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Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program
The focus of the grant program is to protect freshwater ecosystems and their watersheds.
Additional background information on the Healthy Watersheds Program and priorities can be found at the following website: http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/watershed/index.cfm
Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2014: Through the Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant, EPA funds an intermediary organization to provide subawards to eligible subawardees for projects to support strategic protection of freshwater ecosystems through capacity development and local demonstration and training projects.
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
The Healthy Watershed Consortium Grant Program is anticipated to fund one cooperative agreement to an organization to manage the Healthy Watershed Consortium Grant subaward process that will award subgrants to support the strategic protection of freshwater ecosystems and their watersheds across the country.
These funds are used for healthy watershed capacity development and for local demonstration and/or training projects.
Projects funded under the subgrant process must be limited to activities that conduct or promote the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution.
Specific uses and restrictions on funds will be described in detail in the competitive announcements.
Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients" allowable direct costs in approved scopes of work plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations.
Funding awarded for research does not include research within the purview of EPA"s Office of Research and Development.
Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant funds cannot be used for the purchase of land or conservation easements.
The assistance agreement award under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information.
Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov.
Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to adopt and enforce policies that ban text messaging while driving company-owned or -rented vehicles or government-owned vehicles, or while driving privately-owned vehicles when on official government business or when performing any work for or on behalf of the government.
Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to conduct initiatives of the type described in section 3(a) of the Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving Executive Order that was signed on October 1, 2009.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Universities, colleges and institutions of higher education and hospitals are not eligible under this announcement.
Non-profit, non-governmental organizations, interstate agencies, and intertribal consortia which are capable of undertaking activities that advance watershed protection programs are eligible to compete in this program.
The term "interstate agency" is defined in CWA Section 502 as "an agency of two or more States established by or pursuant to an agreement or compact approved by the Congress, or any other agency of two or more States, having substantial powers or duties pertaining to the control of pollution as determined and approved by the Administrator." Intertribal consortia must meet the requirements of 40 CFR Part 35.504.
For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency"s Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Public and private nonprofit institutions/ organizations, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, states, local governments, U.S. territories and interstate agencies.
Credentials/Documentation
Non-profit applicants may be asked to provide documentation that they meet the definition of a non-profit organization in OMB Circular A-122. Interstate organizations may be asked to provide a citation to the statutory authority, which establishes their status. Intertribal consortia may be asked to provide documentation that they meet the requirements of 40 CFR Part 35.504. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
EPA awards grants and cooperative agreements based on the competitive applications submitted in response to EPA solicitations, considering relevance and likelihood of the success of the projects.
The standard application forms, as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular A-102, must be used for this program.
Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement.
For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.
12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.
12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. EPA awards grants and cooperative agreements based on the competitive applications submitted in response to EPA solicitations, considering relevance and likelihood of the success of the projects. The standard application forms, as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular A-102, must be used for this program. Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review
Award Procedures
For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
Clean Water Act, Part 104, Section 104(b)(3), Public Law 95-217, 33 U.S.C 1251; National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 102(2)(f).
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 90 to 120 days. Grants are usually approved within 4 months of receipt of completed application.
Appeals
Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: Percent: 25.%. Matching Requirements: The applicant must provide a minimum of 25 percent of the total cost of the workplan. To determine if the minimum match is met, EPA will use the following formula: amount (in dollars) of federal funds requested from EPA divided by 3 = minimum match (in dollars) or Total project amount (in dollars) divided by 4 = minimum match (in dollars). For example, if the applicant requests $75,000 of federal funds or has a total project cost of $100,000 for a three-year project period, it must be able to provide $25,000 in matching funds or services. Award recipients can meet the match requirements with in-kind or monetary contributions from entities other than themselves. However, other federal money cannot be used as the match for this grant program unless authorized by the statute governing the award of the other federal funds. Matching funds are considered grant funds. They must be used for the reasonable and necessary expenses of carrying out the assistance agreement workplan. Any restrictions on the use of grant funds (i.e., prohibition of land acquisition with grant funds) also apply to the matching funds.
In addition to matching requirements, the applicant must demonstrate how they will leverage resources during grant performance.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The terms of the grant shall be determined at time of grant award. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: The terms of the grant shall be determined at time of grant award.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements.
Agreements may require quarterly, interim, and final progress reports, and expenditure/financial, equipment, and invention reports.
Specific reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations at 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31, as applicable.
Program reports are required under this program.
EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements.
Agreements may require quarterly, interim, and final progress reports, and expenditure/financial, equipment, and invention reports.
Specific reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations at 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31, as applicable.
Program reports are required under this program.
EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements.
Agreements may require quarterly, interim, and final progress reports, and expenditure/financial, equipment, and invention reports.
Specific reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations at 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31, as applicable.
Program reports are required under this program.
EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements.
Agreements may require quarterly, interim, and final progress reports, and expenditure/financial, equipment, and invention reports.
Specific reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations at 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31, as applicable.
Program reports are required under this program.
Performance monitoring is required under this program.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year.
Records
Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes to each grant, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained until expiration of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304 - EPM.
Obigations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 13 Not Available; FY 14 est $500,000; and FY 15 est $500,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$3,000,000 every six years. Average: $500,000/fiscal year.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
General Grant Regulations and Procedures, 40 CFR Parts 30 and 31, 40 CFR 35.610, OMB Circular A-122, or OMB Circular A-87, as applicable.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Laura Gabanski Laura Gabanski, Nonpoint Source Control Branch (4503T), Office of Oceans, Wetlands, and Watersheds, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. Phone: (202) 566-1179; FAX: (202) 566-1333 ; E-mail: gabanski.laura@epa.gov., washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: gabanski.laura@epa.gov Phone: 202-566-1179
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement. Competitive applications and proposals will be selected in accordance with the announced criteria.
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