[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41238-41245]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20109]



[[Page 41237]]


_______________________________________________________________________

Part IV





Environmental Protection Agency





_______________________________________________________________________



Fiscal Year 1996 Computational Science and Environmental Education 
(EarthVision) Cooperative Agreements Program; Solicitation Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 7, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 41238]]



ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5548-5]


Fiscal Year 1996 Computational Science and Environmental 
Education (EarthVision) Cooperative Agreements Program; Solicitation 
Notice

Section I. Important Preapplication Information

    A. What is the purpose of this solicitation notice?
    The Office of Administration and Resources Management (OARM) at the 
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) solicits 
preapplications from colleges, universities, and other institutions of 
higher education; and from other nonprofit public or private agencies, 
organizations, and institutions to support an ongoing computational 
science and environmental education program, EarthVision, as defined in 
this notice.
    B. What is the computational science and environmental education 
program, EarthVision? How much money is available for this program?
    EarthVision is a computational science and environmental modeling 
education enrichment program. The primary goals of EarthVision are to:
    1. Introduce teams of high school students and teachers to 
computational science, environmental modeling, and high performance 
computing;
    2. Attract students to technical and environmental sciences, and 
thereby contribute to a better trained workforce;
    Additional objectives of EarthVision include:
    a. Enhance critical thinking and awareness of how to apply 
mathematical environmental models in environmental research.
    b. Promote knowledge of how to create and test environmental 
hypotheses with mathematical models, and;
    c. Increase understanding of the role of computationally intensive 
models in environmental research, problem solving, decision making, and 
regulation development.
    You can view and download this solicitation notice, as well as a 
description of the past cooperative ventures under this program, from: 
//www.epa/gov/nesc/index2.html
    One million dollars in Fiscal Year 1996 cooperative agreement funds 
are available under a Congressional appropriation to support the 
computational science and environmental education program, EarthVision. 
Total funding is anticipated to be $3 million for the three-year 
period, Fiscal Year 1996--Fiscal Year 1998.
    C. What is computational science, environmental modeling, and high 
performance computing? What is computational science and environmental 
modeling education enrichment?
    Computational science is the use of computationally intensive 
mathematical models to simulate or replicate real work conditions that 
are either too large or too small to replicate in a laboratory. 
Environmental models duplicate physical or chemical processes that take 
place in the environment.
    High performance computing encompasses advanced computing, 
communications, and information technologies. It relies on scientific 
workstations, supercomputer systems, and high speed networks. High 
performance computing integrates and links special purpose and 
experimental systems; the new generation of large, scalable parallel 
systems, and; applications and systems software over a high speed 
network.
    Computational science and environmental modeling education 
enrichment teaches how to apply computational science and environmental 
modeling skills to environmental research. It relies on the scientific 
method and the development and testing of environmental research 
hypotheses. It involves critical thinking, problem solving, and 
decision making.
    D. When is my letter of intent due to EPA? When is my pre-
application due to EPA and when will EPA announce the cooperative 
agreements award? Why is EPA announcing the availability of Fiscal Year 
1996 funds so late in the year?
    A one-page letter of intent is due to EPA postmarked no later than 
Thursday, August 25. The letter of intent must be no longer than one 
page and state that your organization intends to submit a pre-
application. The letter of intent is non-binding and does not commit 
you to submit a pre-application. The letter of intent will allow EPA to 
substantiate the level of interest so that the Agency can gauge how 
many pre-applications it will receive.
    Pre-applications (25 page statement of work with attached budget) 
must be mailed to EPA postmarked no later than Friday, October 25, 
1996. Pre-applications postmarked after Friday, October 25, 1996, will 
not be considered for funding. EPA expects to announce the cooperative 
agreement award later in the calendar year, 1996, or early in 1997.
    Owing to the Continuing Resolution, EPA was unable to finalize its 
budget earlier in the fiscal year. EPA waited for an approved operating 
plan before releasing this solicitation. This will NOT affect your 
application.
    E. Where do I mail my letter of intent and pre-application?
    Letters of intent and pre-applications must be mailed to: U.S. EPA, 
EarthVision, Computational Science and Environmental Modeling, 
Education Enrichment Program, Mail Drop 34, Research Triangle Park, 
North Carolina, 27711.
    F. Where do I get information and forms needed to prepare my pre-
application?
    Please read this solicitation notice carefully, it contains all the 
information and forms necessary to prepare a pre-application. If your 
project is selected as the finalist after the evaluation process is 
concluded, EPA will provide you with additional forms needed to process 
your pre-application.
    G. How much money can I request for my cooperative agreement 
project? Does the dollar amount affect my chance of being selected?
    EPA anticipates making one award for the computational science and 
environmental modeling education enrichment program, EarthVision. 
Applicants may select up to $1 million in cooperative agreement funds 
for the first year of the computational science and environmental 
modeling education enrichment program.

Section II. Eligible Applicants

    H. Who is eligible to submit pre-applications?
    Any college, university, or other institute of higher education, or 
other nonprofit public or private agency, organization, or institution 
to support the computational science and environmental modeling 
education enrichment program, EarthVision, where authorized under the 
following Actions and Sections: (a) Clean Water Act, Section 104; (b) 
Clean Air Act, Section 103; (c) Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001; 
(d) Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442, and; (e) National 
Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(F). 501(c)(4) organizations 
that lobby are not eligible to apply.
    I. May an organization submit more than one pre-application in 
Fiscal Year 1996?
    Yes, an organization may submit more than one pre-application, but 
only if the pre-applications are for different projects. No 
organization will be awarded more than one cooperative agreement for 
the same project during the same fiscal year.

[[Page 41239]]

    J. May I submit a pre-application for Fiscal Year 1996 even if I 
have been awarded funding under this program in the past four years?
    Yes, applicants who were awarded funding previously may submit a 
pre-application for Fiscal Year 1996. The Fiscal Year 1996 pre-
application may or may not have any relationship to a project funded in 
a previous year. Each pre-application for Fiscal Year 1996 will be 
evaluated based upon the specific criteria set forth in this 
solicitation and in relation to the other pre-applications.
    K. May a teacher, educator, or faculty member apply?
    A teacher's school district, an educator's nonprofit organization, 
or a faculty member's college or university may apply, but an 
individual teacher, educator, or faculty member cannot. Only agencies, 
organizations, and institutions, and not individuals, may apply for the 
cooperative agreement.

Section III. Eligible Activities and Funding Priorities

    L. What general activities are eligible for funding under this 
program?
    The eligible computational science and environmental modeling 
education enrichment activities that may receive funding must include, 
but are not limited to, at least one of the following:
    1. Design, demonstrate, or disseminate computational science and 
environmental modeling curricula, including the enhancement or 
development of educational tools and materials.
    2. Design and demonstrate projects to enhance existing high school 
curricula in math, science, and computer science with the incorporation 
of computational science and environmental modeling tools and 
techniques.
    3. Projects to understand and assess a specific computational 
science or environmental modeling issue, and to transfer those findings 
to EarthVision participants.
    4. Provision of computational science and environmental modeling 
training or related education for high school students, teachers, and/
or faculty in a specific geographic location.
    5. Design and demonstration of projects to foster international 
cooperation in the assessment and analysis of environmental data using 
computational science and environmental modeling.
    Under Section III.L.1. above, EPA strongly encourages applicants to 
demonstrate or disseminate existing curricula in computational science 
and environmental modeling rather than designing new curricula. EPA 
will consider funding new curricula only where the applicant 
demonstrates that there is a need. Examples of need may include 
instances in which: (1) Existing computational science and 
environmental modeling curricula has not been designed for a certain 
audience; (2) Existing computational science and environmental modeling 
curricula cannot be adapted well to a particular local setting, and; 
(3) Existing curricula are not otherwise accessible. The applicant must 
discuss what steps they have taken to address this need. You may cite a 
Conference where the need was discussed, the results of inquiries made 
with various educational institutions, or a research or other published 
document.
    M. What activities are not eligible for funding under this program?
    Funds cannot be used for:
    1. Construction projects;
    2. Technical training of environmental management professionals;
    3. Non-educational research and development; and/or
    4. Computational science information projects.
    Under Section III.M.1. above, EPA will not fund construction 
activities such as the acquisition of real property (e.g., buildings) 
or the construction or modification of any building. EPA will not fund 
the acquisition of services for the direct benefit of EPA.
    Under Section III.M.4. above, EPA will fund only computational 
science and environmental modeling education enrichment projects, not 
projects that are solely designed to develop or disseminate 
computational science and environmental modeling information. As 
discussed in Section I.C. above, computational science and 
environmental modeling education enrichment teaches how to apply 
computational science and environmental modeling skills to 
environmental research. It involves critical-thinking, problem-solving, 
and decision making.
    In comparison, computational science information provides facts or 
opinions about the application of computationally intensive 
mathematical models to environmental issues. It does not enhance skills 
in environmental research, critical thinking, problem solving, or 
decision making. While an understanding of computational science in 
environmental research is important, the information alone does not 
constitute computational science education enrichment. To reiterate, 
computational science and environmental modeling education enrichment 
teaches people how to apply computationally intensive mathematical 
environmental models to environmental research.
    N. What specific types of projects will EPA fund?
    EPA will fund only those proposals which meet the criteria 
specified under #1 and #2 below. Proposals which do not meet these 
criteria will not be funded.
    1. All proposals must discuss how the proposed project:
    a. Is new or substantially improved;
    b. Has the potential for wide application, and;
    c. Addresses a high priority issue in computational science and 
environmental modeling.
    Applicants must define ``new or substantially improved,'' ``wide 
application,'' and ``high priority issue'' as they relate to each 
individual project. For instance, a project may be new or substantially 
improved if it reaches a specific community for the first time, 
develops a new or improved teaching strategy, or uses a new or improved 
method of applying existing computational science and environmental 
modeling education enrichment materials. Similarly, a project may have 
wide application if it targets a large and diverse audience in terms of 
numbers or demographics or if it can serve as a model program 
elsewhere. Finally, a project may address a high priority issue in 
computational science or environmental modeling education enrichment if 
the applicant demonstrates the importance of the issue to the 
community, state, or region being targeted by the project. For 
instance, a community which has notable air pollution problems may find 
it appropriate to increase understanding of how computational science 
is used in designing air pollution models and in assessing alternative 
solutions.
    2. All proposals must also focus on one of the following:
    a. Improving computational science and environmental modeling 
teaching skills for teachers, faculty, and other nonformal educators, 
and learning skills for students (e.g., through workshops, summer 
training sessions, and Saturday classes);
    b. Building local capacity to develop, deliver, and continue 
computational science and environmental modeling education enrichment 
programs, or;
    c. Promoting careers in environmental sciences and computational 
science among students.
    All proposals must clearly identify which of the above the proposal 
will focus on. You will not increase your chances of being funded by 
focusing on more than one of the above. The terms

[[Page 41240]]

used under Section III.N.2.a-c. are defined below.
    The term workshops, summer training sessions, and Saturday classes 
refers to training activities that prepare educators to utilize 
computational science and environmental modeling education materials. 
Workshops, summer training sessions, and Saturday classes may be 
directed toward young people and/or adults in formal and/or informal 
settings. (A formal setting is a school, college, university or similar 
institution devoted to learning; an informal setting may include a 
museum, nature center, park, or community center which may not be 
devoted to learning but often includes such activities). Workshops 
should emphasize an investigative and hands-on approach to learning 
that leads to the development of problem-solving and critical thinking 
skills.
    The term building local regional capacity refers to the development 
and implementation of plans designed to improve the coordinated 
delivery of computational science and environmental modeling education 
enrichment at the local level. The primary providers should coordinate 
local planning and implementation of the computational science and 
environmental modeling education enrichment activities with State 
Departments of Education or Natural Resources, local school districts, 
and state, local, and tribal environmental education coordinating 
councils. Examples of how to build local capacity include the 
development of plans for:
    1. Identifying and assessing needs as well as setting priorities;
    2. Creating grant programs or identifying funding sources for 
computational science and environmental modeling education enrichment 
providers, and/or;
    3. Identifying computational science and environmental modeling 
teacher training needs.

Section IV. The Pre-Application

    O. What is a pre-application?
    The pre-application contains three parts: 1) the ``Application for 
Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 (or SF 424), attached); 2) The 
``Budget Information: Non-Construction Programs'' (Standard Form 424A 
(or SF 424A), attached), and; 3) A work plan (described below). To 
ensure your pre-application is completed properly, carefully follow the 
instructions on SF 424, SF 424A, and those provided below. The SF 424, 
SF 424A, and completed work plan contain all the information EPA will 
use to evaluate the merits of your pre-application. Only finalists will 
be asked to submit additional forms needed to process your pre-
application.
    P. Are matching funds required?
    Yes, non-Federal matching funds of at least 5% of the total cost of 
the project are required, although EPA encourages matching funds of 
greater than 5%. Federal funds to support the project must not exceed 
95% of the total cost of the project. The 5% match may be provided by 
the applicant or any other organization or institution, except that no 
portion of the 5% match can include Federal funds (unless specifically 
authorized by statute). The 5% match may be provided in cash or by in-
kind contributions and other non-cash support. In-kind contributions 
often include salaries or other verifiable costs. In the case of 
salaries, applicants may use either minimum wage or fair market value. 
The proposed match, including the value of in-kind contributions, is 
subject to negotiation with EPA. The value of in-kind contributions 
must be carefully documented. All cooperative agreements are subject to 
audit.
    The matching non-Federal share is a percentage of the entire cost 
of the project. For example, if the 95% Federal portion is $4,950, then 
the entire project should, at a minimum, have a budget of $5,211, with 
the recipient providing a contribution of $261. The amount of non-
Federal funds, including in-kind contributions, must be itemized in the 
budget.
    Q. Can I use Federal funds in addition to those provided by this 
program to support the same project?
    Yes, you may use Federal funds in addition to those provided by 
this program, but only for different activities. However, you may not 
use any Federal funds to meet all or any part of the required 5% match 
as stated in Section IV.P. above. If you have already been awarded 
Federal funds for a project in which you are seeking additional support 
from this program, please provide the overall dollar amount being 
awarded by the other Federal Agency as a footnote. However, do not 
include the figures from the other Federal support in the budget you 
submit. You must identify the Project Officer, Agency, Office, address, 
phone number, and the amount of the award.
    R. Can I request funding for any budget category on the SF 424A 
(i.e., personnel/salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, 
supplies, contractual, and indirect charges)?
    Yes, you may request funding for any or all of the budget 
categories identified above with the following exceptions. First, as 
indicated under Section III.M.1. above, EPA will not fund the 
acquisition of real property (including buildings) or the construction 
or modification of any building.
    Second, you may request funds to pay for salaries and fringe 
benefits, but only for those personnel who are directly involved in 
implementing the proposed project and whose salaries and fringe 
benefits are directly related to specific products or outcomes of the 
proposed project. EPA strongly encourages applicants to request 
reasonable amounts of funding for salaries and fringe benefits. Third, 
you may include a request for indirect costs if your organization has 
already negotiated and received an indirect cost rate from the Federal 
government.
    Organizations may request an indirect cost rate. If you do not have 
an indirect cost rate, you will have to negotiate an indirect cost rate 
when the award is made.
    S. What must be included in the pre-application?
    The pre-application must contain an SF 424, SF 424A, and work plan 
as described below.
    1. Application for Federal Assistance and Budget Information (SF 
424 AND SF 424A). The SF 424 and SF 424A are required for all Federal 
grants and cooperative agreements. A completed SF 424 AND SF 424A must 
be submitted as part of your pre-application. These forms, along with 
instructions, are included at the end of this notice. Please carefully 
review the instructions and sample. Refer to Section IV.R. above for 
information on what types of budget categories can and cannot be funded 
under this program.
    2. Work Plan. A work plan describes your proposed project. The 
total number of points possible for each proposal is 100. These points 
will be distributed as follows. Each of the following four sections of 
the work plan are assigned points which add up to 100. (Certain 
sections are given more points than others reflecting the relative 
importance of each section).
    All work plans must include and be formatted according to all four 
sections (a-d) below.
    a. Project Summary: Provide EPA will an overview of your entire 
project. The summary must be no more than one page and must briefly 
include all seven of the following:
    1. Describe your organization (and your key partners);
    2. State the goals and specific objectives of your project;
    3. Identify what type of project you will focus on as described 
under Section III.N.2.a-c. (e.g., teacher or student training; building 
local capacity, or; promoting careers in environmental or computational 
science);

[[Page 41241]]

    4. Describe the demographics of your target audience (including the 
total number of direct participants, ethnic composition, and type of 
individuals reached such as teachers, students, or the general public);
    5. Indicate how you will reach your target audience;
    6. Describe the expected results of your project and how you will 
evaluate it, and;
    7. Indicate for what types of activities the EPA funds will be 
used.
    The project summary will be scored on how well you provide an 
overview of your entire project based upon the seven subsections 
identified above.
    Project Summary Maximum Score: 10 points.
    b. Project Description: Provide EPA with an explanation of how your 
proposed project meets #1 and #2 below.
    1. Explain how the proposed project: (a) Is new or significantly 
improved; (b) Has wide application, and; (c) Addresses a priority issue 
in computational science and environmental modeling as described under 
Section III.N.1.a-c.
    This subsection will be scored on how well you explain how your 
proposal meets the three elements identified above.
    Subsection maximum score: 15 points (5 points for each of the three 
elements a-c identified above).
    2. Explain how the proposed project: (a) Improves computational 
science and environmental modeling teaching skills; (b) Builds local 
capacity, or; (c) Promotes careers in environmental sciences and 
computational science as described under Section III.N.2.a-c.
    This subsection will be scored on how clearly and effectively your 
project: (a) Establishes realistic goals and objectives; (b) Identifies 
its target audience and demonstrates an understanding of the needs of 
that audience; (c) Uses an effective means or delivery system for 
reaching the target audience/implementing the project, and; (d) 
Demonstrates that it uses or produces quality educational products or 
methods which teach critical thinking, problem solving, and decision 
making skills.
    Subsection maximum score: 45 points (15 points for each of the 
three elements identified in this paragraph).
    Project Description Maximum Score: 60 points.
    c. Project Evaluation: Provide EPA with an explanation of how you 
will determine or measure whether you are meeting the goals and 
objectives of your project. Evaluation plans may be quantitative and/or 
qualitative and may include, for example, surveys, observation, or 
outside consultation.
    The project evaluation will be scored on the extent to which: a) 
Your evaluation plan will measure the project's effectiveness, and; b) 
You plan to apply data gathered from your evaluation to strengthen your 
project.
    Project Evaluation Maximum Score: 10 points (5 points for each of 
the two elements identified above).
    d. Appendices: Provide EPA with a detailed budget, resumes of key 
personnel, and letters of commitment. No other appendices or 
attachments such as video tapes or sample curricula may be submitted.
    1. Budget: Describe how you will use the funds for personnel/
salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contract costs, 
and indirect costs. You must also include a table which lists each 
major proposed activity, as well as the month and year it will be 
completed and the amount of EPA funds that will be spent on each 
activity.
    This subsection will be scored on: (a) How well the budget 
information clearly and accurately shows how funds will be used, and; 
(b) Whether the funding request is reasonable given the activities 
proposed.
    Subsection maximum score: 10 points (5 points for each of the two 
elements identified in this paragraph).
    2. Key personnel and Letters of Commitment: Attach one or two page 
resumes for up to three key personnel implementing the project. Also, 
include one page letters of commitment from partners (if there are 
partners) with a significant role in the project. Do not include 
letters of support; they will not be considered in evaluation pre-
applications.
    This subsection will be scored based upon whether resumes of key 
personnel are included and whether the key personnel are qualified to 
implement the proposed project. In addition, the score will reflect 
whether letters of commitment are included (if partners are used) and 
the extent to which a firm commitment is made.
    Subsection maximum score: 10 points.
    Appendices Maximum Score: 20 points.
    T. What are the page limits for the work plan?
    Your work plan must be limited to 25 pages. The page limit applies 
only to the work plan (i.e., the ``summary,'' ``project description,'' 
and ``project evaluation''), not the appendices. ``One page refers to 
one side of singe-spaced typed page. The pages must be letter sized 
(8\1/2\  x  11 inches), with a normal type size (10 or 12 cpi) and at 
least 1 inch margins. To conserve paper, please provide double-sided 
copies of the pre-application.
    U. How must the pre-application be submitted?
    The applicant must submit one original and two copies of the pre-
application (a signed SF 424, an SF 424A, and a work plan). Please 
submit ONLY the SF 424, the SF 424A, and a work plan. Do not include 
other attachments such as cover letters, tables of contents, or 
appendices other than those required (budget, resumes, letters of 
commitment). The SF 424 should be the first page of your pre-
application and must be signed by a person authorized to receive funds. 
Pre-applications must be reproducible; they should not be bound. They 
should be stapled or clipped once in the upper left hand corner, typed 
on white paper, and with page numbers in the upper right hand corner.
    V. What regulations must I comply with in submitting my proposal?
    EPA's general assistance regulations at 40 CFR Part 31 applies to 
state, local, and Indian tribal governments and 40 CFR Part 30 applies 
to all other applicants such as universities and other nonprofit 
organizations.

Section V. Review and Selection Process

    W. How will pre-applications be reviewed and who will conduct the 
reviews?
    Pre-applications will be reviewed in two phases: (1) The screening 
phase, and; (2) The evaluation phase. During the screening phase, pre-
applicants will be reviewed to determine whether they meet the basic 
requirements of this notice, especially as described under Sections II 
and III. Only pre-applications which meet all of the basic requirements 
will enter the evaluation phase of the review process. During the 
evaluation phase, pre-applications will be evaluated based upon the 
quality of their work plans, especially the degree to which the work 
plan meets the requirements set for in Section III.N.1 and 2. Reviewers 
conducting the screening and evaluation phases of the review process 
will include EPA officials external to this office. The review panel 
will include environmental modelers, computational scientists, and 
environmental educators approved by EPA. At the conclusion of the 
evaluation phase, the reviewers will score each applicant's work plan 
based upon the scoring system identified in Section IV.S.2.
    X. How will the final selections be made?
    After individual projects are evaluated and scored by the reviewers 
as described under Section V.W. above,

[[Page 41242]]

EPA officials will identify the highest ranking finalist among the pre-
applicants. In making a final selection, EPA's goal is to fund a 
project that takes into account, but is not limited to, the following:
    1. The type of target audience and their socioeconomic status;
    2. The methods used to reach the target audience;
    3. Whether the proposal makes effective use of partnerships, and;
    4. The cost.
    In reference to socioeconomic status, under Section V.X.1. above, 
EPA's goal is to encourage applicants to submit proposals that address 
environmental justice for culturally diverse and low income 
populations. EPA hopes to fund a proposal which scores high in the 
evaluation process and which addresses environmental justice. The term 
environmental justice refers to the fair treatment of people of all 
races, cultures, and income with respect to the development, 
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and 
policies. Fair treatment means that no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic 
group should bear a disproportionate share of the negative 
environmental consequences resulting from the operation of industrial, 
municipal, and commercial enterprises and from the execution of 
Federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies.
    Efforts to address environmental justice through computational 
science and environmental modeling education enrichment programs may 
include educational programs that provide culturally diverse and low 
income populations with critical thinking, problem solving, and 
decision making skills to: (1) Use mathematical environmental models in 
environmental research; (2) Create and test environmental hypotheses 
with mathematical models, and; (3) Understand the role of 
computationally intensive models in environmental research and decision 
making.
    In reference to the effective use of partnerships, under Section 
V.X.3. above, EPA's goal is to encourage applicants to submit proposals 
that form partnerships, where possible. EPA hopes to fund a proposal 
which scores high in the evaluation process and which promotes the 
effective use of partnerships among organizations. The term partnership 
refers to forming a collaborative working relationship between two or 
more organizations such as governmental agencies, non-profit 
organizations, educational institutions, and/or the private sector.
    The Assistant Administrator of the Office of Administration and 
Resources Management at EPA headquarters will select the cooperative 
agreement recipient, taking into account the recommendations of the 
Director of the Office of Information Resources Management (OIRM) and 
the Director of the Enterprise Technology Services Division (ETSD/
OIRM). They will base their recommendations on the factors discussed 
above.
    Y. How and when will I be notified about the status of my proposal?
    Applicants will receive a confirmation that EPA has received their 
pre-application once EPA has received all pre-applications and logged 
them into a chronological data base. EPA will notify applicants again 
after the award has been announced.
    Z. Where may I obtain more information on possible sources of 
funding other than this program?
    EPA's Division of Environmental Education, Office of 
Communications, Education, and Public Affairs (OCEPA) sponsors the 
Agency's Environmental Education Grants Program. EPA's Environmental 
Education Grants Program provides financial support for projects which 
design, demonstrate, or disseminate environmental education practices. 
The program is authorized under Section 6 of the National Environmental 
Education Act of 1990 (the Act) (Pub. L. 101-619). For the 
environmental education grants program, Congress has appropriated 
between approximately $2.5 and $2.9 million per year from Fiscal Year 
1992 through Fiscal Year 1995. EPA headquarters awards approximately $1 
million in grant funds per year and each of EPA's ten regional offices 
award approximately $150,000 to $180,000 per year.
    In cooperation with EPA, the North American Association for 
Environmental Education (NAAEE) has developed a publication called 
``Grant Funding for Your Environmental Education Program'' which 
provides strategies for identifying potential sources of funding. This 
publication can be purchased for a $5.00 by writing NAAEE, Publications 
and Member Services, P.O. Box 400, Troy, Ohio, 45373.

Section VI. Grant Recipient Activities

    AA. When can I begin incurring costs?
    DO NOT incur costs until you receive the award document.
    BB. How long is this project?
    This is a three year project. Pre-applicants may request funds for 
up to a three-year budget period.
    CC. Who will perform projects and activities?
    Any person working on this project, whether it is an employee, a 
contractor, or a consultant, etc., of the recipient must be approved by 
EPA.
    DD. What reports and work products must grant recipients submit to 
EPA and when are they due?
    The cooperative agreement recipient must submit two copies of their 
annual progress report and two copies of all work products to the EPA 
Project Officer within 90 days after the end of each year of the 
project. The recipient must submit a final report to the EPA Project 
Officer within 90 days after the end of the project period. The 
recipient must submit quarterly status reports to the EPA Project 
Officer.
    EE. What does EPA plan to do with the cooperative agreement 
recipient's final report and final work products?
    EPA will establish a section for the computational science and 
environmental modeling education enrichment program on the home page of 
EPA's National Environmental Supercomputing Center (NESC). Work 
products suited to placement on the NESC home page will be located 
there. The NESC home page can be reached through EPA's web site at: 
http://www.epa.gov/nesc

Section VII. Additional Information on Preparing Pre-applications

    FF. Where can I get additional information on preparing my pre-
application?
    EPA strongly encourages applicants to carefully read the 
solicitation notice. Many questions, such as when is the deadline for 
submitting pre-applications and what activities can be funded under 
this program, are answered in this solicitation.
    For strictly administrative questions, such as filling out the SF 
424 and SF 424A forms, call:
    Grants Administration Division/ Headquarters, U.S. EPA, 202/260-
9266.
    For programmatic and technical questions, no other information will 
be provided to applicants in order to be fair in this competitive 
assistance agreement. EPA will not elaborate on the programmatic and 
technical elements of this solicitation in order to avoid the 
appearance of giving preferential treatment to any single applicant.
    Please do not call EPA's Division of Environmental Education, 
Office of Communication, Education, and Public Affairs (OCEPA). The 
computational science and environmental education enrichment program, 
EarthVision, is sponsored by EPA's Office of Administration and 
Resources Management (OARM). As stated above,

[[Page 41243]]

EPA will not elaborate on the programmatic and technical elements of 
this solicitation in order to avoid the appearance of giving 
preferential treatment to any single applicant.

    Dated: July 29, 1996.

    Approved by:
Alvin M. Pesachowitz,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Administration and Resources 
Management.
Instructions for the SF-424
    This is a standard form used by applicants as a required fact sheet 
for preapplications and applications submitted for Federal assistance. 
It will be used by Federal Agencies to obtain applicant certification 
that States which have established a review and comment procedure in 
response to Executive Order 12372 and have selected the program to be 
include in their process, have been given an opportunity to review the 
applicant's submission.
Item and Entry
    1. Self-explanatory.
    2. Date application submitted to Federal agency (or State if 
applicable) and applicant's control number (if applicable).
    3. State use only (if applicable).
    4. If this application is to continue or revise an existing award, 
enter present Federal identifier number. If for a new project, leave 
blank.
    5. Legal name of applicant, name of primary organizational unit 
which will undertake the assistance activity, complete address of the 
applicant, and name and telephone number of the person to contact on 
matters related to this application.
    6. Enter Employer Identification Number (EIN) as assigned by the 
Internal Revenue Service.
    7. Enter the appropriate letter in the space provided.
    8. Check appropriate box and enter appropriate letter(s) in the 
space(s) provided.

--``New'' means a new assistance award.
--``Continuation'' means an extension for additional funding/budget 
period for a project with a projected completion date.
--``Revision'' means any change in the Federal Government's financial 
obligation or contingent liability from an existing obligation.
    9. Name of Federal agency from which assistance is being requested 
with this application.
    10. Use the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number and title 
of the program under which assistance is requested.
    11. Enter a brief descriptive title of the project. If more than 
one program is involved, you should append an explanation on a separate 
sheet. If appropriate (e.g., construction or real property projects), 
attach a map showing project location. For preapplications, use a 
separate sheet to provide a summary description of this project.
    12. List only the largest political entities affected (e.g. State, 
counties, cities).
    13. Self-explanatory.
    14. List the applicant's Congressional District and any District(s) 
affected by the program or project.
    15. Amount requested or to be contributed during the first funding/
budget period by each contributor. Value of in-kind contributions 
should be included on appropriate lines as applicable. If the action 
will result in a dollar change to an existing award, indicate only the 
amount of the change. For decreases, enclose the amounts in 
parentheses. If both basic and supplemental amounts are included, show 
breakdown on attached sheet. For multiple program funding, use totals 
and show breakdown using same categories as item 15.
    16. Applicants should contact the State Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC) for Federal Executive Order 12372 to determine whether the 
application is subject to the State intergovernmental review process.
    17. This question applies to the applicant organization, not the 
person who signs as the authorized representative. Categories of debt 
include delinquent audit disallowances, loans, and taxes.
    18. To be signed by the authorized representatives of the 
applicant. A copy of the governing body's authorization for you to sign 
this application as an official representative must be on file in the 
applicant's office. (Certain Federal agencies may require that this 
authorization be submitted as part of the application).
Additional Instructions for the SF-424
    Block #6: You can obtain this number from your payroll office. It 
is the same Federal Identification Number which appears on W-2 forms. 
If your organization does not have a number, you may obtain one by 
calling the Taxpayer services number for the IRS.
    Block #14: If your project covers many areas, several Congressional 
districts will be listed. If it covers the entire state, simply put in 
statewide. If you are not sure about the Congressional district, call 
the County Voter Registration Department.
    Block #15: Line a is for the amount of money you are requesting 
from EPA. Lines b-e are for the amounts either you or another 
organization are providing for this project. Line f is for any program 
income which you expect will be generated by this project. Program 
income can be fees for services performed, income generated from the 
sale of a brochure, which was produced with grant funds, or admission 
fees to a conference financed by the grant funds. The total of lines b-
e must be at least 5% of line g, as this cooperative agreement has a 
match requirement of 5% of the Total Allowable Costs.
    Block #16: Check b, (NO) since your application does not have to be 
sent through the state clearinghouse for review.
    Block #18: The authorized representative is the person who is able 
to contact or obligate your agency to the terms and conditions of the 
grant. (Please sign in blue ink).
Instructions for the SF-424A
    Do not fill in Section A--Budget Summary.
Section B Budget Categories
    All applications should contain a breakdown by the object class 
categories shown in Lines a-k of Section B. Include both Federal and 
non-Federal (matching) funds combined.
    For each major program, function, or activity, fill in the total 
requirements for funds by object class categories. Most applications 
will only have one program, function, or activity.
    Line 6i--Show the totals of lines 6a through 6h in each column.
    Line 6j--Enter the total of amounts on Lines 6i and 6j.
    Program income--Enter the estimated amount of income, if any, 
expected to be generated from this project. Do not add or subtract this 
amount from the total project amount. Show under the program narrative 
statement the nature and source of income.

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

[[Page 41244]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN07AU96.001



[[Page 41245]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN07AU96.002



[FR Doc. 96-20109 Filed 8-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-C