Grantee Research Project Results
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
CLOSED - FOR REFERENCES PURPOSES ONLY
Cooperative Training Partnership in Environmental Health Sciences Research
This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity.
Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-G2015-ORD-C1
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 66.511
Solicitation Opening Date: September 24, 2014
Solicitation Closing Date: November 12, 2014, 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time
Technical Contact: Vanessa O'Neal (oneal.vanessa@epa.gov); phone: (919) 541-5680
Eligibility Contact: Ron Josephson (josephson.ron@epa.gov); phone: 703-308-0442
Electronic Submissions: Debra M. Jones (jones.debram@epa.gov); phone: 703-347-8081
SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Synopsis of Program:
The mission of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and the environment. The EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) conducts timely, mission-relevant, solution-oriented research based on the principles of integrity, sustainability, and responsiveness to the needs of the Nation. The research products and outputs are utilized by the EPA to better determine toxicological hazards, define dose-response relationships, estimate human exposure characteristics, and assess potential susceptible or vulnerable populations in support of the Agency’s responsibility to provide risk assessment, policy analysis, regulatory standards for environmental hazards, and contribute to sustainable solutions to the Nation’s greatest environmental concerns. EPA’s ORD seeks applications to enter into cooperative agreements that will provide training opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows on-site at one of the EPA/ORD National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory's (NHEERL) Health Divisions, located at Research Triangle Park and/or Chapel Hill, North Carolina, or Ecology Divisions located at Gulf Breeze, Florida; Corvallis, Oregon; Newport, Oregon; Duluth, Minnesota; Narragansett, Rhode Island; and Grosse Ile, Michigan.
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.6), 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.B and V.C of this solicitation. Additional information can be found in Section I.A of the full announcement.
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: Cooperative agreement
Estimated Number of Awards: Approximately 5 awards.
Anticipated Funding Amount: Approximately $10 million total for all awards
Potential Funding per Award: Up to a total of $2,000,000 including direct and indirect costs, with a maximum duration of 3 years. Cost-sharing is not required. Proposals with budgets exceeding the total award limits will not be considered.
Eligibility Information:
This solicitation is available to each State, territory and possession, and Tribal nation of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, for public and private State universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, State and local government departments, other public or private nonprofit institutions, and in some cases, individuals or foreign entities. Profit-making firms are not eligible to receive assistance agreements from the EPA under this program. See full announcement for more details. Please review Section III.C to ensure compliance with EPA eligibility requirements specific to this competition.
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 and other Submission Requirements”). The necessary forms for submitting an application will be found on the National Center for Environmental Research (NCER) web site, How to Apply and Required Forms. 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:
Technical Contact: Vanessa O'Neal (oneal.vanessa@epa.gov); phone: (919) 541-5680
Eligibility Contact: Ron Josephson (josephson.ron@epa.gov); phone: 703-308-0442
Electronic Submissions: Debra M. Jones (jones.debram@epa.gov); phone: 703-347-8081
I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION
There is a national need to train scientists in environmentally-related fields and to increase public understanding and knowledge in the environmental health sciences. The purpose of the assistance agreements to be supported under this RFA is to provide training opportunities for candidates whose areas of interest coincide with ongoing research at ORD’s National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL) i.e., Toxicology (including Neurotoxicology, Cardiopulmonary and Immunotoxicology, Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology, Computational Toxicology and Systems Toxicology), Pharmacokinetics, Carcinogenesis, Environmental Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Biostatistics/Modeling, Sustainability and Systems Thinking, Risk and Exposure Assessment, Emissions Estimation, Life Cycle Analyses, and Risk Management and Mitigation.
ORD’s National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL) seeks to establish a long-term Training Cooperative Partnership with one or more eligible applicants capable of managing an environmental sciences training program that is focused on effects-based research. It is anticipated that up to five cooperative agreements will be awarded to eligible applicant(s) or a consortium of eligible applicants from this solicitation. It is envisioned that this training program will complement highly successful training arrangements which already exist at various US universities and colleges, with modifications to include active participation of NHEERL scientists as mentors with university scientists. Collaborations and consortiums are encouraged.
The specific Strategic Goal(s) and Objective(s) from the EPA’s Strategic Plan that relate to this solicitation are:
Goal 1. Addressing Climate Change and Improving Air Quality, Objective 1.1: Address Climate Change, Objective 1.2: Improve Air Quality;
Goal 2. Protecting America’s Waters, Objective 2.1: Protect Human Health, Objective 2.2: Protect and Restore Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems;
Goal 3. Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development, Objective 3.1: Promote Sustainable and Livable Communities;
Goal 4. Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution, Objective 4.1: Ensure Chemical Safety
More information can be found in EPA’s FY 2011-2015 Strategic Plan
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.6), 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.B and V.C of this solicitation.
Please note that surveys, interviews, and focus groups with individuals may constitute human subjects research.
The additional level of review is conducted by the EPA Human Subjects Research Review Official (HSRRO). In making a determination about conditional and later final approval, the HSRRO will apply both EPA Regulation 40 CFR 26 and EPA Policy Order 1000.17 Change A1, where human exposure research is interpreted as any intervention that manipulates subjects’ environment (i.e., modifies subjects’ exposure).
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)
The authority for this RFA and resulting awards is contained in the Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442, 42 U.S.C. 300j-1; the Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10, 15 U.S.C. 2609; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20, 7 U.S.C. 136r; the Clean Air Act, Section 103, 42 U.S.C. 7403; the Clean Water Act, Section 104, 33 U.S.C. 1254; and the Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001, 42 U.S.C. 6981.
For research with an international aspect, the above statutes are supplemented, as appropriate, by the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(F).
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 above. 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 listed above. These activities should relate to the gathering or transferring of information or advancing the state of knowledge. 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 the statutorily required purpose of pollution prevention and/or control.
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), 40 CFR Part 31 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments), 40 CFR Part 45 (Training Assistance), and 40 CFR Parts 5 and 7 (Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance; and Nondiscrimination in Programs Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency). Applicable OMB Circulars include: OMB Circular A-21 (Cost Principles for Educational Institutions) relocated to 2 CFR Part 220, OMB Circular A-87 (Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments) relocated to 2 CFR Part 225, and OMB Circular A-122 (Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations) relocated to 2 CFR Part 230.
C. Specific Research Areas of Interest/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 purpose of this RFA is to solicit applications for cooperative agreements between the Office of Research and Development (ORD), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL) of the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), and eligible applicants as described in Section III below, to train students and postdoctoral scientists in environmental sciences. The objectives of the cooperative agreements to be awarded under this RFA are to administer and conduct the training of postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate students in areas of environmental research with a focus on increasing public knowledge and training new scientists. The opportunity to gain research experience with senior scientists at one of the US EPA's premier environmental laboratories in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Gulf Breeze, Florida; Corvallis and Newport, Oregon; Duluth, Minnesota; Narragansett, Rhode Island; or Grosse Ile, Michigan locations should enhance the experience and capabilities of students and position them to become leaders within the environmental health scientific community. Although applications that propose part-time residence at one of NHEERL's research facilities will be considered, proposals including full-time residency at one of these facilities during the research-intensive phases of training for postdoctoral fellows and graduate students is encouraged.
The partnership between a successful institution and ORD’s NHEERL would benefit the public by training a new generation of environmental health scientists. Cooperative training experience with scientists at ORD’s National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL) could also provide a benefit to university faculty to access a broad range of knowledge, experience, and laboratory resources not normally available in a single academic environment. There will be an expectation that mentorship of students and postdoctoral scientists will be an active cooperative effort shared by EPA researchers and university faculty advisors. Training in professional scientific ethics and quality assurance will typically be provided both by the university and EPA programs. The cooperative training experience would include: problem and hypothesis formulation, experimental design, experiments conducted in the field or within NHEERL’s laboratory facilities, data analysis, quality assurance, reporting, presenting results and manuscript development and publication. Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers would be expected to present their research results in at least one regional or national level scientific conference.
In order to be eligible for funding, applications must propose collaboration with NHEERL in the training and mentoring of students and describe research and training relevant to NHEERL’s research and training opportunities. Examples of ongoing NHEERL research and training opportunities include, but are not limited to the following:
NHEERL Health Divisions (Research Triangle Park and Chapel Hill, NC):
- Use of molecular biology techniques to assess xenobiotic biotransformation in in vitro high throughput assays for evaluating chemical toxicity;
- Evaluation of mechanisms of developmental toxicity in the zebrafish model;
- Identification of gene signatures that predict chemical toxicity;
- Use of bioinformatics to identify potential pathways of chemically induced organ specific toxicity;
- Development of mechanism-based in vitro assays for thyroid disruption, Na/iodide symporter as a target for environmental chemicals;
- Cumulative risk of reproductive, developmental, and/or neurotoxicity: modeling dose response for exposure to multiple chemical/nonchemical stressors;
- Epigenomic responses to environmental exposures during development and effects on long-term health;
- In vitro approaches to rapid assessments of potential developmental and adult neurotoxicity;
- Basic and translational research on the role of genetics and epigenetic factors in determining susceptibility and response to air pollutants, mixtures, and photochemical smog;
- Clinical/dietary strategies to mitigate the effects of air pollutants on human health;
- Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control inflammatory responses induced by inhalation of ambient air pollutants, mixtures and photochemical smog;
- Identifying neighborhood epigenetic signatures that distinguish disadvantaged neighborhoods and can predict vulnerability to environmental health.
NHEERL Ecology Divisions (Gulf Breeze, FL; Corvallis, OR; Newport, OR; Duluth, MN; Narragansett, RI; and Grosse Ile, Michigan):
- Better understanding of stressor response by aquatic and aquatic-dependent species, ecosystems and watersheds;
- Effects of toxic chemicals on aquatic life at various levels of organization and in complex mixtures and media;
- Research approaches using systems biology theory and methods, bioinformatics, decision analysis, natural resources economics, social science, and sustainability theory and methods to address final ecosystem goods, services and benefits to communities and human health and well-being;
- Designs, approaches and indicators for aquatic ecosystem assessment, including streams, wetlands, and large aquatic systems such as the Great Lakes;
- Development and testing of models of fate and effects of chemicals and other stressors (such as invasive species) in aquatic ecosystems;
- Development and application of passive sampling methods at contaminated freshwater and coastal sites;
- Effects of emerging contaminants including engineered nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and plastics on coastal marine systems;
- Implementation of an adaptive management framework to manage, sustain, and restore natural systems, including managing reactive nitrogen and climate-related vulnerabilities;
- Application of data science and development of scientific software to support a broad array of environmental research questions;
- Development of spatially explicit models and other decision support tools to inform metropolitan resource managers of cost-effective approaches for implementing green infrastructure and other best management practices to sustain human health through the support of key ecosystem services;
- Analysis and assessment of the model portfolio used in Puget Sound monitoring, research, and forecasting;
- Development of models to forecast triple bottom line (environment-society-economy) responses to interventions to reduce inputs of nutrients, sediments and toxics at coastal and inland sites under alternative futures and climate change;
- Prediction of toxicological effects of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic compounds on diverse aquatic taxa using innovative molecular, whole organism, and modeling approaches;
- Development of quantitative and integrative systems approaches to sustainable nutrient and watershed management, sustainable communities and climate adaptation/resiliency.
Note: Applications that propose research/training associated with hydraulic fracturing will not be considered.
The outputs from these cooperative agreements will be opportunities for training candidates affiliated with eligible institutions. In addition, the candidates will receive financial assistance during their training and will have access to highly specialized laboratory facilities and equipment. The trainees are also provided the opportunity for specific mentoring/guidance by nationally/internationally recognized scientists at NHEERL.
An outcome of these cooperative agreements will be an increase in the knowledge and experience of the trainees as well as a strengthened scientific foundation to better understand toxicological hazards, dose-response relationships, and estimation of human exposure characteristics. This enhanced knowledge and hands on experience will enable trainees to discover sustainable solutions to solve current and future environmental health challenges and result in a trained workforce that will support EPA's mission and strategic goals.
To the extent practicable, 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 projects can take the form of wholly new applications or applications that build on existing knowledge and approaches for new uses. Proposals must include a discussion on how the proposed project is innovative (see Section IV.B.5). 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.” Proposals must include a discussion on how the proposed project will seek sustainable solutions that protect the environment and strengthen our communities (see Section IV.B.5). All of the above-mentioned innovation and sustainability definitions will be drawn upon in the review/evaluation process of recommending proposals (see Section V.A).
D. 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.
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) (PDF) (132 pp, 1.79 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.6) 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.B and V.C 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.
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.
It is anticipated that a total of approximately $10 million will be awarded under this announcement, depending on the availability of funds, quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations. The EPA anticipates funding approximately 5 awards under this RFA. Requests for amounts in excess of a total of $2,000,000, including direct and indirect costs, will not be considered. The total project period requested in an application submitted for this RFA may not exceed 3 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.
In appropriate circumstances, EPA reserves the right to partially fund proposals/applications by funding discrete portions or phases of proposed projects. If EPA decides to partially fund a proposal/application, it will do so in a manner that does not prejudice any applicants or affect the basis upon which the proposal/application, or portion thereof, was evaluated and selected for award, and therefore maintains the integrity of the competition and selection process.
The Agency anticipates funding in the form of a cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements permit substantial involvement between the EPA and the selected applicants in the performance of the work supported. Although EPA will negotiate precise terms and conditions relating to substantial involvement as part of the award process, EPA anticipates substantial involvement as follows:
- Senior scientists at ORD’s National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), in partnership with the successful applicant, will serve as training mentors for the students and postdoctoral scientists. ORD NHEERL researchers will partner with the successful applicant in placing high quality student and postdoctoral candidates who meet the academic standards of the institution at NHEERL research facilities in North Carolina, Florida, Oregon, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and/or Michigan.
- NHEERL mentors will work with the successful applicant to coordinate extramural student activities with relevant in-house research training activities.
- NHEERL research mentors will participate with the successful applicant in assisting students and postdoctoral scientists in development and preparation of written materials, such as journal articles and other products from these training activities.
- The EPA project officer will provide technical input on a regular basis through scheduled meetings to oversee this training program.
Proposals may not identify EPA cooperators or interactions; specific interactions between EPA’s investigators and those of the prospective recipient for cooperative agreements will be negotiated at the time of award.
A. Eligible Applicants
This solicitation is available to each State, territory and possession, and Tribal nation of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, for public and private State universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, State and local government departments, other public or private nonprofit institutions, and in some cases, individuals or foreign entities. Profit-making firms are not eligible to receive assistance agreements from the EPA under this program.
Eligible nonprofit organizations include any organizations that: 1) Are operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable or similar purposes in the public interest; 2) Are not organized primarily for profit; and 3) Use its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its operations. However, nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby 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 research personnel, 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 to the extent authorized by law. 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 organizational eligibility should contact Ron Josephson (josephson.ron@epa.gov), phone: 703-308-0442.
B. Cost-Sharing
Institutional cost-sharing is not required.
C. Other
Applications 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 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.
Applications that are found administratively acceptable will be subjected to a review for relevancy to EPA’s mission and priorities to support the advancement of environmental science. Specifically, applications must propose collaboration with NHEERL in the training and mentoring of students and describe research and training relevant to NHEERL’s research and training opportunities. Examples of relevant NHEERL research and training opportunities are described in Section I.C. If you are unsure as to whether the scope of the proposed work relates to NHEERL’s research and training opportunities, please contact the technical contact listed in Section VII. Applications will be rejected if they are found to lack relevance and do not comply with these requirements.
Consistent with Agency regulatory obligations, applicants for and/or recipients of EPA financial assistance are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and handicap in their programs or activities. Therefore, applications that contain provisions wherein project decisions may be based on race, color, national origin, sex and handicap will not be considered.
Further, the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory is not conducting any effects research on any aspect of the hydraulic fracturing process. As such, applications that propose research/training associated with hydraulic fracturing will not be considered.
Applications deemed ineligible for funding consideration will be notified within fifteen calendar days of the ineligibility determination.
IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Additional provisions that apply to this solicitation and/or awards made under this solicitation, including but not limited to those related to confidential business information, contracts and subawards under grants/cooperative agreements, and proposal assistance and communications, can be found at EPA Solicitation Clauses.
These, and the other provisions that can be found at the website link, are important, and applicants must review them when preparing applications for this solicitation. If you are unable to access these provisions electronically at the website above, please communicate with the EPA contact listed in this solicitation to obtain the provisions.
A. Internet Address to Request Application Package
Use the application package available at Grants.gov (see Section E. “Submission Instructions and Other Submission Requirements”). Note: With the exception of the current and pending support form (available at How to Apply and Required Forms), all necessary forms are included in the electronic application package.
An email will be sent by EPA to the Principal Investigator (PI) and the Administrative Contact (see below) to acknowledge receipt of the application and transmit other important information. The email will be sent from receipt.application@epa.gov; emails to this address will not be accepted. If you do not receive an email acknowledgment within 30 days of the submission closing date, immediately inform the Eligibility Contact shown in this solicitation. Failure to do so may result in your application not being reviewed. See Section E. “Submission Instructions and Other Submission Requirements” for additional information regarding the application receipt acknowledgment.
B. Content and Form of Application Submission
Standard Form 424
The applicant must complete Standard Form 424. Instructions for completion of the SF424 are included with the form. (However, note that EPA requires that the entire requested dollar amount appear on the SF424, not simply the proposed first year expenses.) The form must contain the signature of an authorized representative of the applying organization.
Applicants are required to provide a “Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System” (DUNS) number when applying for federal grants or cooperative agreements. Organizations may receive a DUNS number by calling 1-866-705-5711 or by visiting the web site at Dun and Bradstreet
.Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” does not apply to the Office of Research and Development's research and training programs unless EPA has determined that the activities that will be carried out under the applicants' proposal (a) require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), or (b) do not require an EIS but will be newly initiated at a particular site and require unusual measures to limit the possibility of adverse exposure or hazard to the general public, or (c) have a unique geographic focus and are directly relevant to the governmental responsibilities of a State or local government within that geographic area.
If EPA determines that Executive Order 12372 applies to an applicant's proposal, the applicant must follow the procedures in 40 CFR Part 29. The applicant must notify their state's single point of contact (SPOC). To determine whether their state participates in this process, and how to comply, applicants should consult Intergovernmental Review (SPOC List). If an applicant is in a State that does not have a SPOC, or the State has not selected research and development projects for intergovernmental review, the applicant must notify directly affected State, area wide, regional and local entities of its proposal.
EPA will notify the successful applicant(s) if Executive Order 12372 applies to its proposal prior to award.
Key Contacts
The applicant must complete the “Key Contacts” form found in the Grants.gov application package. An “Additional Key Contacts” form is also available at How to Apply and Required Forms. The Key Contacts form should also be completed for major sub-agreements (i.e., primary investigators). Do not include information for consultants or other contractors. Please make certain that all contact information is accurate.
Table of Contents
Provide a list of the major subdivisions of the application indicating the page number on which each section begins.
Abstract (1 page)
It is critical that the abstract accurately describes the work being proposed and conveys all the essential elements of the proposal.
The abstract should include the information described below (a-g).
- Funding Opportunity Title and Number for this proposal.
- Project Title: Use the exact title of your project as it appears in the application. The title must be brief yet represent the major thrust of the project. Because the title will be used by those not familiar with the project, use more commonly understood terminology. Do not use general phrases such as “research on.”
- Investigators: List the PI, then the name(s) of each co-PI who will significantly contribute to the project. Provide a web site URL or an email contact address for additional information.
- Institution(s): In the same order as the list of investigators, list the name, city and state of each participating university or other applicant institution. The institution applying for assistance must be clearly identified.
- Project Period and Location: Show the proposed project beginning and ending dates and the performance site(s)/geographical location(s) where the work will be conducted.
- Project Cost: Show the total funding requested from the EPA (include direct and indirect costs for all years).
- Project Summary: Provide two subsections addressing: (1) the objectives of the project, and (2) the expected results (outputs/outcomes) of the project and how it addresses the needs identified in the solicitation.
Project Narrative (30 pages)
The Project Narrative is the technical proposal that discusses the technical approach and organizational capabilities for accomplishing the goals stated under Section I.C Specific Areas of Interest/Expected Outputs and Outcomes above. It must also address all of the technical and programmatic review criteria described in Section V of the announcement.
The narrative must not exceed thirty (30) consecutively numbered (bottom center), 8.5x11-inch pages of single-spaced, standard 12-point type with 1-inch margins. While these guidelines establish the minimum type size requirements, applicants are advised that readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in selection of an appropriate font for use in the proposal. The page limitation shall include all text, tables, figures, references, attachments, and appendices.
The project narrative should provide the following information:
- The proposed approach for partnership with NHEERL on collaborative training of students (postdoctoral, graduate, undergraduate). Applications that propose part-time residence at one of NHEERL's research facilities will be considered. However, proposals including full-time residency at one of these facilities during the research-intensive phases of training for postdoctoral fellows and graduate students is encouraged.
- The proposed approach for recruiting students and postdoctoral scientists of high quality and ability.
- The proposed approach for developing model student programs to balance on-campus coursework and other activities while leaving sufficient research time.
- The scientific and educational merit of the research training mechanism proposed.
- Innovation: Description of how the project shifts current research/training or engineering paradigms by using innovative theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation or interventions applicable to one or more fields of research/training.
- Sustainability: Description of how the project embodies the principles of sustainability and seeks sustainable solutions that protect the environment and strengthen our communities. The Sustainability Primer (PDF) (2 pp, 195 K) provides examples of activities that promote and incorporate sustainability principles.
- Institutional capability: experience and understanding of the management needs for this program, including recruitment of students, placement into the program for mentoring students and postdoctoral scientists in partnership with NHEERL senior research staff, and student progress review.
- Expected outputs and outcomes resulting from the project. The plan for tracking and measuring progress toward achieving the expected environmental outputs and outcomes including those identified in Section I.
- The qualifications and competence of proposed key personnel and adequacy of their time commitment to the project.
- Project schedules with associated milestones and target dates for completion.
- The approach, procedures, and controls for ensuring that awarded assistance funds will be expended in a timely and efficient manner and how project objectives will be successfully achieved within the project period.
- Cost-effectiveness of the budget structure. The project budget makes the most efficient use of Agency funds in collaborative training of students (postdoctoral, graduate undergraduate), for instance by minimizing direct costs for administrative support.
- Facilities and resources available for the project.
- Past Performance and Reporting History. The applicant shall provide information on the proposed Principal Investigator’s (PI's) past performance and reporting history under prior Federal and/or non-Federal assistance agreements (assistance agreements include grants and cooperative agreements but not contracts) in terms of: (i) the level of success in managing and completing each agreement, and (ii) history of meeting the reporting requirements and documenting progress towards achieving the expected results under each agreement.
The past performance and reporting history information is required only for the proposed PI's performance under federally and/or non-federally funded assistance agreements (assistance agreements include grants and cooperative agreements but not contracts) similar in size, scope and relevance to the proposed project that the proposed PI performed within the last three years. Note: If no prior past performance information and/or reporting history exists, you will be asked to so state.
The specific information required for each agreement is shown below.
- Name of Granting Agency.
- Grant/Cooperative agreement number.
- Grant/Cooperative agreement title.
- Brief description of the grant/cooperative agreement.
- A description of how the agreement is similar in size, scope and relevance to the proposed project and whether or not it was successfully managed and completed; if not successfully managed and completed, provide an explanation.
- Information relating to the proposed PI's past performance in reporting on progress towards achieving the expected results (outputs/outcomes) under the agreement. Include the history of submitting timely progress/final technical reports, describe how progress towards achieving the expected results was reported/documented, and if such progress was not being made, provide an explanation of whether, and how, this was reported.
- Total (all years) grant/cooperative agreement dollar value.
- Project period.
- Technical contact (project officer), telephone number, and Email address (if available).
In evaluating applicants under these factors in Section V, EPA will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant information from other sources, including information from EPA files and from current and prior Federal agency grantors (e.g.; to verify and/or supplement the information provided by the applicant). Applicants whose proposed PI has no relevant past performance and/or reporting history, or for whom this information is not available, will be evaluated neither favorably nor unfavorably on these elements.
EPA Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS) (4 pages)
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. While retaining the same notation, subparts B, C, and D are substantively different in 40 CFR 26 than in the more commonly cited 45 CFR 46. Particularly noteworthy is that 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. EPA Policy Order 1000.17 Change A1 further clarifies this definition to include any intervention that manipulates their environment (i.e. modifies subjects’ exposure). Research meeting the regulatory definition of observational research (any research that is not intentional exposure 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). These subparts also differ markedly from the language in 45 CFR 46. For more information, please see: Project Review by the Human Subjects Research Review Official (HSRRO).
Procedures for the review and oversight of human research subject to 40 CFR Part 26 are also provided in EPA Order 1000.17 Change A1. These include review of projects for EPA-supported human research by the EPA Human Subjects Research Review Official (HSRRO). EPA Order 1000.17 Change A1 requires preliminary approval by the HSRRO of all proposed EPA-supported human research before the agreement can be entered into. Additional requirements must be met and final approval received from the HSRRO before the research can begin. When reviewing human observational exposure studies, EPA Order 1000.17 Change A1 requires the HSRRO to apply the principles described in the SEAOES document (PDF) (132 pp, 1.79 MB) document and grant approval only to studies that adhere to those principles.
All applications submitted under this solicitation must include a HSRS as described below. Please use the definitions below to determine whether the proposed research involves human subjects, and then prepare a HSRS as explained below in the “HSRS Requirements” section.
Definitions (from 40 CFR Part 26 Subparts A, B, and C) to determine the involvement of human subjects in proposed research:
- "Human subject" means a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains (1) data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (2) identifiable private information.
- "Intervention" includes both physical procedures by which data are gathered and manipulations of the subject or the subject's environment that are performed for research purposes.
- "Interaction" includes communication or interpersonal contact between investigator and subject.
- "Private information" includes information about behavior that occurs in a context in which an individual can reasonably expect that no observation or recording is taking place, and information which has been provided for specific purposes by an individual and which the individual can reasonably expect will not be made public (for example, a medical record).
- "Individually identifiable" means the identity of the subject is or may readily be ascertained by the investigator or associated with the information.
- "Research involving the intentional exposure of a human subject" means a study of a substance in which the exposure to the substance experienced by a human subject participating in the study would not have occurred but for the human subject’s participation in the study. In addition, EPA Policy 1000.17 Change A1 requires the HSRRO to conceptualize intentional exposure research quite broadly:
- Research that includes the gathering of physiological measurements (e.g. monitoring a subject's cardio respiratory performance) or the collection of body fluids, tissue or expired air from subjects; or
- Research that requires subjects to perform specific tasks other than their normal activities or manipulates their environment (e.g., modifies their exposure); or
- Research that gathers or records private information (as defined in 40 CFR 26.102 (f)(2)) in a manner that associates such information with an identifiable subject.
"Observational research" means any human research that does not meet the definition of research involving intentional exposure of a human subject. Please note that surveys, interviews, and focus groups with individuals may constitute human subjects research. Additional information is available at: Making Funding Awards and Other Agreements that Support Human Subjects Research (HSR)
Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS) Requirements
If the proposed research does not involve human subjects as defined above, provide the following statement in your application package as your HSRS: “The proposed research does not involve human subject
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.