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FY 2008 Wetland Program Development Grant (WPDG) Questions and Answers
From Linda Vance, Montana Natural Heritage ProgramQ: Although we typically submit our grant applications to federal agencies through Grants.gov, there have been a few times that we have received electronic communications of receipt and transmission from them but the proposal has never actually been sent on to the granting agency. After we make our grants.gov submission, may we submit a back-up copy of the application through regular mail, or should we simply wait for the confirmation of receipt from the EPA?
A: Either is acceptable to the EPA Region 8. Be aware that if you do not have confirmation of EPA receipt via grants.gov, a mailed copy will not meet the submission requirements, and thus would not be eligible for consideration.
Q: Will pre-award costs be available?
A: In certain circumstances, pre-award costs may be authorized by the EPA Project Officer. Successful applicants interested in pre-award costs should inquire about this possibility with their assigned project officer and grants specialist.
From Lynda Saul, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
Q: EPA Region 8 reduced the maximum number of pages allowed for WDPG08 grant applications from 16 single spaced pages in 2007 to 8 single spaced pages this year without reducing the extensive information requested. The RFP asks applicants to address all requirements thoroughly. The Region 8 RFP took 27 single spaced pages to describe what applicants are required to submit in only 8 pages. In order to focus on describing the proposed work within the allowable page limit, I would like to reference that a list of past assistance agreements and descriptions of programmatic and environmental results from each of those is available upon request. Is this acceptable?
A: No, as stated in the RFP on page 20, the applicant must, where applicable, submit a list of at least three, but no more than five, federally funded agreements which show the applicants success in managing projects similar in scope to the proposed project in order to recieve full poits for this criteria.
Q: Please explain why the page limit changed this year and what sections of the proposal EPA Region 8 expected applicants to shorten?
A: I do not know why the page limit shortened, the applicant must decide on their own how to craft their proposal so that it meets the length requirements.
From Carol Johnston, Montana State University
Q: When I add the 25% match (e.g., $50,000) to the amount requested from EPA (e.g., $200,000), the TOTAL estimated funding adds to $250,000. Does the $200,000 maximum refer to the maximum award size from EPA or the maximum TOTAL (including the required match)?
A: The $200,000 maximum refers to the award from EPA, not the total project cost.
Reviewing your question however, we did note an error in your calculations of match. A $200,000 grant would not require a $50,000 match combining to a $250,000 total project cost. An applicant should first decide on the total project cost, for example $250,000, divide this by four to calculate the required match, for example $250,000/4=$62,500 required match.
From Rebecca Phillips
Q: What is the suggested indirect cost percentage?
A: The WPDG is limited to state, tribal, and local governments. Most of these entities have already negotiated indirect cost agreements with the federal government, and proposals should use these agreed upon indirect cost rates. If your agency does not have an indirect cost rate already negotiated with the federal government, if a grant is awarde to you, then you must negotiate an indirect cost rate with the EPA prior to funds being released.
From Jeanne Spaur, Fort Peck Tribes Fish and Game Department
Q: Can you tell us when we can expect the grant awards to be announced and when the funds would be released?
A: We expect to conclude our review process in approximately mid-August, with award letters being mailed shortly afterward. Funds will be released contingent on when we are given spending authorization by headquarters, and on the application process. Typically funds are released during the spring following the competition.
From Lynda Saul, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
Q: I have a question about this section of the RFP found on page 19:
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While contractual and subgrant efforts may be part of an applicant’s proposal, each WPDG recipient must be significantly involved in the administration of the award. EPA recommends that recipients use no more than 50% of the grant funds to contract or subgrant to any other entity. However, if the applicant wants to exceed this limit, the applicant should submit a written description for the need for greater contractual or subgrant support. EPA will evaluate the need for greater contractual or subgrant participation as part of the proposal.
Montana DEQ anticipates submitting two FY08 WPDG applications involving numerous projects that address national and regional priorities identified in the RFP and state priorities identified in Montana's Strategic Framework. As the State's Wetland Program Manager, my role is to lead program development and capacity building by administering and coordinating wetland grant awards and wetland contracts. In addition, I am involved as an advisor on individual tasks of each contract on a very detailed level. As identified in our Strategic Framework, DEQ does not have the internal capacity to perform all the needed work of program development and instead relies on others to help develop the state's Wetland Program as a specific State strategy. Therefore, we do not consider this work to be contracted in the sense the EPA Region 8 RFP describes.
A: The RFP clearly requires a justification for contracting more than 50% of grant funds. Language similar to the justification provided in your question will suffice to justify grant contracting greater than 50%.
From Mirela Tulbure, South Dakota State University:
Q: Are there any restrictions on how the money is going to be spent? Can we ask for money for a post-doc salary?
A: Please see page 25 of the RFP for funding restrictions, Salary is typically included in the budget for the WPDG
Q: Dr. Kettenring is currently with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) and will take up a new position at Utah State University this summer. She would still be with SERC at the time proposals are submitted (mid-May) but will be a new faculty at Utah State by the time proposals would be awarded. Given this, can she be the lead-PI on this grant?
A: Yes, if a grant is awarded to the SERC or South Dakota State University (SDSU), and the SERC or SDSU chooses to fund Dr. Kettenring, it would not matter where she is working.
Q: We would like to know more about what kind of research would be best suited for these grants. We are thinking of conducting research on something related to watershed land-use, water quality, and wetland plant communities (in particular Phragmites australis) as indicators of water quality, but would like to get a better feel about the best suited research.
A: Project that include research which supports development and enhancement of State and Tribal comprehensive wetland protection programs, and/or support refinement of information regarding the quantity and quality of wetland resources are typically eligible for funding under the WPDG. Please see the RFP for more information of the types of research which may be eligible for funding under this RFP.
From Mirela Tulbure, South Dakota State University:
Q: I have read the RFP for Region 8 WPDG proposal and was wondering: would our institution work directly with you or would we need to work through the state agencies? i.e. DENR in Pierre SD.
A: State universities are typically eligible for direct funding through the WPDG. EPA has funded state universities through state agencies and directly. EPA strongly encourages universities to coordinate proposals and projects with their state agencies or local governments, because WPDGs are for development of State, Tribal, and local government wetland programs. However, it is not a requirement to coordinate proposals with state agencies.
From Joanna Lemly, Colorado State University
Q: Could you clarify the maximum award amount for this year’s Region 8 Wetland Program Development Grants? In the Synopsis on Grants.Gov and on page 2 of the RFP, the award range is listed as $25,000-100,000. However, on page 9 of the RFP, first paragraph of section II, the award range is listed as $25,000-200,000. Is the award maximum $100,000 or $200,000?
A: Thank you for pointing out the error on the synopsis page and the RFP. The expected range of grants under this solicitation is $25,000 - $200,000. The RFP and synopsis page have been corrected.
From Susan Ho, eCivis, Inc.
Q: How many applications do you expect to receive in response to this solicitation?
A: Region 8 typically receives 20 - 30 applications for the Region 8 solicitation.
Q: What type of organizations typically apply and are successful?
A: The solicitation is limited by statute to States, tribes, local government agencies, interstate agencies, and intertribal consortia.
Q: Does funding support travel?
A: Yes, as long as the travel is an integral part of the project, or program development such as travel to national wetland meetings.
Q: Could you confirm that applications must be received by May 12 via mail or grants.gov?
A: That is incorrect; proposals must be received by EPA Region 8 before close of business May 16, or before 11:59 eastern time to grants.gov.
From Spencer Martin, SWCA Environmental Consultants
"Just wondering if the 2008 Wetlands Program Development Grants could be used to help a local government complete a special area management plan (SAMP)."
Yes, EPA Region 8 has funded SAMPs in Utah in the past.
Region 8 Wetlands Web site
Region 8 Wetlands Grants page
