In FY 2007, EPA awarded 45 grants for an estimated $6,900,000. Projects categorized under this CFDA are now funded under CFDA 66.039 and/or CFDA 66.040.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to necessary upgrades to diesel school bus fleets plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations.

Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information.

Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Local and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, local and state governments, school districts, non-profit organizations.

For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Local, Anyone/General Public.

Credentials/Documentation

Cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

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.

Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement.

For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog.

EPA awards grants and cooperative agreements supporting the mission of the Office of Air and Radiation, based on competitive applications submitted in response to EPA solicitations, considering relevance and likelihood of success of proposed projects.

Application Procedures

EPA requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424. Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, 3903R, Washington, DC 20460 or through the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog or downloaded from http://www.epa.gov/ogd/forms/forms.htm. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.

Award Procedures

EPA will administratively evaluate each application to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to EPA's general grant regulations. EPA's Office of Air and Radiation and/or the 10 EPA regions will evaluate applications to determine the merit and relevance of proposed projects. Applications/proposals will also be reviewed in accordance with the terms, conditions and criteria in the solicitation/announcement of the competitive funding opportunity. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.

Deadlines

As stated in the Request for Applicants.

Authorization

FY 2006 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, H.R. 2361, Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 180 days after the request for applications.

Appeals

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). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.

Renewals

None. All projects will be fully funded.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program does not have a statutory formula. The match required for this program is set at a minimum of 5%.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Projects categorized under this CFDA are now funded under CFDA 66.039 and/or CFDA 66.040.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements.

Agreements may require quarterly, interim and final progress reports, and financial and equipment reports.

Reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations Part 30 and Part 31.

Audits

Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," non-federal entities that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-federal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular No. A-133.

Records

Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries in accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipient grants and cooperative agreement records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of the final expenditure reports. If questions, such as those raised as a result of an audit remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved.

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0103-0-1-304.

Obigations

FY 07 $6,900,000; FY 08 $0; and FY 09 $0. Projects categorized under this CFDA are now funded under CFDA 66.039 and/or CFDA 66.040.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

There is no minimum or maximum amount of assistance. The general range of the amount of assistance is $200,000 - $400,000. The average is $250,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Clean School Bus USA grants and cooperative agreements are subject to EPA's General Grant Regulations (40 CFR Part 30 and Part 31).

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

EPA encourages potential applicants to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog or Jennifer Keller of the Clean School Bus USA program.

Headquarters Office

For program information, Contact: Jennifer Keller, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Mail Code: 6405J, Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 343-9541; Fax: (202) 343-2804; E-mail: keller.jennifer@epa.gov.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

EPA selects proposed Clean School Bus USA projects for funding based on criteria specified in the solicitation, and the likelihood of success, as well as factors such as relevancy to EPA's mission, and technical merit. If EPA issues a solicitation for applications for a particular project or group of projects, the solicitation will identify specific criteria. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.