SNEP-SOAR Optional Project Narrative Template v.1.2023 (1).docx

SNEP-SOAR Optional Project Narrative Template (v.1.2023) 2024 Southeast New England Program Opportunity to Advance Resilience (SNEP-SOAR) Fund Proposal

EPA‐I-R1‐SNEP‐2024A

[Project Title] [Project Location]

Project Abstract: (250-500 words*) Briefly summarize the goals of your project

Applicant: Name of applicant, Address, and non-profit designation (if applicable) Application Point of Contact: Name and contact information of project point of contact Partner Organizations: List all project partners (if applicable) Location of Project:

Project Cost:

Grant Funding Requested:

Match/Leverage Provided (if applicable):

Total Project Cost: (Grant funding + Match and/or Leverage) NOTE: Match/Leveraging is not required.

Project Location:

Include an image of your project location using the SNEP DAC Map (Appendix A). If a project location is outside of the priority areas listed, your project is not eligible for the SNEP-SOAR Fund. Applicants must provide locational information at a scale that allows EPA to determine if it is in a DAC-area.

Background and Baseline Conditions: (500-1,000 words*) Provide detailed background information on the environmental challenges and community needs to be addressed through this funding opportunity. Why does this proposed project need to be done? Describe any available baseline data that supports the need for the proposed project (if applicable).

Project Description and Strategic Plan Linkage: (500-1000 words*) Describe the project, relation to local environmental challenges and community needs, and how the project will address goals and objectives in the SNEP Strategic Plan and the EPA Strategic Plan.

Describe anticipated project outcomes/benefits to residents in the DAC and how it will support improved resilience in the SNEP region. What do you hope to achieve as the result of your project? What will be the direct benefits to the surrounding community? How will these project benefits support community resilience to climate change?

Community Support and Involvement: (500-1000 words*) Describe how the proposed project will address an important need identified by residents in the DAC. Describe community support and/or meaningful community involvement in the proposed project Reference content in written letters of support or commitment describing how local project partners will be involved in the proposed project (if applicable). Included these signed letters as “Other Attachments" in your application.

NOTE: Letters of support are written by community members, groups, organizations, elected representatives, businesses, etc. that support the project going forward. Letters of Commitment are written by community groups/organizations that are committing to help as project partners.

Mission: (250-500 words*) Describe how the proposed project ties into the mission of the SOAR Fund

Project Benefits: (500-750 words*) Describe the anticipated project benefits to residents in the DAC and how it will support improved resilience in the SNEP region. What do you hope to achieve as the result of your project? What will be the direct benefits to the surrounding community? How will these project benefits support community resilience to climate change? How will the project lead to increased ecosystem and/or community resilience.

Project Successes, Outcomes, and Monitoring: (500-750 words*) Describe how the applicant(s) plan(s) to determine project success over time. Describe project monitoring parameters (if applicable). Describe anticipated project outputs and outcomes (see Section I.E.). Describe how project outputs and outcomes could contribute to future efforts; and/or next steps following project completion. Identify which SNEP Metrics (see Appendix D) would be most relevant to tracking the success of your project over time.

NOTE: Any proposed monitoring or the use or manipulation of secondary data will additionally require the development and approval of a Quality Assurance Project Plan before monitoring/secondary data use can begin. While it is expected that this plan will be written and approved during the project period, prospective applicants must include an appropriate timeline in their application to allow for the development, review, and approval of a QAPP. EPA QAPP reviews average approximately 60 days plus any time necessary to address the reviewer’s feedback. The development of a QAPP is an eligible expense that should be included in the applicant’s proposal. For more information on determining when/if a QAPP is required, please reference the EPA QAPP web page.

Additional resources:

· Region 1 Quality Systems Documents: https://www.epa.gov/quality/region-1-quality-systems-documents

· Agency-wide Quality Program Documents: https://www.epa.gov/quality/agency-wide-quality-program-documents Programmatic Capability and Environmental Results Past Performance: (250-500 words*) Describe the following with respect to your organization(s):

i) past performance in successfully completing and managing the assistance agreements identified in response to Section IV.A. of the solicitation,

ii) history of meeting the reporting requirements under the assistance agreements identified in response to Section IV.A. of the solicitation including whether the applicant submitted acceptable final technical reports under those agreements and the extent to which the applicant adequately and timely reported on their progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes under those agreements and if such progress was not being made whether the applicant adequately reported why not,

iii) organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project, and

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

NOTE: In evaluating applicants under items i and ii of this criterion, the Agency will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources including agency files and prior/current grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information supplied 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 subfactors (items i and ii above-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.

Cost-Effectiveness: (~250 words*) Describe the cost-effectiveness of the proposed project. Ensure that cost estimates provided are logical, appropriate, and detailed according to the work described. If applicable, be sure to identify any relevant cost saving measured that were incorporated into the project design.

Timely Expenditure of Grant Funds: (~250 words*) Describe how you will ensure that awarded grant funds will be managed effectively. How grant funds will be expended in a timely and efficient manner throughout the duration of the proposed project timeline provided.

Potential Metrics by Project Type: (Check the box corresponding to all relevant metrics to be tracked throughout the course of your proposed project) General Project Metrics (Required for All Projects)

Planning and Policy

Stormwater Management

Wastewater Management

Fertilizer and Fertigation

Permeable Reactive Barriers

Habitat Restoration

Invasive Species

Land Protection

Trash and Microplastics

Monitoring and Research

Public Use/ Access of Blue- and Greenspaces

*Word counts provided are only recommendations, not requirements