Grant/2007/EPA/Water
From Drexel Smart House
http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2008/2008_p3.html
IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION
You may submit either a paper application or an electronic application (but not both) for this announcement. Instructions for both types of submission follow in Section E. If not otherwise marked, instructions apply to both types of submissions.
A. Internet Address to Request Application Package For paper applications, forms and instructions can be found on the NCER web site: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/forms/.
For electronic applications, use the application package available at Grants.gov (see “Submission Instructions for Electronic Applications” in Section E). Note: With the exception of the budget form and the current and pending support form (available at http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/forms), all necessary forms are included in the electronic application package.
For both paper and electronic applications, an email will be sent by NCER to the Principal Investigator 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 “Submission Instructions for Electronic Applications” for additional information regarding acknowledgment of receipt of electronically submitted applications. Please note: Due to often-lengthy delays in delivery, it is especially important that you monitor NCER’s confirmation of receipt of your application when using regular mail.
B. Content and Form of Application Submission The application is made by submitting the materials described below. Applications must contain all information requested and be submitted in the formats described.
1. Standard Form 424
The applicant must complete Standard Form 424. This form will be the first page(s) of the application. Instructions for completion of the SF424 are included with the form. The form must contain the original (or electronic) signature of an authorized representative of the applying institution.
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 http://www.dnb.com exit EPA.
Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” applies to most EPA programs and assistance agreements, unless the program or assistance agreement supports tribal, training/fellowships (other than Wastewater and Small Water Systems Operator training programs), and research and development (with some exceptions). The SF424 refers to this Executive Order requirement. National research programs are generally exempt from review unless the proposals (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. To determine whether their state participates in this process, and how to comply, applicants should consult http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
2. Key Contacts
The applicant must complete the “Key Contacts” form as the second page of the application: a Key Contacts continuation page is also available at http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/forms. The Key Contacts form should also be completed for major sub-agreements (i.e., primary co-investigators). Please make certain that all contact information is accurate.
3. Table of Contents
Provide a list of the major subdivisions of the application indicating the page number on which each section begins.
4. Abstract (1 page)
The abstract is a very important document in the review process. Therefore, it is critical that the abstract accurately describes the research being proposed and conveys all the essential elements of the research. Also, the abstracts of applications that receive funding will be posted on the NCER web site.
The abstract should include the information described below (a-j). Examples of abstracts for previous P3 grants may be found on the P3 web site.
1. Research Category and Funding Opportunity Number: Enter the full name of the solicitation (P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet) and one of the six funding opportunity numbers that appear at the beginning of this announcement. The funding opportunity number selected should be the one that reflects the challenge area that best represents the proposed project.
2. 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, strike a balance between highly technical words and phrases and more commonly understood terminology. Do not use general phrases such as “research on.”
3. Faculty Advisor: List the faculty advisor, then the names and affiliations of each co-advisor who will significantly contribute to the project. Provide a web site URL or an e-mail contact address for additional information. The faculty advisor will serve as the Principal Investigator for the purposes of the award.
4. Institution: In the same order as the list of advisors, list the name, city and state of each participating university or other applicant institution. The lead institution applying for assistance must be clearly identified.
5. Student Represented Departments and Institutions: List the departments and institutions that will be represented by the students participating on the team.
6. Project Period: The Phase I project will begin on or about August 4, 2008 and end on or about April 1, 2009.
7. Project Amount: Show the total dollars requested from the EPA for the entire project period such that the budget total does not exceed $10,000, including direct and indirect costs.
8. Total Project Amount: Show the total dollar amount, including total dollar request from EPA and an estimate of the total contribution (funding and/or in-kind) that will be provided by partners (such as educational institutions, industry, NGOs), if applicable.
9. Project Summary: Cover the following: (1) Definition of a technical challenge to sustainability; (2) Development of an innovative design approach with technical merit to address the challenge; (3) Discussion of how the challenge and proposed design relate to sustainability including people, prosperity, and the planet; (4) Description of strategy for measuring results, evaluation and demonstration; and (5) Description of how P3 concepts will be used as an educational tool at the university, such as by incorporation into the community and/or the institution’s curriculum.
10. Supplemental Keywords: Without duplicating terms already used in the text of the abstract, list keywords to assist database searchers in finding your research. A complete set of keywords is very important. A list of suggested keywords may be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/forms.
11. The Funding Opportunity Number (see IV.B.9.b.) must be placed in the upper right side of the “header” of the Abstract page.
5. Research Plan and References
1. Research Plan (10 pages)
The description of the research plan must provide the following information:
1. P3 Project Description: Address the peer review criteria (see Section V, Application Review Information). Structure the description using the peer review criteria as subheadings:
* Challenge Definition;
* Innovation and Technical Merit;
* Relationship of Challenge to Sustainability;
* Measurable Results (outputs/outcomes), Evaluation Method, and Demonstration Strategy; and
* Integration of P3 Concepts as an Educational Tool.
2. Project Schedule. Show significant steps and milestones for the project. Clearly depict the project’s duration, and include key milestones and project tasks from research to design to development to demonstration. Indicate anticipated role and tasks of each team member or department represented. Also, indicate anticipated interactions with any and all partners (see b. below), if applicable.
This description must not exceed ten (10) 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.
2. Partnerships (if applicable): [Note: This description does not count toward the ten (10) page limit for the Research Plan.]
Partnerships are strongly encouraged and will be particularly important for the demonstration strategies. While formal partnerships need not be established prior to submitting the proposal, indicate any and all anticipated partnerships including the type of partner (educational institution, industry and/or NGOs), matching contributions (funding and/or in-kind) provided by the partner, and the nature of the partnership. Formal letters of understanding or commitment from any and all partners should be submitted in support of the application, when available and appropriate and will be considered letters of intent/support as described in Section IV.B.5.d.(1) below.
3. References [Note: These do not count toward the ten (10) page limit for the Research Plan.]
4. Important Attachments:
1. Please see Section IV.B.9.a. on letters of intent/letters of support for more details on these attachments. Any letters exceeding one brief paragraph are considered part of the Research Plan and therefore contribute to the 10-page limit for the Research Plan.
2. Appendices, including drawings or preliminary data, may be included but must remain within the 10-page limit for the Research Plan.
6. Budget and Budget Justification
1. Budget
Prepare a budget table using the guidance and form found at http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/forms. The budget categories are also indicated in the following Budget Justification section (IV.B.6.b.) Note: For electronic submissions, the budget table should be attached to the Project Narrative Attachment Form electronic file [see Section IV.E.2.c.(4)]. Any project containing subawards or subcontracts that constitute more than 40% of the total direct cost of the application will be subject to special review. Additional justification for use of these must be provided, discussing the need for the subaward/subcontract to accomplish the objectives of the research project.
Please note that institutional cost-sharing is not required. However, if cost-sharing is proposed, a brief statement concerning cost-sharing should be added to the budget justification, and estimated dollar amounts must be included in the appropriate categories in the budget table.
Please note that when formulating budgets for proposals/applications, applicants must not include management fees or similar charges in excess of the direct costs and indirect costs at the rate approved by the applicants cognizant audit agency, or at the rate provided for by the terms of the agreement negotiated with EPA. The term "management fees or similar charges" refers to expenses added to the direct costs in order to accumulate and reserve funds for ongoing business expenses, unforeseen liabilities, or for other similar costs that are not allowable under EPA assistance agreements. Management fees or similar charges may not be used to improve or expand the project funded under this agreement, except to the extent authorized as a direct cost of carrying out the scope of work.
2. Budget Justification [2 pages in addition to the 10-page limit for the Research Plan described in IV.B.5. above, and not including additions under Nos. (6) and (7) below to support contracts and subawards.]
Describe the basis for calculating travel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and other costs identified in the itemized budget. The budget justification should not exceed two consecutively numbered (bottom center), 8.5x11-inch pages of single-spaced, standard 12-point type with 1-inch margins.
Budget information should be supported at the level of detail described below. (Note: Please pay attention to the distinctions itemized below. If your submitted budget is not consistent with the parameters detailed below, the processing of an award may be delayed until a new budget is requested and submitted.)
1. Personnel:
* Personnel costs are not eligible under this solicitation.
2. Fringe Benefits:
* Fringe benefits are not eligible under this solicitation.
3. Travel:
* Specify the estimated number of trips, locations, and associated costs for each trip.Explain the need for any travel, paying particular attention to travel outside the United States.
* Be certain to include travel costs for an estimated number of faculty advisors and students to participate in the National Sustainable Design Expo featuring the EPA’s P3 Award which will be held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in spring of 2009.
4. Equipment:
* Identify all tangible, non-expendable personal property to be purchased that has an estimated cost of $5,000 or more per unit and a useful life of more than one year.
* Any personal property items with a unit cost of less than $5,000 should be entered in the “Supplies” category.
5. Supplies:
* “Supplies” means tangible property other than “equipment.”
* Identify categories of supplies to be procured (e.g., laboratory supplies or office supplies). Specifically identify computers to be purchased or upgraded.
6. Contractual:
* Identify each proposed contract for services/analyses or consultants and specify its purpose and estimated cost.
* Contracts must have a separate itemized budget and budget justification, not to exceed one additional page each, included as part of the application.
* Personnel costs are allowable for essential specialized consultant fees.
7. Other:
* List each item in sufficient detail for the EPA to determine the reasonableness of its cost relative to the research to be undertaken.
* Note that subawards, such as those with other universities for members of the research team, are included in this category.
* Subawards must have a separate itemized budget and budget justification, not to exceed one additional page each, included as part of the application.
8. Indirect Costs:
* If indirect costs are included in the budget, indicate the approved rate and base with an explanation of how the indirect costs were calculated.
7. Resumes
Provide resumes for each faculty advisor and student team leader. The resume for each individual must not exceed two consecutively numbered (bottom center), 8.5x11-inch pages of single-spaced, standard 12-point type with 1-inch margins.
8. Current and Pending Support
Complete a current and pending support form (provided at http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/forms) for each faculty advisor, showing financial resources intended to support research related to the proposal or that would consume the investigator’s time. Include all current and pending research regardless of source.
9. Guidelines, Limitations, and Additional Requirements
1. Letters of Intent/Letters of Support
Letters of intent to provide resources for the proposed research or to document intended interactions are limited to one brief paragraph committing the availability of a resource (e.g., use of a person's time or equipment) or intended interaction (e.g., sharing of data, as-needed consultation) that is described in the Research Plan. Letters of intent are to be included as an addition to the budget justification documents.
All letters that do not commit a resource vital to success of the proposal are considered letters of support.
Letters of support, and letters of intent that exceed one brief paragraph, are considered part of the Research Plan and are included in the 10-page Research Plan limit.
Note: Letters of intent or support must be part of the application; letters submitted separately will not be accepted. Any transactions between the successful applicant and parties providing letters of support or intent financed with EPA grant funds are subject to the funding restrictions described in Section IV. D.
2. Funding Opportunity Number(s) (FON)
At various places in the application, applicants are asked to identify the FON. The number must be placed at the top of the abstract. For paper submissions, the number must also be placed in the address on the package that is sent to the EPA (see below).
Applicants must select the FON corresponding to their proposed research topic area. It is the responsibility of the applicant to identify the proper FON based on the nature of the proposed research. If the proposed research fits under more than one FON, the applicant should choose the most appropriate one. For electronic submissions, use the appropriate electronic application package for the chosen FON (see “Submission Instructions for Electronic Applications”). Each application must be submitted using a single FON.
The Funding Opportunity Numbers for this RFA: 5th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet – are:
* EPA-G2008-P3-Z1 – Agriculture
* EPA-G2008-P3-Z2 – Materials and Chemistry
* EPA-G2008-P3-Z3 – Energy
* EPA-G2008-P3-Z4 – Information Technology
* EPA-G2008-P3-Z5 – Water
* EPA-G2008-P3-Z6 – Built Environment
3. Confidentiality By submitting an application in response to this solicitation, the applicant grants the EPA permission to make limited disclosures of the application to technical reviewers both within and outside the Agency for the express purpose of assisting the Agency with evaluating the application. Information from a pending or unsuccessful application will be kept confidential to the fullest extent allowed under law; information from a successful application may be publicly disclosed to the extent permitted by law.
In accordance with 40 CFR 2.203, applicants may claim all or a portion of the application as confidential business information (for example, hypotheses or methodologies contained in the research narrative that the applicant wishes to protect from possible public disclosure). EPA will evaluate confidentiality claims in accordance with 40 CFR Part 2. Applicants must clearly mark applications or portions of applications they claim as confidential. If no claim of confidentiality is made, the EPA is not required to make an inquiry to the applicant as otherwise required by 40 CFR 2.204(c) (2) prior to disclosure.
C. Submission Dates and Times For paper copy submissions, the original and two (2) copies of the complete application (3 in all) must be received by NCER no later than 4:00 pm Eastern Time on the solicitation closing date. Electronic applications must be transferred to Grants.gov no later than 4:00 pm Eastern Time on the solicitation closing date. Applications received after the closing date and time will be returned to the sender without further consideration.
It should be noted that this schedule may be changed without prior notification because of factors not anticipated at the time of announcement. In the case of a change in the solicitation closing date, a new date will be posted on the NCER web site (http://www.epa.gov/ncer/), the P3 website (http://www.epa.gov/ncer/p3/), and a modification posted on www.grants.gov.
Solicitation Closing Date: December 20, 2007, 4:00 pm Eastern Time for both paper and electronic submissions. Earliest Anticipated Start Date: August 4, 2008
NOTE: Customarily, applicants are notified about evaluation decisions within six months of the solicitation closing date. Awards are generally made 9-12 months after the solicitation closing date.
