Office of Research and Development Consolidated Research (66.511)
Program
66.511 Office of Research and Development Consolidated Research
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Authorization
Clean Air Act, Sections 103 and 104, as amended; Public Law 95-95; 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.; Clean Water Act, Section 104, as amended; Public Law 95-217; 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.; Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001, as amended; Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended; Public Law 94-580; 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.; Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442, as amended; Public Law 93- 523; Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20, as amended; Public Law 92-516; Public Laws 94-140 and 95-396; 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.; Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10, as amended; Public Law 94-469; 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Section 311, as amended; Public Law 95-510; Public Law 99-499; Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, Section 203.
Program Number
66.511
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
The Office of Research and Development supports research and engineering to determine the environmental effects of air quality, drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances, and pesticides; (2) identify, develop, and demonstrate effective pollution control techniques; and (3) perform risk assessments to characterize the potential adverse health effects of human exposures to environmental hazards. Investigator initiated grants/cooperative agreements may be funded in broad areas such as environmental chemistry and physics, environmental engineering; and health and ecological effects of pollution. Please check the Federal Register or the EPA/ORD website http://www.epa.gov/ord/htm/grantopportunity.htm for an updated listing of programs. Funding Priority: It is estimated that $50,000,000 will be allocated in the FY 03 President's budget for the Office of Research and Development. This amount excludes the STAR Program (see CFDA Number 66.509). The Office of Research and Development supports research and engineering to determine the environmental effects of air quality, drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances, and pesticides; (2) identify, develop, and demonstrate effective pollution control techniques; and (3) perform risk assessments to characterize the potential adverse health effects of human exposures to environmental hazards. This also includes funding for our building decontamination research under Homeland Security.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).
Uses and Use Restrictions
Generally, ORD does not fund unsolicited proposals. Funds awarded via grants/cooperative agreements are available for allowable direct cost expenditures incident to performance of research plus allocable portions of allowable indirect costs of the institutions, in accordance with the established policies of EPA.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
These programs are available to each State, territory and possession, and Tribal nation of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, for public and private State universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, State and local government departments, other public or private nonprofit institutions, and in some cases, individuals who have demonstrated unusually high scientific ability.
Beneficiary Eligibility
State and local governments, U.S. territories and possessions, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, nonprofit institutions and individuals.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments, OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions, and OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Discussion with the Office of Research and Development National Laboratories/Centers is advisable for research cooperative agreement applications. Contact points are shown in the RFAs. Generally, no preapplication assistance is available for research related applications. An environmental impact assessment is made by the Office of Research and Development as required by the National Environmental Protection Act. The standard application forms as furnished by the EPA and required by OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-110 must be used 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.
Application Procedure
Completed applications must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Grants Administration Division, GAD 3903R, Washington, DC 20460, or as shown in the specific RFAs, which are accessible through the EPA/ORD website at http://www.epa.gov/ord/htm/grantopportunity.htm. These programs are subject to the provisions of OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-110.
Award Procedure
Each application shall be subjected to administrative evaluation to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to grant regulations and to program evaluation; technical and extramural review determines the merit and relevance of the project to Agency programs.
Deadlines
As stated in the RFA.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
As described in 40 CFR Part 30.63, and Part 31, Subpart F.
Renewals
None. A standard grant application should be prepared and submitted as a new grant, which will be reviewed in the same manner as the original application and will compete for available funds.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants/cooperative agreements are normally funded on a 12-month basis (annual). Total approved project period may not exceed 5 years.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Annual interim progress, and final results, expenditure, equipment and invention reports.
Audits
Grants are subject to inspections and audit by representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States and EPA or any authorized representative. Federal audits will be made in accordance with the policies of OMB Circular No. A-73 to ensure that funds have been applied efficiently, economically, and effectively without waste fraud or abuse. Periodic audits by the recipient institution should be made as part of the recipient's systems of financial management and internal controls to meet terms and conditions of grants and other agreements. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non- Profit Organizations," was published in the Federal Register on June 30, 1997. The Circular implements the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996. The Circular requires nonfederal entities that expend more than $300,000 in Federal award dollars, to have an audit conducted in accordance with the Circular's provisions. With the revised Circular, the previous OMB Circular No. A-128 for single audits of State and local governments was rescinded and the single audit requirements for these entities were incorporated among the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133. Recipients that are State or local governments, institutions of higher education, or non-profit organizations shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in OMB Circular No. A-133 "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Institutions."
Records
Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate charges to each grant, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained until three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.
Program Accomplishments
Estimated awards during each year: 125 grants/cooperative agreements.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0107-0-1-304.
Obligations
FY 02 $42,500,000; FY 03 est $48,300,000; and FY 04 est $50,000,000. These amounts exclude the STAR Program (see CFDA Number 66.509) and resources directed by Congress to specific recipients.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Awards range for new grants/cooperative agreements from $75,000 to $950,000, and average $250,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
General Grant Regulations and Procedures, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31); Interim Regulations, Research and Demonstration Grants, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 40). "EPA Assistance Administration Manual," available from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 on a subscription basis and "EPA and the Academic Community, Solicitation for Grant Proposals."
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Individuals are encouraged to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog or the contact listed on the RFA.
Headquarters Office
For information on grant applications and procedures, contact Environmental Protection Agency, Grants Administration Division, 3903R, Washington, DC 20460. To obtain information via the Internet for research opportunities, see http://www.epa.gov/ord/htm/grantopportunity.htm.
Web Site Address
http://www.epa.gov/ord/htm/grantopportunity.htm
Examples of Funded Projects
For information on EPA research programs see http://www.epa.gov/ord.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
A proposal is judged for (A) scientific merit in terms of quality and originality of the proposed work, the qualifications of the investigator(s), the adequacy of the quality assurance plan, the responsiveness of the proposed research to needs identified in the RFA, the appropriateness of the proposed budget, and the probability that the project will accomplish stated objectives, and (B) program interest in terms of the need for the proposed research and a balanced ORD research portfolio. See the Web page for specific criteria.
