[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41238-41245]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20109]
[[Page 41237]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part IV
Environmental Protection Agency
_______________________________________________________________________
Fiscal Year 1996 Computational Science and Environmental Education
(EarthVision) Cooperative Agreements Program; Solicitation Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 7, 1996 /
Notices
[[Page 41238]]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5548-5]
Fiscal Year 1996 Computational Science and Environmental
Education (EarthVision) Cooperative Agreements Program; Solicitation
Notice
Section I. Important Preapplication Information
A. What is the purpose of this solicitation notice?
The Office of Administration and Resources Management (OARM) at the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) solicits
preapplications from colleges, universities, and other institutions of
higher education; and from other nonprofit public or private agencies,
organizations, and institutions to support an ongoing computational
science and environmental education program, EarthVision, as defined in
this notice.
B. What is the computational science and environmental education
program, EarthVision? How much money is available for this program?
EarthVision is a computational science and environmental modeling
education enrichment program. The primary goals of EarthVision are to:
1. Introduce teams of high school students and teachers to
computational science, environmental modeling, and high performance
computing;
2. Attract students to technical and environmental sciences, and
thereby contribute to a better trained workforce;
Additional objectives of EarthVision include:
a. Enhance critical thinking and awareness of how to apply
mathematical environmental models in environmental research.
b. Promote knowledge of how to create and test environmental
hypotheses with mathematical models, and;
c. Increase understanding of the role of computationally intensive
models in environmental research, problem solving, decision making, and
regulation development.
You can view and download this solicitation notice, as well as a
description of the past cooperative ventures under this program, from:
//www.epa/gov/nesc/index2.html
One million dollars in Fiscal Year 1996 cooperative agreement funds
are available under a Congressional appropriation to support the
computational science and environmental education program, EarthVision.
Total funding is anticipated to be $3 million for the three-year
period, Fiscal Year 1996--Fiscal Year 1998.
C. What is computational science, environmental modeling, and high
performance computing? What is computational science and environmental
modeling education enrichment?
Computational science is the use of computationally intensive
mathematical models to simulate or replicate real work conditions that
are either too large or too small to replicate in a laboratory.
Environmental models duplicate physical or chemical processes that take
place in the environment.
High performance computing encompasses advanced computing,
communications, and information technologies. It relies on scientific
workstations, supercomputer systems, and high speed networks. High
performance computing integrates and links special purpose and
experimental systems; the new generation of large, scalable parallel
systems, and; applications and systems software over a high speed
network.
Computational science and environmental modeling education
enrichment teaches how to apply computational science and environmental
modeling skills to environmental research. It relies on the scientific
method and the development and testing of environmental research
hypotheses. It involves critical thinking, problem solving, and
decision making.
D. When is my letter of intent due to EPA? When is my pre-
application due to EPA and when will EPA announce the cooperative
agreements award? Why is EPA announcing the availability of Fiscal Year
1996 funds so late in the year?
A one-page letter of intent is due to EPA postmarked no later than
Thursday, August 25. The letter of intent must be no longer than one
page and state that your organization intends to submit a pre-
application. The letter of intent is non-binding and does not commit
you to submit a pre-application. The letter of intent will allow EPA to
substantiate the level of interest so that the Agency can gauge how
many pre-applications it will receive.
Pre-applications (25 page statement of work with attached budget)
must be mailed to EPA postmarked no later than Friday, October 25,
1996. Pre-applications postmarked after Friday, October 25, 1996, will
not be considered for funding. EPA expects to announce the cooperative
agreement award later in the calendar year, 1996, or early in 1997.
Owing to the Continuing Resolution, EPA was unable to finalize its
budget earlier in the fiscal year. EPA waited for an approved operating
plan before releasing this solicitation. This will NOT affect your
application.
E. Where do I mail my letter of intent and pre-application?
Letters of intent and pre-applications must be mailed to: U.S. EPA,
EarthVision, Computational Science and Environmental Modeling,
Education Enrichment Program, Mail Drop 34, Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina, 27711.
F. Where do I get information and forms needed to prepare my pre-
application?
Please read this solicitation notice carefully, it contains all the
information and forms necessary to prepare a pre-application. If your
project is selected as the finalist after the evaluation process is
concluded, EPA will provide you with additional forms needed to process
your pre-application.
G. How much money can I request for my cooperative agreement
project? Does the dollar amount affect my chance of being selected?
EPA anticipates making one award for the computational science and
environmental modeling education enrichment program, EarthVision.
Applicants may select up to $1 million in cooperative agreement funds
for the first year of the computational science and environmental
modeling education enrichment program.
Section II. Eligible Applicants
H. Who is eligible to submit pre-applications?
Any college, university, or other institute of higher education, or
other nonprofit public or private agency, organization, or institution
to support the computational science and environmental modeling
education enrichment program, EarthVision, where authorized under the
following Actions and Sections: (a) Clean Water Act, Section 104; (b)
Clean Air Act, Section 103; (c) Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001;
(d) Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442, and; (e) National
Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(F). 501(c)(4) organizations
that lobby are not eligible to apply.
I. May an organization submit more than one pre-application in
Fiscal Year 1996?
Yes, an organization may submit more than one pre-application, but
only if the pre-applications are for different projects. No
organization will be awarded more than one cooperative agreement for
the same project during the same fiscal year.
[[Page 41239]]
J. May I submit a pre-application for Fiscal Year 1996 even if I
have been awarded funding under this program in the past four years?
Yes, applicants who were awarded funding previously may submit a
pre-application for Fiscal Year 1996. The Fiscal Year 1996 pre-
application may or may not have any relationship to a project funded in
a previous year. Each pre-application for Fiscal Year 1996 will be
evaluated based upon the specific criteria set forth in this
solicitation and in relation to the other pre-applications.
K. May a teacher, educator, or faculty member apply?
A teacher's school district, an educator's nonprofit organization,
or a faculty member's college or university may apply, but an
individual teacher, educator, or faculty member cannot. Only agencies,
organizations, and institutions, and not individuals, may apply for the
cooperative agreement.
Section III. Eligible Activities and Funding Priorities
L. What general activities are eligible for funding under this
program?
The eligible computational science and environmental modeling
education enrichment activities that may receive funding must include,
but are not limited to, at least one of the following:
1. Design, demonstrate, or disseminate computational science and
environmental modeling curricula, including the enhancement or
development of educational tools and materials.
2. Design and demonstrate projects to enhance existing high school
curricula in math, science, and computer science with the incorporation
of computational science and environmental modeling tools and
techniques.
3. Projects to understand and assess a specific computational
science or environmental modeling issue, and to transfer those findings
to EarthVision participants.
4. Provision of computational science and environmental modeling
training or related education for high school students, teachers, and/
or faculty in a specific geographic location.
5. Design and demonstration of projects to foster international
cooperation in the assessment and analysis of environmental data using
computational science and environmental modeling.
Under Section III.L.1. above, EPA strongly encourages applicants to
demonstrate or disseminate existing curricula in computational science
and environmental modeling rather than designing new curricula. EPA
will consider funding new curricula only where the applicant
demonstrates that there is a need. Examples of need may include
instances in which: (1) Existing computational science and
environmental modeling curricula has not been designed for a certain
audience; (2) Existing computational science and environmental modeling
curricula cannot be adapted well to a particular local setting, and;
(3) Existing curricula are not otherwise accessible. The applicant must
discuss what steps they have taken to address this need. You may cite a
Conference where the need was discussed, the results of inquiries made
with various educational institutions, or a research or other published
document.
M. What activities are not eligible for funding under this program?
Funds cannot be used for:
1. Construction projects;
2. Technical training of environmental management professionals;
3. Non-educational research and development; and/or
4. Computational science information projects.
Under Section III.M.1. above, EPA will not fund construction
activities such as the acquisition of real property (e.g., buildings)
or the construction or modification of any building. EPA will not fund
the acquisition of services for the direct benefit of EPA.
Under Section III.M.4. above, EPA will fund only computational
science and environmental modeling education enrichment projects, not
projects that are solely designed to develop or disseminate
computational science and environmental modeling information. As
discussed in Section I.C. above, computational science and
environmental modeling education enrichment teaches how to apply
computational science and environmental modeling skills to
environmental research. It involves critical-thinking, problem-solving,
and decision making.
In comparison, computational science information provides facts or
opinions about the application of computationally intensive
mathematical models to environmental issues. It does not enhance skills
in environmental research, critical thinking, problem solving, or
decision making. While an understanding of computational science in
environmental research is important, the information alone does not
constitute computational science education enrichment. To reiterate,
computational science and environmental modeling education enrichment
teaches people how to apply computationally intensive mathematical
environmental models to environmental research.
N. What specific types of projects will EPA fund?
EPA will fund only those proposals which meet the criteria
specified under #1 and #2 below. Proposals which do not meet these
criteria will not be funded.
1. All proposals must discuss how the proposed project:
a. Is new or substantially improved;
b. Has the potential for wide application, and;
c. Addresses a high priority issue in computational science and
environmental modeling.
Applicants must define ``new or substantially improved,'' ``wide
application,'' and ``high priority issue'' as they relate to each
individual project. For instance, a project may be new or substantially
improved if it reaches a specific community for the first time,
develops a new or improved teaching strategy, or uses a new or improved
method of applying existing computational science and environmental
modeling education enrichment materials. Similarly, a project may have
wide application if it targets a large and diverse audience in terms of
numbers or demographics or if it can serve as a model program
elsewhere. Finally, a project may address a high priority issue in
computational science or environmental modeling education enrichment if
the applicant demonstrates the importance of the issue to the
community, state, or region being targeted by the project. For
instance, a community which has notable air pollution problems may find
it appropriate to increase understanding of how computational science
is used in designing air pollution models and in assessing alternative
solutions.
2. All proposals must also focus on one of the following:
a. Improving computational science and environmental modeling
teaching skills for teachers, faculty, and other nonformal educators,
and learning skills for students (e.g., through workshops, summer
training sessions, and Saturday classes);
b. Building local capacity to develop, deliver, and continue
computational science and environmental modeling education enrichment
programs, or;
c. Promoting careers in environmental sciences and computational
science among students.
All proposals must clearly identify which of the above the proposal
will focus on. You will not increase your chances of being funded by
focusing on more than one of the above. The terms
[[Page 41240]]
used under Section III.N.2.a-c. are defined below.
The term workshops, summer training sessions, and Saturday classes
refers to training activities that prepare educators to utilize
computational science and environmental modeling education materials.
Workshops, summer training sessions, and Saturday classes may be
directed toward young people and/or adults in formal and/or informal
settings. (A formal setting is a school, college, university or similar
institution devoted to learning; an informal setting may include a
museum, nature center, park, or community center which may not be
devoted to learning but often includes such activities). Workshops
should emphasize an investigative and hands-on approach to learning
that leads to the development of problem-solving and critical thinking
skills.
The term building local regional capacity refers to the development
and implementation of plans designed to improve the coordinated
delivery of computational science and environmental modeling education
enrichment at the local level. The primary providers should coordinate
local planning and implementation of the computational science and
environmental modeling education enrichment activities with State
Departments of Education or Natural Resources, local school districts,
and state, local, and tribal environmental education coordinating
councils. Examples of how to build local capacity include the
development of plans for:
1. Identifying and assessing needs as well as setting priorities;
2. Creating grant programs or identifying funding sources for
computational science and environmental modeling education enrichment
providers, and/or;
3. Identifying computational science and environmental modeling
teacher training needs.
Section IV. The Pre-Application
O. What is a pre-application?
The pre-application contains three parts: 1) the ``Application for
Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 (or SF 424), attached); 2) The
``Budget Information: Non-Construction Programs'' (Standard Form 424A
(or SF 424A), attached), and; 3) A work plan (described below). To
ensure your pre-application is completed properly, carefully follow the
instructions on SF 424, SF 424A, and those provided below. The SF 424,
SF 424A, and completed work plan contain all the information EPA will
use to evaluate the merits of your pre-application. Only finalists will
be asked to submit additional forms needed to process your pre-
application.
P. Are matching funds required?
Yes, non-Federal matching funds of at least 5% of the total cost of
the project are required, although EPA encourages matching funds of
greater than 5%. Federal funds to support the project must not exceed
95% of the total cost of the project. The 5% match may be provided by
the applicant or any other organization or institution, except that no
portion of the 5% match can include Federal funds (unless specifically
authorized by statute). The 5% match may be provided in cash or by in-
kind contributions and other non-cash support. In-kind contributions
often include salaries or other verifiable costs. In the case of
salaries, applicants may use either minimum wage or fair market value.
The proposed match, including the value of in-kind contributions, is
subject to negotiation with EPA. The value of in-kind contributions
must be carefully documented. All cooperative agreements are subject to
audit.
The matching non-Federal share is a percentage of the entire cost
of the project. For example, if the 95% Federal portion is $4,950, then
the entire project should, at a minimum, have a budget of $5,211, with
the recipient providing a contribution of $261. The amount of non-
Federal funds, including in-kind contributions, must be itemized in the
budget.
Q. Can I use Federal funds in addition to those provided by this
program to support the same project?
Yes, you may use Federal funds in addition to those provided by
this program, but only for different activities. However, you may not
use any Federal funds to meet all or any part of the required 5% match
as stated in Section IV.P. above. If you have already been awarded
Federal funds for a project in which you are seeking additional support
from this program, please provide the overall dollar amount being
awarded by the other Federal Agency as a footnote. However, do not
include the figures from the other Federal support in the budget you
submit. You must identify the Project Officer, Agency, Office, address,
phone number, and the amount of the award.
R. Can I request funding for any budget category on the SF 424A
(i.e., personnel/salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment,
supplies, contractual, and indirect charges)?
Yes, you may request funding for any or all of the budget
categories identified above with the following exceptions. First, as
indicated under Section III.M.1. above, EPA will not fund the
acquisition of real property (including buildings) or the construction
or modification of any building.
Second, you may request funds to pay for salaries and fringe
benefits, but only for those personnel who are directly involved in
implementing the proposed project and whose salaries and fringe
benefits are directly related to specific products or outcomes of the
proposed project. EPA strongly encourages applicants to request
reasonable amounts of funding for salaries and fringe benefits. Third,
you may include a request for indirect costs if your organization has
already negotiated and received an indirect cost rate from the Federal
government.
Organizations may request an indirect cost rate. If you do not have
an indirect cost rate, you will have to negotiate an indirect cost rate
when the award is made.
S. What must be included in the pre-application?
The pre-application must contain an SF 424, SF 424A, and work plan
as described below.
1. Application for Federal Assistance and Budget Information (SF
424 AND SF 424A). The SF 424 and SF 424A are required for all Federal
grants and cooperative agreements. A completed SF 424 AND SF 424A must
be submitted as part of your pre-application. These forms, along with
instructions, are included at the end of this notice. Please carefully
review the instructions and sample. Refer to Section IV.R. above for
information on what types of budget categories can and cannot be funded
under this program.
2. Work Plan. A work plan describes your proposed project. The
total number of points possible for each proposal is 100. These points
will be distributed as follows. Each of the following four sections of
the work plan are assigned points which add up to 100. (Certain
sections are given more points than others reflecting the relative
importance of each section).
All work plans must include and be formatted according to all four
sections (a-d) below.
a. Project Summary: Provide EPA will an overview of your entire
project. The summary must be no more than one page and must briefly
include all seven of the following:
1. Describe your organization (and your key partners);
2. State the goals and specific objectives of your project;
3. Identify what type of project you will focus on as described
under Section III.N.2.a-c. (e.g., teacher or student training; building
local capacity, or; promoting careers in environmental or computational
science);
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4. Describe the demographics of your target audience (including the
total number of direct participants, ethnic composition, and type of
individuals reached such as teachers, students, or the general public);
5. Indicate how you will reach your target audience;
6. Describe the expected results of your project and how you will
evaluate it, and;
7. Indicate for what types of activities the EPA funds will be
used.
The project summary will be scored on how well you provide an
overview of your entire project based upon the seven subsections
identified above.
Project Summary Maximum Score: 10 points.
b. Project Description: Provide EPA with an explanation of how your
proposed project meets #1 and #2 below.
1. Explain how the proposed project: (a) Is new or significantly
improved; (b) Has wide application, and; (c) Addresses a priority issue
in computational science and environmental modeling as described under
Section III.N.1.a-c.
This subsection will be scored on how well you explain how your
proposal meets the three elements identified above.
Subsection maximum score: 15 points (5 points for each of the three
elements a-c identified above).
2. Explain how the proposed project: (a) Improves computational
science and environmental modeling teaching skills; (b) Builds local
capacity, or; (c) Promotes careers in environmental sciences and
computational science as described under Section III.N.2.a-c.
This subsection will be scored on how clearly and effectively your
project: (a) Establishes realistic goals and objectives; (b) Identifies
its target audience and demonstrates an understanding of the needs of
that audience; (c) Uses an effective means or delivery system for
reaching the target audience/implementing the project, and; (d)
Demonstrates that it uses or produces quality educational products or
methods which teach critical thinking, problem solving, and decision
making skills.
Subsection maximum score: 45 points (15 points for each of the
three elements identified in this paragraph).
Project Description Maximum Score: 60 points.
c. Project Evaluation: Provide EPA with an explanation of how you
will determine or measure whether you are meeting the goals and
objectives of your project. Evaluation plans may be quantitative and/or
qualitative and may include, for example, surveys, observation, or
outside consultation.
The project evaluation will be scored on the extent to which: a)
Your evaluation plan will measure the project's effectiveness, and; b)
You plan to apply data gathered from your evaluation to strengthen your
project.
Project Evaluation Maximum Score: 10 points (5 points for each of
the two elements identified above).
d. Appendices: Provide EPA with a detailed budget, resumes of key
personnel, and letters of commitment. No other appendices or
attachments such as video tapes or sample curricula may be submitted.
1. Budget: Describe how you will use the funds for personnel/
salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contract costs,
and indirect costs. You must also include a table which lists each
major proposed activity, as well as the month and year it will be
completed and the amount of EPA funds that will be spent on each
activity.
This subsection will be scored on: (a) How well the budget
information clearly and accurately shows how funds will be used, and;
(b) Whether the funding request is reasonable given the activities
proposed.
Subsection maximum score: 10 points (5 points for each of the two
elements identified in this paragraph).
2. Key personnel and Letters of Commitment: Attach one or two page
resumes for up to three key personnel implementing the project. Also,
include one page letters of commitment from partners (if there are
partners) with a significant role in the project. Do not include
letters of support; they will not be considered in evaluation pre-
applications.
This subsection will be scored based upon whether resumes of key
personnel are included and whether the key personnel are qualified to
implement the proposed project. In addition, the score will reflect
whether letters of commitment are included (if partners are used) and
the extent to which a firm commitment is made.
Subsection maximum score: 10 points.
Appendices Maximum Score: 20 points.
T. What are the page limits for the work plan?
Your work plan must be limited to 25 pages. The page limit applies
only to the work plan (i.e., the ``summary,'' ``project description,''
and ``project evaluation''), not the appendices. ``One page refers to
one side of singe-spaced typed page. The pages must be letter sized
(8\1/2\ x 11 inches), with a normal type size (10 or 12 cpi) and at
least 1 inch margins. To conserve paper, please provide double-sided
copies of the pre-application.
U. How must the pre-application be submitted?
The applicant must submit one original and two copies of the pre-
application (a signed SF 424, an SF 424A, and a work plan). Please
submit ONLY the SF 424, the SF 424A, and a work plan. Do not include
other attachments such as cover letters, tables of contents, or
appendices other than those required (budget, resumes, letters of
commitment). The SF 424 should be the first page of your pre-
application and must be signed by a person authorized to receive funds.
Pre-applications must be reproducible; they should not be bound. They
should be stapled or clipped once in the upper left hand corner, typed
on white paper, and with page numbers in the upper right hand corner.
V. What regulations must I comply with in submitting my proposal?
EPA's general assistance regulations at 40 CFR Part 31 applies to
state, local, and Indian tribal governments and 40 CFR Part 30 applies
to all other applicants such as universities and other nonprofit
organizations.
Section V. Review and Selection Process
W. How will pre-applications be reviewed and who will conduct the
reviews?
Pre-applications will be reviewed in two phases: (1) The screening
phase, and; (2) The evaluation phase. During the screening phase, pre-
applicants will be reviewed to determine whether they meet the basic
requirements of this notice, especially as described under Sections II
and III. Only pre-applications which meet all of the basic requirements
will enter the evaluation phase of the review process. During the
evaluation phase, pre-applications will be evaluated based upon the
quality of their work plans, especially the degree to which the work
plan meets the requirements set for in Section III.N.1 and 2. Reviewers
conducting the screening and evaluation phases of the review process
will include EPA officials external to this office. The review panel
will include environmental modelers, computational scientists, and
environmental educators approved by EPA. At the conclusion of the
evaluation phase, the reviewers will score each applicant's work plan
based upon the scoring system identified in Section IV.S.2.
X. How will the final selections be made?
After individual projects are evaluated and scored by the reviewers
as described under Section V.W. above,
[[Page 41242]]
EPA officials will identify the highest ranking finalist among the pre-
applicants. In making a final selection, EPA's goal is to fund a
project that takes into account, but is not limited to, the following:
1. The type of target audience and their socioeconomic status;
2. The methods used to reach the target audience;
3. Whether the proposal makes effective use of partnerships, and;
4. The cost.
In reference to socioeconomic status, under Section V.X.1. above,
EPA's goal is to encourage applicants to submit proposals that address
environmental justice for culturally diverse and low income
populations. EPA hopes to fund a proposal which scores high in the
evaluation process and which addresses environmental justice. The term
environmental justice refers to the fair treatment of people of all
races, cultures, and income with respect to the development,
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and
policies. Fair treatment means that no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic
group should bear a disproportionate share of the negative
environmental consequences resulting from the operation of industrial,
municipal, and commercial enterprises and from the execution of
Federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies.
Efforts to address environmental justice through computational
science and environmental modeling education enrichment programs may
include educational programs that provide culturally diverse and low
income populations with critical thinking, problem solving, and
decision making skills to: (1) Use mathematical environmental models in
environmental research; (2) Create and test environmental hypotheses
with mathematical models, and; (3) Understand the role of
computationally intensive models in environmental research and decision
making.
In reference to the effective use of partnerships, under Section
V.X.3. above, EPA's goal is to encourage applicants to submit proposals
that form partnerships, where possible. EPA hopes to fund a proposal
which scores high in the evaluation process and which promotes the
effective use of partnerships among organizations. The term partnership
refers to forming a collaborative working relationship between two or
more organizations such as governmental agencies, non-profit
organizations, educational institutions, and/or the private sector.
The Assistant Administrator of the Office of Administration and
Resources Management at EPA headquarters will select the cooperative
agreement recipient, taking into account the recommendations of the
Director of the Office of Information Resources Management (OIRM) and
the Director of the Enterprise Technology Services Division (ETSD/
OIRM). They will base their recommendations on the factors discussed
above.
Y. How and when will I be notified about the status of my proposal?
Applicants will receive a confirmation that EPA has received their
pre-application once EPA has received all pre-applications and logged
them into a chronological data base. EPA will notify applicants again
after the award has been announced.
Z. Where may I obtain more information on possible sources of
funding other than this program?
EPA's Division of Environmental Education, Office of
Communications, Education, and Public Affairs (OCEPA) sponsors the
Agency's Environmental Education Grants Program. EPA's Environmental
Education Grants Program provides financial support for projects which
design, demonstrate, or disseminate environmental education practices.
The program is authorized under Section 6 of the National Environmental
Education Act of 1990 (the Act) (Pub. L. 101-619). For the
environmental education grants program, Congress has appropriated
between approximately $2.5 and $2.9 million per year from Fiscal Year
1992 through Fiscal Year 1995. EPA headquarters awards approximately $1
million in grant funds per year and each of EPA's ten regional offices
award approximately $150,000 to $180,000 per year.
In cooperation with EPA, the North American Association for
Environmental Education (NAAEE) has developed a publication called
``Grant Funding for Your Environmental Education Program'' which
provides strategies for identifying potential sources of funding. This
publication can be purchased for a $5.00 by writing NAAEE, Publications
and Member Services, P.O. Box 400, Troy, Ohio, 45373.
Section VI. Grant Recipient Activities
AA. When can I begin incurring costs?
DO NOT incur costs until you receive the award document.
BB. How long is this project?
This is a three year project. Pre-applicants may request funds for
up to a three-year budget period.
CC. Who will perform projects and activities?
Any person working on this project, whether it is an employee, a
contractor, or a consultant, etc., of the recipient must be approved by
EPA.
DD. What reports and work products must grant recipients submit to
EPA and when are they due?
The cooperative agreement recipient must submit two copies of their
annual progress report and two copies of all work products to the EPA
Project Officer within 90 days after the end of each year of the
project. The recipient must submit a final report to the EPA Project
Officer within 90 days after the end of the project period. The
recipient must submit quarterly status reports to the EPA Project
Officer.
EE. What does EPA plan to do with the cooperative agreement
recipient's final report and final work products?
EPA will establish a section for the computational science and
environmental modeling education enrichment program on the home page of
EPA's National Environmental Supercomputing Center (NESC). Work
products suited to placement on the NESC home page will be located
there. The NESC home page can be reached through EPA's web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/nesc
Section VII. Additional Information on Preparing Pre-applications
FF. Where can I get additional information on preparing my pre-
application?
EPA strongly encourages applicants to carefully read the
solicitation notice. Many questions, such as when is the deadline for
submitting pre-applications and what activities can be funded under
this program, are answered in this solicitation.
For strictly administrative questions, such as filling out the SF
424 and SF 424A forms, call:
Grants Administration Division/ Headquarters, U.S. EPA, 202/260-
9266.
For programmatic and technical questions, no other information will
be provided to applicants in order to be fair in this competitive
assistance agreement. EPA will not elaborate on the programmatic and
technical elements of this solicitation in order to avoid the
appearance of giving preferential treatment to any single applicant.
Please do not call EPA's Division of Environmental Education,
Office of Communication, Education, and Public Affairs (OCEPA). The
computational science and environmental education enrichment program,
EarthVision, is sponsored by EPA's Office of Administration and
Resources Management (OARM). As stated above,
[[Page 41243]]
EPA will not elaborate on the programmatic and technical elements of
this solicitation in order to avoid the appearance of giving
preferential treatment to any single applicant.
Dated: July 29, 1996.
Approved by:
Alvin M. Pesachowitz,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Administration and Resources
Management.
Instructions for the SF-424
This is a standard form used by applicants as a required fact sheet
for preapplications and applications submitted for Federal assistance.
It will be used by Federal Agencies to obtain applicant certification
that States which have established a review and comment procedure in
response to Executive Order 12372 and have selected the program to be
include in their process, have been given an opportunity to review the
applicant's submission.
Item and Entry
1. Self-explanatory.
2. Date application submitted to Federal agency (or State if
applicable) and applicant's control number (if applicable).
3. State use only (if applicable).
4. If this application is to continue or revise an existing award,
enter present Federal identifier number. If for a new project, leave
blank.
5. Legal name of applicant, name of primary organizational unit
which will undertake the assistance activity, complete address of the
applicant, and name and telephone number of the person to contact on
matters related to this application.
6. Enter Employer Identification Number (EIN) as assigned by the
Internal Revenue Service.
7. Enter the appropriate letter in the space provided.
8. Check appropriate box and enter appropriate letter(s) in the
space(s) provided.
--``New'' means a new assistance award.
--``Continuation'' means an extension for additional funding/budget
period for a project with a projected completion date.
--``Revision'' means any change in the Federal Government's financial
obligation or contingent liability from an existing obligation.
9. Name of Federal agency from which assistance is being requested
with this application.
10. Use the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number and title
of the program under which assistance is requested.
11. Enter a brief descriptive title of the project. If more than
one program is involved, you should append an explanation on a separate
sheet. If appropriate (e.g., construction or real property projects),
attach a map showing project location. For preapplications, use a
separate sheet to provide a summary description of this project.
12. List only the largest political entities affected (e.g. State,
counties, cities).
13. Self-explanatory.
14. List the applicant's Congressional District and any District(s)
affected by the program or project.
15. Amount requested or to be contributed during the first funding/
budget period by each contributor. Value of in-kind contributions
should be included on appropriate lines as applicable. If the action
will result in a dollar change to an existing award, indicate only the
amount of the change. For decreases, enclose the amounts in
parentheses. If both basic and supplemental amounts are included, show
breakdown on attached sheet. For multiple program funding, use totals
and show breakdown using same categories as item 15.
16. Applicants should contact the State Single Point of Contact
(SPOC) for Federal Executive Order 12372 to determine whether the
application is subject to the State intergovernmental review process.
17. This question applies to the applicant organization, not the
person who signs as the authorized representative. Categories of debt
include delinquent audit disallowances, loans, and taxes.
18. To be signed by the authorized representatives of the
applicant. A copy of the governing body's authorization for you to sign
this application as an official representative must be on file in the
applicant's office. (Certain Federal agencies may require that this
authorization be submitted as part of the application).
Additional Instructions for the SF-424
Block #6: You can obtain this number from your payroll office. It
is the same Federal Identification Number which appears on W-2 forms.
If your organization does not have a number, you may obtain one by
calling the Taxpayer services number for the IRS.
Block #14: If your project covers many areas, several Congressional
districts will be listed. If it covers the entire state, simply put in
statewide. If you are not sure about the Congressional district, call
the County Voter Registration Department.
Block #15: Line a is for the amount of money you are requesting
from EPA. Lines b-e are for the amounts either you or another
organization are providing for this project. Line f is for any program
income which you expect will be generated by this project. Program
income can be fees for services performed, income generated from the
sale of a brochure, which was produced with grant funds, or admission
fees to a conference financed by the grant funds. The total of lines b-
e must be at least 5% of line g, as this cooperative agreement has a
match requirement of 5% of the Total Allowable Costs.
Block #16: Check b, (NO) since your application does not have to be
sent through the state clearinghouse for review.
Block #18: The authorized representative is the person who is able
to contact or obligate your agency to the terms and conditions of the
grant. (Please sign in blue ink).
Instructions for the SF-424A
Do not fill in Section A--Budget Summary.
Section B Budget Categories
All applications should contain a breakdown by the object class
categories shown in Lines a-k of Section B. Include both Federal and
non-Federal (matching) funds combined.
For each major program, function, or activity, fill in the total
requirements for funds by object class categories. Most applications
will only have one program, function, or activity.
Line 6i--Show the totals of lines 6a through 6h in each column.
Line 6j--Enter the total of amounts on Lines 6i and 6j.
Program income--Enter the estimated amount of income, if any,
expected to be generated from this project. Do not add or subtract this
amount from the total project amount. Show under the program narrative
statement the nature and source of income.
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