Learn the Issues
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As relates to the reuse of IT Components, are only components as developed by prior Exchange Network grantees allowable or are IT Components that are internal to the applicant’s agency/organization applicable too?
If there are internal IT Components that your proposed project will incorporate/reuse, this should be detailed in the ‘Technical Understanding’ section of your project narrative, as described in Appendix E. If the (re)use of these internal technologies means that no additional items, as developed by current and prior grantees in…
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How can I find IT Component Resources that are available for reuse in my EN grant project application?
Searchable IT Component and Project Registration Forms : This web area, created in FY23, provides a table of prior EN assistance agreements which met the EN term and condition to complete an ‘IT Component and Project Registration Form’ at the time of grant close-out (see Section 4D). These forms help…
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Is it expected that we would have fully analyzed reused components before applying?
As outlined in the Solicitation Notice and reflected in our evaluation criteria (Section 6B), applicants must research and consider available technologies and IT components prior to submitting a project proposal. Applicants must then either: (1) explicitly identify which EN data and technology management resources as developed by prior EN grantees…
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In the context of the EN’s Commitment to Reuse, does something like the use of the EPA WQX Web Services API for flowing data count?
Yes, the reuse of EPA services such as the EPA WQX Web Services API counts in the context of the EN’s commitment to reuse existing resources. Applicants are encouraged to review the Solicitation Notice’s Evaluation Criteria (see Solicitation Notice Section 6B) and the overview of the project narrative in Appendix…
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Where can I find information on past Exchange Network grant projects?
Please visit the Previous Exchange Network Grant Projects page for an overview of previously awarded Environmental Information Exchange Network (EN) grant projects, including recipient name, project description, award amount, and award date. Appendix D of the Solicitation Notice also provides an overview of resources which applicants may find useful for…
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Can EN grant funds be added to a PPG or CG?
Funds for a grant awarded under this opportunity may be included in a PPG or CG; see SN Section 2B(1) for more information.
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Is it possible to add our awarded EN grant funds to a current PPG that has a shorter period of performance than the EN’s three years?
Here is the EN Grant Program’s suggestion in this scenario: (1) Please be sure that your project narrative, workplan, and associated documents should reflect the three-year standard period of performance, as this is a requirement of our program. (2) Clearly state in both your cover letter and the project narrative…
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How does the EN support Tribal environmental management?
The EN can help Tribal partners to: Increase capacity to collect, analyze, manage, and share data. Increase access to environmental and health related information to assist the Tribe with planning, decision-making, and addressing environmental issues more broadly. Improve ability to characterize environmental conditions on Tribal land and identify resources needed…
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How have Tribes used EN Grants in the past?
Tribes use EN grants to develop the Information Technology (IT), Information Management (IM), and sharing capabilities needed by their Tribe to support and improve environmental decision-making. Find out more about the types of activities in which states, Tribes and territories are involved by reviewing Previous Exchange Network Grant Projects that…
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What are Intertribal Consortia?
An intertribal consortium is a coalition of two or more separate federally recognized Indian Tribes that join for the purpose of applying for a grant. An intertribal consortium is eligible to receive a grant or Cooperative Agreement from EPA only if the intertribal consortium demonstrates that all members of the…
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Are Tribes limited to a percentage of EN grants funding annually?
No. However, for Fiscal Year 2025, EPA remains committed to awarding at least 20% of the appropriated funds being used to award EN grants to Tribes. The amount awarded to Tribes may be greater than this, depending on the final appropriated amount for grant programs, the number of applicants, proposed…
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How many EN grants have Tribes received?
Since 2002 EPA has awarded 261 Exchange Network grants to Tribes for a total of approximately $56.9 million.
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A requirement of the ‘Individual Capacity Building with Mentorship’ opportunity is that the applicant cannot be a former EN grantee - what if your Tribe has received previous EN grants, but not you or your current group of employees?
If your Tribe has received a previous EN grant award, your organization is not eligible to apply under the Individual Capacity Building with Mentorship opportunity. However, prior grantees should visit the Tribal Exchange Network Group (TXG) website supported by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) to request free technical…
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Is there a list or resources available for Tribes to find suitable mentors?
For assistance in finding an appropriate mentor, applicants should consider contacting the: Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Lydia Scheer, Manager, at lydia.scheer@nau.edu . The Tribal Exchange Network Group (TXG), txg@tribalexchangenetwork.org or at PO Box 15004, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5004 Environmental Council of the States (ECOS). For suggestions on potential state…
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What types of entities qualify as Mentors? What types of support can a mentor provide?
Mentors should be a Tribe, state, or territory that has successfully completed an EN grant and that currently reports or publishes data for one or more environmental programs using an EN node, Virtual Exchange Services (VES), or APIs. Mentoring activities may take place by phone, over web conferencing, or in…
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Is there a way to have a mentor without a subaward?
The subaward is the mechanism to provide the available $15k to the mentoring organization, under the EN Project Opportunity ‘Individual Capacity Building with Mentorship’. Under this Opportunity, the applicant can budget up to $400K in project costs and up to $15K in mentorship support costs. If the subaward is unnecessary…
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Can you provide additional guidance on how to include the necessary information, including budgeting, for the inclusion of mentors in a submitted application?
Within the budget narrative attachment form, funds to the mentor should be included as a single line item, under the category of ‘subaward’. See example below: Category Name/Description Quantity Price Per Unit Est. Cost Light Food and Beverage Coffee (Gallon) 6 $16 $96 Participant Support Cost Community Member Training Fees…
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Could EPA direct the subaward directly to a Tribal nation to manage, so that our Tribe is not involved in tracking requirements that seem to be part of the post-award requirements with subawards?
The only option to pass funds to a mentoring organization is through a subaward, which does require the lead recipient (grantee) to both follow EPA’s subaward requirements and policies as outlined in the SN (see SN Sections 3D and 4C), and to provide the vehicle/mechanism for distributing the subaward to…
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If an employee under a Tribal Partnership Grant works full-time for one Tribe under the partnership grant and part-time for another Tribe under the same partnership grant, would it be acceptable to cover that employee's salary for each Tribe? Or should the employee's hours be covered under the costs for the lead Tribal nation?
You have the option to split your costs across the two organizations, if you choose, but like the response above on indirect costs – you need to ensure that you have costs in the right cost category. Therefore, in the proposed project’s budget, your costs as associated with the lead…
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As the EN Grants Program does not fund Operations & Maintenance related costs, is there any information to assist Tribes with planning for software investments and long-term costs to sustain the work developed under EN grant projects?
Yes. The resources listed below were developed to help Tribal professionals navigate and plan for recurring software costs. Addresses common issues or questions that Tribes experience when they are purchasing software. Provides definitions on common terminologies, suggestions on how to fund short- and long-term software needs through the grant process…