P3 Award: National Student Design Competition For Sustainability (66.516)

Program

66.516 P3 Award: National Student Design Competition For Sustainability

Federal Agency

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Research and Development

Authorization

Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001, 42 U.S.C 6981; Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10, 15 U.S.C 2609; Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442, 42 U.S.C 300j-1; Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20, 7 U.S.C 136; Clean Water Act, Section 104, 33 U.S.C 1254; National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Section 102(2)(F); Clean Air Act, Section 103, 42 U.S.C 7403.

Program Number

66.516

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

EPA offers this competition to respond to the technical needs of the developed and developing world in moving towards the goal of sustainability. P3 highlights people, prosperity, and the planet - the three pillars of sustainability - as the next step beyond P2 or pollution prevention. The P3 Award program is a partnership between the public and private sectors to progress toward sustainability by achieving the mutual goals of economic prosperity, protection of the natural systems of the planet, and providing a higher quality of life for its people.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2010: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites submissions to the P3 Award: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability. The P3 competition will provide grants to teams of college students to research, develop, and design solutions to challenges to sustainability.

The P3 Award Program is composed of two phases that award grants on a competitive basis. The first phase of the P3 Award Program is a competition for one-year grants of up to $10,000 to test scientific hypotheses and principles by developing scientific or engineering designs that will promote sustainable development. Challenges from a wide range of categories will be considered. These include: Energy (e.g., reduction in air and water emissions through innovative strategies for energy production and energy distribution, energy conservation, inherently benign energy through green chemistry, green engineering); Built Environment (e.g., green building designs, transportation and mobility strategies, or smart growth approaches that result in environmental benefits such as air emission reductions or water quality improvements); Materials and Chemicals (e.g., biomimicry, materials conservation, renewable feedstocks, materials and chemicals that are inherently benign and energy-, water- and material efficient through their full life-cycles, recovery and reuse of materials through product, process, or system design); Water (e.g., water quality, conservation, availability, and access); Agriculture (e.g., reduction or elimination of pesticides, minimizing fertilizer and nutrient runoff, productive use of agricultural wastes, water management in agriculture).

In the spring following Phase I grant awards, Phase I grantees are required to present their designs at the annual National Sustainable Design Expo on the National Mall in Washington, DC where they will have an opportunity to compete for Phase II grant awards of up to $75,000. The Phase II grant awards are to support the demonstration and further development of the sustainability designs created in the first phase of the program. The competitors for the P3 Phase II grants will be limited to those selected to receive support as a result of the Phase I competition. Additional instructions for the Phase II proposals, which will be due approximately 8 months after the Phase I grants are awarded, will be distributed to Phase I recipients following award of the Phase I grants. Those projects identified for receipt of a Phase II grant are also recognized as "P3 Award".

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Awards are made in response to an announced competitive request for applications (RFA). Funds awarded via grant agreements are available for allowable direct cost expenditures incident to the performance of research plus allocable portions of allowable indirect costs of the institutions, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov.

Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to adopt and enforce policies that ban text messaging while driving company-owned or -rented vehicles or government-owned vehicles, or while driving privately-owned vehicles when on official government business or when performing any work for or on behalf of the government. Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to conduct initiatives of the type described in section 3(a) of the Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving Executive Order that was signed on October 1, 2009.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

Public nonprofit institutions/organizations (limited to degree-granting public institutions of higher education) and private nonprofit institutions/organizations (limited to degree-granting private institutions of higher education) located in the U.S. are eligible to apply to be the recipient of a grant to support teams of undergraduate and/or graduate students. Profit-making firms are not eligible to receive assistance agreements from the EPA under this program. The students on the teams supported by the institution receiving the grant must be enrolled in the college, university, or post-secondary educational institution they will be representing at the time the proposal is submitted. Institutions are allowed to submit more than one application where each application represents a unique design concept and student team. For the purposes of grant administration, the team's faculty advisor will be designated the Principal Investigator throughout the P3 grant award and competition process. In addition to the Principal Investigator, each team selected for award will also be asked to provide contact information for a student lead.

Eligible nonprofit organizations include research institutes, corporations, or foundations that are part of a U.S. institution of higher education. However, nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible to apply.

National laboratories funded by Federal Agencies (Federally-Funded Research and Development Centers, "FFRDCs") may not apply. FFRDC employees may cooperate or collaborate with eligible applicants within the limits imposed by applicable legislation and regulations. They may participate in planning, conducting, and analyzing the research directed by the applicant, but may not direct projects on behalf of the applicant organization. The institution, organization, or governance receiving the award may provide funds through its assistance agreement from the EPA to an FFRDC for, supplies, equipment, and other expenses directly related to the research. However, salaries for permanent FFRDC employees may not be provided through this mechanism.

Federal Agencies may not apply. Federal employees are not eligible to serve in a principal leadership role on an assistance agreement, and may not receive salaries or augment their Agency's appropriations in other ways through awards made under this program.

The applicant institution may enter into an agreement with a Federal Agency to purchase or utilize unique supplies or services unavailable in the private sector to the extent authorized by law. Examples are purchase of satellite data, census data tapes, chemical reference standards, analyses, or use of instrumentation or other facilities not available elsewhere. A written justification for federal involvement must be included in the application. In addition, an appropriate form of assurance that documents the commitment, such as a letter of intent from the Federal Agency involved, should be included.

Interdisciplinary teams, including representatives from multiple engineering departments and/or departments of chemistry, architecture, industrial design, business, economics, policy, social science, and others, are strongly encouraged to submit an application through their institution.

Collaboration with colleges and universities outside the United States is permitted, but only U.S. institutions will be eligible for awards. Up to 40% of the total grant may be sub-awarded to another educational institution (domestic or foreign) as described in instructions for submitting under this competition. If foreign work will be performed, in the process of funding the grant, EPA's Office of Research and Development is required to obtain clearance from EPA's Office of International Activities and the U.S. Department of State before any funded foreign work or travel is performed.

See RFA at: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/p3/ for additional information pertaining to eligibility requirements.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Public Nonprofit Institutions/Organizations, Private Nonprofit Institutions/Organizations, Anyone/General Public, Education Professional, Student/Trainee, Graduate Student, Scientists/Researchers.

Credentials/Documentation

EPA may request that students document their affiliation with an eligible institution. The EPA may also request that applicants demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out the research. EPA may ask principal investigators for information documenting past performance. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog. When applicable, 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 Circular No. A-110 must be used for this program. Environmental impact information is not required 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

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110. Specific details on the application process is described in the solicitation which is located at: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3/. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.

Award Procedure

For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. Customarily, applicants are notified of award decisions within six months of the close of the RFA. After being recommended for award, applicants will be required to submit additional certifications and an electronic version of the revised project abstract, and may be requested to provide responses to comments or suggestions offered by the peer reviewers, a revised budget, past performance documentation, and/or make appropriate proposal revisions. EPA Project Officers will contact Principal Investigators to obtain these materials. The official notification of an award will be made by the Agency's Grants and Interagency Agreement Management Division.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 180 days.

Appeals

Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

P3 Awards will be fully funded. Project period for Phase I will normally not exceed 1 year. Project period for Phase II will normally not exceed 2 years. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Phase I Report, Phase II report, and invention reports as appropriate. No cash reports are required. Phase II awards require progress reports. No expenditure reports are required. Performance Monitoring is required under this program.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year.

Records

The record retention requirements of 40 CFR Part 30 are applicable. 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

Fiscal Year 2009: Applications received for the P3 Phase I Award: FY 09: 88; FY 10: 0. New awards for the P3 Phase I Award: FY 09: 43; FY 10: 0. Applications received for the P3 Phase II Award: FY 09: 42; FY 10: 0. New awards for the P3 Phase II Award: FY 09: 6; FY 10: 0. Abstracts of grant awards, and final summary results of the research will be available on the NCER P3 homepage: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3/past/index.html. Fiscal Year 2010: Information for FY 2010 is not yet available. Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0107-0-1-304.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 09 $1,100,000; FY 10 est $1,100,000; FY 11 est $1,100,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Phase I Awards range from $7,000 to $10,000. Average awards total $9,800. Phase II Awards range from $35,000 to $75,000. Average awards total $69,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

General Grant Regulations and Procedures, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 30) and Research and Demonstration Grant Regulations, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 40).

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Applicants are encouraged to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog or the contact listed on the solicitation. The solicitation may be found at: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3.

Headquarters Office

Cynthia Nolt-Helms, USEPA Headquarters, 1025 F Street, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20004 Email: nolt-helms.cynthia@epa.gov Phone: (202) 343-9693.

Web Site Address

http://www.epa.gov/ncer

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2009: 1. Minimize water consumption and pollution during the processing of maize (corn) into masa in a way that does not adversely affect the quality of the masa product.

2. Use chitosan coagulation as a method of eliminating the three classes of pathogens that cause waterborne diarrheal disease: viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

3. Study the feasibility of utilizing wind produced by passing vehicles on highways and converting it to electricity.

4. Improve the quality of data, knowledge of controlling mechanisms, and robustness of predictive performance models in converting wood waste into fuel ethanol.

5. Develop an affordable gasification production that can cogenerate electricity, heat and soil amendment for agricultural production.

See Web Page (http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3/past/index.html) for additional information on previously funded grants. Fiscal Year 2010: Information for FY 2010 is not yet available. Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement. See the Web page (http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3) for additional information on the evaluative criteria for this RFA.