The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) seeks to support a Research Training Program for college and university students.
Donor Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
State: All States
Counties: All Counties
U.S. Territories: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands, American Samoa, Guam
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/09/2023
Size of the Grant: $2.5 million
Grant Duration: 5 years
Details:
The objective of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to support the training of undergraduate and graduate students on site at EPA’s research facility located in Cincinnati, Ohio. ORD conducts timely, mission-relevant, solution-oriented research based on the principles of integrity, sustainability, and responsiveness to the needs of the Nation. The Research Training Program will substantially benefit future environmental scientists, researchers, and technicians by allowing trainees to collaborate with senior EPA-ORD scientists while conducting projects in a fully operational federal research laboratory.
The overall goal is to train the next generation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) scientists to further the Agency’s mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, manage chemical risks, and protect America’s water. All training projects will be conducted at EPA’s facilities in Cincinnati, Ohio. Some examples of the fields of study for desirable student trainees include (but are not limited to) those majoring in chemistry, engineering, biology, computer science, physical science, life science, ecology, and urban planning.
ORD’s Consolidated Research/Training/Fellowships program supports research and development to:
- determine the environmental effects of air quality, drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances, and pesticides;
- identify, develop, and demonstrate effective pollution control techniques to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution;
- perform risk assessments to characterize the potential adverse health effects of human exposures to environmental hazards; and
- facilitate training and program participant support in these areas.
Funding Information
It is anticipated that a total of approximately $2.5 million will be awarded under this announcement, depending on the availability of funds, quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations. The EPA anticipates funding one award under this RFA. Requests for amounts in excess of a total of $2.5 million, including direct and indirect costs, will not be considered.
Project Period
The total project period requested in an application submitted for this RFA may not exceed five years.
Eligibility Criteria
This solicitation is available to U.S. States, territories and possessions, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments of the U.S., and the District of Columbia; public and private universities and colleges, public and private nonprofit institutions, hospitals, and laboratories located in the U.S. and its territories or possessions; State and local government departments; and foreign entities. Profit-making firms and individuals are not eligible to receive assistance agreements from the EPA under this program.
Consistent with the definition of Nonprofit organization at 2 CFR § 200.1, 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 2 CFR § 200.1 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(s), 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 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.
National laboratories funded by Federal Agencies (Federally-Funded Research and Development Centers, “FFRDCs”) may not apply. FFRDC employees may cooperate or collaborate with eligible applicants within the limits imposed by applicable legislation and regulations. They may participate in planning, conducting, and analyzing the research directed by the applicant, but may not direct projects on behalf of the applicant organization. An award recipient may provide funds through its assistance agreement from the EPA to an FFRDC for research personnel, supplies, equipment, and other expenses directly related to the research.
Federal Agencies may not apply. Federal employees are not eligible to serve in a principal leadership role on an assistance agreement. Federal employees may not receive salaries or augment their Agency’s appropriations through awards made under this program unless authorized by law to receive such funding.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
