EPA-R4-LCRD-2021-01.pdf

FEDERAL AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 4, Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division (LCRD)

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE: 2021 Region 4 Source Reduction Assistance Grants

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Request for Applications (RFA)

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER (CFDA): 66.717

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: EPA-R4-LCRD-2021-01

IMPORTANT DATES

March 5, 2021 RFA OPENS April 19, 2021 RFA CLOSES April 30, 2021 ANTICIPATED NOTIFICATION OF SELECTION Before September 30, 2021 AWARD ISSUED

COVID-19 Update: EPA is providing flexibilities to applicants experiencing challenges related to COVID-19. Please see the Flexibilities Available to Organizations Impacted by COVID-19 clause in Section IV of EPA's Solicitation Clauses.

Applications are due by April 19, 2021, 11:59 pm, Eastern Time. EPA will receive applications electronically through Grants.gov. Applications will be electronically date and time stamped. Please refer to Section IV.A of this announcement for full information on the submission process. Applications must be submitted on time in order to be considered for funding.

SUMMARY: EPA Region 4 is announcing this grant competition and soliciting applications from eligible applicants that will improve community resilience and sustainability through pollution prevention. Pollution Prevention is any practice that reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant entering any waste stream or otherwise released into the environment (including fugitive emissions) prior to recycling, treatment or disposal. Applicants must select at least one of the following technical assistance methods: a) research, b) investigation, c) experiments, d) education, e) training, f) studies and/or g) demonstration of innovative techniques. Applicants’ projects must take place within EPA Region 4, which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

FUNDING / AWARDS: EPA Region 4 anticipates awarding approximately $160,000 under this announcement. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 2-4 grants, ranging from approximately $40,000 to $80,000, subject to the availability of funds, the quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations.

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.A. Background

I.B. Scope of Work

I.C. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage

I.D. Measuring Environmental Results: Anticipated Outputs and Outcomes and Performance Measures

I.E. EPA Statutory Authorities

II. AWARD INFORMATION

II.A. Number of Expected Awards and Federal Funding Amounts

II.B. Partial Funding

II.C. Cooperative Agreement

II.D. Project Period

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

III.A. Eligible Applicants

III.B. Cost Share/Matching Requirement

III.C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

IV.A. Requirements to Submit Through Grants.gov

IV.B. Content of Application Package

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

V.A. Evaluation Criteria

V.B. Review and Selection Process

V.C. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

VI.A. Award Notification

VI.B. Administrative Requirements

VI.C. Reporting Requirement

VI.D. Disputes

VII. AGENCY CONTACT

Appendix A: Budget Object Class Description Detail

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

I.A. Background

Source Reduction Assistance (SRA) grants can support research, investigation, experiments, surveys, study, demonstration, education and training using source reduction approaches (also known as “pollution prevention” and herein referred to as “P2”). P2 reduces the hazards to public health and the environment associated with the release of such substances, pollutants or contaminants. For more information about EPA’s P2 program please visit: https://www.epa.gov/p2

P2 includes powerful tools that protect public health and the environment by:

• Reducing the use, release, and exposure to toxic chemicals

• Implementing life cycle approaches to reduce the health and environmental impacts

• Employing upstream solutions that reduce the need and cost of environmental cleanup and pollution management

• Reducing the demand for virgin, raw materials

• Reducing the demand for and cost of utility services such as power, water, and wastewater treatment through energy and water efficiency

• Increasing the efficiency of materials use and reuse

How Does EPA Define P2? Pollution prevention is any practice which reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant entering any waste stream or otherwise released into the environment (including fugitive emissions) prior to recycling of discarded material, treatment, or disposal; and reduces the hazards to public health and the environment associated with the release of those substances, pollutants, or contaminants. P2 practices include equipment or technology modifications, process or procedure modifications, reformulation or redesign of products, substitution of raw materials, and improvements in housekeeping, maintenance, training, or inventory control. EPA has also interpreted P2 as including practices that increase efficient use of water, energy, raw materials, or other resources that may protect natural resources through conservation methods, or in-process recycling (i.e., process improvements to reuse materials within the same business/facility in the production process). Reducing the amount of pollution in the environment means producing less waste to control, treat, or dispose. Less pollution means fewer hazards posed to public health and the environment.

What is Not P2? For purposes of this announcement, P2 does not involve practices which alter the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics or the volume of a pollutant, hazardous substance or contaminant through a process or activity which itself is not integral to and necessary to produce a product or in providing a service. See Pollution Prevention Act Section 6603 and 40 CFR 35.343 and

35.662. The following are not P2 activities and cannot serve as the basis for P2 grant funding: recycling of discarded materials, waste clean-up, disposal activities, managing or processing of non-hazardous solid waste (e.g., paper, cardboard, glass, plastics), and the implementation of Lean manufacturing activities that do not involve reductions in the use/release of hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, greenhouse gas releases or water use. If any of these activities represents more than a small and ancillary part of the proposed work, EPA will not consider the application for an award.

https://www.epa.gov/p2

I.B. Scope of Work

EPA Region 4 is particularly interested in receiving applications that offer hands-on practical source reduction tools and training on P2 approaches to measurably improve public health and the health of the environment by reducing the use of hazardous substances, reducing toxic pollutants, supporting efficiencies in reducing resource use (e.g., water and energy), and reducing business expenditures and liability costs. Suggested project types are provided below, but they are not an exhaustive list. EPA Region 4 welcomes innovative, bold strategies designed to accelerate and drive P2 and source reduction.

Projects should align with a state and/or local mandate, policy, and/or community priority to improve community resilience and/or sustainability, as well as demonstrate a commitment and intention to continue efforts that support or address pollution prevention after EPA funding for the project has ended.

Applications must address one or both of the following EPA P2 National Emphasis Areas (NEA):

1. Automotive Manufacturing: Carry out P2 technical assistance and projects with businesses in the automotive industry. Projects under this NEA should facilitate and encourage businesses to identify, develop and adopt P2 practices in manufacturing of automobiles and the supply chain.

2. Food and Beverage Manufacturing and Processing: Carry out P2 technical assistance and projects with food and beverage manufacturing and processing businesses for the purpose of reducing toxic air emissions or water discharges, water or energy usage, hazardous materials generation and use. Technical assistance projects or activities associated with restaurants, grocery stores and other retail establishments, do not qualify for this NEA.

P2 activities under these two areas could include:

• Conducting trainings, conferences or roundtables for many businesses and P2 technical assistance providers to share pollution prevention best practices and/or demonstrate pollution prevention technologies.

• Develop demonstration and/or training materials for manufacturers and their suppliers to identify, develop nature-based solutions to reduce pollution and address climate change.

• Provide technical assistance/training to the automotive supply chain facilities in the southeast to help them develop and adopt pollution prevention practices.

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 considered a demonstration project; such activities are not eligible for funding under this announcement.

I.C. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage

The activities to be funded under this announcement support EPA’s FY 2018-22 Strategic Plan. Awards made under this announcement will support Goal 1: A Cleaner, Healthier Environment; Objective 1.3 Revitalize Land and Prevent Contamination, and Objective 1.4 Ensure Safety of Chemical in the

Marketplace; Goal 2: More Effective Partnerships, Objective 2.1 Enhance Shared Accountability, Objective 2.2 Increase Transparency and Public Participation; and Goal 3: Greater Certainty, Compliance and Effectiveness, Objective 3.1 Compliance with the Law, Objective 3.2 Create Consistency and Certainty, 3.3 Prioritize Robust Science, 3.4 Streamline and Modernize, and 3.5 Improve Efficiency and Effectiveness. All projects must support one or more of the goals and objectives identified above. View EPA’s Strategic Plan online at https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.

I.D. Measuring Environmental Results: Anticipated Outputs and Outcomes and Performance Measures

Pursuant to EPA Order 5700.7 “Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements,” EPA requires that all grant applicants and recipients adequately address environmental outputs and outcomes.

Outputs and outcomes differ both in their nature and in how they are measured. Applicants must discuss environmental outputs and outcomes in the Narrative.

1. 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 specified period of time or by a specified date. Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during an assistance agreement funding period.

Outputs include but are not limited to:

• Number of activities that widely share P2 practices (i.e., training/demonstration projects, webinars, roundtables, or other outreach).

• Number of attendees at training/demonstration projects, webinars, roundtables, or other outreach conducted.

• Types of skills and abilities achieved by training participants.

• Number of outreach materials developed and distributed (e.g., fact sheets, leaflets, social media posts, case studies).

• Number of stakeholder groups involved in the process.

• Number of technical assistance assessments or visits.

• Number of workshops, trainings/project demonstrations and courses conducted.

• Number of jobs created from a training program

2. 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 qualitative or quantitative, and can be environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic in nature. Applications must include a description of anticipated project outcomes resulting from the project outputs, even if the outcome to be achieved is beyond the assistance agreement funding period. Include the quantitative target associated with the outcome, as appropriate.

Anticipated outcomes include, but are not limited to:

• Measurable improvements to environmental and/or ecosystem conditions and management including, but not limited to:

https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan o pounds of toxic or hazardous materials reduced, o gallons of water reduced, o metric tons of greenhouse gas eliminated, o reduction in kilowatt hours of energy used, and o reduction of gallons of water used.

• Dollars saved by businesses.

• Increase in the number of pollution prevention assessments, lifecycle analyses, and/or lean manufacturing assessments conducted at businesses, institutions or local government facilities.

• Adoption of pollution prevention activities at businesses and/or communities.

3. Performance Measures: The applicant should also develop performance measures they expect to achieve through the proposed activities and describe them in their application. These performance measures will help gather insights and will be the mechanism to track progress concerning successful processes and output and outcome strategies and will provide the basis for developing lessons to inform future recipients. It is expected that the description of performance measures will directly relate to the project outcomes and outputs. The following are questions to consider when developing output and outcome measures of quantitative and qualitative results:

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

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

I.E. EPA Statutory Authorities

This grant opportunity is awarded under the following EPA statutory authorities: Clean Air Act, Section 103(b)(3), as amended; Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3), as amended; Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20, as amended; Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442 (a)(1) and (c), as amended; Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001(a), as amended; and Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10, as amended. All application activities must apply at least one of the statutory authorities listed above.

The grant authorities within each statute authorize the agency to award assistance agreements to (1) conduct research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, surveys, and studies related to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, and control of air and/or water pollution; (2) conduct research, development, monitoring, public education, training, demonstrations, and studies on pesticides; (3) develop, expand, or carry out a program (that may combine training, education, and employment) for occupations relating to the public health aspects of providing safe drinking water; (4) conduct and promote the coordination of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, public education programs, and studies; and (5) conduct research, development, monitoring, public education, training, demonstrations, and studies on toxic substances.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

II.A. Number of Expected Awards and Federal Funding Amounts

EPA Region 4 anticipates awarding approximately $160,000 under this announcement. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 2-4 grants, ranging from approximately $40,000 to $80,000, subject to the availability of funds, the quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations. Awards will be issued by EPA Region 4 and managed by the LCRD.

EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this solicitation, consistent with Agency policy and guidance, if additional funding becomes available after the original selections are made. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than 6 months after the original selection decisions.

II.B. Partial Funding

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

II.C. Cooperative Agreement

The funding for selected projects will be in the form of a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement is an assistance agreement that is used when there is substantial involvement between the EPA and the grant recipient throughout the grant project period. EPA will negotiate precise terms and conditions relating to substantial involvement as part of the award process. The anticipated substantial federal involvement may include:

• Review and approve project phases;

• Review proposed work of sub-grantees and contractors collaborating with the recipient;

• Review proposed procurements in accordance with 2 CFR 200.317 and 2 CFR 200.318;

• Collaborating during performance of the work;

• Review qualifications of key personnel (EPA will not select employees or contractors employed by the award recipient);

• Approve any proposed changes to the work plan and/or budget;

• Closely monitor the recipient's performance; and

• Review and comment on tasks or deliverables and reports or publications prepared under the cooperative agreement (the final decision on the content of reports rests with the recipient).

II.D. Project Period

The estimated start date for projects resulting from this solicitation is October 1, 2021. All project activities must be completed within the negotiated project performance period of no longer than two years.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

III.A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include States, local, Tribal, interstate, and intrastate government agencies and instrumentalities, and non-profit organizations formed under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (not 501(c)(4) organizations that lobby). All projects must take place within Region 4.

III.B. Cost Share/Matching Requirement

Applications require a cost share/match of 5% of the federal funds requested. See 2 CFR 200.306(b) for a definition of match and a description of match criteria. To illustrate, if the total project cost is $50,000, the applicant must be able to provide $2,500 in cash or in-kind contributions in order to meet the 5% cost share/match requirement and be eligible to receive $47,500 in federal grant funding from

EPA.

III.C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

Applications must meet the following threshold eligibility criteria when they submit their application.

Applications that fail to meet any one of the threshold criteria will not be considered further.

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. Applications that successfully meet the threshold criteria will then be evaluated using the criteria described in Section V.A., Evaluation Criteria. The threshold eligibility criteria are:

1. Demonstration of Applicant Eligibility - Provide information in the Cover Page described in

Section IV that demonstrates how you are an eligible entity as specified in Section III.A. Also demonstrate in the Narrative Response described in Section IV how you will meet the match requirement in Section III.B.

2. Projects must meet the definition of Pollution Prevention and address one or both NEAs described in Section 1.B. (Scope of Work) of this announcement.

3. Eligible projects must take place within EPA Region 4, which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee

4. Ineligible activities: If an application is submitted that includes any ineligible tasks or activities, that portion of the application will be ineligible for funding and may, depending on the extent to which it affects the application, render the entire application ineligible for funding

5. 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. Pages in excess of the page limitation (ten pages) for the Narrative will not be reviewed.

6. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov as specified 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.A.) on or before the application submission deadline. Applicants are responsible for following the submission instructions in Section IV.A.

of this announcement to ensure that their application is submitted properly.

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

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

IV.A. Requirements to Submit Through Grants.gov

Applicants, except as noted below, must apply electronically through Grants.gov under this funding opportunity based on the Grants.gov instructions in this announcement. If an applicant does not have the technical capability to apply electronically through Grants.gov because of limited or no internet access which prevents them from being able to upload the required application materials to Grants.gov, the applicant must contact OMS-ARM-OGDWaivers@epa.gov or the address listed below in writing (e.g., by hard copy, email) at least 15 calendar days prior to the submission deadline under this announcement to request approval to submit their application materials through an alternate method.

Mailing Address:

OGD Waivers c/o Jessica Durand USEPA Headquarters William Jefferson Clinton Building 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N. W.

Mail Code: 3903R Washington, DC 20460

Courier Address:

OGD Waivers c/o Jessica Durand Ronald Reagan Building 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.

Rm # 51278 Washington, DC 20004

In the request, the applicant must include the following information:

• Funding Opportunity Number (FON)

• Organization Name and Unique Entity Identifier (e.g., DUNS)

• Organization's Contact Information (email address and phone number) https://www.grants.gov/ https://sam.gov/SAM/ http://grants.gov/ https://sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:OMS-ARM-OGDWaivers@epa.gov

• Explanation of how they lack the technical capability to apply electronically through Grants.gov because of 1) limited internet access or 2) no internet access which prevents them from being able to upload the required application materials through Grants.gov.

EPA will only consider alternate submission exception requests based on the two reasons stated above and will timely respond to the request -- all other requests will be denied. If an alternate submission method is approved, the applicant will receive documentation of this approval and further instructions on how to apply under this announcement. Applicants will be required to submit the documentation of approval with any initial application submitted under the alternative method. In addition, any submittal through an alternative method must comply with all applicable requirements and deadlines in the announcement including the submission deadline and requirements regarding application content and page limits (although the documentation of approval of an alternate submission method will not count against any page limits).

If an exception is granted, it is valid for submissions to EPA for the remainder of the entire calendar year in which the exception was approved and can be used to justify alternative submission methods for application submissions made through December 31 of the calendar year in which the exception was approved (e.g., if the exception was approved on March 1, 2020, it is valid for any competitive or non-competitive application submission to EPA through December 31, 2020). Applicants need only request an exception once in a calendar year and all exceptions will expire on December 31 of that calendar year. Applicants must request a new exception from required electronic submission through Grants.gov for submissions for any succeeding calendar year. For example, if there is a competitive opportunity issued on December 1, 2020 with a submission deadline of January 15, 2021, the applicant would need a new exception to submit through alternative methods beginning January 1, 2021. Please note that the process described in this section is only for requesting alternate submission methods. All other inquiries about this announcement must be directed to the Agency Contact listed in Section VII of the announcement. Queries or requests submitted to the email address identified above for any reason other than to request an alternate submission method will not be acknowledged or answered.

B. Submission Instructions

The electronic submission of your application must be made by an official representative of your institution who is registered with Grants.gov and is authorized to sign applications for Federal assistance. For more information on the registration requirements that must be completed in order to submit an application through Grants.gov, go to Grants.gov and click on "Applicants" on the top of the page and then go to the "Get Registered" link on the page. If your organization is not currently registered with Grants.gov, please encourage your office to designate an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and ask that individual to begin the registration process as soon as possible.

Please note that the registration process also requires that your organization have a Unique Entity Identifier (e.g. DUNS number) and a current registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) and the process of obtaining both could take a month or more. Applicants must ensure that all registration requirements are met in order to apply for this opportunity through Grants.gov and should ensure that all such requirements have been met well in advance of the submission deadline.

Registration on Grants.gov, SAM.gov, and DUNS number assignment is FREE.

Applicants need to ensure that the AOR who submits the application through Grants.gov and whose Unique Entity Identifier (e.g., DUNS number) is listed on the application is an AOR for the applicant https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://sam.gov/SAM/ listed on the application. Additionally, the Unique Entity Identifier listed on the application must be registered to the applicant organization's SAM account. If not, the application may be deemed ineligible.

To begin the application process under this grant announcement, go to Grants.gov and click on "Applicants" on the top of the page and then "Apply for Grants" from the dropdown menu and then follow the instructions accordingly. Please note: To apply through Grants.gov, you must use Adobe Reader software and download the compatible Adobe Reader version. For more information about Adobe Reader, to verify compatibility, or to download the free software, please visit Adobe Reader Compatibility Information on Grants.gov

You may also be able to access the application package for this announcement by searching for the opportunity on Grants.gov. Go to Grants.gov and then click on "Search Grants" at the top of the page and enter the Funding Opportunity Number, EPA-R4-LCRD-2021- 01, or the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number that applies to the announcement (CFDA 66.717 EPA), in the appropriate field and click the Search button.

Please Note: All applications must now be submitted through Grants.gov using the "Workspace" feature. Information on the Workspace feature can be found at the Grants.gov Workspace Overview Page.

Application Submission Deadline: Your organization's AOR must submit your complete application package electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than April 19, 2021, 11:59 PM ET. Please allow for enough time to successfully submit your application and allow for unexpected errors that may require you to resubmit.

Please submit all of the application materials described below using the Grants.gov application package accessed using the instructions above.

Application Materials

The following forms and documents are required under this announcement:

Mandatory Documents:

1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

2. Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)

3. EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54

4. EPA Form 4700-4 Preaward Compliance Review Report

5. Narrative - Project Narrative Attachment Form in Grants.gov. This must include the Cover Page and Narrative Response, which cannot exceed ten pages in total, as described in Section IV.B.

Optional Documents:

6. Other Attachments- Letters of partnership, as described in Section IV.B.1.d.

Applications submitted through Grants.gov will be time and date stamped electronically.

If you have not received a confirmation of receipt from EPA (not from grants.gov) within 30 days of https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ the application deadline, please contact Christina Bitten, at 404-562-8569. Failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed.

Technical Issues With Submission

1. Once the application package has been completed, the "Submit" button should be enabled. If the "Submit" button is not active, please call Grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726. Applicants who are outside the U.S. at the time of submittal and are not able to access the toll-free number may reach a Grants.gov representative by calling 606-545-5035. Applicants should save the completed application package with two different file names before providing it to the AOR to avoid having to re-create the package should submission problems be experienced or a revised application needs to be submitted.

2. Submitting the application. The application package must be transferred to Grants.gov by an AOR. The AOR should close all other software before attempting to submit the application package.

Click the "submit" button of the application package. Your Internet browser will launch and a sign-in page will appear. Note: Minor problems are not uncommon with transfers to Grants.gov. It is essential to allow sufficient time to ensure that your application is submitted to Grants.gov BEFORE the due date identified in Section IV of the solicitation. The Grants.gov support desk operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except Federal Holidays. A successful transfer will end with an on-screen acknowledgement. For documentation purposes, print or screen capture this acknowledgement. If a submission problem occurs, reboot the computer turning the power off may be necessary and re-attempt the submission.

Note: Grants.gov issues a "case number" upon a request for assistance.

3. Transmission Difficulties. If transmission difficulties that result in a late transmission, no transmission, or rejection of the transmitted application are experienced, and following the above instructions do not resolve the problem so that the application is submitted to Grants.gov by the deadline date and time, follow the guidance below. The Agency will make a decision concerning acceptance of each late submission on a case-by-case basis. All emails, as described below, are to be sent to Christina Bitten at bitten.christina@epa.gov with the FON in the subject line. If you are unable to email, contact Christina Bitten at 404-562-8569. Be aware that EPA will only consider accepting applications that were unable to transmit due to Grants.gov or relevant SAM.gov system issues or for unforeseen exigent circumstances, such as extreme weather interfering with internet access. Failure of an applicant to submit timely because they did not properly or timely register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov is not an acceptable reason to justify acceptance of a late submittal.

a. If you are experiencing problems resulting in an inability to upload the application to Grants.gov, it is essential to call Grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726 before the application deadline.

Applicants who are outside the U.S. at the time of submittal and are not able to access the toll-free number may reach a Grants.gov representative by calling 606-545-5035. Be sure to obtain a case number from Grants.gov. If the problems stem from unforeseen exigent circumstances unrelated to Grants.gov, such as extreme weather interfering with internet access, contact Christina Bitten at 404- 562-8569.

b. Unsuccessful transfer of the application package: If a successful transfer of the application cannot be accomplished even with assistance from Grants.gov due to electronic submission system issues or unforeseen exigent circumstances, and you have already attempted to resolve the issue by contacting Grants.gov, send an email message to bitten.christina@epa.gov prior to the application deadline. The email message must document the problem and include the Grants.gov case number as well as the entire application in PDF format as an attachment.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:bitten.christina@epa.gov https://www.grants.gov/ https://sam.gov/SAM/ https://sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:bitten.christina@epa.gov

c. Grants.gov rejection of the application package: If a notification is received from Grants.gov stating that the application has been rejected for reasons other than late submittal and it is too late to reapply, promptly send an email to bitten.christina@epa.gov with the FON in the subject line within one business day of the closing date of this solicitation. The email should include any materials provided by Grants.gov and attach the entire application in PDF format.

Please note that successful submission through Grants.gov or via email does not necessarily mean your application is eligible for award.

IV.B. Content of Application Package

The following documents comprising the Narrative (Cover Page and Narrative Response) are required for all application packages. All documents must be in English and submitted in Grants.gov, per Section IV.A. The Narrative must explicitly describe the applicant’s project and specifically address each of the elements below and the evaluation criteria described in Section V.A. The Narrative should use standard Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri fonts with a 12-point font size. The Narrative must not exceed 10 single-spaced standard letter-sized (8.5 x 11-inch) pages. Any pages submitted in excess of the page limit will not be reviewed.

Cover Page - The Cover Page (should not exceed one page) must include:

• Project Title.

• Applicant Name. Identify the name of the organization submitting the application.

• Unique Entity Identifier (e.g., DUNS Number). List the organization’s DUNS number.

• Project Summary. Briefly describe the project in one to four sentences and identify the jurisdiction of your project or community you plan to serve and where the project will be performed.

• Project Leader. Include contact name, title, address, email address, phone number. Applicant can also list an administrative contact.

• Total Project Cost. Specify total cost of the project. Identify funding from other sources and in-kind contributions, including the required 5% match.

• Funding Requested. Specify the amount of federal funding requested from EPA.

• Demonstration of how the Applicant is an eligible entity per Section III.A.

Narrative Response

The Narrative must include clear, concise, and factual responses to all elements below. The

Narrative must provide sufficient detail to allow for an evaluation of the merits of the application. If a criterion does not apply, include a response which explains why it does not apply. Any criterion left unanswered may result in zero points given for that criterion. Responses to the criteria should include the criteria number and title but need not restate the entire text of the criteria.

1. Project Summary and Approach

a. Project Description

Provide a clear and detailed description of the project and project goals including a description of how the project will support and improve community healthy, resilience, and/or sustainability https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:bitten.christina@epa.gov using a P2 approach. Provide a clear and detailed description of how the project might be replicated and may be transferable to other communities.

b. Scope of Work and Strategic Plan Linkage Provide a clear and detailed explanation of how the project addresses the requirements in Section I.B. (Scope of Work), including how you will offer hands-on practical source reduction tools and training on P2 approaches to measurably improve public health and the health of the environment by reducing the use of hazardous substances, reducing toxic pollutants, supporting efficiencies in reducing resource use (e.g., water and energy), and reducing business expenditures and liability costs, and Section I.C. (Strategic Plan Linkage).

c. Environmental and/or Human Health Concerns and Performance Measurement Provide a clear and detailed description of how the project addresses an environmental and/or human health concern through demonstration of pollution prevention and source reduction.

Provide a clear and detailed description of how you will measure success in meeting the project’s objectives to improve community health, resilience and/or sustainability.

d. Partnerships Describe your plan to leverage the resources and expertise of partners and stakeholders in the project, including a description of how each partner will contribute to the success of the project.

Include letter(s) of support from any partners and/or stakeholders that are identified. If you do not intend to use partners explain how you will be able to efficiently and effectively perform the project without partners.

2. Project Sustainability

a. Project Alignment with Community Priorities Provide a clear and detailed description of the extent to which the project supports and/or aligns with a state and/or local mandate, policy, and/or community priority to improve community health, resilience and/or sustainability.

b. Continuing Efforts in P2

Provide a clear and detailed description of the intention and ability to promote and continue efforts to support P2 after EPA funding for this project has ended.

3. Project Tasks, Budget and Measuring Progress Itemize costs related to personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual costs, other direct costs, and indirect costs. Provide costs per unit.

a. Budget Description Describe the project tasks and subtasks, and key personnel roles and responsibilities for each project task and subtask. Provide and describe how cost estimates for each task were developed and, where appropriate, provide costs per unit. Describe how the cost match required in Section III.B will be met. Identify in the Narrative, but not the budget table, any costs that the applicant or other partners will fund for each task, including the 5% cost share/match. Describe how the match will be used.

b. Budget Table

Provide a detailed budget for your project and provide the costs per each budget category listed here. Examples of costs per unit may include:

Task 2, Provide P2 training to non-profits

– Personnel Costs: 20 hours at average rate of $50/hr = $1,000

– Contractual Costs: 5 half day training modules at average cost of $3,500 = $9,500

Budget Categories:

Personnel: List all staff positions by title. Give annual salary, percentage of time assigned to the project, and total cost for the budget period.

Fringe Benefits: Identify the percentage used, the basis for its computation, and the types of benefits included.

Travel: Specify the mileage, per diem, estimated number of trips in-State and out-of-State, number of travelers, and other costs for each type of travel.

Equipment: Identify each item to be purchased which has an estimated acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit and a useful life of more than one year. Equipment also includes accessories necessary to make the equipment operational.

Supplies: “Supplies” means all tangible personal property other than “equipment.” The budget detail should identify categories of supplies to be procured (e.g., laboratory supplies or office supplies). Non-tangible goods and services associated with supplies, such as printing service, photocopy services, and rental costs should be included in the “Other” category.

Contractual: Identify each type of proposed contract and specify its purpose and estimated cost. Contractual services (including consulting services) are those services to be carried out by an individual or organization, other than the applicant, in the form of a procurement relationship.

Other: List each item in sufficient detail for EPA to determine the reasonableness and allowability of its cost. This category should include only those types of direct costs that do not fit in any of the other budget categories.

Indirect Charges: If indirect charges are budgeted, indicate the approved rate and base. Indirect costs are those incurred by the grantee for a common or joint purpose that benefit more than one cost objective or project and are not readily assignable to specific cost objectives or projects as a direct cost. In order for indirect costs to be allowable, the applicant must have a federal or state negotiated indirect cost rate (e.g., fixed, predetermined, final or provisional), or must have submitted a proposal to the cognizant Federal or State agency.

You may use the sample table format below to present how you plan to allocate grant funds for tasks/activities by budget category. Replace the task number heading in the sample table with the actual title of the task. Only include costs to be covered by EPA grant funds in this table.

Budget Categories

Project Tasks ($) (Task 1) (Task 2) (Task 3) (Task 4) Total

D ir ec t C os ts

Personnel Fringe Benefits Travel1 Equipment2 Supplies Contractual

Other (include subawards) (specify type)

Total Direct Costs3 Indirect Costs3 Total Budget (Total Direct Costs + Indirect Costs)

1 Travel to P2 related training or workshops is an acceptable use of these grant funds.

2 EPA defines equipment as items that cost $5,000 or more with a useful life of more than one year. Items costing less than $5,000 are considered supplies.

c. Outputs and Outcomes

Identify for each task what outputs and outcomes will be produced as described in Section 1.D., Measuring Environmental Results: Anticipated Outcomes/Outputs, for a definition and examples of outputs. Include quantitative targets. Describe your plan and approach for measuring progress towards achieving the expected project outcomes and outputs including those identified in Section I.D.

d. Anticipated Project Schedule Provide a schedule indicating completion dates of milestones and significant tasks that demonstrate that you can complete the project and project goals within the two-year project period of performance.

4. Programmatic Capability and Past Performance List up to 5 federally and/or non-federally funded assistance agreements (assistance agreements include grants and cooperative agreements but not contracts) similar in size, scope, and relevance to this proposed project that your organization performed within the last three years, preferably EPA agreements, and describe:

a. Past Performance – Project Management

Provide a clear and detailed description of your past performance and outcomes in successfully completing and managing projects of similar size, scope, and relevance to the proposed project.

b. Past Performance – Reporting Provide a clear and detailed description of your history of meeting the reporting requirements under previous assistance agreements. The extent to which the applicant adequately and timely reported on their progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes under those agreements and if such progress was not being made whether the applicant adequately reported why not.

c. Organizational Capability Provide a clear and detailed description of the organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project. This could include staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project.

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

V.A. Evaluation Criteria

Eligible entities whose applications meet the threshold criteria in Section III of this announcement will be reviewed according to the evaluation criterion set forth below. Applicants must directly and explicitly address these criteria. Each application will be rated under the point system provided in the table below, with a total of 100 points possible.

Criterion Maximum Points per Criterion

1. Project Summary and Approach. Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on the quality and extent to which:

a. The narrative clearly describes the project and project goals including a description of how the project will support and improve community health, resilience and/or sustainability using a P2 approach and the degree to which the project might be replicated and transferable to other communities. (10 points)

b. The narrative includes a detailed explanation of how the project addresses the requirements in Section I.B (Scope of Work) and Section I.C (Strategic Plan Linkage). The extent to which applicants offer hands-on practical source reduction tools and training on P2 approaches to measurably improve public health and the health of the environment by reducing the use of hazardous substances, reducing toxic pollutants, supporting efficiencies in reducing resource use (e.g., water and energy), and reducing business expenditures and liability costs will be evaluated. (5 points)

c. The narrative clearly describes how the project addresses an environmental and/or human health concern through demonstration of pollution prevention and source reduction. The degree to which the applicant describes how it will measure success in meeting the project’s objectives to improve community health, resilience and/or sustainability will also be evaluated. (10 points)

d. The narrative describes a plan to use the resources and expertise of partners and stakeholders in the project, including a description of how each partner will contribute to the success of the project. Letter(s) of support from partners and/or stakeholders will be considered. In addition, if partners and stakeholders will not be used in the project applications will be evaluated based on whether it demonstrates that the project can be efficiently and effectively performed without partner and stakeholder involvement. (10 points)

2. Project Sustainability. Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on the quality and extent to which the narrative realistically 20 describes how the project supports, promotes community goals and sustainability, including:

a. The narrative clearly describes how the project supports and/or aligns with a state and/or local mandate, policy, and/or community priority to improve community health, resilience and/or sustainability. (10 points)

b. The narrative clearly describes the intention and ability to promote and continue efforts to support P2 after EPA funding for this project has ended. (10 points)

3. Project Tasks, Budget and Measuring Progress. Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on the following factors:

a. Whether the narrative clearly describes the project tasks and subtasks, and key personnel roles and responsibilities for each project task and subtask. The degree to which the applicant describes how the cost estimates for each task were developed and, where appropriate, provide costs per unit and any costs that will be funded by the applicant or other partners for each task will be evaluated as will the degree to which the cost share/match requirement is clearly described as to its source and use. (10 points)

b. Whether the applicant clearly provides costs that are eligible, appropriate; reasonable and realistic to perform the project; and clearly correlates costs with the tasks and activities.