior to making an eligibility determination. Applicants deemed ineligible for funding consideration due to the threshold eligibility review will be notified within 15 calendar days of the ineligibility determination.

1. Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section IV or else they will be rejected. However, where a page limit is expressed in Section IV.C. with respect to the application, or parts thereof, pages in excess of the 15-page limitation will not be reviewed. Applicants are advised that readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in application format, including selecting a legible font type and size for use in the application.

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

2. The EPA will only consider accepting applications from applicants that are able to demonstrate that they are unable to submit through Grants.gov due to Grants.gov or relevant SAM.gov system issues or for unforeseen exigent circumstances, such as extreme weather interfering with internet access. Failure to submit the application prior to the application submission deadline date because they did not properly or timely register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov is not an acceptable reason to justify acceptance of an application outside of Grants.gov.

NOTE: Registering in SAM.gov or Grants.gov can take a month or more. Applicants are advised to begin their registration process early so it does not interfere with drafting the application near the deadline.

3. Applications must support Goal 4 “Ensure Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities;” Objective 4.1: “Improve Air Quality and Reduce Localized Pollution and Health Impacts” of the EPA’s Strategic Plan described in Section I.C.

4. Applications may only address one project area. Applications that address more than one project area will be rejected.

5. Applications must identify which project area they are applying under in their original application or after consultation with EPA: (1) Reclaim technologies, (2) Reclaim market dynamics, or (3) Innovative destruction technologies. If an application does not clearly indicate which project area is being addressed, EPA will contact the applicant to clarify and assign a project area.

6. Applications that propose projects under innovative destruction technologies must demonstrate that their proposed technologies will use one of the approved technologies listed at 40 CFR

84.29. Applications must include the name of the destruction technology as listed in 40 CFR 84.29 and the HFCs they intend to destroy.

Applications which request the EPA assistance funds less than $450,000 or in excess of $6.5 million as specified in Section II.B of this NOFO, are not eligible and will not be reviewed.

Additionally, if an applicant submits more than three applications, the applicant will be contacted prior to the EPA review of any of the applications to determine which application(s) the applicant will withdraw from the competition.

D. Ineligible Activities and Other Considerations

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

1. Ineligible Costs or Activities. If an application is submitted that includes any ineligible tasks or activities, that portion of the application will be ineligible for funding and may, depending on mailto:HFCGrants@epa.gov http://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-84/subpart-A/section-84.29 http://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-84/subpart-A/section-84.29 the extent to which it affects the application, render the entire application ineligible for funding. Activities must meet the following requirements to be eligible for funding:

a. Federal Matching Funds: Funding under this NOFO cannot be included as a cost or used to meet cost sharing or matching requirements of any other federally financed grant, as required under 2 CFR 200.306(b)(5) and 2 CFR 200.403(f).

b. Expenses Incurred Prior to the Project Period: Funding under this NOFO cannot be used to cover expenses incurred prior to the project period set forth in any assistance agreement funded under this NOFO, except for eligible pre-award costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.458 and as authorized by 2 CFR 200.309 and 2 CFR 1500.

2. Other…