Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants and Cooperative Agreements

1. Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program

1. Introduction
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants and Cooperative Agreements is 66.814.

1.1 Background
EPA's brownfields program thrives on four basic goals and principles – protecting the environment, partnering for success, stimulating the marketplace, and promoting sustainable reuse. As the federal leader of the national Brownfields Program, EPA is committed to supporting training, research and technical assistance that will further the goals of the program and provide enhanced knowledge, tools, and processes to the broad range of non-Federal brownfields stakeholders (e.g., state, local and other non-governmental entities)

On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. This law expands potential federal financial assistance for training, research, and technical assistance related to brownfields cleanup and redevelopment. The new law requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish guidance to assist applicants in preparing grant proposals. These guidelines implement that requirement for training, research, and technical assistance grants and cooperative agreements.

1.2 Training, Research and Technical Assistance under the National Brownfields Program
The need for training, research, and technical assistance of increasing depth and breadth has expanded as the Brownfields program has grown. Projects addressing various topics and reaching various stakeholders will allow for sound decision-making and will help cleanup and revitalize brownfields properties. As brownfields issues affect many different stakeholders, we anticipate a variety of organizations, representing a variety of non-Federal constituents will have an interest in brownfields-related issues and will want to conduct relevant training, research and technical assistance for the benefit of its constituents.

These guidelines provide eligible applicants an opportunity to apply for federal funding for brownfields-related training, research or technical assistance. Subsequent sections of these guidelines provide definitions of training, research, and technical assistance, as well as a description of the subject areas for which EPA is interested in supporting projects for the benefit of brownfields stakeholders.

1.3 Deadlines
Proposals must be postmarked by April 14, 2003. Depending on the availability of funds, EPA expects to select approximately 10 Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants/Cooperative Agreements by the end of June 2003. EPA plans to provide pre-application assistance in the form of an open meeting. The tentative date for the meeting is March 14, 2003. In addition, potential applicants may submit written requests for clarifications to Beth Zelenski at zelenski.beth@epa.gov. She will post significant clarifications on www.epa.gov/brownfields. This is the only pre-application assistance available. EPA staff will not meet with applicants to discuss draft proposals or provide informal comments on draft proposals.

Please note that taking advantage of pre-application assistance from EPA does not guarantee selection by the evaluation panel.

1.4 Authority for Financial Assistance
Funding for the brownfields training, research, and technical assistance grants and cooperative agreements is authorized under §104(k)(6) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (CERCLA or Superfund), 42 U.S.C. 9604(k)(6). This statute authorizes EPA to provide, or fund eligible entities or nonprofit organizations to provide brownfields training, research, and technical assistance to individuals and organizations. EPA awards grants and cooperative agreements authorized by §104(k) under a ranking system that includes factors relating to community need, impact on human health and the environment, stimulation or leveraging of other funds, eligibility for funding from other sources, effective use of existing infrastructure.

EPA anticipates awarding both grants and cooperative agreements under this RFA. Cooperative agreements provide for substantial involvement on the part of the federal government. By awarding a cooperative agreement, EPA anticipates substantial involvement in your training, research or technical assistance activities. EPA may collaborate with cooperative agreement recipients through routinely scheduled conference calls, as well as ad-hoc e-mails, faxes, site visits, and any other necessary communications.

1.5 Funds Available for Award
Funding for financial assistance under CERCLA 104(k)(6) is limited, by statute, to no more than 15% of the amount available for CERCLA 104(k) grants. EPA estimates that $2 Million will be available to make up to 10 assistance agreement awards, contingent upon the availability of funds. EPA reserves the right to make no awards.

Grants and cooperative agreements under this RFA will be incrementally funded on a year to year basis. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to EPA's priorities, and availability of funds. EPA expects the period of performance for projects funded under this RFA to range from 2 to 5 years.

Please note: As financial assistance will be awarded incrementally, it is important that you provide annual budgets as well as a total budget for your project in your proposal.

1.6 Eligible Applicants
Eligibility is limited to governmental applicants and non-profit organizations. Public and private universities are eligible as well. For profit organizations are not eligible.

Eligible governmental applicants include a general purpose unit of local government, a land clearance authority or other quasi-governmental entity that operates under the supervision and control of or as an agent of a general purpose unit of government; a governmental entity created by a state legislature; a regional council or group of general purpose unit of local government; a redevelopment agency that is chartered or otherwise sanctioned by a state; a state; "an Indian Tribe (other than in Alaska), or an Alaskan Native Regional Corporation and an Alaska Native Village Corporation as those terms are defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act(43 U.S.C. 1601 and following) and the Metlakatla Indian Community. State colleges, community colleges, and universities may be eligible as a governmental entity created by a state, depending on state law.

Eligible nonprofit organizations include any organizations that meet the definition of a nonprofit in Section 4(6) of the Federal Financial Management Assistance Act of 1999, Public Law 106-107, 31 U.S.C. 6101 Note. This definition includes nonprofit universities and educational institutions. However, nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply.

1.7 Coalition Applications
Groups of two or more eligible applicants may choose to form a coalition and submit a single application for these assistance agreements. Intertribal consortia, except consortia comprised on ineligible Alaska tribes, are eligible to apply as well. Coalitions must identify which eligible organization will be the recipient of the assistance agreement, and which eligible organization(s) will be subawardees of the recipient. Subawards must be consistent with the definition of that term in 40 CFR 30.2(ff). Any contracts for services or products funded with EPA financial assistance must be awarded under the competitive procurement provisions of 40 CFR Part 30. The recipient must administer the assistance agreement, is accountable to EPA for proper expenditure of the funds, and will be the point of contact for the coalition. As provided in 40 CFR 30.2(gg), subrecipients are accountable to the recipient for proper use of EPA funding.

1.8 Limitations on Uses of EPA Funds
All funds from the grant or cooperative agreement must be used specifically for activities related to brownfields training, research, or technical assistance. Pursuant to CERCLA §104(k)(6), assistance agreement funds cannot be used to cover administrative costs. For additional information on the statutory administrative cost prohibition, please refer to Appendix A (Prohibition on Use of Funds).

The assistance agreements awarded under this RFA will be subject to 40 CFR Parts 30 and 34 and OMB Cost Circulars A-21 (Universities) A-87 (governmental applicants), and A-122 (non-profit applicants). In accordance with EPA guidance and the OMB Circulars, as appropriate, the recipient must agree that it will not use assistance funds for lobbying, fund-raising or political activities (e.g., lobbying members of Congress, or lobbying for other federal grants, cooperative agreements or contracts). The terms and conditions of the formal assistance agreement may put additional and specific limitations on the funding.

Go to Part 2. Definitions of Training, Research and Technical Assistance for Grants/Cooperative Agreements

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
1.1. Background
1.2. Training, Research and Technical Assistance under the National Brownfields Program
1.3. Deadlines
1.4. Authority for Financial Assistance
1.5. Funds Available for Award
1.6. Eligible Applicants
1.7. Coalition Applications
1.8. Limitations on Uses of EPA Funds

2. Definitions of Training, Research and Technical Assistance for Grants/Cooperative Agreements

3. Description of Subject Areas for Training, Research, and Technical Assistance
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Subject Area Descriptions

4. Requested Assistance Type(s) and Funding

5. Proposal Contents
5.1. Cover Page
5.2. Overview
5.3. Budget
5.4. Response to Threshold Criteria
5.6. Attachments

6. Threshold Criteria

7. Ranking Criteria

8. Evaluation of the Proposals

9. Proposal Submission Schedule

Appendix A. Prohibited Uses of Funds

Appendix B. Sample Topics for Brownfields Training, Research and Technical Assistance Projects