Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Infrastructure Grants

The objectives of the Post-Consumer Materials Management Infrastructure Grant Program (also known as the SWIFR Grant Program) as stated in the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act are to support improvements to local post-consumer materials management, including mu

This program supports improvements to post-consumer materials management, including municipal recycling programs, and assists local waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste management systems. Post-consumer materials management means the systems, operation, supervision, and long-term management of processes and equipment used for post-use material (including packaging, goods, products, and other materials), including - collection; transport; systems and processes related to post-use materials that can be recovered, reused, recycled, repaired, or refurbished; and safe disposal of waste that cannot be recovered, reused, recycled, repaired, or refurbished.

Eligible entities include States, Federally Recognized Indian Tribes (included Alaskan Native Corporations), territories, intertribal consortia consistent with the requirements in 40 CFR 35.504(a), former Indian reservations in Oklahoma (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior), and Alaskan Native Villages as defined in Public Law 92-203. "States" and "Territories" include the 50 US States, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Political subdivisions of the above entities are also eligible. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

Assistance may be used to implement the series of EPA's national recycling strategies; support improvements to local post-consumer materials management; and assist local waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste management systems. This program makes Federal awards on a discretionary basis. A discretionary award means an award in which the Federal awarding agency, in keeping with specific statutory authority that enables the agency to exercise judgement ("discretion"), selects the recipient and/or the amount of Federal funding awarded through a competitive process or based on merit of proposals. A discretionary award may be selected on a non-competitive basis, as appropriate." For further information, please contact the Headquarters or regional office.

Use restrictions are described in the NOFO.

Grants will normally be funded on a yearly basis. The total approved project period is generally no longer than three years but may extend up to seven years.

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. EPA financial assistance programs and activities subject to intergovernmental review that are subject to review under State single point of contact procedures are identified at https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-financial-assistance-programs-subject-executive-order-12372-and-section-204. Applicants for programs or activities subject to Intergovernmental Review that are not subject to State single point of contact review must provide directly affected State, areawide, regional, and local entities at least 60 days to review their application following notification by EPA that the application has been selected for funding as provided by 40 CFR 29.8(a) and (c). Regarding pre-application assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the NOFO. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed in the NOFO.

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing description will be described in the NOFO. Selections for non-competitive funding will be based on criteria and allocation factors described in program guidance.

For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the NOFO. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. For non-competitive awards made under this FAL, EPA will conduct an administrative evaluation to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to grant regulations and to technical and program evaluation to determine the merit and relevance of the project. The Agency will then advise the applicant if funding is being considered. A final work plan will then be negotiated with the applicant.

For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in the competitive announcement. For noncompetitive awards, contact the headquarters (or regional office, as appropriate) for application deadlines.

Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be found at https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-competition-dispute-resolution-procedures. Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable.