Learn the Issues
-
Can my Tribe write a letter of support for a state-led partnership application, even if my organization does not directly participate in the project as an EN partner?
Yes- Tribal and other entities are welcome to provide letters of support for applications. A letter of support on its own would not inherently count an organization as a partner in the application. To avoid any confusion on EPA’s part, however, please be sure that it is very clear in…
-
My Tribe is interested in applying for an EN grant but concerned about requirements around data sharing. Historically, our organization has maintained a policy of NOT sharing data with anyone outside of this tribe. Does this make us ineligible to apply?
There is no current obligation through the EN Grant Program to share data outside of your Tribe. We do have an IT Component and Project Registration form, which is due at project close-out, that does require some summary information about what goals/outputs were accomplished, as well as what technology was…
-
If we apply for Funding area 1, but need a new server for increased computational capacity - is it eligible for funding?
Expensive equipment such as a server may be funded under the Exchange Network Grant Program, with a couple of caveats: It must be clear that the server is necessary to carry out the overall accomplishments of project goals/outputs and/or meet organizational business and administrative needs. When EPA reads your application…
-
Key Terms
This page provides definitions for ACRES terminology.
-
Can a single non-profit submission that has support and or endorsements from state agencies and a Tribe submit an application? And would this submission compete with other Washington submitters?
Non-profits are not eligible entities in of themselves, so they cannot submit an application under our program (as the lead entity, anyways). Nonprofits can partner with an eligible entity, such as a state agency, a Tribe, a US territory, or an entity that has status as an instrumentality of a…
-
Our program has hit multiple snags throughout our application drafting process; is it possible to get an extension?
Unfortunately, due to our nature as a competitive grant program, we are unable to provide extensions for specific applicants. All applications must be submitted through grants.gov by the published due date in order to be considered eligible.
-
Will the FY25 funding for the EN Grants program be similar to previous years or will it be reduced due to the ongoing Federal budget reductions? Is there a risk of the Exchange Network Grant Program being rescinded prior to the submission date?
To date, EPA is anticipating our standard budget, the $9.5 million within the program’s congressional appropriation, for the upcoming FY25 competition. EPA will communicate changes or other updates, as available.
-
Can EPA provide clarification regarding reused components. What types of components does this include? EN components only? Or any project components?
EPA has a broad definition of IT Components, that has been expanded in recent years to include technology that wasn’t exclusively developed through EN projects or by participating EN partners. Below is the definition from the FY25 Exchange Network Grants Solicitation Notice: IT Component types include: Software; Web-Based Service(s); Cloud-Based…
-
Is contractual support capped at a percentage of the total grant?
No, there is no contractual cost cap. In fact, we commonly see projects that are 100% contractual. Ensure that you describe in your project narrative, budget narrative, and workplan how the proposed contractor support clearly supports the overall accomplishment of listed goals and outputs and meets business or administrative needs…
-
Can a primary applicant partner with non-profit organizations and/or universities that do not have status as an instrumentality? Or do partners need to be eligible entities under the Exchange Network Grant Program and/or other state/Tribal governmental entities?
Yes, a primary applicant can partner with other eligible entities, nonprofit organizations, or an Interstate organization. This could also include a state or Tribal university, regardless of that university’s status as an instrumentality. The one express entity type restriction around partnerships is that EPA does not fund any projects in…
-
In funding area 2 for Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) related activity, it looks like any electronic reporting expansions related to Drinking Water reporting can only be done as a partnership grant and not as an individual grant applicant. Is that correct?
In the FY25 EN Solicitation Notice (SN), all listed activities are restricted by applicant type. Potential project activities 1 ‘ implementing data systems to manage water systems to enable electronic reporting of Tribal water system data to CMDP or SDWIS State (via Lab-to-State)’ and 2 ‘ improving data quality of…
-
Under opportunity 3, can the Tribe purchase remote monitoring equipment for water quality monitoring of Streams?
Past projects have included the purchase of monitoring equipment. Please be sure to specify why the equipment is necessary for the successful completion of the project and how it directly supports accomplishment of project goals and outputs. Please note that EPA will review all proposed equipment and supply purchases carefully…
-
If I apply for or receive an EN grants, is there a requirement to “share” data? If not, why is the program called the “Exchange Network”?
There is no requirement to share data. The program is built around a sharing of technology, ideas, and projects within communities doing similar work. EPA does encourage applicants to share data, as well as code or other project specifics, if they are interested, but there is no explicit requirement. Applicants…
-
You mentioned the removal of the programmatic involvement criterion – can you explain further?
The programmatic involvement criterion was removed in FY25, as it was deemed no longer relevant to most submitted applications. EPA used to have this requirement for the applicant to demonstrate involvement from related media programs (air, water, waste, etc.) which ‘owned’ the environmental data that was being collected or managed…
-
If an applicant is awarded an EN grant this year, and later realizes the project is going to require a completely different component for the project to be successful (but this component was not in the original application), could we apply for a grant focused on that additional component the following year?
Applicants can definitely apply in consecutive years; however, work being proposed in a follow-on grant should not duplicate work carried out during the previous grants. Applicants applying for EN grants in consecutive years are often targeting projects areas (e.g., air, water, waste, etc.), separate and distinct from the original grant…
-
How specific does an applicant need to be for supplies & equipment?
Applicants must itemize equipment and supplies down to the individual item level; you cannot include a bulk purchase for ‘office supplies’. If you are unsure of exact costs or items, applicants are asked to just do their best when compiling their proposed budget, based on the information available to them…
-
If an applicant were to apply for a grant, can the work be done in phases?
As all EN assistance agreements are three years, per our standard period of performance, applicants should design their proposal with this three-year time frame in mind. Within these three years, applicants are welcome to build in a ‘phased approach’. Perhaps the first year and a half is requirements gathering and…
-
How is operations & maintenance, which is a cost restriction under the EN Grant Program, defined?
See detailed explanation in EN Grants FAQs: Can you expand on the funding restriction around ‘operations and maintenance (O&M)’?
-
Will today’s presentation be made available?
Yes. The slide deck used for all FY25 Exchange Network Grants Information webinars will be available on EPA’s Exchange Network Grants website.
-
Six Community Actions that Drive Brownfields Revitalization
Guide describing specific actions a community can take to make their brownfield sites more attractive for public or private investment