EPA-REGIONS-LCRD-2022-01.pdf

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

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE: FY2022- FY2023 Regional Source Reduction Assistance Grants

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Request for Applications (RFA)

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 66.717

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: EPA-REGIONS-LCRD-2022-01

IMPORTANT DATES:

May 23, 2022 RFA OPENS July 22, 2022 RFA CLOSES September 30, 2022 ANTICIPATED NOTIFICATION OF SELECTION Before December 31, 2022 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 July 22, 2022, 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 to be considered for funding.

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

CONTENTS BY SECTION

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

I.A. Background

I.B. Scope of Work

I.C. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage

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

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. Application Submission Deadline:

IV.B. Applying through Grants.gov

IV.C. Application Materials

IV.D. Content of Application Package

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

V.A. Evaluation Criteria

V.B. Review and Selection Process

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

Appendix B: Grants.gov Instructions and Limited Exception Procedures

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

I.A. Background

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regions 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 (the Regions) are issuing a Request for Applications (RFA) from eligible entities to implement pollution prevention projects through the Source Reduction Assistance grant program. 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”).

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; P2 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, and substitution of raw materials. 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.

For more information about P2 please visit: https://www.epa.gov/p2

P2 is a powerful tool that can protect public health and the environment by:

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

• 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

• Reduction of single-use plastics

I.B. Scope of Work

The Regions are particularly interested in receiving applications for projects that promote practical source reduction practices, tools, and training on P2 approaches to measurably improve human and environmental health by reducing the use of hazardous substances, reducing toxic pollutants, reducing resource use (e.g., water and energy), and reducing expenditures and liability costs to businesses, non-profit organizations and/or communities. Suggested project types are provided below, but they are not an exhaustive list. The Regions welcome innovative, bold strategies designed to accelerate and drive P2 and source reduction.

https://www.epa.gov/p2

The Regions are especially interested to support projects in the following priority areas:

1. Prevention of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Carry out P2 projects that that are designed to achieve measurable reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and/or energy efficiency through source reduction techniques.

Examples of projects under this priority area may include, but are not limited to:

• Demonstrating pollution prevention activities that could support energy efficiency measures.

• Offering technical assistance to reduce energy consumption from industrial processes such as lighting, hot water use, compressed air, natural gas, etc.

• Offering training and other assistance to help identify substitutions for chemicals and substances with significant environmental impacts including manufacture or use of chemicals that could result in GHG releases.

2. Hazardous Materials Source Reduction: Carry out research, studies, demonstrations, or training on approaches to hazardous materials source reduction activities that result in reduced generation and use of hazardous materials.

Example projects include but are not limited to:

• Providing technical assistance/training to help develop and adopt pollution prevention and toxics reduction practices.

• Identifying and targeting pollution sources within environmental justice communities and promoting source reduction approaches to reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous materials.

• Conducting research, demonstration, or training on innovative ways to design, manufacture, or improve markets for environmentally preferable products (e.g., participating in EPA's Safer Choice Program, using Safer Choice Labeled Products, using EPA's Safer Chemical Ingredients List, or products conforming to EPA’s Recommendations for Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels).

• Amplifying Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) P2 Reporting and using TRI P2 data to target similar businesses or operations for similar P2 opportunities in hazardous materials source reduction.

• Creating community partnerships (between businesses and local municipalities, schools, etc.) to identify and reduce use of hazardous materials.

3. Innovative approaches to conservation of materials and resources: Carry out P2 projects to address pressing environmental challenges involving the reduction in the use of materials and natural resources such as energy or water.

Example projects include but are not limited to:

• Conducting projects focused on source reduction of materials contributing to marine plastics pollution.

• Providing P2 technical assistance to reduce water use and contaminants contributing to urban runoff.

https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/products https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/safer-ingredients https://www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/recommendations-specifications-standards-and-ecolabels-federal-purchasing https://www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/recommendations-specifications-standards-and-ecolabels-federal-purchasing https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program

• Partnering with organizations that will support pollution prevention activities to reduce the embodied carbon of materials.

• Conducting trainings, conferences, or roundtables to share pollution prevention best practices and/or demonstrate pollution prevention technologies.

4. Environmental Justice through P2 Actions: Carry out projects that support environmental justice for underserved communities. Environmental justice (EJ) is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or policies. Meaningful involvement means people have an opportunity to participate in decisions about activities that may affect their environment and/or health; the public's contribution can influence the regulatory agency's decision; community concerns will be considered in the decision-making process; and decision makers will seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected. For purposes of this competition and the evaluation of applications, “underserved communities” per Executive Order 13985 means “populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life,” as exemplified by the list contained within the definition of 'equity' within Executive Order 13985. Pollution prevention is a powerful tool that can reduce the environmental and human health burdens experienced by underserved communities.

Example projects include but are not limited to:

• Educating retailers on the Safer Choice program, and the EPA Recommendations for Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels to support the increase in availability and use of safer cleaning products and other environmentally preferable products.

• Providing P2 technical assistance in multiple languages.

• Partnering with schools and daycare facilities to improve indoor air quality through P2 actions.

• Building capacity for organizations or residents to understand pollution prevention techniques and approaches and transfer those lessons in their communities.

I.C. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage

The activities to be funded under this solicitation support EPA’s FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. Awards made under this solicitation will support Goal 7: Ensure Safety of Chemicals for People and the Environment, Objective 7.2: Promote Pollution Prevention of the draft plan. Application narratives must explain how the work proposed will support the EPA Strategic Plan goal and objective identified above.

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

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 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan 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 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 must be measurable during an assistance agreement funding period. Outputs must be appropriate to the proposed project and project goals, so projects may not need to report on all outputs listed below.

Outputs include but are not limited to (report on those applicable to your project):

1. Number of organizations provided with P2 technical assistance.

2. Number of new P2 practices adopted resulting from technical assistance provided by the grantee.

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

4. Number of amplification activities (i.e., training, webinars, roundtables, distribution of outreach materials) that widely share P2 practices.

5. For each amplification activity, grantees will also be asked to report on:

a. topic(s) covered,

b. number of attendees,

c. increased participant understanding of topics and skills achieved during the event,

d. number of people in affected underserved communities served by outreach.

6. Any other outputs or metrics that the applicant deems relevant to demonstrate the success of the P2 project.

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.

EPA P2 program outcomes:

1. Due to P2 actions adopted as a result of technical assistance provided, reductions in:

a. pounds of hazardous materials used and of hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants released at facilities.

b. metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e).

c. gallons of water used at facilities.

2. The dollar savings associated with adopted P2 actions at facilities (e.g., reductions in costs from use or disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous materials, water use, energy use, and savings from reduced regulatory burden).

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.

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

II. AWARD INFORMATION

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

EPA anticipates awarding 8-27 awards ranging from $40,000-$250,000, with up to a total of $1,135,000 in federal funds available across Regions 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The number of awards is subject to the availability of funds, the quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations. The following table indicates the amount and range of funding for each region.

Region Total Funding # of Awards Funding Range Per Award 3 $135,000 1-4 $40,000-135,000 4 $240,000 1-4 $60,000-$180,000

7 $180,000 1-4 $40,000-$180,000 8 $180,000 1-4 $40,000-$180,000 9 $200,000 1-3 $60,000-$200,000 10 $200,000 2-4 $50,000-$100,000

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

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

II.C. Cooperative Agreement

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

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

• collaboration during performance of the scope of work;

• in accordance with 2 CFR 200.317 and 2 CFR 200.318, review of proposed procurement;

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

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

II.D. Project Period

The estimated start date for projects resulting from this solicitation is January 1, 2023. All project activities must be completed within the negotiated project performance period of no longer than two years. The grant may possibly be extended if the grantee provides a specific reason, properly requests an extension before the grant end date, and the request is approved by the region.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

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

III.A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include States, local, interstate, and intrastate government agencies and instrumentalities, federally recognized tribes, inter-tribal consortia, 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 the geographic boundaries of one of the EPA Regions announcing this solicitation (3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10).

Consistent with the definition of Nonprofit organization at 2 CFR § 200.1, the term nonprofit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that is operated mainly for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purpose in the public interest and is not organized primarily for profit; and uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operation of the organization. The term includes tax-exempt nonprofit neighborhood and labor organizations. Note that 2 CFR 200.1 specifically excludes Institutions of Higher Education from the definition of non-profit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation. While not considered to be a nonprofit organization(s) as defined by 2 CFR 200.1, public or nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this RFA. 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(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible for EPA funding as provided in the Lobbying Disclosure Act, 2 U.S.C. 1611.

III.B. Cost Share/Matching Requirement

Applications require a cost share/match of 5% of the federal funds requested. For example, if the total project cost is $100,000, the applicant must be able to provide $5,000 in cash or in-kind contributions to meet the 5% cost share/match requirement and be eligible to receive $95,500 in federal grant funding from EPA.

Cost sharing and matching contributions may include, but are not limited to: Cash; in-kind goods and services (e.g., volunteered time, photocopying and printing services), and third-party contributions consistent with 2 CFR 200.306. See 2 CFR 200.306(b) for a definition of match and a description of match criteria.

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 the applicant is an eligible entity as specified in Section III.A.

2. Projects must meet the EPA definition of Pollution Prevention and must address one or more of the priority areas described in Section I.B (Scope of Work) of this announcement.

3. Federal funds requested must not exceed the funding cap identified by the Region to which the application is submitted. Applicants must also demonstrate how they will meet the 5% cost share/match requirement.

4. Eligible projects must take place within one of the EPA Regions announcing this solicitation (EPA Regions 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10). Applicants who wish to apply for projects in multiple regions must submit a separate application for each region, covering work done only in that region. If an application includes work in multiple regions, it will be deemed ineligible.

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 exceeding the page limitation (ten pages) for the Cover Page and Narrative response will not be reviewed. See Section IV.C for more details.

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.

7. 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.

https://sam.gov/SAM/ http://grants.gov/ https://sam.gov/SAM/

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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

IV.A. Application Submission Deadline:

The submission deadline is Friday, July 22, 2022, 11:59 pm (ET). To apply, the applicant’s Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must submit a complete application package electronically to EPA through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Instructions for applying through Grants.gov are provided in Appendix B of this announcement. Please reserve enough time to successfully submit your application in the event unexpected errors require you to resubmit your application.

Applications submitted through Grants.gov will be time and date stamped electronically. If you have not received a confirmation of receipt from EPA (not Grants.gov) within 30 days of the application deadline, please contact the EPA representative listed in Section VII. Failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed.

IV.B. Applying through Grants.gov

Applicants must:

1. Have an active System for Award Management (SAM) account (https://www.sam.gov/SAM/).

2. Be registered in Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).

3. Designate an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) as the individual who will submit the application through Grants.gov.

Note: The registration process for applying through Grants.gov may take a month or more to complete. Please register early. The electronic submission of your application must be made by the AOR of the organization who is registered with Grants.gov and is authorized to sign applications for federal funding assistance. If you do not have the technical capability to apply electronically through Grants.gov because of limited or no Internet access which prevents you from being able to upload the required application materials to Grants.gov, an alternate submission exception request may be made – see Appendix B for instructions. If you submit more than one application for the identical project (either in error or to replace a previously submitted application), EPA will only review the most recently submitted application, unless you notify Christina Bitten (bitten.christina@epa.gov) and specify which application you want EPA to review.

IV.C. Application Materials

The following forms and documents are required under this announcement:

Mandatory Documents:

https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ http://www.grants.gov/

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.D.

6. Optional Attachments: Please consider supplementing your project narrative with the following documentation, submitted through the Other Attachments form in grants.gov.

These items are not included in the 10-page limit.

a. Letters of Support: To describe the service(s) the grant partner(s) will provide to help carry out and enhance the project activity.

b. Staff resumes: To reflect the knowledge, experience and/or expertise to conduct the proposed work.

c. Illustrative graphs, charts or tables of budgets and timelines: To provide an illustrative example of your budget or of your projected timeline to highlight milestones for completing proposed work, if you believe this information will aid your application.

If you have not received a confirmation of receipt from EPA (not from grants.gov) within 30 days of the application deadline, please contact Christina Bitten at bitten.christina@epa.gov.

Failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed.

IV.D. 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 Cover Page and Narrative Response must not exceed 10 single-spaced standard letter-sized (8.5 x 11-inch) pages. Any pages submitted exceeding 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.

• Organization’s Unique Entity Identifier

• 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 https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:bitten.christina@epa.gov performed.

• EPA Region in which the project will take place

• Project Leader. Include contact name, title, address, email address, and 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.

b. Pollution Prevention to Address Environmental and/or Human Health Concerns

Provide a clear and detailed explanation describing how the project addresses an environmental and/or human health concern through the implementation of pollution prevention and source reduction.

c. Scope of Work

Provide a clear and detailed a detailed explanation of how the project promotes source reduction to address one or more of the stated priority areas in Section I.B; and, where and if applicable, describes any innovative aspect(s) of the source reduction project (i.e., techniques, processes, tools, or strategies).

If applying to work under priority area 4, Environmental Justice through P2 Actions, provide a clear and detailed demonstration of how the project will address the disproportionate and adverse (see below) human health, environmental, climate-related and other cumulative impacts, as well as the accompanying economic challenges of such impacts, resulting from industrial, governmental, commercial and/or other actions that have affected and/or currently affect a community, including the affected underserved communities described in Section I of the solicitation. As part of this evaluation, applications will be evaluated based on: how the project benefits the affected underserved communities including those that have experienced a lack of resources or other impediments to addressing the impacts identified above that affect their community and;

the extent to which the project addresses engagement with these communities, especially local residents in these communities who will be affected by the project, to ensure their meaningful participation with respect to the design, project planning, and performance of the project.

Disproportionate and adverse environmental, human health, climate-related and other cumulative impacts, as well the accompanying economic challenges of such impacts, may result when greater pollution burdens and/or consequences, and the impact of them, are more likely to affect or have affected the community, including the affected underserved communities described in this solicitation. The impacts may result from various factors including but not limited to being a function of historical trends and policy decisions.

Factors that may indicate disproportionate and adverse impacts as referenced above include: differential proximity and exposure to adverse environmental hazards; greater susceptibility to adverse effects from environmental hazards (due to causes such as age, chronic medical conditions, lack of health care access, or limited access to quality nutrition); unique environmental exposures because of practices linked to cultural background or socioeconomic status (for example, subsistence fishing or farming);

cumulative effects from multiple stressors; reduced ability to effectively participate in decision-making processes (due to causes such as lack of or ineffective language access programs, lack of programs to make processes accessible to persons with disabilities, inability to access traditional communication channels, or limited capacity to access technical and legal resources); and degraded physical infrastructure, such as poor housing, poorly maintained public buildings (e.g., schools), or lack of access to transportation.

d. Workplan

Provide a detailed workplan that clearly describes the project tasks and subtasks, and key personnel roles and responsibilities for each project task and subtask.

e. Strategic Plan Linkage Provide a clear and detailed explanation of how the project addresses the requirements in Section I.C (Strategic Plan Linkage).

f. Partnerships and Stakeholders

Provide a clear and detailed 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. If partners and stakeholders will not be used in the project, the application will be evaluated based on whether it demonstrates that the project can be efficiently and effectively performed without partner and stakeholder involvement.

2. Sustainable Project Strategy and Transferability

a. Sustainable Project Strategy Provide a clear and detailed description of the strategy to ensure that project outcomes will continue for the target beneficiaries after EPA funding for this project has ended.

b. Replicability and Transferability

Provide a clear and detailed description demonstrating that this project is replicable and the plans to support the transfer of knowledge gained during this project to other organizations and communities.

3. Budget, Timeline, and Measuring Success

a. Budget Description Provide a clear and detailed budget showing that costs that are eligible, appropriate, reasonable, and realistic to perform the project. The budget should clearly correlate costs with the tasks and include costs for each project budget category (i.e., personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual, other direct costs, and indirect costs).

The budget should describe how the cost estimates for each task were developed including costs per unit. The cost share/match requirement should be clearly described as to its source and use. Please see Appendix A and RAIN-2019-G02 for more information.

b. Timeline

Provide a clear, detailed, and reasonable schedule with identified dates of milestones for significant tasks, demonstrating that the project goals and objectives will be completed within the two- year project period of performance. The timeline should clearly describe an approach, procedures, and controls for ensuring that awarded grant funds will be expended in a timely and efficient manner.

c. Outputs and Outcomes

Provide a clear and detailed description of the plan for measuring progress toward achieving the expected project outcomes and outputs for each project task consistent with the outputs and outcomes described in Section 1.D. Measuring Environmental Results:

Anticipated Outputs and Outcomes. The description should include quantitative output and outcome targets.

4. Programmatic Capability and Past Performance

a. Past Performance Provide a clear and detailed demonstration successfully completing and managing the assistance agreements. List up to 5 federally and/or non-federally funded assistance agreements (assistance agreements include grants and cooperative agreements but not contracts) that your organization performed within the last three years.1

1 In evaluating applicants under items IV.D.4.a and IV.D.4.b of this criterion, the Agency will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources including agency files and prior/current grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information supplied by the applicant).

If you do not have any relevant or available past performance or past reporting information, please indicate this in the application and you will receive a neutral score for these subfactors (items a and b above-a neutral score is half of the total points available in a subset of possible points). If you do not provide any response for these items, you may receive a score of 0 for these factors.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2019-g02

b. History of Meeting Reporting Requirements Provide a clear and detailed description of the history of meeting the reporting requirements under the assistance agreements identified above in Section IV.D.4.a, including whether the applicant submitted acceptable final technical reports under those agreements and the extent to which the applicant adequately and timely reported on their progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes. If such progress was not being made, whether the applicant adequately reported why not.5

c. Organizational Experience

Provide a clear and detailed description of the applicant and partner organizations’ experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project.

d. Staff Expertise

Provide a clear and detailed description of 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

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

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

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. (5 points)

b. The narrative clearly describes how the project addresses an environmental and/or human health concern through the implementation of pollution prevention and source reduction. (10 points)

c. The narrative includes a detailed explanation of how the project promotes source reduction to address one or more of the stated priority areas in Section I.B; and, where and if applicable, describes any innovative aspect(s) of the source reduction project (i.e., techniques, processes, tools, or strategies). NOTE: If applying to work under priority area 4, Environmental Justice Through P2 Actions, applications will be evaluated based on the extent to which they demonstrate how the project will address the disproportionate and adverse human health, environmental, climate-related and other cumulative impacts, as well as the accompanying economic challenges of such impacts, resulting from industrial, governmental, commercial and/or other actions that have affected and/or currently affect the community, including the affected underserved communities described in Section I of the solicitation. As part of this evaluation, applications will be evaluated based on: how the project benefits the affected community, including the affected underserved communities and including those that have experienced a lack of resources or other impediments to addressing the impacts identified above that affect their community and; the extent to which the project addresses engagement with these affected communities, especially local residents in these communities who will be affected by the project, to ensure their meaningful participation with respect to the design, project planning, and performance of the project.

(15 points)

d. The narrative contains a quality workplan that clearly describes the project tasks and subtasks, and key personnel roles and responsibilities for each project task and subtask. (10 points)

e. The narrative includes an explanation of how the project addresses the requirements in Section I.C (Strategic Plan Linkage). (3 points)

f. 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. 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. (7 points)

Sustainable Project Strategy and Transferability. Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on the quality and extent to which:

a. The narrative clearly describes the applicant’s strategy to ensure project outcomes will continue for its target beneficiaries after EPA funding for this project has ended. (5 points)

b. The degree to which the applicant demonstrates that this project is replicable and plans to support the transfer of knowledge gained during this project to other organizations and communities. (5 points)

Budget, Timeline, and Measuring Success. Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on the extent to which:

a. The applicant clearly provides costs that are eligible, appropriate, reasonable, and realistic to perform the project; the budget clearly correlates costs with the tasks and includes costs for each project budget category (i.e., personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual, other direct costs, and indirect costs); and the applicant describes how the cost estimates for each task were developed including costs per unit, and the degree to which the cost share/match requirement is clearly described as to its source and use. (7 points)

b. The narrative clearly describes an approach, procedures, and controls for ensuring that awarded grant funds will be expended in a timely and efficient manner. (3 points)

c. The narrative clearly identifies a reasonable schedule with identified dates of milestones for significant tasks, demonstrating that the project goals and objectives will be completed within the two- year project period of performance. (5 points)

d. The narrative clearly identifies outputs and outcomes for each task and the degree to which the applicant describes how it will measure and report to EPA success in meeting the project’s objectives consistent with the measures described in Section I.D. of this RFA. Quantitative targets are necessary to receive full points. (10 points)

Programmatic Capability and Past Performance. Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on their ability to successfully complete and manage the proposed project considering their:

a. Past performance in successfully completing and managing the assistance agreements identified in response to Section IV.D.4 of the solicitation. (3 points)

b. History of meeting the reporting requirements under the assistance agreements identified in response to Section IV.D.4 of the solicitation including whether the applicant submitted acceptable final technical reports under those agreements and 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. (2 points)

c. Organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project. (5 points)

d. Staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project. (5 points)

Note: In evaluating applicants under items a and b of this criterion, the Agency will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources including agency files and prior/current grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information supplied by the applicant). If you do not have any relevant or available past performance or past reporting information, please indicate this in the application and you will receive a neutral score for these subfactors (items a and b above-a neutral score is half of the total points available in a subset of possible points). If you do not provide any response for these items, you may receive a score of 0 for these factors.

V.B. Review and Selection Process

All applications received by the closing date and time for submission will first be reviewed to determine eligibility for funding based upon compliance with all threshold eligibility criteria listed in Section III.C. Only applications determined eligible will be evaluated by a review panel of EPA staff. Each eligible application will be evaluated for technical merit based on the evaluation factors detailed in Section V.A of this announcement, and each application will be given an evaluated numerical score, with a total of 100 points possible.

The review panel will provide recommendations for selection based on the applications with the highest average point score to the appropriate EPA Regional Selection Official. Final funding decisions will be made by the Selection Official based on the scoring and recommendations of the EPA Regional review panel. In making the final funding decisions the Selection Official may also consider the availability of funds, geographic diversity, and balancing regional priorities.

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

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

VI.A. Award Notification

EPA anticipates that selection notifications will be made via electronic mail (email) to the successful applicants by December 31, 2022. The notifications will be sent to the original signer of the application or to the project contact listed on the Key Contact form of the application package. This notification will inform the applicant that their application has been selected and is being recommended for an award, but it is not an authorization to begin work. The official notification of an award will be made by the appropriate EPA Regional grants office. Applicants are cautioned that only an EPA grants officer is authorized to bind the Federal Government to the expenditure of funds. Application selection does not guarantee an award will be made. For example, statutory authorization questions, funding issues or other discoveries found during the award process may affect the ability of EPA to make an award to an applicant.

The award notice, signed by an EPA grants officer, is the authorizing document and will be provided through electronic or postal mail. The successful applicant may need to amend or submit additional documents and forms which must be approved by EPA before the grant can officially be awarded. The time between notification of selection and award of a grant can take up to 90 days or longer.

VI.B. Administrative Requirements

1. Applicants selected for award will work with the EPA Project Officer to finalize the application package to EPA. This package will include a work plan that describes the work to be performed, project schedule, final budget, budget justification worksheet and any required certification forms. EPA will review, and the selected applicant may need to revise, the work plan.

2. Approved awards will include terms and conditions that will be binding on the grant recipient. Terms and conditions specify what grantees must do to ensure that grant-related and program-related requirements are met.