The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting novel research that proposes innovative and multidisciplinary approaches to better understand Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) uptake in plants and animals in agricultural environments.
Donor Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
State: All States
County: All Counties
U.S. Territory: Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, America Samoa, Guam and Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/06/2023
Size of the Grant: $1,600,000
Grant Duration: 4 years
Details:
The proposed research should further the knowledge of PFAS bioaccumulation in agriculture within the scope of mitigating PFAS exposure from the food supply. It’s strongly recommended that applicants develop research proposals that may produce results that can be translated into real-world applications and utilized in future decision-making. Strong research proposals should leverage any existing scientific research regarding PFAS plant and animal uptake in agricultural operations and incorporate approaches to understand PFAS accumulation in agricultural environments. The development of different agricultural PFAS management perspectives and outlooks should also be a facet of the proposed research. PFAS mitigation and contamination prevention strategies should also be an aspect of the research.
The specific objective of the research should focus on mitigating PFAS exposure from the food supply through the exploration of PFAS bioaccumulation in plants and animals in agricultural settings with the goal of promoting farm viability and public health. The proposed research should support cost-effective solutions and management strategies that address agricultural environments at scales appropriate to mitigate PFAS concerns on farms that may have high volumes of water or soil with relatively low PFAS concentrations.
Research Area Categories
- PFAS contamination and bioaccumulation through biosolid agricultural use and approaches to ensure biosolid application does not contribute to PFAS soil concentration.
- PFAS contamination and bioaccumulation in livestock (including aquaculture) from feed and water.
- PFAS contamination and bioaccumulation through the utilization of irrigation water, possibly including recycled municipal wastewater or water from effluent dominated waterbodies.
- Potentially substantial PFAS contamination in pre-harvest agricultural operations through previously unidentified or lesser-known sources.
- PFAS contamination and bioaccumulation in whole-food webs, wildlife and game, and culturally sensitive plants as it relates to Tribal agricultural settings and communities.
Funding Information
- It is anticipated that a total of approximately $8,000,000 will be awarded under this announcement, depending on the availability of funds, quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations.
- The EPA anticipates funding approximately five awards under this RFA. Requests for amounts in excess of a total of $1,600,000 per award, including direct and indirect costs, will not be considered. The total project period requested in an application submitted for this RFA may not exceed four years.
Eligibility Criteria
- Public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, public and private institutions of higher education (IHEs), and hospitals located in the U.S. and its territories or possessions; state and local governments; Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; and U.S. territories or possessions are eligible to apply. Profit-making firms and individuals are not eligible to apply.
- Consistent with the definition of Nonprofit organization, the term nonprofit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that is operated mainly for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purpose in the public interest and is not organized primarily for profit; and uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operation of the organization. The term includes tax-exempt nonprofit neighborhood and labor organizations. Note that specifically excludes Institutions of Higher Education from the definition of non-profit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation. While not considered to be a nonprofit organization, public or nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this RFA. Hospitals operated by state, tribal, or local governments or that meet the definition of nonprofit at are also eligible to apply as nonprofits or as instrumentalities of the unit of government depending on the applicable law. For-profit colleges, universities, trade schools, and hospitals are ineligible.
- Nonprofit organizations that are not exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code must submit other forms of documentation of nonprofit status; such as certificates of incorporation as nonprofit under state or tribal law. Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible for EPA funding as provided in the Lobbying Disclosure Act.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
