Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (REMAP) Research Projects

 

The Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (REMAP) is a partnership between the EPA Regional Offices and the Office of Research and Development (ORD) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), with the primary goal to build state and tribal capacity for using statistically valid monitoring data for reporting on the condition of their aquatic resources. The goals for REMAP are to transfer EMAP's latest scientific techniques for ecological monitoring to EPA Regions, States, Tribes and local decision makers. ORD works with the EPA Regional Offices to support projects meeting EMAP criteria and that are of importance to needs within the Regions. EMAP support for these projects includes: contributing to development of the scientific design of projects; assistance with the selection and evaluation of appropriate indicators and methods for measurement; application of information management approaches; analysis and interpretation of data; and providing a source of funding. EPA funds projects in each of its 10 Regions. Projects are normally funded for up to 2 years, but longer projects are occasionally supported. Annual announcements reflect priority needs in those Regions where funding will be allocated for new projects. The primary objectives of the solicited research are to provide States and Tribes with methods and approaches for incorporating statistically valid ecological monitoring data into their environmental decision-making process. Project goals are to be consistent with EMAP's probabilistic approach (www.epa.gov/emap) to answer questions about ecological conditions at regional and local levels. Information produced from projects is to be transferable to Regional, State and Tribal water quality monitoring programs and regulatory agencies. Research proposals must address one or more of the following monitoring needs for state and tribal aquatic (headwater streams, lakes, near shore coastal areas, wetlands, wadeable streams or large rivers) resources:
-State and Tribal monitoring needs for water quality reporting (CWA Section 305b).
-Information needed for identifying impaired waters (CWA Section 303d).
-Using probability information to identify the effectiveness of restoration/remediation efforts.
-Advancing the science of biological reference condition for establishing biocriteria.
-Improved tools and approaches for the assessment of aquatic ecosystems.

We do not anticipate that there will be any new funding opportunities for 2010.

Deleted 01/15/2013 (Archived.) 66.512 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Research and Development Project Grants Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2012: No Current Data Available Clean Water Act, Section 104. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. Entities that are eligible to receive federal assistance under the Clean Water Act which includes the States, their territories and possessions, local governments and federally recognized U.S. Tribal Nations (40 CFR part 31); institutions of higher education, hospitals, and other non-profit organizations (40 CFR part 30). Eligible nonprofit organizations include any organizations that meet the definition of nonprofit in OMB Circular A-122. Nonprofit applicants that are recommended for funding will be subject to pre-award administrative capability reviews consistent with Sections 8.b, 8.c, and 9.d of EPA Order 5700.8. Non-profit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities, as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, are not eligible to apply. Universities and educational institutions must be subject to OMB Circular A-21. Public nonprofit institutions/organizations and private nonprofit institutions/organizations located in the U.S.; state and local governments; Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; U.S. territories or possessions; Anyone/General Public, Education Professional, Student/Trainee, Graduate Student, Scientists/Researchers. Applicants are required to provide a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements. Organizations can receive a DUNS number, at no cost, by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or through http://www.dnb.com. Applicants are required to submit an Application for Federal assistance and Budget Information (SF-424 AND SF-424A), Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B), Certificate regarding lobbying, EPA forms 5700-54 and 4700-4, A project and budget narrative including documents of Environmental Results Past Performance and Programmatic Capability. Other pertinent documentation may be required. A complete description and instructions for application submission will be provided in the funding announcement. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Competitive RFA's for grants/cooperative agreements are announced widely through the internet, university and scientific organizations, among other mechanisms. Complete application information is provided in the RFA. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Approximately 60 days for the application to be approved or disapproved. Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable. Not Applicable. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement. Competitive applications and proposals will be selected in accordance with announced criteria. Generally, the proposals will be judged for (A) Extent to which projects addresses Regional priority areas identified in the announcement, partnerships and transferability of project results to Regional, State and Tribal stakeholders, and consistency with REMAP objectives and EPA's strategic goals; and (B) Technical issues including the identification of plan for tracking outputs and environmental outcomes and evaluating the applicant's past performance in reporting on outputs and outcomes. Specific criteria and weight of criteria are listed in the annual announcement. Information produced from projects is to be transferable to US EPA Regions, and State and Tribal water quality monitoring programs and regulatory agencies. Data from research results may also be incorporated into larger scale objectives within ORD's EMAP research program. Research projects usually result in geospatial information. In compliance with Executive Order 12906, REMAP data is made available for use throughout all levels of government, the private and non-profit sectors, and the academic community. The goal of this infrastructure is to reduce duplication of effort among agencies, improve quality and reduce costs related to geographic information, to make geographic data more accessible to the public, to increase the benefits of using available data, and to establish key partnerships with states, counties, cities, tribal nations, academia and the private sector to increase data availability. Awards are made in response to announced requests for applications. Funds are awarded via cooperative agreements for allowable direct cost expenditures incident to the performance of research plus allocable portions of allowable indirect costs of the institution, in accordance with the established policies and regulations of EPA. No construction costs are allowed in this agreement. Foreign travel is not allowed unless specifically agreed upon. No large capital equipment items, such as vehicles or boats, will be allowed for purchase under these agreements. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov.

Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to adopt and enforce policies that ban text messaging while driving company-owned or -rented vehicles or government-owned vehicles, or while driving privately-owned vehicles when on official government business or when performing any work for or on behalf of the government. Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to conduct initiatives of the type described in section 3(a) of the Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving Executive Order that was signed on October 1, 2009. No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements. Agreements may require quarterly, interim, and final progress reports, and financial, equipment, and invention reports. Reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations, 40 CFR Parts 30 and 31. Expenditure reports may be required under this program. This requirement will be identified in the terms and conditions of the agreement. Performance monitoring is required under this program. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. The record retention requirements of 40 CFR Parts 30 and 31 are applicable depending upon the identity of the recipient. Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records, and substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients' grants and cooperative agreements records. Award recipients must agree to make methods, models, and data resulting from this agreement accessible to the public and to EPA. All records must be maintained until expiration of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions remain, such as those raised as a result of an audit, following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved. This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements. Projects periods and funding is normally on a 2 year basis. Longer projects are occassional supported. Expected project and funding periods will vary between funding priorities and will be identified in the annual funding announcement. EPA reserves the right to fully, incrementally or partially fund a project. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: The assistance is awarded either in a lump sum or in annual increments. See Regional Agency Offices. Individuals are encouraged to communicate with the appropriate ORD or Regional Office listed on REMAP's website at www.epa.gov/emap/remap, and listed in the RFA for this program. Jo Thompson, Environmental Protection Agency, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, Minnesota 55804 Email: Thompson.jo@epa.gov Phone: (218) 529-5198. http://www.epa.gov/emap/remap/ 68-0107-0-1-304. (Project Grants) FY 09 $390,141; FY 10 $0; FY 11 $0 The average financial assistance for 2007 awards on new projects was $384,000. Four awards were made each for that amount. EPA's General Grant Regulations, 40 CFR Part 31; EPA's Interim Regulations, Research and Demonstration Grants, 40 CFR Part 40. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes and OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2012: No Current Data Available