owow-rfp-data-management-ag-hypoxia-final-28-october-2015.pdf

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of

Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds

Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2015 Support for Water Quality Framework Training

Workshop, Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical Assistance, and Hypoxia and

Agricultural Nutrient Outreach and Technical Assistance Request for Proposals

Announcement Type: Request for Proposals (RFP)

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-OW-OWOW-15-04

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 66.436

Dates: The closing date and time for receipt of application submissions is December 14, 2015 by 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST) in order to be considered for funding.

Proposal packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov

(http://www.grants.gov) no later than December 14, 2015, 11:59 PM EST in order to be considered for funding. Late proposals will not be considered for funding. Questions about this RFP must be submitted in writing via e-mail and must be received by the Agency contact identified in Section VII by November 30, 2015. Written responses will be posted on EPA’s website at http://www2.epa.gov/ms-htf/fy-2015-support-water-quality-framework-training-workshop-nonpoint-source-agriculture .

Following EPA’s evaluation of proposals, all applicants will be notified regarding their status.

Final applications will be requested from those eligible entities whose proposal have been successfully evaluated and preliminarily recommended for award. Those entities will be provided with instructions and a due date for submittal of the final application package.

Note to Applicants:

If you name subawardees/subgrantees and/or contractor(s) in your proposal to assist you with the proposed project, pay careful attention to the information in the CONTRACTS AND

SUBAWARDS provision found at http://www2.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to provide support for training and technical assistance activities to build the capacity of state and tribal officials and nongovernmental stakeholders in the Clean Water Act

(CWA) Sections 303(d), 305(b), TMDL Programs, the Nonpoint Source (CWA Section 319)

Program, and Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia related activities. The National Priority Activities identified in this announcement are:

(I) to plan, prepare and conduct three State and Tribal Data Management and Data

Sharing Training Workshops in support of CWA Section 303(d), CWA Section

305(b), TMDLs, and water quality monitoring and assessment;

(II) to provide and advance Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical

Assistance; and

(III) to provide training and technical assistance on Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia and

Agricultural-Related Nutrient Issues.

http://www2.epa.gov/ms-htf/fy-2015-support-water-quality-framework-training-workshop-nonpoint-source-agriculture http://www2.epa.gov/ms-htf/fy-2015-support-water-quality-framework-training-workshop-nonpoint-source-agriculture http://www2.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses

Funds awarded under this announcement for training and technical assistance support activities may be used to promote participation and to support travel expenses of non-federal personnel to attend workshops.

Funding provided under this announcement supports Goal 2 of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-2018

EPA Strategic Plan: Protecting America’s Waters; Objective 2.2: Protect and Restore

Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems. Information on the EPA Strategic Plan is available at http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.

States, local governments, federally recognized Indian Tribes, intertribal consortia, territories, possessions of the U.S. (including the District of Columbia), public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and public or private non-profit institutions are eligible to apply.

Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply. Non-profit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply. As discussed in Section I.D, funding for assistance agreements awarded under this announcement is provided under the authority of Section 104(b)(3) of the CWA.

The total amount of expected federal funding available under this announcement is approximately $1,450,000, depending on Agency funding levels and other applicable considerations. It is anticipated that up to eight awards will be made under this announcement to be funded incrementally. The following are the expected total of awards for each of the three

National Priority Activities:

One award for the State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Training

Workshops (National Priority Activity I) in support of CWA Section 303(d), CWA

Section 305(b), TMDLs, and water quality monitoring and assessment. The award is anticipated to be incrementally funded for a total of $600,000 over the five-year project period; approximately $200,000 in the first year and $100,000 per year for the remaining four years of the project period.

One to three awards for the Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical

Assistance (National Priority Activity II) with total funding available of $350,000.

Project awards can range between $110,000 and $350,000 per award with a five year project period. This National Priority Area is anticipated to be incrementally funded up to $70,000 per year.

Two to four awards for the Hypoxia and Agricultural Nutrient Issues Outreach and

Technical Assistance (National Priority Activity III) with total funding available of

$500,000. Project awards can range between $100,000 and $250,000 per award with a five year project period; awards over $100,000 are anticipated to be incrementally funded up to $50,000 per year.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. BACKGROUND EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to provide support for training, outreach and technical assistance activities to build the capacity of state and tribal officials and nongovernmental stakeholders in the CWA Section 303(d) Program, 305(b), the http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan

TMDL program, the Nonpoint Source (CWA Section 319) Program, and Gulf of Mexico

Hypoxia related activities. The three National Priority Activities identified in this announcement and discussed in further detail in Section I.B below are: (I) State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Training Workshops in support of CWA Section 303(d), CWA Section 305(b), TMDLs, and water quality monitoring and assessment; (II) Nonpoint Source Agriculture

Training and Technical Assistance; (III) Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia and Agricultural-Related

Nutrient Issues. Funds awarded under this announcement for training and technical assistance support activities may be used to promote participation and to support travel expenses of nonfederal personnel to attend the training workshops.

This National Priority Activity supports Goal 2 of EPA’s Strategic Plan for FY 2014 – 2018:

Protecting America’s Waters, Objective 2.2: Protect and Restore Watersheds and Aquatic

Ecosystems. As discussed in Section I.D, the statutory authority for the awards expected to be made under this announcement is section 104(b)(3) of the CWA.

B. NATIONAL PRIORITY ACTIVITY

Each proposal submitted under this announcement must address one, and only one, of the three

National Priority Activities described below. Applicants may submit more than one proposal package (including SF424, SF424A, and proposal narrative) under this announcement as long as each one is separately submitted and addresses only one National Priority Activity. The cover page of each proposal package must clearly indicate the National Priority Activity addressed in the proposal. If an applicant submits a proposal that addresses more than one National Priority

Activity, it will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed.

National Priority Activity I: State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing

Training Workshops in Support of CWA Section 303(d), CWA Section 305(b), TMDLs, and Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment

Under this National Priority Activity, the goal is to conduct training workshops to educate state and tribal personnel on new approaches for sharing CWA Sections 303(d), 305(b), and TMDL data. EPA is developing new approaches for sharing these data as part of EPA’s Water Quality

Framework (Framework). A goal of the Framework is to more fully integrate water quality monitoring, assessment, and restoration data to provide a more complete picture of the nation’s waters. As a first step in this effort, EPA is redesigning the Assessment TMDL Tracking and

Implementation System (ATTAINS). This system tracks state CWA Sections 303(d), 305(b), and

TMDL data using a common geospatial framework based on the National Hydrography Dataset

Plus (NHDPlus). The new ATTAINS system will also integrate national statistical surveys with statewide statistical surveys and site specific assessment data. It is anticipated that these training workshops will educate states and tribes on the following tools: ATTAINS, NHDPlus, as well as

STORET/WQX, Waterscape, Recover Potential Screening Tool, and Healthy Watersheds

Assessments, and how these tools are used for reporting under the CWA, as well as obtain state and tribal input on these systems and how they are used for reporting under the CWA.

EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to plan, prepare, and conduct three State and

Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Training Workshops—over the next five years—in support of CWA Sections 303(d), 305(b), TMDLs, and water quality monitoring and assessment.

The project components described below provide more detail on roles and responsibilities the successful applicant may be expected to assume in order to establish and manage these workshops, but is not comprehensive. Applicants are encouraged to identify additional workshop training topic areas and/or project components that may not be included in this announcement, but that may contribute to overall project success in their proposals.

The target audience for the State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Training

Workshops includes state and tribal monitoring, assessment, CWA Sections 303(d), 305(b), and

TMDL program personnel, and may also include local and regional officials, stakeholders, and national experts. If fully funded, an estimated 50 to 60 participants are expected to attend each training workshop with representatives from 50 states and some territorial and tribal representatives, and federal representatives. It is anticipated that workshop participation will be approximately 75% state, 10% tribal, and 15% federal (EPA). Applicants may propose to use a portion of the assistance funds to defray transportation and subsistence expenses for non-federal attendees to attend the training workshops. The applicant is solely responsible for determining a methodology for selecting and funding reimbursement requests and providing a report on how participating non-federal attendees benefited from the training workshops. EPA will not select the trainees or participate in the selection or approval of individuals who receive travel assistance.

The goals of the State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Training Workshops are:

(1) to provide training to states and tribes on the new approaches for capturing monitoring, assessment, and TMDL data (including training on the redesigned ATTAINS system, and new approaches for reporting on strategic measures); (2) to solicit feedback from state and tribal personnel on the new ATTAINS data model for tracking these data; (3) to provide information for scoping the integration of these data using a common geospatial framework; and (4) to provide training on other tools being used by states, which include: Recovery Potential Screening

Tool (http://owpubauthor.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/tmdl/recovery/index.cfm), Waterscape, and Healthy Watersheds Assessments

(http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/watershed/), and STORET/WQX

(http://www2.epa.gov/waterdata/storage-and-retrieval-and-water-quality-exchange).

In their proposals, applicants should outline the steps they will take to plan, prepare, and conduct the training workshops and describe the roles and responsibilities of the applicant in carrying out the training workshops. The awardee is not expected to develop technical documents or technical training materials for these workshops. EPA will support the training workshops by providing the technical content and training (e.g., develop participant training materials and lead the training sessions to present this technical material). The proposal should describe the approach for consulting with states, tribes, and other interested stakeholders to determine the training priorities. The proposal should also include a description of how the applicant will transfer the results of the training workshops to state, tribal, and local governmental agencies and other interested stakeholders. In their proposals, applicants should demonstrate their experience working with state and tribal staff that implement the CWA Section 303(d), CWA Section

305(b), and TMDL programs and convening meetings and/or trainings that support these programs in coordination with the EPA.

http://owpubauthor.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/tmdl/recovery/index.cfm http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/watershed/ http://www2.epa.gov/waterdata/storage-and-retrieval-and-water-quality-exchange

The training workshops should be located in or near major U.S. cities accessible to transportation to most effectively accommodate travel needs of participants and to bring as many state, tribal, and territorial information system specialists as possible. Applicants should demonstrate their intent to coordinate, where possible, the training workshops with existing meetings to increase interaction among state, tribal, monitoring and assessment, and TMDL program personnel and to reduce the travel burden on non-federal attendees.

The successful applicant will provide the overall leadership for the training workshops, select workshop locations, secure meeting facilities (e.g., meeting rooms, accommodations, audio-visual and information technology (IT) equipment), develop training workshop agendas, develop, where appropriate, non-technical materials, and select the speakers (i.e., plan, prepare, and conduct these workshops). EPA will support the workshops by developing technical documents or technical training materials for these workshops. EPA will support the training workshops by providing the technical content and training (e.g., develop participant training materials and lead the training sessions to present this technical material). The successful applicant will use its logos on any materials it provides; EPA will use it logos on any materials it provides.

In their proposals, applicants should describe the technical approach to addressing this National

Priority Activity. The proposal should include a description of the roles and responsibilities of the applicant in carrying out the project elements. The proposal should also include a description of the applicant’s plan for active transfer of project results, methods, and/or effective strategies to state, tribe, local agencies, and/or other interested stakeholders so that the others can better build their programs. Effective partnerships are important for the success of projects under this

National Priority Activity. In their proposals, applicants should identify appropriate and necessary partnerships to successfully conduct the project. Applicants should also include a clear description of the roles of specific partners in the project’s components/tasks. If the applicant chooses to identify any partner entities who will receive subawards or procurement contracts

(including consultants), please pay careful attention to the CONTRACTS AND SUBAWARDS provision found at http://www2.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses. EPA will not consider their qualifications unless the applicant selects them in compliance with applicable regulations and provisions. Partnerships between organizations can greatly benefit from one another’s experience and expertise.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria in Section V including how well and thoroughly the National Priority Activity is addressed. EPA anticipates funding one cooperative agreement under this National Priority Activity for a total available funding of approximately $600,000, depending on the amount requested and the overall size and scope of the project. It is anticipated that the project period for the award will be five years, which will include a total of three training workshops over this period, and that the award will be incrementally funded up to $200,000 in the first year and $100,000 per year for the remaining four years of the project period, depending on Agency priorities, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance of the recipient.

National Priority Activity II: Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical

Assistance

The goals of the Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical Assistance National

Priority Activity are to: (1) expand the capacity of the agricultural community (including professional retailers and conservation advisors, extension, federal, state and local government and non-government organizations) to build the technical assistance delivery infrastructure for conservation practice systems that protect and improve water quality in agricultural areas and to communicate scientific, technical and/programmatic issues or innovations; (2) foster communication and technical exchanges between the agricultural community and groups implementing watershed plans; and (3) ensure that technical assistance is available to farmers and producers in priority agricultural watersheds as they incorporate conservation practice systems into farm management conservation plans and their long term operations that will improve and protect water quality while enhancing the value of the overall operations. The professional retailers and conservation advisors workforce is expanding and includes, but is not limited to, Technical Service Providers (TSPs), Certified Crop Consultants (CCAs), members of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants (NAICC), members of Land

Improvement Contractors of America (LICA), soil and water conservation district staff and engineers, and other agricultural consultants and professionals.

To meet the goals noted above for this National Priority Activity, EPA is soliciting proposals to leverage the expanding professional retailers and conservation advisors workforce to provide training and technical assistance in priority areas most in need of treatment to improve and protect water quality. This can include watersheds that have been identified as state priority areas, USDA priority areas for water quality, NGO ongoing implementation efforts, and areas with state approved nine-element watershed plans or lake plans that call for the implementation of conservation cropping systems to meet water quality goals. Conservation cropping systems is a management strategy that allows a producer to efficiently produce food, feed, and fiber in an environmentally sound manner. The system protects and restores water quality and can include as components nutrient management as part of an overall system, various tile water drainage management practices including water control structures (e.g., flash board structures attached directly to the tile outlets), wetlands placed at the end of the tile lines, riparian buffer strips in areas where lateral seepage is the dominant flow, constructed bioreactors utilizing de-nitrification walls or trenches to intercept tile flow, saturated buffers, no-till and cover crops.

Project components described below provide detail on roles and responsibilities the successful applicant may be expected to assume. The description below is not comprehensive, and applicants are encouraged to identify additional project components that may not be included in this announcement, but that may contribute to overall project success in their proposals.

• Identify priority areas encompassing or within watersheds that have a watershed based plan where conservation practice systems can improve water quality and establish a network of retailers to assist local, untrained retailers with the technical tools and skills needed to implement conservation systems.

o Identify and leverage outreach opportunities to increase access and usability of conservation planning and implementation tools.

o Update tools with expanded localized data to increase the eligible landscapes, watersheds and/or states so that tools are more broadly applicable.

• Broadly accelerate the use of conservation practices systems by exchanging technical, economic and implementation information on conservation practice systems and track advancements.

• Establish relationships in priority watersheds between all members of the agricultural professional retailers and conservation advisors workforce so that recently trained members can share new knowledge and tools with others and motivate others to participate in water quality related trainings and projects.

• Increase the capacity of individuals and/or organizations to promote and advance real time/precision nutrient management planning (e.g., utilizing annual manure and soil test results, updated nitrogen and phosphorus risk assessments, and precision application technologies for the land application of manure). This could include development of nutrient management plans for

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and state permitted animal feeding operations that are consistent with relevant federal and state requirements and manure management planning tools.

• Encourage strong partnerships between all stakeholders in priority watersheds that can leverage technical assistance and implement conservation systems in identified critical areas that generate nutrient pollution at the watershed scale so professional retailers and conservation advisors can provide outreach to specific landowners.

• Analyze existing technical assistance models and develop a best practices report for technical assistance delivery to farmers and producers through trained professional retailers and conservation advisors to meet water quality goals at the watershed scale.

• Develop and implement a communication plan to encourage participation in priority areas.

Project components proposed under this National Priority Activity do not need to be stand alone, but can be in conjunction with other projects, trainings, workshops, or similar events already planned by other organizations. In their proposals, applicants should be able to demonstrate the commitment by both parties to work together. The successful applicant will provide the overall leadership for any training activities, identify appropriate timeframes, select training locations, secure training facilities, develop training agendas and materials, and select speakers. EPA will support the technical assistance by programmatic assistance, program promotion, and review of agendas and materials. The successful applicant will use its logo on any materials it provides.

EPA will use its logo on any materials it provides.

Priority Activity. The proposal should include a description of the roles and responsibilities of the applicant in carrying out the project elements. The proposal should also include a description of the applicant’s plan for active transfer of project results, methods, and/or effective strategies to state, tribe, local agencies, and/or other interested stakeholders so that the others can better build their programs. Effective partnerships are important for the success of projects under this

National Priority Activity. In their proposals, applicants should identify appropriate and necessary partnerships to successfully conduct the project. In their proposals, applicants should demonstrate their experience working with and convening agricultural professional retailers and conservation professionals. Applicants should also describe a process whereby they will consult with EPA and USDA in which the assistance is to be expended or otherwise made available prior to providing training and technical assistance in that state, tribe or territory. Applicants should also include a clear description of the roles of specific partners in the project’s components/tasks.

If the applicant chooses to identify any partner entities who will receive subawards or procurement contracts (including consultants), please pay careful attention to the CONTRACTS

AND SUBAWARDS provision found at http://www2.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses.

EPA will not consider their qualifications unless the applicant selects them in compliance with applicable regulations and provisions. Partnerships between organizations can greatly benefit from one another’s experience and expertise.

the National Priority Activity is addressed. EPA anticipates funding one to three cooperative agreements under this National Priority Activity for a total available funding of $350,000, depending on the amount requested and the overall size and scope of the project. Project awards can range between $110,000 and $350,000 per award with a five year project period. It is anticipated that this National Priority Area will be incrementally funded up to $70,000 per year depending on Agency priorities, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance of the recipient.

National Priority Activity III: Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia and Agricultural Nutrient Issues

Outreach and Technical Assistance

Under this National Priority Activity, the threefold goals are to: 1) strengthen relationships that can serve the missions of multiple organizations/governments working to address nutrient movement and environmental quality goals described in state nutrient reduction strategies; 2) expand the knowledge base through the discovery of new scientific, technical and programmatic innovations, tools and the continual validation of recommended systems of conservation practices; and 3) improve coordination and delivery of educational programming and increase the implementation effectiveness of state nutrient reduction strategies.

The Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force (Hypoxia Task Force or

HTF) was established in the fall of 1997 to understand the causes and effects of eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico; coordinate activities to reduce the size, severity, and duration; and ameliorate the effects of hypoxia. Activities of the HTF include coordinating and supporting nutrient management activities from all sources, restoring habitats to trap and assimilate nutrients, and supporting other hypoxia related activities in the Mississippi River and Gulf of

Mexico watersheds.

The HTF includes federal and state agencies and tribes. The role of the HTF is to provide executive level direction and support for coordinating the actions of participating organizations working on nutrient management within the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed to reduce the size of the Hypoxic Zone in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. The HTF’s 2008 Action

Plan is currently being implemented by the member states and agencies of the HTF; a key action called for states to develop and implement nutrient reduction strategies to meet the HTF goals.

State strategies can be found at: http://www2.epa.gov/ms-htf/hypoxia-task-force-nutrient-reduction-strategies.

http://www2.epa.gov/ms-htf/hypoxia-task-force-nutrient-reduction-strategies http://www2.epa.gov/ms-htf/hypoxia-task-force-nutrient-reduction-strategies

The Hypoxia Task Force is working with Southern Extension and Research Activities committee number 46 (SERA-46) through a Memorandum of Understanding. SERA-46 brings together researchers and extension specialists sharing a common interest and expertise related to the environmental, social, and economic factors that contribute to nutrient loss from agricultural lands, state-level nutrient impairments, and hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. This is a formal

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and land-grant university funded committee designed to promote multistate, research and extension activities. Through this partnership, the HTF and SERA-46 have developed research and extension priorities that will assist states as they implement the nutrient reduction strategies developed to implement the HTF

2008 Action Plan.

EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants to provide technical assistance and to develop outreach and training opportunities to support implementation of HTF state nutrient reduction strategies. A list of priorities that the HTF supports can be found at:

http://www2.epa.gov/ms-htf/htf-lgu-priorities-collaborative-work. EPA is supportive of all priorities on this list as they will provide information to states across the country on challenging issues faced by water programs. Please note that applicants may propose other projects that are authorized under section 104(b)(3) of the CWA that further the goals of this National Priority

Activity.

The following are examples of projects which could help advance agricultural nutrient reduction efforts nationally through states/tribal/local government programs:

• Consider current social, economic, and public policy research and opportunities/needs for expansion. Examples include:

o Develop a social indicators system that will guide, evaluate and advance implementation of strategies to reduce nutrient loss from agricultural lands. This process could consider the input of numerous stakeholders, as well as issues derived from hypoxia- and water resource management-related literature, such as the Social

Indicator Planning and Evaluation System (SIPES) Handbook. Once baseline data is collected, it can be used to inform education and outreach in high priority watersheds.

• Create a network of watershed practitioners and farmer leaders to strengthen the implementation effectiveness of nutrient management strategies that reduce nutrient movement.

o Facilitate the development and activities of a network of watershed practitioners and farmers, prioritizing (but not limited to) the tile-drained areas of the corn belt. This effort would connect watershed practitioners and famers working in priority watersheds to increase the pace and quality of learning. Topics could include:

Communicating the latest research on conservation practices, including cumulative impact of practices and cost effectiveness;

Engaging farmers in watershed leadership;

Strategies for increasing adoption of conservation practices; and

Effective use of monitoring by citizens, farmers, and agency staff in watershed projects at field and watershed scales.

http://www2.epa.gov/ms-htf/htf-lgu-priorities-collaborative-work o Case studies and opportunities to scale up to a broader reach and provide information in a variety of media.

• Strengthen partnerships between extension specialists, county agents (where available) and the American Society of Agronomy’s Certified Crop Advisors (CCA) to:

o Identify and summarize pertinent CCA training available in each state, by EPA region or other appropriate organizational entity, and identify gaps and opportunities for new trainings that can assist states in implementing nutrient reduction strategies.

o Assess the feasibility of more CCAs producing customized whole farm conservation plans.

o Where appropriate, develop training that addresses state nutrient-related regulations and policies to strengthen nutrient management and reduce nutrient loss from agricultural lands.

o Facilitate learning among CCAs, agencies, university researchers and extension professionals, and farmers to improve adoption of nutrient management practices that reduce nutrient loss from agricultural lands.

• There is a broad interest to better understand how existing monitoring networks can be used to track nutrient movement and impacts in large landscape and large waterbody areas. In the Mississippi River Basin, the HTF Monitoring Collaborative has identified a number of sites with long term monitoring data, and other large watersheds such as the

Chesapeake Bay and the Great Lakes have similar records.

o Projects that conduct a study or assessment or provide training and/or technical assistance to better understand the scope of both edge-of-field and in-stream monitoring and means to link them for research purposes as well as developing the means to track progress from the field to the watershed to the Gulf, including those that investigate:

what research monitoring is being done in the HTF states;

where is it being done;

what is the focus of each study;

what water quality data are being obtained at different scales;

what other data are being obtained;

how is the data being used;

what is the availability of the data; and how is monitoring being funded?

o Projects that allow watershed planners and/or state program managers the ability to assess and/or provide training to these groups so that they may determine:

what data are needed at different scales;

where will it come from;

how will it be used;

what will be the data security, confidentiality and ownership;

who will do the data collection;

what will it cost;

how will it be funded;

what data is already being obtained; and how is it being used?

Priority Area. The proposal should include a description of the roles and responsibilities of the applicant in carrying out the project elements. The proposal should also include a description of the applicant’s plan for active transfer of project results, methods, and/or effective strategies to state, tribe, local agencies, and/or other interested stakeholders so that the others can better build their programs. Effective partnerships are important for the success of projects under this

National Priority Area. In their proposals, applicants should identify appropriate and necessary partnerships to successfully conduct the project. Applicants should also include a clear description of the roles of specific partners in the project’s components/tasks. If the applicant chooses to identify any partner entities who will receive subawards or procurement contracts

(including consultants), please pay careful attention to the CONTRACTS AND SUBAWARDS provision found at http://www2.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses. EPA will not consider their qualifications unless the applicant selects them in compliance with applicable regulations and provisions. Partnerships between organizations can greatly benefit from one another’s experience and expertise.

Project components proposed under this National Priority Activity do not need to be stand alone, but can be held in conjunction with other projects, trainings, workshops, or similar projects already planned by other organizations. In their proposals Applicants should be able to demonstrate the commitment by all parties to work together. The successful applicant will provide the overall leadership for the project. The successful applicant will use its logo on any materials it provides. EPA will use its logo on any materials it provides.

the National Priority Activity is addressed. EPA anticipates funding up two to four cooperative agreements under this this National Priority Activity for a range of project funding of approximately $100,000 - $250,000 per award, depending on the amount requested and the overall size and scope of the project. The total funding available for this National Priority is

$500,000. It is anticipated that the project period for the awards will be five years, and that the awards over $100,000 will be incrementally funded up to $50,000 per year, depending on

Agency priorities, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance of the recipient.

C. ENVIRONMENTAL RESULTS AND LINKAGE TO STRATEGIC PLAN

Funding provided under this announcement supports Goal 2 of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-2018

EPA Strategic Plan: Protecting America’s Waters; Objective 2.2: Protect and Restore

Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems. Information on the EPA Strategic Plan is available at http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.

All proposed projects must demonstrate the linkage to the EPA Strategic Plan and 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 overall goals of the EPA Strategic Plan.

Projects should demonstrate the linkage to the overall goal of Protecting America’s Waters.

http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan

Environmental results are a way to gauge a project’s performance and are described in terms of outputs and outcomes. Environmental outputs (or deliverables) refer to an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to an environmental goal or objective, that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative, but must be measurable during an assistance agreement funding period.

Examples of anticipated environmental outputs from the assistance agreements to be awarded under this announcement include, but are not limited to:

National Priority Activity: State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Training

Workshops in Support of CWA Section 303(d), CWA Section 305(b), TMDLs, and Water

Quality Monitoring and Assessment

Organization and administration of training workshops to educate state and tribal personnel on system/tools to support implementation of the 303(d) Vision

Written report that identifies training gaps and needs for state, tribal, and federal agency personnel

National Priority Activity: Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical Assistance

Network of agriculture retailers and conservation professionals formed with the technical skills to install and/or improve conservation practice systems in areas with a need for water quality improvement.

Written report presenting effective/best practices for technical assistance delivery.

Increased development and implementation of real time/precision nutrient management plans.

National Priority Activity: Hypoxia and Agricultural Nutrient Issues Outreach and Technical

Tools and/or guides to help state/tribal/local government decision makers integrate metrics into state nutrient reduction strategies and advance implementation of strategies to reduce nutrient loss from agricultural lands.

Organization and administration of trainings to educate and connect watershed practitioners and farmer leaders.

Organization and administration of trainings to educate and connect extension specialists, county agents and CCAs.

Methods to link edge-of-field and in-stream water quality monitoring information.

Protocols and/or guides to assess, prioritize, and/or track (report on) voluntary implementation as a result of partnerships.

Environmental outcomes are 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, and are used as a way to gauge a project’s performance and take the form of output measures and outcome measures. Outcomes must be quantitative and may not necessarily be achieved within an assistance agreement funding period. Outcomes may be short-term (changes in learning, knowledge, attitude, skills), intermediate (changes in behavior, practice, or decisions), or long-term (changes in condition of the natural resource).

Examples of anticipated outcomes from the assistance agreements to be awarded under this announcement include, but are not limited to:

National Priority Activity I: State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Workshops in

Support of CWA Section 303(d), CWA Section 305(b), TMDLs, and Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment o Improved CWA 303(d), CWA 305(b), and TMDL reporting, including the transition from paper to an electronic process.

o More effective and transparent demonstration of environmental progress in water quality protection and restoration.

o Reduced reporting burden on states and tribes.

o More timely submittal and review of CWA 303(d) data.

National Priority Activity II: Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical Assistance o Increased capacity of groups that are implementing watershed plans that meet water quality goals to work in partnerships with agriculture and conservation retailers, advisors and professionals.

o Increased state and/or NGO watershed projects being implemented in partnership with professional retailers and conservation professionals.

o Increased understanding by agricultural producers of their role and the roles of other stakeholders and partners in broader watershed projects that have positive nutrient impacts on water quality.

National Priority Activity III: Hypoxia and Agricultural Nutrient Issues Outreach and Technical o Improved opportunities for state nutrient reduction strategies to be implemented.

o Application of informed, scientifically valid approaches to watershed planning that will protect, prevent, and reduce pollution to aquatic resources.

As part of the proposal narrative, an applicant will be required to describe how the project results will link the outcomes to the Agency’s Strategic Plan. Additional information regarding EPA’s definition of environmental results in terms of outputs and outcomes can be found at:

http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf.

D. STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The statutory authority for the assistance agreements to be funded under this announcement is

Section 104(b)(3) of the CWA. CWA Section 104(b)(3) restricts the use of these assistance agreements to the following: conducting or promoting the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. Implementation projects are not eligible for funding under this announcement. If the proposal is a demonstration project, then the applicant must describe how it http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/epa_order_5700_7a1.pdf meets the following requirement. Demonstration projects must involve new or experimental technologies, methods, or approaches. EPA expects that the results of the project will be disseminated so that others can benefit from the knowledge gained in the demonstration project.

A project that is accomplished through the performance of routine, traditional, or 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 project. For proposals that include demonstration projects, the applicant must describe how the project meets the above requirements.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AMOUNT OF FUNDING

The total amount of expected federal funding available under this announcement is approximately $1,450,000, depending on Agency funding levels and other applicable considerations. It is anticipated that up to eight awards will be made under this announcement to be funded incrementally. The following are the expected total of awards for each of the three

National Priority Activities:

One award for the State and Tribal Data Management and Data Sharing Training

Workshops (National Priority Activity I) in support of CWA Section 303(d), CWA

Section 305(b), TMDLs, and water quality monitoring and assessment (National Priority

Activity I). The award is anticipated to be incrementally funded for a total of $600,000 over the five-year project period; approximately $200,000 in the first year and $100,000 per year for the remaining four years of the project period.

One to three awards for the Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical

Assistance (National Priority Activity II) with total funding available of $350,000.

Project awards can range between $110,000 and $350,000 per award with a five year project period. This National Priority Area is anticipated to be incrementally funded up to $70,000 per year.

Two to four awards for the Hypoxia and Agricultural Nutrient Issues Outreach and

Technical Assistance (National Priority Activity III) with total funding available of

$500,000. Project awards can range between $100,000 and $250,000 per award with a five year project period; awards over $100,000 are anticipated to be incrementally funded up to $50,000 per year.

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

EPA reserves the right to make no awards 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.

B. TYPE OF FUNDING

It is anticipated that cooperative agreements will be funded under this announcement. When a cooperative agreement is awarded, EPA will have substantial involvement with the project workplans and budget. Although EPA will negotiate precise terms and conditions relating to substantial involvement as part of the award process, the anticipated substantial federal involvement for a project selected may include:

1. Close monitoring of the recipient’s performance to verify the results proposed by the applicant;

2. Collaboration in the selection of training and technical assistance topics.

3. Collaboration during the performance of the scope of work;

4. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.317 and 2 CFR 200.318, as appropriate, review of proposed procurements;

5. Review of qualifications of key personnel (EPA does not have authority to select employees or contractors employed by the recipient); and

6. Review and comment on tasks/deliverables and reports prepared under the cooperative agreement(s) (the final decision on the content of these reports rests with the recipient).

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

States, local governments, federally recognized Indian Tribes, intertribal consortia, territories, possessions of the U.S. (including the District of Columbia), public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and public or private non-profit institutions are eligible to apply.

Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible. Non-profit organizations described in Section

501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply.

An intertribal consortium is a partnership between two or more tribes that is authorized by the governing bodies of those tribes to apply for and receive assistance. (See 40 CFR 35.502.) The intertribal consortium is eligible only if the consortium demonstrates that all of its members meet the eligibility requirements and authorize the consortium to apply for and receive assistance in accordance with 40 CFR 35.504 at the time of proposal submission. An intertribal consortium must submit with its proposal to EPA adequate documentation of the existence of the partnership and the authorization of the consortium by its members to apply for and receive the grant. (See

40 CFR 35.504.) Non-profit applicants may be asked to provide documentation that they meet the definition of a non-profit organization in 2 CFR Subpart E.

B. COST SHARING/MATCH REQUIREMENTS

No cost-share/match is required under this announcement.

C. THRESHOLD ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

These are requirements that if not met by the time of proposal submission will result in elimination of the proposal from consideration for funding. Only proposals that meet all of these criteria will be evaluated against the ranking factors in Section V of the announcement.

Applicants deemed ineligible for funding consideration as a result of the threshold eligibility review will be notified within 15 calendar days of the ineligibility determination.

1. An applicant must meet the eligibility requirements in Section III.A of this announcement.

2. Each proposal submitted under this announcement must address one, and only one of the three national Priority Activities (Activity I, II, or III) listed in Section 1.B. Applicants may submit more than one proposal package (including SF424, SF424A, and proposal narrative) under this announcement as long as each one is separately submitted and addresses only one National Priority Activity. The cover page of each proposal package must clearly indicate the National Priority Activity addressed in the proposal. If an applicant submits a proposal that addresses more than one National Priority Activity, it will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed.

3. Except as stated below, proposals must substantially comply with the proposal 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.C.3 with respect to the proposal narrative, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed.

Section IV.C.3 establishes a 10-page, single-spaced proposal narrative page limit that includes the cover page

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