Rnd 8 -- DC Non-Construction FOA GR-RDC-17-006 -- FINAL.pdf

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 1

RESTORE Act Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities

U.S Department of the Treasury Office of Gulf Coast Restoration

Initial Announcement

Funding Opportunity Number: GR-RDC-17-006

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: 21.015

Key Dates: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis as long as funds are available in an applicant’s allocation. This funding opportunity announcement will close on December 11, 2017. A new funding opportunity announcement may be posted again in January 2018, as determined necessary by the Department of the Treasury.

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 2

RESTORE Act

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)

PART 1

I. Federal Awarding Agency: Office of Gulf Coast Restoration, Department of the

Treasury

II. Funding Opportunity Title: RESTORE Act Direct Component – Non-Construction

Activities

III. Announcement Type: Initial

IV. Funding Opportunity Number: GR-RDC-17-006

V. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: 21.015

VI. Key Dates: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis as long as funds are available in an applicant’s allocation. This funding opportunity announcement will close on December 11, 2017. A new funding opportunity announcement may be posted again in January 2018, as determined necessary by Treasury. Applications should be submitted at least 90 days before the requested start date of the award.

PART 2

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and

Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), Subtitle F of P.L. 112-141, the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund (Trust Fund) was established in the Treasury of the United States. Eighty percent of the civil penalties paid after

July 6, 2012, under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act in connection with the

Deepwater Horizon oil spill will be deposited into the Trust Fund and invested. The

RESTORE Act created five components through which funds will be disbursed.

Treasury is publishing multiple funding opportunity notices as part of the

RESTORE Act. This announcement applies only to the Direct Component, and is only for applications for eligible non-construction activities, including projects with or without a non-federal share for another federally funded project. This announcement also includes planning assistance needed to prepare the Multiyear

Implementation Plan (Multiyear Plan) required by the RESTORE Act. For eligible activities involving construction and/or acquisition of real property, applicants should

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 3 refer to the construction and real property acquisition funding opportunity announcement.

Trust Fund amounts are available to carry out eligible activities described in the

RESTORE Act. These are:

1. Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region.

2. Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife and natural resources.

3. Implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring.

4. Workforce development and job creation.

5. Improvements to or on State parks located in coastal areas affected by the

Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

6. Infrastructure projects benefitting the economy or ecological resources, including port infrastructure.

7. Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure.

8. Planning assistance.

9. Administrative costs.

10. Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast region, including recreational fishing.

11. Promotion of the consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast region.

Eligible activities 1 through 7 listed above must be carried out in the Gulf Coast region.

II. Federal Award Information

A. Total Funding Availability

The total funding available for eligible activities under the Direct Component will depend on the Trust Fund balance, any adjustments due to sequestration, pursuant to section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of

1985, as amended, and any adjustments due to obligations and disbursements through grants awarded to eligible recipients.

B. Award Amount

Each of the 47 eligible applicants may apply through one or more applications for its share of funds, described in Treasury regulations as a percentage of the amounts available from the Trust Fund for the Direct Component. An eligible applicant may apply for up to 100 percent of its allocation. Treasury will notify eligible applicants when revisions are made to the allocation tables, which include the amounts currently available and posted on Treasury’s RESTORE Act website

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 4 at https://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-act/Pages/home.aspx .

C. Anticipated Award Date

Treasury anticipates issuing a grant award within 60-120 days after receipt of a compliant application, depending on the complexity of the project.

D. Period of Performance

Eligible applicants may submit one or more applications, each covering a performance period (or project period) of one year up to five years. Applications for funding for the preparation of a Multiyear Plan should not exceed two years.

Applications should be submitted at least 90 days before the requested start date of the award.

E. Funding Instrument Type

Awards will be made as grants to eligible applicants.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are specified by the RESTORE Act and regulations at 31

C.F.R. Part 34. Only the following entities may apply for funding under this announcement:

1. The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council or such administrative agent as it may designate.

2. The Florida counties of Bay, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Taylor, Wakulla, and Walton.

3. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board of Louisiana through the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana.

4. The Louisiana parishes of Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St.

Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, and Vermilion.

5. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.

6. The Office of the Governor of the State of Texas, or an appointee of the

Office of the Governor.

Only the above-named entities are eligible applicants who may apply for funding.

Treasury does not make Direct Component grants directly to other entities or individuals. Interested third parties may contact their jurisdiction listed in the https://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-act/Pages/home.aspx

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 5 above paragraph to learn more about how the eligible entities select proposed activities.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

No cost sharing or matching is required. Please note that federal grant requirements apply to the entire grant award, including both the federal and the nonfederal funds.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

1. Each activity for which funding is sought under this announcement must be included in, and be consistent with, a Multiyear Plan that has been prepared and approved by the applicant and reviewed and accepted by Treasury. This requirement does not apply to applications for planning assistance funding needed to prepare the Multiyear Plan. The required fillable forms, the

RESTORE Direct Component Multiyear Plan Narrative and the RESTORE

Direct Component Matrix, as well as other instructions for completing the

Multiyear Plan, may be found under Quick Links on Treasury’s RESTORE

Act website at https://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-act/Pages/Direct%20Component/Direct-Component.aspx.

2. Each applicant must complete an Operational Self-Assessment and must update and submit the Operational Self-Assessment annually by June 30.

Annual Operational Self-Assessments must be reviewed and accepted by

Treasury before funds may be awarded for an application under this announcement. The required format and fillable form for the Operational

Self-Assessment, as well as instructions for completing it, may be found under

Quick Links on Treasury’s RESTORE Act website at https://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-act/Pages/Direct%20Component/Direct-Component.aspx

3. As part of its first application, each Louisiana parish must certify to the

Governor of Louisiana that the parish has a comprehensive land use plan and submit to Treasury a copy of a signed certification that complies with 31

C.F.R. § 34.302(f). If the parish modifies its comprehensive land use plan, the parish must submit an updated certification.

4. No application may be submitted for a proposed activity that is included in any paid out claim for compensation presented after July 6, 2012, to the Oil

Spill Liability Trust Fund.

5. Activities designed to restore or protect natural resources must be based on the best available science as defined in the RESTORE Act and Treasury final rule and clearly demonstrated in the proposed activity description See 31 C.F.R. §

34.2.

https://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-act/Pages/Direct%20Component/Direct-Component.aspx

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 6

IV. Application Preparation and Submission Information

A. Application Package

Treasury uses the GrantSolutions.gov system to manage the application submission process, and application packages will be available only through

GrantSolutions.gov at https://www.grantsolutions.gov/gs/. Only eligible applicants, as defined in Section III, and their designated contractors as appropriate will be able to register with GrantSolutions.gov. Eligible applicants must register with GrantSolutions.gov and log in using the provided account information in order to access the various funding opportunity announcements and RESTORE Act Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities application packages available under the RESTORE Act.

During the application preparation process, eligible applicants should be sure to access and complete the specific application package within GrantSolutions.gov that corresponds to the correct RESTORE Act component or activity since there are multiple funding opportunity announcements available, each having their own specific instructions, forms, and required attachments.

If you are an eligible applicant and require further information, need assistance with the GrantSolutions.gov account registration process, or if you do not have

Internet access, contact Treasury using the contact information provided below in

Section VII Federal Awarding Agency Contacts.

Information also is available under Quick Links on Treasury’s RESTORE Act website at https://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-act/Pages/Direct%20Component/Direct-Component.aspx.

B. Content and Form of Application

All applications under this FOA must be completed and submitted using the

RESTORE Act Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities application package provided by GrantSolutions.gov at https://www.grantsolutions.gov/gs.

An application must be submitted by the Authorizing Official, previously approved for enrollment and enrolled in GrantSolutions.gov.

Application packages will include the required standard forms and specific documentation required by Treasury. All standard forms are available electronically in GrantSolutions.gov. Please note that the Treasury RESTORE

Act forms have changed and are web-based forms in GrantSolutions.gov.

Applicants must complete all forms in the GrantSolutions.gov application package and the authorizing official must sign the certification electronically.

Information that is not part of a standard form or a Treasury template included in the application package can be provided as part of a separate file attachment that https://www.grantsolutions.gov/gs/ https://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-act/Pages/Direct%20Component/Direct-Component.aspx https://www.grantsolutions.gov/gs

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 7 the applicant can upload into the application package. All file attachments must be in PDF file format, unless otherwise specified in this FOA or application guidance.

Any files uploaded into the GrantSolutions.gov application package must contain a valid file format extension in the filename. Any file submitted as part of the

GrantSolutions.gov application package that is not in a PDF file format or in another format otherwise specified in this FOA, or contains password protection, will not be accepted for processing and will be excluded from the application during the review process. In addition, the use of compressed file formats such as

ZIP, RAR, or Adobe Portfolio will not be accepted. Scanned copies should not be submitted through GrantSolutions.gov unless the applicant confirms the clarity of the documents. Documents must be scanned after they are signed. Pages cannot be reduced in size resulting in multiple pages on a single sheet. All documents that do not conform to the above will be excluded from the application during the review process.

The following items are required:

1. Form SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance.

2. Form SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-construction Programs.

3. Form SF-424B, Assurances – Non-construction Programs.

4. RESTORE Act Direct Component Application Narrative. (Completion of the template in GrantSolutions.gov is required.) The applicant must:

a. Provide activity title set out in the Multiyear Plan matrix.

b. Identify the applicant organization.

c. Provide a detailed description of the proposed activity consistent with the accepted Multiyear Plan, including all funding sources, specific tasks, timeframes, and how those tasks relate to the objectives and budget of the proposed activity.

d. Identify key personnel of the applicant organization for the proposed activity. Key personnel should include individuals who contribute to the programmatic development or execution of the project or program in a substantive, measurable way, whether or not they receive salaries or compensation under the grant. At a minimum, key personnel should include the applicable applicant organization personnel who are enrolled as the Authorizing Official(s), Program Director(s) / Principal

Investigator(s), and Financial Officer(s) in GrantSolutions.gov. The

RESTORE Act Standard Terms and Conditions and Program-Specific

Terms and Conditions on Direct Component grant awards require the applicant to notify Treasury if there are any changes in these key personnel. See Quick Links on Treasury’s RESTORE Act website at https://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-act/Pages/Direct%20Component/Direct-Component.aspx.

e. If applicable, provide an explanation as to how the project is based on the best available science as defined in the RESTORE Act and Treasury final rule. See 31 C.F.R. § 34.2.

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 8

f. Provide a narrative justifying how the proposed costs within each of the budget categories on the SF-424A listed directly below are necessary, reasonable, allowable, and allocable:

i. Personnel – This refers to salaries and wages paid to employees of the applicant organization who are directly involved in grant implementation. This line item does not include personnel hired as subrecipients; those costs are included in the “Contractual” line item.

ii. Fringe Benefits – This refers to the allowances and services employers provide their employees as compensation in addition to regular salaries and wages. Fringe benefits include, but are not limited to, the costs of leave (vacation, family-related, sick, or military,) employee insurance, pensions, and unemployment benefit plans.

iii. Travel – This refers to the expenses for transportation, lodging, subsistence, and related items incurred by employees who are in travel status on official business of the non-Federal entity. Such costs may be charged on an actual cost basis, on a per diem or mileage basis in lieu of actual costs incurred, or on a combination of the two, provided the method used is applied to an entire trip and not to selected days of the trip, and results in charges consistent with those normally allowed in like circumstances in the non-Federal entity's non-federally funded activities and in accordance with the non-Federal entity's written travel reimbursement policies. This line item does not include a subrecipient’s travel expenses; those costs are included in the

“Contractual” line item.

iv. Equipment - This refers to tangible personal property (including information technology systems) having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost that equals or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the non-Federal entity for financial statement purposes, or $5,000.

v. Supplies – This refers to all tangible personal property other than equipment. A computing device is a supply if the acquisition cost is less than the lesser of the capitalization level established by the non-Federal entity for financial statement purposes or

$5,000, regardless of the length of its useful life.

vi. Contractual – This refers to purchases of property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a Federal award. It is not specific to the legal instrument used, so it may include both subawards and contracts.

vii. Construction – [not applicable]

viii. Other – This refers to direct costs that do not fit any of the aforementioned categories, such as rent for buildings used to conduct grant activities, utilities and/or leased equipment, transportation expenses, tuition for training, etc.

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 9

ix. Indirect Costs – This refers to costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective, and not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved. See

Section IV. F of this FOA for details on the three percent cap on certain indirect costs, i.e., administrative costs. Indirect costs must be supported by either a current federally approved Indirect

Cost Rate Agreement or an election to use the de minimis indirect cost rate. In accordance with 2 C.F.R §200.414(f), any non-federal entity, i.e., state government department, Florida county, or Louisiana parish, that has never received a negotiated indirect cost rate with the Federal government and receives less than $35 million in direct Federal funding per year, may elect to use a de minimis rate of 10% of Modified Total Direct Costs within their Direct Component grant. Grantees must keep the documentation of this decision on file. Applicants electing to use the de minimis rate should include in their applications a letter or other similar document, signed by their Chief Financial Officer or other senior official, stating that the state government department/county/parish:

(a) Is electing to use the de minimis indirect cost rate of

10% of Modified Total Direct Costs based on 2 C.F.R.

§200.414(f);

(b) Has never previously negotiated an indirect cost rate with the Federal government; and

(c) Receives less than $35 million in direct Federal funding per year.

g. Demonstrate that the activity will be carried out in the Gulf Coast region.

h. Provide other information requested in the RESTORE Act Direct

Component Application Narrative.

5. A letter from the applicant’s highest official designating a senior authorized official who can legally bind the entity to execute the RESTORE Act Direct

Component Applicant Certifications. A letter is not required if the applicant’s highest official executes the certifications.

6. RESTORE Act Direct Component Applicant Certifications signed by the senior authorized official. (Completion of the template in

GrantSolutions.gov is required.)

7. SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, if applicable. See 31 C.F.R.

Part 21 and the RESTORE Act Direct Component Applicant Certifications, Section E – Certification Regarding Lobbying. If applicable, the SF-LLL must be signed by the senior authorized official. Please note: If the senior authorized official is not submitting the application as the Authorizing

Official in GrantSolutions.gov, then a signed SF-LLL should be uploaded as part of the application package; otherwise, the online SF-LLL will populate

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 10 an electronic signature for whoever submits the application. (Completion of the template is required, if applicable.)

8. RESTORE Act Milestones Report. The applicant must provide the major milestones of the activity. Major milestones are discrete, high-level actions that, taken together, result in a completed eligible activity, e.g., awarding a contract, beginning planning. Columns G and H should be reserved for reporting post-award. (Completion of the template in GrantSolutions.gov is required.)

9. RESTORE Act Environmental Checklist. The applicant must identify the environmental laws that may apply to the eligible activity and the environmental documents that may be required. The applicant must include the status of all applicable Federal and state environmental compliance requirements and documentation of fulfilled requirements. Treasury approval of financial assistance is subject to compliance with applicable

Federal and state environmental requirements. (Completion of the template in GrantSolutions.gov is required.)

10. RESTORE Act Status of Performance Report. The applicant must identify one or more performance objectives and related performance measures that will be tracked throughout the period of performance. (Completion of the template in GrantSolutions.gov is required.)

11. Current federally approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or election to use the de minimis rate, if indirect costs are included in the budget. See 5g, ix, Indirect Costs, in this section for additional information.

12. A map of the study or planning area which will be affected by the project, with the boundaries of the affected area clearly delineated. Only the following file formats will be accepted for maps: PDF, GIF, JPEG, or PNG.

USGS maps are available in PDF format at http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/maps.html.

13. Documentation of all funding sources.

14. RESTORE Act Regulations at 31 C.F.R. § 34.200(b) allow eligible applicants to use funds under the Direct Component to satisfy the non-

Federal cost-share of an activity that is otherwise eligible for Direct

Component funding. Applications for funding intended to cover the non-

Federal cost-share of another federally funded activity must include the following:

a. If the other Federal agency already has approved the activity, a copy of the grant agreement or other approval document as part of this Direct

Component application.

b. If the other Federal agency has not approved the Direct Component activity, a letter of commitment from that agency or other documentation that the applicant will receive funding, along with the project description/scope of work and performance metrics.

c. If the other Federal agency has not approved the activity, a narrative describing the activity’s status and the approximate timeline for the

Federal agency to approve or decline the activity. Treasury will not award funds for the non-federal share until the other Federal agency has http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/maps.html

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 11 approved the activity and Treasury receives documentation of the approval.

15. If a proposed activity was approved by another agency prior to July 6, 2012, the application also must include the following:

a. In the Application Narrative:

i. The project description must clarify when the activity was approved, the name of the approving agency, the current status of the project, the original approved budget for the project, the amount of funds that have already been expended on the project, and the expected funds required for project completion. If any cost overruns have occurred or are expected to occur, the applicant must provide an explanation.

ii. The applicant must clearly explain how it addressed procurement, public input, and the RESTORE Act’s best available science requirement, and how its approach substantively fulfilled RESTORE Act requirements.

See 33 U.S.C. §1321(t)(1)(E).

iii. If the information requested in this application was included in the application for the earlier approving agency, the applicant may include cross-references between particular questions and responses.

b. Documentation showing that the activity was approved prior to July 6, 2012, such as a grant approval letter, other approval documentation, or meeting minutes from the governmental entity with authority to approve the project.

c. Documentation of the original budget and scope of work, e.g., approved grant application or other approval documentation.

In addition, the State of Alabama must submit with each application a certification, signed by the authorized official, that the funding request was approved in accordance with 33 U.S.C. §1321(t)(1)(F), and that Alabama is in compliance with 33 U.S.C. §1321(t)(1)(F)(i)(IV).

More information on application policies and requirements is available under

Quick Links on Treasury’s RESTORE Act website at https://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-

C. Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and System for Award Management (SAM)

1. All applicants must have a DUNS number. A DUNS number may be obtained from Dun and Bradstreet, Inc. by telephone, currently 866–705–

5711, or the Internet, currently at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. This number should be entered in the block with the applicant's name and address https://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-act/Pages/Direct%20Component/Direct-Component.aspx http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 12 on the cover page of the application, block 8c on the Form SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance. The name and address in the application should be exactly as given for the DUNS number. Applicants should obtain this DUNS number immediately to ensure all registration steps are complete prior to submitting an application.

2. All applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management

(SAM); the website for the SAM system is at https://www.sam.gov.

Registering an account with SAM is a separate process from submitting an application. Applicants are encouraged to register early. All applicants must be registered in SAM prior to submitting an application. Applicants must maintain an active registration with SAM at all times, prior to submitting an application and throughout the entire period of performance of an award. Applicants are required to renew their registration with SAM annually. Failure to renew a SAM registration prior to application submission may prevent an applicant from being eligible to receive a grant award.

Applicants must successfully register with SAM prior to registering in the

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting

System (FSRS) as a prime awardee user. Prime recipients must maintain a current registration with the SAM system, and may make subawards only to entities that have DUNS numbers. Organizations must report executive compensation as part of the registration profile at https://www.sam.gov by the end of the month following the month in which an award is made, and annually thereafter based on the reporting requirements of the Federal

Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) of 2006 (Pub. L.

109-282), as amended by section 6202 of Public Law 110-252 and implemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 170.

3. Treasury cannot make a grant award to an applicant who has not obtained a

DUNS number and does not maintain an active registration with SAM. See

2 C.F.R. Part 25.

D. Submission Dates and Times

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis as long as funds are available in an applicant’s allocation. Applications should be submitted at least 90 days before the requested start date of the award. This funding opportunity announcement will close on December 11, 2017. A new funding opportunity announcement may be posted again in January 2018, as determined necessary by

Treasury.

E. Intergovernmental Review

Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order 12372, https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 13

"Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." Please check box “C” on item

19 of the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance because Review by State under Executive Order 12372 does not apply.

F. Funding Restrictions

1. Not more than three percent of the total award amount may be used for administrative costs as defined in 31 C.F.R. § 34.2. The three percent limit does not apply to the administrative costs of subrecipients. All subrecipient costs are subject to the cost principles in Federal law and policies on grants.

See 31 C.F.R. § 34.204.

2. Pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance at 2

C.F.R. Part 200, Treasury will not allow reimbursement of costs incurred before an award is made, unless an applicant demonstrates that the costs were incurred directly pursuant to the negotiation and in anticipation of the award, and that the costs were necessary for the efficient and timely performance of the scope of work. Such costs are allowable only to the extent that they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the award and only with

Treasury's written approval. All costs incurred before the Federal awarding agency makes the Federal award are at the recipient’s risk. Any pre-award costs should be requested as part of an application under this funding opportunity announcement. The applicant must clearly describe the proposed pre-award costs in the scope of work and budget justification, and provide a compelling justification as to why Treasury should approve them. Treasury does not anticipate that any costs incurred before publication of the interim final rule on August 15, 2014 will meet these requirements. Applicants considering including pre-award costs in an application should contact

Treasury as soon as possible to discuss them.

3. Proposal costs of the current accounting period normally should be treated as indirect costs per 2 C.F.R. § 200.460. Applications including proposal costs as direct costs should provide a detailed justification as to the appropriateness for charging the proposal costs directly to the prospective award.

G. Other Submission Requirements

All applications must be submitted via the GrantSolutions.gov system, https://www.grantsolutions.gov/gs.

Documents that require a signature may be scanned and uploaded into the application package. In GrantSolutions.gov, the name of whoever submits the application automatically appears as the signature of the Authorized

Representative on the SF-424. While GrantSolutions.gov will allow anyone enrolled in the system to submit an application, Treasury requires that the

Authorizing Official, a full-time employee, submit the application. Contact

Treasury using the contact information provided below in the event of technical difficulties.

https://www.grantsolutions.gov/gs

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 14

V. Application Review Information

A. Evaluation Criteria

This is a noncompetitive grant opportunity. Each application will be evaluated for completeness and conformance with the RESTORE Act and regulations at 31

C.F.R. Part 34 and OMB Guidance. Treasury also will evaluate each applicant’s ability to administer an award successfully, using information sources such as the

Operational Self-Assessment, audits under the Single Audit Act, and OMB-designated repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information.

B. Review and Selection Process

Treasury will perform an initial eligibility review of applications as they are submitted. Treasury also will assess each application for completeness and conformance with the RESTORE Act and regulation and federal laws and policies on grants. If the application is for a project designed to restore or protect natural resources, Treasury will assess whether the applicant reasonably demonstrated that the project is based on the best available science as defined in the RESTORE

Act and Treasury’s final rule. Treasury may seek the assistance of governmental and nongovernmental subject-matter experts in its best available science review.

Applications will be selected for funding if they fulfill all application requirements and funding is available in the applicant’s Trust Fund allocation.

C. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

Successful applications will be announced and awarded on a rolling basis as they are reviewed. All awards will have a start date of the first day of the month.

D. Review of Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System

Information (FAPIIS) Data

Treasury, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS). See 41 U.S.C.

§ 2313.

Each applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through

SAM. Treasury will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of http://api.fdsys.gov/link?collection=uscode&title=41&year=mostrecent&section=2313&type=usc&link-type=html

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 15 performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.205.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

Treasury will notify applicants of application determinations via email, either directly from Treasury or via email notifications issued through the

GrantSolutions.gov system. Treasury will provide successful applicants with a

Notice of Award. Applicants will need to formally accept the award within 30 days, via the GrantSolutions.gov system, in order for the award to become legally binding. Awards must be accepted by the Authorizing Official enrolled in

GrantSolutions.gov.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Awards under this announcement are subject to the RESTORE Act, Treasury regulations at 31 C.F.R. Part 34, and federal laws and regulations concerning grants. Below is a list of requirements with which the applicant will need to comply. This is not an exhaustive list. The RESTORE Act Standard Terms and

Conditions and Program-Specific Terms and Conditions for awards under this announcement are posted under Quick Links on Treasury’s RESTORE Act website at https://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-

1. Lobbying Restrictions at 31 C.F.R. Part 21.

2. Government-wide Debarment and Suspension Requirements at 31 C.F.R.

Part 19.

3. Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace at 31 C.F.R. Part

20.

4. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act and regulations at 2

C.F.R. Part 170.

5. Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit

Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 C.F.R. Part 200 and any Treasury regulations implementing these requirements.

6. Award Term for Trafficking in Persons at 2 C.F.R. Part 175.

7. Treasury Title IX regulations at 31 C.F.R. Part 28.

8. Treasury Title VI regulations at 31 C.F.R. Part 22.

Special award conditions may be applied to an award under this announcement.

Direct Component – Non-Construction Activities Page 16

C. Reporting

Applicants who receive awards will be required to file the SF-425 Federal

Financial Report. Performance reporting also is required via the SF-PPR, the

RESTORE Act Status of Performance Report, and the RESTORE Act Milestones

Report. The RESTORE Act Status of Performance Report and the RESTORE

Act Milestones Report may be found in the application package. All financial and performance reports must be filed semi-annually via GrantSolutions.gov during the grant award’s period of performance, unless a special award condition specifies more frequent reporting. The Operational Self-Assessment form must be updated annually.

VII. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

For questions regarding this announcement, please contact the Office of Gulf Coast

Restoration at restoreact@treasury.gov or 202-622-6873.

Information also is available at Treasury’s RESTORE Act website at https://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-act/Pages/Direct%20Component/Direct-

Component.aspx.

mailto:restoreact@treasury.gov