Learn the Issues
-
Does the EN Grant Program have a cost match requirement?
There is no match requirement for Exchange Network grants; nonfederal funds should not be included on application attachment forms (such as the SF 424 and SF 424a forms).
-
Does this grant cover personnel costs, including the hiring of a staff member?
EN grant funds may be used for personnel costs, including the hiring of staff to support the grant project, the hiring of an individual consultant, or the use of a contractor. Applicants should review Appendix E for more information on what to include in the application when a portion of…
-
What are fringe costs?
These costs are allowances and services that you provide to your employees as compensation in addition to regular salaries and wages. Examples of fringe costs include employee leave, employee insurance, pensions and unemployment, and holiday benefits. Information on calculating fringe benefit costs is available in Appendix D of the FY24…
-
Is the purchase of equipment allowed for this grant program?
Yes, the purchase of equipment is allowed. Equipment is tangible personal property (including information technology systems) having a useful life of more than one year and a cost that equals or exceeds $10,000 per unit. Necessary items that are less than $10,000 per unit should be categorized in the project…
-
In how much detail should travel plans be budgeted for and can these costs be updated if plans change after the grant is awarded?
Applicants should provide details on proposed travel in your application to the best of their abilities, based on anticipated travel plans (location, duration, etc.) Changes that alter the cost of travel more than 10% of the original budgeted costs, will require a workplan update. To make this change, grantees can…
-
Can an applicant use grant funds to purchase software?
Yes, a grantee may use grant funds to purchase software if appropriate for the proposed project.
-
Can you tell us how we might budget for IT costs provided by another office within our own agency that is a separate branch of the same government, as is required by our state/Tribal law?
The costs should be categorized under the cost category of ‘other’, but not as a subaward. This would truly be an ‘other’ cost, with a unique category: ‘central IT service’ or something similar to that. Then, if it is a lump sum cost, it should be included as one line…
-
Is an Indirect Cost Rate required to apply?
An Indirect Cost Rate is not required to apply for a grant unless your budget includes indirect costs.
-
What documents are required to charge an indirect cost?
If you wish to include indirect costs in your proposed budget when applying for a grant or cooperative agreement, you must (1) Provide a copy of your current approved indirect cost rate agreement valid until at least September 30th of the current year, or (2) Provide a copy of documentation…
-
How do I request a regulatory exception to use an expired ‘fixed rate with carry-forward’ IDC agreement?
For rates that have expired, EPA may approve a regulatory exception to allow a recipient with a fixed rate with carry-forward to continue to use the fixed rate for up to four additional fiscal years after the rate's expiration date. Please note you must submit a regulatory exception to continue…
-
How should contractual costs be captured and estimated?
The following details should be included in project narrative Section 3: Identifying Key Personnel and Associated Roles, Responsibilities, and Qualifications, if a proposed project includes a contractor or individual consultant: anticipated project roles and responsibilities, the planned method of acquisition, and the planned method of vetting to ensure the selected…
-
Can the entirety of a proposed project’s budget just be contractor costs? Are there any additional requirements?
In the case that 100% of requested funds will be distributed as a contract or subaward, applicants must explain how these transactions will be managed in compliance with applicable Federal requirements without project funding for personnel costs. In other words, how will the applicant pay for management of the contract…
-
Contractors often provide estimates based on milestones e.g., data migration. Is it okay to provide that, rather than the hourly rate that the budget narrative requests that we use?
Our standard format for how contractual costs can be captured is hourly rate times the number of hours. If you are able to do so, please just work this table backwards to fit our standard rate. So, if the total amount is $30,000, you could put in an estimated [standard]…
-
Can an applicant propose grant funds for inclusion on a known EN contract through in-kind funding?
In-kind grant support via an EPA contract is allowable; however, the availability of this option varies from EPA program to EPA program and is contingent upon there being an available EPA contract. EN Project Opportunities include a section on available in-kind funding; if this section is missing from the opportunity…
-
Can you give more direction on the non-competitive procurement?
EPA approves noncompetitive or sole-source procurement only under very specific circumstances according to 2 CFR 320(c) : The aggregate amount of the procurement transaction does not exceed the micro-purchase threshold (see paragraph (a)(1) of 2 CRF 200.320(c)); The procurement transaction can only be fulfilled by a single source; The public…
-
Can you give an example of an allowable use of non-competitive procurement?
An existing relationship or a history of prior work completed by a contractor or vendor does not justify the use of non-competitive procurement. Similarly, proximity of a contracting firm to an applicant’s organization is not sufficient reasoning. One example of a potential valid use of non-competitive procurement may be: “After…
-
Is use of the contractor, Enfotech, and their products allowable for our project? Their product isn't freely shared, but other states that have purchased it will benefit from what we build. It will become part of the "off the shelf" system that others can use.
This is allowable, assuming the requirements for procuring a contractor as detailed within the SN are met; see SN Section 4B ‘Applicants Using Contractors’.
-
Are there any restrictions regarding the partnership with other agencies or entities?
There are multiple requirements as related to EN Partnerships that must be met to be considered for award. For example, eligible partners must be separate units of government; EPA will not consider partnerships formed from within a single state, territorial, or Tribal government as eligible. Please carefully read the eligibility…
-
Could two federally recognized Tribes in the same geographic region comprise an eligible partnership?
Yes, two different federally recognized Tribes in the same geographic region may apply for funding as an EN partnership, as these are two distinct governments. Additionally, a noneligible Tribe (e.g., one that is not federally recognized) may partner with an eligible one in the same geographic region, if the eligible…
-
If we partner with another state, would we have the opportunity to apply for this grant on our own in future years? Can we apply again next year and if not, when would we be eligible to apply again?
In a partnership agreement, there is a lead applicant and the partner or partnering organization(s). The lead applicant cannot have more than four active Exchange Network assistance agreements as of December 31 of the prior calendar year (so 12/31/24 for FY25 grants). Therefore, you can apply in subsequent years as…