Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Training Grants and Cooperative Agreements - Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act

 

To support the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2023: Funding priorities include, but are not limited to training, surveys, studies, investigations, and demonstration projects to support water quality improvement, watershed planning and management, nonpoint source planning, wetlands protection, coastal and estuarine planning, treatment technologies, water efficiency, and environmental management systems.

Active 66.436 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 Competitions are held throughout the year at Headquarters and in the Regions based on available funds and Agency priorities. The number of applications and the number of awards made is dependent on the competitive announcement issued. The announcement will typically include the number of anticipated awards. In FY 16, EPA will continue to fund projects to support training, surveys, studies, investigations, and demonstrations for water quality improvement, watershed planning and management, treatment technologies, water efficiency, and environmental management systems Competitions are held throughout the year at Headquarters and in the Regions based on available funds and Agency priorities. The number of applications and the number of awards made is dependent on the competitive announcement issued. The announcement will typically include the number of anticipated awards. In FY 16, EPA funded 6 projects to support training, surveys, studies, investigations, and demonstrations for water quality improvement, watershed planning and management, treatment technologies, water efficiency, and environmental management systems.
Fiscal Year 2017 Competitions are held throughout the year at Headquarters and in the Regions based on available funds and Agency priorities. The number of applications and the number of awards made is dependent on the competitive announcement issued. The announcement will typically include the number of anticipated awards. In FY 17, EPA funded projects to support training, surveys, studies, investigations, and demonstrations for water quality improvement, watershed planning and management, treatment technologies, water efficiency, and environmental management systems.
Fiscal Year 2018 Competitions are held throughout the year at Headquarters and in the Regions based on available funds and Agency priorities. The number of applications and the number of awards made is dependent on the competitive announcement issued. The announcement will typically include the number of anticipated awards. In FY 18, EPA will continue to fund projects to support training, surveys, studies, investigations, and demonstrations for water quality improvement, watershed planning and management, treatment technologies, water efficiency, and environmental management systems.
Fiscal Year 2023 Competitions are held throughout the year at Headquarters and in the Regions based on available funds and Agency priorities. The number of applications and the number of awards made is dependent on the competitive announcement issued. The announcement will typically include the number of anticipated awards. In FY 2023, EPA continued to fund projects to support training, surveys, studies, investigations, and demonstrations for water quality improvement, watershed planning and management, treatment technologies, water efficiency, and environmental management systems. Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3), as amended (33 USC 1254 et seq.)
National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(I) Assistance under this program is generally available to States, local governments, territories, Indian Tribes, and possessions of the U.S. (including the District of Columbia); public and private universities and colleges; public or private nonprofit institutions; and intertribal consortia. Nonprofit 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. An intertribal consortium must meet the definition of eligibility in the Environmental Program Grants for Tribes Final Rule, at 40 CFR 35.504 (66 FR 3782. January 16, 2001) (FRL-6929-5) and be a non-profit organization within the meaning of 2 CFR 200. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. State and local governments, U.S. territories and possessions, Indian Tribes, universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public and private nonprofit institutions. Documentation of nonprofit status may be required. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. EPA may ask applicants or principal investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. Preapplication coordination is required. 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. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through Grants.gov. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications 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. For non-competitive awards made under this assistance listing, EPA will conduct an administrative evaluation to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to grant regulations and to technical and program evaluation to determine the merit and relevance of the project. The Agency will then advise the applicant if funding is being considered. A final work plan will then be negotiated with the applicant. Specific information regarding deadlines is provided in the competitive announcement. Approximately 180 days. 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). Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E - Disputes, as applicable. Not applicable. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will be described in the competitive announcement. The funds will support conducting and promoting the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. Implementation activities are generally not eligible. Specific uses and restrictions on funds will be described in detail in the competitive announcements. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Geospatial information is 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, GPS, remote sensing, mapping, charting, and surveying technologies, or statistical data. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: Geospatial Resources at EPA (https://www.epa.gov/geospatial). Performance Reports: Reporting requirements shall be determined at the time of grant award. 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. Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients grants and cooperative agreements records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of final expenditure reports as required by 2 CFR 200.334. If questions, such as those raised because of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may include matching requirements consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. Match may be cash or in-kind consistent with the regulations governing match requirements at 2 CFR 200 and 1500 as applicable. Specific matching requirements will be described in detail in the competitive announcements.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award. The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award. For program information contact: Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, Connie Cahanap, Phone: (202) 566-1382; FAX: (202) 566-1147; E-mail: cahanap.concepcion@epa.gov. Tracey Miller
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Immediate Office, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., (Mail Code 4101M)
Washington, DC 20460 US
miller.tracey@epa.gov
Phone: 202-564-0783
Fax: 202-564-0348 https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics/water-topics 68-0108-0-1-304 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$3,160,706.00; FY 23 est $5,819,810.00; FY 24 FY 21$5,803,749.00; FY 20$5,300,000.00; FY 19$1,186,000.00; FY 18$6,342,800.00; FY 17$5,036,000.00; FY 16$3,928,000.00; - Range: $10,000 to $580,000/fiscal year; Average: $295,000/fiscal year. 40 CFR Part 33 (Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in United States Environmental Protection Agency Programs); 40 CFR Part 45 (Training Assistance). Fiscal Year 2016 Development of innovative watershed education tools, development of wetland protection guides for local communities, demonstration projects for watershed management, development of sustainable approaches to water quality management, and training on environmental management systems Development of innovative watershed education tools, development of wetland protection guides for local communities, demonstration projects for watershed management, development of sustainable approaches to water quality management, and training on environmental management systems.
Fiscal Year 2018 Development of innovative watershed education tools, development of wetland protection guides for local communities, demonstration projects for watershed management, development of sustainable approaches to water quality management, and training on environmental management systems.
Fiscal Year 2022 Development of innovative watershed education tools, development of water quality protection guides for local communities, development of sustainable approaches to water quality management, training for small wastewater systems and onsite/decentralized systems, and training on environmental management systems.