[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6834-6837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3317]
[[Page 6833]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VIII
Environmental Protection Agency
_______________________________________________________________________
Mobile Source Outreach Assistance Competition; Fiscal Year 1998:
Solicitation Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 27 / Tuesday, February 10, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 6834]]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5957-5]
Mobile Source Outreach Assistance Competition; Fiscal Year 1998:
Solicitation Notice
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Today's notice announces the availability of funding and
solicits proposals from state, local and tribal air pollution control
agencies for mobile source-related outreach projects. The funding will
be allocated by EPA's Office of Mobile Sources through the competitive
process described in this notice.
DATES: The deadline for submitting final proposals is March 26, 1998.
In addition, to allow for efficient management of the competitive
process, OMS is requesting that agencies submit an Intent to Apply by
February 20, 1998. (Instructions for submitting final proposals and
Intents to Apply are found in Section X. below).
ADDRESSES: This proposal can also be found on the Office of Mobile
Sources Web Page: ``www.epa.gov/omswww/'' click on ``What's New?''
Addresses for submitting proposals can be found in Section X. below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Bullard, Director of Outreach
and Communication, US EPA Office of Mobile Sources, 401 M. Street SW,
(mail code 6401), Washington, DC 20460. Telephone (202) 260-2614; Fax
(202) 260-6011; or email ``[email protected]''.
Contents by Section
Section I. Overview and Deadlines
Section II. Eligible Organizations
Section III. Funding Issues
Section IV. Program Emphasis
Section V. Criteria
Section VI. Evaluation and Selection
Section VII. Proposals
Section VIII. Current OMS-Funded Outreach Projects
Section IX. Other Items of Interest
Section X. How to Apply
Section XI. OMS Program Contact
Section I. Overview and Deadlines
A. Overview
Over the past year, OMS has entered into agreements and established
partnerships with a number of organizations to (1) provide national
support for community-based mobile source public education efforts and,
(2) encourage responsible choices for organizational and individual
actions through public education. Current outreach projects funded
through OMS (listed in Section VIII(U) below) emphasize transportation
choices; education of vehicle owners and drivers of the future; car
care and the role of the automotive technician; and, related projects
such as ozone mapping and small engines. EPA's Office of Mobile Sources
has set aside funds from the State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG)
funds to provide support to community-based mobile source-related
outreach projects. This notice solicits proposals for outreach projects
which directly support state and local air management organizations in
their efforts to improve air quality from mobile sources. Proposals
will be accepted from state, local, tribal and multi-state air
management agencies which are identified under Section 302(b) of the
Clean Air Act.
Interested persons call also obtain copies of this solicitation at
no charge by accessing ``What's New?'' on the OMS Website, ``http://
www.epa.gov/omswww.''.
B. What Are the Deadlines for This Competition?
In order to efficiently manage the selection process, the Office of
Mobile Sources requests that an informal ``Intent to Apply'' be
submitted by February 20, 1998. An ``Intent to Apply'' simply states in
the form of e-mail, phone, or fax that your organization intends to
submit a proposal to be received by the deadline. The deadline for
submitting completed proposals (original and six copies) is March 26,
1998.
Section II. Eligible Organizations
C. Who Is Eligible To Submit Proposals?
According to funding policies associated with the State and Tribal
Assistance Grants regulations (STAG funds), proposals can be accepted
only from air pollution control agencies as defined under Section
302(b) of the Clean Air Act (for projects to be undertaken will have
replicability to other communities nationally), as well as multi-state
organizations supporting Section 302(b) agencies and collaborations of
air pollution control agencies.
Interested air management organizations which are not air pollution
control agencies as defined under Section 302(b) of the Clean Air Act
are encouraged to create partnerships with eligible organizations. In
that situation, the eligible organization would be required to submit
the final proposal and serve as the funding recipient if selected.
Section III. Funding Issues
D. What Is the Amount of Available Funding?
Approximately $575K
E. How Will Funds Be Allocated?
The competition process will be managed by OMS and selected
cooperative agreements will be awarded by EPA's Regional offices and
funded through either Section 103 (multi-state organizations) or
Section 105 authority (state and local air pollution control agencies.)
F. How Many Agreements Will Be Awarded?
Approximately six agreements will be awarded, none to exceed
$150,000. The total dollar amount of the final awards must be within
available funding.
G. Are Matching Funds Required?
Possibly. Clean Air Act Section 105 mandates that eligible agencies
provide matching funds of at least 40%. Therefore, if an air pollution
control agency submits a proposal for which they do not already have
sufficient matching funds, they must include a statement in their
proposal indicating that the match could be met if their proposal is
selected. Organizations unable to meet a required match must be
considered ineligible. (This requirement does not apply to multi state
organizations.) Organizations which are unclear as to their matching
status are recommended to contact their EPA Regional Grant Coordinator.
H. Can Funding Be Used To Acquire Services or Fund Partnerships?
Yes--subgrants and other procurement services are allowed. Because
the method used to fund subgrants is not a federal matter, procedures
governing your organization's procurement practices must be followed.
Please indicate any intent to enter into such agreements in the
proposal.
Section IV. Program Emphasis
I. Program Emphasis
--Voluntary Measures
--Transportation choices
--Car care (testing, repair, maintenance)
--Environmental education for youth. Other mobile source issues
(including but not limited to: on-board diagnostics, diesel,
particulate matter, heavy duty engines; nonroad engines; ozone mapping/
forecasting )
[[Page 6835]]
Section V. Criteria
J. Primary Criteria
--Addresses environmental goals of improved air quality from mobile
sources
--Presents a strong public health message
--Demonstrates national or regional applicability
--Demonstrates effectiveness of delivery mechanism to reach targeted
audience
--Exhibits clearly--stated and appropriate levels of funding
--Includes effective measurement/evaluation methods
--Reflects the potential for sustainability
K. Other Factors To Be Considered
Innovation in public awareness
Effectiveness of collaborative activities and partnerships
with other stakeholders needed to effectively develop or implement the
project
Integration with existing programs
Willingness to coordinate with other OMS-funded outreach
activities
L. Presentation Criteria
--Completeness
--Action-oriented
--Clearly-stated objectives
--Reasonable time frames
Section VI. Evaluation and Selection
M. The Evaluation Team Is Chosen to Address a Full Range of Mobile
Source and EPA Program Expertise.
In addition, each EPA Regional office is given the opportunity to
review those proposals generated by eligible organizations within that
Region. The Evaluation Team will base its evaluation on the criteria
referenced in this Request for Proposal. Completed evaluations will be
referred to a Selection Committee representing OMS senior managers and
Regional representatives who are responsible for final selection. To
ensure equity and objectivity throughout the process, the OMS Program
Contact (listed below) and staff who facilitate the process and
participate in pre-application assistance, do not serve as members of
either the Evaluation Team or the Selection Committee.
Section VII. Proposals
N. What Must Be Included in the Proposal?
Proposals should be approximately 5-7 pages in length and must
include:
(1) A brief statement that candidate organization is defined as an
air pollution control agency under Section 302(b) of the Clean Air Act
(2) A statement that any required match could be met
(3) A concise statement of project background/objectives
highlighting relationship to improving air quality from mobile sources
(4) A detailed project summary--description of specific actions to
be undertaken, including estimated time line for each task
(5) Associated work products to be developed
(6) Explanation of project benefits
(7) Detailed explanation of how project outcomes will be designed
for replication in other communities
(8) A detailed budget estimate (clearly explain how funds will be
used, including estimated cost for each task)
(9) Projected time frame for project from initiation through
completion
(10) Project contact(s) (provide name, organization, phone, fax,
and e-mail where available)
(11) Other relevant information to assist in the selection process
O. Will 2-Year Proposals Be Considered?
Yes. If a proposal with a 2-year project period is submitted, OMS
requires that the budget and cost estimate be designed to indicate what
will be accomplished in each of the first and second years.
P. May an Eligible Organization Submit More Than One Proposal?
An organization may submit more than one proposal only if the
proposals are for different projects.
Q. May an Eligible Organization Resubmit a Proposal Which Was Submitted
to the Mobile Source Outreach Assistance Competition in 1997, but Was
Not Selected?
Yes. The proposals received by OMS in 1997 were generally of very
high quality. Clearly, all proposals of merit could not be selected due
to finite resources available.
R. May an Eligible Organization Submit a Proposal for This Fiscal Year,
Even if It Was Awarded Funding Under This Program in Its First Year?
Yes. Applicants awarded funding in last year's competition may
submit new proposals to fund a different project. This program is
designed to provide seed money to initiate new projects or advance
existing projects that are new in some way (e.g. new audiences, new
locations, new approaches.)
S. Does This Funding Expire at the End of FY 98?
No. The statute states that State and Tribal Assistance Grants
(STAG) for environmental programs remain available until expended.
T. Ineligible Proposals
Proposals will be determined to be ineligible if: (1) The candidate
organization is not currently defined as an air pollution control
agency under Section 302(b) of the Clean Air Act; (2) a required match
cannot be met; (3) the proposal is incomplete; or (4) the proposal is
postmarked after the deadline.
Section VIII. Current OMS-Funded Outreach Projects
U. OMS/Section 105-Funded Mobile Source Outreach Projects Currently
Underway
To minimize the possibility for duplication of effort, leverage
resources and maximize the possibility for networking as proposals are
developed, the following provides brief sketches of mobile source-
related outreach projects currently funded through the Office of Mobile
Sources.
The Seven Projects Selected Through the FY 97 Mobile Source Outreach
Assistance Competition Are Indicated With (* * *)
Other projects listed are funded from the Office of Mobile Sources
program funds. Contacts are provided for further information. Projects
are categorized as for clarity.
Transportation Choices
``A Tour of the Urban Environment'' (* * *). Illinois EPA and the
Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, Contact: Betsy Tracey, 217/782-
0408
The project is designed to:
--enhance the air quality and mobile source component of ``A Tour of
the Urban Environment''--a permanent environmental science exhibit at
the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry
--present basic science, describe health effects, explain citizen role
in contributing to mobile source emissions, explain ``calls to action''
such as ``Ozone Action Days,'' foster critical problem-solving and
decision-making skills
--create ``real'' meteorological station measuring actual ambient
conditions outside the Museum, an interactive learning device (computer
with CD Rom) and supporting materials to illustrate the relationship
between meteorology and ozone. The user can become an ozone forecaster
--projected to open on Earth Day, 1998
[[Page 6836]]
``Chattanooga Lifestyle Campaign: Improving Chattanooga's Air Quality
Through Voluntary Citizen Transportation Choices''(* * *). Chattanooga-
Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Board, Contact: Angela Turner,
423/867-4321
Working with the Global Action Plan (GAP), the project goal will be
to enhance the mobile source component of Chattanooga's Household
EcoTeam Project. The project includes:
--4-month tracking of specific actions to reduce auto emissions through
transportation choices in 50 households
--peer support and handbook to support family involvement
--follow up research to determine sustainability of new transportation
practices
--two-part national technology transfer--invitational conference for
local, state and federal air quality managers after demonstration
period; broad-based outreach through presentations at meetings and
conferences
EPA/DOT Transportation/Air Quality Initiative. Contacts: Kathy Daniel
(DOT/FHWA), 202/366-6276, Joann Jackson-Stephens (EPA/OMS), 734/668-
4276, Abbe Marner (DOT/FTA), 202/366-4317
This collaborative effort is:
--community-based with support from federal agencies to increase public
awareness of impact of travel behavior on air quality, encourage the
public to make informed transportation choices, and increase the
driving public's awareness of alternative modes of transportation
--building on results from 3 pilot community sites--Dover, DE;
Milwaukee, WI; and San Francisco, CA
--designed to include coalition-building at the national and local
levels, environmental education for youth, production of consistent,
effective informational materials for public and media, and evaluation
of changes in public awareness and actions
--nationally available to additional sites nationally in Spring, 1999
``Youth VMT Initiative: Community-Based Solutions to Community-Defined
Problems''. Academy for Educational Development (AED), Contacts: Rick
Bossi, 202/884-8898
The purpose of this youth-based program, which begins with 3 pilot
sites in Kansas City, Boston, and Tampa is to:
--create a replicable and sustainable program for involving youth and
families in reducing growth in vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
--enable youth to communicate about travel choices, solve problems and
make sound travel decisions to minimize VMT
--share successful practices, lessons learned and tools developed in
the pilot sites with other communities
--serve as a blueprint for communities interested in including a youth
component in efforts to reduce emissions from mobile sources
``Interactive Information Kiosk'' (* * *). Ventura County Air Pollution
Control Board, Contact: Barbara Page, 805/645-1415
This initiative will:
--develop a stand-alone bilingual interactive information kiosk for the
public focusing on transportation-related air quality issues with
content which reflects national, state and local issues
--produce products including a prototype kiosk (providing other air
quality management agencies with 60-70% of actual programming needed to
produce a similar kiosk for their citizens--video, graphics, animation)
and an instructional handbook
--be delivered in Summer, 1998
Youth Education
``I.D.L.E. in Dade'' (* * *). Dade County Department of Environmental
Resources Management, Contact: Jenny May, 305/372-6495
The program will:
--educate new drivers on the air quality impacts of driving, use of
alternative fuels and transportation choices
--encourage responsible maintenance and driving practices
--teach critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
through educational videos, informational handouts, creative hands-on
demonstrations and design contests
``Public Education and Outreach on Mobile Source Emissions and Driving
Smart''. Environmental Health Center of the National Safety Council,
Contact: Nyki Brandon-Palermo, 202/974-2484
Networking and coordinating with other similar projects across the
country, this effort will:
--develop a driver education curriculum module for new drivers linking
benefits of responsible maintenance to responsible driving for use in
15,000+ public and private driver education programs nationwide
Driver Education Pilot. NESCAUM, Contact: Natoschia Scruggs, 617/367-
8540
This effort will:
--pilot the driver education curriculum module (developed by the
Environmental Health Center--see above) in several locations in the
northeast
Car Care and the Role of the Auto Technician
``Car Care for Clean Air'' Contacts: Mia Zmud, Weber State University,
801/536-4095
This pilot project is designed to:
--raise public awareness of ways in which automotive service affects
air quality
--create coalitions to identify ways to improve vehicle maintenance
practices--elevating the number, skill sets, performance and image of
vehicle maintenance technicians
--encourage environmentally-sound transportation choices in
anticipation of 2002 Olympics and beyond
``Air Pollution, Motor Vehicles and Public Health.'' American Lung
Association (ALA), Contact: Katherine Pruitt, 202/785-3355
Mini-grants, provided to 17 local lung associations (through ALA
competitive process) for public education efforts, will:
--send a strong public health message focused on children and asthma
designed to raise public awareness of air quality and the impact of
mobile sources
--be in place for ozone season, 1998
``The Air Repair Communications Project'' (* * *). Missouri Department
of Natural Resources, Contact: Kerry Cordray, 573-751-4817
A bi-state effort in partnership with the American Lung Association
of Eastern Missouri, the ``Air Repair Communications Project'' will:
--focus on enhanced inspection and maintenance
--create replicable materials including media kits, psas, exhibits,
articles for newsletters, brochure to educate on enhanced I/M, theater
screen slides, video to be distributed through Blockbuster;
--undertake activities including car care clinics, community
presentations, training and materials development for transportation
management associations, participation at commuter fairs, open houses
for public information exchange; make I/M program information available
through posting on the WWW and other outreach tools.
[[Page 6837]]
Related Projects
``Integrate the Televised Ozone Map with Mobile Source Outreach
Initiatives'' (* * *). NESCAUM/MARAMA/OTC Collaboration, Contact:
Natoschia Scruggs, NESCAUM, 617/367-8540
This project will:
--expand the scope of the animated ozone map to 14 states represented
by the NESCAUM, MARAMA, and the OTC
--encourage region-wide distribution and use of the map, conduct public
outreach to inform and motivate voluntary mobile source ozone abatement
actions, and development of outreach materials for meteorologists and
the public
--provide technical assistance to other regions of the country
interested in the benefits of ozone mapping and forecasting, through
creation of a web site and other outreach activities
Ozone and Particulate Matter Outreach. STAPPA/ALAPCO, Contact: Gail
Lewkowitz, 202/624-7864
STAPPA/ALAPCO will develop dynamic education and outreach materials
to help state and local air agencies communicate the ozone and PM
decisions and potential implications to elected officials, the media
and the public. The project will:
--produce an informational video on PM 2.5 and disseminate to every
state and local air agency. The video will be designed to educate
important constituents including state and local elected officials,
civic and business groups and high school and college students--
available in January 1998
--develop a modular PM implementation tool kit providing a variety of
materials including communication tools to assist state and local
agencies in explaining how the new PMfine standard will be implemented
as well as potential implications
``Cash for Clippers'' (* * *). Maryland Department of the Environment,
Contact: Anna Nardolillo, 410/631-3240
This program will:
--educate consumers about pollution prevention, ground-level ozone,
MDE's forecasting program, and the impact of lawn and garden equipment
--offer rebates toward purchase of non-gasoline powered lawn mowers
--develop economic incentives to prevent pollution, foster creativity
and innovation within the private and public sectors
Section IX. Other Items of Interest
V. Is There Other Information I Should Have?
Yes.
--Submission of a proposal does not guarantee funding.
--Only those organizations selected will be required to submit a
complete ``Application for Federal Assistance and Budget Information
(SF 424 and SF 424A) to the appropriate EPA Regional Office.''
Section X. How to Apply
X. How Do I Apply?
Completed proposals (original + 6) should be sent via regular mail
to:
Susan Bullard, Director of Outreach and Communication, US EPA Office of
Mobile Sources, Mail Code 6401, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460
Note: Proposals may be faxed, but must be followed by a hard
copy original and 6 copies.
Proposals to be sent through express mail must be sent to the
following address:
Susan Bullard, Director of Outreach and Communication, US EPA Office of
Mobile Sources, Room W737, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC. 20460,
(202) 260-2614, (202) 260-7645 (backup number for expressed proposals
only)
Deadline for Submitting Final Proposals--March 26, 1998.
Section XI. OMS Program Contact
Susan Bullard, Director of Outreach and Communication, EPA Office of
Mobile Sources, 401 M Street, SW (Mail Code 6401), Washington, DC
20460, (Phone) 202/260-2614, (Fax) 202/260-6011,
``[email protected]''
Dated: January 27, 1998.
Richard D. Wilson,
Program Official.
[FR Doc. 98-3317 Filed 2-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U