State Capacity Building

To fulfill the mandated objectives of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986, as amended, in coordination with Agency for Toxic Su

To fulfill the mandated objectives of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986, as amended, in coordination with Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), by assisting public health agencies to build capacity to conduct (1) Health consultations, (2) public health assessments, (3) exposure investigations, (4) community involvement, (5) health education, and (6) public health studies.

Eligible applicants are the official public health agencies of States or their bona fide agents or instrumentalities, to include the District of Columbia, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Northern Marina Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, and the Federally- recognized Indian tribal governments.

Beneficiaries are individuals and/or families living in communities near or in proximity of Superfund sites.

The uses are to strengthen State health agency environmental health programs. Services include public health assessments, consultations, exposure investigations, health education, and follow-up health investigations/studies. Funds may be expended for reasonable program purposes, such as personnel, travel, supplies and services. Funds for contractual services may be requested. However, the awardee, as the direct and primary recipient of PHS grant funds, must perform a substantive role in carrying out project activities and not merely serve as a conduit for an award to another party or provide funds to an ineligible party. Equipment may be purchased with cooperative agreement funds; however, the equipment must meet applicable Federal requirements. These funds may not be used by the recipient to conduct activities at any Federal site where the State is a party to litigation at the site.

Financial assistance is provided for a 12-month budget period with a period of performance of up to five years subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory progress of the recipient.

Applications will be evaluated on the review criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcements (NOFOs). In general, the review and selection process of complete and responsive applications to the NOFO consists of determination of the scientific and technical merit by objective or peer review, availability of funds, and relevance of program priorities and the priorities of CDC.

After review and approval, a Notice of Award (NoA) will be prepared and processed, along with appropriate notification to the public. Initial awards provide funds for the first budget period (usually 12 months) and the NoA will indicate support recommended for the remainder of the project period, allocation of Federal funds by budget categories, award requirements, and special conditions, if any.

Check Grants.gov for any relevant NOFO information regarding processes for applying for assistance.

Approximately 60 to 90 days.

Cooperative agreement period of performance is 1 to 5 years. After initial awards, and subject to availability of funds, projects may be continued non-competitively contingent upon satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required reports) and the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal government.