WPC ;$T!b0G.-OJم_uQA!i%.XyF{Ziur$T*U:( YǨO2!itӬUqSF9ts=B% WPBui8.A,I|Y#@2 /^΢{e$ s^^>#xHVO/Dꁯ#2'%ޠ`7U7 :N} E,!8ֈrТ3inZexiI`#W10+#ZUN %i 0:o 0U 0 0 0 0 0 0m 0G 0 0C 05 0  0 0 0 0J 0 0 0@ 0 0 0| 0J 0 0 0 0d!!!!U*)^ Sw_4cw m0&d9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX($USUS.,*+ (_2623  ..*G+M (_25   /% BJR!/23  ..  5+ : BJR!5  *D+M (_24   ," BJR!,23  ..  5+ : BJR!5  *A+M (_23  ` )B BJR!)23  ..  5+ : BJR!5  *>+M (_22   &JR!&23  ..  5+ : BJR!5  *;+M (_21   #JR!#23  ..  5+ : BJR!5  *8+M (_20  h  JJR! 23  ..  5+ : BJR!5  *5+M (_19   R!23  ..  5+ : BJR!5  *2+M (_18   R!23  ..  5+ : BJR!5  * (_1723  Ԁ*GM (_16   /% BJR!/23  Ԁ  5+ : BJR!5  *DM (_15   ," BJR!,23  Ԁ  5+ : BJR!5  *AM (_14  ` )B BJR!)23  Ԁ  5+ : BJR!5  *>M (_13   &JR!&23  Ԁ  5+ : BJR!5  *;M (_12   #JR!#23  Ԁ  5+ : BJR!5  *8M (_11  h  JJR! 23  Ԁ  5+ : BJR!5  *5M (_10   R!23  Ԁ  5+ : BJR!5  (2M &_9   R!23  Ԁ  5+ : BJR!5  ( &_823  (GM &_7   /% BJR!/23   5+ : BJR!5  (DM &_6   ," BJR!,23   5+ : BJR!5  (AM &_5  ` )B BJR!)23   5+ : BJR!5  (>M &_4   &JR!&23   5+ : BJR!5  (;M &_3   #JR!#23   5+ : BJR!5  (8M &_2  h  JJR! 23   5+ : BJR!5  (5M &_1   R!23   5+ : BJR!5  &2M $_   R!23   5+ : BJR!5   %2A`Arial0o$4s h2PDOCS3|xU !USUS.,  _ FundingOpportunityNumber:EPAORDNHEERLIO001  Title:CooperativeTraininginEnvironmentalSciencesResearch  ProjectOfficer:BarryHoward  ThisamendmentaddressesallquestionssubmittedthroughJanuary3,2006.   1)Question: UnderEligibilityInformation,itsaysthatstateandlocalgovernmentsareeligibleto   apply.However,underSpecialRequirements,itsaysthatthereneedstobeademonstrationofability z   toperformtheworkatEPAfacilitiesinResearchTriangleParkandChapelHill,NC.Isthereanyway t  forastateorlocalgovernmentdepartmentoutsideofNorthCarolinatoparticipateinthisprogram? n   Answer: Thisisafullandopencompetition.EligibilityrequirementsarestatedunderSectionIII: b  EligibilityInformation.Organizationsmeetingtheeligibilityrequirementsstatedintheannouncementare \  eligibletoapply.TheworkmustbeperformedatEPAfacilitiesinResearchTrianglePark,NCand V ChapelHill,NC. P  2)Question: WhilereviewingthesectionentitledSpecialRequirements,itstates"Close > collaborationwithEPApreceptorsisessentialtothesetrainingagreements;Therefore,demonstrated 8 abilitytoperformtheworkatEPAfacilitiesinResearchTriangleParkandChapelHill,NorthCarolina 2 isrequired."Wewerewonderingifthisrequirementisfortheentiredurationoftheprogramorforaset ,| amountoftime?Wespecificallywantedtoinquireaboutwhetherouroutofstateinstitutioncould &v applyinordertofurthertrainEnvironmentalScientistshereatourfacility.  p  Answer: TheworkmustbeperformedatEPAfacilitiesinResearchTriangleParkandChapelHill, d NorthCarolinafortheentiredurationofthecooperativeagreement. ^  3)Question: Thespecialrequirementssectionindicatesthattheremustbedemonstratedabilityto !L performtheworkatEPAfacilitiesinResearchTriangleParkandChapelHill,NC.Doesthisstatement "F meanthatspecificEPApreceptorswithareasofresearchcongruentwiththoseattheuniversitybe #@  identifiedintheproposal(withlettersofcollaborationforinstance),orthatresearchprogramsatthe $: ! EPAfacilitiesbecongruentwiththeresearchprogramsoffacultymembersattheuniversity,orthat %4!" facultyattheuniversityshouldalreadybecollaboratingwithEPAscientistsandhavepreliminarydata? &."#  Answer: Theprogramsynopsissectiononpage1statesthat Thepurposeoftheseassistance ("$% agreementsistoidentifyandprovidetrainingforcandidatesintheenvironmentalhealthsciences )%& curriculumwhoseareasofinterestcoincidewiththeareasofongoingresearchatNHEERL...The *&' trainingforthecandidatesmusttakeplaceinResearchTriangleParkandChapelHill,NC.This +'( meansthatresearchprogramsattheseEPAfacilitiesshouldbecongruentwiththeresearchprograms , () andinterestsoftheofferingorganization. -)* ?+ ` hp x X? 4)Question: OurHealthScienceCenterisnotanundergraduateservinginstitution.Facultyinthe  DivisionofEnvironmentalandOccupationalHealthSciencesintheSchoolofPublicHealth(SPH)are  interestedindevelopingatrainingagreementproposal.OurdivisionoffersMastersofPublicHealth,  PhD,andDoctorateofPublicHealth(DrPH)degrees.However,weareinterestedindeveloping  undergraduateinternshipprograms.Ifweproposeanundergraduateinternshipprogramaspartofour  trainingpackage,whatsortoftrainingdoestheEPAexpectforundergraduatescoursework,research   experience,orsomeofeach?WouldsomeresearchexperienceandtrainingatSPHbeforesendingthe   studentstoRTPbeofinteresttoEPAoristheuniversitysimplyexpectedtodeveloparecruiting   programthatsendsstudentsdirectlytoRTPorChapelHill?   ?+ ` hp x X?$XXXX$X$XԀ#$XX$##X9XX$X颲# z    Answer: Theeducationalandresearchexperiencerequirementsarestatedintheannouncement,as C  wellastheevaluationcriteria. =   5)Question: Isthisthefirsttimethatthisprogramhasbeensolicited?Ifnot,duringwhichfiscalyear +{  wasitlastsolicited,howmuchfundingwasavailable,andhowmanyawardsweremade? %u  Answer: Thisisnotthefirsttimethatthisprogramhasbeensolicited.Itwaslastsolicitedinfiscalyear i 2001.Todate,thesolicitationhasbeenawardedforapproximately11.6million.Fourawardswere c made.  ]  6)Question: Iunderstandfromtheprogramannouncementthatmatchingfundsandcostsharingare K notrequiredforthisprogram.However,wouldtherebeanycompetitiveadvantageforanapplicant E whoprovidedmatchingfundsand/orcostsharing? ?  Answer: No,therewouldbenocompetitiveadvantagebyprovidingfundingforthisprogram. 3  7)Question: Isitstillestimatedthatapproximately$12millionwillbeavailableforfiveawardsin  ! responsetothissolicitation? !  Answer: Yes,dependingontheavailabilityoffundsatthetimeofaward,thenumberoftrainees,and #  whentheybegintheirtrainingprogram,asstatedinSectionIIofthesolicitation. $ !  8)Question: DotraineesneedtobeUScitizensorpermanentresidents? '"$  Answer: TraineesmustbeUScitizensorpossessgreencards. )$&  -(*  9)Question: Cantherebefacultysalaryoffsetinthebudget?Specifically,cantherebesalaryforour  facultyandscientiststorecruit,mentor,andevaluatetraineesbeforetheyaresenttoEPAfacilitiesin  ResearchTriangleParkandChapelHill,NorthCarolina?   Answer: Applicantsareresponsibleforsubmittingtheirbudgetproposalaspartoftheapplication.  Theapplicantmayincludeanycostsdeemednecessaryintheirbudgetproposalinordertocarryout   thework.    10)Question: Isthereapreferredinvestigatororganizationalstructurei.e.,cantherebeaPIand   twocoPIs? z    Answer: Thereisnopreferredorrecommendedstructure.Thisisleftentirelyuptotheofferor,aspart n  oftheirapplication. h   11)Question: Arethereguidelinesfortheindirectcostrate?Isittheinstitution'sfederallynegotiated V rateoristhereanagencyspeciallimit? P  Answer: 󀀀Theindirectcost_rateis8%ofdirectcosts,lesstuitionandfees. D