Enhanced Aquifer Use and Recharge Program

 

The purpose of this program is to carry out groundwater research on enhanced aquifer use and recharge in support of sole source aquifers. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2023: This program will support groundwater research on enhanced aquifer use and recharge by States, units of local government, or Indian Tribes and research centers.

Active 66.522 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2023 Applications received for the EAR Grant Program - FY 23: 0. New awards for the EAR Grant Program - FY 23: 0. Clean Water Act, Section 124, 33 U.S.C. 1276 For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. States; Units of local government; and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments are eligible to apply. Profit-making firms and individuals are not eligible to apply. The State, unit of local government or Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Government who receives the award is required to make one or more subawards to, and establish a formal research relationship with, a research center. Research centers can be comprised of a single eligible subrecipient or a consortium of eligible subrecipients. Research centers are limited to public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, public and private institutions of higher education (IHEs), and nonprofit hospitals located in the U.S. and its territories or possessions; state and local governments located in the U.S. and its territories or possessions; and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments. For-profit colleges, universities, trade schools, and hospitals are ineligible. Foreign governments, international organizations, and non-governmental international organizations/institutions 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. An award recipient may provide funds through its assistance agreement from the EPA to an FFRDC for research personnel, supplies, equipment, and other expenses directly related to the research. Federal Agencies may not apply. Federal employees are not eligible to serve in a principal leadership role on an assistance agreement. Federal employees may not receive salaries or augment their Agency's appropriations through awards made under this program unless authorized by law to receive such funding. 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, 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. Public nonprofit institutions/organizations and private nonprofit institutions/organizations located in the U.S.; state and local governments; Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; Anyone/General Public, Health Professional, Education Professional, Student/Trainee, Graduate Student, Scientists/Researchers. The EPA may request that applicants demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary resources to carry out the research. EPA may ask applicants to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. EPA may also ask the lead principal investigator/contact principal investigator for information documenting past performance. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. 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. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through Grants.gov. See RFA at https://www.epa.gov/research-grants for a description of the steps for applying for assistance. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications 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 about award decisions within six months of the solicitation deadline. After being recommended for award, applicants will be required to submit additional certifications and may be requested to provide responses to comments or suggestions offered by the peer reviewers, a revised budget, and/or make appropriate 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 Agreements Management Division. Before or after award, certain applicants will be expected to provide additional quality assurance documentation. For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in the competitive announcement. Approximately 150-180 days from the close of the solicitation. 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). Not applicable. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will be described in the competitive announcement. Assistance award(s) will focus on groundwater research on enhanced aquifer use and recharge in support of sole source aquifers. 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: Geospatial Resources at EPA. Performance Reports: Performance monitoring is required under this program. Requirements and frequency of reporting will be determined at time of award. 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. Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients grants and cooperative agreements records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of final expenditure reports as required by 2 CFR 200.334. If questions, such as those raised because of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Grants are normally funded for a minimum of 3 years (over 180 days). Total approved project period may not exceed 5 years. Assistance is either fully funded (lump sum) or incrementally funded on an annual basis. EPA may incrementally fund grants and cooperative agreements under this program. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to EPA's priorities and availability of funds. Renewals and extensions of funding are not available. Applicants are encouraged to communicate with the appropriate EPA contacts listed in the solicitation. Solicitations are located at: https://www.epa.gov/research-grants. Ron Josephson, Eligibility Contact
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of Research and Development,
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004 USA
josephson.ron@epa.gov
Phone: 202-564-7823 https://www.epa.gov/research-grants 68-0103-0-1-304 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 23$4,000,000.00; FY 24 est $4,759,000.00; FY 25 est $5,000,000.00; FY 22$0.00; - Awards have not yet been made under this program. 2 CFR 1500 (EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards) and 40 CFR Part 33 (Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in United States Environmental Protection Agency Programs); 40 CFR Part 40 (EPA Research and Demonstration Grants). Fiscal Year 2023 Awards have not yet been made.