Competitions are held at Headquarters and in the Regions based on available funds and Agency priorities. The number of applications and the number of awards made is dependent on the competitive announcement issued. The announcement will include the number of anticipated awards. In FY 07, for Section 1433 awards, no competitive announcements were issued and no new awards were made. Grantees with existing awards continued to provide direct technical assistance to drinking water systems nationwide for the completion of vulnerability assessments and emergency response plans. The immediate outcome was that drinking water systems were able to address federal requirements for the completion and submission of vulnerability assessments and the creation or revision of emergency response plans. The long-term outcome is that drinking water systems have improved their security through an analysis of their vulnerabilities and preparation to address these vulnerabilities. Currently for FY 08, EPA has no funds available; however, should funding become available, projects that will improve the security of drinking water systems will be the focus of the awards. For Section 1434 awards, this is a new financial assistance pilot program. In FY 07, EPA issued a competitive announcement (for FY 07 and FY 08 funds) to award up to four cooperative agreements to support drinking water contamination warning system demonstration pilots. These pilots will be part of the Agency's Water Security Initiative, which seeks to develop a warning system that achieves timely detection of and appropriate response to drinking water contamination incidents. It is anticipated that the pilots will include specified monitoring and surveillance components, a consequence management plan, and an evaluation plan. The anticipated outcome is that these pilots will generate information that allows community water systems nationally to practice effective techniques to detect and respond to possible contamination events. Drinking water consumers will experience a reduction in risk associated with drinking water contamination and improved water quality. In FY 08, cooperative agreements were awarded to two pilots with the expectation that the project will demonstrate and review the effectiveness of drinking water contamination warning systems for community water systems, through reviewing multiple monitoring and surveillance components designed to provide timely detection of contamination in the drinking water distribution systems. In FY 2009 (using FY 08 and FY 09 funds) the Agency anticipates awarding the final two cooperative agreements for the pilot systems.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funded activities for financial assistance awarded under Section 1433 of the SDWA include: (1) training to gain competence and expertise in the process of developing or completing vulnerability assessments; (2) training to gain competence and expertise in the process of developing, amending, or updating emergency response plans; (3) training to gain competence and expertise in various security enhancements; and (4) providing competent training and technical assistance in the aforementioned areas to help states, tribes, and local authorities in their water infrastructure security efforts.

Funded activities for cooperative agreements awarded under Section 1434 of the SDWA may include: (1) demonstration of contamination and warning system monitoring and surveillance components; (2) contamination warning system consequence management plan; and (3) evaluation and transfer of results.

Specific uses and restrictions on funds will be described in detail in the competitive announcements for each program.

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.

People Building Stronger Communities

High Cost of Childhood Food Allergies Create Economic Burden on Families and Society

Alcohol Justice to Release Report on State of Public Transit Alcohol Advertising

Community Development Initiative Positively Transforms Glenwood Neighborhood

Oklahoma City on the Right Track to End to Chronic Homelessness

New Study Examines Efforts to Reduce Sudden Unexpected Infant Death

Social Enterprise Hopes to Improve Sanitation and Hygiene in Underprivileged Areas

In Dealing With Entrepreneurial Criticism

Regular Cocaine and Cannabis Use May Increase Impulsive Behavior

Volunteers Needed as Garden Ambassadors

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Financial assistance awarded under Section 1433 of the SDWA is available to public nonprofit institutions/organizations and private nonprofit institution/organizations, capable of providing training, technical support and/or assistance to drinking water systems.

Cooperative agreements awarded under Section 1434 of the SDWA will be limited to local governments or institutions (either public or private nonprofit organizations) that operate community water systems (as defined in 40 CFR Section 141.2).

Note that 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations that lobby are not eligible.

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

For financial assistance awarded under both Sections 1433 and 1434 of the SDWA, the beneficiaries are the drinking water systems, the water programs of the State or Tribe, and the public which will benefit from these programs through safer and more secure drinking water.

Credentials/Documentation

EPA may request that applicants demonstrate their eligibility.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

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.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Section 1434 cooperative agreements are a new grant program that has not been included in the agency's list of programs subject to Intergovernmental review.

However, EPA recommends that applicants for these cooperative agreements should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in its 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.

This program also does not require an environmental impact statement or assessment.

Application Procedures

Applicants must submit an "Application for Federal Assistance," SF 424, "Budget Information: Non-Construction Programs," SF 424A, "Assurances: Non-Construction Programs," SF 424B, "Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters," "Certification Regarding Lobbying," "Pre-Award Compliance Review Report," EPA 4700-4, and other required forms to complete the application process. Application kits should be requested from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, Mail Code 3903R, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington , DC 20460 or the appropriate EPA Regional Office identified in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Detailed information and assistance, including an application kit, required forms, and a check list, may also be found at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/index.htm. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. Applications should be submitted in accordance with the procedures stated in the competitive announcement.

Award Procedures

Applications are reviewed by EPA, where subsequent grant awards are made to successful applicants. 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

EPA will consider all grant proposals/applications received on or before the due date stipulated in the announcement of a competitive funding opportunity.

Authorization

Safe Drinking Water Act, Sections 1433 and 1434, as added by The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, Title IV, Public Law 107-188; Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act of 2002, Public Law 107-117.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 30 to 90 days after deadline for application submittal.

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

Any continuation of funding will be described in the terms of the assistance agreement.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Matching requirements, if any, will be described in the competitive announcement. This program has no statutory formula.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

A final financial status report is due at the end of the grant period.

Terms/Conditions will be negotiated in the final grant award that will outline the procedures that grant recipients must follow to demonstrate to EPA that the project(s) performed under this grant program were satisfactorily completed.

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

Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes to each grant, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained for three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0107-0-1-304; 68-0108-0-1-304.

Obigations

FY 07 $0; FY 08 $0; and FY 09 $0 for financial assistance awarded under Section 1433 of the SDWA; For cooperative agreements awarded under Section 1434 of the SDWA, FY 07 $0; FY 08 $20,119,149; and FY 09 est. $19,000,000 depending on funding available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

For financial assistance awarded under Section 1433 of the SDWA, no funding was provided in FY 07 and FY 08, and none is anticipated for FY 09; For cooperative agreements awarded under Section 1434 of the SDWA, the range was estimated as $3,000,000 to $12,000,000 per agreement. For Fiscal Year 08 the actual range was a low of $8,119,150 and a high of $11,999,999 for an average of $10,059,574. Estimate for FY 09 is a low and high of $9,500,000 for an average of $9,500,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Safe Drinking Water Act, Sections 1433 and 1434; "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-profit Organizations," 40 CFR Part 30, and. "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to States and Local Governments," 40 CFR Part 31.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Contact the Grants Management Office of the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office

For general information only on the Section 1433 program, contact Nancy Muzzy at EPA; Water Security Division, Mail Code 140; 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive; Cincinnati, OH 45268; Telephone: (513) 569-7864. Fax: (513) 569-7191. E-mail: muzzy.nancy@epa.gov. For general information only on the Section 1434 program, contact Dan Schmelling at EPA; Water Security Division, Mail Code 4608T; 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.; Washington, DC 20460; Telephone: (202) 564-5281; Fax: 202-566-0055. E-mail: Schmelling.dan@epa.gov.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.