NTAA_RFA-draft-final_06-30-22.pdf

AGENCY: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

TITLE: National Tribal Air Association Operations

ACTION: Request for Applications (RFA)

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: EPA-OAR-IO-22-02

ASSISTANCE LISTING NO: 66.034

IMPORTANT DATES:

July 5, 2022 RFA OPENS

August 23, 2022 RFA CLOSES – APPLICATIONS DUE

September 16, 2022 ANTICIPATED NOTIFICATION OF SELECTION

November 1, 2022 ANTICIPATED AWARD

The closing date and time for receipt of applications is August 23, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern

Time (ET) in order to be considered for funding. Application packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) no later than August 23, 2022, at

11:59 p.m. ET in order to be considered for funding.

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 I.E of

EPA’s Solicitation Clauses.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities to provide comprehensive air quality policy and regulatory analysis including support and national coordination activities to assist tribes in understanding, participating in and responding to EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation’s policy and regulatory activities.

NOTE: If you intend to name a contractor (including an individual consultant) or a subrecipient as a project partner or otherwise in your application, EPA recommends that you carefully review, and comply with, the directions contained in the “Contracts and Subawards” clause that can be accessed under the Section I.E. clause for “Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated

Into the Solicitation.”

FUNDING/AWARDS: The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $1,005,000, distributed incrementally over three years. EPA anticipates awarding up to one cooperative agreement from this announcement, subject to availability of funds, the quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations.

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE: National Tribal Air Association Operations

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Background

B. Scope of Work

C. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage, Anticipated Outputs/Outcomes and Performance Measures

D. Statutory Authority

E. Additional Provisions For Applicants Incorporated Into The Solicitation

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. What is the amount of funding available?

B. Partial Funding

C. How many agreements will EPA award in this competition?

D. What is the project period for awards resulting from this solicitation?

E. Funding Type

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Entities

B. Voluntary Cost Sharing/Matching Funds and Leveraged Resources

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

D. Ineligible Costs or Activities and Other Considerations

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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

B. Grants.gov Application Submission Instructions (see Appendix A)

C. Content of Application Submission

D. Submission Date and Times

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Evaluation Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

C. Other Factors

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

C. Reporting Requirement

D. Disputes

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

APPENDIX A - Grants.gov Application Submission Instructions

APPENDIX B – Project Narrative Instructions, Format, and Content

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Background

In 2001, EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation (EPA/OAR) initiated a cooperative agreement to strengthen tribal air programs and their abilities, in order to enhance communication and coordination on policy and regulatory activities among federally recognized tribes, and between

EPA/OAR and federally recognized Indian tribes and Alaska Native Villages (jointly referred to as tribes in the remainder of the document). These activities are intended to strengthen and enhance EPA/OAR’s Tribal Program by ensuring that tribes have assistance in analyzing and responding to policy and regulatory actions planned or taken by EPA/OAR, and to ensure that tribal input is provided in a coordinated and comprehensive manner so that tribes are properly represented in EPA/OAR activities that may affect them. Success in this area will strengthen the ability of EPA/OAR to address air quality problems nationwide, particularly in Indian country, and enhance the effectiveness of tribes in addressing air quality concerns as co-regulators and co-implementers of the Clean Air Act. The result was the formation of the National Tribal Air

Association (NTAA), an organization that increases national coordination amongst and between

Indian tribes and EPA/OAR in matters related to air quality policy and regulatory planning, development and implementation.

NTAA has developed a structure with members but is intended to assist all federally recognized tribes directly through coordination, analysis and support activities. The NTAA website is:

http://www.ntaatribalair.org/.

B. Scope of Work

EPA/OAR is seeking applications from eligible entities to provide comprehensive air quality policy and regulatory analysis including support and national coordination activities to assist tribes in understanding, participating in and responding to EPA/OAR’s policy and regulatory activities. Applicants must address each of the following tasks and provide a detailed description of how they will perform the functions of each task in their narrative proposals. Also, applicants must explain how they will accomplish the four tasks, including any alternative and additional activities that will best accomplish each task’s objectives. The tasks listed below are not intended to be prescriptive or exhaustive. Applicants may include in their applications additional and/or alternative tasks to those listed below.

Task 1: NTAA Executive Committee and Member Support

Provide ongoing administrative and logistical support to a national tribal policy advisory body (NTAA Executive Committee). The Executive Committee is a representative voice for all federally recognized tribes, including new and established NTAA members.

NTAA’s Executive Committee is made up of representatives of tribal governments nationwide and provides tribal input and guidance to the NTAA staff. The NTAA

Executive Committee frequently represents the organization during discussions with

EPA, and other partners on air quality issues and gathers quarterly for meetings alternating between conference calls and in-person functions. Monthly calls and http://www.ntaatribalair.org/ additional calls should also be scheduled as appropriate. The NTAA Executive

Committee also seeks to develop approaches to resolve tribal air quality issues and concerns, often through interaction with EPA/OAR leadership. The grantee will be responsible for providing administrative and logistical support for the NTAA Executive

Committee’s participation, including but not limited to travel, accommodations, orientation, supporting materials, agenda planning and development, and coordination between NTAA, the Executive Committee and EPA/OAR.

Task 2: Policy Analysis

a. Provide expert analysis of EPA/OAR’s regulatory and policy actions, initiatives and rulemakings to tribal governments to enable and facilitate their understanding and participation in the national air program. Analysis should provide Indian tribes information on a regular basis that is adequate to understanding EPA/OAR actions and their potential impacts and effects on tribal governments.

b. Facilitate and encourage tribal responses to EPA/OAR regulatory and policy actions, initiatives and rulemakings, both directly between tribes and EPA/OAR and indirectly between NTAA members and EPA/OAR. This work includes, but is not limited to, NTAA staff compiling tribal comments, reflecting their interests and positions, and submitting the resulting analyses to EPA/OAR in any number of ways. NTAA staff and Executive Committee members may serve as a liaison to EPA/OAR senior leadership for tribes to present their interests and positions as appropriate, or it may advise EPA/OAR either through expert NTAA staff or through supporting the direct participation of tribal representatives.

Task 3: Communication and Coordination

In order for tribes to successfully participate in air quality management at the policy and regulatory level, NTAA must conduct supporting activities that build and/or enhance the community of tribal air programs. NTAA should encourage both communication and the development of relationships among tribal leaders and among tribes that contribute to tribes being fully aware of air quality and related policy and regulatory issues. Applicants must detail all the supporting activities of their communication and coordination plan.

These supporting activities include, but are not limited to:

a. Provide outreach and disseminate information on air quality policy and regulatory activities, directly to tribes nationwide including analysis of tribal specific issues and impacts, on a regular basis, for comment and informational purposes. Applications must detail the manner of outreach (e.g., workshops, newsletter, website, mail, field exercise, etc.)

b. Encourage communication between NTAA Executive Committee, member tribes and other tribes, and EPA/OAR.

c. Conduct regularly scheduled (monthly and special purpose) conference calls to disseminate information and encourage tribes to participate in ongoing air quality management activities.

d. Maintain an updated website designed to foster communication, encourage participation and provide current and updated information on tribal, NTAA and

EPA/OAR air quality management activities.

e. Prepare and distribute regular analysis of current policy and regulatory air quality developments to tribes.

f. Facilitate and support tribal interaction with the national air quality community including tribes, tribal consortia and operations committees, nongovernment organizations, states and locals, regional and national organizations, and others as appropriate, on issues related to the scope of this request, including the federal budget process. Assist EPA/OAR by acting as a central point of contact for providing information to tribes.

g. Provide information on tribal needs, interests, concerns and reactions to activities related to air quality policy and regulatory activities directly to EPA/OAR and encourage and support the provision of similar types on information directly from tribes to EPA/OAR.

Task 4: Annual Conference

Plan, develop and implement an annual conference bringing together tribes, EPA/OAR and other interests as appropriate to further tribes’ ability to interact with each other and

EPA/OAR in matters related to air quality policy and regulation. Applicants must submit suggestions or plans on how to best conduct this activity. In recent years, this activity has successfully been conducted as a joint conference with the Institute for Tribal

Environmental Professionals (ITEP) through the American Indian Air Quality Training

Program grant as the annual National Tribal Air Forum. EPA/OAR supports continued use of that format as one possible approach. After the annual conference, the grantee will be expected to follow up with an annual summary of the conference, which should include conference comments, number of invitees, number of attendees, length of conferences (in days), location, and details of the conference activities, lessons learned, and improvement plans for the next annual conference.

Applicants are invited to suggest additional elements to this scope of work that could enhance the objectives of the NTAA, including elements that would provide additional benefits for

NTAA members, and increase membership.

C. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage, Anticipated Outputs/Outcomes and Performance

Measures

Pursuant to Section 6.a. of EPA Order 5700.7A1, “Environmental Results under EPA Assistance

Agreements,” EPA must link proposed assistance agreements with the Agency’s Strategic Plan.

EPA also requires that grant applicants and recipients adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see EPA Order 5700.7A1, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements).

http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf

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

Objective 4.1, “Improve Air Quality and Reduce Localized Pollution and Health Impacts.”

Under this objective, EPA will “reduce air pollution on local, regional, and national scales to achieve healthy air quality for people and the environment.” Applications must be for projects that support this goal and objective. For more information see: EPA’s FY 2022-2026

Strategic Plan.

EPA also requires that grant applicants adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see EPA Order 5700.7A1, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements). Applicants must include specific statements describing the environmental results of the proposed project in terms of well-defined outputs and, to the maximum extent practicable, well-defined outcomes that will demonstrate how the project will contribute to the priorities described above.

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

Expected outputs from the project(s) to be funded under this announcement include, but are not limited to:

• Support for Executive Committee and Tribal Members to provide tribal input and guidance related to air quality policy and coordination.

• Plan, implement, and document an annual conference bringing together tribes, EPA/OAR and others in matters related to air quality policy and regulation.

• Provide expert analysis of EPA/OAR’s regulatory and policy actions, initiatives and rulemakings to tribal governments to enable and facilitate their understanding and participation in the national air program.

• Communicate and coordinate between tribal governments in matters related to air quality policy and regulation.

• Coordinate and communicate between tribal governments and EPA/OAR in matters related to air quality policy and regulation. This includes communicating to

EPA/OAR on tribal interests, needs, impacts, and concerns regarding national air quality policy and regulatory activities.

The applicant must detail its methodology to measure outputs, which should include, but are not limited to, the number of formal comment letters received by EPA/OAR involving tribal governments; and the number of outreach materials including air policy and regulatory actions analyzed and provided to tribal governments.

Quarterly progress reports and a final report will also be a required output, as specified in

Section VI.C. of this announcement, “Reporting Requirement.”

https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan

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

Projects to be funded under this announcement are expected to produce at least three, and preferably all, of the following environmental outcomes:

• Increase the participation of federally recognized Indian tribes in matters related to air quality policy and regulation, in order to fully implement the Clean Air Act in Indian county in a manner consistent with the legal relationship between the United States and those Indian tribes. This will lead to improved protection of human health and the environment in Indian country.

• Increase the amount of information about EPA/OAR policy and regulatory activity available to Indian tribes.

• Increase communication on air quality and regulation among Indian tribes.

• Increase the number of tribes commenting on EPA/OAR policy and regulatory actions.

• Increase tribal representation on advisory boards, committees and workgroups advising EPA/OAR on air quality activities.

• Increase the capacity and availability of tribal governments to participate in national air quality policy and regulatory activities to ensure adequate input is provided by tribal government partners.

4. Performance Measures. The applicant should also develop performance measures they expect to achieve through the proposed activities and describe them in their application.

These performance measures will help gather insights and will be the mechanism to track progress concerning successful processes and output and outcome strategies and will provide the basis for developing lessons to inform future recipients. Additional details on reporting requirements are included in Section VI.C. It is expected that the description of performance measures will directly relate to the project’s outcomes and outputs, including but not limited to:

• Overseeing subrecipients, and/or contractors and vendors;

• Tracking and reporting project progress on expenditures and purchases; and

• Tracking, measuring, and reporting accomplishments and proposed timelines/milestones.

The following are questions to consider when developing output and outcome measures of quantitative and qualitative results:

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

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

D. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for this action is the Clean Air Act, §103(b)(3), (CAA), Public Law 95-

95, 42 USC 7403 which authorizes the award of grants for research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, surveys, and studies related to the causes, effects, (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, and control of air pollution. Tribal governments have both CAA authority over lands within their jurisdiction and discretion to address air pollution under the

CAA. Supporting their involvement is directly related to the CAA authority described in this section.

E. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

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

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. What is the amount of funding available?

The total estimated funding expected to be available for awards under this competitive opportunity is approximately $1,005,000. Award amounts are expected to be $335,000 annually.

The amount of federal funding requested by an applicant must not exceed $1,005,000. Funding is dependent upon agency appropriations, funding availability, Agency priorities, and other applicable considerations.

B. Partial Funding

In appropriate circumstances, EPA reserves the right to partially fund applications by funding discrete portions 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 was evaluated and selected for award, thereby maintaining the integrity of the competition and selection process.

C. How many agreements will EPA award in this competition?

It is anticipated that approximately one cooperative agreement will be made from this announcement subject to the availability of funds, the quantity and quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations.

EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with

Agency policy and other applicable considerations, if additional funding becomes available after http://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses the original selections. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than six months from the date of the original selections.

In addition, EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards under this announcement or to make fewer awards than anticipated.

D. What is the project period for awards resulting from this solicitation?

The estimated project period for awards resulting from this solicitation is expected to begin on

November 1, 2022, with an estimated completion date of October 31, 2025.

E. Funding Type

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

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

• Collaboration during performance of the scope of work;

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

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

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

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.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

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

Clauses.

A. Eligible Entities

In accordance with Assistance Listing 66.034, applications will be accepted from states

(including the District of Columbia); local governments; U.S. territories and possessions;

federally recognized Indian tribes; international organizations; public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, and laboratories; and other public or private non-profit institutions.

Non-profit organization, as defined by 2 CFR 200.1, 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 200.1 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 200.1, Institutions of Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this RFA. Hospitals operated by state, tribal, or local governments or that meet the definition of nonprofit at 2 CFR

200.1 are also eligible to apply. For-profit colleges, universities, trade schools, and hospitals are ineligible.

For-profit organizations are not an eligible entity for this funding opportunity. Additionally, 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 to apply.

B. Voluntary Cost Sharing/Matching Funds and Leveraged Resources

No cost sharing/matching funds or leveraged resources are required as a condition of eligibility under this competition.

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

1. All applications will be reviewed for eligibility and must meet the eligibility requirements described in Sections III.A., B., and C. to be considered eligible. Applicants deemed ineligible for funding consideration as a result of the threshold eligibility review will be notified within 15 calendar days of the ineligibility determination.

a. Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section IV of this solicitation or else they will be rejected.

However, where a page limit is expressed in Section IV with respect to the application, or parts thereof, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed. Applicants are advised that readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in application format, including selecting a legible font type and size for use in the application.

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

IV of this solicitation (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 solicitation. Applicants are responsible for following the submission instructions in Section IV of this solicitation to ensure that their application is timely submitted. Please note that applicants experiencing technical issues with submitting through Grants.gov should follow the instructions provided in Section IV, which include both the requirement to contact

Grants.gov and email a full application to EPA prior to the deadline.

c. Applications submitted outside of Grants.gov will be deemed ineligible without further consideration unless the applicant can clearly demonstrate that it was due to EPA mishandling or technical problems associated with Grants.gov or SAM.gov. 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 submission outside of Grants.gov

2. Applications must support Goal 4 of EPA’s FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, “Ensure Clean and

Healthy Air for All Communities;” Objective 4.1, “Improve Air Quality and Reduce

Localized Pollution and Health Impacts.”

3. Applications which request EPA assistance funds in excess of $1,005,000, as specified in

Section II.A of this RFA, are not eligible and will not be reviewed.

D. Ineligible Costs or Activities and Other Considerations

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

1. Ineligible Costs or Activities. If an application is submitted that has ineligible items, tasks, or activities, that portion of the application will not be reviewed and will be ineligible for funding and may, depending on the extent to which it affects the application, render the entire application ineligible for funding. Activities must meet the following requirements from Section I.C. to be eligible for funding:

a. Be consistent with the activities described in Section I.B., Scope of Work, and

Section I.C., Statutory authority.

b. Meet the requirements of 2 CFR 200.403 Factors Affecting Allowability of Costs.

2. Other Considerations: Where a page limit is expressed in Section IV.C. with respect to the project narrative, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed. The page limit of the project narrative is 20 pages.

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 Appendix A. under Technical Issues with Submission.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.403 https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.epa.gov/grants/exceptions-grantsgov-submission-requirement

B. Grants.gov Application Submission Instructions (see Appendix A)

Your organization’s authorized official representative (AOR) must submit your complete application electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than August 23, 2022, 11:59 p.m.

ET.

C. Content of Application Submission

The application package must include all of the following materials, except Number 3., Optional

Attachments:

1. Grant Application Forms (All Required). Please complete the forms as appropriate.

a. Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance. Please note that the organizational Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) must be included on the SF-424.

Organizations may obtain a UEI at no cost through SAM.gov.

b. Standard Form 424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs

c. EPA Form 4700-4, Preaward Compliance Review Report for All Applicants and

Recipients Requesting Federal Financial Assistance

d. EPA Form 5700-54, Key Contacts Form

e. Project Narrative Attachment Form (See Section IV.C.2. below and Appendix B for additional information)

2. Project Narrative – see Appendix B for detailed instructions on what to include and format. (Required, part of the 20-page limit). Applicants may use the Project Narrative

Attachment form in Grants.gov. The project narrative must explicitly describe how the proposed project meets the threshold eligibility criteria in Section III.C. and must address each of the evaluation criteria set forth in Section V.A. The Project Narrative cannot exceed a maximum of 20 single-spaced typewritten pages, including the summary page, workplan, and budget detail. Excess pages will not be reviewed. Supporting materials, such as resumes and letters of support, can be submitted as attachments and are not included in the

20-page limit. Any additional attachments not listed in the Optional Attachments section below will not be reviewed.

3. Optional Attachments. These are optional and are not included in the 20-page limit.

a. Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

b. Biographical Sketch. Provide resumes or curriculum vitae for all Principal

Investigators and any other key personnel.

c. Support Letters. These should indicate how the supporting organization will assist in the project.

d. Approval Letter. If applicable, approval letter to use alternate means to submit initial https://sam.gov/content/home https://usepa.sharepoint.com/sites/oar_Work/targetedairshedgrants/Shared%20Documents/FY2021/RFA/Grants.gov

D. Submission Date and Times

The closing date and time for submission of applications is August 23, 2022, 11:59 p.m., ET.

Applications submitted after the closing date and time will not be considered for funding.

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Only eligible entities whose applications meet the eligibility criteria in Section III.C. of this RFA will be evaluated according to the criteria set forth below. Applicants should explicitly address these criteria as part of their application package submittal in the project narrative, following the content requirements set forth in Appendix B. Each application will be rated using a point system. Applications will be evaluated based on a total of 100 points possible.

A. Evaluation Criteria

Criteria Points

Total Possible Points 100

1. Project Summary and Approach: Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate applications based on the extent and quality of the applicant’s project summary and overall approach. Specifically, EPA will evaluate the extent and quality of:

a. Overall Project (20 possible points)

The overall proposed project consistent with the Scope of Work

(Section I.B.), and the steps the applicant will take to meet the program objectives and execute the project.

b. Project Significance (10 possible points)

How the proposed project will support or benefit the public and the environment, and the relationship of the proposed project to the seriousness, extent, and urgency of the environmental or public health problems toward which the project is directed.

c. Anticipated Public Benefits (10 possible points)

How the application demonstrates the anticipated public benefits from the proposed project. Note that the expected outputs and outcomes will be included in Section 2 – Environmental Results.

2. Environmental Results – Outputs, Outcomes and Performance

Measures: Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate:

a. Expected Project Outputs and Outcomes (10 possible points)

The extent and quality to which the applicant identifies and proposes outputs and outcomes, as described in Section I.C.2. and 3.

b. Performance Measures and Plan (8 possible points)

The effectiveness of the applicant’s plan for tracking and measuring its progress toward achieving the expected project outputs and outcomes, including those identified in Section I.C. of this announcement.

c. Timeline and Milestones (7 possible points)

The reasonableness of the proposed timeline including key milestones for specific tasks and the likelihood of completion of the project’s goals and objectives by project end.

3. Programmatic Capability and Past Performance: Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate applicants based on their ability to successfully complete and manage the proposed project taking into account their:

a. Past Performance (10 possible points)

Past performance in successfully completing and managing the assistance agreements identified in response to Appendix B, Section 5 of the solicitation.

b. Reporting Requirements (5 possible points)

History of meeting the reporting requirements under the assistance agreements identified in response to Appendix B, Section 5 of the solicitation, including whether the applicant submitted acceptable final technical reports under those agreements and the extent to which the applicant adequately and timely reported on their progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes under those agreements and if such progress was not being made whether the applicant adequately reported why not;

c. Staff Expertise (5 possible points)

Staff expertise and qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project. Note: Partnership letters related to community involvement will be evaluated under Criterion 2 of the Evaluation Criteria.

Applicants should discuss their partnerships related to community involvement in more detail under Section 2 of their workplan.

Note: In evaluating applicants under items a. and b. of this criterion, EPA will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources including agency files and prior/current grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information supplied by the applicant). If the applicant does not have any relevant or available past performance or reporting information, please indicate this in the application and you will receive a neutral score for sub-criteria a. and b.

(a neutral score is half of the total points available in a subset of possible points). If the applicant does not provide any response for these items, they will receive a score of 0 for these sub-criteria.

4. Budget: Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate applicants based on the extent and quality to which:

a. Reasonableness of Costs (5 possible points)

Costs are reasonable to accomplish the proposed goals, objectives, and measurable environmental outcomes.

b. Budget Detail (5 possible points)

The proposed budget provides a detailed breakout by funding type in the proper budget category for each activity the applicant is requesting funding.

c. Expenditure of Awarded Funds (5 possible points)

Their approach, procedures, and controls ensure that awarded grant funds will be expended in a timely and efficient manner.

B. Review and Selection Process

Applications will first be evaluated against the threshold eligibility factors listed in Section III.C.

of this RFA. Only those applications which meet all of the threshold eligibility factors will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria listed above by an EPA evaluation team. Each application will be given a numerical score and will be rank-ordered by the review panel. Preliminary funding recommendations will be provided to the EPA selection official based on these reviews and rankings. Final funding decisions will be made by the EPA headquarters selection official based on the rankings and preliminary recommendations of the EPA evaluation team and the

Other Factors listed in Section V.C. below.

C. Other Factors

Final funding decisions will be made by the selection official based on the rankings and preliminary recommendations of the EPA evaluation team. In making the final funding decisions, the selection official may also consider programmatic priorities. Once final decisions have been made, a funding recommendation will be developed and forwarded to the EPA award official.

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices

Following evaluation of applications, all applicants will be notified regarding their status.

1. Successful Applicants: EPA anticipates notification to successful applicants will be made via electronic or postal mail within 60 days of the closing date of this RFA. The notification will be sent to the original signer of the application, or the project contact listed in the application. This notification, which informs the applicant that its application has been selected and is being recommended for award is not an authorization to begin work. The official notification of an award will be made by EPA’s Grants and Interagency Agreements

Management Division.

Applicants are cautioned that only a grants officer is authorized to bind the Government to the expenditure of funds; selection does not guarantee an award will be made. For example, statutory authorization, funding or other issues discovered during the award process may affect the ability of EPA to make an award to the applicant. The award notice, signed by the

EPA grants officer, is the authorizing document and will be provided through electronic or postal mail. The successful applicant may need to prepare and submit additional documents and forms (e.g., work plan), which must be approved by EPA, before the grant can officially be awarded. The time between notification of selection and award of a grant can take up to

90 days or longer.

3. Unsuccessful Applicants: EPA anticipates notification to unsuccessful applicant(s) will be made via electronic or postal mail within 60 days of the closing date of this RFA. The notification will be sent to the original signer of the Standard Form 424, Application for

Federal Assistance.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

A listing and description of general EPA Policies and Guidance for Grants applicable to the award of assistance agreements may be viewed at: www.epa.gov/grants/policy-regulations-and-guidance-epa-grants.

C. Reporting Requirement

Quarterly progress reports and a detailed final report will be required. Quarterly reports summarizing technical progress, planned activities for the next quarter and a summary of expenditures are required. The final report shall be submitted to EPA within 120 calendar days of the completion of the period of performance. The final report must include: a summary of the project or activity, outcomes and outputs achieved and costs of the project or activity. In addition, the final report shall discuss the problems, successes, and lessons learned from the project or activity that could help overcome structural, organizational or technical obstacles to https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses https://www.epa.gov/grants/policy-regulations-and-guidance-epa-grants https://www.epa.gov/grants/policy-regulations-and-guidance-epa-grants implementing a similar project elsewhere. The schedule for submission of quarterly reports will be established by EPA, after the grants are awarded. Award recipients may be provided with additional information and guidance on reporting performance measures and project progress after award.

D. Disputes

Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005) which can be found at Grant Competition Dispute Resolution Procedures. Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the person listed in Section VII. of the announcement. Note that the Federal Register notice references regulations at 40 CFR Parts 30 and 31 that have been superseded by regulations in 2 CFR parts 200 and 1500. Notwithstanding the regulatory changes, the procedures for competition-related disputes remains unchanged from the procedures described at 70 FR 3629, 3630, as indicated in 2 CFR Part 1500, Subpart E.

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

For further information, contact:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

ATTN: Pat Childers

OAR Mail Code 6510a

William Jefferson Clinton Building North, Room # 6510A

1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20460 childers.pat@epa.gov

All questions or comments must be communicated in writing via email to the contact person listed above. Questions and answers will be posted until the closing date of this announcement at the OAR Grants and Funding webpage: http://www.epa.gov/grants/air-grants-and-funding.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-competition-dispute-resolution-procedures mailto:childers.pat@epa.gov http://www.epa.gov/grants/air-grants-and-funding

APPENDIX A - Grants.gov Application Submission Instructions

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. Submission Instructions

1. SAM.gov (System for Award Management) Registration Instructions

Organizations applying to this funding opportunity must have an active SAM.gov registration. If you have never done business with the Federal Government, you will need to register your organization in SAM.gov. If you do not have a SAM.gov account, then you will create an account using login.gov to complete your SAM.gov registration.

SAM.gov registration is FREE. The process for entity registrations includes obtaining

Unique Entity ID (UEI), a 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned an entity by

SAM.gov, and requires assertions, representations and certifications, and other information about your organization. Please review the Entity Registration Checklist for details on this process.

If you have done business with the Federal Government previously, you can check your entity status using your government issued UEI to determine if your registration is active. SAM.gov requires you renew your registration every 365 days to keep it active.

Please note that SAM.gov registration is different than obtaining a UEI only. Obtaining an UEI only validates your organization’s legal business name and address. Please review the Frequently Asked Question on the difference for additional details.

Organizations should ensure that their SAM.gov registration includes a current e-

Business (EBiz) point of contact name and email address. The EBiz point of contact is critical for Grants.gov Registration and system functionality.

Contact the Federal Service Desk for help with your SAM.gov account, to resolve technical issues or chat with a help desk agent: (866) 606-8220. The Federal Service desk hours of operation are Monday – Friday 8am – 8pm ET.

2. Grants.gov Registration Instructions

Once your SAM.gov account is active, you must register in Grants.gov. Grants.gov will electronically receive your organization information, such as e-Business (EBiz) point of contact email address and UEI. Organizations applying to this funding opportunity must have an active Grants.gov registration. Grants.gov registration is FREE. If you have never applied for a federal grant before, please review the Grants.gov Applicant https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.epa.gov/grants/exceptions-grantsgov-submission-requirement https://login.gov/ https://www.fsd.gov/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=51a2fa061b0bcd500ca4a97ae54bcb18 https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0051214&sys_kb_id=dd40f4ef1b9641d0937fa64ce54bcb7a&spa=1 https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html

Registration instructions. As part of the Grants.gov registration process, the EBiz point of contact is the only person that can affiliate and assign applicant roles to members of an organization. In addition, at least one person must be assigned as an Authorized

Organization Representative (AOR). Only person(s) with the AOR role can submit applications in Grants.gov. Please review the Intro to Grants.gov-Understanding User

Roles and Learning Workspace – User Roles and Workspace Actions for details on this important process.

Please note that this process can take a month or more for new registrants. 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 application submission deadline.

Contact Grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov to resolve technical issues with Grants.gov. Applicants who are outside the U.S. at the time of submittal and are not able to access the toll-free number may reach a Grants.gov representative by calling 606-545-5035. The Grants.gov Support Center is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week, excluding federal holidays.

3. Application Submission Process

To begin the application process under this grant announcement, go to Grants.gov and click the red “Apply” button at the top of the view grant opportunity page associated with this opportunity.

The electronic submission of your application to this funding opportunity must be made by an official representative of your organization who is registered with Grants.gov and is authorized to sign applications for Federal financial assistance. If the submit button is grayed out, it may be because you do not have the appropriate role to submit in your organization. Contact your organization’s EBiz point of contact or contact Grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov

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

4. Application Submission Deadline

Your organization's AOR must submit your complete application package electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than August 23, 2022, 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.

Applications submitted through Grants.gov will be time and date stamped electronically. Please note that successful submission of your application through

Grants.gov does not necessarily mean your application is eligible for award. Any https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLxg5Tu3qHA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLxg5Tu3qHA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsPRj4ILn7Y https://gditshared.servicenowservices.com/hhs_grants mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/ https://gditshared.servicenowservices.com/hhs_grants mailto:support@grants.gov application submitted after the application deadline time and date deadline will be deemed ineligible and not be considered.

C. Technical Issues with Submission

If applicants experience technical issues during the submission of an application that they are unable to resolve, follow these procedures before the application deadline date:

1. Contact Grants.gov Support Center before the application deadline date.

2. Document the Grants.gov ticket/case number.

3. Send an email with “National Tribal Air Association Operations” in the subject line to

Pat Childers (childers.pat@epa.gov) before the application deadline time and date and must include the following:

a. Grants.gov ticket/case number(s)

b. Description of the issue

c. The entire application package in PDF format.

Withou…