OCHP Healthy Learning Environments ARP RFA amended 9-9-21.pdf

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

TITLE: Children’s Healthy Learning Environments in Low-Income and/or Minority Communities

ACTION: Request for Applications (RFA) Amendment No. 1

FON: EPA-OA-OCHP-21-01

CFDA: 66.609

DATE: September 9, 2021

SUMMARY: This Notice revises the grant application submission deadline.

Accordingly, Dates section now notes:

Applications are due by Friday, September 17, 2021, 11:59 pm (EDT).

Section IV.B – Application and Submission Instructions

Application Submission Deadline now notes: Your organization's AOR must submit your complete application package electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than September 17, 2021 at 11:59

PM ET.

Section IV. E

Submission Dates and Times now notes: Applications must be submitted electronically through

Grants.gov on or before September 17, 2021, 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET).

https://www.grants.gov/

FEDERAL AGENCY: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) OFFICE OF CHILDREN’S HEALTH

PROTECTION (OCHP)

TITLE: CHILDREN’S HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IN LOW-INCOME AND/OR MINORITY

COMMUNITIES

ACTION: REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

FUNDING OPPORTUITY NUMBER (FON): EPA-OA-OCHP-21-01

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NO: 66.609

DATES: The closing date and time for receipt of application submissions is September 17, 2021, by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET).

SUMMARY: The purpose of this Children’s Healthy Learning Environments in Low-Income and/or

Minority Communities solicitation (RFA) is to provide funds for capacity building activities to address disproportionate children’s environmental health harms and risks in school and/or childcare settings in, or that primarily serve, low-income and/or minority communities. This RFA provides funding directly to organizations to support school- and/or childcare center-based capacity building projects that help school communities understand and address local environmental and public health issues that affect children. Projects must take place in schools and/or childcare centers that are located in minority and/or low-income communities and/or primarily serve student populations that are minority and/or low-income (e.g., Head Start and Early Head Start programs, Title I schools, tribal schools).

FUNDING/AWARDS: Under this RFA, EPA intends to award up to 10 cooperative agreements to U.S.

states or state agencies, territories, city or township governments, county governments, the District of

Columbia, American Indian Tribes (federally recognized), and possessions of the U.S.; public and private universities and colleges, hospital, laboratories, or public or private nonprofit institutions. For profit organizations including proprietary colleges and universities are not eligible. The total estimated funding for the awards is $2,000,000, and EPA expects that each award will be for approximately $200,000. EPA expects to award one cooperative agreement in each of EPA’s 10 regions; however, EPA may adjust the funding and awards based on the quality of applications received and other relevant considerations.

The source of funds for awards under this RFA is the American Rescue Plan (ARP), specifically Clean Air

Act (CAA) Section 103(b)(3) and/or the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Section 1442(c)(3). These funds were made available to address health outcome disparities from pollution and/or the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify and address disproportionate environmental or public health harms and risks in minority populations and/or low-income populations.

COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT: Cost-sharing is not required.

PROJECT PERIOD: All projects should have an anticipated start date of March 1, 2022. Proposed project periods may be up to two years.

Contracts, Subawards and “Partnerships” Prior to naming a contractor or subrecipient as a “partner” or otherwise in your applications, please carefully review the “Contracts and subawards” solicitation https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319/text provision available at https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses. Refer to EPA’s Best Practice

Guide for Procuring Services, Supplies, and Equipment Under EPA Assistance Agreements and Subaward

Policy and supplemental Frequent Questions for additional guidance.

CONTENTS BY SECTION

SECTION l: Funding Opportunity Description

SECTION II: Award Information

SECTION III: Eligibility Information

SECTION IV: Application and Submission Information

SECTION V: Application Review Information

SECTION VI: Award Administration Information

SECTION VII: Agency Contact

APPENDIX A: Instructions for Detailed Budget

APPENDIX B: Budget Detail Template

APPENDIX C: Blank Logic Model Template

APPENDIX D: Logic Model Guide

SECTION I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Background

EPA’s mission is to protect human health and the environment. Exposure to environmental hazards in learning environments can negatively impact the health of children and staff, and may affect attendance, concentration and performance, as well as lead to potential liability claims. Promoting healthy learning environments can potentially result in improved academic performance and reduced absenteeism, improved student and teacher morale, and saving money through resource conservation efforts.

The physical environments in which children develop play a critical role in their health, development, and safety. Children, from the fetal stage through adolescence, are in a dynamic state of growth as their nervous, respiratory, reproductive and immune systems develop and mature. Because of these developing systems, children are more vulnerable to permanent and irreversible damage from environmental hazards than adults. Distinct environments like childcare and school-based settings have unique characteristics related not only to the degree and route of exposure but also to the timing of exposures. For instance, in school settings, young children are more susceptible to the adverse effects from use of cleaning chemicals because they may be more likely to be exposed – they spend more time indoors, they have more hand-to-mouth behavior – and their smaller and still developing bodies may be more susceptible.

Environmental health hazards that affect children include, but are not limited to: 1) air pollutants, both indoor and ambient; 2) toxic chemicals, such as lead, mercury, arsenic, organochlorines, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, and dioxins; 3) endocrine disruptors; 4) environmental tobacco smoke; 5) pests and pesticides; 6) ultraviolet radiation; 7) water pollution; 8) brominated flame retardants; 9) radon; 10) carbon monoxide; 11) asbestos; and 12) other biological and chemical hazards of concern identified by EPA.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses https://www.epa.gov/grants/best-practice-guide-procuring-services-supplies-and-equipment-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/best-practice-guide-procuring-services-supplies-and-equipment-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients

Since 1997, when the Office of Children’s Health Protection (OCHP) was established, EPA has focused on children’s health protection, undertaking a variety of efforts to improve the environments where children live, learn and play. EPA conducts and sponsors research to evaluate the impacts of environmental exposures on children’s health, ensures that children’s health protection is a key component of our risk assessments and regulatory decision-making, and supports efforts to promote the measurement and tracking of environmental health disparities. EPA has launched projects to improve school environments, promote healthy homes, address indoor and outdoor air quality, and reduce children’s exposures to chemicals, pesticides, and radiation. EPA has developed tools to enable citizens, communities, governmental and non-governmental agencies to take steps toward protecting children from environmental health threats. EPA has worked with healthcare providers to identify, prevent and reduce environmental threats to children. EPA has also provided international leadership in the protection of children worldwide.

EPA’s partnerships with other federal agencies; state and local governments; tribes; non-governmental organizations; healthcare providers; academia; and others are essential to achieving our children’s health protection goals. It is only through our combined efforts that we can achieve the goals of making the health protection of children a fundamental goal of public health and environmental protection.

B. Scope of the Work

Under this competition, EPA is accepting applications from eligible applicants as identified in Section III for projects that build capacity of decision-makers to address disproportionate children’s environmental health harms and risks in school and/or childcare environments in, or that primarily serve, low-income and/or minority communities. Projects may demonstrate, implement or expand innovative methods and approaches to prevent and reduce exposures in schools and/or childcare settings. Projects must take place in or directly benefit schools and/or childcare centers that are located in minority and/or low-income communities and/or primarily serve student populations that are minority and/or low-income

(e.g., Head Start and Early Head Start programs, Title I schools, tribal schools). Capacity-building programs eligible for funding under this solicitation should be multi-media (involving multiple environmental health hazards stemming from air pollution and/or unsafe drinking water) and holistic

(involving multiple stakeholders and built on strong partnerships). For the purposes of this solicitation, schools include public, private, charter, parochial and K-12 schools; childcare settings include early care and education, such as nurseries, preschools, pre-kindergartens, centers, child development programs, Head Start, Early Head Start, and in-home childcare facilities. Decision-makers are those adults who have authority for school or childcare facilities or who control, or influence resources used for school or childcare facilities.

While this RFA is intended primarily for capacity building, it may also fund outreach and education as part of capacity building. EPA strongly encourages applicants to use existing high quality, authoritative children’s environmental health training and outreach materials rather than developing new ones, because many quality materials are available, and some are under-utilized.

EPA will consider funding translation of existing materials or the development of new outreach, education, guidance or technical assistance documents only where the applicant demonstrates that there is a need (e.g., that existing quality materials are not available). The applicant must specify what steps they have taken to determine this need (e.g., cite a conference where this need was discussed, the results of inquiries made within the community or with educational institutions, or a research paper or other published document). If the applicant does not yet know which materials will be used as part of the project, the applicant must identify what steps it will take to search for and select those materials.

Projects must include activities related to at least one of the following federal environmental statutes under ARP and address health outcome disparities from pollution and/or the COVID-19 pandemic and identify and address disproportionate children’s environmental health harms and risks in minority populations and/or low-income populations.

1. CAA, Section 103(b)(3): conduct research, investigations, experiments, demonstration projects, surveys, and studies (including monitoring) related to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, and control of air pollution.

2. SDWA, Section 1442(c)(3): develop and expand the capability to carry out a program (that may combine training, education, and employment) for occupations relating to the public health aspects of providing safe drinking water.

Examples of Activities: EPA’s expectation is that the awards under this RFA will help to advance children’s health protection well beyond the period of performance of the grants. We strongly encourage collaborative partnerships among key stakeholders. Below are some examples of the types of projects and activities applicants may submit under this competition – these are examples only, and this list is not intended to be all-inclusive. All activities must take place in or directly benefit schools and/or childcare centers that are located in minority and/or low-income communities and/or primarily serve student populations that are minority and/or low-income (e.g., Head Start and Early Head Start programs, Title I schools, tribal schools) which have been disproportionately impacted by environmental or health harms and risks.

i) Develop and deliver guidance, technical assistance, training or other support (e.g., financial) to school districts to assist them in implementing school environmental health programs, including:

a) Assessments of school conditions;

b) Prevention of potential air and/or drinking water hazards, including adaptation to climate change; and/or

c) Preparing for and responding to emergency situations involving environmental hazards (e.g., chemical spills impacting water supplies and/or causing air pollution, wildfires, floods impacting water supplies).

Novel approaches to training are encouraged, e.g., just-in-time training; collaboration to provide training through stakeholders’ existing training portals; scenario-based simulation training. Note:

Training materials should not be developed anew but should use or build upon already existing materials to the extent possible.

ii) Develop and implement outreach and training activities to promote the adoption of a comprehensive program to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) that address the reduction and elimination of indoor air pollutants, asthma triggers, and/or the airborne spread of COVID-19 through proactive policies and staff practices. Training materials need not be developed anew;

applicants are encouraged to use or build upon already existing materials to the extent possible.

iii) Launch or expand an existing healthy schools or healthy childcare program to address multiple environmental and safety hazards, including air and/or drinking water quality. Air quality issues can include addressing asthma triggers, such as implementing an integrated pest management

(IPM) strategy to address safety concerns of pesticide uses; informing school administrators and maintenance personnel of the hazards posed by polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) in fluorescent light ballasts and caulk, which can release into the air and cause unsafe conditions; minimizing the risk of airborne transmittal of the COVID-19 virus through efforts to encourage vaccination of school or child care program personnel.

iv) Develop a local plan to increase community support and resources to protect children from environmental health risks in school and childcare settings by coordinating with existing groups and community coalitions to address children’s environmental health issues (such as asthma, lead poisoning and COVID-19 transmittal) to leverage resources and reduce duplication of efforts.

Fundraising is not permitted under this grant.

v) Create a public-private partnership to develop resources and provide outreach on how to reduce chemical exposures and promote children’s health in school and childcare settings. Some chemicals can cause air pollution and/or trigger asthma attacks; improper chemical storage could lead to air and/or drinking water pollution; airborne transmittal of the COVID-19 virus could expose children or staff to infection.

vi) Provide education and outreach on how to use disinfectants safely and effectively to kill the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in indoor environments and in combination with soap and water to provide for safer schools and communities.

Proposed projects should reflect multi-media (involving multiple environmental health hazards stemming from air pollution and/or unsafe drinking water) and holistic approaches for reducing environmental exposures to the extent authorized under section 103 of the Clean Air Act and/or section 1442 of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Applications should also demonstrate a broad reach and collaborative problem-solving with appropriate partners and, describe how this project’s objectives create sustained activities that continue beyond the completion of the grant project period.

This funding is not intended to conduct research and cannot be used to fund human subject research.

NOTE: Grant activities must relate to gathering or transferring information or advancing awareness and demonstrating changes in attitudes and behaviors of those participating. Applications should emphasize this “learning” concept, rather than trying to “fix” an environmental problem using a well-established method. All the eligible activities listed above promote learning and understanding and are acceptable activities. Examples of unacceptable grant applications involve performing large-scale clean-ups, treatments, routine recycling services, and major disposal and/or energy recovery projects.

For projects that will support demonstration activities, the project must involve new or experimental technologies, methods, or approaches; where the results of the project will be shared so that others can benefit from the knowledge gained. A project that is accomplished through the performance of routine, traditional, or well-established practices, or a project that is simply intended to carry out a task rather than transfer information or advance the state of knowledge, however worthwhile the project might be, is not a demonstration. The applicant must clearly explain in the applications how the technologies, methods, or approaches used are new or experimental and how the project otherwise meets the requirements of a demonstration as described in this RFA. If your project uses technologies, methods or approaches that have been used previously in other geographic areas and/or business sectors, then your application must include an explanation as to how your demonstration project is different from such prior projects and is a true demonstration. You must also explain what will be learned from the demonstration project. If your project is truly a demonstration and complies with other eligibility factors, then it will be considered for funding. Remember, your project does not have to include demonstration activities. But if it does, then those activities must comply with the details listed above.

C. EPA Strategic Plan Linkages, Anticipated Outcomes and Outputs and Performance

Measures

Linkage to EPA’s Strategic Plan

Pursuant to Section 6a of EPA Order 5700.7, “Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements,”

(see https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements) EPA must link proposed assistance agreements to the Agency’s Strategic Plan.

EPA’s Strategic Plan 2018 - 2022 is available at https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan

The activities to be funded under this RFA are intended to further EPA’s current priorities for:

• EPA’s Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022 Goal 1 (A Cleaner, Healthier Environment), which states that

EPA “will collaborate more efficiently and effectively with other federal agencies, states, tribes, local governments, communities, and other partners and stakeholders to address existing pollution and prevent future problems… With our partners, we will pay particular attention to vulnerable populations. Children and the elderly, for example, may be at significantly greater risk from elevated exposure or increased susceptibility to the harmful effects of environmental contaminants. Some low-income and minority communities may face greater risks because of proximity to contaminated sites or because fewer resources are available to avoid exposure to pollutants.” Specifically, activities funded under this announcement are intended to further at least one of the following objectives under Goal 1:

➢ Objective 1.1 (Improve Air Quality) which states that “EPA works in cooperation with states, tribes, and local governments to design and implement air quality standards and programs. EPA relies on other federal agencies, academia, researchers, industry, other organizations, and the public. These partnerships are critical to achieving improvements in air quality and reducing public health risks.”

➢ Objective 1.2 (Provide for Clean and Safe Water) which states “sustaining the quality of our water resources is essential to safeguarding human health…EPA will help protect human health by…supporting states, tribes, territories, and local communities in implementing water programs by providing guidance, training, and information.”

Anticipated Outputs and Outcomes

EPA 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 (https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements). Applicants must include specific statements describing the environmental results of the program in terms of well-defined outputs and, to the extent practicable, well-defined outcomes that will demonstrate how the project will contribute to the strategic goal described above.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements

The term “output” means an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work products 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, and must be measurable during the assistance agreement funding period.

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.

Expected Outputs and Outcomes

Examples of outputs under the awards expected to be made include, but are not limited, to:

1. Final project report that documents activities and quantifies results

2. Educational, training, or outreach materials developed

3. Multi-stakeholder partnerships/collaborations established

4. Areas and sources posing highest risks and action plan for reducing risk identified

5. New policies, guidance or protocols to reduce environmental hazards in schools, childcare centers developed and/or adopted

6. Measures to assess progress established

7. IAQ management or environmental health plans, programs and trainings implemented.

Examples of outcomes under the awards expected to be made include, but are not limited, to:

1. Reduction in illness, learning disabilities, absenteeism, or asthma attacks

2. Improvements in physical, behavioral, or social functioning

3. Reduction in environmental health or safety risks affecting children

4. Reduction in children’s exposure to environmental contaminants

5. Reduction in costs as a result of new policy and guidance that support healthy learning environments, e.g., energy and resource conservation measures and improved facility maintenance

6. Greater teacher retention and job satisfaction

7. Increased awareness among students about the school environment and resource sustainability

8. Reduction in unintentional injuries

During the evaluation process for applications, EPA will determine if each work plan contains well-defined educational and environmental outputs and outcomes, adequately describes the applicant’s plan and approach for tracking and measuring progress towards achieving the outputs and outcomes, and clearly explains how the applicant will achieve the expected outputs and outcomes. Proposed outputs and short-term outcomes must be completed and be reported to EPA within the project period. See

Section 5(A) of this announcement for the evaluation criteria.

Performance Measures. The applicant should develop performance measures related to the proposed activities and describe them in their application. 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)?

How will the approach use resources effectively and efficiently?

D. Statutory Information

Statutory Authority: EPA expects to award these grants under the following grant authorities: CAA, Section 103 and SDWA, Section 1442 with funds appropriated by the American Rescue Plan Act, Public

Law 117-2.

SECTION II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Number and Amount of Award

The total estimated funding expected to be available for awards under this RFA is approximately $2 million. EPA anticipates awarding up to 10 cooperative agreements under this announcement with each award not to exceed approximately $200,000 subject to the availability of funds, quality of evaluated applications, and other applicable considerations. While EPA expects to award one cooperative agreement in each of its 10 regions, EPA may adjust the funding and awards based on the quality of applications received and other relevant considerations—there is no guarantee that an award will be made in each region and more than one award may be made in a region(s).

EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards, or make fewer awards than anticipated, under this announcement. In addition, EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with agency policy and guidance, if additional funding becomes available after the original selections are made. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than six months after the original selection decisions.

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

B. Start Date and Length of Project Period

The estimated initial project period for the award resulting from this solicitation will be March 1, 2022 to

February 28, 2024. Proposed project periods are for two years.

C. Funding Type

The successful applicant will be issued a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement is an assistance agreement that is used when there is substantial federal involvement with the recipient during the performance of an activity or project. EPA awards cooperative agreements for those projects in which it expects to have substantial interaction with the recipient throughout the performance of the project.

EPA will negotiate the precise terms and conditions of “substantial involvement” as part of the award process. Federal involvement may include, but is not limited, to:

Close monitoring of the recipient’s performance;

Collaboration during performance of the scope of work, including participation in project activities, to the extent permissible under EPA policies. Examples of collaboration include:

a. Consultation between EPA staff and the recipients on effective methods of carrying out the scope of work provided the recipient makes the final decision on how to perform authorized activities.

b. Advice from EPA staff on how to access publicly available information on EPA or other Federal agency web sites. EPA strongly encourages applicants to use existing high quality, authoritative children’s environmental health training and outreach materials rather than developing new ones, because many quality materials are available, and some are under-utilized.

c. With the consent of the recipient, EPA staff may provide technical advice to recipient contractors or subrecipients provided the recipient approves any expenditures of funds necessary to follow advice from EPA staff. The recipient remains accountable for performing contract and subaward management as specified in 2 CFR 200.318 and 2 CFR 200.332 as well as the terms of the EPA cooperative agreement.

d. EPA staff participation in meetings, webinars and similar events upon the request of the recipient or in connection with a co-sponsorship agreement.

Review of proposed procurements in accordance with 2 CFR 200. 325as well as the substantive terms of proposed contracts or subawards as appropriate;

Review of the qualifications of key personnel (EPA does not have the authority to select employees or contractors employed by the recipient or subrecipients receiving pass-through awards);

Review and comment on mid-year and yearly reports prepared under the cooperative agreement

(the final decision on the content of reports rests with the recipient); and

Participation in periodic telephone conference calls to share ideas, project successes and challenges, etc., with EPA and with other entities awarded under this solicitation.

SECTION III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

Assistance under this competition is available to states or state agencies, territories, city or township governments, county governments, the District of Columbia, American Indian Tribes (federally recognized), and possessions of the U.S. It is also available to public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, or public or private nonprofit institutions. Nonprofit 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 for funding. For-profit organizations, including proprietary colleges and universities, are not eligible for cooperative agreements under this

RFA.

B. Matching Funds

Cost-sharing or matching is not required as a condition of eligibility under this competition.

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

Applications must meet the following threshold criteria to be eligible for funding consideration under this

RFA. Failure to meet any of the following criteria in the application will result in disqualification of the application for funding consideration. Only applications from eligible entities (see above) that meet all of https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=34183e930e741a04ff06debe9d858069&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1318&rgn=div8 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=fad22b17b4bd4c04ee1eafc308099edd&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1332&rgn=div8 these criteria will be evaluated against the ranking factors in Section V of this RFA. Applicants deemed ineligible for funding consideration because of the threshold eligibility review will be notified within 15 calendar days of the ineligibility determination.

(1) Projects must address health outcome disparities from pollution and/or the COVID-19 pandemic and identify and address disproportionate environmental health harms and risks in minority populations and/or low-income populations.

(2) Applicants must propose activities eligible for funding under either Clean Air Act Section 103 and/or

Safe Drinking Water Act Section 1442. Note that a project’s focus is to consist of activities within the statutory terms of EPA’s financial assistance authorities; specifically, the statute(s) listed above. These activities should relate to the gathering or transferring of information or advancing the state of knowledge. Proposals should emphasize this “learning” concept, as opposed to “fixing” an environmental problem via a well-established method.

(3) Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section IV of this announcement or else they will be rejected. Where a page limit is expressed in Section IV with respect to the project workplan, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed.

(4) Applications must be submitted through the Grants.gov website: https://www.grants.gov as stated in

Section IV of this announcement (except in the limited circumstances where another mode of submission is specifically allowed for as explained in Section IV) on or before the application submission deadline published in Section IV of this announcement. Applicants are responsible for following the submission instructions in Section IV of this announcement to ensure that their application is timely submitted.

(5) 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 the Grants.gov website

(https://www.grants.gov/) or relevant SAM.gov (https://www.sam.gov/) system issues. An applicant’s failure to timely submit their application through Grants.gov because they did not timely or properly register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov will not be considered an acceptable reason to consider a late submission. Applicants should confirm receipt of their application with EPAchildren@epa.gov as soon as possible after the submission deadline—failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed. NOTE: Successful submission and receipt of an application does not guarantee its eligibility for review.

(6) The applicant must be an eligible organization as described in Section III (A) above and state in its application how it meets that eligibility criterion.

(7) Applicants may submit only one application under this solicitation. If an applicant submits more than one, EPA will contact them prior to application review to determine which one to withdraw.

http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://grants.gov/ http://grants.gov/ mailto:EPAchildren@epa.gov

(8) A project must further EPA’s Strategic Goal 1: A Cleaner, Healthier Environment, Objective 1.1: to improve air quality and/or Objective 1.2, provide for clean and safe water.

(9) Applications must not be used for the purposes of routine program implementation, implementation of routine environmental protection or restoration measures, meeting any legal mandate (such as federal, state, or local regulations or settlement agreements), land acquisition, purchase of vehicles, or completion of work which was to have been completed under a prior grant.

D. 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. Activities and tasks ineligible for funding under this RFA include, in addition to activities that are not authorized by section 103(b)(3) of the Clean Air Act or section 1442(c)(3) of the Safe Drinking Water Act:

(1) Technical training of environmental management professionals;

(2) Environmental “information” and/or “outreach” projects that have no additional educational component, as described in Section I (B);

(3) Advocacy promoting a particular partisan point of view or course of action;

(4) Lobbying or political activities as defined in 2 CFR Section 200.450;

(5) Non-educational research and development; or

(6) Construction projects–EPA will not fund construction activities such as the acquisition of real property

(e.g., buildings) or the construction or modification of any building.

SECTION 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 RFA based on the grants.gov instructions below. If your organization has no access to the internet or access is very limited, you may request an exception to this requirement 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 determine alternative submission methods.

Issues with submissions with respect to this RFA are addressed in section c. Technical Issues with Submission below.

B. Submission Instructions

The electronic submission of your application must be made by an official representative of your institution who is registered with Grants.gov and is authorized to sign applications for Federal assistance. For more information on the registration requirements that must be completed in order to submit an application through grants.gov, go to Grants.gov and click on "Applicants" on the top of the page and then go to the "Get Registered" link on the page. If your organization is not currently registered with Grants.gov, please encourage your office to designate an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and ask that individual to begin the registration process as soon as possible.

Please note that the registration process also requires that your organization have a DUNS number and a current registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) and the process of https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.epa.gov/grants/exceptions-grantsgov-submission-requirement obtaining both could take a month or more. Applicants must ensure that all registration requirements are met in order to apply for this opportunity through grants.gov and should ensure that all such requirements have been met well in advance of the submission deadline. Registration on Grants.gov, SAM.gov, and DUNS number assignment is FREE. Please see RAIN-2021-G01 for information about EPA's implementation of the upcoming Government-wide transition from DUNS to Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

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

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

You may also be able to access the application package for this announcement by searching for the opportunity on Grants.gov. Go to Grants.gov and then click on "Search Grants" at the top of the page and enter the Funding Opportunity Number, EPA-OA-OCHP-21-01, or the CFDA number that applies to the announcement (CFDA 66.609), in the appropriate field and click the Search button.

Please Note: All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov using the "Workspace" feature.

Information on the Workspace feature can be found at the Grants.gov Workspace Overview Page.

Application Submission Deadline: Your organization's AOR must submit your complete application package electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than September 17, 2021 at 11:59 PM ET.

Please allow for enough time to successfully submit your application and allow for unexpected errors that may require you to resubmit.

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

Application Materials

The following forms and documents are required under this announcement:

Mandatory Documents:

1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

2. Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)

3. EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54

4. EPA Form 4700-4 Preaward Compliance Review Report

5. Narrative Proposal (Project Narrative Attachment Form)-prepared as described in Section IV(E) of the RFA https://www.epa.gov/grants/rain-2021-g01 https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

6. Other Attachments, described in Section IV(E) of the announcement

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

C. Technical Issues With Submission

1. Once the application package has been completed, the "Submit" button should be enabled. If the "Submit" button is not active, please call Grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726. 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. Applicants should save the completed application package with two different file names before providing it to the AOR to avoid having to re-create the package should submission problems be experienced or a revised application needs to be submitted.

2. Submitting the application. The application package must be transferred to Grants.gov by an AOR.

The AOR should close all other software before attempting to submit the application package. Click the "submit" button of the application package. Your Internet browser will launch and a sign-in page will appear. Note: Minor problems are not uncommon with transfers to Grants.gov. It is essential to allow sufficient time to ensure that your application is submitted to Grants.gov BEFORE the due date identified in Section IV of the solicitation. The Grants.gov support desk operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except Federal Holidays.

A successful transfer will end with an on-screen acknowledgement. For documentation purposes, print or screen capture this acknowledgement. If a submission problem occurs, reboot the computer turning the power off may be necessary and re-attempt the submission.

Note: Grants.gov issues a "case number" upon a request for assistance.

3. Transmission Difficulties. If transmission difficulties that result in a late transmission, no transmission, or rejection of the transmitted application are experienced, and following the above instructions do not resolve the problem so that the application is submitted to Grants.gov by the deadline date and time, follow the guidance below. The Agency will make a decision concerning acceptance of each late submission on a case-by-case basis. All emails, as described below, are to be sent to EPAchildren@epa.gov with the FON in the subject line. If you are unable to email, contact Becky Cook-Shyovitz at 202-564-5340. Be aware that EPA will only consider accepting applications that were unable to transmit due to Grants.gov or relevant https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ system issues or for unforeseen exigent circumstances, such as extreme weather interfering with internet access.

Failure of an applicant to submit timely because they did not properly or timely register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov is not an acceptable reason to justify acceptance of a late submittal.

If you are experiencing problems resulting in an inability to upload the application to Grants.gov, it is essential to call Grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726 before the application deadline.

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. Be sure to obtain a case number from Grants.gov. If the problems stem from unforeseen exigent circumstances unrelated to https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:EPAchildren@epa.gov https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/

Grants.gov, such as extreme weather interfering with internet access, contact Becky Cook-Shyovitz at 202-564-5340.

4. Unsuccessful transfer of the application package: If a successful transfer of the application cannot be accomplished even with assistance from Grants.gov due to electronic submission system issues or unforeseen exigent circumstances, and you have already attempted to resolve the issue by contacting Grants.gov, send an email message to EPAchildren@epa.gov prior to the application deadline. The email message must document the problem and include the Grants.gov case number as well as the entire application in PDF format as an attachment.

5. Grants.gov rejection of the application package: If a notification is received from Grants.gov stating that the application has been rejected for reasons other than late submittal and it is too late to reapply, promptly send an email to EPAchildren@epa.gov with the FON in the subject line within one business day of the closing date of this solicitation. The email should include any materials provided by Grants.gov and attach the entire application in PDF format.

Please note that successful submission through Grants.gov or via email does not necessarily mean your application is eligible for award.

D. Format of Application Submission

Applications must include the information described below, and it is highly recommended that applications follow the format provided. Please follow the instructions and do not submit additional items or forms. Please do not refer to websites or online tools in your application as the reviewers will evaluate only the materials provided in the application.

The required contents of the application package are described in detail below. “One page” refers to one side of a single-spaced typed page. The pages must be letter-sized (8 ½ X 11 inches); recommended 12-point font size and margins no less than 1 inch.

E. Contents of Submission:

A complete application package must contain all the information outlined below.

1. Standard Grants.gov Application Forms (the Grants.gov system will make you fill out these documents automatically):

➢ SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance

➢ SF-424A Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs

➢ EPA Form 4700-4 – Preaward Compliance Review Report for All Applicants and Recipients

Requesting EPA Financial Assistance

➢ EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54 – Applicants are encouraged to ensure that all information presented on the Key Contacts form is accurate. Information contained on the

Key Contacts form may be used in the event an applicant is contacted for additional information.

2. Project Narrative Attachment form in grants.gov – Use this to submit your Project Work Plan

(which is subject to the page limit described below and see optional template)

3. Itemized Budget Sheet (Appendices A and D)

4. Project Performance Measures/Logic Model (Appendices B and C)

5. Resumes of the Project Manager (PM) and other key personnel

6. Proof of Non-Profit Status (if applicable)

For documents 3 –6 applicants must submit using the “Other” attachments forms in Grants.gov. Please note that documents 3-5 must be submitted by all applicants and document 6 must be submitted if applicable.

It is strongly advised that applicants organize their applications in the order presented above when submitting through Grants.gov. This will facilitate review and scoring of your application. The following is a detailed description of all the required forms and documents:

1) STANDARD GRANTS.GOV APPLICATION FORMS: The SF-424 forms, 4700-4 form and Key Contacts form are all official forms required for all EPA grants and cooperative agreements. These forms are required when submitting any EPA grant application through www.Grants.gov. The forms request basic information about your organization and proposed project. To complete the forms, applicants must provide a DUN and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. Applicants can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free request line at 1-800-627-3867 or by visiting the D&B website at http://www.dnb.com.

2) PROJECT WORK PLAN (optional template below): The project work plan describes the project, addresses the requirements in Section I, relevant threshold criteria from Section III, and the evaluation criteria in Section V. Work plans that are focused and succinct are stronger than ones that try to address too many issues. Under this RFA, in addition to the other requirements described in this RFA, applicants must submit a project focused on activities related to at least one of the statutes listed in Section I. The work plan, as described below, must not exceed eleven

(11), single-spaced typewritten pages and be on letter size pages (8 1/2 X 11 inches). Any pages beyond eleven (11) pages will not be read by the Review Panel.