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Indoor Air Quality Applicant Tool Box

Contents

• Background
• Items to consider when drafting a Work Plan
• Example of Grantee Work Plan Activity Matrix
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Helpful Links for more Information

Background

EPA Order 5700.5 and 5700.7 took effect December 31, 2004. These policies will be reflected in changes to current grants competition policy. To assist our grantees and future applicants in understanding the changes brought about by the orders and to ensure improved results-oriented work plans, the Indoor Environments staff has endeavored to provide a Tool Box for applicants.

Items to consider when drafting a Work Plan

What is the problem or issue that your program will address?

What are the desired results (outputs, outcomes and impacts) that your program hopes to achieve? How will these be achieved?

1. Outputs are defined as the products or services your program will provide (examples: trainings, home visitations, building of community capacity)
2. Outcomes are defined as actual changes or benefits resulting from the activities or outputs of the program. For many of the indoor environments programs these are termed as "health outcomes".
1. Short-term - changes in knowledge attitude, skills
2. Intermediate - changes in behavior, practice or decisions
3. Long term - changes in condition

3. Describe how your program will track and measure its progress in achieving the expected outcomes/outputs. Is there evidence to support claims of causality between the implementation of the program's products and services and the outcomes that are hoped to be achieved?

4. Describe the target population your program is designed to serve.
5. Describe potential external factors that may influence change in the target population.
6. Describe how your program will integrate current strategies (best practices) already in place to achieve the desired results. For example - inclusion of community partners, stakeholders, etc.

Example of Grantee Work Plan Activity Matrix

View the sample work plan activity matrix (PDF, 58 kB)
About PDF files

Frequently Asked Questions

A conference call was held on March 29th. The purpose of this call was to answer any questions applicant may have concerning eligibility, scope of work, application and award processes. Questions and answers resulting from that call are listed below:

Overview of changes to RFP from previous years:

1. Applicants are being asked to submit proposals that are for two years in length. Work plans and budgets must reflect this change. To the extent that funding is received for Indoor Air Quality projects for fiscal year 2007, applicants can assume that funding for project will continue. However, funding levels are contingent on congressional appropriations and may not be continued at the same level as previous years

2. Activities leading toward project outputs and outcomes must be evenly distributed through the two year cycle of the grant process.

3. Applicants may write one proposal that includes all three activity areas (Tools for Schools, Environmental Tobacco Smoke, and Asthma). Applicants are reminded however, that budgets for their proposals must clearly outline activities and costs for each activity area. Budgets must differentiate costs for both years of activities. This information should be included on Standard Form 424A.

4. Applicants are reminded to include measurable outputs and outcomes (as defined in the RFP) as means of accomplishing the project work plan. To the maximum extent possible outputs and outcomes should be health-based. Applicants are reminded to reference any studies used by the project to indicate estimates of outcomes to be achieved. Referenced studies should derive from recognized peer review journals.

5. Applicants are reminded that to receive funding, projects must keep within limits of statutory authority. Indoor Air Quality grants are funded through Clean Air Act, Section 103 (b) (3). Under this authority, eligible project elements can include demonstration activities, training, education, outreach or the dissemination of information. Under this authority, projects that imply long term activities or continual funding (like "programs" or "implementation") may not be funded.

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Questions from participants and their related answers:

• Is the work plan matrix example within the applicant tool box available?
  Yes, the work plan matrix is now available.
• Can grants funds be used to directly fund tobacco cessation activities?
  No
• Can an ETS grant work plan include information on community partners that hold smoking cessation classes or quit lines as an element of improving indoor air quality within the home in support of Take the Pledge Campaign?
  Yes, the grantees are encouraged to work with community partners to improve capacity and community successes.
• Can grant funds be used to purchase expendable products such as peak flow meters?
  Yes, as part of an overall educational outreach project this would be acceptable. Applicants are reminded to check on budgetary limitations for expendable goods and services. Applicants may wish to contact EPA Region 8 Grants Office for further details.
• Can you elaborate on the ramifications of using "implementation" or "program" in an application?
  The words "implementation" and "program" imply that funding or project activities are ongoing. Clean Air Act statutory authority 103 b3 may not be used to fund projects year after year for an indefinite period of time.
  Applicants are suggested to use wording that better reflects the needs of the statutory authority. One might use "assisting schools in utilizing the Tools for Schools Kit" as opposed to "implementation of Tools for Schools program". In lieu of "program", "activity" may be a better alternative.
  The applicants' proposals should not imply that the project activities are done for EPA or for EPA's benefit as this would fall under a contractual obligation rather than those of an assistance agreement.
• Are we to assume that the work plan and milestones chart and progress tracking plan are separate and distinct or can they be integrated into one document?
  Yes, these items can be integrated. The purpose of these elements is to assure that the grantee will be able to adequately meet the outputs and outcomes of the work plan within the time frame allotted.

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Helpful Links for more Information:

GPRA
EPA Strategic Plan
National Program and Grant Guidance
Regional Plans and Guidance
Current solicitations

Region 8 Indoor Air Quality home page

Region 8 Grants home page

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