Frequently Asked Questions about Alaska Tribal Multi-Media Projects
1. Do Tribes receive a priority or preference over inter-tribal consortia, non-profits, etc. for this grant, either formally or informally?
No. We determined that a Tribal government preference in this instance would not be consistent with the EPA Competition Policy.
2. Is there a maximum number of pages or any rules on supplementary information?
No, but we will not be reading any pages beyond 20. A longer application is not necessarily a better one. An application that concisely responds to all the elements in the announcement is going to compete better than a longer application that does not.
3. Should the narrative assume a relatively high level of familiarity with rural Alaska challenges (e.g. honeybuckets, boardwalks, barge logistics, etc.) and subsistence lifestyle, or do you know if there will be any evaluation panel members with average or below-average familiarity?
You can assume a high level of familiarity by both the review panel.
4. Can a project that funds a necessary step or capacity building towards sustaining rural Tribes, reducing degradation of environment or health risks, “score” as high as a project that funds an actual implementation of these goals (assuming outputs and outcomes are still identified)?
Yes.
5. Where can I find EPA Form 5700-59 (Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters)?
Here is a .pdf copy of EPA Form 5700-59 (PDF, 90KB, 1 page).
The Region 10 Grants Administration page also contains all required federal and EPA forms.
This web site for the Office of Management and Budget is great for accessing all the federal application forms.
6. Are all applicants required to be based in Alaska?
No. Selections will be made based on applicant's demonstrated ability to meet all of the criteria outlined in the Announcement. However, all projects must be performed in Alaska.
7. I know that matching funds are not required, but are applicants more likely to receive funding if they choose to provide matching funds?
No. EPA will be evaluating applications against all criteria listed in the Announcement. We are interested in knowing about partnerships between your organization and Tribes in Alaska, as well as experience your organization has in providing service to Tribes in Alaska through previous projects. If you are a federally-recognized Tribal government, we would like to see that you have your Council’s support.
8. Are multi-year proposals going to be accepted?
No. As the availability of funding resources are uncertain for the future, we will only be funding one-year proposals at this time.
9. How long does it take to register as an e-applicant so I can submit my application electronically?
The process can take up to two weeks, so it is advisable to register far in advance.