[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 52 (Friday, March 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13191-13195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5413]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7886-5]


Request for Proposals; Environmental Education Training Program

I. Overview

    Federal Agency Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office 
of Environmental Education.
    Funding Opportunity Title: Environmental Education Training 
Program.
    Announcement Type: New announcement.
    Program Announcement Identifier: EPA-OEE-05-02.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: 66-950.
    Application Deadline: Applications must be postmarked by the U.S. 
Postal Service or received by a commercial overnight delivery service 
no later than April 30, 2005.
    Where to Send Applications: Kathleen MacKinnon, U.S. EPA Office of 
Environmental Education, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., (MC 1704A; RM 
1426), Washington, DC. The zip code is 20460 when using the U.S. Postal 
Service; its 20004 when using a commercial overnight delivery service.
    Authorizing Legislation: Section 5, National Environmental 
Education Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-619).
    Purpose: To deliver environmental education training and long-term 
support to education professionals across the U.S. to enable them to 
effectively teach about environmental issues.
    Eligible Applicants: U.S. institutions of higher education, not-
for-profit institutions, or a consortia of such institutions.
    Number of Awards: Only one cooperative agreement will be awarded to 
a U.S. institution of higher education, a not-for-profit institution, 
or a consortium of such institutions.
    Funding Amount: $1,699,025 for the first year of the program (FY 
2005 appropriations). For planning purposes, funding for years two and 
three should be estimated at $1.8 million (subject to Congressional 
appropriations).
    Cost-Sharing Requirement: Applicant must provide non-Federal 
matching funds, or in-kind contributions, of at least 25% of the total 
cost of the project (a minimum of $566,342).
    Project Period: October 1, 2005-September 30, 2006. The Agency 
intends, based upon annual performance reviews, the availability of 
funds, and if consistent with Agency policy, to execute supplemental 
funding agreements for up to four subsequent project periods.
    Award Date: By September 30, 2005.

II. Full Text Announcement

Section I: Funding Opportunity Description

A. What Is the Purpose of This Notice?
    The purpose of this notice is to invite eligible institutions to 
submit proposals to operate the national Environmental Education 
Training Program. This program is authorized under section 5 of the 
National Environmental Education Act of 1990 (the Act) (Pub. L. 101-
619).
B. What Is Environmental Education?
    Environmental education increases awareness and knowledge about 
environmental issues and provides the skills needed to make informed 
and responsible decisions. It enhances critical thinking, problem 
solving and effective decision making skills and teaches individuals 
how to weigh various sides of an environmental issue before making 
decisions. Environmental education does not advocate a particular 
viewpoint or course of action.
C. What Is Environmental Education Training and Long-Term Support?
    Environmental education training refers to activities such as 
classes, on-line courses, workshops, seminars, and conferences which 
are designed to prepare education professionals to effectively teach 
about environmental issues. Long-term support refers to activities that 
support the actual training such as: The dissemination of environmental 
education guidelines; the development of state educator certification 
programs; and access to information about quality programs and 
resources.
D. What Is the History of This Program?
    There have been three previous multi-year cooperative agreements 
awarded under this program. In 1992, the first award was made to a 
consortium headed by the University of Michigan entitled the ``National 
Consortium for Environmental Education and Training'' (NCEET). In 1995, 
the second award was made to a consortium headed by the North American 
Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) entitled the 
``Environmental Education and Training Partnership'' (EETAP). In 2000, 
the third award was made to a consortium headed by the University of 
Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) also entitled the ``Environmental 
Education and Training Partnership'' (EETAP). The current program is 
scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2006. The Web site for the 
current program is http://www.eetap.org.
E. What Is the Purpose of the Training Program?
    The purpose of this program is to provide environmental education 
training and long-term support to education professionals across the 
U.S. to enable them to effectively teach about environmental issues. 
Note that long-term support for educators is as important as the 
training itself. Training and support must:
     Be provided for both formal and non-formal educators 
(e.g., classroom teachers and faculty at colleges and universities as 
well as educators in museums, nature centers, and other venues);
     Occur in both pre-service (e.g., for students and faculty 
in colleges of education) and in-service settings (e.g., for classroom 
teachers and other practicing educators); and
     Reach geographically and culturally diverse audiences 
across the U.S. to the maximum extent possible. Educators from Mexico 
and Canada are also eligible to participate in this program.
F. What Are the Expected Outputs and Outcomes of the Program?
    ``Output'' refers to the activity or work product that the 
applicant proposes to undertake. ``Outcome'' refers to the result, 
effect or consequence that will occur from carrying out the activity or 
program. The outcomes must be quantitative and may be intermediate 
(occur during the project period) or long-term (may occur after the 
project closes). Because this is an education

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program, the outcomes should be geared toward educational outcomes 
(especially in the intermediate term). The long-term outcomes may have 
a broader impact that goes beyond improving educator training such as 
impacting the public's behavior that may affect environmental quality.
    Below is a list of the expected outputs of the program along with a 
general reference to possible outcomes. These outputs are not listed in 
any order of priority. The work plan must identify the outputs and 
provide specific intermediate and long-term outcomes. The outputs 
should include, but are not limited to, the following:
     Delivering in-service educator training that builds on 
existing quality environmental education programs. The intermediate 
outcome is better trained educators. The long-term outcome is a more 
environmentally literate public.
     Delivering pre-service educator training that enables 
students and faculty in education departments at colleges and 
universities to effectively include environmental education in their 
teaching. The intermediate outcome is better educated students (future 
educators) and faculty. The long-term outcome is a more environmentally 
literate public.
     Promoting the national environmental education guidelines 
that seeks to improve the quality of environmental education. This 
refers to the guidelines produced by the National Project for 
Excellence in Environmental Education for education materials, K-12 
student outcomes, educator preparation and professional development, 
and non-formal programs (see http://www.naaee.org/npeee.html). These 
guidelines were produced with EPA funds. The intermediate outcome is 
better educational materials, more environmentally literate students, 
better trained educators, and better non-formal programs. The long-term 
outcome is a more environmentally literate public.
     Supporting state ``infrastructure'' that enables educators 
to effectively teach about environmental issues (referred to as ``state 
capacity building''). This may include, for example, state-directed 
efforts that produce K-12 instruction requirements, environmental 
education curriculum resources, correlations of environmental education 
materials to state standards, and environmental education guidelines. 
For more information on state capacity building see http://eelink.net/capacitybuilding.html. The intermediate outcome is educators that are 
better equipped with the materials, resources, and support they need to 
teach. The long-term outcome is a more environmentally literate public.
     Developing and institutionalizing a materials review 
process that identifies, evaluates, and promotes quality environmental 
education materials. The intermediate outcome is better educational 
materials. The long-term outcome is a more environmentally literate 
public.
     Supporting accreditation efforts to include environmental 
education in college and university teacher preparation programs such 
as through the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher 
Education (NCATE). The intermediate outcome is better educated students 
(future educators). The long-term outcome is a more environmentally 
literate public.
     Supporting state educator certification efforts by 
assisting states that are developing their own certification programs. 
The intermediate outcome is better trained educators. The long-term 
outcome is a more environmentally literate public.
     Supporting Internet access to information and materials by 
building on existing Internet sites that provide electronic access to 
quality environmental education materials, resources, and information. 
The intermediate outcome is increased educator access to quality 
resources. The long-term outcome is a more environmentally literate 
public.
G. How Do These Outputs and Outcomes Support EPA's Strategic Plan?
    ``Goal 5: Compliance and Environmental Stewardship'' of EPA's 
Strategic Plan is designed to protect human health and the environment 
by improving environmental behavior through regulatory and non-
regulatory means. This goal states that EPA will work to ensure that 
government, business and the public meet federal environmental 
requirements and will empower and assist them to do more. The goal also 
states that EPA programs are designed to, among other things, increase 
voluntary and self-directed actions to minimize or eliminate pollution 
before it is generated (pollution prevention) and promote environmental 
stewardship behavior. ``Objective 5.2.1: Prevent Pollution and Promote 
Environmental Stewardship by Government and the Public'' calls for 
raising the public's awareness of actions it can take to prevent 
pollution.
    The purpose of the national Environmental Education Training 
Program is to provide educators with training and long-term support to 
enable them to effectively teach about environmental issues. The 
outputs of the program are geared toward delivering actual training as 
well as providing long-term support (e.g., the use of national 
guidelines that discuss what constitutes quality environmental 
education materials and what a student needs to know about the 
environment in grades K-12 to become environmentally literate). The 
intermediate outcome is better trained educators. The long-term outcome 
is a more environmentally literate public. A more environmentally 
literate public is better able to understand complex environmental 
issues and to make responsible decisions that minimize adverse impacts 
on the environment. This knowledge and understanding enables the public 
to take actions that prevent pollution and to become effective 
environmental stewards.

Section II: Award Information

A. How Many Awards Will be Made?
    Only one award will be made under this program to an eligible 
institution or consortium of such institutions. The award will be made 
as a one year cooperative agreement. The Agency intends, based upon 
annual performance reviews, the availability of funds, and if 
consistent with Agency policy, to execute supplemental funding 
agreements for up to four subsequent project periods.
B. What Is EPA's Role in the Program?
    As a cooperative agreement, EPA will have substantial involvement 
in the program. This includes EPA participation in the development of 
an annual work plan and EPA approval of the annual work plan.
C. How Will the Program be Funded?
    The program will be funded for an initial project period of one 
year. The Agency intends, based upon annual performance reviews, the 
availability of funds, and if consistent with Agency policy, to execute 
supplemental funding agreements for up to four subsequent project 
periods. The first year of the program will be provided with FY 2005 
appropriations of $1,699,025.

Section III: Eligibility Information

A. Who Is Eligible To Apply To Operate This Program?
    Only U.S. institutions of higher education, not-for-profit 
institutions, or a consortium of such institutions may apply to operate 
this program as specified under the Act.

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B. Does EPA Encourage Applicants To Form a Consortia of Institutions?
    Because of the broad and diverse nature of this program, EPA 
encourages eligible institutions to form a consortia to operate this 
program.
C. May an Institution be Part of or Submit More Than One Application?
    Yes, eligible institutions may be a member of a consortium in more 
than one application. However, such institutions may not apply as the 
sole applicant or as the lead institution in a consortium in more than 
one application.
D. Is Cost-Sharing Required?
    Yes, non-Federal matching funds of at least 25% of the total cost 
of the program are required. The source of matching funds must be 
identified in the application and may be provided in cash or by in-kind 
contributions. In-kind contributions often include salaries or other 
verifiable costs. All in-kind contributions must be for allowable and 
verifiable costs that are carefully documented. The matching non-
Federal share is a percentage of the entire cost of the project. For 
example, the Federal portion of the project is $1,699,025 for the first 
year. Thus, the total cost of the project for year one would be a 
minimum of $2,265,367 if the applicant is providing the minimum 25% 
cost share of $566,342. Proposals that do not include the required non-
Federal match will not be considered for funding.

Section IV: Application and Submission Information

A. Where Can I Get an Application?
    You can download an application (SF 424 and SF 424A) from the EPA 
Office of Environmental Education Web site at http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/educate.html. If you cannot download the application, please 
contact Kathleen MacKinnon at 202-564-0454 or 
[email protected].
B. What Must be Included in the Application?
    The application must include the following three components (i.e., 
application, budget, and work plan). Only the finalist will be asked to 
submit additional federal forms needed to process the application 
(e.g., certification regarding debarment and lobbying).
    (1) Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424): This form requests 
basic information about proposals such as the name of the project and 
the amount of money requested. The SF 424 is required for all Federal 
grants and cooperative agreements. A completed SF 424 for the first 
year of the program must be submitted as part of the application.
    (2) Budget Information: Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A): This 
form requests budget information by object class categories such as 
personnel, travel, and supplies. This form is also required for all 
Federal grants and cooperative agreements. A completed SF 424A for the 
first year of the program must also be submitted as part of the 
application. Note that additional budget information describing how the 
funds will be used for all major activities during the first year is 
also required under the budget section of the work plan discussed 
below.
    (3) Work Plan: Include a detailed work plan which describes the 
goals, objectives, outputs, and outcomes of the program. The work plan 
also indicates how the program will be managed, implemented and 
evaluated during the first year. The work plan is limited to 20 pages 
(not including the appendices). The work plan must also discuss in 
general terms what the goals, objectives, and major outputs and 
outcomes will be for the second and third years of the program. The 
work plan is subject to final review, comment, and approval by the EPA 
Project Officer. The work plan must contain all four sections discussed 
below.
    (a) Summary: A brief synopsis of no more than two pages 
identifying:
    1. The institution requesting funding and its key partners (where 
the applicant is a consortium of institutions);
    2. The goals, objectives, outputs, and outcomes of the program by 
the end of years one, two, and three;
    3. How the proposed program builds on existing national efforts and 
programs;
    4. The estimated number of education professionals to be reached as 
well as the expected demographics of the audiences reached; and
    5. How the funds will be used.
    (b) Mission Statement: A statement of the short (first year) and 
long-term (three to five year) goals, objectives, and expected outcomes 
of the program. Include a discussion about the needs of the 
environmental education and education communities and how these needs 
will be met.
    (c) Management and Implementation Plan: A detailed plan of how the 
project will be managed and implemented in the first year of the 
program (plus a summary of the project in the second and third years). 
The plan must: (1) Identify the proposed training and long-term 
support; (2) discuss how these activities build on existing national 
efforts and programs; (3) identify all key outputs and outcomes of the 
project consistent with section II.F.; (4) describe the major 
responsibilities, qualifications, expertise, and abilities of the 
Program Director, Program Manager, and key staff as well as key 
partners where the applicant is a consortium to effectively manage and 
implement the program; and (5) include a matrix or table identifying 
all key goals, objectives, outputs, and outcomes, as well as a schedule 
for conducting and completing these outputs and outcomes during the 
first year. EPA will consider information provided by the applicant and 
may consider information from other sources, including Agency files, in 
evaluating programmatic capability.
    (d) Evaluation Plan: A detailed plan on how the effectiveness of 
the program will be evaluated. It is important that the applicant 
demonstrate how the outputs and outcomes of their program will meet the 
goals of the program as well as the needs of the environmental 
education and education communities. The evaluation must be conducted 
by an institution that has appropriate credentials and expertise in 
evaluating education programs and is independent of the applicant and 
key partners where the applicant is a consortium.
    (e) Appendices: Attachments to the work plan containing information 
on the budget, qualifications and experience of key personnel, and 
letters of commitment from key partners.
     Budget: A statement describing how funds will be used in 
the first year, including budget milestones for each major proposed 
output and a timetable showing the month/year of completion. Estimates 
must include the allocation of funding for all major outputs. Include 
indirect costs as well as a statement on the relative effectiveness of 
the program in terms of the ratio of indirect to direct costs.
     Key Personnel and Letters of Commitment: Include brief 
resumes of no more than three pages each for the Program Director, 
Program Manager, key staff, and key partners where the applicant is a 
consortium with major responsibilities for managing and implementing 
the program. Resumes should describe educational, administrative, 
management, and professional qualifications and experience. Also, 
include a one page ``letter of commitment'' from each key partner with 
major responsibilities in the program where the applicant is a 
consortium of institutions. ``Letters of endorsement'' from individuals 
or

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institutions will not be considered in the evaluation process.
C. How Should the Application be Submitted?
    The applicant must submit one original and two copies of the 
application (a signed SF 424, SF 424A, and a work plan). To help ensure 
the applications are readable and can be reproduced, please adhere to 
the following guidelines. Applications should not be bound. They should 
be on white paper with page numbers. Work plans must be limited to 20 
pages (not including the appendices). Evaluators will not read work 
plans beyond the 20th page. A ``page'' refers to one side of a single-
spaced typed page. The page should be letter sized (8 x 11 inches) with 
normal type size (10 or 12 cpi). To conserve paper, please provide 
double-sided copies of the work plan and appendices, where possible.
D. What is the Deadline for Submitting an Application and Where Should 
it be Sent?
    Applications must be sent to EPA through the U.S. Postal Service or 
through a commercial overnight delivery service. The applications must 
be postmarked or received by the delivery service no later than April 
30, 2005. Any application postmarked or received by the delivery 
service after this date will not be considered for funding. All 
applications must be sent to: Kathleen MacKinnon, U.S. EPA, Office of 
Environmental Education, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. (MC: 1704A, RM 
1426), Washington, DC 20460 (zip code for U.S. Postal Service 
deliveries), 20004 (zip code for commercial overnight deliveries).
E. Can I Claim my Proposal as Confidential Business Information?
    In accordance with 40 CFR 2.203, applicants may claim all or a 
portion of their application/proposal as confidential business 
information. EPA will evaluate confidentiality claims in accordance 
with 40 CFR part 2. Applicants must clearly mark applications/proposals 
or portions of applications/proposals they claim as confidential. If no 
claim of confidentiality is made, EPA is not required to make the 
inquiry to the applicant otherwise required by 40 CFR 2.204(c)(2) prior 
to disclosure.
F. Is Intergovernmental Review Required?
    This program may be eligible for coverage under Executive Order 
12372 ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' An applicant 
should consult the office or official designated as the single point of 
contact in his or her State for more information on the process the 
State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State 
has selected the program for review. You may obtain additional 
information on intergovernmental review at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

Section V: Application Review Information

A. What Criteria Will be Used To Evaluate Proposals? How Will Proposals 
be Scored?
    The following criteria will be used to evaluate the proposals. The 
evaluators will consider the extent to which the proposal:
    (1) Demonstrates the capability to develop and deliver effective 
environmental education training programs and long-term support to 
education professionals that integrate environmental education: (i) 
Across the U.S. to a broad and diverse audience, (ii) in both formal 
and non-formal settings, and (iii) to pre-service and in-service 
professionals.
    (2) Builds on existing national environmental education resources, 
programs, and long-term support effectively and efficiently, especially 
in the first year of the program.
    (3) Provides a concise plan to track and measure progress toward 
achieving the outputs and outcomes identified in section I.F.
    (4) Clearly describes how funds will be used; links the expenditure 
of funds to the goals, objectives, outputs and outcomes of the program; 
ensures the relative economic effectiveness of the program in terms of 
the ratio of overhead costs to direct services; and demonstrates 
effective use of public funds.
    (5) Demonstrates the qualifications and expertise of the Program 
Director, Program Manager, and key staff in a range of appropriate 
disciplines to provide effective environmental education training and 
long-term support. If the applicant is a consortium of institutions, 
the applicant must also demonstrate the qualifications and expertise of 
the key partners in the consortium.
    (6) Demonstrates the ability of the Program Director and Program 
Manager to effectively manage and implement the program by providing 
strong leadership in setting the direction of and properly overseeing a 
cohesive program. If the applicant is a consortium of institutions, the 
applicant must also demonstrate their ability to effectively oversee 
the work of multiple partner institutions.
    The maximum score for each proposal is 120. The six criteria 
identified above are each worth 20 points.
B. Who Will Review the Proposals and Make the Final Decision?
    Federal environmental education officials will evaluate the 
proposals. The evaluators' comments will enable EPA's Office of 
Environmental Education to recommend which proposal to fund. This 
recommendation will be forwarded to the Associate Administrator for the 
Office of Public Affairs for concurrence.
C. When Will the Award Be Made?
    The award will be made by September 30, 2005.

Section VI: Award Administration Information

A. How Will the Grantee and Other Applicants Be Notified?
    EPA's Grants Administration Division will provide official 
notification of the award to the applicant's Project Director by mail 
by September 30, 2005. EPA's Office of Environmental Education will 
notify other applicants of their status within 15 calendar days after 
the final selection is made.
B. How Will Disputes be Resolved?
    Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved 
in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR 
(Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005) which can be found at 
http://www.epa.gov/ogd/competition/index.htm. Copies of these 
procedures can also be obtained by contacting Kathleen MacKinnon, U.S. 
EPA Office of Environmental Education, at 202-564-0454 or 
[email protected].
C. What Administrative Requirements Apply to This Grant?
    This award will include the standard administrative conditions that 
apply to all EPA grants and cooperative agreements. Information on 
these requirements can be obtained by contacting EPA's Grants 
Administration Division at [email protected] or 202-564-5325.
D. What Post-award Reports are Required?
    The award notice will specify the reporting requirements. A 
detailed progress report is due to the EPA Project Officer bi-annually. 
A final report is due at the end of the project period.

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Section VII: Agency Contact

    Please contact Kathleen MacKinnon, U.S. EPA Office of Environmental 
Education, at 202-564-0454 or [email protected] if you have 
any administrative questions about the solicitation notice. EPA can 
address only administrative questions and can not provide advice nor 
interpret the content of the solicitation notice.

Section VIII: Other Information

A. Where Can I Get Additional Information About the Current Training 
Program?
    For information on the current program, visit EPA's environmental 
education Web site at http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/educate.html or the 
Environmental Education and Training Partnership's Web site at http://www.eetap.org.
B. What is the Relationship Between the EPA's Environmental Education 
Training Program and EPA's Environmental Education Grant Program?
    This notice applies only to the training program authorized under 
section 5 of the Act. This notice does not apply to the Environmental 
Education Grant Program authorized under section 6 of the Act. For 
information on the Office of Environmental Education, go to http://www.epa.gov/enviroed.

    Dated: March 11, 2005.
Cece Kremer,
Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Public Affairs.
[FR Doc. 05-5413 Filed 3-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P