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Contents

  1. Purpose of this Request for Projects (RFP)

  2. Amount of Funding Available

  3. Matching/Cost Share Requirements

  4. Funding Mechanism

  5. Request for Projects

  6. Project Evaluation Criteria

  7. Evaluation Process

  8. Selection Process

  9. Project Description Submittal – Due Dates

  10. Maintenance of Effort Requirement

  11. Pre-application Assistance

  12. Notification

  13. Right to Reject any or all Proposed Projects

  14. Right to Implement Projects Identified Outside of the RFP Process

  15. Confidential Business Information

  16. Clarifications/Revisions

Great Lakes Legacy Act

Request for Projects

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) administers funds available through the Great Lakes Legacy Act.

This deadline for submitting projects was March 31, 2004. Additional project ideas may be considered as time and resources allow. Interested applicants may contact EPA's Marc Tuchman (312-353-1369) or Scott Cieniawski (312-353-9184) to discuss that possibility.

1. Purpose of this Request for Projects (RFP)
The purpose of this request is to solicit ideas for projects that would help to implement the Great Lakes Legacy Act. In order to receive funding under the Great Lakes Legacy Act, projects must be located in one of the 31 U.S. Great Lakes AOCs. Top priority will be given to projects that are geared toward on-the-ground remediation (i.e., actual implementation of a remedial option) of contaminated sediments within a U.S. AOC. Remediation projects would include, but are not limited to, remedial options such as: dredging, capping, monitored natural recovery, treatment technologies, or a combination of remedial alternatives for contaminated sediment.

The next priority level would be given to projects that seek to move a contaminated sediment site toward remediation. These projects could include: site characterizations, site assessments, source identification/source control, monitoring, remedial alternatives evaluations and short-term/long-term effects analyses.

Please note that this Legacy Act RFP is a departure from GLNPO’s annual funding guidance process. The funding guidance proposals for Great Lakes sediment grant projects are being solicited under a separate request for proposal process scheduled for release in January 2004.

Additionally, the Legacy Act program is not a grants program. The process for the selection of Legacy Act projects is not a grants competition, but is based on the development of a negotiated Project Agreement (PA) between USEPA and the non-federal sponsor. USEPA will consider projects based on the extent to which they meet the requirements of the Act and this RFP.

2. Amount of Funding Available
A total of $10 million in Federal funds has been appropriated to support the Legacy Act as part of the FY 2004 budget. The amount, if any, that will actually be appropriated in future year budgets is unknown. The number of qualified initial projects ultimately funded is unknown and will depend upon individual project costs.   

Qualified projects selected in FY2004 may be funded from FY2004 or FY2005 appropriations without an additional solicitation.

3. Matching/Cost Share Requirements
The non-federal share of the cost of a project shall be at least 35% of the total project costs and 100% of the cost of operation and maintenance of the project. It is the responsibility of the non-federal sponsor to secure the non-federal share of project costs. The non-federal share may include the value of in-kind services contributed by the non-federal sponsor, and may include funds or in-kind services provided pursuant to an administrative order on consent or a judicial consent decree. The non-federal share of the cost of a project may not include any funds paid pursuant to, or the value of any in-kind service performed under, a unilateral administrative order or court order.

4. Funding Mechanism
The non-Federal sponsor of projects selected for funding will enter into a PA with the USEPA. A PA is a document that will detail the financial, technical, and logistical obligations and responsibilities of the USEPA and the non-federal sponsor. An individual, project specific PA will be developed for each project funded under the Legacy Act. The PA will discuss the financial coordination process to be used to jointly fund the selected project.

5. Request for Projects
Project descriptions must be typewritten, double-spaced in 12 point or larger print using 8.5 x 11 inch paper with minimum 1-inch horizontal and vertical margins. Pages must be numbered in order, starting with the cover page and continuing through the appendices. One original and two copies are required, as well as electronic version of the project description (and attachments, if possible electronically). All project descriptions should include:

Project Manager Information: Provide the name, position, mailing address, phone number, email address, agency affiliation, and other pertinent contact information for the principal project manager proposed for the project.

Executive Summary - The Executive Summary should be a stand-alone document, not to exceed one page, containing the specifics of what is proposed and what the non-federal sponsor expects to accomplish regarding measuring or movement toward achieving project goals. This summary should identify the measurable environmental results expected, including potential human health and ecological benefits.

Table of Contents - Self-explanatory

Project Description Narrative – Includes part I – IX listed below and not to exceed 15 pages.

Part I. – Project Title – Self-explanatory

Part II – Objectives – A numbered list (1, 2, etc.) of concisely written project objectives. In most cases, each project objective can be stated in a single sentence.

Part III – Justification - Discuss the current conditions at the site in relation to chemical concentrations in the environment, fish contaminant levels, routes of exposure and bioavailability of contaminants. Then, for each objective listed in Part II above, discuss the potential outcome in terms of environmental restoration, human health and/or source control. This section should be numbered with a justification corresponding to each objective.

Part IV – Approach and Methods – Describe in detail how the project will be carried out, including a schedule of project milestones. Describe how the system or approach will support the project goals. For remediation projects – please address all of the evaluation criteria listed in #6 of this RFP. All supporting documentation for the evaluation criteria should be submitted along with the project description (e.g., Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study – RI/FS, Remedial Alternative Evaluation, Risk Analyses, etc.).

Part V – Impact Assessment – State how the success of the project will be evaluated in terms of measurable environmental results.

Part VI – Stakeholder Involvement – Please list the stakeholders that have been involved in the development of the proposed project, including a description of the planned role of each stakeholder group as the project is conducted. Also, provide documentation of stakeholder involvement and support of the proposed project.

Part VII – Timeline – A timeline of important milestones for the project should be listed.

Part VIII – Budget – A budget should be completed using the following categories: personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contracts, construction, other, total direct costs, indirect costs and projected income. The source and documentation of the non-federal share of the project funding and 100% of the operation and maintenance costs should be specifically identified.

Part IX – Area of Concern (AOC) Documentation - Documentation should be provided indicating that the proposed project lies directly within one of the 31 U.S. AOCs. Each AOC's Remedial Action Plan (RAP) should be used in documenting if a project lies within the specified AOC.

Project Description Appendices - All appendices to the project description package (e.g., RI/FS, remedial alternatives evaluation, risk analyses, documentation of stakeholder support, etc.) should be included with the Project description.

Projects involving use of existing environmental data or data collection require approved Quality System Documentation (e.g., a Quality Management Plan) prior to commencing environmental data collection. Additionally, the non-federal sponsor will be responsible for meeting all applicable Health and Safety requirements in addition to all other applicable requirements. Project budgets should reflect any additional costs and/or time needed to meet these requirements.

6. Project Evaluation Criteria
Top priority will be given to projects that are geared toward on-the-ground remediation of contaminated sediments within a U.S. AOC. Remediation projects could include remedial options such as dredging, capping, monitored natural recovery and various treatment technologies for contaminated sediment. The next priority level would be given to projects that seek to move a contaminated sediment site toward remediation. These projects could include: site characterizations, site assessments, source identification/source control, monitoring, remedial alternatives evaluations and short-term/long-term effects analyses.

All projects will be evaluated based upon how well they meet the following criteria, and all supporting documentation submitted by the applicant will be used to assist in the evaluation of the project based upon the criteria:

REMEDIATION PROJECTS:

Required Components:

Priority Components:

A project WILL NOT be funded for actual remediation of contaminated sediments within an AOC unless an evaluation of remedial alternatives for the AOC has been conducted or is underway, including a review of the short-term and long-term effects of the remedial alternatives on human health and the environment, or if it is determined that the AOC is likely to suffer significant further or renewed contamination from existing sources of pollutants causing sediment contamination following completion of the project.

On-the-ground remediation projects will be scored and ranked according to the "Great Lakes Legacy Act, Evaluation Form for Sediment Remediation Projects" provided as Attachment 1.


OTHER PROJECTS:
(Assessment, Remedial Alternatives Evaluation, Source Control)

Required Components:

Priority Components:

Non-remediation projects will be scored and ranked according to the "Great Lakes Legacy Act, Evaluation Form for Non-Remediation Sediment Projects" provided as Attachment 2.

7. Evaluation Process
Project submittals will be reviewed and evaluated based on how well they address the required components set forth in Section 6 of this RFP. GLNPO reserves the right to enter into pre-selection discussions with applicants prior to project submittals, as well as upon receipt and review of project submittals.

8. Selection Process
The applicants for projects that are submitted specifically for REMEDIATION, and meet all the required components, will be asked to provide an oral presentation of their project to the selection panel at the Great Lakes National Program Office in Chicago, Illinois.

Projects that are related to topics OTHER THAN direct on-the-ground remediation will be reviewed and evaluated along with the remediation projects, but will not be asked to provide oral presentations of their projects to the selection panel.

GLNPO will review project proposals as they are received. GLNPO intends to enter into PA discussions with project applicants that meet the required components (as outlined in Section 6). With a limited amount of funds available in FY 04, it is expected that the initial projects that result in a PA will be funded with FY 04 funds to the extent they are available. Other projects that result in a PA will be dependent upon funding, if any, received for the Legacy Act in FY 05. If necessary, GLNPO will consider, but is not required to release an additional solicitation for projects to be funded from FY05 appropriations.

9. Project Description Submittal – Due Dates
Complete project packages should be mailed, e-mailed, or delivered to:

Mary Beth Giancarlo Ross
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office (G-17J)
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Email: ross.marybeth@epa.gov

USEPA will consider all projects that are post-marked by the U.S. Postal Service or hand-delivered to the USEPA, or include official delivery service documentation indicating USEPA acceptance from a delivery service. USEPA will accept e-mailed and faxed project submissions. All supporting documentation for faxed or electronic submissions must be provided to USEPA on, or before the due date listed below.

Projects received after March 31, 2004 might not be considered for FY2004 project funding.

10. Maintenance of Effort Requirement
Prior to initiating a project, the non-federal sponsor must enter into an agreement with USEPA to ensure that the sponsor will maintain its aggregate expenditures from all other sources for remediation programs in the AOC where the project is located, at or above the average level of such expenditures in the 2 fiscal years preceding the date on which the project is initiated.

11. Pre-application Assistance
GLNPO encourages applicants to contact GLNPO for pre-application assistance, if needed.

Contact:

Marc Tuchman
USEPA-GLNPO
77 W. Jackson Blvd (G-17J)
Chicago, IL 60604
Tel:  (312) 353-1369
Fax: (312) 353-2018
E-mail: tuchman.marc@epa.gov		 Scott Cieniawski
USEPA-GLNPO
77 W. Jackson Blvd (G-17J)
Chicago, IL 60604
Tel:  (312) 353-9184
Fax: (312) 353-2018
E-mail: cieniawski.scott@epa.gov

12. Notification
GLNPO will confirm receipt of project descriptions within: (i) one week for e-mail submissions or (ii) 3 weeks for regular mail. Once the projects have been reviewed, evaluated and ranked, all project managers will be notified regarding the outcome of the selection process.

If a project is chosen for potential funding under this RFP, the non-federal sponsor will be contacted to initiate discussions regarding development of the PA.

13. Right to Reject any or all Proposed Projects
The USEPA reserves the right to reject any or all project submittals.

14. Right to Implement Projects Identified Outside of the RFP Process
The USEPA reserves the right to select Legacy Act projects identified through mechanisms other than this RFP.

15. Confidential Business Information
Project applicants should clearly mark information contained in their project submittal that they consider to be confidential business information as proprietary information. USEPA reserves the right to make final confidentiality decisions in accordance with Agency regulations at 40 CFR Part 2, Subpart B. If no such claim accompanies the project description when the USEPA receives it, it may be made available to the public by USEPA without further notice to the applicant. If the project description contains confidential business information, this should be stated in the Executive Summary to avoid inadvertent distribution of this information during the review process.

16. Clarifications/Revisions
Project managers may be contacted for clarification and for the purpose of negotiating changes in project terms and amounts.

 

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