oct_4_full_rfa_nutrient_control_for_habs_2.docxbsb_jfd_2(2).pdf

OVERVIEW INFORMATION

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement Office of Research and Development Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program

APPROACHES TO REDUCE NUTRIENT LOADINGS

FOR HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS MANAGEMENT

This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity.

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-G2020-STAR-A1

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 66.509

Solicitation Opening Date: October 25, 2019 Solicitation Closing Date: December 10, 2019: 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time

Table of Contents

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Synopsis of Program Award Information Eligibility Information Application Materials Agency Contacts

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Introduction

B. Background C. Authority and Regulations D. Specific Areas of Interest/Expected Outputs and Outcomes E. References F. Special Requirements

II. AWARD INFORMATION

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants B. Cost Sharing C. Other

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Grants.gov Submittal Requirements and Limited Exception Procedures B. Application Package Information C. Content and Form of Application Submission D. Submission Dates and Times E. Funding Restrictions

F. Submission Instructions and Other Submission Requirements

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Peer Review B. Relevancy Review C. Past Performance History Review D. Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS) Review E. Evaluation of the Scientific Data Management Plan F. Funding Decisions G. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices B. Disputes C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

Access Standard STAR Forms (https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms) View research awarded under previous solicitations (https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas)

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Synopsis of Program:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, aims to promote scientific progress towards preventing and controlling harmful algal blooms (HABs) by seeking applications proposing research to: (1) determine the effectiveness of existing nutrient treatment technologies; (2) evaluate the scale-up of emerging nutrient treatment technologies and develop new technologies; and (3) develop best management practices to help both rural and urban communities control nutrients in their watersheds.

This solicitation provides the opportunity for the submission of applications for projects that may involve human subjects research. Human subjects research supported by the EPA is governed by EPA Regulation 40 CFR Part 26 (Protection of Human Subjects). This includes the Common Rule at subpart A and prohibitions and additional protections for pregnant women and fetuses, nursing women, and children at subparts B, C, and D. Research meeting the regulatory definition of intentional exposure research found in subpart B is prohibited by that subpart in pregnant women, nursing women, and children. Research meeting the regulatory definition of observational research found in subparts C and D is subject to the additional protections found in those subparts for pregnant women and fetuses (subpart C) and children (subpart D). All applications must include a Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS, as described in Section IV.C.7.c of this solicitation), and if the project involves human subjects research, it will be subject to an additional level of review prior to funding decisions being made as described in Sections V.D and V.F of this solicitation.

Guidance and training for investigators conducting EPA-funded research involving human subjects may be obtained here:

https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas https://www.epa.gov/osa/basic-information-about-human-subjects-research-0 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40cfr26_main_02.tpl

The STAR Program’s goal is to stimulate and support scientific and engineering research that advances EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. It is a competitive, peer-reviewed, extramural research program that provides access to the nation’s best scientists and engineers in academic and other nonprofit research institutions. STAR funds research on the environmental and public health effects of air quality, environmental changes, water quality and quantity, hazardous waste, toxic substances, and pesticides.

Award Information:

Anticipated Type of Award: Grant Estimated Number of Awards: Approximately 6 awards Anticipated Funding Amount: Approximately $6 million total for all awards Potential Funding per Award: Up to a total of $1,000,000, including direct and indirect costs, with a maximum duration of 3 years. Cost-sharing is not required. Applications with budgets exceeding the total award limits will not be considered.

Eligibility Information:

Public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and hospitals located in the U.S., state and local governments, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, and U.S. territories or possessions are eligible to apply. See full announcement for more details.

Application Materials:

To apply under this solicitation, use the application package available at Grants.gov (for further submission information see Section IV.F. “Submission Instructions and other Submission Requirements”). Note: With the exception of the current and pending support form (available at https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms), all necessary forms are included in the electronic application package. Make sure to include the current and pending support form in your Grants.gov submission.

If your organization is not currently registered with Grants.gov, you need to allow approximately one month to complete the registration process. Please note that the registration process also requires that your organization have a unique entity identifier (e.g., ‘DUNS number’) and a current registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) and the process of obtaining both could take a month or more. Applicants must ensure that all registration requirements are met in order to apply for this opportunity through Grants.gov and should ensure that all such requirements have been met well in advance of the submission deadline. This registration, and electronic submission of your application, must be performed by an authorized representative of your organization.

If you do not have the technical capability to utilize the Grants.gov application submission process for this solicitation, see Section IV.A below for additional guidance and instructions.

Agency Contacts:

https://www.epa.gov/osa/basic-information-about-human-subjects-research-0 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40cfr26_main_02.tpl https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms

Technical Contact: Benjamin Packard; phone: 202-564-7673; email: packard.benjamin@epa.gov Eligibility Contact: Ron Josephson; phone: 202-564-7823; email: josephson.ron@epa.gov Electronic Submissions Contact: Debra M. Jones; phone: 202-564-7839; email:

jones.debram@epa.gov

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Introduction

One of the high-priority research areas identified by the EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) and Office of Water (OW) is the prevention and control of harmful algal blooms (HABs) by the reduction of nutrient loading to U.S. waters. The occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the U.S. has demonstrated large economic impacts on affected communities and successfully reducing nutrient loading will reduce the occurrence of HABs (U.S. EPA, 2015). New research is needed in a variety of areas to reduce both point source and non-point source excess nutrient loading to U.S. waters. The EPA has supported nutrient-related research grants; information on current and past research can be found on EPA’s Research Grants website at https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/.

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

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

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

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

3. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1101a(a)(5)). A list of these schools can be found at Hispanic-Serving Institutions;

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

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

mailto:packard.benjamin@epa.gov mailto:josephson.ron@epa.gov mailto:jones.debram@epa.gov https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/ https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/hsi-eligibles-2016.pdf https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=3&source=embed&ll=40.58644586187277%2C-148.28228249999984 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY&ie=UTF&msa=0&ll=37.35160769312532%2C-96.17229800000001&z=4

B. Background

HABs are a growing concern in the United States. Impacts from HABs include losses in income from recreation and tourism, animal and human illness from exposure to contaminated water or seafood, and expenses related to monitoring, treatment, and control of HABs (U.S. EPA, 2015).

There is established scientific consensus that while nutrients are necessary for healthy ecosystems, there is a relationship between excess nutrient loading and HABs (Heisler, J. et. al., 2008). EPA seeks research on nutrient treatment technologies, best management practices, and agricultural conservation practice systems to reduce excess nutrient loadings and thereby prevent and control HABs.

The predominant sources of excess nitrogen and phosphorus include stormwater and urban runoff, crop agriculture, animal feeding operations, wastewater treatment plants, air deposition of nitrogen on land and water, land use changes and development in drainage basins, and sources in and around homes. For a given watershed, the sources of nutrients vary depending on how much land is dedicated to urban, agriculture, forest, or other uses and the effectiveness of nutrient management approaches currently in place. Because nutrients are transported in waterways, in air currents, and in rain, excess nutrient loading has impacts locally as well as far down stream.

Excess nitrogen and phosphorus loadings to local waterways are controlled using treatment technologies for point sources and conservation practice systems and best management practices for nonpoint sources (U.S. EPA, 2019a).

Treatment Technologies for Wastewater and Stormwater

Under the 1972 Clean Water Act, waste water treatment plants that release point source discharges to surface water are required to have National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits (U.S. EPA, 2019b). Permits almost always require reductions in nutrient releases, however several barriers still exist to achieving the desired nutrient reductions. For example, there is limited availability of land for physical expansion of treatment facilities and limited resources for the development and adoption of more advanced processes for operations and control (U.S. EPA, 2009). And while nitrification-denitrification processes have been optimized to remove 80 – 95 percent of inorganic nitrogen, the removal of organic nitrogen is typically much less efficient (U.S. EPA, 2010), placing an added burden on removing this fraction. To better enable the adoption of process improvements and advanced treatment technologies, developing simulation models can be useful. Operators can adjust parameters and predict their impact without extensive testing at the plant, particularly when adoption of processes are scaled-up or derived from other plant operating conditions (U.S. EPA, 2009).

Simulation models can also help identify bottlenecks at the plant and can be valuable for nutrient removal at small and decentralized treatment systems (U.S. EPA, 2010).

Management Practices for Nonpoint Source Control

For untreated runoff from urban and suburban areas, techniques such as detention basins, constructed wetlands, vegetative swales, and bioretention facilities (e.g., rain gardens) are used to slow down stormwater so nutrients will biologically degrade before they reach waterways (Manuel, 2014). Agricultural nonpoint sources are managed through conservation planning and the implementation of best management practices. For agricultural lands, owners employ a wide array of conservation practices including planting cover crops in winter, erosion and sediment control measures, managing livestock access to streams, and engaging in watershed-wide planning and implementation efforts (U.S. EPA, 2003; Christianson, R. et. al., 2018; Osmond, D.L. et.al., 2012). More recently, collaborative nutrient management via incorporating the 4Rs – the right rate, the right timing, the right method, and the right form – into nutrient management plans is gaining attention. Snowmelt, changing spatial and temporal rainfall patterns, inherent landscape vulnerability to nutrient loss, and legacy nutrient sources are also important drivers of non-point source nutrient loading (i.e. Cherry, K.A. et al., 2008; Sinha, E. et. al., 2017;

Schneider, K.D. et. al., 2019; Stackpoole et. al., 2019). Improved monitoring and modeling as well as a more robust understanding of potential tradeoffs in nutrient loss mitigation strategies is needed (i.e. Jones, J.W. et. al., 2017).

Water Quality Trading

In 2003, EPA released the Water Quality Trading Policy to encourage states, interstate agencies and tribes to develop and implement water quality trading programs for nutrients, sediments and other pollutants where opportunities exist to achieve water quality improvements at reduced costs (U.S. EPA, 2003). Water quality trading allows one source to meet its regulatory obligations by using extra nutrient reductions created by another source that often has lower nutrient control costs. Trading capitalizes on economies of scale and the control cost differentials among and between sources. Water quality trading can provide greater flexibility on the timing and level of technology a facility might install, reduce overall compliance costs, and encourage voluntary participation of nonpoint sources within a watershed.

For many watersheds, the marginal costs for nutrient removal are higher for point sources than for nonpoint sources and water quality trading can be between point sources or between point sources and nonpoint sources. In February 2019, EPA updated its water quality trading policy to promote market-based mechanisms to reduce excess nutrient loading at lower overall cost and incentivize implementation of technologies and land use practices that reduce excess nonpoint nutrient loading (U.S. EPA, 2019c). This effort is part of a series of actions that EPA and its federal partners are taking to leverage emerging technologies and facilitate broader adoption of market-based programs to reduce excess nutrients (U.S. EPA, 2019d).

C. Authority and Regulations

The authority for this RFA and resulting awards is contained in the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.

7403, Section 103(b)(3), Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1254, Section 104(b)(3), and the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300j-1, Section 1442.

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

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. Generally, a project must address the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction and elimination of air pollution, water pollution, solid/hazardous waste pollution, toxic substances control or pesticide control depending on which statute(s) is listed above. Further note applications dealing with any aspect of or related to hydraulic fracking will not be funded by EPA through this program.

Additional applicable regulations include: 2 CFR Part 200, 2 CFR Part 1500, and 40 CFR Part 40 (Research and Demonstration Grants).

D. Specific Areas of Interest/Expected Outputs and Outcomes Note to applicant: The term “output” means an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work products related to an environmental goal or objective, that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. 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.

The activities to be funded under this announcement support EPA’s FY 2018-22 Strategic Plan (https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.html). Activities to be funded under this announcement support Goal 3: Greater Certainty, Compliance, and Effectiveness, Objective 3.3:

Prioritize Robust Science, of EPA’s FY 2018-22 Strategic Plan. All applications must be for projects that support the goal and objective identified above. Awards made under this announcement will further EPA’s priorities supporting robust science for Safe and Sustainable Water Resources by supporting research on nutrient treatment technologies, best management practices, and agricultural conservation practice systems to reduce excess nutrient loadings and thereby prevent and control HABs.

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, 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 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.

Applicants should address at least one of the three research areas described below. Applications may respond to one research area or integrate across two or three research areas. Applications should clearly indicate which research area(s) the application is addressing. Applications that address more than one research area will not necessarily be rated more highly than those that address just one of the areas.

Specific Research Areas

Research Area 1: Determine the effectiveness of existing nutrient treatment technologies (including agriculture conservation practices and best management practices).

The proposed research should address one or more of the following questions:

1. How effective at reducing excess nutrient loading are existing nutrient treatment technologies?

2. How can the effectiveness of existing nutrient treatment technologies be maintained or improved over time?

3. How do the simplicity or complexity of operation and maintenance and life cycle cost of existing nutrient treatment technologies compare to each other?

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

4. How can approaches be improved or what new approaches can be developed to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrient treatment technologies?

5. How can effectiveness be measured on a watershed scale vs. a farm scale?

Research Area 2: Evaluate the scale-up of emerging nutrient treatment technologies (including agriculture conservation practices and best management practices) and develop new technologies.

The proposed research should address one or more of the following questions:

1. How can nutrient treatment technologies already in use be scaled-up?

2. What new nutrient treatment technologies can be further developed and successfully implemented?

3. What new and affordable technologies or practices can reduce nutrient releases from onsite wastewater systems, especially in areas less suitable for traditional septic systems (e.g., areas with a shallow groundwater table or rocky or poorly-drained soils)?

Research Area 3: Develop best management practices to help both rural and urban communities control nutrients in their watersheds.

The proposed research should address one or more of the following topics/questions:

1. Comprehensively evaluate components of watershed-level nutrient reduction plans to determine their effectiveness for meeting watershed nutrient reduction goals.

2. How can improved monitoring and modeling inform best management practices for mitigating excess nutrient loading from snowmelt, changing spatial and temporal rainfall patterns, inherent landscape vulnerability to nutrient loss, and legacy nutrient sources?

3. How can watershed-level monitoring and assessment tools be improved to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrient reduction strategies?

4. How can large scale data opportunities (e.g., LiDAR, aerial photography) be used to better automate planning and implementation tracking of various nutrient technologies at the watershed scale?

For Research Areas 1, 2 and 3:

• Research applications are encouraged to address excess nutrient loading relevant to issues faced by areas of the Great Lakes, Florida, and the Midwest that have been or are currently experiencing HABs.

• Research applications should include a summary of relevant research and identify how the proposed research advances the current state of the science.

Outputs and Outcomes:

Outputs expected from the research funded under this RFA include: approaches to expand the use of existing treatment technologies; new, affordable treatment technologies for removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from treated wastewater or combined sewer overflows; and management practices and agricultural conservation practice systems to help both rural and urban communities control nutrient runoff in their watersheds and thereby prevent and control HABs.

Outcomes expected from the research funded under this RFA include: improved understanding of the effectiveness and durability of approaches to reduce or eliminate point sources and nonpoint sources of nutrients from U.S. waters; implementation of new treatment technologies for removal of nitrogen and phosphorus; and improved control of nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into waterways which will reduce the occurrence of HABs and hypoxia in U.S. waterways and coastal areas.

To the extent practicable, research applications must embody innovation and sustainability.

Innovation for the purposes of this RFA is defined as the process of making changes; a new method, custom or device. Innovative research can take the form of wholly new applications or applications that build on existing knowledge and approaches for new uses. Research applications must include a discussion on how the proposed research is innovative (see Section IV.C.7.a). The goal of sustainability, derived from the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), is to “create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.” Research applications must include a discussion on how the proposed research will seek sustainable solutions that protect the environment and strengthen our communities (see Section IV.C.7.a). Reviewers will draw from all of the above-mentioned innovation and sustainability definitions in the review/evaluation process of research applications (see Section V.A).

E. References

Cherry, K.A., M. Shepherd, P.J.A. Withers, S.J. Mooney. (2008). Assessing the effectiveness of actions to mitigate nutrient loss from agriculture: A review of methods. Science of the Total Environment 406:1-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.07.015

Christianson, R., L. Christianson, C. Wong, M. Helmers, G. McIsaac, D. Mulla and M.

McDonald. (2018). Beyond the nutrient strategies: Common ground to accelerate agricultural water quality improvement in the upper Midwest. Journal of Environmental Management.

206:1072-1080. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.11.051

Heisler, J., P.M. Gilbert, J.M. Burkholder, D.M. Anderson, W. Cochlan, W.C. Dennison, Q.

Dortch, C.J. Gobler, C.A. Heil, E. Humphries, A. Lewitus, R. Magnien, H.G. Marshall, K.

Sellner, D.A. Stockwell, D.K. Stoecker and M. Suddleson. (2008). Eutrophication and harmful algal blooms: A scientific consensus. Harmful Algae 8:3-13.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568988308001066?via%3Dihub

Jones, J.W., J.M. Antle, B. Basso, K.J. Boote, R.T. Conant, I. Foster, H.C.J. Godfray, M.

Herrero, R.E. Howitt, S. Janssen, B.A. Keating, R. Munoz-Carpena, C.H. Porter, C. Rosenzweig, T.R. Wheeler. (2017). Toward a new generation of agricultural system data, models, and knowledge products: State of agricultural systems science Agricultural Systems 155:269-288.

doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2016.09.021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.07.015 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.11.051 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568988308001066?via%3Dihub

Manuel, J. (2014). Nutrient Pollution: A Persistent Threat to Waterways. Environmental Health Perspectives 122(11):A304-A309. 10.1289/ehp.122-A304

Osmond, D.L., D.W. Meals, D.L.K. Hoag, and M. Arabi, Eds. (2012). How to Build Better Agricultural Conservation Programs to Protect Water Quality: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture-Conservation Effects Assessment Project Experience. By Soil and Water Conservation Society. https://www.swcs.org/resources/publications/how-to-build-better-agricultural-conservation-programs-to-protect-water-quality

Schneider, K.D., B.G. McConkey, A. Thiagarajan, J.A. Elliot, and D.K. Reid. (2019). Nutrient Loss in Snowmelt Runoff: Results from a Long-term Study in a Dryland Cropping System.

Journal of Environmental Quality 48:831-840. doi:10.2134/jeq2018.12.0448

Sinha, E., A.M. Michalak, and V. Balaji. (2017). Eutrophication will increase during the 21st century as a result of precipitation changes. Science 357:405-408. DOI: 10.1126/science.aan2409

Stackpoole, S.M., E.G. Stets, and L.A. Sprague. (2019). Variable impacts of contemporary versus legacy agricultural phosphorus on US river water quality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, PNAS Latest Articles.

https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1903226116

U.S. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency (2003). Water Quality Trading Policy.

https://archive.epa.gov/ncer/events/calendar/archive/web/pdf/finalpolicy2003.pdf

U.S. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency (2009). Nutrient Control Design Manual: State of Technology Review Report. EPA 600/R‐09/012 https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-02/documents/nutrient-control-design-manual-state-tech.pdf

U.S. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency (2010). Nutrient Control Design Manual. EPA 600/R‐10/100. https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P1008KTD.PDF?Dockey=P1008KTD.pdf

U.S. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency (2015). A Compilation of Cost Data Associated with the Impacts and Control of Nutrient Pollution. EPA 820-F-15-096.

https://www.epa.gov/nutrient-policy-data/compilation-cost-data-associated-impacts-and-control-nutrient-pollution

U.S. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency (2019a). Nutrient Pollution (last updated 6 September 2019) https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution (accessed 23 September 2019)

U.S. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency (2019b). National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) (last updated 19 September 2019) https://www.epa.gov/npdes (accessed 23 September 2019)

U.S. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency (2019c). Memorandum Updating the EPA Water Quality Trading Policy to Promote Market-Based Mechanisms to Improving Water Quality.

February 6, 2019. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-02/documents/trading-policy-memo-2019.pdf (accessed 23 September 2019) https://dx.doi.org/10.1289%2Fehp.122-A304 https://www.swcs.org/resources/publications/how-to-build-better-agricultural-conservation-programs-to-protect-water-quality https://www.swcs.org/resources/publications/how-to-build-better-agricultural-conservation-programs-to-protect-water-quality https://archive.epa.gov/ncer/events/calendar/archive/web/pdf/finalpolicy2003.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-02/documents/nutrient-control-design-manual-state-tech.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-02/documents/nutrient-control-design-manual-state-tech.pdf https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P1008KTD.PDF?Dockey=P1008KTD.pdf https://www.epa.gov/nutrient-policy-data/compilation-cost-data-associated-impacts-and-control-nutrient-pollution https://www.epa.gov/nutrient-policy-data/compilation-cost-data-associated-impacts-and-control-nutrient-pollution https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution https://www.epa.gov/npdes https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-02/documents/trading-policy-memo-2019.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-02/documents/trading-policy-memo-2019.pdf

U.S. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency (2019d). Collaborative Approaches to Reducing Excess Nutrients (last updated 10 September 2019) https://www.epa.gov/nutrient-policy-data/collaborative-approaches-reducing-excess-nutrients (accessed 23 September 2019)

F. Special Requirements

It is EPA Policy to ensure that the results of EPA-funded extramural scientific research are accessible to the public to the greatest extent feasible consistent with applicable law; policies and Orders; the Agency’s mission; resource constraints; and U.S. national, homeland and economic security. This entails maximizing, at no charge, access by the public to peer-reviewed, scientific research journal publications or associated author manuscripts, and their underlying digital research data, created in whole or in part with EPA funds, while protecting personal privacy;

recognizing proprietary interests, confidential business information and intellectual property rights; and avoiding significant negative impact on intellectual property rights, innovation and U.S. competitiveness. EPA’s Policy for Increasing Access to Results of EPA-Funded Extramural Scientific Research may be accessed at: https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements. Terms and conditions implementing this policy may be accessed at:

https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements.

Applications submitted under this announcement shall include a Scientific Data Management Plan (SDMP) that addresses public access to EPA-funded scientific research data. See the SDMP clause in Section IV for details on the content of an SDMP. Applicants will also be asked to provide past performance information on whether journal publications or associated author manuscripts, and the associated underlying scientific research data and metadata, under prior assistance agreements were made publicly accessible. These items will be evaluated prior to award.

Reasonable, necessary and allocable costs for data management and public access as discussed in EPA’s Policy for Increasing Access to Results of EPA-Funded Extramural Scientific Research, may be included in extramural research applications and detailed in the budget justification described in Section IV.

Agency policy and ethical considerations prevent EPA technical staff and managers from providing applicants with information that may create an unfair competitive advantage.

Consequently, EPA employees will not review, comment, advise and/or provide technical assistance to applicants preparing applications in response to EPA RFAs. EPA employees cannot endorse any particular application.

Multiple Investigator applications may be submitted as: (1) a single Lead Principal Investigator (PI) application with Co-PI(s) or (2) a Multiple PI application (with a single Contact PI). If you choose to submit a Multiple PI application, you must follow the specific instructions provided in Sections IV. and V. of this RFA. For further information, please see the EPA Implementation Plan for Policy on Multiple Principal Investigators (https://rbm.nih.gov/toolkit.htm).

This solicitation provides the opportunity for the submission of applications for projects that may involve human subjects research. All applications must include a Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS; described in Section IV.C.7.c of this solicitation). If the project involves https://www.epa.gov/nutrient-policy-data/collaborative-approaches-reducing-excess-nutrients https://www.epa.gov/nutrient-policy-data/collaborative-approaches-reducing-excess-nutrients https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements human subjects research, it will be subject to an additional level of review prior to funding decisions being made as described in Sections V.D and V.F of this solicitation.

Groups of two or more eligible applicants may choose to form a consortium and submit a single application for this assistance agreement. The application must identify which organization will be the recipient of the assistance agreement and which organizations(s) will be subawardees of the recipient.

These awards may involve the collection of “Geospatial Information,” which includes information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features or boundaries on the Earth or applications, tools, and hardware associated with the generation, maintenance, or distribution of such information. This information may be derived from, among other things, a Geographic Positioning System (GPS), remote sensing, mapping, charting, and surveying technologies, or statistical data.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

It is anticipated that a total of approximately $6 million will be awarded under this announcement, depending on the availability of funds, quality of applications received and other applicable considerations. The EPA anticipates funding approximately 6 awards under this RFA.

Requests for amounts in excess of a total of $1,000,000, including direct and indirect costs, will not be considered. The total project period requested in an application submitted for this RFA may not exceed 3 years.

The EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards, or make fewer awards than anticipated, under this RFA. The EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with Agency policy, 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.

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

EPA intends to award only grants under this announcement.

Under a grant, EPA scientists and engineers are not permitted to be substantially involved in the execution of the research. However, EPA encourages interaction between its own laboratory scientists and grant Principal Investigators after the award of an EPA grant for the sole purpose of exchanging information in research areas of common interest that may add value to their respective research activities. This interaction must be incidental rather than substantial to achieving the goals of the research under a grant. Interaction that is “incidental” does not involve resource commitments by EPA.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

Public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and hospitals located in the U.S., state and local governments, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, and U.S. territories or possessions are eligible to apply. Profit-making firms and individuals are not eligible to apply.

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 200.70 specifically excludes Institutions of Higher Education from the definition of non-profit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation. While not considered to be a non-profit organization(s) as defined by 2 CFR 200.70, public or nonprofit 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 as nonprofits or as instrumentalities of the unit of government depending on the applicable law. For-profit colleges, universities, trade schools, and hospitals are ineligible. Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible to apply.

Foreign governments, international organizations, and non-governmental international organizations/institutions are not eligible to apply.

National laboratories funded by Federal Agencies (Federally-Funded Research and Development Centers, “FFRDCs”) may not apply. FFRDC employees may cooperate or collaborate with eligible applicants within the limits imposed by applicable legislation and regulations. They may participate in planning, conducting, and analyzing the research directed by the applicant, but may not direct projects on behalf of the applicant organization. The institution, organization, or governance receiving the award may provide funds through its assistance agreement from the EPA to an FFRDC for research personnel, supplies, equipment, and other expenses directly related to the research. However, salaries for permanent FFRDC employees may not be provided through this mechanism.

Federal Agencies may not apply. Federal employees are not eligible to serve in a principal leadership role on an assistance agreement. Federal employees may not receive salaries or augment their Agency’s appropriations through awards made under this program unless authorized by law to receive such funding.

The applicant institution may enter into an agreement with a Federal Agency to purchase or utilize unique supplies or services unavailable in the private sector to the extent authorized by law. Examples are purchase of satellite data, chemical reference standards, analyses, or use of instrumentation or other facilities not available elsewhere. A written justification for federal involvement must be included in the application. In addition, an appropriate form of assurance that documents the commitment, such as a letter of intent from the Federal Agency involved, should be included.

Potential applicants who are uncertain of their eligibility should contact Ron Josephson in ORD, phone: 202-564-7823, email: josephson.ron@epa.gov.

B. Cost sharing

Institutional cost-sharing is not required.

C. Other

Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section IV of this announcement or they will be rejected. In addition, where a page limitation is expressed in Section IV with respect to parts of the application, pages in excess of the page limit will not be reviewed. In addition, 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 (see Section IV.F. “Submission Instructions and Other Submission Requirements” for further information) to ensure that their application is submitted timely.

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.

Also, applications exceeding the funding limits or project period term described herein will be rejected without review. Further, applications that fail to demonstrate a public purpose of support or stimulation (e.g., by proposing research which primarily benefits a Federal program or provides a service for a Federal agency) will not be funded.

Applications deemed ineligible for funding consideration will be notified within fifteen calendar days of the ineligibility determination.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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 proposal assistance and communications, can be found at https://www2.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 mailto:josephson.ron@epa.gov https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www2.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses unable to access these provisions electronically at the website above, please communicate with the EPA contact listed in this solicitation to obtain the provisions.

Formal instructions for submission through Grants.gov are in Section F.

A. Grants.gov Submittal Requirements 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. 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 OMS-ARM- 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 https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:OMS-ARM-OGDWaivers@epa.gov mailto:OMS-ARM-OGDWaivers@epa.gov method. In addition, any submittal through an alternative method must comply with all applicable requirements and deadlines in the announcement including the submission deadline 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 this 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. Application Package Information

Use the application package available at Grants.gov (see Section IV.F. “Submission Instructions and Other Submission Requirements”). Note: With the exception of the current and pending support form (available at https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms), all necessary forms are included in the electronic application package. Make sure to include the current and pending support form in your Grants.gov submission.

An email will be sent by ORD to the Lead/Contact PI and the Administrative Contact (see below) to acknowledge receipt of the application and transmit other important information. The email will be sent from receipt.application@epa.gov; emails to this address will not be accepted.

If you do not receive an email acknowledgement within 10 calendar days of the submission closing date, immediately inform the Electronic Submissions Contact shown in this solicitation.

Failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed. See Section IV.F.

“Submission Instructions and Other Submission Requirements” for additional information regarding the application receipt acknowledgment.

C. Content and Form of Application Submission

The application is made by submitting the materials described below. Applications must contain all information requested and be submitted in the formats described.

mailto:receipt.application@epa.gov

1. Standard Form 424

The applicant must complete Standard Form 424. Instructions for completion of the SF424 are included with the form. However, note that EPA requires that the entire requested dollar amount appear on the SF424, not simply the proposed first year…