[Federal Register: November 12, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 218)]
[Notices]
[Page 64251-64262]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12no03-118]
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Part III
Environmental Protection Agency
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Office of Environmental Education Solicitation Notice Environmental
Education Grants Program (CFDA 66.951) Fiscal Year 2004; Notice
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7585-7]
Office of Environmental Education: Solicitation Notice,
Environmental Education Grants Program (CFDA 66.951), Fiscal Year 2004
Contents
Section I--Overview and Deadlines
Section II--Eligible Applicants and Activities
Section III--Funding Priorities
Section IV--Requirements for Proposals and Matching Funds
Section V--Review and Selection Process
Section VI--Grantee Responsibilities
Section VII--Resource Information and Mailing List
Appendices--Federal Forms and Instructions
Section I. Overview and Deadlines
A. Overview
Subject to Congressional action to appropriate funds for EPA's
Environmental Education Grant Program, this document solicits grant
proposals from education institutions, environmental and educational
public agencies, and not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organizations to support
environmental education projects. This grants program provides
financial support for projects which design, demonstrate, or
disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques.
This program is authorized under section 6 of the National
Environmental Education Act of 1990 (the Act) (Pub. L. 101-619).
Please Note: In recent years, EPA has traditionally received
funding of approximately $3 million annually for this grant program.
At the time of issuance of this Solicitation Notice, future funding
for the program is uncertain because the federal budget for 2004 is
not yet final. However, EPA decided not to miss the annual grant
cycle by failing to issue a Solicitation Notice. Since EPA cannot
currently anticipate what the appropriation from Congress, if any,
will be, we are advising potential grant applicants to refer to our
Web site closer to the application deadline to determine the status
of funding for the program (http://www.epa.gov/enviroed). EPA reserves the
right to reject all proposals and make no awards.
This solicitation notice contains all the information and forms
necessary to prepare a proposal. If your project is selected as a
finalist after the evaluation process is concluded, EPA will provide
you with additional Federal forms needed to process your proposal.
These grants require non-federal matching funds for at least 25% of the
total cost of the project.
B. Environmental Education versus Environmental Information
Environmental Education: Increases public awareness and knowledge
about environmental issues and provides the skills to make informed
decisions and take responsible actions. It is based on objective and
scientifically sound information. It does not advocate a particular
viewpoint or course of action. It teaches individuals how to weigh
various sides of an issue through critical thinking and it enhances
their own problem-solving and decision making skills.
Environmental Information: Proposals that simply disseminate
``information'' will not be funded. These would be projects that
provide facts or opinions about environmental issues or problems, but
may not enhance critical-thinking, problem solving or decision-making
skills. Although information is an essential element of any educational
effort, environmental information is not, by itself, environmental
education.
C. Due Date and Grant Schedule
(1) Due Date--January 6, 2004 is the postmark due date for an
original proposal signed by an authorized representative plus two
copies to be mailed to EPA. Proposals mailed or sent after this date
will not be considered for funding.
(2) Rejection Letters--EPA Headquarters and the 10 Regional Offices
mail these letters at different times as determined by scheduling to
accommodate review teams. Letters are usually sent within 6 months
after submission of proposals.
(3) Start Date and Length of Projects--July 1, 2004 is the earliest
start date that applicants should plan on and enter on their
application forms and timelines. Budget periods cannot exceed one-year
for small grants of $10,000 or less. EPA prefers a one-year budget
period for larger grants, but will accept a budget period of up to two-
years, if the project timeline clarifies that more than a year is
necessary for full implementation of the project.
D. Addresses for Mailing Proposals
Proposals requesting over $25,000 in Federal environmental
education grant funds must be mailed to EPA Headquarters in Washington,
DC; proposals requesting $25,000 or less from EPA must be mailed to the
EPA Regional Office where the project takes place. The Headquarters
address and the list of Regional Office mailing addresses by state is
included at the end of this notice. Note that in some locations EPA
addresses differ for postal versus courier service.
E. Dollar Limits Per Proposal
Each year, this program generates a great deal of public enthusiasm
for developing environmental education projects. Consequently, EPA
receives many more applications for these grants than can be supported
with available funds. The competition for grants is intense, especially
at Headquarters which usually receives over 250 proposals and is
usually able to fund 10 to15 grants or about 5% of the applicants. The
EPA Regional Offices receive fewer applications and on average fund
over 30% each year.
Grants in excess of $100,000 are seldom awarded through this
program. Although the Act sets a maximum limit of $250,000 in
environmental education grant funds for any one project, because of
limited funds, EPA prefers to award smaller grants to more recipients.
In summary, you will significantly increase your chance of being funded
if your budget is competitive and you request $5,000 or less from a
Regional Office or $100,000 or less from Headquarters.
Section II. Eligible Applicants and Activities
E. Eligible Applicants
Any local education agency, state education or environmental
agency, college or university, not-for-profit organization as described
in section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or noncommercial
educational broadcasting entity may submit a proposal. Applicant
organizations must be located in the United States and the majority of
the educational activities must take place in the United States, Canada
and/or Mexico.
``Tribal education agencies'' which may also apply include a school
or community college which is controlled by an Indian tribe, band, or
nation, which is recognized as eligible for special programs and
services provided by the United States to Indians because of their
status as Indians and which is not administered by the Bureau of Indian
Affairs. Tribal organizations do not qualify unless they meet this
criteria or the not-for-profit criteria listed above. The terms for
eligibility are defined in section 3 of the Act and 40 CFR 47.105.
A teacher's school district, an educator's nonprofit organization,
or a faculty member's college or university may apply, but an
individual teacher, educator, or faculty member may not.
F. Multiple or Repeat Proposals
An organization may submit more than one proposal if the proposals
are for different projects. No organization
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will be awarded more than one grant for the same project during the
same fiscal year. Applicants who received one of these grants in the
past may submit a new proposal to expand a previously funded project or
to fund an entirely different one. Each new proposal will be evaluated
based upon the specific criteria set forth in this solicitation and in
relation to the other proposals received in this fiscal year. Due to
limited resources, EPA does not generally sustain projects beyond the
initial grant period. This grant program is geared toward providing
seed money to initiate new projects or to advance existing projects
that are ``new'' in some way, such as reaching new audiences or new
locations. If you have received a grant from this program in the past,
it is essential that you explain how your current proposal is new.
G. Restrictions on Curriculum Development
EPA strongly encourages applicants to use and disseminate existing
environmental education materials (curricula, training materials,
activity books, etc.) rather than designing new materials, because
experts indicate that a significant amount of quality educational
materials have already been developed and are under-utilized. EPA will
consider funding new materials only where the applicant demonstrates
that there is a need, e.g., that existing educational materials cannot
be adapted well to a particular local environmental concern or
audience, or existing materials are not otherwise accessible. The
applicant must specify what steps they have taken to determine this
need, e.g., you may cite a conference where this need was discussed,
the results of inquiries made within your community or with various
educational institutions, or a research paper or other published
document. Further, EPA recommends the use of a publication entitled
Environmental Education Materials: Guidelines for Excellence which was
developed in part with EPA funding. These guidelines contain
recommendations for developing and selecting quality environmental
education materials. On our Web site under ``Resources'' you may view
these guidelines and find information about ordering copies.
I. Ineligible Activities
Environmental education funds cannot be used for:
(1) Technical training of environmental management professionals;
(2) Environmental ``information'' projects that have no educational
component, as described in Section I (B);
(3) Lobbying or political activities, in accordance with OMB
Circulars A-21, A-87 and A-122;
(4) Advocacy promoting a particular point of view or course of
action;
(5) Non-educational research and development; or
(6) Construction projects-EPA will not fund construction activities
such as the acquisition of real property (e.g., buildings) or the
construction or modification of any building. EPA may, however, fund
activities such as creating a nature trail or building a bird watching
station as long as these items are an integral part of the
environmental education project, and the cost is a relatively small
percentage of the total amount of federal funds requested.
Section III. Funding Priorities
J. Educational Priorities
All proposals must satisfy the definition of ``environmental
education'' specified above in Paragraph (B) and also address one of
the following educational priorities. The order of the list is random
and does not indicate a ranking. Please read the definitions that are
included in this section to prevent your application from being
rejected for failure to correctly address a priority.
(1) Capacity Building: Increasing capacity to develop and deliver
coordinated environmental education programs across a state or across
multiple states.
(2) Education Reform: Utilizing environmental education as a
catalyst to advance state, local, or tribal education reform goals.
(3) Community Issues: Designing and implementing model projects to
educate the public about environmental issues and/or health issues in
their communities through community-based organizations or through
print, film, broadcast, or other media.
(4) Health: Educating teachers, students, parents, community
leaders, or the public about human-health threats from environmental
pollution, especially as it affects children, and how to minimize human
exposure to preserve good health.
(5) Teaching Skills: Educating teachers, faculty, or nonformal
educators about environmental issues to improve their environmental
education teaching skills, e.g., through workshops.
(6) Career Development: Educating students in formal or nonformal
settings about environmental issues to encourage environmental careers.
(7) Environmental Justice: Educating low-income or culturally-
diverse audiences about environmental issues, thereby advancing
environmental justice.
Definitions: The terms used above and in Section IV are defined as
follows:
Capacity Building is a significant EPA goal, however, many
proposals have been rejected for failure to satisfy the scope of this
definition. Read this whole paragraph carefully and please note that it
requires networking with various types of educational organizations and
statewide implementation of educational programs. If your project fails
to meet these objectives, please select another educational priority.
For purposes of this program ``Capacity Building'' refers to developing
effective leaders and organizations that design, implement, and link
environmental education programs across a state or states to promote
long-term sustainability of the programs. Coordination should involve
all major education and environmental education providers including
state education and natural resource agencies, schools and school
districts, professional education associations, and nonprofit
educational and tribal organizations. Effective efforts leverage
available resources and decrease fragmentation of effort and
duplication across programs. Examples of activities include:
identifying and assessing needs and setting priorities; identifying,
evaluating and linking programs; developing and implementing strategic
plans; identifying funding sources and resources; facilitating
communication and networking; promoting sustained professional
development; and sponsoring leadership seminars. If existing capacity
building efforts are underway in your state please explain how you will
support those efforts with your proposal. For an excellent example of a
successful project please see http://www.epa.gov/enviroed and read the grant
profile for the 1999 Ohio Environmental Education Council.
Education Reform refers to state, local, or tribal efforts to
improve student academic achievement. Where feasible, collaboration
with private sector providers of technology and equipment is
recommended. Education reform efforts often focus on changes in
curriculum, instruction, assessment or how schools are organized.
Curriculum and instructional changes may include inquiry and problem
solving, real-world learning experiences, project-based learning, team
building and group decision-making, and interdisciplinary study.
Assessment changes may include developing content and performance
standards and realigning curriculum and instruction to the new
standards
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and new assessments. School site changes may include creating magnet
schools or encouraging parental and community involvement. Note: All
proposals must identify existing educational improvement needs and
goals and discuss how the proposed project will address these needs and
goals.
Environmental issue is one of importance to the community, state,
or region being targeted by the project, e.g., one community may have
significant air pollution problems which makes teaching about human
health effects from it and solutions to air pollution important, while
rapid development in another community may threaten a nearby wildlife
habitat, thus making habitat or ecosystem protection a high priority
issue.
Environmental Justice refers to the fair treatment of people of all
races, cultures, and income with respect to the development,
implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and
policies. No racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group should bear a
disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences that
might result from the operation of industrial, municipal, and
commercial enterprises and from the execution of federal, state, local,
and tribal programs and policies.
Partnerships refers to the forming of a collaborative working
relationship between two or more organizations such as governmental
agencies, not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, and/
or the private sector. It may also refer to intra-organizational unions
such as the science and anthropology departments within a university
collaborating on a project.
Wide application refers to a project that targets a large and
diverse audience in terms of numbers or demographics; or that can serve
as a model program elsewhere.
Section IV. Requirements for Proposals and Matching Funds
K. Contents of Proposal and Scoring
In the order listed here, the proposal must contain the following:
(1) Two standard federal forms; (2) project summary sheet; (3) project
description; (4) detailed budget; (5) timeline; (6) description of
personnel; and (7) letters of commitment (if you have partner
organizations). Please follow the instructions below and do not submit
additional items. EPA must make copies of your proposal for use by
grant reviewers. Unnecessary cover letters, attachments, divider
sheets, forms or binders create a paperwork burden for the reviewers
and failure to follow instructions may lower your score.
Federal Forms: Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and
Budget Information (SF-424A): These two forms are required for all
federal grants and must be submitted on the front of your proposal. The
two forms, along with instructions specific to this program and
examples, are included at the end of this notice. On our Web site these
two forms can also be completed and printed off with your data and
dollars included. Only finalists will be asked to submit the other
federal forms necessary to process a federal grant.
Work Plan and Appendices: A work plan describes your proposed
project and your budget. Appendices establish your timeline, your
qualifications, and any partnerships with other organizations. Include
all five sections described below in the same order in which each is
listed. Correct order ensures that reviewers easily evaluate your
proposal without overlooking information. Each section is evaluated and
scored by reviewers. The highest possible score per proposal is 100
points as outlined below and in paragraph (N).
(1) Project Summary: Provide an overview of your entire project in
the following format and on one page only:
(a) Organization: Describe: (1) Your organization, and (2) list
your key partners for this grant, if applicable. Partnerships are
encouraged and considered to be a major factor in the success of
projects.
(b) Summary Statement: Provide an overview of your project that
explains the concept and your goals and objectives. This should be a
very basic explanation in layman's terms to provide a reviewer with an
understanding of the purpose and expected outcome of your educational
project. If a person unfamiliar with your project reads this paragraph
and they cannot grasp your basic concept, then you have not achieved
what is requested here.
(c) Educational Priority: Identify which priority listed in Section
III you will address, such as education reform. Proposals may address
more than one educational priority, however, EPA cautions against
losing focus on projects. Evaluation panels often select projects with
a clearly defined purpose, rather than projects that attempt to address
multiple priorities at the expense of a quality outcome.
(d) Delivery Method: Explain how you will reach your audience, such
as workshops, conferences, field trips, interactive programs, etc.
(e) Audience: Describe the demographics of your target audience
including the number and types you expect to reach, such as teachers
and/or students and specific grade levels, health care providers,
migrant workers, the general public, etc.
(f) Costs: List the types of activities on which you will spend the
EPA portion of the grant funds.
The project summary will be scored on how well you provide an
overview of your entire project using the format and topics stated
above.
Summary-Maximum Score: 10 Points
(2) Project Description: Describe precisely what your project will
achieve--why, how, when, with what, and who will benefit. Explain each
aspect of your proposal in enough detail to answer a grant reviewer's
questions. This section is intended to provide you with the flexibility
to be creative and does not require any specific format for describing
your project. However, you should address the following to ensure that
grant reviewers can fully comprehend and score your project. Address
all criteria in any sequence that best demonstrates the strengths of
your project.
This subsection will be scored on how well you design and describe
your project and how effectively your project meets the following
criteria:
(a) Why: Explain the purpose of your project and how it will
address an educational priority listed in Section III, such as
education reform or community issues. Also identify your environmental
issue, such as energy conservation, clean air, ecosystem protection, or
cross-cutting topics. Explain the importance to your community, state,
or region. Specify if the project has the potential for wide
application, and/or can serve as a model for use in other locations
with a similar audience.
(b) Who: Explain who will conduct the project; identify the target
audience and demonstrate an understanding of the needs of that
audience. Important: explain your recruitment plan to attract your
target audience; and clarify any incentives used such as stipends or
continuing education credits.
(c) How: Explain your strategy, objectives, activities, delivery
methods, and outcomes to establish for reviewers that you have
realistic goals and objectives and will use effective methods to
achieve them. Clarify for the reviewers how you will complete all basic
steps from beginning to end. Do not omit steps that lead up to or
follow the actual delivery methods, e.g., if you plan to make a
presentation about your project at a local or national conference,
specify where.
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(d) With What: Demonstrate that the project uses or produces
quality educational products or methods that teach critical-thinking,
problem-solving, and decision-making skills. (Please note restrictions
on the development of curriculum and educational materials in Section
H.)
Description-Maximum Score: 40 Points (10 points for each of (a) through
(d))
(3) Project Evaluation: Explain how you will ensure that you are
meeting the goals, objectives, outputs, and outcomes of your project.
Evaluation plans may be quantitative and/or qualitative and may
include, for example, evaluation tools, observation, or outside
consultation.
Please Note: All applicants under this grant cycle must be
willing to comply with forthcoming EPA requirements for using a pre
and post training questionnaire to determine the overall
effectiveness of this grant program. Additional information about
this requirement should be available by the summer of 2004 when
grant finalists are selected and awarded.
The project evaluation will be scored on how well your plan will:
(a) Measure the project's effectiveness; and (b) apply evaluation data
gathered during your project to strengthen it.
Evaluation-Maximum Score: 10 Points (5 Points each for (a) and (b))
(4) Budget: Clarify how EPA funds and non-federal matching funds
will be used for specific items or activities, such as personnel/
salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contract costs,
and indirect costs. Include a table which lists each major proposed
activity, and the amount of EPA funds and/or matching funds that will
be spent on each activity. Smaller grants with uncomplicated budgets
may have a table that lists only a few activities. PLEASE NOTE the
following funding restrictions:
--Indirect costs may be requested only if your organization already has
an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement in place with a Federal Agency and has
it on file, subject to audit.
--Funds for salaries and fringe benefits may be requested only for
those personnel who are directly involved in implementing the proposed
project and whose salaries and fringe benefits are directly related to
specific products or outcomes of the proposed project. EPA strongly
encourages applicants to request reasonable amounts of funding for
salaries and fringe benefits to ensure that your proposal is
competitive.
--EPA will not fund the acquisition of real property (including
buildings) or the construction or modification of any building.
Matching Funds Requirement: Non-federal matching funds of at least
25% of the total cost of the project are required, and EPA encourages
additional matching funds where possible. The match must be for an
allowable cost and may be provided by the applicant or a partner
organization or institution. The match may be provided in cash or by
in-kind contributions and other non-cash support. In-kind contributions
often include salaries or other verifiable costs and this value must be
carefully documented. In the case of salaries, applicants may use
either minimum wage or fair market value. If the match is provided by a
partner organization, the applicant is still responsible for proper
accountability and documentation. All grants are subject to Federal
audit.
Important: The matching non-federal share is a percentage of the
entire cost of the project. For example, if the 75% federal portion is
$10,000, then the entire project should, at a minimum, have a budget of
$13,333, with the recipient providing a contribution of $3,333. To
assure that your match is sufficient, simply divide the Federally
requested amount by three. Your match must be at least one-third of the
requested amount to be sufficient. For a $5,000 EPA grant your match
cannot be less than $1,667.
Other Federal Funds: You may use other Federal funds in addition to
those provided by this program, but not for activities that EPA is
funding. You may not use any federal funds to meet any part of the
required 25% match described above, unless it is specifically
authorized by statute. If you have already been awarded federal funds
for a project for which you are seeking additional support from this
program, you must indicate those funds in the budget section of the
work plan. You must also identify the project officer, agency, office,
address, phone number, and the amount of the federal funds.
This subsection will be scored on: (a) How well the budget
information clearly and accurately shows how funds will be used; (b)
whether the funding request is reasonable given the activities
proposed; and (c) whether the funding provides a good return on the
investment.
Budget-Maximum Score: 15 Points (5 points for each of (a) through (c))
(5) Appendices:
(a) Timeline--Include a ``timeline'' to link your activities to a
clear project schedule and indicate at what point over the months of
your budget period each action, event, product development, etc.
occurs.
(b) Key Personnel--Attach a one page resume for the key personnel
conducting the project. (Maximum of 3 one page resumes please.)
(c) Letters of Commitment--If the applicant organization has
partners, such as schools, state agencies, or other organizations,
include letters of commitment from partners explaining their role in
the proposed project. Do not include letters of endorsement or
recommendation or have them mailed in later; they will not be
considered in evaluating proposals.
Please do not submit other appendices or attachments such as video
tapes or sample curricula. EPA may request such items if your proposal
is among the finalists under consideration for funding.
This subsection will be scored based upon: (1) The timeline
clarifies the workplan and establishes for reviewers that the project
is well thought out and feasible as planned; (2) the qualifications and
skills of key personnel to implement the project; and (3) the type of
partnership (if any) and the extent to which a firm commitment is made
by the partner to provide services, facilities, funding, etc.
Appendices-Maximum Score: 15 Points (5 points each (a) through (c))
(6) Bonus Points: Reviewers have the flexibility to provide up to
10 bonus points for exceptional projects based on the following
criteria. (a) A maximum of 5 bonus points for: addressing an
educational priority or environmental issue well, strong partnerships,
solid recruitment plan for teachers or other target audience, creative
use of resources, innovation, or other strengths noted by the
reviewers. (b) A maximum of 5 bonus points for a well explained and
easily read proposal. Factors for points could include: clear and
concise, well organized, no unnecessary jargon, and other strengths
noted by the reviewers who evaluate and compare proposals.
Bonus Points-Maximum Score: 10 Points (5 points each for (a) and (b))
L. Page Limits
The Work Plan should not exceed 5 pages. ``One page'' refers to one
side of a single-spaced typed page. The pages must be letter sized
(8\1/2\ x 11 inches), with margins at least one-half inch wide and with
normal type size (11 or 12 font), rather than extremely small type. The
5 page limit applies to the narrative portion, i.e., the Summary,
Project Description, and Project Evaluation. The
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Detailed Budget, Timeline, and Appendices are not included in the page
limit.
M. Submission Requirements and Copies
The applicant must submit one original and two copies of the
proposal (a signed SF-424, an SF-424A, a work plan, a detailed budget,
and the appendices listed above). Do not include other attachments such
as cover letters, tables of contents, additional federal forms, divider
sheets, or appendices other than those listed above. Grant reviewers
often lower scores on proposals for failure to follow instructions.
Your pages should be sorted as listed in Section IV, with the SF-424
being the first page of your proposal and signed by a person authorized
to receive funds. Blue ink for signatures is preferred. Proposals must
be reproducible; they should not be bound. They should be stapled or
clipped once in the upper left hand corner, on white paper, and with
page numbers because many proposals get copied at one time. Mailing
addresses for submission of proposals are listed in Section IV of this
document.
Forms: If you receive this solicitation electronically and if the
standard federal forms for Application (SF-424) and Budget (SF-424A)
cannot be printed by your equipment, you may locate them the following
ways (but please read our instructions which have been modified for
this grant program): The Federal Register in which this document is
published contains the forms and is available to be copied at many
public libraries; or you may call or write the appropriate EPA office
listed at the end of this document.
Section V. Review and Selection Process
N. Proposal Review
Proposals submitted to EPA headquarters and regional offices will
be evaluated using the criteria defined here and in Section IV of this
solicitation. Proposals will be reviewed in two phases--the screening
phase and the evaluation phase. During the screening phase, proposals
will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic eligibility
requirements. Only those proposals satisfying all of the basic
requirements will enter the full evaluation phase of the review
process. During the evaluation phase, proposals will be evaluated based
upon the quality of their work plans. Reviewers conducting the
screening and evaluation phases of the review process will include EPA
officials and external environmental educators approved by EPA. At the
conclusion of the evaluation phase, the reviewers will score proposals
based upon the scoring system described in detail in Section IV. In
summary, the maximum score of 100 points can be reached as follows:
(1) Project Summary--10 Points
(2) Project Description--40 Points
(3) Project Evaluation--10 Points
(4) Budget--15 Points
(5) Appendices--15 Points
(6) Bonus Points--10 Points (Only for outstanding proposals)
O. Final Selections
After individual projects are evaluated and scored by reviewers, as
described above, EPA officials in the regions and at headquarters will
select a diverse range of finalists from the highest ranking proposals.
In making the final selections, EPA will take into account the
following:
(1) Effectiveness of collaborative activities and partnerships, as
needed to successfully implement the project;
(2) Environmental and educational importance of the activity or
product;
(3) Effectiveness of the delivery mechanism (i.e., workshop,
conference, etc.);
(4) Cost effectiveness of the proposal; and
(5) Geographic distribution of projects.
P. Notification to Applicants
Applicants will receive a confirmation that EPA has received their
proposal once EPA has received all proposals and entered them into a
computerized database, usually within two months of receipt. Usually
within six months of application, EPA will contact finalists to request
additional federal forms and other information as recommended by
reviewers.
Section VI. Grantees Responsibilities
Q. Responsible Officials
The Act requires that projects be performed by the applicant or by
a person satisfactory to the applicant and EPA. All proposals must
identify any person other than the applicant who will assist in
carrying out the project. These individuals are responsible for
receiving the grant award agreement from EPA and ensuring that all
grant conditions are satisfied. Recipients are responsible for the
successful completion of the project.
R. Incurring Costs
Grant recipients may begin incurring allowable costs on the start
date identified in the EPA grant award agreement. Activities must be
completed and funds spent within the time frames specified in the award
agreement. EPA grant funds may be used only for the purposes set forth
in the grant agreement and must conform to Federal cost principles
contained in OMB Circular A-87; A-122; and A-21, as appropriate.
Ineligible costs will be reduced from the final grant award.
S. Reports and Work Products
Specific financial, technical, and other reporting requirements
will be identified in the EPA grant award agreement. Grant recipients
must submit formal quarterly or semi-annual progress reports, as
instructed in the award agreement. Also, two copies of a final report
and two copies of all work products must be sent to the EPA project
officer within 90 days after the expiration of the budget period. This
submission will be accepted as the final requirement, unless the EPA
project officer notifies you that changes must be made.
Section VII. Resource Information and Mailing List
T. Internet: http://www.epa.gov/enviroed
Please visit our Web site where you can view and download: federal
forms, tips for developing successful grant applications, descriptions
of projects funded under this program by state, and other education
links and resource materials. The ``Excellence in EE'' series of
publications listed there includes guidelines for: developing and
evaluating educational materials; the initial preparation of
environmental educators; and using environmental education in grades K-
12 to support state and local education reform goals.
U. Other Funding
Please note that this is a very competitive grant program. Limited
funding is available and many qualified grant applications will not be
reached by EPA even though efforts will be made to secure funding from
all available sources within the Agency. If your project is not funded,
you may wish to review other available grant programs in the Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance, which is available at http://www.cfda.gov/ and in
local libraries.
V. Regulatory References
The Environmental Education Grant Program Regulations, published in
the Federal Register on March 9, 1992, provide additional information
on EPA's administration of this program (57 FR 8390; Title 40 CFR, part
47 or 40 CFR part 47). Also, EPA's general assistance regulations at 40
CFR part 31
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apply to state, local, and Indian tribal governments and 40 CFR part 30
applies to all other applicants such as nonprofit organizations.
W. Federal Procedures
(1) Pre-application assistance: None planned.
(2) Dispute Resolution Process: Procedures are in 40 CFR 30.63 and
40 CFR 31.70.
(3) Quality Assurance Project Plans are not required for
Environmental Education Grants because environmental data, if any, is
not performed by or for EPA or submitted to EPA for use.
(3) Confidential Business Information: Applicants should clearly
mark information contained in their proposal which they consider
confidential business information. EPA will make final confidentiality
decisions as specified in 40 CFR part 2, subpart B. If no such claim
accompanies a proposal when it is received by EPA, it may be made
available to the public without further notice to the applicant.
X. Mailing List for Environmental Education Grants
EPA annually creates a new mailing list for this grant program,
except that all applicants who respond to this Solicitation Notice will
automatically be put on the next list, if there is a future grant
cycle. A future cycle is contingent upon availability of funding. If
you fail to submit a proposal in response to this Solicitation Notice,
but wish to be added to the mailing list, please mail your request
along with your name, organization, address, and phone number to:
Environmental Education Grant Program (Year 2005), EPA Office of
Environmental Education (1704 A), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460.
Dated: November 5, 2003.
CeCe Kremer,
Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Public Affairs.
Mailing Addresses and Information
Applicants who need more information about this grant program or
clarification about specific requirements in this Solicitation Notice,
may contact the Environmental Education Office in Washington, D.C. for
grant requests of more than $25,000 in Federal funds or their EPA
regional office for grant requests of $25,000 or less.
U.S. EPA Headquarters--for Proposals Requesting More Than $25,000 From
EPA
Mail proposals (regular mail) to:
Environmental Education Grant Program, Office of Environmental
Education (1704 A), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460
Fed Ex, UPS or Courier to:
Office of Environmental Education (Room 1426 North), 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004
Information: Diane Berger or Sheri Jojokian (202) 564-0451
U.S. EPA REGIONAL OFFICES--For Proposals Requesting $25,000 or Less
Mail the proposal to the Regional Office where the project will
take place, rather than where the applicant is located, if these
locations are different.
EPA Region I--CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region I, Enviro Education Grants (MGM), 1 Congress
Street, suite 1100, Boston, MA 02114
Hand-deliver to:
10th Floor Mail Room, Boston MA (M-F 8 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Information:
Kristen Conroy, (617) 918-1069
EPA Region II--NJ, NY, PR, VI
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region, II, Enviro Education Grants, Grants and Contracts
Management Branch, 290 Broadway, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866
Information:
Teresa Ippolito, (212) 637-3671
EPA Region III--DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region III, Enviro Education Grants, Grants Management
Section (3PM70), 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
Information:
Bonnie Turner-Lomax (215) 814-5542
EPA Region IV--AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region IV, Enviro Education Grants, Office of Public
Affairs, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, GA 30303
Information:
Benjamin Blair, (404) 562-8321
EPA Region V--IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region V, Enviro Education Grants, Grants Management
Section (MC-10J), 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604.
Information:
Megan Gavin (312) 353-5282
Region VI--AR, LA, NM, OK, TX
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA Region VI, Enviro Education Grants (6XA), 1445 Ross
Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202
Information:
Jo Taylor, (214) 665-2204
Region VII--IA, KS, MO, NE
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region VII, Enviro Education Grants, Office of External
Programs, 901 N. 5th Street, Kansas City, KS 66101
Information:
Denise Morrison, (913) 551-7402
Region VIII--CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region VIII, Enviro Education Grants, 999 18th Street
(80C), Denver, CO 80202-2466
Information:
Christine Vigil, (303) 312-6605
Region IX--AZ, CA, HI, NV, American Samoa, Guam
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region IX, Enviro Education Grants (CGR-3), 75 Hawthorne
Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Information:
Bill Jones, (415) 947-4276
Region X--AK, ID, OR, WA
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region X, Enviro Education Grants, Public Environmental
Resource Center, 1200 Sixth Avenue (CEC-124), Seattle, WA 98101
Information:
Sally Hanft, (800) 424-4372, (206) 553-1207
Instructions for the SF 424--Application
This is a standard Federal form to be used by applicants as a
required face sheet for the Environmental Education Grants Program.
These instructions are modified for this program only and do not apply
to any other Federal program.
1. Choose ``Non-Construction''--under Application--construction
costs are unallowable.
2. Fill in date you forward application to EPA. Leave ``Applicant
Identifier'' blank as it will be a federal ID number filled in by EPA.
If you have a state ID number it goes on the line directly below.
3. State use only (if applicable) or leave blank.
4. New Requirement: All organizations making application for
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federal grant funds as of the current fiscal year must acquire a DUNS
Identification Number and enter it into the block entitled ``Federal
Identifier.'' You may acquire a DUNS number via telephone or Web site
from Dun and Bradstreet. The Web site is http://www.dnb.com and the
toll free phone number is 1-866-705-5711. This new requirement is from
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) so any questions about this
process should be directed to that Federal Agency and not to EPA.
5. Legal name of applicant organization, name of primary
organizational unit which will undertake the grant activity, complete
address of the applicant organization, and name, telephone, and FAX
number of the person to contact on matters related to this application.
You do not have to list the ``county'' as part of the address.
6. Enter Employer Identification Number (EIN) as assigned by the
Internal Revenue Service. You can obtain this number from your payroll
office. It is the same Federal Identification Number which appears on
W-2 forms. If your organization does not have a number, you may obtain
one by calling the Taxpayer Services number for the IRS.
7. Enter the appropriate letter in the space provided and if you
are a not-for-profit organization you must be categorized as a 501
(c)(3) by IRS to be eligible for this grant program..
8. Check the box marked ``new'' since all proposals must be for new
projects.
9. Enter U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
10. Enter 66.951 Environmental Education Grants Program
11. Enter a descriptive title of the project--please make it brief
and also helpful as a descriptive title to be used in press releases
and grant profiles which go onto our Web site.
12. List only the largest areas affected by the project (e.g.,
State, counties, cities).
13. Please see Section I (C) in Solicitation Notice for specifics
on project/budget periods.
14. In (a) list the Congressional District where the applicant
organization is located; and in (b) any District(s) affected by the
program or project. If your project covers many areas, several
congressional districts will be listed. If it covers the entire state,
simply put in STATEWIDE. If you are not sure about the congressional
district, call the County Voter Registration Department.
15. Amount requested or to be contributed during the funding/budget
period by each contributor. Line (a) is for the amount of money you are
requesting from EPA. Lines (b-e) are for the amounts either you or
another organization are providing for this project. Line (f) is for
any program income which you expect will be generated by this project.
Examples of program income are fees for services performed, income
generated from the sale of materials produced with the grant funds, or
admission fees to a conference financed by the grant funds. The total
of lines (b-e) must be at least 25% of line (g), because this grant
program has a matching requirement of 25% of the TOTAL ALLOWABLE
PROJECT COSTS. Divide line (a) by three to determine the smallest match
allowable for your proposal. Value of in-kind contributions should be
included on appropriate lines as applicable. For multiple program
funding, use totals and show breakdown using same categories as item
15.
16. Check (b) (NO) since this program is exempt from this
requirement.
17. This question applies to the applicant organization, not the
person who signs as the authorized representative. Categories of debt
include delinquent audit disallowances, loans and taxes.
18. The authorized representative is the person who is able to
contract or obligate your agency to the terms and conditions of the
grant. (Please sign with blue ink.) A copy of the governing body's
authorization for you to sign this application as official
representative must be on file in the applicant's office.
Instructions for the SF-424A--Budget
This is a standard Federal form used by applicants as a basic
budget. These instructions are modified for this grant program only and
do not apply to any other Federal Program.
Section A--Budget Summary--Do NOT complete--Leave blank for this
program.
Section B--Budget Categories--Complete Columns (1), (2) and (5) as
stated below.
All funds requested and contributed as a match must be listed under
the appropriate Object Class categories listed on this form. Please
round figures to the nearest dollar. Include Federal funds in column
(1); Non-Federal (matching) funds in column (2); then add sideways and
put the totals in column (5) for all categories. Many applicants will
blank lines in some Object Class Categories and no applicant should
have an entry on line 6(g) because it is an unallowable cost for this
program.
Line 6(i)--Show the totals of lines 6(a) through 6(h) in each
column.
Line 6(j)--Show the amount of indirect costs, but ONLY if your
organization already has an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement with a Federal
Agency and has it on file, subject to audit.
Line 6(k)--Enter the total of amounts of Lines 6(i) and 6(j).
Line 7--Program Income--Enter the estimated amount of income, if
any, expected to be generated from this project. Do not add or subtract
this amount from the total project amount. Describe the nature and
source of income in the detailed budget description and your planned
use of the funds.
Detailed Itemization of Costs: The proposal must also contain a
detailed budget description as specified in Section IV (K)(4) of this
Notice, and should conform to the following:
Personnel: List all participants in the project by position title.
Give the percentage of the budget period for which they will be fully
employed on the project (e.g., half-time for half the budget period
equals 25%, full-time for half the budget period equals 50%, etc.).
Give the annual salary and the total cost over the budget period for
all personnel listed.
Travel: If travel is budgeted, show destination and purpose of
travel as well as costs.
Equipment: Identify all equipment to be purchased and for what
purpose it will be used.
Supplies: If the supply budget is less than 2% of total costs, you
do not need to itemize.
Contractual: Specify the nature and cost of such services. EPA may
require review of contracts for personal services prior to their
execution to assure that all costs are reasonable and necessary to the
project.
Construction: Not allowable for this program.
Other: Specify all other costs under this category.
Indirect Costs: Provide an explanation of how indirect charges were
calculated for this project.
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[FR Doc. 03-28310 Filed 11-10-03; 8:45 am]
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