[CPEO-BIF] NEW EJ GRANT PROGRAM - REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

[cpeo <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

EPA's Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) has created a new grants
program called the "Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving
Grant Program."  The grants program provides financial assistance to
community-based organizations who wish to engage in capacity-building
initiatives, and also utilize constructive engagement and collaborative
problem-solving to seek viable solutions for their community's
environmental and/or public health issues.  Only not for profit 501
(c)(3) organizations are eligible to apply.  If they don't already have
the 501 (c)(3) status, be sure  to obtain it before  you apply (see
information below).  The grants are due September 30, 2003, and will be
awarded at $100,000, for a project period of up to three years.

The Request for Applications (RFA)  for the new Collaborative
Problem-Solving Grant Program can be downloaded from:
<http://www.epa.gov/compliance/recent/ej.html

Or, call 1-800-962-6215 or send an email which includes your complete
mailing address to:  Ms. Rosa Moore, US EPA/OEJ, MC-2201A, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460, to request a hardcopy of
the RFA.  A copy of the FACT SHEET above this program is included below.


You can have either state certification or federal 501 (c) (3) Tax
Exempt Status.  The information on how to obtain federal 501 (c) (3) tax
exempt status can be found at the link below.  DON'T FORGET, you must
show proof of this status in your application.  Here is the official
Internal Revenue Service website for organizations looking to file under
501(c)(3) tax exempt status:
<http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96109,00.html


Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Grant Program Fact
Sheet.
In Fall 2003, the Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) will review
applications for the first Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-
Solving (CPS) Grant Program.  The purpose of the Environmental Justice
CPS Grant Program is for EPA to provide financial assistance to
community-based organizations who wish to engage in constructive and
collaborative problem-solving by utilizing tools developed by EPA and
others to find viable solutions for their community's environmental
and/or public health concerns.  There will be 15 grants awarded by
January 2004. All awards will be in the amount of $100,000.00 to be used
over a three-year period.

The Environmental Justice CPS Grant Program is managed by Linda K. Smith
(Project Officer) and Marva E. King (Program Manager) of the Office of
Environmental Justice.   For more information, call the toll-free number
1-800-962-6215.

Background.
EPA's Office of Environmental Justice, in coordination with the Federal
Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (IWG), has developed
an Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model.   A
detailed description of each along with a sample can be found in the
Request For Applications.   These seven elements, which are the key
factors to the success of this Model, must be included in your project
application.

They are:
Issue Identification, Community Vision and Strategic Goal Setting;
Community Capacity Building;
Consensus Building and Dispute Resolution;
Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships and Resource Mobilization;
Supportive and Facilitative Role of Government;
Management and Implementation; and
Evaluation, Lessons Learned, and Replication of Best Practices.

To Be Eligible For This Grant Program, you must be a non-government,
nonprofit community-based organization currently exempt from taxation
under 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or exempt under
applicable state law and include proof of your status in your
application.  In addition, you must be working on or plan to carry out
projects to address local environmental and/or public health issues.
Universities are not eligible to apply for this grant program but they
may be a member of the partnership.

How Will Your Application Be Evaluated?  In the grant application, you
must address each of the seven elements described in the Background
section above.  The following items must be included in your
application:

 1.           A Clear and concise description of the project.  The
project workplan narrative is one of the most important components of
your application and (assuming that all other required materials are
submitted) will be used as the primary basis for selection.   Include
whether or not your organization has received any grant/cooperative
agreement from EPA in the last 3 years  (35 points).

 2.           Adherence to the Environmental Justice Collaborative
Problem-Solving Model.  (25 points).

 3.           All standard forms as listed in the RFA.  In addition to
the forms, a detailed budget is required which shows how the funds will
be specifically used in terms of personnel, fringe benefits, travel,
equipment, supplies, contractor costs, and other costs.  Funds cannot be
used for construction, lobbying, or litigation against the government.
The budget must list proposed milestones with deadlines, and estimated
costs and completion dates. (10 points)

 4.           Statement of Qualifications of Principal
Investigator/Project Manager as an appendix which describes why he/she
is qualified to undertake this project.   (10 points)

 5.           A Memorandum of Agreement signed by each representative of
the collaborative partnership which identifies the roles and
responsibilities of each partner.  Each partner is valued at 2 points
with a maximum possible total of 10.  (10 points)

PLEASE NOTE:   A letter of support from an individual or entity does not
qualify as a reflection of an agreement to participate in a
collaborative partnership. Refer to the Grant Program Evaluation
Criteria in Part IV of the RFA.

 6.           A set of evaluation criteria which reflect how you will
determine the success of the project.  These should include qualitative
and quantitative measures. (10)

Selection Process.
An EPA panel will review, evaluate, and rank the application of
potential grant recipients.  After the review process is completed, OEJ
will compare the best applications and make final selections.

Reporting Requirements.
Grant activities must be completed and funds spent within the timeframe
specified in the three-year award.  All grantees must participate in
monthly conference calls with their OEJ technical advisor and provide
quarterly reports to OEJ on the grant project's process.  The OEJ
technical advisor for each grant will be named at award.

Other Information.
To download a request for application and additional information about
this Environmental Justice CPS Grant Program, please visit the EPA's
website at:  <http://www.epa.gov/compliance/recent/ej.html

Examples of community-based organizations involved in successful
environmental justice collaborative problem-solving partnerships can be
found at this EPA website:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/interagency/index.html


For questions concerning examples of opportunities to develop
collaborative projects, please contact your EPA Regional Environmental
Justice Coordinator listed in Appendix F of the RFA.

For issues concerning administrative and process questions, please
contact the Project Officer, Linda K. Smith.  Since this is a
competitive program, in order to ensure that all potential applicants
receive the same information, answers will be posted on the Web site.
Therefore, all questions about interpretation or completion of the
requirements,  must be sent via e-mail to smith.linda@epa.gov or by fax
to 202-501-1162.  The questions with answers will be posted on the web
site.

Application Submission Instructions.
Applications must be date stamped by courier service or postmarked by
the U.S. Postal Service by 12 p.m. Eastern Time, September 30, 2003.
Use the appropriate address below, depending on your method of delivery.


Via U.S. Postal Service
U.S. EPA/Office of Environmental Justice (MC 2201A)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460-0001
Attention:   Linda K. Smith,Project Officer

Via Federal Express, Airborne, United Parcel Service or other courier
service
U.S. EPA/Office of Environmental Justice Ariel Rios Building South, Room
2232
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20004
Attention:
Linda K. Smith
Project Officer
Phone: 202-564-2602

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