Final_Workforce RFA_revised 10.11.23.pdf

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of

Water, Office of Wastewater Management

Funding Opportunity Title: Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant

Program

Announcement Type: Request for Applications (RFA)

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-R-OW-OWM-23-02

Assistance Listing Number: 66.445 and 66.616

Dates: Application packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov (Grants.gov) no later than 11:59 PM ET November 17th, 2023, in order to be considered for funding. Questions about this RFA must be submitted in writing via e-mail and must be received by the Agency contact identified in Section VII before October 17th, 2023. Written responses will be posted on EPA’s website at: https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/innovative-water-infrastructure-workforce-development-program.

Note to Applicants: Following EPA’s evaluation of applications, all applicants will be notified regarding their status. If you name subrecipients and/or contractor(s), including individual consultants, in your application as partners to assist you with the proposed project, pay careful attention to the information in the CONTRACTS AND SUBAWARDS provision found at http://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses.

CONTENTS BY SECTION

I. Funding Opportunity Description II. Award Information III. Eligibility Information IV. Application and Submission Information V. Application Review Information VI. Award Administration Information VII. Agency Contact

SECTION I – FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Background

The nation has made significant progress in addressing environmental and public health needs over the past fifty years, but more remains to be done. To further the goal of ensuring a strong pipeline of skilled and diverse workers in the water utilities sector, Congress, under the American Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, authorized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a grant program under Section 1459E of the Safe Drinking Water Act, to accelerate career pipelines in the water utilities sector and provide access to water utility workforce opportunities. In addition, under Clean Air Act Section 138(b)(2), which was created http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/innovative-water-infrastructure-workforce-development-program https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/innovative-water-infrastructure-workforce-development-program http://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Congress authorized EPA to award grants for workforce development activities that help reduce green-house gas emissions and other air pollutants that benefit disadvantaged communities as defined by the EPA Administrator and we are soliciting projects for this under project area 6 in Section I.C. below. EPA’s current priorities include working to provide infrastructure investments and technical assistance in disadvantaged or historically underserved communities, advance environmental justice and equity, address climate change, and responsibly support and implement the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and IRA. BIL provides the largest federal investment in water in the history of our nation. It includes over $50 billion in water infrastructure investments, most of which will be available through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs. IRA provides funds for various activities including for environmental and climate justice activities such as the workforce development activities described above. For the purposes of this RFA, environmental justice is defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no one group of people, including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal environmental programs, and policies.

As utilities make critical investments in infrastructure, drinking water and wastewater utilities should also invest in the development of a strong local workforce to strengthen communities and ensure a strong pipeline of skilled and diverse workers for today and tomorrow. In addition to the drinking water and wastewater utility workforce, the workforce that designs, installs, repairs, and maintains decentralized water systems (i.e., private wells and septic systems) are of critical importance in communities and homes that are not served by a drinking water and/or wastewater utility. Drinking water and wastewater utilities, as well as the decentralized water systems provide a unique opportunity for access to stable, rewarding, and high-quality careers. EPA is also working to improve the environmental and public health conditions of underserved communities through the advancement of environmental justice in the water workforce sector.

For the purposes of this RFA, the term ‘underserved communities’ refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been denied a full opportunity to participate equitably in aspects of economic, social, and civic life. For example, characteristics of underserved communities may include those with high rates of unemployment or low incomes, or those that suffer from adverse and disproportionate environmental and public health impacts. “Equity” means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including those who belong to underserved communities. As EPA prioritizes actions to address the climate crisis, it recognizes that the sector must cultivate a workforce trained in the installation and maintenance of green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and other water-sector climate solutions critical to building community and water system resilience to future climate conditions.

B. Goals and Objectives

Through this grant program, EPA is soliciting applications from eligible applicants as described in Section III.A to assist in the development and utilization of innovative activities relating to workforce development and career opportunities in the water utility sector, which may include:

(A) expanding the use and availability of activities and resources that relate to the recruitment, including the promotion of diversity within that recruitment, of individuals to careers in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector, including stormwater;

(B) expanding the availability of training opportunities for (i) individuals entering the water and wastewater utility sector; and (ii) individuals seeking to advance careers within the water and wastewater utility sector;

(C) expanding the use and availability of activities and strategies, including the development of innovative activities and strategies, that relate to the maintenance and retention of a sustainable workforce in the water and wastewater utility sector; and

(D) expanding the availability of workforce development and training that enables drinking water and wastewater utility workers to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other air pollutants to benefit disadvantaged communities.

Applicants interested in applying should review Section I.C., Project Areas, of this Request for Applications (RFA). Applications must address only one of the Project Areas identified in Section I.C.

C. Project Areas

EPA is soliciting applications from eligible applicants in six Project Areas, as described below.

While EPA intends to make awards in all Project Areas, EPA reserves the right to make more than one award in a Project Area and/or make no awards in a Project Area. Under this competition, only one application can be submitted per applicant. Each application submitted under this announcement must address one, and only one, of the Project Areas described below.

The cover page of each application package must clearly indicate the Project Area addressed in the application.

Project Area 1: Targeted internship, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs for skilled water utility trades.

Under Project Area 1, EPA is soliciting applications to expand public awareness about job opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector, and address the workforce needs of drinking water and wastewater utilities. This may be achieved by developing and implementing, for example, but not limited to, targeted1 internship, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs for priority water utility trades through:

(1) On-the-job training, including registered apprenticeships;

(2) Skills development;

(3) Test preparation, including developing test materials for skilled trade apprenticeships;

(4) Advance training in the water utility sector relating to construction, utility operations treatment and distribution, green infrastructure, customer service, maintenance, and engineering; or

(5) Other supportive services and participant support costs (e.g., apprenticeship stipend and training materials, reasonable costs for transportation, childcare subsidies) to facilitate post-secondary success.

1 42 U.S.C. 300j-19e: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:300j-19e%20edition:prelim)

Targeted internships, apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs will result in training and developing the next generation of water professionals and will help address the workforce needs of drinking water and wastewater utilities.

Applicants should provide information on how they intend to expand awareness to individuals from rural, small, and/or underserved communities. The application should describe the applicant’s proposed community outreach strategies and cultural competencies, particularly if the project will include work with tribes and/or underserved communities. For the purposes of this announcement, the term “cultural competence” means effectively demonstrating the skills and experience to operate in the different cultural contexts found in the identified geographic area and means having the capacity to function effectively as an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by the recipients targeted to receive training.

Cultural competence includes demonstrating linguistic competence that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations.

Applicants should describe their proposed plan to share (or make available to geographically diverse areas) the Project Area, the results of the Project Area, and the lessons learned. For the purposes of this Project Area, “results” mean: (1) developing and providing targeted internship, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, or post-secondary bridge programs for skilled water utility trades; and (2) an evaluation of how these programs have helped expand public awareness about the job opportunities in the water sector and addressed the workforce needs of drinking water and wastewater utilities. For the purposes of this announcement, “geographically diverse” means in different areas of the country.

Applicants should also include innovative approaches to address the workforce needs of drinking water and wastewater utilities. For the purposes of this announcement, “innovative” means new ideas and methods that are original and creative in approach. The applicant should demonstrate how these innovative approaches have the potential to effectively reach the intended audience.

As an example, this could mean a proposed approach to share the project activity, results, and lessons learned at workforce specialty conference(s) that include water utilities that are geographically diverse, of varying sizes, and serve urban, suburban and rural populations.

Applicants may also propose innovative approaches that have proved to be successful in other sectors and may have a high degree of transferability to the water sector.

EPA is particularly interested in results produced through this grant program that are scalable and have potential to be utilized by the broader water sector, including water utilities.

Project Area 2: Education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students.

Under Project Area 2, EPA is soliciting applications to expand student awareness about the job opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector and to address the workforce needs of drinking water and wastewater utilities by developing education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students and provide training opportunities for secondary and higher education students that:

(1) Inform students about the value of water and water infrastructure and the role of drinking water and wastewater utilities in their communities;

(2) Increase student awareness of career opportunities in the water sector, and increase student exposure to water utility careers through various work-based learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom;

(3) Connect students to career pathways related to water utilities;

(4) Provide hands-on contextualized learning opportunities;

(5) Offer dual enrollment credit for post-secondary education and training programs;

(6) Create a direct connection to water utility and industry employers; and/or

(7) Build integrated learning laboratories in secondary educational institutions.

For the purposes of this announcement, “secondary education” means education beyond the elementary grades and “higher education” means education beyond the secondary level (e.g., community colleges, vocational schools and/or university level).

For the purposes of this announcement, “contextualized learning” means relating subject matter content to meaningful situations that are relevant to students.

Applicants should clearly describe if they plan to reach K-12 students or students in community or technical colleges/universities. Applicants should describe their proposed approach to share (or make available) the Project Area, the results of the Project Area, and the lessons learned to geographically diverse areas. For the purposes of this Project Area, “results” mean (1) developing and providing education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students; and (2) an evaluation of how these education programs can help expand student awareness about the job opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector and/or can help address the workforce needs of water and wastewater utilities. For the purposes of this announcement, “geographically diverse” means in different areas of the country.

Applicants should provide information on how they intend to expand awareness to individuals from rural, small, and/or underserved communities. The application should describe the applicant’s proposed community outreach strategies and cultural competencies, particularly if the project will include work with tribes and/or underserved communities. For the purposes of this announcement, the term “cultural competence” means effectively demonstrating the skills and experience to operate in the different cultural contexts found in the identified geographic area and means having the capacity to function effectively as an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by the recipients targeted to receive training.

Cultural competence includes demonstrating linguistic competence that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations.

Applicants should include their proposed plan to incorporate innovative approaches that will address the workforce needs of water and wastewater utilities. For the purposes of this announcement, “innovative” means new ideas and methods that are original and creative in approach. The applicant should demonstrate how these innovative approaches show the potential to effectively reach the intended audience. As an example, this could mean a proposed approach to share the project area, results, and lessons learned at conferences for educational institutions such as community colleges as well as workforce specialty conference(s) that includes water utilities that are geographically diverse, of varying sizes, and serve urban, suburban and rural populations. There may be other applicable and creative examples to share the information with water utilities that are geographically diverse, vary in size, and serve urban, suburban and rural populations.

EPA is particularly interested in results produced through this grant program that are scalable and have potential to be utilized by the broader water sector, including water utilities.

Project Area 3: Regional industry and workforce development collaborations to address water utility employment needs and coordinate candidate development, particularly in areas of high unemployment or for water utilities with a high proportion of retirement eligible employees.

Under Project Area 3, EPA is soliciting applications to expand public awareness about job opportunities in the water sector and address the workforce needs of utilities by establishing regional industry and workforce development collaborations that will address drinking water and wastewater utility recruitment and retention issues. Applications should describe water utility employment needs and provide information on if and how candidate development will occur in areas with high unemployment or for water utilities with high proportion of retirement eligible employees in the water utility community. States are beginning to encounter critical staffing shortages in areas of high unemployment and where water utilities have a high proportion of retirement eligible employees or forceable workforce vacancies. Under this activity, applications should demonstrate a proposed approach to further the goal of building a stronger and more effective water utility workforce through collaboration opportunities with school systems, technical colleges, universities, labor organizations, community-based organizations, and other utilities.

Applicants should describe their proposed approach to share (or make available) the Project Area, the results of the Project Area, and the lessons learned to geographically diverse areas. For the purposes of this project area, “results” mean (1) developing and implementing collaborative initiatives with school systems, technical colleges, universities labor organizations, community-based organizations, and/or other utilities; and (2) an evaluation of how these initiatives addressed (will address) the recruitment and retention needs of water and wastewater utilities.

For the purposes of this announcement, “geographically diverse,” means in different areas of the country.

Applicants should provide information on how they intend to expand awareness to individuals from rural, small, and/or underserved communities. The application should describe the applicant’s proposed community outreach strategies and cultural competencies, particularly if the project will include work with tribes and/or underserved communities. For the purposes of this announcement, the term “cultural competence” means effectively demonstrating the skills and experience to operate in the different cultural contexts found in the identified geographic area and means having the capacity to function effectively as an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by the recipients targeted to receive training.

Cultural competence includes demonstrating linguistic competence that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations.

Applicants should include their proposed plan to incorporate innovative approaches that will address the workforce needs of water and wastewater utilities. For the purposes of this announcement, “innovative” means new ideas and methods that are original and creative in approach. The applicant should demonstrate how these innovative approaches show the potential to effectively reach the intended audience. As an example, this could mean a proposed approach to share the project area, results, and lessons learned at workforce specialty conference(s) that includes water utilities that are geographically diverse, of varying sizes, and serve urban, suburban and rural populations. There may be other applicable and creative examples to share the information with water utilities that are geographically diverse, vary in size, and serve urban, suburban and rural populations.

EPA is particularly interested in results produced through this grant program that are scalable and have potential to be utilized by the broader water sector, including water utilities.

Project Area 4: Leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, or cross-training programs that ensure incumbent drinking water and wastewater utility workers are prepared for higher level supervisory or management-level positions.

Under Project Area 4, EPA is soliciting applications to expand public awareness about senior, supervisory, and leadership job opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector, and address the workforce needs of water utilities through leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, or cross-training programs that prepare incumbent drinking water and wastewater utility workers for supervisory or management-level positions. This is intended to support retention and advancement of water utility workforce employees through skills development opportunities, including opportunities to support communities potentially under-represented in water sector leadership roles.

Applicants should describe their proposed approach to share (and make available) the project area, results, and lessons learned in geographically diverse areas. For the purposes of this project area, “results” mean (1) establishing leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, or cross-training programs that prepares incumbent water and wastewater utility workers for supervisory or management-level positions; and (2) an evaluation of how these programs supported the retention of water utility workforce employees. For the purposes of this announcement, “geographically diverse,” means in different areas of the country.

Applicants should provide information on how they intend to expand awareness to individuals from rural, small, and/or underserved communities. The application should describe the applicant’s proposed community outreach strategies and cultural competencies, particularly if the project will include work with tribes and/or underserved communities. For the purposes of this announcement, the term “cultural competence” means effectively demonstrating the skills and experience to operate in the different cultural contexts found in the identified geographic area and means having the capacity to function effectively as an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by the recipients targeted to receive training.

Cultural competence includes demonstrating linguistic competence that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations.

Applicants should include their proposed plan to incorporate innovative approaches that will address the workforce needs of water utilities. For the purposes of this announcement, “innovative” means new ideas and methods that are original and creative in approach. The applicant should demonstrate how these innovative approaches show the potential to effectively reach the intended audience. As an example, this could mean plans to share the project area, results, and lessons learned at workforce specialty conference(s) that includes water utilities that are geographically diverse, of varying sizes, and serve urban, suburban and rural populations.

There may be other applicable and creative examples to share the information with water utilities that are geographically diverse, vary in size, and serve urban, suburban and rural populations.

Project Area 5: Education and training programs, including internship or apprenticeship programs, designed for decentralized water workers (i.e., private well and/or septic system service professionals) to support public health outcomes for communities that rely on private wells for drinking water or decentralized systems for adequate treatment and disposal of wastewater.

Under Project Area 5, EPA is soliciting applications to expand public awareness about job opportunities in the decentralized drinking water (i.e., private wells) and/ or wastewater (i.e., septic systems) sectors, and address the workforce needs of the decentralized water workforce (such as inspectors, O&M providers, designers, installers, etc.) through supporting public health outcomes of communities that rely on these systems. This may be achieved by developing and implementing, for example, but not limited to, education and training programs at higher education institutions, or internship/apprenticeship programs that prioritize decentralized water skilled trades through:

(1) New training program(s) at higher education institutions (i.e., community colleges);

(2) Growth of existing training program(s) at higher education institutions;

(3) On-the-job training, including registered apprenticeships;

(4) Skills development;

(5) Test preparation for state level licensing requirements;

(6) Advanced training in the decentralized water sector relating to site evaluation, design, installation, inspection/monitoring, and operations/maintenance of systems; or,

(7) Other supportive services and participant support costs (e.g., apprenticeship stipend and training materials, reasonable costs for transportation, childcare subsidies) to facilitate growth potential of decentralized water workers.

For the purposes of this announcement, “higher education” means education at the technical college, community college, or university level. For the purposes of this announcement, “Private well” is defined as a well owned by a homeowner or group of homeowners that supplies drinking water to fewer than 25 people and contains fewer than 15 service connections. “Decentralized wastewater systems” are defined as: septic or onsite or clustered systems used to collect, treat, and disperse or reclaim wastewater from a small community, tribe, or service area that are publicly or privately-owned and/or serve tribal communities (except for systems owned by U.S.

federal entities). For further details regarding decentralized wastewater systems refer to the EPA “Overview of Clean Water State Revolving Fund Eligibilities” decentralized chapter at:

https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf/overview-clean-water-state-revolving-fund-eligibilities.

Education and training programs, as well as providing the opportunities for on-the-job learning through apprenticeship and internship programs, will result in training and developing the next generation of decentralized water professionals and will help support the public health needs of communities relying on decentralized wastewater systems for clean water and adequate sanitation of wastewater.

https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf/overview-clean-water-state-revolving-fund-eligibilities

Applicants should describe their proposed plan to share (or make available to geographically diverse areas) the Project Area, the results of the Project Area, and the lessons learned. For the purposes of this Project Area, “results” mean: (1) developing and providing education and training programs, including internship or apprenticeship programs, for skilled decentralized water sector trades; and (2) an evaluation of how these programs have helped expand public awareness about the job opportunities in the decentralized water sector and addressed the workforce needs of the decentralized drinking water and wastewater industry. For the purposes of this announcement, “geographically diverse,” means in different areas of the country.

Applicants should provide information on how they intend to expand awareness to individuals from rural, small, and/or underserved communities. The application should describe the applicant’s proposed community outreach strategies and cultural competencies, particularly if the project will include work with tribes and/or underserved communities. For the purposes of this announcement, the term “cultural competence” means effectively demonstrating the skills and experience to operate in the different cultural contexts found in the identified geographic area and means having the capacity to function effectively as an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by the recipients targeted to receive training.

Cultural competence includes demonstrating linguistic competence that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations.

Applicants should include innovative approaches to address the decentralized water workforce, as well as utilize tools already available to them, such as EPA’s new guide, Building a Decentralized Wastewater Training Program. For the purposes of this announcement, “innovative” means new ideas and methods that are original and creative in approach. The applicant should demonstrate how these innovative approaches have the potential to effectively reach the intended audience. As an example, this could mean a proposed approach to share the project activity, results, and lessons learned at workforce specialty conference(s) that include decentralized water workers and that are geographically diverse, of varying sizes, and serve suburban and rural populations. There may be other applicable and creative examples to share the information with the decentralized water industry that are geographically diverse, vary in size, and serve suburban and rural populations.

Project Area 6: Leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, workforce development and/or cross training programs that enable drinking water and wastewater utility workers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions2 and other air pollutants to benefit disadvantaged communities.

The awards under this Project Area will be funded by Clean Air Act Section 138(b)(2)(A). Under this Project Area, EPA is soliciting applications to address the workforce needs of water utilities through leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, workforce development, and/or cross-training

2 Greenhouse gas is defined in Clean Air Act Section 138(d) means the air pollutants carbon dioxide, hydrofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxide, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.

https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-10/decentralized_partnershipsguide.pdf https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-10/decentralized_partnershipsguide.pdf programs that enable drinking water and wastewater utility workers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants in ways that benefit disadvantaged communities as defined below. As water and wastewater facilities integrate improved energy management and technologies into their daily operations and long-term planning, workforce development and training programs are needed to improve the knowledge in implementing such practices. This is intended to support climate change mitigation and the retention and recruitment of water utility workforce employees through skills development opportunities.

Applications submitted for this Project Area must demonstrate how they will benefit disadvantaged communities, which for purposes of Project Area 6 applications are defined as:

• Any census tract that is included as disadvantaged in Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST);

• Any census block group that is at or above the 90th percentile for any of EJScreen’s Supplemental Indexes when compared to the nation or state; and/or

• Any geographic area within Tribal lands as included in EJScreen: Alaska Native Allotments, Alaska Native Villages, American Indian Reservations, American Indian Off-reservation Trust Lands, and Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Areas.

For this Project Area, applicants should describe their proposed approach for (1) establishing leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, workforce development, and/or cross-training programs that prepare water and wastewater utility workers to assess, prevent, and remediate greenhouse gases and other air pollutants; (2) evaluating how these programs reduced greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants; and (3) evaluating how these programs supported the retention and/or recruitment of water utility workforce employees. In addition, while the awards under this Project Area must benefit disadvantaged communities as described above, applicants should also explain how their project is transferable and could be replicated to benefit other communities in different areas of the country, as well as how the outcomes of the project can be sustainable beyond the 3-year duration of the grant award.

Applicants should include their proposed plan to incorporate innovative approaches that reduce greenhouse gas as defined in footnote 2 below, and other air pollutants, as well as reduce indirect emissions from utility energy consumption. As an example, this could mean plans to train employees in:

(1) Conducting energy audits and developing and implementing emissions reduction plans for water utilities;

(2) Building an understanding of the water-energy nexus and implementing strategies to reduce and offset energy and fuel consumption at water utilities;

(3) Enhancing biogas production to offset energy consumption at water utilities;

(4) Resource recovery (e.g., water, nutrients) at water utilities to reduce emissions associated with resource production (e.g., recovering phosphorus from treatment plants compared to mining phosphorus);

(5) Biological treatment optimization at water utilities to reduce nitrous oxide and methane emissions;

(6) Lagoon water treatment management to reduce methane emissions;

(7) Green infrastructure installation, operations, and maintenance to support reduced energy consumption by reducing rainwater flows into sewer systems.

Applicants may also propose other plan and projects for this priority that meet the objectives and requirements stated above.

https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5 https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5 https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen/download-ejscreen-data https://epa.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=de83a3c2efc5457b893591beb13fbcb4 https://epa.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=55d179c543884240bee66bad89f0a674 https://epa.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=35fe98209dc44315909c8211f29bc7ed https://epa.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=35fe98209dc44315909c8211f29bc7ed https://epa.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=417d202e8213423f916f3751c6572f83

D. Project Partnerships

In Section 1459E of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 300j- 19e), Congress urges increased collaboration among federal, state, and local governments, and institutions of higher education, apprentice programs, high schools, and other community-based organizations to align workforce training programs and community resources with water and wastewater utilities to accelerate career pipelines and provide access to workforce opportunities.

Effective partnerships are important for the success of projects solicited under this announcement. In their applications, applicants should identify appropriate and necessary partnerships to successfully conduct the project as further described below and in Section III with respect to Priority 6 projects that have unique partnership eligibility requirements.

Applicants should also include a clear description of the roles of specific partners, or planned partners, in the project’s components and/or tasks. If you choose not to partner, applications will be evaluated based on how the applicant demonstrates how it will successfully conduct the project and meet the objectives described in Section I.B without the use of partners. If the applicant chooses to identify any partner entities who will receive subawards or procurement contracts (including consultants), please pay careful attention to the information to the Contracts and Subawards provision found at https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses before doing so as EPA will not consider their qualifications unless the applicant selects them in compliance with applicable regulations and provisions. Partnerships between organizations can greatly benefit from one another’s experience and expertise.

E. Transfer of Results

The application should include a description of the applicant’s proposed approach for active transfer of project results (as defined under each Project Area), methods and/or effective strategies to water utilities, states, tribes, and/or other interested stakeholders so that others may better build their water workforces. This should include a detailed explanation of how the proposed results will or could be scaled to the broader water sector, along with the proposed approaches that will or could be utilized to support such wider adoption by the water sector.

Examples of ways to transfer results include:

i. Sharing the results with relevant organizations through a website;

ii. Sharing the results with relevant drinking water and/or wastewater utilities and other relevant stakeholders;

iii. Conducting webinars or other outreach efforts, addressing workforce needs, to drinking water and wastewater utilities; and/or

iv. Sharing the results at conference(s) that include water utilities.

F. EPA’s Strategic Plan Linkage and Anticipated Environmental Results

Applicants must demonstrate in their application how their project and proposed activities link to the Strategic Plan Goal and Objective identified below. This announcement is consistent with EPA’s priority to provide for clean and safe water systems.

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

The activities to be funded under this announcement support EPA’s FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, (available at: https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan). Awards made under this announcement for Project Areas 1 – 5 will support progress toward Goal 5 – Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities, Objective 5.1: Ensure Safe Drinking Water and Reliable Water Infrastructure: Clean and safe water is a vital resource that is essential to the protection of human health. Without clean water, communities and economies cannot thrive. EPA is committed to ensuring clean and safe water for all, especially for disadvantaged or historically underserved communities, and tribal communities. Awards made under this announcement for Project Area 6 will support progress toward Goal 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights, Objective 2.1: Promote Environmental Justice and Civil Rights at the Federal, Tribal, State, and Local Levels.

EPA’s current priorities include working to advance environmental justice and equity, address climate change, support and renew the water utility workforce, and responsibly support and implement the BIL. These priorities include helping ensure that communities that have struggled to access public funding receive the help they need.

EPA aims to maximize the potential for BIL funds to significantly benefit small, rural, or tribal communities, and to advance careers in these areas within the water and wastewater utility sector. Rendering this support will allow communities to better protect both public health and the environment.

EPA also requires that applicants adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see EPA Order 5700.7A1, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements), https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements. Applications must include specific statements describing the environmental results of the proposed project in terms of well-defined outputs. To the maximum extent practicable, the application should include well-defined outcomes that demonstrate how the project will contribute to the overall protection of human health and the environment by preventing water pollution. The outputs and outcomes should directly address the goals of providing training and technical assistance.

Outputs and outcomes are defined as follows:

Outputs: Environmental outputs (or deliverables) refer to an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to an environmental goal or objective that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during the project period.

Examples of anticipated outputs from the cooperative agreements expected to be awarded under this announcement for Project Area 1, Targeted internship, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs for skilled water utility trades, include, but are not limited to, the following:

An increased number of participants in existing or new internship, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, post-secondary bridge programs for skilled water utility trades.

An increased number of internships, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, or post-secondary bridge programs for skilled water utility trades, including programs addressing https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements emerging water workforce needs such as climate adaptation and green/nature-based infrastructure.

An increased number of available recruitment strategies, materials, and partnerships to inform potential applicants of internship, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs for skilled water utility trades.

Examples of anticipated outputs from the cooperative agreements expected to be awarded under this announcement for Project Area 2, Education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students, include, but are not limited to, the following:

Establishment of new partnerships with community and technical colleges to provide classroom, online, and/or on the job training experiences for elementary, secondary, or higher education students.

Development, distribution, and use of age-appropriate educational materials for elementary, secondary, or higher education students to raise awareness about opportunities in the drinking water or wastewater utilities sector.

Development of an innovative program or strategy in a secondary educational institution to recruit diverse populations to the water utility sector workforce.

Development of new learning laboratories in secondary educational institutions for student awareness about drinking water and wastewater job skills.

this announcement for Project Area 3, Regional industry, and workforce development collaborations to address water utility employment needs and coordinate candidate development, particularly in areas of high unemployment or for water utilities with a high proportion of retirement eligible employees, include, but are not limited to, the following:

Development of a new regional collaboration program or expansion of an existing collaboration program amongst organizations to address regional water workforce needs in areas of high unemployment or for water utilities facing potentially high retirement rates.

Establishment of new partnerships with community organizations, educational institutions, labor organizations, utilities, or other organizations to address the workforce needs of water utilities.

the announcement for Project Area 4, Leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, or cross-training programs that ensure incumbent drinking water and wastewater utility workers are prepared for higher level supervisory or management-level positions, include, but are not limited to, the following:

An increased number of drinking water or wastewater utility workers receiving leadership training and mentoring.

An increased number of utility programs to train incumbent workers for management positions.

Examples of anticipated outputs from the cooperative agreements expected to be awarded under this announcement for Project Area 5, Education and training programs, including internship or apprenticeship programs, designed for decentralized water workers (i.e., private well and/or septic system service professionals) to support public health outcomes for communities that rely on private wells for drinking water or decentralized systems for adequate treatment and disposal of wastewater, include, but are not limited to, the following:

An increased number of participants in existing or new education and training programs, including internship or apprenticeship programs designed for skilled decentralized water trades.

An increased number of existing or new education and training programs, including internship or apprenticeship programs designed for skilled decentralized water trades.

An increased number of available recruitment strategies, materials, and partnerships to inform potential applicants of education and training programs, including internship or apprenticeship programs designed for skilled decentralized water trades.

Establishment of new partnerships with community and technical colleges to provide classroom, online, and/or on the job training experiences for higher education students.

Development, distribution, and use of age-appropriate educational materials to raise higher education student awareness about opportunities in the decentralized water sector.

this announcement for Project Area 6 may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Development of a collaboration program amongst organizations to train the water utility sector workforce in new tools and technologies that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants.

Establishment of new partnerships with community organizations, educational institutions, labor organizations, utilities, or other organizations to address the water workforce needs in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants from water and wastewater treatment.

An increased number of drinking water or wastewater utility workers receiving training and mentoring in climate change mitigation and the water-energy nexus.

An increased number of programs to train a water workforce that can identify and implement measures to mitigate climate change.

Outcomes: Environmental outcomes are the result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that is related to the environmental or programmatic goal or objective. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic in nature. Outcomes should be quantitative and may not necessarily be achieved within the assistance agreement funding period.

Examples of anticipated outcomes from the cooperative agreements expected to be awarded under this announcement for Project Area 1, Targeted internship, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs for skilled water utility trades, include, but are not limited to, the following:

An increased number of individuals that have completed internship, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs and been placed in water and wastewater utility jobs.

An increased number of individuals that have completed internship, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs and received industry credentials that qualify them for utility jobs.

An increased number of individuals from underserved communities that have been placed in wastewater utility jobs and/or received industry credentials that qualify them for utility jobs.

Examples of anticipated outcomes from the cooperative agreements expected to be awarded under this announcement for Project Area 2, Education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students, include, but are not limited to, the following:

Increased student awareness about career opportunities in the water and wastewater sector as documented by program assessments on knowledge acquisition.

Integration of educational program into school’s science, technology, engineering, and math activities and programs.

Increased student involvement in programs that offer dual enrollment.

An increased number of students entering the utility workforce or entering post-secondary training or education programs that support the water and wastewater utility workforce.

Increased awareness, program availability, and student involvement that supports individuals in underserved communities.

under this announcement for Project Area 3, Regional industry and workforce development collaborations to address water utility employment needs and coordinate candidate development, particularly in areas of high unemployment or for water utilities with a high proportion of retirement eligible employees, include, but are not limited to, the following:

Enhanced sustainable regional collaborations that support the long-term water utility workforce needs.

Increased number of individuals in high areas of unemployment being recruited into the water sector.

Prompt ability to backfill for retiring employees to sustain the workforce.

Increase in the collective skillset of water utility employees that would meet specific requirements in career advancement.

Examples of anticipated outcomes from the cooperative agreements expected to be awarded under this announcement for Project Area 4, Leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, or…