GLRI RFA FY21 Green Infrastructure in Shoreline Communities FON.pdf

Dated: June 15, 2021

U.S. EPA GREAT LAKES NATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

2021 Request for Applications for Nonpoint Source Runoff and Nutrient Reduction Projects

Federal Agency Name: Environmental Protection Agency Funding Opportunity Title: See Below Announcement Type: Request for Applications Funding Opportunity Number: See Below Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 66.469

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

This Request for Applications (RFA) solicits applications from eligible entities for grants and/or cooperative agreements to be awarded pursuant to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan III (https://www.glri.us/documents). This RFA is EPA’s major competitive grant funding opportunity under Focus Area 3 of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (“GLRI” or “Initiative”) for FY 2021. Applications are requested for projects within the three funding opportunities listed below, each of which has a separate Funding Opportunity Number (FON) and is separately posted on www.grants.gov. Applicants must apply on grants.gov for the specific funding opportunity they are interested in.

Up to approximately $9 million may be awarded in total under the three FONs as grants and/or cooperative agreements for approximately 24 projects contingent upon funding availability, the quality of applications received, Agency priorities, and other applicable considerations.

The three Funding Opportunities and associated FONs are:

Funding Opportunity Title FON Description I.A. Riparian Restoration to Reduce Runoff

EPA-R5-GL2021-RRR

Approximately $3,000,000 available for 5 to 10 projects

I.B. Addressing Legacy Phosphorus in Agricultural Settings

EPA-R5-GL2021-ALP

available for 5 to 10 projects

1.C. Green Infrastructure in Shoreline Communities

EPA-R5-GL2021-GIS

available for 5 to 10 projects https://www.glri.us/documents

This funding opportunity is for applications under the Green Infrastructure in Shoreline Communities FON only.

Funding/Awards: Under this FON for Green Infrastructure in Shoreline Communities approximately $3,000,000 is available for 5-10 projects. In addition, EPA expressly reserves the right to make no awards under a particular Funding Opportunity or to adjust the number of awards originally anticipated under a specific Funding Opportunity.

Proposed projects must be limited to the project duration identified for the respective Funding Opportunities. Awards may be fully or incrementally funded. All incrementally funded awards will be subject to the availability of funding, future appropriations, satisfactory performance of work, Agency priorities, and other applicable considerations. Applicants may submit applications under each of the three funding opportunity numbers listed above and multiple applications per funding opportunity number, provided that each application is for a different project and is submitted separately under the appropriate FON, and each application cannot address more than one Funding Opportunity.

GLRI’s statutory authority to award cooperative agreements is contained in the Clean Water Act, Section 118(c)(7), as amended by Public Law 114-322. EPA has authority to award grants and cooperative agreements for planning, research, monitoring, outreach and implementation projects in furtherance of the GLRI and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Governmental entities, including state agencies, interstate agencies, Indian tribes, local governments, institutions of higher learning (i.e., colleges and universities), and non-profit organizations (as defined at 2 CFR Part 200) are eligible to apply for funding under this RFA. Individuals, foreign organizations and governments, nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying, and “for-profit” organizations are not eligible.

Important Dates:

• June 28, 2021 – Applicant webinar (12:30 – 1:20 p.m. Eastern Time / 11:30 - 12:30 p.m.

Central Time)

• August 20, 2021– Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time / 10:59 p.m. Central Time. See Section IV for further submission information.

• October 2021 (tentative) – EPA will notify selected applicants.

• November 2021 (tentative) – EPA will make official awards.

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.

Other Application Information: For your convenience, an RFA web page has been created at be https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/fy-2021-rfa-glri-nonpoint-source-runoff-nutrient-reduction-projects where you will find information relating to the RFA process as well as a link to frequently asked questions (FAQs). We encourage all applicants to sign up for https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/fy-2021-rfa-glri-nonpoint-source-runoff-nutrient-reduction-projects https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/fy-2021-rfa-glri-nonpoint-source-runoff-nutrient-reduction-projects our mailing list and register with us at www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/great-lakes-news-email-list. Further submittal information is described in Section IV.

Table of Contents

I. Application Information 4

II. Award Information 13

III. Eligibility Information 15

IV. Application and Submission Information 18

V. Application Review and Selection Process 30

VI. Award Administration 33

VII. Agency Contacts 37

VIII. Other Information 37

Appendix I Budget Narrative 38

Appendix II: Example Budget Table 41 http://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/great-lakes-news-email-list http://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/great-lakes-news-email-list

I. Application Information General Background, Authority, and Funded Activities:

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (“GLRI” or “Initiative”) builds on the prior efforts of federal, state, and local agencies; Indian tribes; businesses; public interest groups; interested citizens; and others to develop a collaborative and comprehensive approach to restoring the Great Lakes. Information about the Initiative can be found at www.glri.us.

Consistent with Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Listing Number 66.469, this RFA is expected to result in the award of grants and/or cooperative agreements, as appropriate (hereafter collectively referred to as “grants”), to help implement the GLRI. EPA’s authority to make awards includes outreach and implementation projects in furtherance of GLRI and GLWQA. The statutory authority to carry out certain U.S. responsibilities under GLWQA and for GLRI funding is contained in the Clean Water Act Section 118(c)(7), as amended by Public Law 114-322. The principal goal of GLWQA is the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Funded activities must advance protection and restoration of the Great Lakes ecosystem in support of: (i) GLRI Action Plan III (https://www.glri.us/documents) and (ii) EPA’s Strategic Plan.

The activities to be funded under this announcement support achievement of EPA’s FY 2018-22 Strategic Plan. Awards made under this announcement will support Goal 1: A Cleaner, Healthier Environment, Objective 1.2: Provide for Clean and Safe Water of the EPA Strategic Plan.

Information about EPA’s Strategic Plan can be found at https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.

For projects with international aspects, the above statutes are supplemented, as appropriate, by the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(F).

This RFA solicits applications from eligible entities for grants to be awarded pursuant to the statutory authorities referenced above and the GLRI Action Plan III and EPA’s Strategic Plan. Up to approximately $9 million in total may be awarded for about 24 projects in the three funding opportunities subject areas described in this RFAcontingent on the quality of applications received, funding availability, Agency priorities, future appropriations, satisfactory performance of work, and other applicable considerations. Under this RFA for Green Infrastructure in Shoreline Communities approximately $3,000,000 is available for 5-10 projects.

The anticipated award amounts and the relative allocations for the three funding opportunities are approximations that are subject to change based upon a number of considerations including, but not limited to, EPA’s determination that different amounts or allocations would better advance protection and restoration of the Great Lakes ecosystem, funding availability, and other applicable considerations. However, EPA will not consider applications that request EPA funding amounts above the EPA-specified maximum individual project amounts identified in Section I for each funding opportunity. Applications for funding above these amounts will be rejected.

https://www.glri.us/ https://www.glri.us/documents https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan

Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs):

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

For purposes of this solicitation, the following are considered MSIs:

1. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1061(2)). A list of these schools can be found at Historically Black Colleges and Universities;

2. Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059c(b)(3) and (d)(1)). A list of these schools can be found at American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities;

3. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C.

§ 1101a(a)(5)). A list of these schools can be found at Hispanic-Serving Institutions;

4. Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions;

(AANAPISIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059g(b)(2)). A list of these schools can be found at Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander- Serving Institutions; and

5. Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act of 2008, 20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)(6). A list of these schools can be found at Predominantly Black Institutions.

Subawardees and/or Contractors:

If you name subawardees/subgrantees 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 Section III regarding "Coalitions" and to the “Contracts and Subawards” provisions at www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses (incorporated by reference in Section

IV).

Funding Opportunities:

Applications are requested for the funding opportunities described below, each of which has a different FON. There are three separate FONs for which applicants can apply, and each one is separately posted on Grants.gov. This RFA is for applications under the Green Infrastructure in Shoreline Communities FON.

Applicants: 1) may submit applications under each FON listed below, and 2) may submit multiple applications under each FON as long as each application is for a different project. In https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/hsi-eligibles-2016.pdf https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=3&source=embed&ll=40.58644586187277%2C-148.28228249999984 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=3&source=embed&ll=40.58644586187277%2C-148.28228249999984 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY&ie=UTF&msa=0&ll=37.35160769312532%2C-96.17229800000001&z=4 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY&ie=UTF&msa=0&ll=37.35160769312532%2C-96.17229800000001&z=4 http://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses addition, each individual project for which an applicant seeks funding must be covered by a separate application under the appropriate FON. An application cannot address more than one funding opportunity.

Funding Opportunity I.A. Riparian Restoration to Reduce Runoff Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-R5-GL2021-RRR Funding Opportunity Title: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - 2021 Request for Applications – Riparian Restoration to Reduce Runoff

Background: Many riparian corridors in the Great Lakes basin have been dramatically altered (e.g., drained, diked, channelized) resulting in a loss of the water quality benefits that healthy riparian corridors provide. Restoring riparian corridors through streamside conservation practices (e.g., re-establishing riparian vegetation and widening floodplains) will collect, slow, and filter nonpoint source runoff before it reaches the Great Lakes.

Under this funding opportunity, we seek to restore riparian corridors in agricultural, rural, urban, and suburban areas through the implementation of streamside conservation practices that promote infiltration, provide stream bank stability, and increase the capacity of the watershed to assimilate nutrients.

In addition to natural streambank restoration techniques, eligible activities may include edge of field practices such as: vegetated buffers (filter strips, field borders, and riparian buffers), constructed wetlands, saturated buffers, and two-stage ditches. Eligible projects may also include acquisition0F

1 and restoration of former cropland of marginal value along drainage ditches.

Request for Applications: EPA expects to provide approximately $3,000,000 for 5 to 10 projects under this funding opportunity. The maximum amount of federal funds that will be awarded for any project in this funding opportunity is $600,000.

Applicants interested in applying for this funding opportunity must do so under this grants.gov posting. There are separate grants.gov postings for applications under the other two funding opportunities described below.

Information to include in the description of “Project Design”:

1 If the project involves privately owned property, the land must be held in perpetuity by a Qualified Easement Holder1 such as a land conservancy organization, local governments and/or local soil and water conservation districts.

Applicants should provide:

• A map that delineates the project boundaries within the watershed and clearly identifies the areas where work will be implemented.

• An explanation of the project’s relevance to improving water quality in the watershed, including the cause(s) of nutrient runoff issues and how this project will address them.

• An explanation of how the project is consistent with a broader strategy for watershed protection and restoration.

• An explanation of how the project will be maintained after the project period has ended to ensure the long-term benefits of the project.

• An explanation of how the project plan and design will be resilient to climate change.

Potential for higher score under Project Design Criterion in Section V: During the evaluation process described in Section V for projects addressing this funding opportunity, applications may be evaluated more favorably for the following under the Project Design criterion:

• Projects demonstrating a clear connection to protection of the Great Lakes themselves or reduced risk of Harmful Algal Blooms, including but not limited to projects located in one of the following GLRI Priority watersheds for phosphorus reduction: the Maumee River, Ohio, the Fox River, WI, the Saginaw River, MI, or the Genesee River, NY.

Information to include in the description of “Outputs and Outcomes”: Projects will be assessed on the completeness and strength of their outputs and outcomes.

Outputs from the project must include:

• Length of riparian corridor stabilized (in miles or fraction of a mile).

Outputs from the project should also include, if applicable:

• Projected volume of untreated stormwater runoff captured or treated (in gallons).

• Estimated phosphorus load reduced (in pounds).

A variety of tools may be used to estimate phosphorus or stormwater reductions for the application, such as EPA’s Spreadsheet Tool for Estimating Pollutant Load (STEPL):

https://www.epa.gov/nps/spreadsheet-tool-estimating-pollutant-loads-stepl, USDA’s Nutrient Tracking Tool (NTT): https://www.oem.usda.gov/nutrient-tracking-tool-ntt, EPA’s National Stormwater Calculator: https://www.epa.gov/water-research/national-stormwater-calculator, and/or iTree: https://www.itreetools.org/ (utilize a 10-year tree age for measuring stormwater benefits in i-Tree).

https://www.epa.gov/nps/spreadsheet-tool-estimating-pollutant-loads-stepl https://www.oem.usda.gov/nutrient-tracking-tool-ntt https://www.epa.gov/water-research/national-stormwater-calculator https://www.itreetools.org/

Applicants should also demonstrate how their proposed project will contribute to one or more of the following outcomes:

• Achievement of the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Annex 4 nutrient reduction targets.

• Reduced risk of nutrient runoff during storm events.

• Minimized nonpoint source pollutant impacts on water quality in the Great Lakes or tributaries.

Descriptions of other outputs and outcomes which may be accomplished as a result of project activities should also be included.

Ineligible projects and activities. The following projects and activities are ineligible under this funding opportunity:

• Erosion control measures within farm fields such as grassed waterways or water and sediment control basins.

• Purchase of temporary (as opposed to permanent) easements.

• Wetland or floodplain creation specified as a required mitigation measure under a state, local, or federal permit for a specific project.

Funding Opportunity I.B. Addressing Legacy Phosphorus in Agricultural Settings Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-R5-GL2021-ALP Funding Opportunity Title: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - 2021 Request for Applications – Addressing Legacy Phosphorus in Agricultural Settings

Background: Historical application of fertilizers, particularly manure, can lead to accumulation of phosphorus (P) in soils, which then becomes a chronic source of water pollution that is released during storm events or through gradual leaching. These losses of “legacy P” from agricultural soils are difficult to control and pose significant risks to water quality. Typically, legacy P levels are high enough to support crop production with no additional nutrients for several years. Meanwhile, crop planting and harvesting will slowly drawdown legacy P.

Drawdown can take decades, which can mask progress being made on controlling new sources of nutrients.

For this funding opportunity we seek to reduce nutrient loading to the Great Lakes and their tributaries by creating phosphorus sinks on the landscape to intercept and filter agricultural runoff before it moves downstream. A successful project would target known areas of high legacy P levels and use engineered or natural hydrologic structures, such as wetlands, floodplains and two stage ditches to keep it on the landscape. For this funding opportunity, we specifically encourage the use of Phosphorus Removal Structures1F

2 to accelerate drawdown of dissolved P, where site conditions are favorable to do so. Because Phosphorus Removal Structures are a relatively new best management practice that is under active research by the USDA, applicants are encouraged to engage their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation district, the Agricultural Research Service, and/or Extension specialists in the planning and design of their project.

Request for Applications: EPA expects to provide approximately $3,000,000 for 5 to 10 projects under this funding opportunity. The maximum amount of federal funds that will be awarded for any project for this funding opportunity is $600,000.

Information to include in the description of “Project Design”:

Applicants should provide:

the areas where work will be implemented.

• An explanation of the project’s relevance to improving water quality in the watershed, including the cause(s) of nutrient runoff issues and how this project will address them.

• An explanation of how the project is consistent with a broader strategy for watershed protection and restoration.

• An explanation of how the project will be maintained after the project period has ended to ensure the long-term benefits of the project.

• An explanation of how the project plan and design will be resilient to climate change.

Potential for higher score under Project Design Criterion in Section V: During the evaluation process described in Section V for projects addressing this funding opportunity, applications may be evaluated more favorably for the following:

• Projects demonstrating a clear connection to protection of the Great Lakes themselves or reduced risk of Harmful Algal Blooms, including but not limited to projects located in one of the following GLRI Priority watersheds for phosphorus reduction: the Maumee River, Ohio, the Fox River, WI, the Saginaw River, MI, or the Genesee River, NY.

2 A Phosphorus Removal Structure is an edge of field practice that captures dissolved phosphorus from drainage water leaving the field, by diverting concentrated flows of water into a structure containing P absorbent media. The structure is used in a system with a containment structure that allows flow through the media and retains the media so that it does not move downstream, and a means to remove and replace the media. Many states include the P removal structure in their NRCS cost-share program, under the 782 Standard. For more information, see:

https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/item.asp?itemID=24475, and https://www.mdpi.com/journal/water/special_issues/phosphorus_removal.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmdc.itap.purdue.edu%2Fitem.asp%3FitemID%3D24475&data=04%7C01%7CWortman.Santina%40epa.gov%7Ce712c2968cb24629617908d9000d277c%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637540879190157892%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=ebZHtLBvoeuvsC21GJ68nIdyKk5SWuHy6iZQyrJwhlc%3D&reserved=0 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/water/special_issues/phosphorus_removal

Additionally, applications that include the following elements may be more favorably considered under the Project Design criterion:

• Past experience and collaboration with farmers that identified potential “hot spots” for legacy P, willing landowners, and/or evaluation of suitable sites for building natural sinks on the landscape.

Information to include in the description of “Outputs and Outcomes”: Projects will be assessed on the completeness and strength of their outputs and outcomes.

Outputs from the project must include:

• Length of streambank or riparian zone stabilized (in miles or fraction of a mile).

• Projected volume of untreated stormwater runoff captured or treated (in gallons).

A variety of tools may be used to estimate phosphorus or stormwater reductions for the proposal, such as EPA’s Spreadsheet Tool for Estimating Pollutant Load (STEPL):

https://www.epa.gov/nps/spreadsheet-tool-estimating-pollutant-loads-stepl, USDA’s Nutrient Tracking Tool (NTT): https://www.oem.usda.gov/nutrient-tracking-tool-ntt, EPA’s National Stormwater Calculator: https://www.epa.gov/water-research/national-stormwater-calculator, and/or iTree: https://www.itreetools.org/ (utilize a 10-year tree age for measuring stormwater benefits in i-Tree).

If a Phosphorus Removal Structure is part of the project design, applicants should use the Phosphorus Transport Reduction App (P-TRAP): https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/west-lafayette-in/national-soil-erosion-research/docs/phosphorus-removal-structures/

Applicants should also demonstrate how their proposed project will contribute to one or more of the following outcomes:

• Reduced risk of nutrient runoff during storm events.

• Drawdown of legacy phosphorus levels in streams and floodplains.

• Minimized nonpoint source pollutant impacts on water quality in the Great Lakes or tributaries

• Achievement of the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Annex 4 nutrient reduction targets.

https://www.epa.gov/nps/spreadsheet-tool-estimating-pollutant-loads-stepl https://www.oem.usda.gov/nutrient-tracking-tool-ntt https://www.epa.gov/water-research/national-stormwater-calculator https://www.itreetools.org/ https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/west-lafayette-in/national-soil-erosion-research/docs/phosphorus-removal-structures/ https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/west-lafayette-in/national-soil-erosion-research/docs/phosphorus-removal-structures/

• Erosion control measures within farm fields such as grassed waterways or water and sediment control basins

• Purchase of temporary (as opposed to permanent) easements.

• Wetland or floodplain creation specified as a required mitigation measure under a state, local, or federal permit for a specific project.

Funding Opportunity I.C. Green Infrastructure in Shoreline Communities Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-R5-GL2021-GIS Funding Opportunity Title: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - 2021 Request for Applications – Green Infrastructure in Shoreline Communities

Background: Green infrastructure uses vegetation, soils, and other elements and practices to restore some of the natural processes required to manage water and create healthier urban environments.

In many Great Lakes shoreline communities, polluted stormwater runoff can degrade nearshore water quality and result in beach closings. Implementation of green infrastructure practices that infiltrate and intercept runoff can have multiple benefits, including decreasing surface runoff with simultaneous reductions in runoff of soils, nutrients, pesticides, and other nonpoint source pollutants. Projects on beaches can couple these green infrastructure practices with other beach mitigation techniques such as planting native grasses to discourage geese from congregating by the shoreline.

This funding opportunity solicits green infrastructure projects that will capture and infiltrate stormwater runoff to improve water quality in the Great Lakes. For this funding opportunity, EPA is particularly interested in providing assistance for green infrastructure projects in underserved communities. For purposes of this announcement, the term “underserved community” refers to people/communities of color, low income, tribal, and indigenous communities, and if applicable other vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, those with pre-existing medical conditions, and rural communities, that may be disproportionately impacted by environmental harms and risks.

Request for Applications: EPA expects to provide approximately $3,000,000 for approximately 5 to 10 projects in this funding opportunity. The maximum amount of federal funds that will be awarded for any project in this funding opportunity is $600,000. As a minimum for consideration in this funding opportunity, projects must be designed to infiltrate or capture at least 100,000 gallons of stormwater runoff.

Applicants should provide the following information in the description of “Project Design”:

where work will be implemented.

• An explanation of the project’s relevance to improving water quality in a Great Lakes shoreline community2F

3, including the cause(s) of the stormwater runoff issues and how this project will address them.

• An explanation of how the project is consistent with a broader strategy for watershed protection and restoration.

• An explanation of how the project will be maintained after the project period has ended to ensure long-term benefits of the project.

• An explanation of how the project plan and design will be resilient to climate change.

Additionally, applications that include the following element could be more favorably considered under the evaluation criteria for “Project Design”:

• Projects that protect public health by improving water quality at recreational beaches.

Information to include in the description of “Outputs and Outcomes”: Projects will be assessed on the completeness and strength of their outputs and outcomes. Outputs from the project must include:

• Projected volume of untreated stormwater runoff captured or treated (in gallons). Refer to Section III regarding Eligibility Criteria.

• Length of shoreline restored or protected (in miles or fraction of a mile).

A variety of tools may be used to estimate phosphorus or stormwater reductions for the proposal, such as EPA’s Spreadsheet Tool for Estimating Pollutant Load (STEPL):

https://www.epa.gov/nps/spreadsheet-tool-estimating-pollutant-loads-stepl, USDA’s Nutrient Tracking Tool (NTT): https://www.oem.usda.gov/nutrient-tracking-tool-ntt, EPA’s National Stormwater Calculator: https://www.epa.gov/water-research/national-stormwater-calculator, and/or iTree: https://www.itreetools.org/ (utilize a 10-year tree age for measuring stormwater benefits in i-Tree).

33 For the purposes of this announcement, a shoreline community is defined as being adjacent to a Great Lake or connecting channel.

https://www.epa.gov/nps/spreadsheet-tool-estimating-pollutant-loads-stepl https://www.oem.usda.gov/nutrient-tracking-tool-ntt https://www.epa.gov/water-research/national-stormwater-calculator https://www.itreetools.org/

Applicants should also demonstrate how their proposed project will contribute to achievement of one or more of the following outcomes:

• Nonpoint source pollutant impacts on water quality in the Great Lakes or tributaries minimized.

• Trophic status or biotic integrity of nearshore Great Lakes aquatic resources improved.

• Reduction in beach closures or algal blooms in nearshore areas of the Great Lakes.

Additional Eligibility Criteria for projects under this FON (see also the threshold eligibility criteria in Section III):

To be eligible under this funding opportunity, applications must demonstrate that the project will:

• Infiltrate or capture at least 100,000 gallons of stormwater runoff annually.

• Purchase or distribution of rain barrels.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

Amounts, Targets, and Number of Projects: Under this RFA for the FON for Green Infrastructure in Shoreline Communities approximately $3,000,000 is available for 5-10 projects.

The number of projects EPA will fund as a result of this RFA will be based on the quality of applications received, the availability of funding, Agency priorities, and other applicable considerations. These amounts are estimates only (except as noted below), and are being provided solely for application preparation purposes. Please note, however, that the specified maximum amount in Section I that will be awarded for an individual project in any funding opportunity establishes a per-project limit for the EPA funding;

applications seeking EPA funding in excess of that amount will be rejected. In addition, an application for a multi-phase project will be treated as a request for the full amount for all phases. If that combined amount exceeds the specified maximum, the application will be rejected.

The actual award amounts and number of projects awarded under each of the funding opportunities in Section I may differ from what is estimated for many reasons, including the number of meritorious applications received and funding availability. In addition, EPA reserves the right to increase or decrease (including decreasing to zero) the total number and amount of awards under each funding opportunity, or change the ratio of assistance agreements it awards among the funding opportunities.

EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards under any or all of the funding opportunities identified in this RFA or make fewer awards than anticipated.

Anticipated Project Start and End Dates: This Request for Applications (RFA) instructs applicants to submit certifications and other documentation required for a full and complete funding package so that their projects could, if selected, proceed expeditiously. Applications should specify a start date on or around, November 1, 2021 and must specify an end date no later than December 31, 2024.

Additional Awards: EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement, 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.

Funding Type: Successful applicant(s) will be issued a grant or cooperative agreement as appropriate. A cooperative agreement is an assistance agreement that is used when there is substantial federal involvement with the recipient during the performance of an activity or project. EPA awards cooperative agreements for those projects in which it expects to have substantial interaction with the recipient throughout the recipient’s performance of the project.

EPA will negotiate the precise terms and conditions of “substantial involvement” as part of the award process. Federal involvement may include close monitoring of the recipient’s performance; collaboration during the performance of the scope of work; in accordance with 2 CFR 200.317 and 2 CFR 200.318, as appropriate, review of proposed procurements, reviewing qualifications of key personnel, and/or review and comment on the content of printed or electronic publications prepared. EPA does not have the authority to select employees or contractors employed by the recipient. The final decision on the content of reports rests with the recipient.

Award Funding and Incremental/Full Funding: Awards may be fully or incrementally funded, as appropriate, based on funding availability, satisfactory performance, and other applicable considerations.

Future Funding: Selection or award of funding under this RFA is not a guarantee of future funding.

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.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Applicant Eligibility (CFDA 66.469): Qualified non-federal entities eligible to apply for grants include non-federal governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions. This includes state agencies; any agency or instrumentality of local government; interstate agencies;

federally-recognized tribes and tribal organizations; colleges and universities; non-profit organizations; and other public or non-profit private agencies, institutions, and organizations. Non-profit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible applicants. "For profit" organizations, federal agencies, and individuals are not eligible applicants. "For profit" organizations, federal agencies, and individuals are not eligible applicants.

Non-profit Definition: Non-profit organization, as defined by 2 CFR 200.70, means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative or other organization that: (1) is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable or similar purposes in the public interest; (2) is not organized primarily for profit; and (3) uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve and/or expand its operations. Note that 2 CFR Part 200 specifically excludes the following types of organizations from the definition of non-profit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation: (i) institutions of higher education; and (ii) state, local and federally recognized Indian tribal governments. While not considered to be a non-profit organization(s) as defined by 2 CFR Part 200, Institutions of Higher Education and state, local and federally-recognized Indian tribal governments are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this RFA.

Encouraging Minority Serving Institutions to Compete: Eligible Minority Serving Institutions, as described in Section I, are strongly encouraged to apply for funding under this competition.

EPA recognizes that scientific, technical, engineering and mathematical (STEM) competence is essential to the Nation's future well-being in terms of national security and competitive economic advantage. For instance, the health and vitality of the economy is predicated, in part, on the availability of an adequate supply of scientists, technicians, engineers and mathematicians, to develop innovative technologies and solutions. In other words, this country must engage all available minds to address the challenges it faces. Minorities, women, and persons with disabilities historically have been under-represented in the STEM fields. For this reason, EPA strongly encourages all eligible applicants including, women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to apply.

Coalitions: Groups of two or more eligible applicants may choose to form a coalition and submit a single application under this RFA; however, one entity must be responsible for the grant.

Coalitions must identify which eligible organization will be the recipient of the grant and which eligible organization(s) will be subawardees of the recipient. Subawards and subgrants must be consistent with the definitions of those terms in 2 CFR 200.92. The recipient that administers the grant will be accountable to EPA for proper expenditure of the funds and reporting and will be the point of contact for the coalition. As provided in 2 CFR 200.331(d), subrecipients or subgrantees are accountable to the recipient or grantee for proper use of EPA funding.

Coalitions may not include for-profit organizations that will provide services or products to the successful applicant. For-profit organizations are not eligible for subawards. For-profit organizations are eligible to receive contracts. Any contracts for services or products funded with EPA financial assistance must be awarded under the competitive procurement procedures of 2 CFR 200.319, as applicable. The regulations also contain limitations on consultant compensation. (Please see 2 CFR 1500.9, formerly at 40 CFR 30.27(b) or 31.36(j), as applicable.) For additional information, please review the following Federal Register: edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-7867.pdf.

Match or Cost-Share: There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement as a condition of eligibility under this RFA.

Voluntary cost-share is a form of leveraging. Voluntary cost sharing is when an applicant voluntarily proposes to legally commit to provide costs or contributions to support the project when a cost-share is not required. Applicants who propose to use a voluntary cost share must include the costs or contributions for the voluntary cost share in the project budget on the SF-

424. If an applicant proposes a voluntary cost share, the following apply:

• A voluntary cost share is subject to the match provisions in the grant regulations (2 CFR 200.306.)

• A voluntary cost share may only be met with eligible and allowable costs.

• The recipient may not use other sources of federal funds to meet a voluntary cost share unless the statute authorizing the other federal funding provides that the federal funds may be used to meet a cost share requirement on a federal grant.

• The recipient is legally obligated to meet any proposed voluntary cost share that is included in the approved project budget. If the proposed voluntary cost share does not materialize during grant performance, then EPA may reconsider the legitimacy of the award and/or take other appropriate action as authorized EPA may take action as authorized by 2 CFR Part 200 and/or 2 CFR Part 180 as applicable.

- Threshold Eligibility Criteria: These are requirements that, if not met by the applicant by the time of application submission, will result in elimination of the application from consideration for funding. Only applications for eligible activities from eligible entities that meet these criteria by the time of application submission will be evaluated against the ranking factors in Section V of this RFA. Applicants deemed ineligible for funding consideration as a result of the threshold eligibility review will be notified by email within 15 calendar days of the ineligibility determination. Applicants should contact the http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-7867.pdf applicable individuals listed in Section VII with any questions about the threshold eligibility requirements that may apply to a particular funding opportunity.

- 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. Where a page limit is stated for the Narrative Proposal in Section IV, pages in excess of the limitation will not be reviewed.

- In addition, initial applications must be submitted through Grants.gov as stated in Section

IV of this announcement (except in the limited circumstances where another mode of submission is specifically allowed for as explained in Section IV) on or before the application submission deadline published in Section IV of this announcement.

Applicants are responsible for following the submission instructions in Section IV of this announcement to ensure that their application is timely submitted.

- 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 timely 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. Applicants should confirm receipt of their application with Jennifer Conner (312-886-0201 / GLRI-RFA@epa.gov) as soon as possible after the submission deadline—failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed.

- All applications under this RFA must include the required output for the FON for which they are applying (as stated in Section I of this RFA):

o I.A. Riparian Restoration to Reduce Runoff (EPA-R5-GL2021-RRR) – Length of riparian corridor stabilized (in miles or fraction of a mile).

o I.B. Addressing Legacy Phosphorus in Agricultural Settings (EPA-R5-GL2021- ALP) - Estimated phosphorus load reduced (in pounds).

o I.C. Green Infrastructure in Shoreline Communities (EPA-R5-GL2021-GIS) - Projected volume of untreated stormwater runoff captured or treated (in gallons).

Projects in this FON must infiltrate or capture at least 100,000 gallons of stormwater runoff annually.

- Applicants may submit applications under each FON listed above, and 2) may submit multiple applications under a single FON as long as each application is for a different project. In addition, each individual project for which an applicant seeks funding must be covered by a separate application under the appropriate FON. An application cannot address more than one funding opportunity.

- Applications must meet any additional eligibility requirements described in Section I that apply to the respective funding opportunity category. This includes information in the Eligibility section of each funding opportunity description in Section I.

- Applications seeking funding in excess of the specified maximum amount of EPA funding that may be requested for an individual project under any funding opportunity number will be rejected. Maximum funding amounts are specified in the funding opportunity descriptions in Section I. In addition, an application for a multi-phase project will be treated as a request for the full amount for all phases. If that combined amount exceeds the specified maximum, the application will be rejected.

Ineligible Activities:

These are activities that, if included in the project, will be deemed ineligible for funding. If an application is submitted that includes any ineligible tasks or activities, including, but not limited to, those listed below, that portion of the application will be ineligible for funding and may, depending on the extent to which it affects the application, render the entire application ineligible for funding.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Requirement to Submit Through Grants.gov and Limited Exception Procedures

Applicants must apply electronically through Grants.gov under this funding opportunity based on the grants.gov instructions in this announcement. If your organization has no access to the internet or access is very limited, you may request an exception for the remainder of this calendar year by following the procedures outlined here. Please note that your request must be received at least 15 calendar days before the application due date to allow enough time to negotiate alternative submission methods. Issues with submissions with respect to this opportunity only are addressed in section c. Technical Issues with Submission below.

B. Grants.gov Application Submission Instructions

The electronic submission of your application must be made by an official representative of your institution who is registered with Grants.gov and is authorized to sign applications for Federal assistance. For more information on the registration requirements that must be completed in order to submit an application through grants.gov, go https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.epa.gov/grants/exceptions-grantsgov-submission-requirement to Grants.gov and click on "Applicants" on the top of the page and then go to the "Get Registered" link on the page. If your organization is not currently registered with Grants.gov, please encourage your office to designate an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and ask that individual to begin the registration process as soon as possible. Please note that the registration process also requires that your organization have a DUNS number and a current registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) and the process of obtaining both could take a month or more. Applicants must ensure that all registration requirements are met in order to apply for this opportunity through grants.gov and should ensure that all such requirements have been met well in advance of the submission deadline. Registration on Grants.gov, SAM.gov, and DUNS number assignment is FREE. Please see RAIN-2021-G01 for information about EPA's implementation of the upcoming Government-wide transition from DUNS to Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

Applicants need to ensure that the AOR who submits the application through Grants.gov and whose DUNS is listed on the application is an AOR for the applicant listed on the application. Additionally, the DUNS listed on the application must be registered to the applicant organization's SAM account. If not, the application may be deemed ineligible.

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

You may also be able to access the application package for this announcement by searching for the opportunity on Grants.gov. Go to Grants.gov and then click on "Search Grants" at the top of the page and enter the appropriate Funding Opportunity Number (EPA-R5-GL2021-RRR, EPA-R5-GL2021-ALP, EPA-R5-GL2021-GIS), or the CFDA number that applies to the announcement (CFDA 66.469), in the appropriate field and click the Search button.

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

https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2021-g01 https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

Application Submission Deadline: Your organization's AOR must submit your complete application package electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than <<<August 20, 2021>>> 11:59 PM ET. Please allow for enough time to successfully submit your application and allow for unexpected errors that may require you to resubmit.

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

Application Materials: The following forms…