[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51402-51412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24691]
[[Page 51401]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part III
Environmental Protection Agency
_______________________________________________________________________
Solicitation Notice; Environmental Education Grants Program
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 183 / Wednesday, September 22, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 51402]]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6441-9]
Solicitation Notice; Environmental Education Grants Program;
Fiscal Year 2000
Contents
Section I
Overview and Deadlines
Section II
Eligible Applicants and Activities
Section III
Funding Priorities
Section IV
Requirements for Proposals and Matching Funds
Section V
Review and Selection Process
Section VI
Grantees Responsibilities
Section VII
Resource Information and Mailing List
Appendices
Federal Forms and Instructions
Section I. Overview and Deadlines
A. Purpose of Solicitation
This document solicits grant proposals from education institutions,
environmental and educational public agencies, and not-for-profit
organizations to support environmental education projects, as defined
in this document. This solicitation notice contains all the information
and forms necessary to prepare a proposal. If your project is selected
as a finalist after the evaluation process is concluded, EPA will
provide you with additional Federal forms needed to process your
proposal. These grants require non-federal matching funds for at least
25% of the total cost of the project.
Please Note: EPA has a new agencywide policy in effect this year to
streamline the grant application process. Consequently, a number of
changes have been incorporated into this grant program, including
brevity in the workplans of proposals submitted to Headquarters.
The Environmental Education Grants Program provides financial
support for projects which design, demonstrate, or disseminate
environmental education practices, methods, or techniques, including
assessing environmental and ecological conditions or specific
environmental issues or problems. This program is authorized under
Section 6 of the National Environmental Education Act of 1990 (the Act)
(Public Law 101-619).
B. Environmental Education versus Environmental Information
Environmental Education
Increases public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues
and provides the skills to make informed decisions and take responsible
actions. It does not advocate a particular viewpoint or course of
action. It teaches individuals how to weigh various sides of an issue
through critical thinking and it enhances their own problem-solving
skills.
Environmental Information
Proposals that simply disseminate ``information'' will not be
funded. These would be projects that provide facts or opinions about
environmental issues or problems, but may not enhance critical-
thinking, problem solving or decision-making skills. Although
information is an essential element of any educational effort,
environmental information is not, by itself, environmental education.
C. Due Date and Grant Schedule
An original proposal signed by an authorized representative plus
one copy, must be mailed to EPA postmarked no later than November 22,
1999. Proposals postmarked after that date will not be considered for
funding. EPA expects to announce the grant awards in the early Summer
of 2000. Applicants should anticipate project start dates for next
Summer and, for planning purposes, may use July 1, 2000, as the
earliest start date.
D. Addresses for Mailing Proposals
Proposals requesting over $25,000 in Federal environmental
education grant funds must be mailed to EPA Headquarters in Washington,
DC; proposals requesting $25,000 or less must be mailed to the EPA
Regional Office where the project takes place. The Headquarters address
and the list of Regional Office mailing addresses by state is included
at the end of this notice.
E. Funding Limits Per Proposal
EPA anticipates funding of less than $3 million for this annual
grant cycle, subject to appropriations and the availability of funds.
Since implementation of this grants program in 1992, there has been a
great deal of public enthusiasm for developing environmental education
projects. Consequently, EPA has consistently received many more
applications for these grants than can be supported with available
funds. The competition for grants is intense, especially at
Headquarters which usually receives about 300 proposals and is able to
fund less than 5% of the applicants. Regional offices generally fund
about 15% of proposals seeking over $5,000 and more than 30% of
proposals for $5,000 or less.
Grants in excess of $150,000 have seldom been awarded through this
program. Although the Act sets a maximum limit of $250,000 in
environmental education grant funds for any one project, because of
limited funds, EPA prefers to award smaller grants to more recipients.
Also, Congress requires that at least 25% of available funds go to
small grants of $5,000 or less. In summary, you will significantly
increase your chance of being funded if you request $5,000 or less from
a Regional Office or $100,000 or less from Headquarters.
Section II. Eligible Applicants and Activities
F. Eligible Applicants
Any local education agency, state education or environmental
agency, college or university, not-for-profit organization as described
in section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or noncommercial
educational broadcasting entity may submit a proposal. ``Tribal
education agencies'' which may also apply include a school or community
college which is controlled by an Indian tribe, band, or nation, which
is recognized as eligible for special programs and services provided by
the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians and
which is not administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. These terms
are defined in section 3 of the Act and 40 CFR 47.105.
Applicant organizations must be located in the United States and
the majority of the educational activities must take place in the
United States, Canada and/or Mexico. A teacher's school district, an
educator's nonprofit organization, or a faculty member's college or
university may apply, but an individual teacher, educator, or faculty
member may not. Tribal organizations also do not qualify unless they
meet the criteria listed above.
G. Multiple or Repeat Proposals
An organization may submit more than one proposal if the proposals
are for different projects. No organization will be awarded more than
one grant for the same project during the same fiscal year. Applicants
who received one of these grants in the past may submit a new proposal
to expand a previously funded project or to fund an entirely different
one. Each new proposal will be
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evaluated based upon the specific criteria set forth in this
solicitation and in relation to the other proposals received in this
fiscal year. Due to limited resources, EPA does not generally sustain
projects beyond the initial grant period. This grant program is geared
toward providing seed money to initiate new projects or to advance
existing projects that are ``new'' in some way, such as reaching new
audiences or new locations. If you have received a grant from this
program in the past, it is essential that you explain how your current
proposal is ``new.''
H. Restrictions on Curriculum Development
EPA strongly encourages applicants to demonstrate or disseminate
existing environmental education materials (curricula, training
materials, activity books, etc.) rather than designing new materials,
because experts indicate that a significant amount of quality
educational materials have already been developed and are under-
utilized. EPA will consider funding new materials only where the
applicant demonstrates that there is a need, e.g., that existing
educational materials cannot be adapted well to a particular local
environmental concern or audience, or existing materials are not
otherwise accessible. The applicant must specify what steps they have
taken to determine this need, e.g., you may cite a conference where
this need was discussed, the results of inquiries made within your
community or with various educational institutions, or a research paper
or other published document. Further, EPA recommends the use of a
publication entitled Environmental Education Materials: Guidelines for
Excellence which was developed in part with EPA funding. These
guidelines contain recommendations for developing and selecting quality
environmental education materials. Please visit our website at
``www.epa.gov/enviroed/resources.html'' for viewing these guidelines
and for information about ordering copies.
I. Ineligible Activities
Environmental education funds cannot be used for:
1. Technical training of environmental management professionals;
2. Non-educational research and development;
3. Environmental ``information'' projects that have no educational
component, as described in section I(B); and/or
4. Construction projects--EPA will not fund construction activities
such as the acquisition of real property (e.g., buildings) or the
construction or modification of any building. EPA may, however, fund
activities such as creating a nature trail or building a bird watching
station as long as these items are an integral part of the
environmental education project, and the cost is a relatively small
percentage of the total amount of federal funds requested.
Section III. Funding Priorities
J. Educational Priorities
All proposals must satisfy the definition of ``environmental
education'' under Section I(B) and also address one of the following
educational priorities. Headquarters will fund the proposals for larger
grants (over $25,000 in Federal funds) that address any of the top
three categories listed below; and regional offices will fund grants in
any of seven categories listed below. The order of the list is random
and does not indicate a ranking. Please read the definitions that are
included in this section to prevent your application from being
rejected for failure to correctly address a priority, especially
``Capacity Building'' which has been completely redefined this year.
Headquarters Priorities (Federal funds in excess of $25,000)
(1) Capacity Building: Increasing capacity to develop and deliver
coordinated environmental education programs across a state or across
multiple states.
(2) Education Reform: Utilizing environmental education as a
catalyst to advance state, local, or tribal education reform goals.
(3) Community Issues: Designing and implementing model projects to
educate the public about environmental issues and/or health issues in
their communities through community-based organizations or through
print, film, broadcast, or other media.
Regional Office Priorities ($25,000 or less in Federal funds)
(1-3) All of the Above.
(4) Health: Educating teachers, students, parents, community
leaders, or the public about human-health threats from environmental
pollution, especially as it affects children.
(5) Teaching Skills: Educating teachers, faculty, or nonformal
educators about environmental issues to improve their environmental
education teaching skills, e.g., through workshops.
(6) Career Development: Educating students in formal or nonformal
settings about environmental issues to encourage environmental careers.
(7) Environmental Justice: Educating low-income or culturally-
diverse audiences about environmental issues, thereby advancing
environmental justice.
Definitions
The terms used above and in section IV are defined as follows:
Wide application pertains to a project that targets a large and
diverse audience in terms of numbers or demographics; or that can serve
as a model program elsewhere.
Environmental issue is one of importance to the community, state,
or region being targeted by the project, e.g., one community may have
significant air pollution problems which makes teaching about human
health effects from it and solutions to air pollution important, while
rapid development in another community may threaten a nearby wildlife
habitat, thus making habitat or ecosystem protection a high priority
issue.
Partnerships refers to the forming of a collaborative working
relationship between two or more organizations such as governmental
agencies, not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, and/
or the private sector. It may also refer to intra-organizational unions
such as the science and art departments within a university
collaborating on a project.
Capacity Building refers to developing effective leaders and
organizations that design, implement, and link environmental education
programs across a state or states to promote long-term sustainability
of the programs. Effective efforts address both leadership and
organizational needs, as well as coordination to decrease fragmentation
of effort and duplication across programs. Coordination should involve
all major education and environmental education providers (e.g., state
education and natural resource agencies, tribal education agencies,
schools and school districts, professional education associations, and
nonprofit education and environmental education organizations).
Examples of capacity building activities include identifying and
assessing needs and setting priorities; identifying, evaluating and
linking programs; developing and implementing strategic plans;
identifying funding sources and resources; facilitating communication
and networking; promoting sustained professional development; and
sponsoring leadership seminars. For purposes of this definition, States
and tribal lands are equivalent and thus capacity building can take
place ``across'' either or both.
Note: Proposals must identify existing capacity building
efforts, if any, and discuss
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how the proposed project will support these efforts.
Education Reform refers to state, local, or tribal efforts to
improve student academic achievement. Where feasible, collaboration
with private sector providers of technology and equipment is
recommended. Education reform efforts often focus on changes in
curriculum, instruction, assessment or how schools are organized.
Curriculum and instructional changes may include inquiry and problem
solving, real-world learning experiences, project-based learning, team
building and group decision-making, and interdisciplinary study.
Assessment changes may include developing content and performance
standards and realigning curriculum and instruction to the new
standards and new assessments. School site changes may include creating
magnet schools or encouraging parental and community involvement.
Note: All proposals must identify existing educational
improvement needs and goals and discuss how the proposed project
will address these needs and goals.
Human health threats from environmental pollution as used here is
intended to address recommended actions stated in EPA's ``National
Agenda to Protect Children's Health from Environmental Threats.'' The
agenda reads as follows: ``An informed, involved local community does a
better job of making environmental decisions than a distant
bureaucracy--and never more so than when it comes to our children.
Parents, teachers and community leaders can and should play a vital,
day-to-day role in learning about the particular environmental hazards
their children face in their own communities, and then use that
knowledge to make more informed decisions that prevent environmental
health problems and protect children.'' Therefore, EPA encourages
environmental education projects to educate the public about
environmental hazards and how to minimize human exposure to preserve
good health.
Environmental Justice refers to EPA's goal to encourage applicants
to submit proposals that include efforts to target low-income and
culturally-diverse populations, thereby promoting environmental
justice. The term environmental justice refers to the fair treatment of
people of all races, cultures, and income with respect to the
development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws,
regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no racial, ethnic,
or socioeconomic group should bear a disproportionate share of the
negative environmental consequences that might result from the
operation of industrial, municipal, and commercial enterprises and from
the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and
policies. An example would be an education project directed at an
environmental problem with a disproportionately high and adverse human
health or environmental impact on a low-income or culturally-diverse
community.
Section IV. Requirements for Proposals and Matching Funds
K. Contents of Proposal and Scoring
The proposal must contain two standard federal forms, a work plan
with budget, and appendices, as described below. Please follow
instructions and do not submit additional items.
Federal Forms
Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and Budget Information
(SF-424A): The SF-424 and SF-424A are required for all federal grants
and must be submitted as part of your proposal. These two forms, along
with instructions and samples, are included at the end of this notice.
Only finalists will be asked to submit additional federal forms needed
to process their proposal. EPA will make copies of your proposal for
use by grant reviewers. Unnecessary forms create a paperwork burden for
the reviewers.
Work Plan and Appendices
A work plan describes your proposed project, and your appendices,
establishes your timeline, your qualifications, and your partnerships
with other organizations, where applicable. Include all five sections
described below which will be evaluated and scored by reviewers. The
total number of points possible for each proposal is 100. Each of the
following five sections of the work plan are assigned points which add
up to 90. Reviewers will be given the flexibility to provide up to 10
bonus points for exceptional projects based upon the overall quality of
the proposal, evidence that educational priorities will be effectively
advanced by the project, and that it will provide a good return on the
investment. Examples of factors for bonus points include strong
partnerships, creative use of resources, innovation, and sustainability
of the project.
(1) Project Summary: Provide the following overview of your entire
project in this format and on one page only:
(a) Organization: Describe: (1) Your organization, and (2) list
your key partners for this grant, if applicable. Partnerships are
encouraged and considered to be a major factor in the success of
projects.
(b) Summary Statement: Provide an overview of your project that
explains the concept and your goals and objectives. This should be a
very basic explanation in layman's terms to provide a reviewer with an
understanding of the purpose and expected outcome of your educational
project.
(c) Educational Priority: Identify which priority listed in section
III you will address, such as education reform. Proposals may address
several educational priorities, however, EPA cautions against losing
focus on projects. Evaluation panels often select projects with a
clearly defined purpose, rather than projects that attempt to address
multiple priorities at the expense of a quality outcome.
(d) Delivery Method: Explain how you will reach your audience, such
as workshops, conferences, interactive programs, etc.
(e) Audience: Describe the demographics of your target audience
including the number and types you expect to reach, such as, teachers,
students, specific grade levels, ethnic composition, members of the
general public, etc.
(f) Costs: List the types of activities for which the EPA portion
of grant funds will be spent.
The project summary will be scored on how well you provide an
overview of your entire project using the topics stated above.
Project Summary Maximum Score: 10 points
(2) Project Description: Describe precisely what your project will
achieve--why, how, when, with what, and who will benefit. Explain each
aspect of your proposal in enough detail to answer a grant reviewer's
questions. This section is intended to provide you with the flexibility
to be creative and does not require any specific format for describing
your project. However, you should address the following to ensure that
grant reviewers can fully comprehend and score your project. Address
each criteria in any sequence that best demonstrates the strengths of
your project.
This subsection will be scored on how well you design and describe
your project and how effectively your project meets the following
criteria:
(a) Why: Explain the purpose of your project and how it will
address an educational priority listed in section III, such as
education reform or children's
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health; and address an environmental issue, such as clean air,
ecosystem protection, or cross-cutting issues; and explain the
importance to your community, state, or region;
(b) Who: Explain who will conduct the project and identify the
target audience and demonstrate an understanding of the needs of that
audience (including cultural diversity where appropriate); and specify
if it has the potential for wide application, and/or can serve as a
model for use in other locations with a similar audience;
(c) How: Explain your strategy, objectives, activities, delivery
methods, and outcomes to establish for reviewers that you have
realistic goals and objectives and will use effective methods for
reaching the target audience; and
(d) With What: Demonstrate that the project uses or produces
quality educational products or methods that teach critical-thinking,
problem-solving, and decision-making skills. (Please note restrictions
on the development of curriculum and educational materials in section
H.)
Project Description Maximum Score: 40 points (10 points for each of (a)
through (d))
(3) Project Evaluation: Explain how you will ensure that you are
meeting the goals and objectives of your project. Evaluation plans may
be quantitative and/or qualitative and may include, for example,
evaluation tools, observation, or outside consultation.
The project evaluation will be scored on how well your plan will:
(a) measure the project's effectiveness; and (b) apply evaluation data
gathered during your project to strengthen it.
Project Evaluation Maximum Score: 10 points (5 points for each of (a)
and (b))
(4) Budget: Clarify how EPA funds and non-federal matching funds
will be used for specific items or activities, such as personnel/
salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contract costs,
and indirect costs. Include a table which lists each major proposed
activity, and the amount of EPA funds and/or matching funds that will
be spent on each activity. Smaller grants with uncomplicated budgets
may have a table that lists only a few activities. Budget periods not
to exceed one-year are preferred by EPA for all grants and are
mandatory for small grants of $5,000 or less. Budget periods for larger
grants cannot exceed two-years. PLEASE NOTE the following funding
restrictions:
--Indirect costs may be requested only if your organization has already
prepared an indirect cost rate proposal and has it on file, subject to
audit.
--Funds for salaries and fringe benefits may be requested only for
those personnel who are directly involved in implementing the proposed
project and whose salaries and fringe benefits are directly related to
specific products or outcomes of the proposed project. EPA strongly
encourages applicants to request reasonable amounts of funding for
salaries and fringe benefits to ensure that your proposal is
competitive.
--EPA will not fund the acquisition of real property (including
buildings) or the construction or modification of any building.
Matching Funds Requirement: Non-federal matching funds of at least
25% of the total cost of the project are required, and EPA encourages
matching funds of greater than 25%. The 25% match may be provided by
the applicant or a partner organization or institution, and may be
provided in cash or by in-kind contributions and other non-cash
support. In-kind contributions often include salaries or other
verifiable costs and this value must be carefully documented. In the
case of salaries, applicants may use either minimum wage or fair market
value.
IMPORTANT: The matching non-federal share is a percentage of the
entire cost of the project. For example, if the 75% federal portion is
$10,000, then the entire project should, at a minimum, have a budget of
$13,333, with the recipient providing a contribution of $3,333. To
assure that your match is sufficient, simply divide the Federally
requested amount by three. Your match must be at least one-third of the
requested amount to be sufficient. For a $5,000 EPA grant your match
cannot be less than $1,667. All grants are subject to Federal audit.
Other Federal Funds: You may use other Federal funds in addition to
those provided by this program, but not for activities that EPA is
funding. You may not use any federal funds to meet any part of the
required 25% match described above, unless it is specifically
authorized by statute. If you have already been awarded federal funds
for a project for which you are seeking additional support from this
program, you must indicate those funds in the budget section of the
work plan. You must also identify the project officer, agency, office,
address, phone number, and the amount of the federal funds.
This subsection will be scored on: (a) How well the budget
information clearly and accurately shows how funds will be used; and
(b) whether the funding request is reasonable given the activities
proposed.
Budget Maximum Score: 15 points ((a) 5 points and (b) 10 points)
(5) Appendices:
(a) Timeline--Include a ``time line'' to link your activities to a
clear project schedule and indicate at what point over the months of
your budget period each action, event, product, development, etc.
occurs.
(b) Key Personnel--Attach a one page resume for the key personnel
conducting the project (Maximum of three resumes please).
(c) Letters of Commitment--If there are partners, include one page
letters of commitment from partners explaining their role in the
proposed project. Do not include letters of endorsement or
recommendation or have them mailed in later; they will not be
considered in evaluating proposals.
Please do not submit other appendices or attachments such as video
tapes or sample curricula. EPA may request such items if your proposal
is among the finalists under consideration for funding.
This subsection will be scored based upon: (1) Whether the timeline
clarifies the workplan and allows reviewers to determine that the
project is well thought out and feasible as planned; (2) whether the
key personnel are qualified to implement the proposed project; and (3)
whether letters of commitment are included (if partners are used) and
the extent to which a firm commitment is made.
Appendices Maximum Score: 15 points (5 points for each of (a) through
(c))
L. Page Limits
The Work Plan should not exceed 5 pages. ``One page'' refers to one
side of a single-spaced typed page. The pages must be letter sized (8
\1/2\ x 11 inches), with margins at least one-half inch wide and with
normal type size, rather than extremely small type. This page limit
applies to parts 1, 2, and 3 of the Work Plan, (i.e., the Summary,
Project Description, and Project Evaluation). Parts 4 and 5 (i.e.
Budget and Appendices) are not included in these page limits.
M. Submission Requirements and Copies
The applicant must submit one original and one copy of the proposal
(a signed SF-424, an SF-424A, a work plan, a budget, and the appendices
listed above). Do not include other attachments such as cover letters,
tables
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of contents, additional Federal forms or appendices other than those
listed above. Grant reviewers often lower scores on proposals for
failure to follow instructions. The SF-424 should be the first page of
your proposal and must be signed by a person authorized to receive
funds. Blue ink for signatures is preferred. Proposals must be
reproducible; they should not be bound. They should be stapled or
clipped once in the upper left hand corner, on white paper, and with
page numbers. Mailing addresses for submission of proposals are listed
at the end of this document.
N. Regulatory References
The Environmental Education Grant Program Regulations, published in
the Federal Register on March 9, 1992, provide additional information
on EPA's administration of this program (57 FR 8390; Title 40 CFR, part
47 or 40 CFR part 47). Also, EPA's general assistance regulations at 40
CFR part 31 applies to state, local, and Indian tribal governments and
40 CFR part 30 applies to all other applicants such as nonprofit
organizations.
Section V. Review and Selection Process
O. Proposal Review
Proposals submitted to EPA headquarters and regional offices will
be evaluated using the same criteria, as defined in sections IV and V
of this solicitation. Proposals will be reviewed in two phases--the
screening phase and the evaluation phase. During the screening phase,
proposals will be reviewed to determine whether they meet the basic
requirements of this document. Only those proposals which meet all of
the basic requirements will enter the full evaluation phase of the
review process. During the evaluation phase, proposals will be
evaluated based upon the quality of their work plans. Reviewers
conducting the screening and evaluation phases of the review process
will include EPA officials and external environmental educators
approved by EPA. At the conclusion of the evaluation phase, the
reviewers will score work plans based upon the scoring system described
in more detail in section IV. In summary, the maximum score of 100
points can be reached as follows:
(1) Project Summary--10 Points
(2) Project Description--40 Points
(3) Project Evaluation--10 Points
(4) Budget--15 Points
(5) Appendices--15 Points
(6) Bonus Points--10 Points (Reviewers grant these for outstanding
proposals)
P. Final Selections
After individual projects are evaluated and scored by reviewers, as
described under section IV, EPA officials in the regions and at
headquarters will select a diverse range of finalists from the highest
ranking proposals. In making the final selections, EPA will take into
account the following:
(1) Effectiveness of collaborative activities and partnerships, as
needed to successfully develop or implement the project;
(2) Environmental and educational importance of the activity or
product;
(3) Effectiveness of the delivery mechanism (i.e., workshop,
conference, etc.);
(4) Cost effectiveness of the proposal; and
(5) Geographic distribution of projects.
Q. Notification to Applicants
Applicants will receive a confirmation that EPA has received their
proposal once EPA has received all proposals and entered them into a
computerized database, usually within two months of receipt. EPA will
notify applicants about the outcome of their proposal when grant awards
are announced in early summer.
Section VI. Grantees Responsibilities
R. Responsible Officials
The Act requires that projects be performed by the applicant or by
a person satisfactory to the applicant and EPA. All proposals must
identify any person other than the applicant who will assist in
carrying out the project. These individuals are responsible for
receiving the grant award agreement from EPA and ensuring that all
grant conditions are satisfied. Recipients are responsible for the
successful completion of the project.
S. Incurring Costs
Grant recipients may begin incurring costs on the start date
identified in the EPA grant award agreement. Activities must be
completed and funds spent within the time frames specified in the
document.
T. Reports and Work Products
Specific reporting requirements will be identified in the EPA grant
award agreement. Grant recipients with a federal environmental
education grant greater than $100,000 will be required to submit formal
semi-annual progress reports; and grantees for less may be required to
submit brief semi-annual reports. Grant recipients will submit two
copies of their final report and two copies of all work products to the
EPA project officer within 90 days after the expiration of the budget
period. This report will be accepted as the final report unless the EPA
project officer notifies you that changes must be made.
Section VII. Resource Information and Mailing List
U. Internet Access--www.epa.gov/enviroed
Please visit our website where you can view and download this
solicitation notice, a list of EPA environmental education contacts,
tips for developing successful grant applications, descriptions of past
projects funded under this program, and other education links and
resource materials, such as Excellence in EE--Guidelines for Learning
(K-12) which, among other things, will help you channel your
environmental education efforts towards education reform goals. In
addition, a tutorial for grant applicants is available at: http://
www.epa.gov/seahome/grants/src/grant.htm
If you receive this solicitation electronically and if the standard
federal forms for Application (SF-424) and Budget (SF-424A) cannot be
printed by your equipment, you may locate them the following ways (but
please read our instructions which have been modified somewhat for this
grant program): the Federal Register in which this document is
published contains the forms and is available to be copied at many
public libraries; many federal offices use the forms and have copies
available; or you may call or write the appropriate EPA office listed
at the end of this document.
V. Other Funding
Please note that this is a very competitive grants program. Limited
funding is available and many grant applications are expected to be
received. Therefore, the Agency cannot fund all applications. If your
project is not funded, you may wish to review a listing of other EPA
grant programs in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. This
publication is available at local libraries, colleges, and
universities.
W. Classification of Notice
Under 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A) as added by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, EPA submitted a report
containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate,
the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the
General Accounting
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Office prior to publication of this rule in today's Federal Register.
This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements contained in this solicitation
under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq. and has assigned OMB control number 2030-0006.
X. Mailing List for Year 2001 Environmental Education Grants
EPA develops an entirely new mailing list for the grants program
each year. The Fiscal Year 2001 mailing list will automatically include
all applicants who submit proposals for a FY 2000 grant and anyone who
specifically requests the next Solicitation Notice. If you do not
submit a proposal for the year 2000 and wish to be added to our future
mailing list, mail your request--please do not telephone--along with
your name, organization, address, and phone number to: Enviro Education
Grant Program (Year 2001), EPA Office of Environmental Education,
(1704), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460.
Dated: September 16, 1999.
David L. Cohen,
Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Communications, Education,
and Media Relations.
Mailing Addresses and Information
Applicants who need more information about this grant program or
clarification about specific requirements in this Solicitation
Notice, may contact the EPA Environmental Education Division in
Washington, D.C. for grant requests of more than $25,000 or their
EPA regional office for grant requests of $25,000 or less.
U.S. EPA HEADQUARTERS--For Proposals Requesting More than $25,000
Mail proposals to:
Environmental Education Grant Program, Office of Enviro
Education (1704), 401 M Street, S.W., Room 364 WT, Washington, D.C.
20460
Information:
Diane Berger and Sheri Jojokian (202) 260-8619
U.S. EPA REGIONAL OFFICES--For Proposals Requesting $25,000 or Less
Mail the proposal to the Regional Office where the project will
take place, rather than where the applicant is located, if these
locations are different.
EPA Region I--CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region I
Enviro Education Grants (MGM)
1 Congress Street, Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114
Hand-Deliver to:
10th Floor Mail Room
Boston, MA (M-F 8am-4pm)
Information:
Kristen Conroy, (617) 918-1069
EPA Region II--NJ, NY, PR, VI
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region II
Enviro Education Grants
Grants and Contracts Management Branch
290 Broadway, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10007-1866
Information:
Teresa Ippolito
(212) 637-3671
EPA Region III--DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region III
Enviro Education Grants
Grants Management Section (3PM70)
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
Information:
Nan Ides
(215) 814-5546
EPA Region IV--AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region IV
Enviro Education Grants
Office of External Affairs
61 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303
Information:
Janie Foy
(404) 562-8432
EPA Region V--IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region V
Enviro Education Grants
Grants Management Section (MC-10J),
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604
Information:
Suzanne Saric
(312) 353-3209
Region VI--AR, LA, NM, OK, TX
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region VI
Enviro Education Grants (6XA)
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX 75202
Information:
Jo Taylor,
(214) 665-2204
Region VII--IA, KS, MO, NE
Mail proposal to:
U.S. EPA, Region VII
Enviro Education Grants
Office of External Programs
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Information:
Rowena Michaels
(913) 551-7003
Region VIII--CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region VIII
Enviro Education Grants
999 18th Street (80C)
Denver, CO 80202-2466
Information:
Cece Forget
(303) 312-6605
Region IX--AZ, CA, HI, NV, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region IX
Enviro Education Grants
Communications & Gov't Relations (CGR-3)
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Information:
Matt Gaffney
(415) 744-1166
Region X--AK, ID, OR, WA
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region X
Enviro. Education Grants
Public Environmental Resource Center
1200 Sixth Avenue (EXA-124)
Seattle, WA 98101
Information:
Sally Hanft
(800) 424-4372
(206) 553-1207
Instructions for the SF 424-Application
This is a standard Federal form to be used by applicants as a
required face sheet for the Environmental Education Grants Program.
These instructions have been modified for this program only and do
not apply to any other Federal program.
1. Check the box marked ``Non-Construction'' under
``Application.''
2. Date application submitted to Federal agency (or State if
applicable) & applicant's control number (if applicable).
3. State use only (if applicable).
4. If you are currently funded for a related project, enter
present Federal identifier number. If not, leave blank.
5. Legal name of applicant organization, name of primary
organizational unit which will undertake the grant activity,
complete address of the applicant organization, and name and
telephone number of the person to contact on matters related to this
application.
6. Enter Employer Identification Number (EIN) as assigned by the
Internal Revenue Service. You can obtain this number from your
payroll office. It is the same Federal Identification Number which
appears on W-2 forms. If your organization does not have a number,
you may obtain one by calling the Taxpayer Services number for the
IRS.
7. Enter the appropriate letter in the space provided.
8. Check the box marked ``new'' since all proposals must be for
new projects.
9. Enter U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
10. Enter 66.951 Environmental Education Grants Program
11. Enter a brief descriptive title of the project.
12. List only the largest areas affected by the project (e.g.,
State, counties, cities).
13. Self-explanatory (see section IV, K4 in Solicitation
Notice).
14. In (a) list the Congressional District where the applicant
organization is located; and in (b) any District(s) affected by the
program or project. If your project covers many areas, several
congressional districts
[[Page 51408]]
will be listed. If it covers the entire state, simply put in
STATEWIDE. If you are not sure about the congressional district,
call the County Voter Registration Department.
15. Amount requested or to be contributed during the funding/
budget period by each contributor. Line (a) is for the amount of
money you are requesting from EPA. Lines (b-e) are for the amounts
either you or another organization are providing for this project.
Line (f) is for any program income which you expect will be
generated by this project. Examples of program income are fees for
services performed, income generated from the sale of a brochure
produced with the grant funds, or admission fees to a conference
financed by the grant funds. The total of lines (b-e) must be at
least 25% of line (g), as this grant has a match requirement of 25%
of the TOTAL ALLOWABLE PROJECT COSTS. Value of in-kind contributions
should be included on appropriate lines as applicable. If both basic
and supplemental amounts are included, show breakdown on an attached
Budget sheet. For multiple program funding, use totals and show
breakdown using same categories as item 15.
16. Check (b) (NO) since your application does not have to be
sent through the state clearinghouse for review.
17. This question applies to the applicant organization, not the
person who signs as the authorized representative. Categories of
debt include delinquent audit disallowances, loans and taxes.
18. The authorized representative is the person who is able to
contract or obligate your agency to the terms and conditions of the
grant. (Please sign with blue ink.) A copy of the governing body's
authorization for you to sign this application as official
representative must be on file in the applicant's office.
Instructions for the SF-424A--Budget
This is a standard Federal form used by applicants as a basic
budget. These instructions have been modified for this grant program
only and do not apply to any other Federal Program.
Do NOT fill in section A--Budget Summary.
Complete Section B--Budget Categories--Columns (1), (2) and (5).
For each major program, function or activity, fill in the total
requirements for funds by object class categories. Please round
figures to the nearest dollar.
All applications should contain a breakdown by the relevant
object class categories shown in Lines (a-h): columns (1), (2), and
(5) of section B. Include Federal funds in column (1) and non-
Federal (matching) funds in column (2), and put the totals in column
(5). Many applications will not have entries in all object class
categories.
Line 6(i)--Show the totals of lines 6(a) through 6(h) in each
column.
Line 6(j)--Show the amount of indirect costs, but ONLY if your
organization has already prepared an ``indirect cost rate'' proposal
and has it on file, subject to audit.
Line 6(k)--Enter the total of amounts of Lines 6(i) and 6(j).
Line 7--Program Income--Enter the estimated amount of income, if
any, expected to be generated from this project. Do not add or
subtract this amount from the total project amount. Describe the
nature and source of income in the detailed budget description.
Detailed Itemization of Costs
The proposal must also contain a detailed budget description as
specified in the Notice in section IV, K4, and should conform to the
following:
Personnel: List all participants in the project by position
title. Give the percentage of the budget period for which they will
be fully employed on the project (e.g., half-time for half the
budget period equals 25%, full-time for half the budget period
equals 50%, etc.). Give the annual salary and the total cost over
the budget period for all personnel listed.
Travel: If travel is budgeted, show destination and purpose of
travel as well as costs.
Equipment: Identify all equipment to be purchased and for what
purpose it will be used.
Supplies: If the supply budget is less than 2% of total costs,
you do not need to itemize.
Contractual: Specify the nature and cost of such services. EPA
may require review of contracts for personal services prior to their
execution to assure that all costs are reasonable and necessary to
the project.
Construction: Not allowable for this program.
Other: Specify all other costs under this category.
Indirect Costs: Provide an explanation of how indirect charges
were calculated for this project.
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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Appendices--Federal Forms and Instructions
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[FR Doc. 99-24691 Filed 9-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-C
