FY27 Residential Sharps Collection Program

FY27 Residential Sharps Collection Program

In accordance with 415 ILCS 5/22.15(i), the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Materials Management and Compliance Section (MMCS) has the authority to administer grants funding household waste collections. This grant opportunity is open to units of local government to implement a residential sharps collection.

Each unit of local government is eligible for the actual costs of sharps collection and disposal, up to $35,000.00. Eligible costs include: costs for advertising sharps collection stations, costs for educational materials focused on proper disposal of sharps, costs to obtain collection containers for use by individual residents, collection receptacles to store sharps at the sharps collection station, mobilization fees assessed by an appropriately permitted potentially infectious medical waste (PIMW) transporter to pick up collected sharps, disposal fees for the collected sharps, and indirect costs. Sharps accepted at the sharps collection station shall only be sharps collected from private residents; no business waste may be combined with the sharps collected under this funding opportunity.

Details

• Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection
• Departments: Bureau of Land - MMCS
• CSFA Number: 532-30-3162
• CSFA Popular Name: Residential Sharps Collection Program
• Funding Opportunity Number: 532-30-3162-05
• Announcement Type: Initial Announcement
• Award Type: Competitive
• Total Funding Available: $600,000.00
• Funding Sources: State
• Indirect Costs Allowed: Yes
• Posted Date: 2026-05-20
• Award End: 2027-06-30

Funding Source Description

This award is funded through the SWMF. The projects to be funded are: Reimbursement to units of local government for actual costs associated with operating a sharps collection station.

The number of awards will depend on the number of applications received. Performance period will begin either July 1, 2026, or upon execution of a grant agreement, whichever is later.

Grantees must demonstrate to the Agency the use of grant funds for qualifying costs incurred after the execution of the grant agreement through June 30, 2027.

Eligible costs include: costs for advertising sharps collection stations, costs for educational materials focused on proper disposal of sharps, costs to obtain collection containers for use by individual residents (if not otherwise available from the Agency), collection receptacles to store sharps at the sharps collection station, mobilization fees assessed by an appropriately permitted potentially infectious medical waste (PIMW) transporter to pick up collected sharps, disposal fees for the collected sharps, and indirect costs.

The award will not allow for reimbursement of costs incurred prior to the effective date of the grant agreement or after the project period in the grant agreement ends. Applicants will be prohibited from combining funding from this program with other funding such that they receive in excess of 100% funding for any project.

For purposes of this NOFO, the terms “Allowable Costs” and “Unallowable Costs” have the same meaning as provided in 44 Ill. Admin. Code Part 7000.

Subcontractors are subject to all provisions of grant agreements that result from this NOFO. Applicants retain sole responsibility for all subcontractors.

Indirect Cost Description

In order to charge indirect costs to a grant, the applicant organization must have an annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA). This is done through the State of Illinois centralized indirect cost rate system. Grant applicants may choose:

a. FEDERALLY NEGOTIATED RATE: Applicant organizations that receive direct federal funding may have Indirect Cost Rate that was negotiated with their Federal Cognizant Agency. Illinois will accept the federally negotiated rate. The organization must provide a copy of the federally NICRA.

b. STATE NEGOTIATED RATE: The applicant may negotiate an Indirect Cost Rate with the State of Illinois.
i. If an applicant has not previously established an Indirect Cost Rate, an Indirect Cost Rate proposal must be submitted through State of Illinois centralized Indirect Cost Rate system no later than three months after
receipt of a Notice of State Award (NOSA).
ii. If an applicant previously established an Indirect Cost Rate, the applicant must annually submit a new indirect cost proposal through Crowe Activity Review System (CARS) within six months after the close of the applicant's Fiscal Year.

c. DE MINIMIS RATE: An applicant that has never negotiated an Indirect Cost Rate with the Federal Government or the State of Illinois is eligible to elect a de minimis rate of 15% of modified total direct cost (MTDC). Once established, the De Minimis Rate may be used indefinitely. The State of Illinois must verify the calculation of the MTDC annually in
order to accept the De Minimis Rate.

d. NO RATE: An applicant can choose to elect no rate for the appropriate fiscal year.

e. PROVISIONAL RATE: If an applicant has not completed the process for selecting their Indirect Cost Rate for the applicable fiscal year, the State of Illinois may approve a provisional rate to be used in an agreement until their Indirect Cost Rate has been approved. This provisional rate has to be reconciled, and payments adjusted prior to the end of that Fiscal Year or the end of the grant contract term, whichever comes first.

All applicants must provide proof of a federally approved rate, complete an Indirect Cost Rate negotiation, or elect the De Minimis Rate to claim reimbursement of indirect costs. Indirect costs reimbursed without a Federal or State negotiated rate or a De Minimis Rate election on record in the State of Illinois centralized indirect cost rate system may be subject to disallowance and the applicant will be required to repay any indirect costs received. Grantees have discretion and can elect to waive payment for indirect costs. Grantees that elect to waive payments for indirect costs cannot be reimbursed for indirect costs. The organization must record an election to “Waive Indirect Costs” into the State of Illinois' centralized Indirect Cost Rate system.

Restrictions on Indirect Costs

No

State Award Notices

Once all the final requirements have been completed, the Grant Agreement between the Illinois EPA and the applicant will be sent to the applicant for signature. Once the agreement is fully executed by the Agency, a copy will be returned to the applicant.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

The Illinois EPA is required by GATA to conduct risk assessments of the applicant. Additional information may be required from all successful applicants. For an applicant to remain eligible for the award, it must provide the requested information within 30 days after request. The Grant Funds Recovery Act (30 ILCS 705) also governs all grants resulting from this NOFO.

All sharps collection stations operated under this funding opportunity must accept sharps for disposal from all Illinois residents.

Reporting

The Uniform Periodic Performance Report (PPR) and the Uniform Periodic Financial Report (PFR) are required at a minimum on a quarterly basis. Quarterly reporting will be required unless more frequent reporting is required pursuant to specific award conditions.

These reports will describe the expenditure(s) of the funds and performance measures related thereto. The first PPR and PFR report shall cover the first three months after the Award begins. Quarterly reports must be submitted no later than 30 calendar days following the three-month period covered by the report. Failure to submit the required PPR and PFR report may cause a delay or suspension of funding.

All grantees will be required to submit true and accurate copies of collection container costs, disposal receipts, disposal certificates reflecting the name of the sharps collections station, name and Illinois EPA ID number of the PIMW transporter utilized, and the name and Illinois EPA ID number of the disposal facility utilized for each delivery of sharps. The disposal receipts should reflect the actual volume of sharps collected. Disposal receipts should not include sharps collected through other programs or operations. All requests for reimbursement should be submitted within 15 calendar days of the end of the quarter which costs incurred. Invoices and/or receipts submitted as part of a reimbursement request must reflect only costs incurred as part of this program. All grantees must submit a Final Report to the Agency summarizing the volume of sharps collected and disposed of during the grant period. Final reports shall be consistent with the Grant Funds Recovery Act (30 ILCS 705) and be submitted no later than July 30, 2027.

Additional Information

https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/waste-management/waste-disposal/medication-disposal/sharps/residential-sharps-collection-program.html

Sharps Collection Program webpage on Illinois EPA website.