Funding Availability for Ensuring Environmental Justice, Human Wellbeing, and Ecosystem Recovery in Puget Sound
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About this funding opportunity
This request for funding announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible applicants that are interested in advancing environmental justice (EJ) in the restoration and recovery of Puget Sound.
The successful applicant will work closely with communities, key partners, Strategic Initiative Leads, Tribes, and others involved in the Puget Sound Management Conference – as described in the 2022 Puget Sound Action Agenda. The funding from this request for applications is intended to go towards the implementation of the goals stated in the 2022-2026 Puget Sound Action Agenda.
The overall goal of this request for applications is to advance EJ by directing resources and ultimately environmental and community benefits toward overburdened and underserved communities, or communities with EJ concerns. We also anticipate that this request for applications will support improved, longer-term integration of EJ principles into Puget Sound restoration and recovery.
The request for application’s primary objective is to establish a program of sub-awards and other support that advances EJ in the restoration and recovery of Puget Sound ecosystem and its communities. The applicant will develop and administer a program that will fund projects and activities that focus on providing environmental and community benefits.
In addition, the successful applicant will work collaboratively in the Puget Sound restoration and recovery process and provide capacity support and assistance for communities and sub-awardees.
EPA anticipates awarding up to $7 million over two years of incremental funding under this announcement. No match is required for the applicant or sub-awardees.
The successful applicant will manage a sub-award and other support program for promoting EJ and Puget Sound recovery efforts.
We strongly encourage coalitions of applicants for this funding opportunity.
We anticipate that the following three objectives are needed to achieve program goals:
- Develop and administer a competitive sub-award and other support program.
- Provide technical assistance, capacity support, and coordinate meaningful engagement.
- Manage the cooperative agreement with EPA.
Specific activities supportive of these objectives are described in the request for applications (see "How to Apply" below).
For more information about how EPA distributes money from Congress to help protect and restore Puget Sound, visit Funding and Grants for Puget Sound.
How to apply
Application packages are due no later than Friday, September 10, 2024, at 11:59pm (Eastern) in order to be considered for funding.
Visit Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-I-R10-PS-2024-001 to apply.
For questions, contact Haley Lewis ([email protected]).
Important dates
- September 10, 2024 - Applications due.
- October 2024 - Anticipated notification of selection.
- December 2024 - Anticipated award.
COVID-19 update
EPA is providing flexibilities to applicants experiencing challenges related to COVID-19. Please see the Flexibilities Available to Organizations Impacted by COVID-19 clause in section IV of EPA's Solicitation Clauses.
Frequent questions
Can you speak more to the approval process for the negotiated indirect costs? For groups that have never had an EPA grant, that process could take a long time, but how long should we expect? Could this be later than September 10?
Besides negotiating an Indirect Cost (IDC) Agreement (which can be lengthy), there is an 10% option which can be included in an application. If you choose to negotiate and submit an IDC higher than 10%, you will not be able to draw down IDC until that IDC agreement is approved. For more information, refer to the Interim General Budget Development Guidance for Applicants and Recipients of EPA Financial Assistance (pdf)(revised January 2023).
Will this opportunity will be available after this year?
In section II.A. of the request for applications (Number and Amount of Awards), the total estimated federal funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $7,000,000 in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding for the 2-year funding period. Projects periods may be up to 6 years. Incremental funding after the initial award is subject to future appropriations, satisfactory performance of work, and other applicable considerations.
Is there a default indirect rate if you do not have an agreement?
10%. For more information, refer to the Interim General Budget Development Guidance for Applicants and Recipients of EPA Financial Assistance (pdf)(revised January 2023).
What percentage could be used to administer the grant compared to what needs to pass through.
Although EPA is not specifying a percentage for each, the intent of the request for applications is to fund projects and provide support to communities. In Section I.B.C of the request for applications (Program Goals and Objectives), EPA is seeking applications where most of the funding will be provided to communities for projects and activities through sub-awards, along with funding for the applicant to assist and support the sub-awardees and to coordinate engagement with the Puget Sound Management Conference.
How soon do you think the grants will filter down to the community-based organizations after the lead agency is chosen?
In section II.B. of the request for applications (Start Date and Length of Project Period), successful applicants should plan for activities supported by this award to begin on or after January 2, 2025. From there, the lead organization will need to develop their process for making and managing sub-awards. That will take time. Depending on how fast the lead organization can implement their sub-award process, it is likely that grants will filter down to communities sometime late this year or early next year in 2025.
If a larger institution pursues this contract with smaller entities do the project partners also supply the various required government forms?
In section IV.G. of the request for applications (Coalition Coverage), groups of two or more eligible applicants may choose to form a coalition and submit a single application under this RFA; however, one entity must be responsible for the grant (and forms). Coalitions must identify which eligible organization will be the recipient of the grant and which eligible organization(s) will be subrecipients of the recipient (the “pass-through entity”). Sub-awards must be consistent with the definition of that term in 2 C.F.R. 200.1 and comply with EPA’s Subaward Policy. For more information refer to Section IV.G. in the request for applications.
Who is eligible to apply to this request for applications?
As described in Assistance Listing 66.123, eligible entities are:
- Federal and Washington State government agencies.
- Public and private institutions of higher education located in the United States.
- Units of local government organized under Washington State law and located within the Greater Puget Sound basin.
- Special purpose districts, as defined by Washington State law at RCW 36.93.020, including but not limited to, irrigation districts, and water and sewer districts that are located in or govern land and water resources within the greater Puget Sound basin; and conservation districts located in or governing land and water resources within the greater Puget Sound Basin.
- Watershed planning units formed under RCW 90.82.040 and RCW 90.82.060, local management boards organized under RCW 90.88.030, salmon recovery lead entities organized pursuant to RCW 77.85, regional fisheries enhancement groups organized pursuant to RCW 77.95.060 and Marine Resource Committees organized pursuant to RCW 36.125.010 and RCW 36.125.020 if they are located within or their jurisdictions include waters and/or lands within the greater Puget Sound basin.
- Intrastate organizations such as associations of cities, counties or conservation districts in the greater Puget Sound basin.
- Consistent with the definition of Nonprofit organization at 2 C.F.R. § 200.1, the term nonprofit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that: (1) is operated mainly for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purpose in the public interest; (2) is not organized primarily for profit; and (3) uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operation of the organization The term includes tax-exempt nonprofit neighborhood and labor organizations. Note that 2 CFR 200.1 specifically excludes Institutions of Higher Education from the definition of non-profit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation. While not considered to be a non-profit organization(s) as defined by 2 CFR 200.1, public or nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this RFA. Nonprofit organizations that are not exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code must submit other forms of documentation of nonprofit status; such as certificates of incorporation as nonprofit under state or tribal law. Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible for EPA funding as provided in the Lobbying Disclosure Act, 2 U.S.C. 1611.
- Federally recognized tribes located within the greater Puget Sound basin and any consortium of these eligible tribes.
See the Request for Applications for more information on eligibility.
If two eligible entities are applying, can they be co-applicants?
The application process requires one lead entity only and does not allow for co-applicants. However, in your workplan, you can designate other entities as partners or sub-awardees. The Puget Sound Geographic Program encourages partnerships. Please see EPA’s Subaward Policy to understand the requirements and differences between subrecipients and contractors.
What does “incremental funding” mean?
Incremental funding is the partial funding of a contract, with additional funds anticipated to be provided at a later time. EPA will provide funding for multi-year projects in smaller increments awarded each year.
What is the difference between a consultant and a contractor?
Please see EPA guidance, Interim General Budget Development Guidance for Applicants and Recipients of EPA Financial Assistance (pdf), Section VI (“Contracts”) for more information about contractors and consultants.
You have described the money that will be administered by the applicant. What are the provisions for funding the work of the applicant itself?
We anticipate that the successful applicant will need a task to manage the cooperative agreement and adaptively manage the work of the cooperative agreement with EPA. Please review that section of the request for applications. Funding can be included for managing the work of the request for applications (i.e., the work of the applicant).
Where can I find the relevant information links?
The links we shared in this webinar are available in the request for applications document.
To what extent do sub-awardees need to be identified in the application?
Sub-awardees do not need to be identified in the application. Discuss the process of how you will select sub-awardees. Making and managing sub-awards will be an anticipated task of the successful applicant to this request for applications.