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Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) Regional Grants; Notice of Funds Availability
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: June 30, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 125)]
[Notices]
[Page 37827-37831]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30jn05-84]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-2005-0137; FRL-7715-3]
Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) Regional
Grants; Notice of Funds Availability
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice
-----------------------------------------------------------------------.
SUMMARY: EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), in coordination with
the EPA Regional Offices, is soliciting applications for projects that
further the goals of the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program
(PESP). Eligible applicants include the 50 States, District of
Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any
territory or possession of the United States, any agency or
instrumentality of a State including State universities, and all
federally recognized Tribes. Under this program, assistance agreements
will provide financial support to eligible applicants to carry out
projects that reduce the risks associated with pesticide use in
agricultural and non-agricultural settings. The total amount of funding
available for award in FY 2005 is expected to be approximately
$470,000, with a maximum funding level of $47,000 per project.
DATES: Submit your proposals in accordance with the detailed
instructions in Unit IV.3. no later than August 15, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to your EPA Regional PESP
Coordinator listed in Unit VII.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Your EPA Regional PESP Coordinator
listed in Unit VII.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
The following listing provides certain key information concerning
the proposal opportunity.
? Federal agency name: Environmental Protection Agency.
? Funding opportunity title: Pesticide Environmental
Stewardship Program (PESP) Regional Grants; Notice of Funds Availability.
? Funding opportunity number: OPP-006.
? Announcement type: The initial announcement of a funding opportunity.
? Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: This
program is included in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under
number 66.714 at http://www.cfda.gov. 
? Dates: Applications must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal
Service, hand delivered, or include official delivery service
documentation indicating EPA Regional Office acceptance from a delivery
service no later than August 15, 2005.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Authority
EPA expects to enter into assistance agreements under the authority
of section 20 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act(FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 136r, which authorizes the Agency to issue grants
or cooperative agreements for research, public education, training,
monitoring, demonstrations, and studies. Regulations governing these
assistance agreements are found at 40 CFR part 30 for institutions of
higher education, colleges and universities, and nonprofit
organizations, and 40 CFR part 31 for States and local governments. In
addition, the provisions in 40 CFR part 32, governing government wide
debarment and suspension; and the provisions in 40 CFR part 34,
regarding restrictions on lobbying apply. All costs incurred under this
program must be allowable under the applicable OMB Cost Circulars: A-87
(States and local governments), A-122 (nonprofit organizations), or A-
21 (universities). Copies of these circulars can be found at http://
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/. In accordance with EPA policy
and the OMB circulars, as appropriate, any recipient of funding must agree
not to 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). See 40 CFR part 34.
B. Program Description
1. Purpose and scope. Assistance agreements awarded under this
program are intended to provide financial assistance to eligible States
and Tribal governments for projects that address pesticide risk
reduction, integrated pest management (IPM), IPM in schools, children's
health issues related to pesticides, and those research methods for
documenting IPM adoption or the reduction of risks associated with
changes in pesticide use. Other projects will be considered as they
complement these goals through public education, training, monitoring,
demonstrations, and other activities. Emphasis will be placed on those
projects with defined outcomes that can quantitatively document project
impacts. Although the proposal may request funding for activities that
will further long-term objectives, this program provides onetime
funding, and the maximum period of performance for funded activities is
expected to be not more than 24 months.
2. Activities to be funded. EPA specifically seeks to build IPM
capacities or to evaluate the feasibility of new IPM approaches at the
local level
[[Page 37828]]
(i.e., innovative approaches and methodologies that use application or
other strategies to reduce the risks associated with pesticide use).
Projects might focus on, for example:
i. Developing and utilizing measures to determine and document
progress in pesticide risk reduction.
ii. Investigating methods for establishing IPM as an environmental
management priority, establishing prevention goals, developing
strategies to meet those goals, and integrating the ethic within both
governmental and non-governmental institutions of the State or region.
iii. Initiating projects that test and support: Innovative
techniques for reducing pesticide risk or using pesticides in a way to
reduce risk, and innovative application techniques to reduce worker and
environmental exposure.
iv. Conducting projects focusing on IPM for specific pests.
3. Goals and objectives. Through the assistance agreements awarded
under this program, EPA intends that recipients address specific
pesticide risk reduction concerns.
4. EPA strategic plan linkage and anticipated outcomes/outputs.
i. Linkage to EPA Strategic Plan/GPRA Architecture. These
assistance agreements will support progress towards EPA Strategic Plan
Goal 4, Healthy Communities and Ecosystems, Objective 4.1: Chemical,
Organism, and Pesticide Risks: Prevent and Reduce Pesticide, Chemical,
and Genetically Engineered Biological Organism Risks to Humans,
Communities, and Ecosystems. These projects will support EPA's efforts
in pesticide risk reduction by fostering IPM adoption, developing IPM
program components, testing and supporting innovative techniques for
reducing pesticide risk, and disseminating information on proven
reduced risk pest management approaches.
ii. Outcomes. Through these agreements EPA hopes to work with
States and Tribes so they can reduce risks from exposure to pesticides
through implementation of proven reduced risk approaches to pest
management.
iii. Outputs. The anticipated output of these PESP projects may
include educational and outreach materials, increased IPM adoption,
conferences, training, and other programs, policies, and activities
that will result in the reduction of pesticide risks.
5. History. The goal of the PESP is to reduce the risks associated
with pesticide use in agricultural and non-agricultural settings in the
United States. Each year since 1996, EPA's Office of Pesticide
Programs, in coordination with the EPA Regions, has published similar
solicitations, awarding approximately $470,000 annually to eligible
State and Tribal entities for projects supporting pesticide risk
reduction. This Federal Register notice provides qualification and
application requirements to parties who may be interested in submitting
proposals for fiscal year 2005 monies. A list of projects funded since
fiscal year 1998 and their proposals may be obtained at
http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/PESP/regional_grants.htm or from your
Regional PESP Coordinator.
II. Award Information
The funding for each selected award project will be in the form of
an assistance agreement awarded under FIFRA section 20. The total
funding available for award in FY 2005 is expected to be approximately
$470,000, with a maximum funding level of $47,000 per project. Indirect
cost rates will not increase the $47,000 maximum funding amount.
Should additional funding become available for award, the Agency
may award additional grants based on this solicitation and in
accordance with the final selection process, without further notice of
competition during the first 4 months following the competition award.
The Agency also reserves the right to decrease available funding for
this program, or to make no awards based on this solicitation.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Threshold eligibility factors. To be eligible for consideration,
applicants must meet all of the following criteria. Proposals that do
not meet these threshold criteria will be rejected without further
evaluation.
i. Eligible applicants include the 50 States, District of Columbia,
U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or
possession of the United States, any agency or instrumentality of a
State including State universities, and all federally recognized Tribes.
ii. All proposed project activities must be eligible under the
authorizing statute, FIFRA section 20 (7 U.S.C. 136r).
iii. The proposal must meet all format and content requirements
contained in Unit IV.
iv. The proposal must comply with the directions for submittal
contained in Unit IV.
2. Cost sharing or matching. There are no cost share requirements
for this project.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to request a proposal package. Contact your EPA Regional
PESP Coordinator listed in Unit VII. A generic proposal format is also
available from EPA at http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/PESP/regional_grants.htm.
2. Content and form of proposal submission. Proposals must be
typewritten, double-spaced, using 8.5 x 11 inch paper with minimum 1
inch horizontal and vertical margins. Pages must be numbered in order
starting with the cover page and continuing through the appendices. One
original and one electronic copy (disk or CD ROM) are
required.Applications must contain a narrative proposal, and one
completed and signed Federal grant application package. The narrative
proposal must explicitly describe the applicant's proposed project and
specifically address each of the evaluation criteria disclosed in Unit
V.1. of this notice.
A complete application must contain the following, in the
sequential order shown:
? Completed Standard Form SF-424, Application for Federal
Assistance with organization fax number and e-mail address. The
application forms are available on line at
http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm.
? Proposal narrative. The narrative must conform to the
following format and contain the following information:
Proposal narrative. Includes Parts I-IV as identified below. The
narrative must conform to the following format:
Part I--Summary Information (page 1).
i. EPA docket ID number OPP 2005-0137.
ii. Applicant information. Include applicant (organization) name,
address, contact person, phone number, fax and e-mail address.
iii. Title of project.
iv. Purpose statement. One sentence description of what will be
accomplished as a result of the project.
v. Project duration.
vi. Funding requested. A budget table that lists first year
funding, second year funding, and total funding being requested and any
matching funds that will be provided.
Part II--Executive Summary (page 2). Summary of key objectives and
final products (expected outputs and outcomes) including the measurable
environmental results you expect including potential human health and
ecological benefits.
Part III--Narrative (page 3 up to page 11). Includes sectionsi-viii
as identified below and may not exceed eight pages.
[[Page 37829]]
i. Objectives. Identify the key factors or achievements necessary
to the success of the project.
ii. Rationale. For each objective listed above, discuss the
potential outcome in terms of environmental, human health, pesticide
risk and/or use reduction or pollution prevention.
iii. Approach and methods. Describe in detail how the project will
be carried out. Describe how the system or approach will support the
project goals.
iv. Background information. This should contain information on
current state of knowledge of the proposed project. This may be in the
form of a literature review or a summary of collective activities. If
your organization has received previous funding on this effort, please
provide the agency/organization name and project number.
v. Resources. What human resources, funding, potential
collaborators and/or existing networks do you offer to increase
possibility of project success? Please state the role these people and/
or organizations will play in the project.
vi. Measures and outcomes. What will be different as a result of
this project? How will you evaluate the success of the project in terms
of measurable environmental results? Quantifiable risk reduction
measures should be described.
vii. Outreach. Describe how you will promote the project so that
information is clearly presented and useful to the intended audience. A
strong proposal will use a variety of methods for education and
information dissemination.
viii. Sustainability. Describe how the efforts may continue after
the EPA funding ends and how information learned in the project may be
useful to other locales, commodities, or a broader audience.
Part IV--Appendices. The following appendices must be included in
the proposal. Additional appendices are not permitted.
i. Appendix A--Literature Cited. List cited key literature
references alphabetically by author.
ii. Appendix B--Timetable. A timetable that includes what will be
accomplished under each of the objectives during the project and when
completion of each objective is anticipated.
iii. Appendix C--Major Participants. List all affiliates or other
organizations, educators, trainers, and others having a major role in
the proposal. Provide name, organizational affiliation, or occupation
and a description of the role each will play in the project. A brief
resume (not to exceed two pages) should be submitted for each major
project manager, educator, support staff, or other major participant.
iv. Appendix D--Project Budget. Use Form 424A and provide narrative
on how resources will be spent. The budget should outline costs for
personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual,
indirect cost rate, and any other costs associated with the proposed
project.
3. Application submission. Applications must be submitted by mail
or courier.
i. Submission method. Submit one complete copy of your proposal
along with an electronic version on disk or CD ROM to your EPA Regional
PESP Coordinator listed in Unit VII. Your name, e-mail address, and
telephone number must appear on the outside of any disk or CD ROM you
submit. The electronic submission must be consolidated into a single
file and in Microsoft Word for Windows, WordPerfect for Windows, or
Adobe PDF format.
ii. Submission dates and times. EPA will consider all proposals
that are postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service or include official
delivery service documentation indicating EPA Regional Office
acceptance from a delivery service no later than August 15, 2005. If
proposals are not submitted or postmarked by August 15, 2005, they will
be rejected and will not be considered for funding.
4. Intergovernmental Review. All applicants should be aware that
formal requests for assistance (i.e., SF 424 and associated
documentation) may be subject to intergovernmental review under
Executive Order 12372 ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
Applicants should contact their states' single point of contact (SOC)
for further information. There is a list of these contacts at the
following web site: http://whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
5. Funding restrictions. EPA grant 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. Assistance agreement funds
may not be used for matching funds for other Federal grants, lobbying,
or intervention in Federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In
addition, Federal funds may not be used to sue the Federal government
or any other governmental entity. All costs identified in the budget
must conform to applicable Federal Cost Principles contained in OMB
Circular A-87; A-122; and A-21, as appropriate. Indirect cost rates
will not increase the maximum funding amount.
6. Other submission requirements. Awards involving the collection
of environmental data will be subject to the requirements of a Quality
Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) and will require coordination with the
EPA Regional PESP Coordinator listed in Unit VII. A QAPP is not
required at the time of submittal but will be required if selected for
funding.
7. 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
confidential 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(2) prior to disclosure.
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria. Applicants will be screened to ensure that they meet
all eligibility criteria and will be disqualified if they do not meet
all eligibility criteria. EPA Regional PESP Coordinators are
responsible for the receipt and will coordinate the screening and
selection of proposals. The corresponding points next to each criterion
are the weights that will be used to evaluate the applications. Please
note that certain sections are given greater weight than others. Each
application will be ranked based on the following evaluation criteria
(Total: 100 points):
i. Clearly stated objectives. Are the project objectives clearly
stated and consistent with the pesticide risk reduction goals of PESP?
Do the objectives implement reduced risk pest control techniques,
develop strategies that will lead to implementation of such projects,
or document the trends toward the adoption of IPM or the reduction of
risk associated with pesticide use? (Weight: 10 points)
ii. Critical pesticide risk reduction need. Does the project
identify a regionally/nationally critical pesticide risk reduction
issue? Does the project clearly explain the importance of the project
and define the environmental problem? (Weight: 15 points)
iii. Project design/past performance. Does the project specify
realistic goals and objectives that deal with the identified problem?
Does the project demonstrate potential for long-term benefits? Can the
project be accomplished within the designated 24-month time frame? Does
the project
[[Page 37830]]
apply holistic problem-solving, particularly biological systems, and
address multiple components of the system? Does the project build upon
or consider lessons learned from existing efforts, or leverage other
significant activities? Does the workplan commit to providing regular
project reports including progress on measurement? (Weight: 20 points)
iv. Qualifications. Does the applicant demonstrate sufficient
experience in the field of the proposed activity? Does the applicant
have the properly trained staff, facilities, or infrastructure in place
to conduct the project? (Weight: 5 points)
v. Performance measures. Is the project designed in such a way that
it is maximized to measure and document the results quantitatively and
qualitatively? Does the applicant identify the method that will be used
to measure and document the project's results quantitatively and
qualitatively? Will the project assess or suggest a new means of
measuring progress in reducing pesticide risks and result in
information that will be valuable to other efforts? Is the project
likely to achieve predicted environmental results, expected outcomes,
project goals, and produce quantifiable environmental change identified
in Unit I of the announcement. Is a description of expected outcomes
included? (Weight: 25 points)
vi. Outreach and transferability. Does the project include
participation of partner organizations? Does the project include the
involvement of local stakeholders, grower-to-grower education, or
grower-to-scientist interaction to achieve technology transfer? Is the
project likely to be replicated in other areas by other organizations
or is the product likely to have broad utility to a widespread
audience? (Weight: 25 points)
2. Review and selection process. Applications will be reviewed and
evaluated for validity and completeness by the EPA Regional PESP
Coordinators. If the Region determines that an application is
incomplete, the proposal will not be considered further. Each Regional
PESP Coordinator will convene a panel consisting of Regional staff to
evaluate all complete proposal packages. The highest rated/ranked
proposal in each Region will be funded.
3. Anticipated announcement and award dates. Final selections will
be made approximately 28 days after the closing date for receipt of
proposals. The Agency reserves the right to reject all proposals and
make no awards.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award notices. The EPA Regional PESP Coordinator will e-mail an
acknowledgment to applicants upon receipt of the application. Once all
of the applications have been reviewed, evaluated, and ranked,
applicants will be notified of the outcome of the competition. A
listing of the successful proposals will be posted on the PESP
website(http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/PESP/regional_grants.htm) at the
conclusion of the competition.
2. Administrative and national policy requirements. An applicant
whose proposal is selected for Federal funding must complete additional
forms prior to award (see 40 CFR 30.12 and 31.10), and will be required
to certify that they have not been debarred or suspended from
participation in Federal assistance awards in accordance with 40 CFR
part 32.
Selected applicants must formally apply for funds through the
appropriate EPA Regional Office. In addition, selected applicants must
negotiate a final work plan, including reporting requirements, with the
designated EPA Regional project officer. For more general information
on post award requirements and the evaluation of grantee performance,
see 40 CFR part 31.
3. Reporting. The successful recipient will be required to submit
quarterly and/or annual reports (as determined by the EPA Regional PESP
Coordinator), and to submit annual financial reports. The specific
information contained within the report will include at a minimum, a
comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives established for
the period. The EPA Regional PESP Coordinator may request additional
information relative to the scope of work in the assistance agreement
and which may be useful for Agency reporting under the Government
Performance and Results Act.
4. Disputes. Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will
be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures
published in the Federal Register of January 26, 2005 (70 FR 3629)
(FRL-7863-3), 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
appropriate EPA Regional PESP Coordinator listed under Unit VII.
VII. Agency Contact
The applicant may contact the appropriate EPA Regional PESP
Coordinator to obtain clarification and guidance. EPA Regional PESP
Coordinators are:
Region I (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, Vermont), Andrea Szylvian, 1 Congress St., Suite 1100, (CPT),
Boston, MA 02114-2023; telephone: (617) 918-1198; e-
mail: szylvian.andrea@epa.gov.
Region II (New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands), Tara
Masters, Raritan Depot, 2890 Woodbridge Ave., (MS-500), Edison, NJ
08837-3679; telephone: (732) 906-6183; e-mail: masters.tara@epa.gov.
Region III (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West
Virginia, District of Columbia), Fatima El-Abdaoui, 1650 Arch St.,
(3WC32), Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029; telephone: (215) 814-2129;e-mail:
el-abdaoui.fatima@epa.gov.
Region IV (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee), Amber Davis, 61 Forsyth St., SW.,
Atlanta, GA 30303-8960; telephone:(404) 562-9014; e-mail:
davis.amber@epa.gov.
Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin),
Heather Anhalt, 77 W Jackson Blvd., (DT-8J), Chicago, IL 60604-
3507;telephone: (312) 886-3572; e-mail: anhalt.heather@epa.gov.
Region VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas), Jerry
Collins, 1445 Ross Ave., Suite 1200, (6PD-P), Dallas, TX 75202-2733;
telephone: (214) 665-7562; e-mail: collins.jerry@epa.gov.
Region VII (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska), Brad Horchem, 901 N
5th St., (WWPDPEST), Kansas City, KS 66101; telephone: (913) 551-7137;
e-mail: horchem.brad@epa.gov.
Region VIII (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
Wyoming), Peg Perreault, 999 18th St., Suite 300, (8P-P3T), Denver, CO
80202-2466; telephone: (303) 312-6286; e-mail: perreault.peg@epa.gov.
Region IX (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa,
Guam), Karen Heisler, 75 Hawthorne St., (CMD-1), San Francisco, CA
94105; telephone: (415) 947-4240; e-mail: heisler.karen@epa.gov.
Region X (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington), Sandra Halstead,
(WSU-IAREC), 24106 N. Bunn Road, Prosser, WA 99350; telephone: (509)
786-9225; e-mail: halstead.sandra@epa.gov.
VIII. Other Information
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
This action is directed to the public in general but will be of
particular interest to eligible applicants who include the 50 States,
District of
[[Page 37831]]
Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any
territory or possession of the United States, any agency or
instrumentality of a State including State universities, and all
federally recognized Tribes.
If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this
action to a particular entity, consult your EPA Regional PESP
Coordinator listed under Unit VII.
B. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this
Document and Other Related Documents?
1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this
action under docket identification (ID) number OPP-2005-0137. The
official public docket is the collection of materials that is available
for public viewing at the Public Information and Records Integrity
Branch (PIRIB), Room 119, Crystal Mall #2, 1800 S. Bell St.,
Arlington, VA. This docket facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The docket telephone
number is (703) 305-5805.
2. Electronic access. You may obtain electronic copies of this
document through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register''
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. An electronic version of the
public docket is available through EPA's electronic public docket and
comment system, EPA Dockets. You may use EPA Dockets at http://
www.epa.gov/edocket/ to access the index listing of the contents of
the official public docket, and to access those documents in the public
docket that are available electronically. Although not all docket
materials may be available electronically, you may still access any of
the publicly available docket materials through the docket facility
identified in Unit I.B.1., above. Once in the system, select
``search,'' then key in the appropriate docket ID number.
IX. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General
Grant solicitations containing binding legal requirements are
considered rules for the purpose of the Congressional Review Act (CRA)
(5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.). The CRA generally provides that before a rule
may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule
report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the
Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will
submit a report containing this grant solicitation and other required
information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and
the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication in
the Federal Register. This grant solicitation does not qualify as a
``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides, Risk reduction, PESP.
Dated: June 24, 2005.
Margaret Schneider,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and
Toxic Substances.
[FR Doc. 05-12923 Filed 6-29-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S