NTAA_RFA_FINAL_03-13-19.pdf

AGENCY: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

TITLE: National Tribal Air Association Operations

ACTION: Request for Applications (RFA)

RFA NUMBER: EPA-OAR-IO-19-02

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NO: 66.034

IMPORTANT DATES

March 13, 2019 RFA OPENS

May 13, 2019 RFA CLOSES – APPLICATIONS DUE

July 12, 2019 ANTICIPATED NOTIFICATION OF

SELECTION

October 1, 2019 ANTICIPATED AWARD

The closing date and time for receipt of applications is May 13, 2019, 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 May 13, 2019, at

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

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.

FUNDING/AWARDS: The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $1,005,000 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/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Background

B. Scope of Work

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

D. Statutory Authority

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. Cost Sharing or Matching

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

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

E. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated Into the Solicitation

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Evaluation Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

C. Other Factors

D. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated Into the Solicitation

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

C. Reporting Requirement

D. Disputes

E. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated Into the Solicitation

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

APPENDIX A - Grants.gov Application Submission Instructions

APPENDIX B – Budget Detail Sample

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 between 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 has developed an advisory board (Executive Committee), charter and by-laws which will need to be reviewed, updated and continued by the successful recipient. The NTAA website is:

http://www.ntaatribalair.org/.

B. Scope of Work

EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation (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 on 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. 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). 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 and gathers quarterly for meetings alternating between conference calls and in-person functions. Monthly calls and additional calls should also http://www.ntaatribalair.org/ be scheduled as appropriate. The 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 Executive Committee 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. The intent of the Executive Committee is to be a representative voice for all federally recognized tribes, including new and established NTAA members.

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 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 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 next annual conference.

Applicants are invited to suggest additional elements to this scope of work that could enhance the objectives of the National Tribal Air Association, 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 6a of EPA Order 5700.7, “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 5700.7, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements, 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 FY 2018-2022 Strategic Plan. Awards made under this announcement will support Goal 1, “Core Mission: Deliver real results to provide Americans with clean air, land, and water, and ensure chemical safety,” Objective 1.1, “Improve Air Quality.” Under this objective, EPA will “Work with states and tribes to accurately measure air quality and ensure that more Americans are living and working in areas that meet high air quality standards.” Applicants must explain in their application how their project will further this objective.

Please read EPA’s FY 2018-2022 Strategic Plan (www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan) for more information.

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, www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf).

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.

• Communication and coordination between tribal governments in matters related to air quality policy and regulation.

• Coordination and communication 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.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan

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.”

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 between 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 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. It is expected that the description of performance measures will directly relate to the project outcomes and outputs. The following are questions to consider when developing output and outcome measures of quantitative and qualitative results:

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

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

D. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for this action is the Clean Air Act, §103(b)(3), 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.

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.

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 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

October 1, 2019, with an estimated completion date of September 30, 2022

E. Funding Type

The funding for selected projects will be in the form of a cooperative agreement.

Cooperative agreements provide for substantial involvement between the EPA Project Officer and the selected applicants 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).

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Entities

In accordance with CFDA 66.034, applications will be accepted from states, local governments, territories, Indian tribes, and possessions of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, international organizations, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and other public or private non-profit institutions.

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 200.270, 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

200.70 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. Cost Sharing or Matching

No matching funds are required under this competition. Although cost sharing/matching is not required as a condition of eligibility under this competition, under Section V of this announcement, EPA will evaluate applications based on a leveraging criterion.

Leveraging is generally when an applicant proposes to provide its own additional funds/resources or those from third party sources to support or complement the project they are awarded under the competition which are above and beyond the EPA grant funds awarded. Any leveraged funds/resources, and their source, must be identified in the application (See Section IV of the announcement). Leveraged funds and resources may take various forms as noted below.

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 Part 200 as applicable.

• 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 by 2 CFR Part 200 as applicable.

Other leveraged funding/resources that are not identified as a voluntary cost share. This form of leveraging may be met by funding from another federal grant, from an applicant's own resources, or resources from other third-party sources. This form of leveraging should not be included in the budget and the costs need not be eligible and allowable project costs under the

EPA assistance agreement. While this form of leveraging should not be included in the budget, the grant workplan should include a statement indicating that the applicant is expected to produce the proposed leveraging consistent with the terms of the announcement and the applicant's application. If applicants propose to provide this form of leveraging, EPA expects them to make the effort to secure the leveraged resources described in their applications. If the proposed leveraging does not materialize during grant performance, then EPA may reconsider the legitimacy of the award and/or take other appropriate action as authorized by 2 CFR Part 200 as applicable.

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

These are requirements that if not met by the time of application submission will result in elimination of the application from consideration for funding. Only applications from eligible applicants (see Section III.A of this RFA) that meet all of these threshold eligibility criteria will be evaluated against the ranking criteria in Section V of this RFA. If necessary, EPA may contact applicants to clarify threshold eligibility questions prior to making an eligibility determination. 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.

1. Application Content and Submission

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

b. Where a page limit is expressed in Section IV and Appendix B of this RFA with respect to the Project Narrative, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed.

c. 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 and properly 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.

2. Applications must further EPA’s current priorities for improving air quality, which focus on improving air quality to ensure more Americans are living and working in areas that meet high air quality standards. (See Section I.C.)

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

4. 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.

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

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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

Applicants, except as noted below, must apply electronically through Grants.gov under this funding opportunity based on the Grants.gov instructions in this announcement and Appendix A.

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

Mailing Address:

OGD Waivers c/o Jessica Durand

USEPA Headquarters

William Jefferson Clinton Building

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N. W.

Mail Code: 3903R

Washington, DC 20460

Courier Address:

OGD Waivers c/o Jessica Durand

Ronald Reagan Building

1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.

Rm # 51278

Washington, DC 20004

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

• Funding Opportunity Number (FON)

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

• Organization’s Contact Information (email address and phone number)

• Explanation of how they lack the technical capability to apply electronically through

Grants.gov because of 1) limited internet access or 2) no internet access which prevents them from being able to upload the required application materials through Grants.gov.

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

If an exception is granted, it is valid for submissions to EPA for the remainder of the entire calendar year in which the exception was approved and can be used to justify alternative submission methods for application submissions made through December 31 of the calendar year in which the exception was approved (e.g., if the exception was approved on March 1, 2019, it is valid for any competitive or non-competitive application submission to EPA through December

31, 2019). Applicants need only request an exception once in a calendar year and all exceptions will expire on December 31 of that calendar year. Applicants must request a new exception from required electronic submission through grants.gov for submissions for any succeeding calendar year. For example, if there is a competitive opportunity issued on December 1, 2018, with a submission deadline of January 15, 2019, the applicant would need a new exception to submit through alternative methods beginning January 1, 2019.

Please note that the process described in this section is only for requesting alternate submission methods. All other inquiries about this announcement must be directed to the Agency Contact listed in Section VII of the announcement. Queries or requests submitted to the email address identified above for any reason other than to request an alternate submission method will not be acknowledged or answered.

B. 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 May 13, 2019, 11:59 PM

Eastern Time.

C. Content of Application Submission

The application package must include all of the following materials:

1. Grant Application Forms. Please complete the forms as appropriate.

a. Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance. Please note that the organizational Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number must be included on the SF-424. Organizations may obtain a DUNS number at no cost by calling the toll-free DUNS number request line at 1-866-705-5711.

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

c. Standard Form 424B, Non-Construction Programs

d. EPA Form 4700-4, Pre-Award Compliance Review Report for All Applicants

Requesting Federal Financial Assistance

e. Key Contacts Form

2. Project Narrative. The project narrative must explicitly describe how the proposed project meets the guidelines established in Sections I-III of this announcement (including the threshold eligibility criteria in Section III.C) and must address each of the evaluation criteria set forth in Section V. The Project Narrative (a through e below) cannot exceed a maximum of 20 single-spaced typewritten pages, including the Summary

Page — 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.

a. Summary Information Page (recommended not to exceed one page)

i. Project Title

ii. Applicant Information. Include applicant (organization) name, address, contact person, phone number, fax and e-mail address.

iii. Funding Requested. Specify the amount you are requesting from EPA.

iv. Total Project Cost. Specify total cost of the project. Identify funding from other sources, including cost share or in-kind resources.

v. Project period. Provide beginning and ending dates. (Projects are anticipated to begin date and end no later than date.)

vi. DUNS number

b. Project Summary/Approach. The summary shall contain the following components:

i. Detailed project summary, description of specific actions and methods to be undertaken and the responsible institutions, including estimated time line for each task.

ii. Description of the associated work products to be developed.

iii. Explanation of project benefits to the public, and specifically the potential audience(s) served.

iv. Explanation of how the 4 tasks are addressed in the project narrative.

v. Description of the roles of the applicant and partners, if any.

vi. Description of the applicant’s organization and experience related to the proposed project.

vii. Description of staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project.

c. Environmental Results—Outcomes, Outputs and Performance Measures.

Identify the expected quantitative and qualitative outcomes and outputs of the project

(See Section I), including what performance measurements, timeline of milestones, or other means will be used to track and measure your progress towards achieving the expected outcomes and outputs and how the results of the project will be evaluated.

d. Programmatic Capability and Past Performance. Submit a list of federally funded assistance agreements (assistance agreements include Federal grants and cooperative agreements but not Federal contracts) similar in size, scope and relevance to the proposed project that your organization performed within the last three years (no more than 5 agreements, and preferably EPA agreements) and describe (i) whether, and how, you were able to successfully complete and manage those agreements and

(ii) your history of meeting the reporting requirements under those agreements including whether you adequately and timely reported on your progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes of those agreements (and if not, explain why not) and whether you submitted acceptable final technical reports under the agreements. In evaluating applicants under these factors in Section V, EPA will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources, including information from EPA files and from current/prior grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information provided by the applicant). If you do 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 these factors (a neutral score is half of the total points available in a subset of possible points). If you do not provide any response for these items, you may receive a score of 0 for these factors.

e. Voluntary cost share/match and leveraged funds (See Section III.B also).

Demonstrate how you will leverage additional funds/resources beyond the grant funds awarded to support the proposed project activities and how these funds/resources will be used to contribute to the performance and success of the proposed project. This includes but is not limited to funds and other resources leveraged from businesses, labor organizations, non-profit organizations, education and training providers, and/or

Federal, state, tribal, and local governments, as appropriate. Describe the amount and type of leveraged resources to be provided, how you will obtain the leveraged resources, the likelihood the leveraging will materialize during grant performance, the strength of the leveraging commitment, and the role the leveraged resources will play to support the proposed project activities. Selected applicants are expected to abide by their proposed leveraging commitments during grant performance and the failure to do so may affect the legitimacy of the award.

f. Detailed Budget Narrative (See Appendix B, Budget Sample). This section provides an opportunity for a narrative description of the budget found in the SF-

424A. Clearly explain how EPA funds will be used. Selected applicant(s) will need to submit a copy of their current indirect cost rate that has been negotiated with a federal cognizant agency prior to award.

i. Description of the budget and estimated funding amounts for each work component/task.

ii. Description of the applicant’s approach, procedures, and controls for ensuring that awarded grant funds will be expended in a timely and efficient manner.

iii. Applicants must itemize costs related to personnel, fringe benefits, contractual costs, travel, equipment, supplies, other direct costs, indirect costs, and total costs. Selected applicant(s) will need to submit a copy of their current indirect cost rate that has been negotiated with a federal cognizant agency prior to award.

iv. For applicants that provide a voluntary cost share/match, the budget narrative must clearly specify the amount of federal funding and the cost share amount for each category of total project costs for each category. Include an explanation of how the voluntary match will be met. All matching funds are subject to the regulations governing matching fund requirements at 2 CFR

Part 200.

3. 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. Quality Assurance Narrative Statement.

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

e. If applicable, approval letter to use alternate means to submit initial application.

D. Submission Date and Times

The closing date and time for submission of applications is May l3, 2019, 11:59 p.m., Eastern

Time (ET). Applications submitted after the closing date and time will not be considered for

E. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

Additional provisions that apply to this solicitation and/or awards made under this solicitation, including but not limited to those related to confidential business information, contracts and subawards under grants, and application assistance and communications, can be found at www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses. These, and the other provisions that can be found at the website link, are important, 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 communicate with the EPA contact listed in this solicitation to obtain the provisions.

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Only eligible entities whose applications meet the threshold criteria in Section III 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 to which the project narrative:

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

A. (20 points) Includes a well-conceived strategy for addressing the requirements in Section I, Parts B (Scope of Work) and C (EPA

Strategic Plan Linkage and Anticipated Outcomes/Outputs); and

B. (15 points) Sets forth a reasonable time schedule for the execution of the tasks associated with the project and for achieving the project goals and objectives by project end.

2. Environmental Results – Outputs, Outcomes and Performance

Measures: Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate:

A. (7 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 of this announcement.

B. (8 points) The performance measures proposed by the applicant and how they will be used to help track and measure the applicant’s progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes.

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. (8 points) Past performance in successfully completing and managing the assistance agreements identified in the Project Narrative as described in

Section IV.C of the announcement;

B. (7 points) History of meeting the reporting requirements under the assistance agreements identified in the Project Narrative as described in

Section IV.C of the announcement, 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. (7 points) Organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project; and

D. (8 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: In evaluating applicants under items A and B of this criterion, the Agency will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources including agency files and prior/current grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information supplied by the applicant). If you do not have any relevant or available past performance or reporting information, please indicate this in the application and you will receive a neutral score for these sub-factors (items A and B above-a neutral score is half of the total points available in a subset of possible points). If you do not provide any response for these items, you may receive a score of 0 for these sub-factors.

4. Budget: Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate applicants based on:

A. (5 points) Whether costs are reasonable to accomplish the proposed goals, objectives, and measurable environmental outcomes; and

B. (5 points) Whether the proposed budget provides a detailed breakout of the approximate funding used for each major activity.

An applicant’s budget and Budget Narrative must account for both federal funds and any non-federal funds (e.g., any voluntary cost share/match if applicable).

Applicants must precisely describe in their Budget Narrative how they will account for any voluntary cost share/match, if applicable, and what role EPA funding will play in the overall project.

5. Expenditure of Awarded Grant Funds: Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate applicants based on their approach, procedures, and controls for ensuring that awarded grant funds will be expended in a timely and efficient manner.

6. Leveraging: Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate applicants based on the extent they demonstrate that they will leverage additional funds/ resources, beyond the grant funds awarded, to support the proposed project activities and how these funds/resources will be used to contribute to the performance and success of the proposed project. This includes but is not limited to funds and other resources leveraged from businesses, labor organizations, non-profit organizations, education and training providers, and/or Federal, state, tribal, and local governments, as appropriate. Applicants will also be evaluated based on the amount and type of leveraged resources to be provided, how they will obtain the leveraged resources, the likelihood the leveraging will materialize during grant performance, the strength of the leveraging commitment, and the role the leveraged funds/resources will play to support the proposed project activities.

B. Review and Selection Process

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

RFA. Only those applications which meet all of the threshold 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 Approving or Selection Official based on these reviews and rankings.

C. Other Factors

Final funding decisions will be made by the Approving or Selection Official based on the rankings and preliminary recommendations of the EPA evaluation team. In making the final funding decisions, the Approving or 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.

D. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

Additional provisions that apply to this solicitation and/or awards made under this solicitation including the clause on Reporting and Use of Information Concerning Recipient Integrity and

Performance can be found at EPA Solicitation Clauses. These, and the other provisions that can be found at the website link, are important, 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 communicate with the EPA contact listed in this solicitation to obtain the

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.

2. 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.