Surveys, Studies, Investigations and Special Purpose Grants within the Office of Research and Development (66.510)

 

Program

66.510 Surveys, Studies, Investigations and Special Purpose Grants within the Office of Research and Development

 

Federal Agency

OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 

Authorization

Clean Air Act, Sections 103, 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.; Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, Section 203.

 

Program Number

66.510

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

To (1) support surveys, studies and investigations and special purpose assistance to determine the environmental effects of air quality, drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances, and pesticides; and (2) identify, develop, and demonstrate and effective pollution control techniques. Competitive RFAs (requests for applications) for grants in these areas are announced widely through the Federal Register, Internet, university and scientific organizations, among other mechanisms. Although the programs identified are the formal assistance programs that ORD funds, there are periodic RFAs disseminated on other topics that are not part of the formal program. These new programs are also part of 66.510 but cannot be presently identified. Funds may be available to support activities including but not limited to experiments, surveys, studies, investigations, public education programs, and monitoring where authorized by specific statutes, in both science and engineering disciplines. Please check the Federal Register or the EPA/ORD website http://www.epa.gov/ord/htm/grantopportunity.htm for an updated listing of these programs. Funding Priority: Support surveys, studies and investigations and special purpose assistance to determine the environmental effects of air quality, drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances, and pesticides; and identify, develop, and demonstrate and effective pollution control techniques.

 

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 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 cooperative agreement applications. Contact points are shown in the RFAs. Generally, no preapplication assistance is available for grant 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, GAD3903R, 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 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 est not available; FY 03 est not available; and FY 04 est not available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

New grants and cooperative agreements range from $5,000 to $500,000 and average $100,000.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

General Grant Regulations and Procedures, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31). "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 funding 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- funded 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 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 work and a balanced ORD research portfolio. See the Web page for specific criteria.