PKG00261733-instructions.pdf

COVID-19 Update: EPA is providing flexibilities to applicants experiencing challenges related to

COVID-19. Please see the Flexibilities Available to Organizations Impacted by COVID-19 clause in Section IV of EPA’s Solicitation Clauses.

OVERVIEW

AGENCY: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

TITLE: SUPPORTING ANAEROBIC DIGESTION IN COMMUNITIES

ACTION: Request for Applications (RFA)

RFA NO: EPA-OLEM-ORCR-20-02

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CDFA) NO.: 66.808

DATES: The closing date and time for receipt of application submissions is July 14, 2020, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Applications must be submitted electronically through https://www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 14, 2020 to receive consideration. Applications received after 11:59 p.m. ET on July 14, 2020 will not be considered.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications that will accelerate the development of new or enhance/increase existing anaerobic digestion capacity and infrastructure in the United States. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is the natural process in which microorganisms break down organic (plant and animal) materials. Food waste diverted from landfills and incinerators can be managed at AD facilities. The AD process generates renewable energy (biogas) and a product that can improve soil health (digestate).

FUNDING/AWARDS: The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity shall not exceed

$3,000,000. EPA anticipates awarding 10 to 40 cooperative agreements ranging from $50,000-

$300,000 from this announcement, subject to the availability of funds, the quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations. EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards.

CONTENTS BY SECTION:

1. Funding Opportunity Description

2. Award Information

3. Eligibility Information

4. Application and Submission Information

5. Application Review Information

6. Award Administration Information

7. Agency Contact

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

SECTION 1 – FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Background

EPA supports diversion of food waste and other organic materials from landfills. AD is an alternative to landfilling that results in environmental benefits. The goal of this funding opportunity is to increase use of AD to manage food waste. Another goal is to support the development of new AD infrastructure in the U.S.

AD is the natural process in which microorganisms break down organic materials. In this instance, “organic” means coming from or made of plants or animals. AD happens in closed spaces where there is no air (or oxygen). AD processes food waste feedstocks (e.g. food scraps, food residuals) into digestates, which may be used as soil amendments. Biogas is also produced throughout the AD process. Biogas is a renewable energy source that can be used to power engines, run alternative-fuel vehicles, and heat buildings.

The initials “AD” may refer to the process of AD or the built system where AD takes place, also known as a digester. The main categories of anaerobic digesters are stand-alone digesters, on-farm digesters, and digesters at water resources recovery facilities. All AD systems adhere to the same basic principles whether the feedstock is food waste, animal manures, or wastewater sludge. The systems may have some differences in design, but the process is basically the same.

The following materials are generally considered “organic” and can be processed in a digester:

1. Animal manure;

2. Food scraps;

3. Fats, oils, and greases;

4. Industrial organic residuals; and

5. Sewage sludge (biosolids).

EPA is interested in funding projects that increase anaerobic digestion capacity in the United States.

Such projects may include enhancements of existing infrastructure or acceleration of the development of new infrastructure. In September 2015, EPA, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA), announced a domestic goal to reduce food loss and waste by 50% by the year 2030. In addition, in fiscal years 2019 and 2020, Congress provided EPA with funds to help public entities demonstrate community AD applications to municipal solid waste streams and farm needs, such as capturing excess phosphorus.

Anaerobic digestion converts food waste into useful products (biogas, fertilizer, soil amendments). As demonstrated on EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy, anaerobic digestion allows communities to divert food waste from landfilling/incineration and supports the goals of sustainable materials management.

The term sustainable materials management refers to a systematic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their entire life cycles. Sustainable materials management (SMM) represents a change in how our society thinks about the use of natural resources and environmental protection. By looking at a product's entire life cycle, we can find new opportunities to reduce environmental impacts, conserve resources and reduce costs. For more information about EPA’s SMM program, see www.epa.gov/smm.

https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-recovery-hierarchy http://www.epa.gov/smm

B. Scope of Work

EPA is soliciting applications for a wide variety of projects that are designed to increase the use of AD for management of organic materials in the United States. It is anticipated that applications will include projects that create new AD capacity, optimize use of existing capacity, or identify strategies that otherwise result in an increase in management of organic materials through AD. EPA also recognizes and encourages applications that demonstrate effective marketing and/or sale of AD products (e.g., biogas and digestate). Such projects are beneficial to the AD industry and can therefore build the foundation for development of additional AD infrastructure.

Applications must achieve one or more of the following objectives:

• Support state, tribal, and/or local government programs that seek to use AD to increase their organic waste diversion rates.

• Demonstrate solutions and/or approaches for increasing AD utilization that can be replicated by other communities, governments, or other entities; or

• Establish new or expand existing partnerships (public/private partnerships) that result in development of AD capacity.

Applications may include (but are not limited to) projects that:

• Increase the use of AD for management of organic wastes and biogas production;

• Maximize opportunities to utilize existing un-used capacity for digestion or co-digestion;

• Promote operational innovations to AD systems and processes;

• Develop solutions to barriers that prevent AD use or development;

• Overcome barriers associated with using the biogas produced via AD;

• Present logistical solutions to optimize processing of feedstocks via AD;

• Evaluate the economic value and marketability of digestate or biogas products;

• Evaluate feasibility for co-locating an AD facility near a composting operation to process digestate into finished compost;

• Increase the overall amount of food waste or other organic waste being processed via AD;

• Create a demand for organic waste feedstocks (especially food waste);

• Develop and/or improve feedstock collection networks;

• Support development of new AD infrastructure;

• Evaluate the demand of soil amendment and biogas associated with AD;

• Evaluate or develop solutions to barriers that prevent the use of AD; or

• Increase the quality of source separated food waste collected to ensure there is a low percentage of contamination (such as packaging) in the feedstock.

Projects may include:

• Feasibility studies;

• Technology and process evaluations;

• Technical assistance, outreach and/or training to model or accelerate solutions;

• Outreach workshops;

• Improvements to the collection or quality of food waste feedstocks;

• Evaluating or developing solutions to barriers that prevent use of AD;

• Expanding processing capacity (equipment, training, improved efficiency); or

• Developing or improving feedstock collection networks.

Projects are awarded under the general authority of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA), Section

8001 (42 U.S.C. 6981), and must include in the project conducting or promoting the coordination of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, public education programs, or studies relating to solid waste.

C. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage

The activities to be funded under this announcement support EPA’s FY 2018-22 Strategic Plan.

Awards made under this announcement must support one or more of the following: Goal 1 (Core

Mission: Deliver real results to provide Americans with clean air, land, and water, and ensure chemical safety), Objective 1.1 (Improve Air Quality), Objective 1.2 (Provide for Clean and Safe Water), and

Objective 1.3 (Revitalize Land and Prevent Contamination). Specifically, the activities to be funded under this announcement will be linked to EPA’s Strategic Plan consistent with EPA’s current priorities for preventing contamination and helping communities, including local governments, to achieve goals. Applicants must explain in their applications how their project will further one or more of these objectives.

View EPA’s Strategic Plan online at: http://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.html.

D. Measuring Environmental Results: Anticipated Outputs and Outcomes

Pursuant to EPA Order 5700.7 “Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements,” EPA requires that all grant applicants and recipients adequately address environmental outputs and outcomes. Outputs and outcomes differ both in their nature and in how they are measured. Applicants must discuss environmental outputs and outcomes in the Project Narrative Proposal (see Appendix A).

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

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

● Pounds of food scraps and/or food residuals diverted from landfill and directed to

AD;

● Number of individuals, state, and local governments, and/or businesses served by education, outreach, training, technical assistance, and/or tools related to AD;

● Number of recommendations made to businesses/facilities;

● Safety guidelines or standardized operating procedures created;

● Actions or recommendations implemented or adopted by businesses/facilities;

● Types of skills and abilities achieved by training participants;

● BTUs or cubic feet of energy produced;

● Dollars saved through use of biogas produced via AD;

● Pounds of nutrients recovered and soil amendments and/or fertilizers produced;

● Total volume of biogas produced (standard cubic feet);

● Total volume of biogas used rather than flared (scf);

● Energy density of biogas produced (BTU/scf) http://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.html

Progress reports and a final report will also be a required output, as specified in Section 5.C of this announcement, “Reporting Requirement.”

2. Outcomes. The term “outcome” means the result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective. Outcomes may be qualitative and environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic in nature. Applications must include a description of anticipated project outcomes resulting from the project outputs, even if the outcome to be achieved is beyond the assistance agreement funding period. Include the quantitative target associated with the outcome, as appropriate.

Projects to be funded under this announcement must produce at least one of the following outcomes:

• Increased resources and technical assistance through education, outreach, and training to individuals and/or businesses on AD;

• Increased public and/or business understanding of AD opportunities and benefits;

• Improved capacity of businesses and/or facilities to use existing AD facility capacity;

• Increased capacity of landfill(s) as a result of organics being directed to AD facility;

• Improved quality of feedstock for existing AD facility capacity;

• Measurable improvements to environment and/or ecosystem conditions related to AD operations for air, water, and/or waste;

• Increased energy conserved or produced via AD;

• Tons of greenhouse gases reduced;

• Dollar value of biogas generated and captured for productive uses, such as in combined heat and power and renewable natural gas;

• Dollar value of digestates reused or processed;

• Dollars saved (e.g., avoided tipping fees) through waste diversion to AD.

E. Supplementary Information

The statutory authority for this action is the Solid Waste Disposal Act, section 8001(a), which authorizes the Agency to make grants to eligible applicants to support the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstration projects, surveys, public education programs, and studies relating to solid waste management.

SECTION 2 – AWARD INFORMATION

A. What is the amount of available funding?

It is anticipated that a total of approximately $3 million will be awarded under this announcement, depending on the availability of funds, quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations.

EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this solicitation, consistent with Agency policy and guidance, if additional funding becomes available after the original selections are made. Any 7 additional selections for awards will be made no later than 6 months after the original selection decisions.

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

EPA anticipates award of 10-40 cooperative agreements resulting from this announcement, subject to availability of funds and the quality of the evaluated applications received. Awards will range in value from $50,000-$300,000. Applicants may submit separate applications for one or more of the projects described in Section 1.B, Scope of Work. Applications for federal funding, for each award, may not exceed $300,000, excluding any leveraging.

The funding for selected projects will be in the form of a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement is an assistance agreement that is used when there is substantial federal involvement throughout the performance of the project. EPA awards cooperative agreements for those projects in which it expects to have substantial interaction with the recipient throughout the performance of the project. EPA will negotiate the precise terms and conditions of “substantial involvement” as part of the award process. The anticipated substantial federal involvement for these projects may include:

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

● Collaborating during performance of the scope of work;

● In accordance with 2 CFR §§ 200.317 – 200.326, review of proposed procurement;

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

● Reviewing and commenting on reports prepared under the cooperative agreement (the final decision on the content of reports rests with the recipient).

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

C. Will applications be partially funded?

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.

D. What is the project period for award(s) resulting from this solicitation?

The estimated start date for projects resulting from this solicitation is October 1, 2020. All project activities must be completed within the negotiated project performance period of two years.

SECTION 3 – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Entities

Applications will be accepted from States (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin

Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands), local, Tribal, interstate, and intrastate government agencies and instrumentalities, and non-profit organizations that are not 501(c)(4) organizations that lobby, including non-profit educational institutions and non-profit hospitals.

Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible.

B. Leveraging or Matching

No matching funds are required under this competition. Although leveraging/matching is not required as a condition of eligibility under this competition, under Section 5 of this announcement EPA will evaluate applications based on a leveraging criterion.

Leveraging is generally when an applicant proposes to provide its own additional funds/resources or those from third party sources to support or complement the project they are awarded under the competition which are above and beyond the EPA grant funds awarded. Any leveraged funds/resources, and their source, must be identified in the application (See Section 4 of the announcement).

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

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

200 as applicable.

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

Applications must meet the following threshold criteria when they submit their application.

Applications that fail to meet any one of the threshold criteria will not be considered further.

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. Applications that successfully meet the threshold criteria will then be evaluated using the criteria described in Section

5(A), Evaluation Criteria.

The threshold criteria are:

1. Applications must address the mandatory program objectives and elements described in

Section 1.B, Scope of Work, of this announcement.

2. Federal funds requested must not exceed $300,000. This excludes any leveraging.

Applications requesting assistance funding in excess of this value will not be considered.

3. Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section 4(B) of this announcement or else they will be rejected.

However, where a page limit is expressed in Section 4(D) with respect to the application, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed.

In addition, applications must be submitted through Grants.gov as specified in Section 4(B) of this announcement (except in the limited circumstances where another mode of submission is specifically allowed for as explained in Section 4(A)), on or before the application submission deadline published in Section 4(B) of this announcement. Applicants are responsible for following the submission instructions in Section 4(B) of this announcement to ensure that their application is timely submitted.

Applications submitted after the submission deadline will be considered late and deemed ineligible without further consideration unless the applicant can clearly demonstrate that it was late due to EPA mishandling or because of technical problems associated with Grants.gov or relevant SAM.gov system issues. An applicant’s failure to timely submit their application through Grants.gov because they did not timely or properly register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov will not be considered an acceptable reason to consider a late submission. Applications submitted through Grants.gov will be time and date stamped electronically. If you have not received a confirmation of receipt from EPA (not from Grants.gov) within 30 days of the application deadline, please contact Chris Carusiello at 703-308-8757 or carusiello.chris@epa.gov. Failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed.

SECTION 4 – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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

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

https://www.grants.gov/ https://sam.gov/SAM/ https://sam.gov/SAM/ mailto:carusiello.chris@epa.gov https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:OMS-ARM-OGDWaivers@epa.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 application submitted under the alternative method. In addition, any submittal through an alternative method must comply with all applicable requirements and deadlines in the announcement including the submission deadline 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 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, 2019 with a submission deadline of January 15, 2020, the applicant would need a new exception to submit through alternative methods beginning January 1, 2020.

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 7 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. Grants.gov Application Submission Instructions

The electronic submission of your application must be made by an official representative of your institution who is registered with Grants.gov and is authorized to sign applications for federal assistance. For more information on the registration requirements that must be completed in order to submit an application through Grants.gov, go to Grants.gov and click on “Applicants” on the top of the page and then go to the “Get Registered” link on the page. If your organization is not currently registered with Grants.gov, please encourage your office to designate an Authorized Organization

Representative (AOR) and ask that individual to begin the registration process as soon as possible.

Please note that the registration process also requires that your organization have a 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.

Registration on Grants.gov, SAM.gov, and DUNS number assignment is FREE.

Applicants need to ensure that the AOR who submits the application through Grants.gov and whose

Unique Entity Identifier (e.g., DUNS number) is listed on the application is an AOR for the applicant listed on the application. Additionally, the DUNS number listed on the application must be registered to the applicant organization’s SAM account. If not, the application may be deemed ineligible.

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

To begin the application process under this grant announcement, go to Grants.gov and click on

“Applicants” on the top of the page and then “Apply for Grants” from the dropdown menu and then follow the instructions accordingly. Please note: To apply through Grants.gov, you must use Adobe

Reader software and download the compatible Adobe Reader version. For more information about

Adobe Reader, to verify compatibility, or to download the free software, please visit Adobe Reader

Compatibility Information on Grants.gov.

You may also be able to access the application package for this announcement by searching for the opportunity on Grants.gov. Go to Grants.gov and then click on “Search Grants” at the top of the page and enter the Funding Opportunity Number, EPA-OLEM-ORCR-20-02, or the CFDA number that applies to the announcement (CFDA 66.808), in the appropriate field and click the Search button.

Please Note: All applications must now be submitted through Grants.gov using the “Workspace” feature. Information on the Workspace feature can be found at the Grants.gov Workspace Overview

Page.

Application Submission Deadline: Your organization’s AOR must submit your complete application package electronically to EPA through Grants.gov no later than July 14, 2020, 11:59 PM (ET). Please allow for enough time to successfully submit your application and allow for unexpected errors that may require you to resubmit.

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

Application Materials

The following forms and documents are required under this announcement:

Mandatory Documents

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

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

3. Narrative Proposal. Follow the guidance in Section 4.D and clearly describe how the proposed project meets the threshold eligibility criteria (Section 3.C) and the evaluation criteria (Section 5). The Narrative Proposal must be submitted in the format detailed in

Appendix A, Template for Narrative Proposal.

4. Budget Table and Narrative. (See Appendix B for an example.)

5. EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54

6. EPA Form 4700-4 – Pre-award Compliance Review Report https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

Optional Documents:

8. Other Attachments, if applicable

Applications submitted through grants.gov will be time and date stamped electronically. If you have not received a confirmation of receipt from EPA (not from grants.gov) within 30 days of the application deadline, please contact Chris Carusiello at 703-308-8757 or Carusiello.Chris@epa.gov.

Failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed.

C. Technical Issues with Submission

1. Once the application package has been completed, the "Submit" button should be enabled. If the

"Submit" button is not active, please call Grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726. Applicants who are outside the U.S. at the time of submittal and are not able to access the toll-free number may reach a Grants.gov representative by calling 606-545-5035. Applicants should save the completed application package with two different file names before providing it to the AOR to avoid having to re- create the package should submission problems occur or if a revised application needs to be submitted.

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

The AOR should close all other software before attempting to submit the application package.

Click the “submit” button of the application package. Your Internet browser will launch, and a sign-in page will appear. Note: Minor problems are not uncommon with transfers to

Grants.gov. It is essential to allow sufficient time to ensure that your application is submitted to Grants.gov BEFORE the due date identified in Section 4 of the solicitation. The Grants.gov support desk operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except Federal Holidays.

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

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

3. Transmission Difficulties. If transmission difficulties that result in a late transmission, no transmission, or rejection of the transmitted application are experienced, and following the above instructions do not resolve the problem so that the application is submitted to Grants.gov by the deadline date and time, follow the guidance below. The Agency will make a decision concerning acceptance of each late submission on a case-by-case basis. All emails, as described below, are to be sent to Chris Carusiello at Carusiello.Chris@epa.gov with the FON in the subject line. If you are unable to email, contact Chris Carusiello at 703-308-8757. Be aware that EPA will only consider accepting applications that were unable to transmit due to Grants.gov or relevant

SAM.gov system issues or for unforeseen exigent circumstances, such as extreme weather interfering with internet access. Failure of an applicant to submit timely because they did not properly or timely register in SAM.gov or Grants.gov is not an acceptable reason to justify acceptance of a late submittal.

mailto:Carusiello.Chris@epa.gov https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:Carusiello.Chris@epa.gov

a. If you are experiencing problems resulting in an inability to upload the application to

Grants.gov, it is essential to call Grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726 before the application deadline. Applicants who are outside the U.S. at the time of submittal and are not able to access the toll-free number may reach a Grants.gov representative by calling 606-545-

5035. Be sure to obtain a case number from Grants.gov. If the problems stem from unforeseen exigent circumstances unrelated to Grants.gov, such as extreme weather interfering with internet access, contact Chris Carusiello at 703-308-8757.

b. Unsuccessful transfer of the application package: If a successful transfer of the application cannot be accomplished even with assistance from Grants.gov due to electronic submission system issues or unforeseen exigent circumstances, and you have already attempted to resolve the issue by contacting Grants.gov, send an email message to Chris Carusiello at

Carusiello.Chris@epa.gov prior to the application deadline. The email message must document the problem and include the Grants.gov case number as well as the entire application in PDF format as an attachment.

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

PDF format.

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

D. Content of Application Submission

The following documents are required for all application packages. In addition to the mandatory documents listed in Section 4.C, all applications must contain a “Narrative Proposal,” and a “Budget

Table and Narrative.” The “Narrative Proposal,” a maximum of 11 pages in length, must explicitly describe the applicant’s proposed project and specifically address each of the evaluation criteria disclosed in Section 5(A) Evaluation Criteria, and the threshold eligibility criteria in Section 3(C).

1. Narrative Proposal. Narrative proposals must be concise, well organized, and not exceed 11 typed, single-line spaced, 8 1/2 x 11” pages, which includes the one-page Summary

Information Page. The “Summary Information Page” page, item “a” below, is included in this page limit. The Narrative Proposal must provide the information detailed in this section and include responses to all Section 3(C), Threshold Criteria; Section 5(A), Evaluation

Criteria; as well as the information identified in Section 1, Funding Opportunity

Description. Factual information about your proposed project must be provided. Do not include discussions of broad principles that are not specific to the proposed work or project covered by your application. Responses to evaluation criteria should include the criteria number and title but need not restate the entire text of the criteria. Sufficient detail must be provided to allow for an evaluation of the merits of the proposal. Vague descriptions, redundancy, and failure to address each of the evaluation criteria will result in a lower ranking.

mailto:Carusiello.Chris@epa.gov mailto:Carusiello.Chris@epa.gov

The Narrative Proposal (Sections “a” and “b” below) must be submitted in the format detailed in Appendix A, Template for Narrative Proposal. Failure to follow the required format may result in a reduction of up to 5 points under the “Project Summary and

Approach” evaluation criterion. The Narrative Proposal must substantially conform to the following outline and content:

a. The Summary Information Page (maximum of one-page) must include:

i. Project Title.

ii. Applicant Name. Identify the name of the organization submitting the application.

iii. DUNS Number. List the organization’s DUNS number.

iv. Project Summary. Briefly describe the project in one to four sentences.

v. Contact Information. Include name, title, address, email address, phone number. You can list both a primary and an administrative contact.

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

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

viii. Project Period. Provide estimated beginning and ending dates.

b. The Narrative Proposal Work-Plan should provide the information below on how the applicant will implement and conduct its project and discuss how the proposal addresses each of the evaluation criteria in Section 5 of this announcement. The Narrative Proposal

Work-Plan must include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. Description of how the project is transferable to other entities or communities.

ii. Environmental Results and Performance Measurement: Anticipated Outcomes and Outputs. Describe what success looks like for your project. Describe the qualitative or quantitative outputs and outcomes that you will track to demonstrate that your project meets your intended objectives.

Anticipated Outcomes. Specify the expected environmental outcomes including those described in Section 1.D, Measuring Environmental Results: Anticipated

Outcomes and Outputs of this announcement. Discuss how you propose to track and measure your progress towards achieving the project outcomes and results. Include quantitative targets for outcomes when applicable. (Refer to Section 5.A, Evaluation

Criteria)

Anticipated Outputs. Identify the expected project outputs, including those described in Section 1.D, Measuring Environmental Results: Anticipated Outcomes and Outputs of this announcement and describe how you will track and measure your progress towards achieving the expected project outputs. Outputs, quantitative or qualitative, must be measurable during the project performance period. Include quantitative targets for outputs when applicable.

Plan for Achieving Project Results. Describe the plan for achieving project results

(including the outcomes and outputs identified in Section 1).

Transferability. Identify how results from the project can be transferred to other communities.

iii. Programmatic Capability and Past Performance. Submit a list of federally and/or non-federally funded assistance agreements (assistance agreements include federal grants and cooperative agreements but not federal contracts) similar in size, scope, and relevance to the proposed project that your organization performed within the last three years (no more than 5 agreements, and preferably EPA agreements) and describe

(i) whether, and how, you were able to successfully complete and manage those agreements and (ii) your history of meeting the reporting requirements under those agreements including whether you adequately and timely reported on your progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes of those agreements (and if not, explain why not) and whether you submitted acceptable final technical reports under the agreements. In evaluating applicants under these factors in Section

5, EPA will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources, including information from EPA files and from current/prior grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information provided by the applicant). If you do not have any relevant or available past performance or past reporting information, please indicate this in the application and you will receive a neutral score for these factors (a neutral score is half of the total points available in a subset of possible points). If you do not provide any response for these items, you may receive a score of 0 for these factors.

In addition, provide information on your organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project, and your staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project.

iv. Leveraging. Demonstrate how you will leverage additional funds/resources beyond the grant funds awarded to support the proposed project activities and how these funds/resources will be used to contribute to the performance and success of the proposed project. This includes but is not limited to funds and other resources leveraged from businesses, labor organizations, non-profit organizations, education and training providers, and/or federal, state, tribal, and local governments, as appropriate. Describe the amount and type of leveraged resources to be provided, how you will obtain the leveraged resources, the likelihood the leveraging will materialize during grant performance, the strength of the leveraging commitment, and the role the leveraged resources will play to support the proposed project activities. Selected applicants are expected to abide by their proposed leveraging commitments during grant performance and the failure to do so may affect the legitimacy of the award.

v. Expenditure of Awarded Grant Funds. Describe your organization’s procedures, and controls for ensuring that awarded grant funds will be expended in a timely and efficient manner.

vi. Cooperative Partnerships. Identify all proposed partnerships and stakeholder groups that will be involved in the project. Describe what each group’s role will be in project staffing, funding, design and implementation. Mention the experience associated with the partners in working with the target audience (sectors, stakeholders). Please note that procurement of commercial services (e.g., consultants, audio visual equipment, meeting space) is subject to the competitive procurement provisions of 2 CFR Part

200 and Part 1500, as applicable. Naming a commercial vendor as a "partner" does not relieve the applicant of responsibility for complying with competitive procurement requirements, including cost or price analysis, or justify sole source procurement.

vii. Project Sustainability: Describe your organization’s plan to promote and continue efforts to support AD after EPA funding for this project has ended. Describe the extent to which the project supports a state or local mandate, policy, or community priority to remove food waste and organic materials from the municipal waste streams.

c. Attachments. The following documents shall be included as attachments to the narrative proposal. These documents will not count as part of the 10-page limit and do not have an individual page limitation. Attachments beyond the required attachments below will not be considered. Please provide a list of all attachments to the application.

i. Detailed Budget Narrative. Include a detailed budget narrative which clearly explains how funds will be used. (Refer to Appendix B: Example Budget Table and

Narrative). The successful applicant’s budget narrative should identify (1) specific tasks for which EPA funding will be used; (2) the costs associated with each task, (3) the costs that the applicant or other partners will fund for each task, if appropriate, and

(4) what outputs will be produced as a result of each task. (Refer to Section 1(D), Measuring Environmental Results: Anticipated Outcomes/Outputs, for a definition and examples of outputs.)

If the project budget includes any voluntary cost-share the Budget Detail portion of the project narrative must include a detailed description of how the applicant will obtain the cost-share and how the cost-share funding will be used. If EPA accepts an offer for a voluntary cost-share, applicants must meet their sharing commitment as a legal condition of receiving EPA funding. If the proposed cost-share is to be provided by a third-party, a letter of commitment is required. Any form of cost-share included in the Budget Detail must also be include on the SF-424 and SF-424A. Please see

Section 3.B if this RFA for more detailed information on cost-share.

Applicants must itemize costs related to personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual costs, other direct costs, indirect costs, and total costs.

Applicants should use the following instructions, budget object class descriptions, and example table (see Attachment 1, Budget Sample) to complete the Budget Detail section of the work plan.

1. Personnel - List all staff positions by title. Give annual salary, percentage of time assigned to the project, and total cost for the budget period. This category includes only direct costs for the salaries of those individuals who will perform work directly for the project (paid employees of the applicant organization as reflected in payroll tax records). If the applicant organization is including staff time (in-kind services), this should be included as Personnel costs.

Personnel costs do not include: (1) costs for services of contractors (including individual consultants), which are included in the “Contractual” category; (2) costs for employees of subrecipients under subawards, or non-employee program participants (e.g. interns or volunteers) which are included in the “Other” category; or (3) effort that is not directly in support of the proposed project, which may be covered by the organization’s negotiated indirect cost rate. The budget detail must identify the personnel category type by Full Time Equivalent (FTE), including percentage of FTE for part-time employees, number of personnel proposed for each category, and the estimated funding amounts.

2. Fringe Benefits - Identify the percentage used, the basis for its computation, and the types of benefits included. Fringe benefits are allowances and services provided by employers to their employees as compensation in addition to regular salaries and wages. Fringe benefits may include, but are not limited to the cost of leave, employee insurance, pensions and unemployment benefit plans. If the applicant’s fringe rate does not include the cost of leave, and the applicant intends to charge leave to the agreement, it must provide supplemental information describing its proposed method(s) for determining and equitably distributing these costs.

3. Travel - Specify the mileage, per diem, estimated number of trips in-State and out-of-State, number of travelers, and other costs for each type of travel.

Travel may be integral to the purpose of the proposed project (e.g. inspections) or related to proposed project activities (e.g. attendance at meetings). Only include travel costs for employees in the travel category. Travel costs do not include: (1) costs for travel of contractors (including individual consultants), which are included in the “Contractual” category; (2) travel costs for employees of subrecipients under subawards, and non-employee program participants (e.g.

trainees) which are included in the “Other” category. Further, travel does not include bus rentals for group trips, which would be covered under the contractual category. Finally, if the applicant intends to use any funds for travel outside the

United States, it must be specifically identified.

All proposed foreign travel must be approved by EPA’s Office of International and

Tribal Affairs prior to being taken.

4. Equipment - Identify each item to be purchased which has an estimated acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit and a useful life of more than one year. Equipment also includes accessories necessary to make the equipment operational. Consistent with SWDA 8001, research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstration projects, surveys, public education programs, and studies relating to solid waste management are eligible under this RFA. Equipment is an eligible cost for this RFA as long as it is part of a demonstration project or if there is a clear connection to how the project will increase learning and understanding of AD. Equipment does not include:

(a) equipment planned to be leased/rented, including lease/purchase agreement; or

(b) equipment service or maintenance contracts that are not included in the purchase price for the equipment. These types of proposed costs should be included in the

“Other” category. Items with a unit cost of less than $5,000 should be categorized as supplies, pursuant to 2 CFR 200.94.