Collaborative Diesel Emissions Reductions 2006 Request for Proposals (RFP)
Frequently Asked Questions about this Request for Proposals
A Solicitation for EPA Regions 9 and 10
Agency Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, Office of Air, Waste and Toxics, and Region 9 Air Division (Please note that all awards will be issued by EPA Region 10)
Funding Opportunity Name: Collaborative Diesel Emissions Reductions
Announcement Type: Initial Solicitation
Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-R10-WCC-2006
Catalog of Financial Domestic Assistance Number: 66.034 - Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Demonstrations and Special Purpose Activities Relating to the Clean Air Act Section 103
Overview
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regions 9 and 10 are currently soliciting proposals to fund projects that will demonstrate new, innovative or experimental applications, technologies, methods or approaches to reducing diesel emissions as part of the West Coast Collaborative. Funds will be awarded pursuant to Section 103 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C §7403. Funding will be in the form of cooperative agreements or grants for projects that reduce diesel emissions and protect human health and the environment. |  |
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Important Dates:
- January 24 , 2006—Request for Proposals posted on the web and synopsized on Grants.Gov.
- February 6, 2006 —Question and Answer session via teleconference, 1pm PST, call-in number: 1-866-299-3188, passcode 2023439636#.
- March 23, 2006—Proposals must be received by EPA Region 10 or electronically through Grants.Gov.
- April 6, 2006—Applicants will be notified by postcard or email confirming receipt of their proposal.
- April 23, 2006—Preliminary selections for funding identified. Proposals selected for funding will be requested to submit a formal application package.
- May 15, 2006—Grant or cooperative agreement application and workplan must be received by EPA Region 10.
- September 30, 2006—Awards made.
The above dates (other than the March 23, 2006 proposal submission due date) are anticipated dates and may be subject to change.
Contents of Full Text Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
II. Award Information
III. Eligibility Information
IV. Application and Submission Information
V. Application Review Information
VI. Award Administration Information
VII. Agency Contacts
VIII. Other Information
EPA Regions 9 and 10
Collaborative Diesel Emissions Reductions
2006 Request for Proposals (RFP)
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description (Top of Page)
A. Summary
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regions 9 and 10 are currently soliciting proposals to fund projects that will demonstrate new, innovative or experimental applications, technologies, methods or approaches to reducing diesel emissions as part of the West Coast Collaborative. Funds will be awarded pursuant to Section 103 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C §7403. Funding will be in the form of cooperative agreements or grants for projects that reduce diesel emissions and protect human health and the environment.
Projects will:
- be regional in scope (have impacts across district, state or national borders and/or transferable across borders);
- include a diverse group of stakeholders;
- leverage significant funds from a variety of sources;
- include an evaluative component; and
- achieve real, measurable reductions and results.
Projects may include, but are not limited to, a variety of emissions reductions solutions such as: add-on technology, engine replacement, idle reduction technologies or strategies, or cleaner fuel use. Cleaner fuel use may include, but is not limited to, renewable fuel types such as biodiesel, bio-methane made from animal waste, and ethanol from crops, as well as electricity, natural gas (including Liquified and Compressed Natural Gas), hydrogen and early introduction of low or ultra-low sulfur diesel.
Proposals to fund projects under this announcement that demonstrate new, innovative or experimental applications, technologies, methods or approaches to reducing diesel emissions must fall under at least one of the following six categories to be considered for funding:
Trucking – Under this category – which includes long haul or short haul trucks, but not school buses or municipal buses – the Agency encourages proposals that demonstrate:
- new ways to reduce emissions from trucks along the Mexican or Canadian border;
- the environmental and economic effectiveness of innovative approaches to reducing emissions from drayage trucks that operate at rail and marine terminals; and/or
- the environmental and economic benefits of innovative approaches to reducing emissions from trucks used in construction projects.
Marine Vessels and Ports – Under this category – which includes marine vessels with C1, C2 or C3 marine diesel engines, intermodal transportation including diesel trucks and locomotives, diesel cargo handling equipment, and stationary sources of diesel pollution within a geographic area that could reasonably be considered related to port activities including airports – the Agency encourages proposals that demonstrate:
- the effectiveness of on-road verified control technologies in innovative off-road applications that have the potential to reduce emissions at multiple ports;
- the feasibility of innovative approaches to reducing hoteling emissions; and/or
- how emissions trading, tax incentives, logistics management or fees could be used in innovative ways to reduce emissions in or near ports.
Construction and Distributed Generation – Under this category – which includes construction related equipment or vehicles, or stationary diesel sources of power – the Agency encourages proposals that demonstrate:
- the environmental and practical effectiveness of control equipment such as diesel oxidation catalyst (DOCs) and diesel particulate filters (DPFs) to achieve emissions reductions from off-road equipment in projects. Controls shall only be used for applications where such controls are currently generally not used in practice by the construction sector and where there is an evaluative component that addresses potential operational barriers as well as the emissions benefits so this knowledge can be shared with others. We are most interested in the use of controls for off-road equipment in projects subject to the NEPA review process, equivalent State environmental review processes, or major construction projects; and/or
- the ability to use innovative controls to reduce emissions from distributed generation sources in environmental justice or rural communities in Alaska, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam or Hawaii.
Locomotives and Rail – Under this category – which includes long haul or short haul locomotives, passenger trains, switchers, switcher yard equipment or other vehicles at switcher yards – the Agency encourages proposals that demonstrate:
- the effectiveness of reducing emissions at switcher yards in environmental justice communities by innovative means;
- the ability to, by innovative means, reduce emissions beyond regulations; and/or
- how to reduce emissions from short-haul locomotives or passenger trains using new technologies or practices.
Agriculture – Under this category – which includes vehicles (on- and off-road) or equipment (irrigation pumps, generators, heaters, etc.) used on agricultural land and farm buildings – the Agency encourages proposals that demonstrate:
- how using new and innovative techniques and methods, clean, renewable vehicle fuel from agriculture sources (such as bio-methane from manure and biodiesel from crops) can be used to replace diesel fuel on or near farms;
- the environmental effectiveness of retrofitting or replacing older agriculture engines using new or innovative technologies; and/or
- the environmental and economic benefits of using experimental or unique approaches to reducing emissions from goods movement activities to and/or from agricultural lands.
We will consider both farm specific (on-farm) and regional-scale projects.
Cleaner fuels – Under this category – which includes any of the above categories (Trucking, Marine, Construction and Distributed Generation, Locomotives or Agriculture) of vehicles or equipment – the Agency encourages proposals that demonstrate how eligible applicants can cost effectively achieve greater energy security and reduced emissions through innovative uses of cleaner, renewable and/or more sustainable fuels.
B. Statutory Authority (Top of Page)
Final applications must be consistent with Section 103 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C §7403.
C. Alignment with EPA’s Strategic Plan
All proposals must support Goal 1 of EPA’s 2003-2008 Strategic Plan, Clean Air and Global Climate Change; Objective 1.1: Healthier Outdoor Air, which states, “Through 2010…[EPA will]…protect human health and the environment by attaining and maintaining health-based air-quality standards and reducing the risk from toxic air pollutants” (www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/2003sp.pdf).
D. Measuring Environmental Results
Measuring Environmental Results: Outputs and Outcomes
Pursuant to EPA Order 5700.7, “Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements,” EPA requires that all grant recipients adequately address environmental outputs and outcomes. Outputs and outcomes differ both in their nature, and in how they are measured.
1) OUTPUTS: The term “output” means an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work products related to an environmental goal and objective, that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during an assistance agreement funding period.
2) OUTCOMES: The term “outcome” means the result, effect or consequence that will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related or programmatic in nature, but must be quantitative. They may not necessarily be achievable within an assistance agreement funding period.
According to the definitions above, expected outputs from the projects funded under this solicitation may include but are not limited to the following: numbers of retrofitted engines/vehicles/equipment, annual pounds or tons of PM2.5, NOx, GHG and/or VOCs reduced, cost effectiveness of project (in $/ton or $/lb), and health benefits achieved (i.e., numbers of illnesses, health care costs, or missed work/school days avoided, etc…).
Expected outcomes from projects funded under this solicitation may include but are not limited to the following:
§ Short term outcomes such as increased understanding of the environmental or economic effectiveness of the demonstrated technology, dissemination of the increased knowledge via listserves, websites, journals, and outreach events, fine-tuned and improved use of the demonstrated technology, etc…
§ Medium term outcomes such as widespread adoption of the demonstrated technology along the West Coast, documented emissions reductions from these and other sources of diesel emissions in multiple states, acceptance of new technology by users and manufacturers, etc…
§ Long term outcomes such as reductions in the number of children with asthma, documented improved ambient air quality, documented less reliance on foreign and/or non-renewable fuels, etc…
To estimate some of the anticipated outputs of your proposal, EPA highly encourages you to use the following models where possible. Other methodology used must be described in detail in your application:
- To quantify estimated emissions reductions for the proposals in non-attainment areas, please use the National Mobile Inventory Model (http://www.epa.gov/otaq/nmim.htm). For technical assistance regarding this tool, please email mobile@epa.gov
- To quantify estimated emissions reductions for attainment or maintenance areas for trucking projects that utilize add-on controls or alternative fuels (except for biodiesel), please use the Smartway FLEET Performance Model (http://www.epa.gov/smartway/smartway_fleets_software.htm). For technical assistance regarding this tool, please contact Kristin Sipes at sipes.kristin@epa.gov or 202-343-9636.
- To quantify emissions reductions for biodiesel projects, please use EPA’s biodiesel calculator (http://www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit/techlist-biodiesel.htm). For technical assistance with this tool, please contact John Brock at brock.john@epa.gov or 415-972-3999.
- If you are unable to use any of the above mentioned calculators, please describe your methodology in detail. The Carl Moyer Program Guidelines (http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/guidelines/revisions05.htm ) Appendix B and Appendix C provide potential emissions factors and calculation methodology, respectively.
E. Examples of Potential Projects (Top of Page)
Examples of potential demonstration projects that may be proposed under this solicitation include, but are not limited to new, innovative or experimental applications, technologies, methods or approaches to reducing diesel emissions such as:
- Demonstrating the environmental effectiveness and economic sustainability of an innovative combination of add-on control devices, idle reduction, and aerodynamic improvements from drayage trucks at three West Coast ports. The grant or cooperative agreement would directly fund add-on controls, monitoring, testing, and analysis, while idle reduction technology and aerodynamic improvements might be funded from independent, non-EPA funds, such as a loan fund established by partners.
- Demonstrating the environmental and practical effectiveness of applying DPFs or DOCs on construction equipment where it would not otherwise be used on two or more major federal highway projects where there are funds being leveraged from a metropolitan planning organization, council of governments or an air district/agency.
- Demonstrating the environmental and human health improvements achieved by reducing emissions from locomotives at switcher yards using innovative control strategies in three environmental justice communities along the West Coast.
- Demonstrating the environmental and economic impacts of capturing methane from multiple dairies and using it as fuel for equipment or vehicles currently using diesel.
- Demonstrating the environmental, economic and energy security benefits of creating a new and unique renewable biodiesel fueling infrastructure in two or more locations.
II. Award Information
A. Amount of Funding Available (Top of Page)
EPA Regions 9 and 10 anticipate awarding approximately $3,000,000 under this announcement. EPA Regions 9 and 10 anticipate awarding approximately 6 to 12 grants or cooperative agreements ranging in size from $50,000 up to $500,000. Proposals in which the applicant is requesting assistance funds in excess of $500,000 or below $50,000 will not be reviewed.
B. Funding Type (Top of Page)
The funding for selected projects will be in the form of a grant or cooperative agreement awarded under the Clean Air Act Section 103. A cooperative agreement is an assistance agreement that is used when there is substantial federal involvement with the recipient during the performance of an activity or project. EPA will award cooperative agreements for those projects in which it expects to have substantial technical interaction with the recipient throughout the performance of the project. For such projects, EPA may review and approve project phases, review and approve proposed subgrants and contracts, collaborate with the recipient on the scope of work and mode of operation of the project, closely monitor the recipient’s performance, approve any proposed changes to work plan and/or budget, approve qualifications of key personnel, and review and comment on reports prepared under the assistance agreement.
C. Start Date/Project Duration
All projects should have an anticipated start date of October 1, 2006. Proposed project periods may be up to three years.
D. Miscellaneous
Funding for these projects is not guaranteed and is subject to the availability of funds and the evaluation of proposals based on the criteria in this announcement. EPA reserves the right to partially fund proposals/applications by funding discrete activities, portions, or phases of proposed projects. If EPA decides to partially fund a proposal/application, it will do so in a manner that does not prejudice any applicants or affect the basis upon which the proposal/application, or portion thereof, was evaluated and selected for award, and that maintains the integrity of the competition and selection process. Award of funding through this year’s competition is not a guarantee of future funding.
EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement (after the original award selections are made) if additional funding becomes available. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than 6 months after the original selection decisions. The additional selections must be made in accordance with the terms of this announcement and EPA policy.
EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards under this announcement.
III. Eligibility Information (Top of Page)
A. Who May Apply?
EPA is soliciting proposals from States, the District of Columbia, territories, Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal Consortia, international organizations, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and other public or private nonprofit institutions.
Successful applicants must use a competitive process for obtaining contracts for services and products and conduct cost and price analyses to the extent required by federal, state or local procurement requirements. All contracts and the purchase of supplies and equipment must be conducted in a manner providing free and open competition, to the maximum extent practicable. As such, applicants should refrain from mentioning specific technology producers in their proposals unless they are sole source providers.
An applicant may submit more than one proposal under this announcement if the proposals are for different projects. Applicants who received one of these grants in the past may submit a new proposal for a different project.
B. Funding Restrictions and Requirements
There is no statutory or regulatory match requirement under the Clean Air Act Section 103. However, please note that Section V (see below) includes an evaluative criterion for leveraging and/or a voluntary match.
EPA grant or cooperative agreement funds may only be used for the purposes set forth in the assistance agreement, and must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award. Grant or cooperative agreement funds may not be used for matching funds for other Federal grants, lobbying, or intervention in Federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings, and may not be used to sue the Federal government or any other government entity.
C. Eligibility Screening Requirements: Threshold Criteria (Top of Page)
To be eligible for funding consideration under this announcement, proposals must meet the following threshold criteria. Failure to meet any of the following criteria in the proposal will result in the automatic disqualification of the proposal for funding consideration. Ineligible applicants will be notified within 15 calendar days of the determination that they are ineligible based on the threshold criteria.
1. Proposals must benefit one or more of the following geographic areas of EPA Regions 9 and 10: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon or Washington - including Tribal lands belonging to the federally recognized tribes in these regions - or territories including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or Guam.
2. Proposals must support Goal 1 of EPA’s Strategic Plan, by reducing diesel emissions.
3. Proposals must not be used for the purposes of routine program implementation, implementation of routine environmental protection or restoration measures, meeting any legal mandate (such as federal, state or local regulations or settlement agreements), land acquisition, purchase of vehicles, or completion of work which was to have been completed under a prior grant or cooperative agreement.
4. Proposals must substantially comply with the submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section IV of this announcement or else they will be rejected. In addition, where a page limit is expressed in Section IV with respect to the proposal and/or parts of the proposal, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed. Further, proposals must be received by the EPA or through Grants.Gov on or before the closing date published in Section IV of this announcement. Proposals received after the published closing date will be returned to the sender without further consideration.
5. Proposals in which the applicant is requesting assistance funds in excess of $500,000 or less than $50,000 will not be reviewed.
6. Proposals to fund projects under this announcement that demonstrate new, innovative or experimental applications, technologies, methods or approaches to reducing diesel emissions must fall under at least one of the following six categories identified in Section I to be considered for funding: Trucking; Marine Vessels and Ports; Construction and Distributed Generation; Locomotive and Rail; Agriculture and; Cleaner Fuels.
7. Retrofit technologies, engine replacements or cleaner fuels must be either verified or recognized under EPA’s Retrofit Program, certified by another EPA program, verified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), or involve the application of a verified technology in an unverified application. Idle reduction technologies, which are not verified under EPA’s programs, are exempt from having to meet the verification requirement.
Technologies that EPA has verified are listed on EPA’s Verified Technologies List
(http://www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit/retroverifiedlist.htm).
In cases where an applicant would like to use EPA verified technologies in applications that have not yet been verified, applicants should discuss or explain the reasoning used to determine that the technology will function properly in this application and their rationale for any estimated emissions reductions.
IV. Application and Submission Information (Top of Page)
A. General: Proposals must be limited to seven pages including the cover page (excess pages and/or attachments will not be reviewed or considered). All proposals must be formatted for 8 ½" x 11" paper using no smaller than 11 point Times New Roman font with 1” margins as one Microsoft Word, WordPerfect or Adobe Acrobat file.
Please do not zip the file, because we will not be able to open it.
It is recommended that confidential business information not be included in your proposal.
B. 2006 Collaborative Diesel Emissions Reductions Proposal Format (Top of Page)
1. Cover Page: (Required.) (No more than 2 pages) The cover page should include:
a. Name of Project
b. Point of contact/s (Individual and Organization Name, Address, Phone Number, Fax Number, E-mail Address)
c. Whether this a continuation of a previously EPA-funded project (if so, please provide the status of the current grant or cooperative agreement)
d. Proposed funding request
e. Proposed leveraged or voluntary matching funds (and ratio of leveraged vs. requested funds)
f. Project category or categories (i.e., trucking, marine vessels and ports, construction and distributed generation, locomotives and rail, agriculture and/or cleaner fuels)
g. Brief project description that includes:
i. what innovation this project will demonstrate
ii. anticipated outcomes of the project, as defined by Section I., D. Measuring Environmental Results
iii. regional geographic area/s, socio-economic communities and/or airsheds impacted
iv. list of proposed partners
v. anticipated outputs of the project, as defined by Section I., D. Measuring Environmental Results
vi. description of the general proposed budget
2. Proposal (Required.) (No more than five pages. Maps, charts or photographs may be included within this five page limit, but must be included in the document and cannot be submitted as separate attachments.) The proposal should include a description of the:
a. Innovative Demonstration: Clearly identify what the project proposes to demonstrate and how this application, method or approach is new, innovative or experimental and important to reducing diesel emissions.
b. Project Goals/Outcomes: Specify the quantitative and qualitative outcomes and outputs of the project, including what measurements you will use and how you will measure and evaluate the results of your project to prove that you have achieved the short, medium and long-term outcomes and outputs as identified in Section I.D..
c. Regional Implications: Describe how this project will be regional in nature –how will it impact multiple districts, states, and/or countries both in the short-term and the long-term. For example, if the project will have direct benefits in multiple locations, please specify; and if the project will be transferable to other areas in Regions 9 and 10 specifically outline when, how and where it could be replicated.
d. Stakeholder Involvement/Impacts: List out all of the proposed stakeholder groups that will be involved in this project and what each of the groups’ roles will be in the project staffing, funding, design and implementation. Please also list all the major stakeholders who will be positively impacted by this project and how they will benefit from the project.
e. Project Benefits/Outputs: Specify the estimated quantifiable environmental and economic outputs of the project in terms of anticipated emissions (PM2.5, NOx, GHG and/or VOCs) reduced (in tons or lbs/year), the cost effectiveness (in $/lb or $/ton) and the health or environmental benefits that will be achieved and how these benefits will be measured or confirmed.
f. Project Tasks/Schedule: Outline the steps to be taken and the significant milestones to be achieved to complete the project as well as the estimated schedule of these achievements with dates. This section should also include a discussion of a communication plan for distributing the project results to interested parties.
g. Project Budget: Itemize all of the projected costs of the project and who will assume responsibility for each of the expenses. Please include any in-kind contributions.
h. Past Performance: Submit a list of all EPA and other Federal agency assistance agreements that your organization performed within the last three years, and describe how you documented or reported on whether you were making progress towards achieving the expected results under those agreements. If you were not making progress, please indicate how you adequately documented why not. In evaluating applicants under this factor, EPA will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider other relevant information from other sources, including information from EPA files and from current and prior Federal agency grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information provided by the applicant).
i. Programmatic Capability: Submit a list of all federally funded projects similar in size, scope and relevance to the proposed project that your organization performed within the last three years. Describe how you were (i) technically able to successfully carry out the proposed projects; (ii) your history of meeting the reporting requirements under these agreements and submitting acceptable final technical reports, (iii) your organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project, and (iv) your staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project.
C. Application Instructions (Top of Page)
This year, applicants have the option of applying via email or online using the Grants.Gov website with an electronic signature – please use only one method. For those applicants that lack the technical capability to apply either by e-mail or through Grants.Gov, please contact Peter Murchie (206-890-0196 and/or dieselgrants@epa.gov) for alternative submission methods.
1. Instructions for Email Submissions
Proposals must be e-mailed to dieselgrants@epa.gov. For administrative simplicity, the title of the email should read, “2006 Proposal.” The proposal should be one attached file prepared as described in Section IV.A and B above. Please do not zip the attached file, because we will not be able to read it.
If you are having trouble emailing , please call Joseph Lapka at 415-947-4226.
2. Instructions for Submissions Using Grants.Gov
With Grants.Gov, you will be able to submit your entire proposal package on line with no hard copy or computer disks.
The following forms and documents are required to be submitted under this announcement:
I. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)
II. 2006 Collaborative Diesel Emissions Reductions Proposal prepared in accordance with the instructions in IV.A and B of the announcement.
Grants.Gov provides instructions on how to download the necessary software and application packet. You should have no trouble filling out and submitting the application, provided you have your electronic signature.
To begin the application process, go to http://www.Grants.Gov and click on “Apply for Grants.” Following the on-line instructions, download PureEdge Viewer software and enter the Funding Opportunity Number, EPA-R10-WCC-2006, in the space provide to retrieve the application package.
Be sure to download and read the instructions and the application package at the Grants.Gov web site
If you need assistance, the Grants.Gov homepage has online advice as well as a toll free Contact Center: 1-800-518-4726.
Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance.
Complete the form. There are no attachments. Please be sure to include organization fax number and email address in Block 5 of the Standard Form SF 424.
Please note that the organizational Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number must be included on the SF-424. Organizations may obtain a DUNS number at no cost by calling the toll-free DUNS number request line at 1-866-705-5711.
2006 Collaborative Diesel Emissions Reductions Proposal.
The document should be readable in PDF, MS Word or Word Perfect WP6/7/8 for Windows and consolidated into a single file.
Application Preparation and Submission Instructions
Documents I and II listed above should appear in the “Mandatory Documents” box on the Grants.gov Grant Application Package page.
For document I, click on the form and then click “Open Form” below the box. The fields that must be completed will be highlighted in yellow. Optional fields and completed fields will be displayed in white. If you enter an invalid response or incomplete information in a field, you will receive an error message. When you have finished filling out each form, click “Save.” When you return to the electronic Grant Application Package page, click on the form you just completed, and then click on the box that says, “Move Form to Submission List.” This action will move the document over to the box that says, “Mandatory Completed Documents for Submission.”
For document II, you will need to attach electronic files. Prepare your proposal as described in Section IV.A and B of the announcement and save the document to your computer as an MS Word, PDF or WordPerfect file. When you are ready to attach your proposal to the application package, click on “Project Narrative Attachment Form,” and open the form. Click “Add Mandatory Project Narrative File,” and then attach your proposal (previously saved to your computer) using the browse window that appears. You may then click “View Mandatory Project Narrative File” to view it. Enter a brief descriptive title of your project in the space beside “Mandatory Project Narrative File Filename;” the filename should be no more than 40 characters long. If there are other attachments that you would like to submit to accompany your proposal, you may click “Add Optional Project Narrative File” and proceed as before. When you have finished attaching the necessary documents, click “Close Form.” When you return to the “Grant Application Package” page, select the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” and click “Move Form to Submission List.” The form should now appear in the box that says, “Mandatory Completed Documents for Submission.”
Once you have finished filling out all of the forms/attachments and they appear in one of the “Completed Documents for Submission” boxes, click the “Save” button that appears at the top of the Web page. It is suggested that you save the document a second time, using a different name, since this will make it easier to submit an amended package later if necessary. Please use the following format when saving your file: “Applicant Name – FY06 – Assoc Prog Supp – 1st Submission” or “Applicant Name – FY 06 Assoc Prog Supp – Back-up Submission.” If it becomes necessary to submit an amended package at a later date, then the name of the 2nd submission should be changed to “Applicant Name – FY06 Assoc Prog Supp – 2nd Submission.”
Once your application package has been completed and saved, send it to your AOR for submission to U.S. EPA through Grants.gov. Please advise your AOR to close all other software programs before attempting to submit the application package through Grants.gov.
In the “Application Filing Name” box, your AOR should enter your organization’s name (abbreviate where possible), the fiscal year (e.g., FY06), and the grant category (e.g., Assoc Prog Supp). The filing name should not exceed 40 characters. From the “Grant Application Package” page, your AOR may submit the application package by clicking the “Submit” button that appears at the top of the page. The AOR will then be asked to verify the agency and funding opportunity number for which the application package is being submitted. If problems are encountered during the submission process, the AOR should reboot his/her computer before trying to submit the application package again. [It may be necessary to turn off the computer (not just restart it) before attempting to submit the package again.] If the AOR continues to experience submission problems, he/she may contact Grants.gov for assistance by phone at 1-800-518-4726 and/or email at support@grants.gov or contact Peter Murchie at 206-890-0196 and/or email at dieselgrants@epa.gov.
Application packages submitted thru grants.gov will be time/date stamped electronically.
If you have not received a confirmation of receipt from EPA (not from support@grant.gov) within 30 days of the application deadline, please contact Peter Murchie at 206-890-0196 and/or email at dieselgrants@epa.gov. Failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed.
If you have never used Grants.Gov before, here are some tips.
Most organizations have found Grants.Gov to be a user friendly system. The most frequent concern has occurred when an organization has delayed obtaining the unique electronic signature to the last minute.
Register for your electronic signature early! An electronic signature requires three levels of authorization before you can submit on line. You need to decide who will be the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR), the caretaker of the electronic signature for your organization. At a university the Chief Grant Official generally signs all of the electronic grants for the entire institution. If all goes well, this process takes about a week, but some organizations have encountered internal and external delays; therefore the registration process can take longer. .
Remember, you cannot submit your application online until your organization has e-authentication credentials. Here are the basic steps:
1. Obtain a Certified DUNS Number. You must first have a certified, unique Dun and Bradstreet Universal Data Numbering System (DUNS) number. Some organizations may have more than one DUNS number registered. Only one can be certified. This can lead to unanticipated delays.
2. Central Contractor Registry and Credential Provider Registration. Once you have your unique, approved DUNS number, you need to register with the Central Contractor Registry.
3. Grants.Gov Electronic Signature Authorization. Once steps A and B are complete, you will then need to contact Grants.Gov. The Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) will be assigned a password that will enable him or her to sign the Grants.Gov applications electronically. The AOR must be an individual who is able to make legally binding commitments for the applicant organization. Organizations may designate more than one AOR.
Be sure to download and read the instructions and the application at the Grants.Gov web site |
D. Intergovernmental Review (Top of Page)
Applicants (except for Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal Consortia) must comply with the Intergovernmental Review Process and/or consultation provisions of Executive Order 12372. EPA’s implementing regulations for this Executive Order can be found at 40 CFR §§29.1-29.13.
E. Confidential Business Information
In accordance with 40 CFR 2.203, applicants may claim all or a portion of their application/proposal as confidential business information. EPA will evaluate confidentiality claims in accordance with 40 CFR Part 2. Applicants must clearly mark applications/proposals or portions of applications/proposals they claim as confidential. If no claim of confidentiality is made, EPA is not required to make the inquiry to the applicant otherwise required by 40 CFR 2.204(c) (2) prior to disclosure.
E. DUNS
All applicants applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a Dun and Bradstreet Universal Data Numbering System (DUNS) number. Applicants who do not already have a DUNS number may find instruction for obtaining one at the following website: http://www.Grants.Gov/GetStarted. A DUNS number may also be obtained by calling 1-866-705-5711.
F. Pre-proposal/Application Communications and Assistance
In accordance with EPA's Competition Policy of January 11, 2005 (EPA Order 5700.5A1), EPA staff will not meet with individual applicants to discuss draft proposals, provide informal comments on draft proposals, or provide advice to applicants on how to respond to ranking criteria. Applicants are responsible for the contents of their applications.
However, EPA will respond to questions in writing (to dieselgrants@epa.gov) from individual applicants regarding threshold eligibility criteria, administrative issues related to the submission of the proposal, and requests for clarification about the announcement. All questions received before February 3, 2006 and their answers will be posted on the website (www.westcoastcollaborative.org) by February 6, 2006.
In addition, EPA will be hosting a Question and Answer session via teleconference on February 6, 2006 at 1pm PST, call-in number: 1-866-299-3188, passcode 2023439636#; and will attempt to answer any appropriate questions in this public forum. All questions and answers from the teleconference will be posted on the website no later than February 10, 2006, and additional questions and answers will be posted periodically.
V. Application Review Information (Top of Page)
A. Proposal Evaluation Criteria:
Proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria described below using the corresponding point values listed. Please make sure your proposal addresses each criterion. Proposals may receive a maximum of 100 points.
1. Clearly Defined/Measurable Outcomes: Degree to which the project has a clearly defined goal or objective that will result in immediate as well as future diesel emissions reductions that can be measured (10 points).
2. Regional in Scope: Degree to which the project has benefits that cross district, state or national borders. Projects that are merely transferable to other geographic areas, but have no immediate benefits outside a single district, will receive fewer points than those that are regional in design (10 points).
3. Sensitive Populations/Environmental Justice/Non-attainment: Degree to which the project will reduce environmental risks to sensitive populations and environmental justice communities and/or impact an area that is non-attainment for ozone or PM standards. Executive Order 12898 (http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/ej/exec_order_12898.pdf) defines environmental justice communities as minority and low-income populations with disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental impacts (15 points).
4. Collaboration/Partnerships and Leveraged Resources: Degree to which the project proposes to work in partnership with a diverse set of stakeholders and leverage significant resources to implement the proposal. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with other entities. (15 points).
5. Real/Quantifiable Outputs: Degree to which the applicant has provided an evaluative component to the project including an estimation of anticipated emissions (PM2.5, NOx, GHG and/or VOCs) reductions (in tons or lbs/year), the cost-effectiveness of the project (in $/lb or $/ton), the health and/or environmental benefits (quantified or qualified), operational concerns or other barriers to applying the technologies, and any other measurements as requested in Section I., D. Measuring Environmental Results, in addition to how the applicant’s success in achieving these outputs and outcomes will be measured. (20 points).
6. Timeline/Communication Plan: Degree to which the applicant has clear milestones with appropriate deadlines, including plans for extension, outreach or communications. Communications should lead to effective learning and/or adoption of new practices and as well as a plan to measure long-term results (10 points).
7. Experience with EPA-funded grant programs: Extent and quality to which the applicant has adequately documented or reported on its progress towards achieving the expected results under EPA and other Federal agency assistance agreements performed within the last three years. In evaluating applicants under this factor, EPA will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider other relevant information from other sources, including information from EPA files and from current and prior Federal agency grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information provided by the applicant). Applicants with no relevant information for this factor will receive a neutral score for it. (10 points).
8. Programmatic Capability: Under this factor, the Agency will evaluate the applicants technical ability to successfully carry out the proposed project taking into account the following factors: (i) past performance in successfully completing federally funded projects similar in size, scope, and relevance to the proposed project performed within the last 3 years , (ii) history of meeting reporting requirements under federally funded projects performed within the last 3 years and submitting acceptable final technical reports, (iii) organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project, and (iv) staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project. Note: In evaluating applicants under this factor, the Agency will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources including agency files and prior/current grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the information supplied by the applicant). Applicants with no relevant or available past performance or reporting history (items i and ii above), will receive a neutral score for those elements of this factor (10 points).
B. Review Procedures/Final Proposal Evaluation:
EPA Regions 9 and 10 and EPA Headquarters staff from a cross section of EPA programs will evaluate proposals. Proposals that meet all of the threshold eligibility factors identified in Section III will be evaluated based on each applicant's ability to meet the stated evaluation criteria above. The review panels will rank proposals based on this review and provide these rankings to a second review team made up of similar representatives. In developing the funding recommendations to be made to the selection official, the second review team will consider the review panels rankings and will also take into consideration the following factors: 1) the geographic distribution of funds; and 2) the distribution of funds across the 6 priority categories (Trucking, Marine Vessels and Ports, Construction and Distributed Generation, Locomotives and Rail, Agriculture Equipment, and Cleaner Fuels).
The review team will recommend approximately six to twelve finalists to complete an application kit. Final funding decisions will be made by the Region 9 and Region 10 Air Division Directors based on the recommendation of second review team. In making the final funding decisions the Region 9 and Region 10 Air Division Directors may also consider programmatic priorities.
Conflict of Interest: Reviewers will be required to sign a disclosure of conflict of interest form and will be removed from review of proposals where a real or potential conflict of interest exists, and cannot be mitigated.
VI. Award Administration Information (Top of Page)
Applicants that are selected as finalists will need to complete an application kit, including a detailed workplan. Selection as a finalist is not a guarantee of funding, nor is it an authorization to begin performance on the selected project. Deadlines must be met and EPA must approve the application and a workplan for funding to occur.
All costs incurred under this program must be allowable under the applicable OMB Cost Circulars. Copies of the circulars can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars. In certain circumstances costs incurred prior to the grant award may be eligible for reimbursement; however, this does not include any costs associated with responding to this solicitation or in finalizing the application package. If costs are incurred before the award without approval, they are incurred at the applicant’s or grantee’s own risk.
To the extent required by Federal, state, and local laws, successful applicants must abide by the competition requirements for all procurements under grants (this includes contracts for goods and services.) Successful applicants must also conduct a price and cost analyses to the extent required by federal, state or local procurement requirements before awarding any contracts.
Nonprofit applicants that are recommended for funding under this announcement may be subject to pre-award administrative capability reviews consistent with Sections 8.b, 8.c, and 9.d of EPA Order 5700.8, ‘EPA Policy on Assessing Capabilities of Non-Profit Applicants for Managing Assistance Awards’ which can be found at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/award/5700_8.pdf. Nonprofit applicants that qualify for funding may, depending on the size of the award, be required to fill out and submit to the Grants Management Office the Administrative Capability Form, with supporting documents, contained in Appendix A of EPA Order 5700.8.
Disputes: 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), which can be found at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-1371.htm.
Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the Agency Contact listed below.
VII. Agency Contact
For additional general information about this Request for Proposals contact:
Peter Murchie (Region 10)
Phone: 206-890-0196
Email: murchie.peter@epa.gov
VIII. Other Information (Top of Page)