OWR-US EPA (EN Grant-FY24-84103301-0): Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Program and Related Assistance

OWR-US EPA (EN Grant-FY24-84103301-0): Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Program and Related Assistance

FY 2024 National Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Program

Details

• Awarding Agency: Natural Resources
• Departments: Water Resources Operations
• CSFA Number: 422-80-3502
• CSFA Popular Name: NA
• Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-OMS-24-01
• Announcement Type: Initial Announcement
• Award Type: Non Competitive
• Total Funding Available: $282,629.00
• Expected Number of Awards: 1
• Funding Sources: Federal Or Federal Pass Through
• Capital Grant: No
• Indirect Costs Allowed: Yes
• Posted Date: 2024-12-04
• Award End: 2027-09-30

Funding Source Description

US EPA General Terms and Conditions
The recipient agrees to comply with the current EPA general terms and conditions available at: https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-generalterms-
and-conditions-effective-october-1-2024-or-later. These terms and conditions are in addition to the assurances and certifications
made as a part of the award and the terms, conditions, or restrictions cited throughout the award.
The EPA repository for the general terms and conditions by year can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-terms-andconditions#
general

Restrictions on Indirect Costs

No

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

The Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA), 30 ILCS 708/1 et seq. is the Administrative Code that this grant will be governed under.

QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA) TERMS/CONDITIONS:
Authority: Quality Assurance applies to all assistance agreements involving environmental information as defined in 2 C.F.R. § 1500.12
Quality Assurance.

The award recipient must provide a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).

In some cases, a modified QAPP that includes elements of a Quality Management Plan (QMP) or a QMP in addition to a QAPP may be required according to regional QA standards. Project work as relates to Environmental Information Operations (EIO) cannot begin until a QAPP is submitted and approved. Award recipients are encouraged to submit their drafted QAPP or QA documents as soon as possible to allow for EPA review and processing time.

All EN grant projects include environmental information operations (EIO), defined as ‘work performed to collect, produce, evaluate, or use
environmental information and the design, construction, operation, or application of environmental technology. There, all EN projects
require an approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).

RENCs may reject semi-annual progress reports for grantees who fail to provide their required QA documentation.

For Reference:
• Quality Management Plan (QMP) Standard and EPA's Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Standard; contain quality specifications for
EPA and non-EPA organizations and definitions applicable to these terms and conditions.
• EPA QA/G-5: Guidance for Quality Assurance Project Plans.
• EPA's Quality Program website has a list of QA managers, and Specifications for EPA and Non-EPA Organizations.
• The Office of Grants and Debarment Implementation of Quality Assurance Requirements for Organizations Receiving EPA Financial
Assistance.

Reporting

Performance Progress Reporting ("gombgatu-4001-PPR"): The grantee shall be required to provide reporting of its activities under this project. The IDNR may withhold or suspend payment if the grantee fails to submit the required reports.

Periodic Financial Reports ("gombgatu-4002-PFR"): The grantee is required to provide to the IDNR quarterly progress reports that describe the progress of the project and expenditures of funds according to the budget line items as detailed in the approved Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance. The Quarterly Progress Report will be due as follows:

Quarterly Progress Report Due By:
April 15 | July 15 | October 15 | January 15

Additional Reporting:

US EPA reporting periods will be as follows:
1) April 1 through September 30 (report due October 15); and
2) October 1 through March 31 (report due April 15).

At a minimum, semi-annual progress reports must include the following:
1) an update on the schedule and status of carrying out the project, including any problems encountered and suggestions to overcome
them;
2) an explanation of expenditures to date, with expenditures linked to project results;
3) information on each of the following areas:
a) a comparison of accomplishments to the outputs/outcomes established in the assistance agreement work plan for the reporting period;
b) explanations on why established outputs/outcomes were not met (if applicable); and
c) additional information, analysis, and explanation of cost overruns or higher-than-expected-unit costs.

Additionally, the recipient agrees to notify the Agency when a significant development occurs that could impact the award. Significant developments include events that enable meeting milestones and objectives sooner or at less cost than anticipated or
that produce different beneficial results than originally planned. Significant developments also include problems, delays, or adverse
conditions which will impact the ability to meet the milestones or objectives of the award, including outputs/outcomes specified in the
assistance agreement work plan. If the significant developments negatively impact the award, the recipient must include information on their plan for corrective action and any assistance needed to resolve the situation.

Grantees must submit semi-annual reports even when the grantee has not made progress during the reporting period.

In addition to the semi-annual progress reports, the award recipient must submit a final report to Project Manager.

The final report shall document project activities over the entire project period and shall include information on each of the following areas:
1) a comparison of actual accomplishments with the anticipated outputs/outcomes specified in the assistance agreement work plan;
2) the reasons why anticipated outputs/outcomes were not met (if applicable); and
3) other pertinent information, including, when appropriate, analysis and explanation of cost overruns or high unit costs.