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Questions and Answers Regarding the RFP on Prudent Disposal of Unwanted Medications
- Is the letter of intent (due Sept. 15) mandatory for all applicants wishing to submit proposals due by September 29?
- Is this the first year that this program is being offered by EPA?
- I understand that $225-300k is available through this program -- are there any min/max limitations on individual awards?
- Re eligibility, are cities, counties, and other political subdivisions considered "public or private nonprofit institutions" and are therefore eligible to apply in response to this announcement?
- Are foreign governmental organizations or localities eligible to apply?
- Can a for-profit company submit a proposal? If not, why are they excluded?
- Does "unwanted medication" refer only to those medications that are expired?
- Would the EPA consider the legal collection and dispensing of unwanted (and unexpired) medication a "prudent" method of disposal?
- Is it acceptable to include a short description of the project in the letter of intent?
- How is the Request for Proposals submission due 9/29/06 different from the Grant Solicitation Package due ~10/16/06? Is the Request for Proposals some sort of pre-proposal by which EPA screens applications such that the selected applicants submit a more detailed Grant Solicitation Package and non-selected applicants cannot submit a Grant Solicitation Package?
- "In another EPA grant we are looking at it calls for a document to be completed to determine threshold eligibility criteria". Even though that is mentioned in this RFP, no form is provided in the application packet or with the RFP.
- On the cover page of the proposal, among the information that needs to be there is "(d) Proposed funding request;" For that, should we put the name of the grant, the funding opportunity number, the amount of funding requested, or something else?
- That (if any) costs are ineligible related to this Funding Opportunity? Specifically, are payments for transportation and disposal of pharmaceutical waste eligible or ineligible?
- You do not have a disposal method designated in your RFP, is it assumed that all medications will be incinerated?
- We are confused by the intent of sorting according to class and type. Would the resident dropping off the medication be asked to self identify class of medication and the worker identify the Type by sight. At previous events residents have brought in bags of medication, all out of the bottle, and all mixed with no ideas what they were. Are you requiring that all medications be identified by a pharmacist with a PDR?
- Please describe what type of Personal Care Products you mean when you state pharmaceuticals and PCP would be allowed.
- Are you including sharps and diabetic supplies in the materials allowed pick up by the grant?
- Is there a lower age limit on those from whom unwanted medications are to be collected? If so, what is the precise age cutoff?
- Would EPA consider a proposal that seeks to provide a forum for the national resolution of key issues, and an exchange of information among pilot projects? Does this fit within the examples of potential projects that may be proposed under this solicitation, which "…include, but are not limited to new, innovative or experimental applications, technologies, methods or approaches to reducing the waste stream of unwanted medications and personal care products into landfills and groundwater."
- Should the grant proposal be single or double spaced, one-sided or two?
- What size font should be used?
- I am working through the RFP and it seems to me that the sections on Are all asking for the same information?
- Is the letter of intent (due Sept. 15) mandatory for all applicants wishing to submit proposals due by September 29?
While it is not mandatory to send a letter of intent to be considered for this solicitation, we encourage applicants to submit a letter. By submitting a letter of intent we will have a good idea how many applications to expect for planning purposes of the review panel(s).
- Is this the first year that this program is being offered by EPA?
Yes, this is the initial solicitation for these pilot demonstrations.
- I understand that $225-300k is available through this program -- are there any min/max limitations on individual awards?
The solicitation does not have a minimum or maximum amount for applicants. Per Section II. "Funds available for these projects are expected to total approximately $225,000-$300,000. EPA intends to award approximately three awards. EPA reserves the right to make no awards, or make fewer awards than anticipated, under the RFA. The EPA reserves the right consistent with agency policy and without further competition, to make additional awards under this RFA if additional funding becomes available."
- Re eligibility, are cities, counties, and other political subdivisions considered "public or private nonprofit institutions" and are therefore eligible to apply in response to this announcement?
Cities, counties and other political subdivisions are considered public nonprofit organizations and therefore are eligible to submit a proposal under this RFA.
Section III. of the RFP addresses eligibility information.
"EPA is soliciting proposals from States, or state agencies, the District of Columbia, territories, American Indian Tribes (federally recognized), and possessions of the U.S. It is also available to public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public or private nonprofit institutions, and 501© (3) organizations."
- Are foreign governmental organizations or localities eligible to apply?
No, foreign governmental organizations or localities are not eligible to apply under this RFP.
- Can a for-profit company submit a proposal? If not, why are they excluded?
One of the threshold criteria for this solicitation requires that the activities carried out are authorized under the Clean Water Act, Section 104; the Safe Drinking Water Act sections 1442(a) and (c) the Solid Disposal Act, section 8001. All of these statutes prohibit issuing grants to for profits entities.
- Does "unwanted medication" refer only to those medications that are expired?
- Would the EPA consider the legal collection and dispensing of unwanted (and unexpired) medication a "prudent" method of disposal?
- Is it acceptable to include a short description of the project in the letter of intent?
- How is the Request for Proposals submission due 9/29/06 different from the Grant Solicitation Package due ~10/16/06? Is the Request for Proposals some sort of pre-proposal by which EPA screens applications such that the selected applicants submit a more detailed Grant Solicitation Package and non-selected applicants cannot submit a Grant Solicitation Package?
- Clearly defined goals of the project;
- Scope of the project; involvement by older adults;
- Collaboration/partnerships and leveraged resources
- Timeline/communication plan
- Quantifiable outputs. Include a plan to track and measure environmental results.
- Experience in achieving expected results
- Programmatic capability
- "In another EPA grant we are looking at it calls for a document to be completed to determine threshold eligibility criteria". Even though that is mentioned in this RFP, no form is provided in the application packet or with the RFP.
- On the cover page of the proposal, among the information that needs to be there is "(d) Proposed funding request;" For that, should we put the name of the grant, the funding opportunity number, the amount of funding requested, or something else?
The only information needed for part (d) "proposed funding request" of the cover sheet is the dollar amount you are requesting.
- What (if any) costs are ineligible related to this Funding Opportunity? Specifically, are payments for transportation and disposal of pharmaceutical waste eligible or ineligible?
All potential recipients should develop their budget (allowable costs) based on the OMB Cost Principle that applies to their organization type; state and local government; educational institution or non-profit organizations.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/index.html
The website has specific information based on the type of organization applying. For example, OMB Circular A-21 contains information for Educational Institutions; OMB Circular A-87 contains information for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments; and OMB Circular A-122 provides information on cost principles for Non-Profit Organizations.
- You do not have a disposal method designated in your RFP, is it assumed that all medications will be incinerated?
- We are confused by the intent of sorting according to class and type. Would the resident dropping off the medication be asked to self identify class of medication and the worker identify the Type by sight. At previous events residents have brought in bags of medication, all out of the bottle, and all mixed with no ideas what they were. Are you requiring that all medications be identified by a pharmacist with a PDR?
- Please describe what type of Personal Care Products you mean when you state pharmaceuticals and PCP would be allowed.
- Are you including sharps and diabetic supplies in the materials allowed pick up by the grant?
Diabetic materials that are associated with the testing and/or diagnosis hardware are not covered under the definition of personal care products, however, insulin is included in the definition of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products.
- Is there a lower age limit on those from whom unwanted medications are to be collected? If so, what is the precise age cutoff?
No, there is no lower age limit; however, the nature of a program might be different for older Americans (which is the focus of this RFA) where issues such as mobility/transportation, residential clustering and so forth might be different.
- Would EPA consider a proposal that seeks to provide a forum for the national resolution of key issues, and an exchange of information among pilot projects? Does this fit within the examples of potential projects that may be proposed under this solicitation, which " .include, but are not limited to new, innovative or experimental applications, technologies, methods or approaches to reducing the waste stream of unwanted medications and personal care products into landfills and groundwater."
Since this question addresses the very design of a pilot proposal we are unable to comment. The areas where we are permitted to provide pre-proposal assistance include eligibility, threshold criteria or clarification about the announcement. See below.
Section F of the RFP, 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 from individual applicants’ questions, sent in writing to aging.info@epa.gov regarding threshold eligibility criteria, administrative issues related to the submission of the proposal, and requests for clarification about the announcement."To be eligible for funding proposals must meet the following threshold criteria.
C. Eligibility Screening Requirements: Threshold Criteria
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.- A prudent disposal of unwanted medications project must consist of activities authorized under one or more of the following EPA authorities: Clean Water Act section 104; Safe Drinking Water Act sections 1442(a) and (c); and Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001. Most of the statutes authorize grants for the following activities: "research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys and studies." These activities relate generally to the gathering or transferring of information or advancing the state of knowledge. Grant proposals should emphasize this "learning" concept, as opposed to "fixing" an environmental problem via a well-established method. The project's activities must advance the state of knowledge or transfer information. The statutory term "demonstration" can encompass the first instance of the application of pollution control and prevention techniques, or an innovative application of a previously used method. The term "research" may include the application of established practices when they contribute to "learning" about an environmental concept or problem.
- Proposals must support Goal 4 of EPA’s Strategic Plan to sustain, clean up, and restore communities and the ecological systems that support them.
- 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.
- 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.
- The proposal must survey why individuals are returning their medications, in order to look at the root causes of returned/unused medications. The proposal must make a qualitative assessment of what classes of medications are being returned, i.e. oral tablet, liquid, transdermal patch, and quantity. It is not necessary to collect detailed information on brand names or dosage strength.
- Multiple Proposals: Organizations may submit only one proposal for this solicitation.
Finally, EPA does have another solicitation that specifically addresses convening a conference, workshops or meetings. EPA has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) soliciting applications from eligible applicants for conducting, conferences, workshops, and/or meetings. The opening date for this BAA is January 19, 2006 and it will close on January 18, 2007. The Agency will make funding decisions on a quarterly basis beginning approximately April 18, 2006, and thereafter approximately every three months. The next funding decisions will be approximately on July 17, 2006, October 16, 2006, and January 16, 2007. However, in order for a proposal to be considered for funding, it must be received by EPA no later than three months prior to the start of the conference for which the applicant is requesting EPA funding under this BAA and no later than January 18, 2007. Please see http://www.epa.gov/aging/grants/grant-list/2006_0131_grant_1.htm
- Should the grant proposal be single or double spaced, one-sided or two?
We prefer, but not require, that the proposal be single-spaced and one-sided.
- What size font should be used?
We prefer, but do not require that the size of the font used in the proposal be 12.
- I am working through the RFP and it seems to me that the sections on
- Experience dealing with Federal Agencies
- Environmental results past performance
- Programmatic capability
No. Though they may appear similar they are dealing with different information.
Section 6.c. of the EPA Order 5700.7, Environmental Results Under EPA Assistance Agreements (the "Order"), states that: "All competitive funding announcements for assistance agreements issued after January 1, 2006, must include ranking criteria for evaluating the applicant's past performance in reporting on outputs and outcomes," This deals with environmental results past performance and is covered by the Experience with other Federal Agencies criterion in Section V. - it is specific with respect to how applicants reported on whether they were achieving outcomes and outputs under prior agreements unlike the programmatic capability factor which focuses more generally on how ell applicants performed prior agreements and how they propose to perform the grant being competed for - the programmatic capability factor relates more to the technical ability of the applicant to perform the proposed project.
"Unwanted medications" (and personal care products) are better thought of as unused "leftovers." This includes any item that has not been consumed or used and which therefore eventually will require disposal. They are many reasons that these items are never completely used, leaving unused leftovers including patient non-compliance, loss of interest on the part of the patient or the medication expired.
Since this question addresses the very design of a pilot proposal we decline to offer comment.The areas where we are permitted to provide pre-proposal assistance include eligibility, threshold criteria or clarification about the announcement. See below.
Section F of the RFP, 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 from individual applicants’ questions, sent in writing to aging.info@epa.gov regarding threshold eligibility criteria, administrative issues related to the submission of the proposal, and requests for clarification about the announcement."
The purpose of the letters of intent is to assist the agency in planning on the number of reviewers needed to evaluate all of the proposals that are submitted. The letters will not be evaluated so it is up to you on whether you would like to go into detail in the letter of intent. The information that would be useful would be the name of the organization or entity that intends to submit an application.
The difference between the request for proposal and the grant solicitation package is that the request for proposals requests information specific to this solicitation (see page limit and all of the required items to be submitted in Section IV. Application and Submission Information. All the proposals will be evaluated and the top ranked proposals will be requested to submit the Grants Solicitation package which contains information that the EPA requires for all funding acquisitions including cooperative agreements and grants.
Applicants that are selected as finalists will need to complete an Grant Solicitation Package 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.
Request for Proposals A. Proposal/Application Materials
The following form and information is required to be submitted under this announcement no matter what the mode of submission:
I. Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance
II. Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A).
III. Project Description Narrative(1) Cover Page (Required) (no more than two pages).
The Cover page should include the following information:(a) Name of Project
(b) Point of contact/s (Individual and Organization Name, Address, Phone number, Fax number and Email address
(c) Type of applicant organization (e.g., nonprofit, government
agency, etc.) non-profit number.
(d) Proposed funding request;
(2) Project Narrative: The project narrative must cover the following items that are outlined in detail in Section V. proposal evaluation criteria
Grant Solicitation Package
The grant solicitation package requires additional information that is required of all entities that request federal assistance. The Grant solicitation package can be found at grants.gov and at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/contents.htm. Some of the required items of the request for proposal package is required in the grants solicitation package including the following:
I. 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.
II. Standard Form SF 424A – Budget Information:
Complete the form. There are no attachments.
The total amount of federal funding requested for the project period should be shown on line 5(e) and on line 6(k) of SF-424A. If indirect costs are included, the amount of indirect costs should be entered on line 6(j). The indirect cost rate (i.e., a percentage), the base (e.g., personnel costs and fringe benefits), and the amount should also be indicated on line 22.An example of information that is in the grant solicitation package but not in the request for proposals package would be the Pre-award Compliance Review Report for all Applicants requesting Federal Assistance, EPA form 4700-4.
Threshold Criteria are requirements that proposals must meet or contain to be eligible for the funds under this proposal. You are correct is there is no form to self assess whether you meet the requirements contained in the Threshold Criteria section. The threshold criteria requirements:
C. Eligibility Screening Requirements: Threshold Criteria 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) A prudent disposal of unwanted medications project must consist of activities authorized under one or more of the following EPA authorities: Clean Water Act section 104; Safe Drinking Water Act sections 1442(a) and (c); and Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001. Most of the statutes authorize grants for the following activities: "research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys and studies.'' These activities relate generally to the gathering or transferring of information or advancing the state of knowledge. Grant proposals should emphasize this "learning" concept, as opposed to "fixing" an environmental problem via a well-established method. The project's activities must advance the state of knowledge or transfer information. The statutory term "demonstration" can encompass the first instance of the application of pollution control and prevention techniques, or an innovative application of a previously used method. The term "research"' may include the application of established practices when they contribute to "learning" about an environmental concept or problem.
(2) Proposals must support Goal 4 of EPA's Strategic Plan to sustain, clean up, and restore communities and the ecological systems that support them.
(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) The proposal must survey why individuals are returning their medications, in order to look at the root causes of returned/unused medications. The proposal must make a qualitative assessment of what classes of medications are being returned, i.e. oral tablet, liquid, transdermal patch, and quantity. It is not necessary to collect detailed information on brand names or dosage strength.
(6) Multiple Proposals: Organizations may submit only one proposal for this solicitation.
Since this question addresses the very design of a pilot proposal we are unable to
comment. The areas where we are permitted to provide pre-proposal assistance include eligibility, threshold criteria or clarification about the announcement. See below.Section F RFP, 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 from individual applicants’ questions, sent in writing to aging.info@epa.gov regarding threshold eligibility criteria, administrative issues related to the submission of the proposal, and requests for clarification about the announcement."
Per the RPF on page 1, "Inventory data could prove useful to the medical community in altering its prescribing practices to reduce the incidence of leftover or unused medications. It is expected that a pharmacist would be needed to determine the classes of medications returned, and law enforcement may need to be present should controlled substances or illegal drugs be collected."
In addition, item 5 of the threshold states "The proposal must survey why individuals are returning their medications, in order to look at the root causes of returned/unused medications. The proposal must make a qualitative assessment of what classes of medications are being returned, i.e. oral tablet, liquid, transdermal patch, and quantity. It is not necessary to collect detailed information on brand names or dosage strength.
The grant solicitation includes prudent disposal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products. The acronym "PPCPs" was coined in the critical review published in Environmental Health Perspectives as shorthand to refer to Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products. PPCPs comprise a very broad, diverse collection of thousands of chemical substances, including prescription and over-the-counter therapeutic drugs, fragrances, cosmetics, sun-screen agents, diagnostic agents, nutraceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, and many others. This broad collection of substances refers, in general, to any product consumed by individuals for personal health or cosmetic reasons.
Pre-proposal/Application Communication
EPA will respond to questions in writing received in writing to aging.info@epa.gov regarding threshold eligibility criteria, administrative issues and clarification of the announcement received before September 8, 2006. Responses will be posted on this website at http://www.epa.gov/aging/grants/index.htm.