[Federal Register: April 20, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 75)]
[Notices]
[Page 20543-20544]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20ap05-54]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7901-3]
Notice of Request for Proposals for Projects To Be Funded from
the Water Quality Cooperative Agreement Allocation (CFDA 66.463--Water
Quality Cooperative Agreements); Correction
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice; correction.
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SUMMARY: EPA Region 6 published in the Federal Register of March 30,
2005, a notice soliciting proposals funded from the Regional Water
Quality Cooperative Agreement allocation. This document is being issued
to add and clarify several requirements that must be included in
competitive funding announcements according to EPA Order 5700.7,
Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements. Additionally, a
clarification on how past performance will be evaluated is included.
Due to this correction notice, the deadline for submittal of all
proposals is May 31, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Mendiola by telephone at 214-
665-7144 or by e-mail at mendiola.teresita@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA Region 6 published a notice in the
Federal Register of March 30, 2005, (FR 05-6300) soliciting proposals
for projects to be funded from the Regional Water Quality Cooperative
Agreement Allocation. According to EPA Order 5700.7, all competitive
funding announcements must include (1) a concise discussion of any
expected outputs and outcomes in Section I and (2) ranking criteria for
evaluating the applicant's plan for tracking and measuring its progress
toward achieving the expected outputs and outcomes.
This correction adds a discussion of the difference between an
output and outcome which will be added to Section I and reference to
the outputs/outcomes for each priority area is added.
The language in the fourth ranking criteria of Section V regarding
the quality of the evaluation component to assess or measure the
environmental outcome(s) is corrected to reflect Order 5700.7 more
accurately. A discussion for inclusion of this plan will be added in
the Environmental Results and Outcomes Section of the proposal format.
This correction also clarifies the criteria for applicant's past
performance. Applicant's past performance will be evaluated. Therefore,
the words ``if applicable'' in the Past Performance criteria in Section
V.1. will be deleted. Applicants will have to include any information
on performance of past EPA projects similar in scope and relevance to
the proposed project under the Describe Applicant's Capability to
Perform Work: section of the proposal format. Applicants that do not
have any relevant past performance will receive a neutral score for
this factor. That means applicants will receive a possible 2.5 points
out of 5. EPA Region 6 will also evaluate this criteria based on any
existing information that is available based on past experience with
the applicant.
Due to this correction notice, the date that the proposals must be
submitted to EPA Region 6 has been extended. This extension also
extends the date that EPA will identify initial selections.
Corrections
In notice FR 03-6300 published on March 30, 2005, (FR 05-6300) make
the following corrections.
On page 16267, third column, under DATES caption, first sentence,
correct the May 16, 2005 date with May 31, 2005.
On page 16267, third column, under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, under
``Dates'' caption, first sentence, correct the May 16, 2005 date with
May 31, 2005.
On page 16267, third column, under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, under
``Dates'' caption, second sentence, correct the June 28, 2005 date with
July 14, 2005.
On page 16268, in the first column, under High Priority Areas for
Funding Consideration, second paragraph, add at the end of the second
sentence the following:
The expected outputs/outcomes are included in the threshold
eligibility criteria in Section III.3. for each priority area topic.
EPA defines ``outputs'' as an environmental activity, effort, and/
or associated work products related to an environmental goal or
objective, that will be produced or provided over a period of time or
by a specified date. Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but
must be measurable during an assistance agreement funding period.
Outcomes are defined as the result, effect, or consequence that
will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that
is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective.
Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related or
programmatic in nature, must be quantitative, and may not necessarily
[[Page 20544]]
be achievable with an assistance agreement funding period.''
On page 16269, second column, after the fourth bullet of the
``Watershed--Based Permitting'' caption, add the following:
Successful completion of the project should result in the
development of a new NPDES permitting issuance strategy that maximizes
the use of resources to achieve environmental results and better
protect entire watersheds.
On page 16269, second column, after the eighth bullet of the
``Water Quality Trading'' caption, add the following:
Successful completion of the project should result in the
development of a water quality trading process which will aid in
complying with discharge limitations while improving and preserving
water quality.
On page 16269, third column, after the first bullet of the ``Cross-
Program Training on Water Quality Modeling'' caption, add the
following:
Successful completion of this training program should
result in new avenues for Region 6 States to better coordinate
resources and investigate innovative resolutions to water quality
issues and development of TMDLs, especially at the watershed level, in
support of State and National goals to reduce impaired waters in those
States.
On page 16270, in the second column, under the proposal format, add
at the end of Environmental Results and Outcomes: the following:
``This section should also include a plan to track and measure
progress toward achieving the expected outputs and outcomes.''
On page 16270, in the second column, under the proposal format, add
at the end of Describe Applicant's Capability To Perform Work: the
following:
``This section should also include information on performance of
past EPA Region 6 projects similar in scope and relevance to the
proposed project.''
On page 16270, second column, under ``3. Submission Dates and
Times'' caption, first sentence correct the May 16, 2005 date with May
31, 2005.
On page 16270, in the third column, under Section V. Application
Review Information, 1. Criteria, fourth bullet, delete ``and the
quality of the evaluation component to assess or measure the
environmental outcome(s)'' and replace with ``including the adequacy of
the applicant's plan to track and measure progress toward achieving the
expected outputs and outcomes.''
On page 16271, first column, second bullet, delete ``if
applicable.'' under past performance criteria. Therefore, this criteria
should read ``Applicant's past performance. (5)''.
Dated: April 11, 2005.
Miguel I. Flores,
Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 05-7802 Filed 4-19-05; 8:45 am]
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