Grantee Research Project Results
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Center for Environmental Research
Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program
CLOSED - FOR REFERENCES PURPOSES ONLY
12th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet
This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity.
Funding Opportunity Numbers (FON) and Associated Research Areas:
EPA-G2015-P3-Q1 – Energy
EPA-G2015-P3-Q2 – Built Environment
EPA-G2015-P3-Q3 – Materials and Chemicals
EPA-G2015-P3-Q4 – Water
EPA-G2015-P3-Q5 – Urban Green Water Infrastructure
EPA-G2015-P3-Q6 – Clean Cookstoves
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 66.516
Solicitation Opening Date: September 5, 2014
Solicitation Closing Date: December 16, 2014, 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time
Eligibility Contact: Ron Josephson (josephson.ron@epa.gov); phone: 703-308-0442
Electronic Submissions: Todd Peterson (peterson.todd@epa.gov); phone: 703-308-7224
Technical Contacts: Cynthia L. Nolt-Helms (nolt-helms.cynthia@epa.gov); phone: 703-347-8102 and
Gregory Lank (lank.gregory@epa.gov); phone: 703-347-8128
Access Standard STAR Forms (Forms and Standard Instructions Download Page)
View research awarded under previous solicitations (P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet Student Design Competition for Sustainability)
SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Synopsis of Program:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of the P3-People, Prosperity and the Planet Award Program, is seeking applications proposing to research, develop, and design solutions to real world challenges involving the overall sustainability of human society. The P3 competition highlights the use of scientific principles in creating innovative projects focused on sustainability. The P3 Award program was developed to foster progress toward sustainability by achieving the mutual goals of improved quality of life, economic prosperity and protection of the planet -- people, prosperity, and the planet – the three pillars of sustainability. The EPA offers the P3 competition in order to respond to the technical needs of the world while moving towards the goal of sustainability. Please see the P3 website for more details about this program.
This solicitation provides the opportunity for the submission of applications for projects that may involve human subjects research. Human subjects research supported by the EPA is governed by EPA Regulation 40 CFR Part 26 (Protection of Human Subjects). This includes the Common Rule at subpart A and prohibitions and additional protections for pregnant women and fetuses, nursing women, and children at subparts B, C, and D. Research meeting the regulatory definition of intentional exposure research found in subpart B is prohibited by that subpart in pregnant women, nursing women, and children. Research meeting the regulatory definition of observational research found in subparts C and D is subject to the additional protections found in those subparts for pregnant women and fetuses (subpart C) and children (subpart D). All applications must include a Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS, as described in Section IV.B.5.b), and if the project involves human subjects research, it will be subject to an additional level of review prior to funding decisions being made as described in Sections V.C and V.D of this solicitation.
Guidance and training for investigators conducting EPA-funded research involving human subjects may be obtained here:
Making Funding Awards and Other Agreements that Support Human Subjects Research (HSR)
Human Subjects Research at the Environmental Protection Agency: Ethical Standards and Regulatory Requirements
Award Information:
Anticipated Type of Award: Grant
Estimated Number of Awards: Approximately 35 awards for Phase I; Approximately 6 awards for Phase II.
Anticipated Funding Amount: Approximately $975,000 total for all Phase I & II grant awards.
Potential Funding per Award: Up to $15,000 per Phase I grant including direct and indirect costs. Proposals for Phase I grants must be for only one year. Proposals for Phase I grants requesting an award of more than $15,000 will not be considered.
Upon the successful completion of Phase I, grant recipients will have the opportunity to apply for a P3 Phase II grant of up to $75,000 total for two years including direct and indirect costs (see Background section for more information). Proposals for Phase II grants requesting an award of more than $75,000 will not be considered.
Cost-sharing is not required for either Phase I or Phase II grants.
Eligibility Information:
Public nonprofit institutions/organizations (limited to degree-granting public institutions of higher education) and private nonprofit institutions/organizations (limited to degree-granting private institutions of higher education) located in the U.S. (includes U.S. territories and possessions) are eligible to apply to be the recipient of a grant to support teams of undergraduate and/or graduate students. Profit-making firms are not eligible to receive assistance agreements from the EPA under this program. See full announcement for more details.
Application Materials:
To apply under this solicitation, use the application package available at Grants.gov (for further submission information see Section IV.E. “Submission Instructions for Phase I Applications and Other Submission Requirements”). The necessary forms for submitting a P3 application will be found on the National Center for Environmental Research (NCER) web site, Forms and Standard Instructions Download Page. If your organization is not currently registered with Grants.gov, you need to allow approximately one month to complete the registration process. Please note that the registration process also requires that your organization have a DUNS number and a current registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) and the process of obtaining both could take a month or more. Applicants must ensure that all registration requirements are met in order to apply for this opportunity through grants.gov and should ensure that all such requirements have been met well in advance of the submission deadline. This registration, and electronic submission of your application, must be performed by an authorized representative of your organization.
If you do not have the technical capability to utilize the Grants.gov application submission process for this solicitation, send a webmail message at least 15 calendar days before the submission deadline to assure timely receipt of alternate submission instructions. In your message provide the funding opportunity number and title of the program, specify that you are requesting alternate submission instructions, and provide a telephone number, fax number, and an email address, if available. Alternate instructions will be emailed whenever possible. Any applications submitted through alternate submission methods must comply with all the provisions of this Request for Applications (RFA), including Section IV, and be received by the solicitation closing date identified above.
Agency Contacts:
Eligibility Contact: Ron Josephson (josephson.ron@epa.gov); phone: 703-308-0442
Electronic Submissions: Todd Peterson (peterson.todd@epa.gov); phone: 703-308-7224
Technical Contacts: Cynthia L. Nolt-Helms (nolt-helms.cynthia@epa.gov); phone: 703-347-8102 and
Gregory Lank (lank.gregory@epa.gov); phone: 703-347-8128
I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION
A. Introduction
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the auspices of the Office of Research and Development (ORD), National Center for Environmental Research (NCER), invites submissions to the 12th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet. P3 focuses on scientific projects and engineering designs that address the three components of sustainability: people, prosperity and the planet. The P3 Program is intended to support science-based projects and designs developed by interdisciplinary student teams that benefit people by improving their quality of life, promote prosperity by developing local economies, and protect the planet by conserving resources and minimizing pollution. Additional details about EPA’s sustainability research can be found in EPA’s Sustainability Research Strategy (2007) (PDF) (72 pp, 9.19 MB) which presents the role of EPA’s Office of Research and Development in improving understanding of the earth’s natural and man-made systems, assessing threats to those systems, and developing and applying new technologies and decision support tools. An overview of the meaning of sustainability for application in NCER research proposals is located in the sustainability primer (PDF) (2 pp, 195 K)
The concept of sustainable development became widely promoted following the 1987 publication of Our Common Future by the World Commission on Environment and Development (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987). That document defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Earlier, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 introduced the concept of sustainability and the definition used there was reiterated in Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, stating that the goal of sustainability is to, “create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.”
The concept of sustainable development as encompassing activities that address people, prosperity and the planet continues to have international support as indicated by the United Nations 2012 Conference on Sustainable Development Rio+20 outcome document. This document states “Eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development;” followed by “We recognize that poverty eradication, changing unsustainable and promoting sustainable patterns of consumption and production and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are the overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development.” That report went on to state “We therefore acknowledge the need to further mainstream sustainable development at all levels, integrating economic, social and environmental aspects and recognizing their interlinkages, so as to achieve sustainable development in all its dimensions.” (United Nations, 2012)
In an article entitled Sustainability science and engineering: The emergence of a new metadiscipline, Mihelcic et al. (2003) provided a useful definition of sustainability for scientists and engineers as the “design of human and industrial systems to ensure that humankind’s use of natural resources and cycles do not lead to diminished quality of life due either to losses in future economic opportunities or to adverse impacts on social conditions, human health and the environment.” Fundamentally, sustainability requires the balancing of economic prosperity, environmental responsibility, and social fairness. It is imperative to recognize the key role scientific, engineering, and policy innovations can play in addressing the sustainable development challenge. Successful sustainable design recognizes the needs, available resources, and boundaries of the intended user. See for instance: Cradle to Cradle (Braungart & McDonough, 2002), The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability--Designing for Abundance (McDonough & Braungart, 2013), Engineering Biomimicry (Lakhtakia & Martín-Palma, 2013) and Biomimicry (Benyus, 2002).
The P3 Award Program is composed of two phases that award grants on a competitive basis. The purpose of this RFA is to solicit proposals for innovative research projects and designs to compete for the first phase of the P3 Award Program. The first phase is a competition for one-year grants of up to $15,000 to test, research and develop innovative scientific projects or engineering designs that will promote sustainable development. In the spring of 2016, the Phase I grantees awarded from this solicitation are required to present their projects/designs at the annual National Sustainable Design Expo where they will have an opportunity to be eligible to compete for Phase II grant awards of up to $75,000. The Phase II grant awards are intended to support the further development and demonstration of the sustainability projects/designs created in Phase I. The competitors for 2016 P3 Phase II grants are limited to recipients of Phase I grant awards from this solicitation. Additional instructions for completing the Phase II proposals, which will be due approximately seven months after the Phase I grants are awarded, will be distributed to Phase I recipients. Those projects identified for receipt of a Phase II grant will be recognized as P3 Award recipients on the P3 website.
This RFA represents the twelfth National P3 Awards competition. Previously awarded projects funded through this program can be viewed at P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet Student Design Competition for Sustainability.
This solicitation provides the opportunity for the submission of applications for projects that may involve human subjects research. Human subjects research supported by the EPA is governed by EPA Regulation 40 CFR Part 26 (Protection of Human Subjects). This includes the Common Rule at subpart A and prohibitions and additional protections for pregnant women and fetuses, nursing women, and children at subparts B, C, and D. Research meeting the regulatory definition of intentional exposure research found in subpart B is prohibited by that subpart in pregnant women, nursing women, and children. Research meeting the regulatory definition of observational research found in subparts C and D is subject to the additional protections found in those subparts for pregnant women and fetuses (subpart C) and children (subpart D). All applications must include a Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS, as described in Section IV.B.5.b), and if the project involves human subjects research, it will be subject to an additional level of review prior to funding decisions being made as described in Sections V.C and V.D of this solicitation.
Guidance and training for investigators conducting EPA-funded research involving human subjects may be obtained here:
Making Funding Awards and Other Agreements that Support Human Subjects Research (HSR)
Human Subjects Research at the Environmental Protection Agency: Ethical Standards and Regulatory Requirements
B. Background
Increased awareness and understanding of sustainability are critical components for promoting a systematic shift towards more environmentally benign and sustainable products, processes, and systems. It is essential that all involved in the design, discovery, demonstration, and implementation of sustainable innovations understand the fundamental techniques and principles that underlie sustainability. Innovative research can take the form of wholly new applications or applications that build on existing knowledge and approaches for new uses.
EPA’s P3 Program has identified the following four strategic program goals.
Goal 1: Engage and educate the next generation of scientists, engineers, and the greater academic and external communities in the principles of sustainability.
Goal 2: Spark innovation and sustainable technologies through research and development conducted by the P3 projects.
Goal 3: Support the demonstration of sustainable technologies around the world.
Goal 4: Foster the development of small businesses rooted in sustainability.
Specific outputs and outcomes from the Phase I and II grant awards are described in Section I.D. below.
This announcement addresses the first phase (Phase I) of the P3 competition by requesting proposals for innovative research projects or designs from eligible institutions. The Phase I grants are intended to support an interdisciplinary team of undergraduate and/or graduate students to develop their projects/designs in preparation for competing for a P3 Phase II grant award to demonstrate their proposed projects/designs. The EPA will fund approximately 35 Phase I research proposals from around the country during the 2015-2016 academic year.
The proposal process for the Phase II grant awards will begin in the spring of 2016, when the student teams and their faculty advisor (the Principal Investigator [PI] on the grant) will be invited to submit a Project Report describing the Phase I project activities and the Phase II proposal for further development. P3 Phase II applications are a combination of the written Project Reports and team presentations at the National Sustainable Design Expo (the Expo). A panel of qualified experts will be convened to review the applications and score them based on the evaluation criteria described in Section V.
Partnerships with industry or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are strongly encouraged, particularly in Phase II. These partners are expected to help further develop the design, demonstrate the project in the field, and/or move the design to the marketplace. Matching contributions are not required in either the Phase I or the Phase II competition; however, anticipated partnerships should be identified.
Although P3 grant funding must be used for research and cannot be used for commercialization and for-profit initiatives (such as business creation), proposals with commercial potential are encouraged to apply to EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Since its inception, EPA's SBIR Program has provided incentive funding to small businesses to translate their innovative ideas into commercial products that address environmental problems. The EPA is one of 11 federal agencies that participate in the SBIR Program established by the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982. EPA issues annual solicitations for Phase I and Phase II research proposals from science and technology-based firms (not universities). Many institutions have entrepreneurship centers where adjunct faculty are practicing entrepreneurs. SBIR applicants are encouraged to consult with their university’s business or management school and entrepreneurship center faculty about how best to design their proposed research. For more information on EPA’s SBIR program. For more information about the federal SBIR program.
The specific Strategic Goal and Objective from the EPA’s Strategic Plan that relate to this solicitation are Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development, Objective 3.1: Promote Sustainable and Livable Communities.
More information can be found in EPA’s FY 2011-2015 Strategic Plan
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Statutory Authorities
Note that a project’s focus is to consist of activities within the statutory terms of EPA’s financial assistance authorities, specifically, the statute(s) listed below. Generally, a project must address the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of air pollution, water pollution, solid/hazardous waste pollution, toxic substances control, or pesticide control depending on which statute(s) is identified to support the research proposal. Proposals should emphasize this “learning” concept, as opposed to “fixing” an environmental problem via a well-established method. Proposals relating to other topics which are sometimes included within the term “environment” such as recreation, conservation, restoration, protection of wildlife habitats, etc., must describe the relationship of these topics to a statutorily required purpose of pollution prevention and/or control.
The authorities for awarding research grants under this RFA are contained in the Clean Air Act (CAA), Section 103, 42 U.S.C. 7403; Clean Water Act (CWA), Section 104, 33 U.S.C. 1254; the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Section 1442, 42 U.S.C. 300j-1; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), Section 20, 7 U.S.C. 136r; the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA), Section 8001, 42 U.S.C. 6981; and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Section 10, 15 U.S.C. 2609. For research with an international aspect, the above statutes are supplemented, as appropriate, by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 102(2)(F). Specific descriptions of the areas of research that are authorized by each statute are described below:
CAA: Clean Air Act--Section 103:
Section 103 of the Clean Air Act authorizes the EPA to make grants to institutions for research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, surveys and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention and control of air pollution.CWA: Clean Water Act--Section 104:
Section 104 of the Clean Water Act authorizes the EPA to make grants to institutions for research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. Water pollution is defined as man-made or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical, biological, and radiological integrity of water, including freshwater aquatic ecosystems.SDWA: Safe Drinking Water Act--Section 1442:
Section 1442 of the Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes the EPA to make grants for research, training, studies, and demonstrations relating to the causes, diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of physical and mental diseases and other impairments of man resulting directly or indirectly from contaminants in water, or to the provision of a dependably safe supply of drinking water, including (A) improved methods: (i) to identify and measure the existence of contaminants in drinking water (including methods which may be used by State and local health and water officials), and (ii) to identify the source of such contaminants; (B) improved methods to identify and measure the health effects of contaminants in drinking water; (C) new methods of treating raw water to prepare it for drinking, so as to improve the efficiency of water treatment and to remove contaminants from water; (D) improved methods for providing a dependably safe supply of drinking water, including improvements in water purification and distribution, and methods of assessing the health related hazards of drinking water; and (E) improved methods of protecting underground water sources of public water systems from contamination.FIFRA: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act--Section 20:
Section 20 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act authorizes the EPA to make grants for pesticide-related research, development, monitoring, public education, training, demonstrations, and studies.SWDA: Solid Waste Disposal Act--Section 8001:
Section 8001 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act authorizes the EPA to make grants for research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, public education programs and studies relating to: (1) adverse health and welfare effects from solid waste; (2) solid waste management programs; (3) resource recovery and conservation, and hazardous waste management systems; (4) production of usable forms of recovered resources; (5) waste reduction; (6) improved solid waste collection and disposal methods; (7) identification of solid waste components; (8) small scale and low technology solid waste management systems; (9) methods to improve performance of recovered solid waste; (10) improvements in land disposal practices; (11) methods for sound disposal of resources, including sludge and coal slurry; (12) methods of hazardous waste management; and (13) air quality impacts from the burning of solid waste.TSCA: Toxic Substance Control Act--Section 10:
Section 10 of the Toxic Substance Control Act authorizes the EPA to make grants for research, development, monitoring, public education, training, demonstrations and studies directed toward the development of the fundamental scientific basis of screening and monitoring techniques used to detect toxic chemical substances and quantify the effects of toxic chemical substances and mixtures in the environment.NEPA: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)--Section 102(2)(F):
For research with an international aspect, the above statutes are supplemented, as appropriate, by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 102(2)(F) which authorizes support to foreign recipients and international work/travel by domestic recipients. (NEPA cannot be the sole supporting statute for a proposed project.) -
Applicable regulations
Applicable regulations include: 40 CFR Part 30 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations and 40 CFR Part 40 (Research and Demonstration Grants). Applicable OMB Circulars include: OMB Circular A-21 (Cost Principles for Educational Institutions) relocated to 2 CFR Part 220, and OMB Circular A-122 (Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations) relocated to 2 CFR Part 230.
D. Expected Outputs and Outcomes
Note to applicant: The term “output” means an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work products related to an environmental goal or objective, that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. The term “outcome” means the result, effect or consequence that will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective.
The P3 program aims to generate research outputs in the form of innovative, inherently benign, integrated, and interdisciplinary designs that will advance the scientific, technical, and policy knowledge necessary to enhance the sustainability of human society on the planet. The desired outcomes of the research conducted via the P3 program address the three aspects of sustainability. Through the use of sustainable technologies they are to simultaneously: (1) maintain or improve human health and well-being; (2) advance economic competitiveness; and (3) protect and preserve the environment by effectively and efficiently using water, materials, and energy and minimizing the generation or emission of pollution or minimizing the use of hazardous substances.
The outputs and outcomes of the research efforts conducted via the individual P3 grants contribute directly to accomplishing the P3 Program goals presented in Section B. of this solicitation.
Applicants should address one of the research areas listed below in their Phase I proposals. Note that each application must be submitted using a single Funding Opportunity Number (FON). (Proposals can include, but are not limited to, technical challenges within the examples following each research area below.) Review criteria specific to the P3 Program and against which the Phase I proposals will be evaluated are presented later in Section V.A.2. To fulfill Agency requirements for a research grant, all proposals should clearly articulate how the proposed project/design will result in pollution prevention and/or control. The link to pollution prevention should be direct such as reduction in air emissions from a more efficient engine design.
Energy (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-G2015-P3-Q1 – Energy)
Built Environment (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-G2015-P3-Q2 – Built Environment)
Materials and Chemicals (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-G2015-P3-Q3 – Materials and Chemicals)
Water (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-G2015-P3-Q4 – Water)
Urban Green Water Infrastructure (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-G2015-P3-Q5 – Urban Green Water Infrastructure)
This area is listed as a separate research area due to EPA’s membership in the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. Information on EPA’s Urban Waters program. Information about the Urban Waters Federal Partnership.
Urban green water infrastructure uses soils and vegetation, or practices that mimic the hydrologic functions of soils and vegetation, to manage stormwater runoff while also improving air quality, reducing urban temperatures, mitigating climate impacts and supporting more livable and sustainable communities. Areas of interest include but are not limited to research on:
Clean Cookstoves (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-G2015-P3-Q6 – Clean Cookstoves)
This area is listed as a separate research area due to EPA’s pledge toward the goals of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. Information on EPA’s Cookstoves efforts. Information about the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves 
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There is interest in proposals that research the design or development of efficient, clean cookstoves. Since every region has different social and environmental inputs that affect what type of cookstove will work best, it is strongly suggested that teams have an in-country partner to provide the necessary information to most effectively innovate a cookstove fitting for that region that takes into account local fuel, availability of parts for maintenance, what “affordable” means for that region and what cultures and traditions are important for long term acceptance and sustainability of the innovated cookstove. Areas of interest include but are not limited to research on:
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Green Energy
The green energy area of interest includes but is not limited to innovative strategies for conservation and efficiency as well as energy production and distribution, inherently benign energy through green chemistry, biomimicry, green engineering and development of alternative energy sources.
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Biofuels and Waste to Energy
This area includes technologies which address the environmental implications of biofuels and energy from waste, making their availability and use more sustainable while potentially mitigating waste management challenges. Areas of interest include but are not limited to research on:
- Technologies to improve process efficiencies and reduce air and water emissions and waste disposal impacts from biofuel production.
- Innovative technologies that produce biofuels or energy from waste materials, including manure and farm wastes, forest wood biomass, grassland biomass, organic non-recyclable components of municipal solid waste, biosolids from wastewater treatment plants, meat rendering, greases and food wastes or other waste material. This would include research to develop manure-to-energy technologies for semi-arid or arid climates with high solid content feedstock and to make anaerobic digesters smaller and easier to operate with lower installation and maintenance costs.
- Cost effective gasification technologies and systems designed to gasify animal and farm wastes, including wastes from animal feeding operations (AFOs). (For more information on AFOs, see: www.epa.gov/npdes/afo.)
- Biological systems that produce an enriched, easily transported feedstock for digester systems.
- Technologies to divert storm debris from the waste stream and instead recover energy and other resources.
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Green Buildings
Green building practices maximize efficiency with which buildings and their sites use resources, energy, water, and materials, while minimizing building impacts on human health and the environment, throughout the complete building life cycle from siting, design, and construction to operation, renovation, and reuse. Areas of interest include but are not limited to research on:
- Innovative processes for minimizing waste generation from the construction, renovation and demolition of buildings, including new technologies for boosting safe recycling of materials with low recycling rates (e.g. carpet, asphalt shingles, plastics, tile, and insulation).
- Devices, technologies, and materials that reduce energy needs in existing buildings including efficient distributed energy delivery systems, intelligence systems able to track overall building energy efficiency and reduce total energy use, particularly in commercial buildings, and technologies to more efficiently match building utilization patterns with energy needs associated with heating and cooling and lighting.
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Smart Growth
Smart growth covers a range of development and conservation strategies that help protect our natural environment and make our communities more attractive, economically stronger, and more socially diverse. Areas of interest include but are not limited to research on:
- Innovative transportation and mobility strategies that result in environmental benefits such as air emission reductions or water quality improvements.
- Information technologies such as smart phone apps that contribute to pollution prevention resulting in more sustainable communities.
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Sustainable Materials
Research is needed to develop new materials and products with minimal environmental and public health impacts over their life cycles. Areas of interest include but are not limited to research on:
- New materials, processes, and systems with minimal environmental and public health impacts and reduced carbon footprints over their full lifecycles.
- Materials conservation through renewable feedstocks and reuse of materials through product, process, or system design innovations.
- Innovative materials through biomimicry practices that contribute to pollution prevention and improved functionality.
- Redesign of existing products to reduce resources used in production or consumption over the lifecycles of the products.
- Projects that may reduce electronics waste or promote substitution and/or recovery of rare earth elements.
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Sustainable Chemistry
Sustainable chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that prevent pollution by reducing or eliminating the use or generation of hazardous substances. Sustainable chemistry applies across the life cycle of a chemical product, including its design, manufacture, and use. Areas of interest include but are not limited to research on:
- Non-fluorinated wetting agents - Fluorinated polymers/telomers are used as wetting agents in floor finishes and coatings. The conventional longer-chain C8 chemicals are highly persistent and associated with various health and environmental effects. Even the safest of this class of chemical -- the very short-chain telomers and polymers-- is associated with some level of concern. Safer, non-fluorinated alternatives in this area are needed.
- Less persistent, less toxic preservatives - Preservatives for cleaning products and other applications typically use a mechanism of action that, while preventing degradation of the product, also persist in the environment and often carry moderate to high toxicity. Safer alternatives in this area are needed.
- Safer “solubilizers” - In order to make surfactants for liquid detergents pourable, small amines are added to surfactant blends. These small amines are associated with a range of health effects. Alternatives that allow liquid detergent compaction, but are not associated with adverse health effects are needed.
- Less toxic flame retardants - Alternative flame retardants to problematic flame retardants are needed. Areas for innovation include flexible and rigid polyurethane foam, high impact polystyrene, and expandable polystyrene for which there are limited flame retardant options.
- Chemistry in agriculture - Reduction or elimination of pesticides, minimization of fertilizer and nutrient runoff, productive use of agricultural wastes.
- Substitution of rare earth metals.
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Drinking Water
A multitude of drinking water challenges may be addressed by technology solutions. Priority considerations for new technologies include cost, ease of use, and environmental impacts including resource and energy use. Areas of interest include but are not limited to research on:
- Drinking water delivery systems or treatment technologies, especially for small, very small or remote systems. Systems or technologies should address health risks posed by contaminants and pathogens and should be easy to operate and maintain and have minimal energy use. Systems could be community-level or point-of-use/point-of-entry (POU/POE) treatment technologies.
- Increasing disaster resilience by preventing pollutant release into drinking water sources during flood events.
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Water Quality
Research on the man-made or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical, biological, and radiological integrity of water, including freshwater aquatic ecosystems, is vital for ensuring the long-term sustainability of this resource.
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Wastewater and Water Reuse
A multitude of wastewater, stormwater and water reuse challenges may be addressed by technology solutions. Areas of interest include but are not limited to:
- Research related to the capture and innovative use of rainwater or stormwater run-off. Treatment technologies to capture energy from wastewater and/or wastewater solids, or to recover heat or utilize other green energy sources at wastewater treatment plants.
- Energy-efficient technologies for capturing, purifying and concentrating nutrient compounds or other water contaminants for recovery or reuse from wastewater.
- Quantification of costs and benefits associated with urban water infrastructure projects in improving urban waters and providing additional co-benefits such as environmental and social benefits.
- The development and evaluation of code policies and ordinances for communities that would promote urban green water infrastructure and allow more holistic uses of water by matching intended uses with the quality of the water provided.
- Systems to reduce stormwater runoff and remove pollutants from stormwater at existing homes and buildings, including systems that promote stormwater reuse.
- The ability of green infrastructure to meet multiple water resource objectives, including urban stormwater management, reduction in potable water demand, and augmentation of urban water supply (i.e. through rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge).
- “Climate-ready” water infrastructure that integrates physical resilience to changing hydrologic regimes, protects human health and the environment and provides community amenities.
- Devices or techniques that provide improved indoor air quality.
- Alternative fuel sources that are renewable with minimal environmental impact and are presently a waste source.
- Cookstove devices or techniques that improve cooking efficiency while maintaining desired attributes to that specific community such as cooking time and temperature.
- Identifying desired attributes for cookstoves or techniques in the U.S. and maximizing attractiveness to potential users.
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It is recognized that some proposals may be appropriate for more than one FON/research area, but the applicant should identify a primary FON/research area for application submission purposes. The primary FON/research area is used to determine the appropriate peer review panel.
Please note the following Agency requirements for P3 research proposals:
- All proposals should clearly articulate how the proposed project/design will result in pollution prevention and/or control or describe how the proposed project/design proposes research within the scope of the statutes described in Section I.C.1. above. (NEPA is a secondary supporting statute for international projects and cannot be the sole supporting statute for a proposed project.)
- Generally, a proposal to this solicitation should address the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of air pollution, water pollution, solid/hazardous waste pollution, toxic substances control, or pesticide control. Proposals should not focus on fixing an environmental problem via a well-established method, but instead highlight their innovative research aspects. For example, a proposal to plant some trees in an economically depressed area in order to prevent erosion, or a proposal to start a routine recycling or composting program would not be considered appropriate for the P3 Program. However, the first instance of the application of a pollution-control technique or an innovative application of a previously used method would be considered appropriate for the P3 Program.
- To the extent practicable, research proposals must embody innovation and sustainability. Innovation for the purposes of this RFA is defined as the process of making changes; a new method, custom or device. Innovative research can take the form of wholly new applications or applications that build on existing knowledge and approaches for new uses. Research proposals must include a discussion on how the proposed research is innovative (see Section IV.B.5.a). The concept of sustainability is based on language in the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). This definition is reiterated in Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environment, Energy, and Economic Performance, stating that the goal of sustainability is to, “create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations.” Research proposals must include a discussion on how the proposed research will seek sustainable solutions that protect the environment and strengthen our communities (see Section IV.B.5.a). ORD will draw from all of the above-mentioned innovation and sustainability definitions in the review/evaluation process of recommending research proposals (see Sections V.A and V.B).
Review criteria specific to the P3 Program are presented in Sections V.A. and V.B.
Mihelcic, J.R., Crittendan, J.C., Small, M.J., Shonnard, D.R., Hokanson, D.R., Zhang, Q. 2003. Sustainability science and engineering: The emergence of a new metadiscipline. Environmental Science and Technology, 37, 5314-5324. 4.
Reports
United Nations. 2012. Rio +20 United Nationals Conference on Sustainable Development Outcome Document. United Nations.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2007. Sustainability Research Strategy (PDF). (72 pp, 1.38 MB) EPA 600/S 07/001
Books
Benyus, J. 2002. Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. William Morrow Paperbacks. ISBN 978-0060533229.
Braungart, M. & McDonough, W. 2002. Cradle to Cradle. North Point Press. ISBN 978-0865475878.
Lakhtakia, A. & Martín-Palma, R.J. (Eds.) 2013. Engineered Biomimicry . Elsevier.
ISBN: 978-0-12-415995-2. (E-book)
McDonough, W. & Braungart, M. 2013. The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability—Designing for Abundance. North Point Press. ISBN 978-086547748
World Commission on Environment and Development. 1987. Our Common Future. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
F. Special Requirements
Agency policy and ethical considerations prevent EPA technical staff and managers from providing applicants with information that may create an unfair competitive advantage. Consequently, EPA employees will not review, comment, advise, and/or provide technical assistance to applicants preparing applications in response to EPA RFAs. EPA employees cannot endorse any particular application.
P3 Award projects (both Phase I & II) will not accommodate a Multiple PI application. P3 Award projects should be submitted as a single Lead PI application.
These awards may involve the collection of “Geospatial Information,” which includes information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features or boundaries on the Earth or applications, tools, and hardware associated with the generation, maintenance, or distribution of such information. This information may be derived from, among other things, a Geographic Positioning System (GPS), remote sensing, mapping, charting, and surveying technologies, or statistical data.
A P3 award may involve intellectual property. If that is the case, P3 teams are encouraged to ensure explanations about technologies and key components of prototypes are reviewed by their university’s technology transfer office prior to presentation at the National Sustainable Design Expo (the Expo). This is to ensure any issues related to patent filings or adjustments to intellectual property strategies, if needed, can be made prior to any public display at the Expo.
This solicitation provides the opportunity for the submission of applications for projects that may involve human subjects research. There are many scientific and ethical considerations that must be addressed in such studies by the study sponsor and research team, including, but not limited to, those related to recruitment, retention, participant compensation, third-party issues, researcher-participant interactions, researcher-community interactions, communications, interventions, and education. All such research must comply with the requirements of 40 CFR Part 26, and any human observational exposure studies must also adhere to the principles set forth in the Scientific and Ethical Approaches for Observational Exposure Studies (SEAOES) (EPA/600/R-08/062) (PDF) (133 pp, 1.21 MB) document. SEAOES, which was published by researchers in EPA and which discusses the principles for the ethical conduct of human research studies, serves as a resource for applicants interested in applying under this solicitation. References to “SEAOES Principles” in this solicitation refers, in general, to the issues of interest in conducting human subjects research studies that maintain the highest scientific and ethical standards and safety during the conduct of these studies. All applications must include a Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS; described in Section IV.B.5.b) and if the project involves human subjects research, it will be subject to an additional level of review prior to funding decisions being made as described in Sections V.C and V.D of this solicitation.
Groups of two or more eligible applicants may choose to form a consortium and submit a single application for this assistance agreement. The application must identify which organization will be the recipient of the assistance agreement and which organizations(s) will be subawardees of the recipient.
It is anticipated that a total of approximately $975,000 will be awarded under this announcement for Phase I and Phase II grant awards, depending on the availability of funds, quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations. The EPA anticipates funding approximately 35 grants for Phase I under this RFA. The projected EPA award amount for each Phase I grant is up to $15,000 for its one year duration. Requests for amounts in excess of a total of $15,000, including direct and indirect costs, will not be considered. The total project period for an application submitted for a Phase I grant may not exceed one year.
Based on the completed Phase I project/design, the Phase II proposal to further develop and demonstrate the sustainability project/design created in Phase I, and the reviews from the reviewers, EPA will select approximately six P3 Award winners from among recipients of Phase I funding, depending on the availability of funds. These P3 Award winners will be eligible to receive additional Phase II funding of up to $75,000 each. Proposals for Phase II grants with total budget requests exceeding $75,000, including direct and indirect costs, will not be considered. The total project period for a Phase II grant may not exceed two years.
The EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards, or make fewer awards than anticipated, under this RFA. The EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with Agency policy, if additional funding becomes available after the original selections are made. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than six months after the original selection decisions.
EPA intends to award only grants under this announcement. Under a grant, EPA scientists and engineers are not permitted to be substantially involved in the execution of the research. However, EPA encourages interaction between its own laboratory scientists and grant Principal Investigators after the award of an EPA grant for the sole purpose of exchanging information in research areas of common interest that may add value to their respective research activities. This interaction must be incidental to achieving the goals of the research under a grant. Interaction that is “incidental” does not involve resource commitments
A. Eligible Applicants
Public nonprofit institutions/organizations (limited to degree-granting public institutions of higher education) and private nonprofit institutions/organizations (limited to degree-granting private institutions of higher education) located in the U.S. (includes U.S. territories and possessions) are eligible to apply to be the recipient of a grant to support teams of undergraduate and/or graduate students. Profit-making firms are not eligible to receive assistance agreements from the EPA under this program.
The students on the teams supported by the institution receiving the grant must be enrolled in the college, university, or post-secondary educational institution they will be representing at the time the proposal is submitted. Institutions are allowed to submit more than one application where each application represents a unique design concept and student team. For the purposes of grant administration, the team's faculty advisor will be designated the Principal Investigator throughout the P3 grant award and competition process. In addition to the Principal Investigator, each team selected for award will also be asked to provide contact information for a student lead.
Eligible nonprofit organizations include research institutes, corporations, or foundations that are part of a U.S. institution of higher education. However, nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible to apply.
Foreign governments, international organizations, and non-governmental international organizations/institutions are not eligible to apply.
National laboratories funded by Federal Agencies (Federally-Funded Research and Development Centers, "FFRDCs") may not apply. FFRDC employees may cooperate or collaborate with eligible applicants within the limits imposed by applicable legislation and regulations. They may participate in planning, conducting, and analyzing the research directed by the applicant, but may not direct projects on behalf of the applicant organization. The institution, organization, or governance receiving the award may provide funds through its assistance agreement from the EPA to an FFRDC for supplies, equipment, and other expenses directly related to the research. However, salaries for permanent FFRDC employees may not be provided through this mechanism.
Federal Agencies may not apply. Federal employees are not eligible to serve in a principal leadership role on an assistance agreement, and may not receive salaries or augment their Agency's appropriations in other ways through awards made under this program.
The applicant institution may enter into an agreement with a Federal Agency to purchase or utilize unique supplies or services unavailable in the private sector. Examples are purchase of satellite data, chemical reference standards, analyses, or use of instrumentation or other facilities not available elsewhere. A written justification for federal involvement must be included in the application. In addition, an appropriate form of assurance that documents the commitment, such as a letter of intent from the Federal Agency involved, should be included.
Potential applicants who are uncertain of their eligibility should contact Ron Josephson (josephson.ron@epa.gov) in NCER, phone: 703-308-0442.
B. Cost-Sharing
Institutional cost-sharing is not required for Phase I or Phase II.
C. Other
Phase I application packages must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section IV of this announcement or they will be rejected. In addition, where a page limitation is expressed in Section IV with respect to parts of the application, pages in excess of the page limit will not be reviewed. Applications must be submitted through grants.gov or by other authorized alternate means (see Section IV.E. “Submission Instructions for Phase I Applications and Other Submission Requirements” for further information), on or before the solicitation closing date and time in Section IV of this announcement or they will be returned to the sender without further consideration. Also, applications exceeding the funding limits or project period term described herein will be returned without review. Further, applications that fail to demonstrate a public purpose of support or stimulation (e.g., by proposing research which primarily benefits a Federal program or provides a service for a Federal agency) will not be funded since these are not appropriate uses of Federal assistance agreement awards.
Applications deemed ineligible for funding consideration will be notified within fifteen calendar days of the ineligibility determination.
As mentioned above, the competitors for the P3 Awards and the subsequent grant for further development and demonstration (Phase II) will be limited to those selected to receive support as a result of the competition under this RFA (Phase I).
IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Additional provisions that apply to this solicitation and/or awards made under this solicitation, including but not limite
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.