Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Transcription

1 Florida Department of Environmental Protection Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida Rick Scott Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera Lt. Governor Jonathan P. Steverson Secretary TO: FROM: Applicants for Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Education Project Grant Funding Kathryn Merchant, Administrator Nonpoint Source Management Program DATE: December 5, 2016 SUBJECT: Application Guidance for the Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Education Projects The Florida Department of Environmental Protection s Nonpoint Source Management Program is pleased to announce the solicitation for the Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source (NPS) Education Grant and welcomes you to apply for grant funds for your nonpoint source education in your area. Nonpoint sources include stormwater runoff from urban surface areas and agricultural operations, failing septic tanks, and erosion. NPS pollution is the leading cause of water pollution in Florida today. Managing NPS pollution at the source is critical to meeting the restoration goals, including Total Maximum Daily Loads, for impaired waters as required by the Clean Water Act. The 319(h) NPS Education Grant is approximately $1 million and is for projects that provide education and outreach about nonpoint source pollution in the adopted Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) areas. Developing BMAPs that will be adopted by summer of 2017 can be considered as adopted for the purposes of this solicitation. Projects should include a minimum 40% non-federal match (that is, Section 319 funding may not exceed 60% of the total eligible project cost). Eligible applicants are local governments in Florida. The Department anticipates selecting multiple projects under the $1 million grant. Upon project selection and EPA approval, the Department and the Grant Recipient must enter into a contract. Grant funds are administered by the Department on a cost-reimbursement basis. Page 1 of 2

2 The schedule for the Education grant cycle is as follows: March 15, 2016 Project proposals are due to the Department for review and ranking. Project proposals received after March 15 th may be excluded from the selection process. Spring Summer 2017 EPA approval expected to occur and projects to be evaluated and selected by the Department. Status letters will be mailed to all applicants. Summer 2017 Fall Contracts will be executed for selected projects. No costs may be reimbursed for work occurring outside the contract period (i.e. prior to contract being fully executed). September 30, 2020 Contract requirements should be completed. All projects should be completed and invoiced by this date. At this time there is also a solicitation for a (h) Nonpoint Source Grant which has different timeframes for funding. Applicants can apply for both grants if the project meets the eligibility requirements for both grants; both applications need to be completed and submitted. Applicants can receive only one of the two grants for the same project. Please carefully read this guidance. Attachments for both the 319(h) Education Grant and the (h) Grant are on the Department s website. Failing to abide by these instructions could result in your project being denied funding. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact me at (850) or kathryn.merchant@dep.state.fl.us or Katie Britt at (850) or katherine.britt@dep.state.fl.us. Sincerely, Kathryn Merchant Administrator, Nonpoint Source Management Program Florida Department of Environmental Protection Additional Attachments on Website Attachment 1: 319(h) Education Grant Proposal Application Attachment 2: 319(h) Education Grant Eligibility Guidelines Attachment 3: 319(h) Education Grant Instructions for Completing the Application Attachment 4: 319(h) Education Grant Evaluation Criteria (projects will be scored using this criteria) Page 2 of 2

3 Attachment 1 319(h) GRANT APPLICATION FOR NONPOINT SOURCE EDUCATION PROJECTS IN ADOPTED BASIN MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN AREAS PROJECT NAME: PROJECT FUNDING REQUEST: $ MATCH COMMITMENT: $ PROJECT COST (Sum of Funding Request and Match Commitment): $ LEAD ORGANIZATION: CONTACT INFORMATION: Name: Street Address: City, State, Zip: Tel: Fax: PROJECT LOCATION and ELIGIBILITY: 1. Education is taking place in and addressing the following adopted BMAP(s): List adopted BMAP(s) 2. What are the top priority nonpoint source issues specified in the adopted BMAP document and which of those does this project address? 3. Is the education project, or any elements of it, required in an MS4 permit? If yes, the elements listed in the permit are not eligible for 319 grant funds or match. PROJECT INFORMATION: Please provide responses to the questions below. The questions in the Section pertain to only the grant funded and match funded activities unless otherwise specified. 1. What is the subject matter of the education outreach listed above? Example: septic maintenance education in two workshops, reducing nonpoint source pollution from stormwater in one workshop; and reducing personal nonpoint source pollution through a public service announcement (PSA)t. Page 1 of 5 319(h) Grant Application for Education Projects

4 2. What are the methods and frequency of outreach? Example: Develop one public service announcement, to be aired on local television twice a month for 6 months; and provide 3 workshops in one year, one every 4 months. 3. What is the size and type of the target audience for each method of outreach listed above. Example: PSA on local television aired in X, Y and Z counties reaching an estimated 5,000 people per airing (all age groups); Workshops 100 adults per workshop 4. What is the type of audience for each outreach method listed above? Example: Workshop on reducing nonpoint source pollution in stormwater for developers of residential and business areas; Two workshops on septic maintenance for the general public; providing an education curriculum to students in primary and secondary schools. 5. Does any of the outreach described above include education on Low Impact Development? If yes, describe what types of LIDs will be the subject matter, the method of outreach and the type and size of the audience. 6. Describe any materials, not already listed above, that will be developed or published under this project and the associated outreach method they will be used in. Example: Presentation, fact sheet and flyer for workshops. Page 2 of 5 319(h) Grant Application for Education Projects

5 7. Explain how this project is cost effective. 8. Is this application for a new education project or an existing/ongoing project? 9. Do you have any other pending applications, for state or federal funding for this project? Yes No If yes, describe. PROJECT OVERVIEW Provide a more detailed narrative description of the project keeping in mind the following items to address in the description (limit to 2 pages). Include more details on the subject matter for each type of outreach listed above. How will you encourage public participation? How does this project address the issues in the BMAP? Page 3 of 5 319(h) Grant Application for Education Projects

6 PROJECT EFFECTIVENESS: Measuring project effectiveness is a requirement under this grant. Describe how the effectiveness of the project will be measured. Provide a detailed description of the method(s) used. Include estimated number of participants in the effectiveness measurement (limit to 2 pages). Examples of methods: surveys, monitoring changes in behavior PROJECT FUNDING AND TIMELINE (for Only the Grant and Match Funded Portions) In the table below, provide the estimated funding amounts and timeline (in months) for each grant and committed match funded step in the project. Method of Outreach Grant Funding Match Funding No. of months for each Outreach Method $ $ # $ $ # $ $ # $ $ # $ $ # The sum of the grant and match funded steps should equal the amounts provided on page 1. Total Number of Months for the Project: Total number of only the grant and committed match portion: Provide any additional pertinent information about the project that was not addressed in the above questions. Page 4 of 5 319(h) Grant Application for Education Projects

7 PART IV CERTIFICATION, ATTACHMENTS AND REFERENCES I, the undersigned Authorized Representative of the Applicant, hereby certify that all information contained herein and in the attached is true, correct, and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. I further certify that I have been duly authorized to file the application and to provide these assurances. Authorized Representative (signature) (name typed) Signed this Day of, 20 List the file names for all attachments that are included with this application (such as maps, design plans, etc.), a description of what the attachment contains, and the total number of attachments submitted, including the application. Filename: Description: Filename: Description: Filename: Description: Total Number of Files Submitted (include the application in the total #) Cite References (if applicable): Page 5 of 5 319(h) Grant Application for Education Projects

8 Eligible Applicants Attachment 2 ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES for 319(h) EDUCATION GRANT Florida Department of Environmental Protection Local governments in Florida Grant Funding Eligibility Criteria Eligible Projects/Activities for Grant Funding Nonpoint Source Education/Outreach Projects that implement adopted Basin Management Action Plans (BMAP)* * Developing BMAPs that will be adopted by summer of 2017 can be considered as adopted for the purposes of this solicitation. Methods of outreach may include but are not limited to: Public Service Announcements Development, publication and distribution of Best Management Practices (BMP) manuals Training through workshops, field days, and classes Creating and providing information through publications such as flyers and notices Posting information on local websites Coordinating with area schools to provide classroom education and nonpoint curriculum opportunities Subjects on Nonpoint Source Pollution Education and Outreach may include but are not limited to: Preventing nonpoint source pollution Septic maintenance, conversion to sewer and pollution prevention Low Impact Development projects Activities identified in the BMAPs and targeting BMAP issues Citizen and Volunteer Monitoring programs Ineligible Projects/Activities for the Education Grant Funding Projects that implement education on point source pollution* Activities that are listed in a final municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) NPDES permit or that are required under any federal permit Planning, engineering, design activities Land acquisition Page 1 of 2 Attachment 2 319(h) Education Grant - Eligibility Guidelines

9 Baseline monitoring activities such as water body assessment monitoring Structural Projects *Under the federal Clean Water Act, a point source means any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, or vessel or other floating craft, from which pollutants are or may be discharged. This term does not include agricultural stormwater discharges and return flows from irrigated agriculture. Match Funding Eligibility Criteria Match Requirement Projects should include a minimum 40% nonfederal match (that is, Section 319 funding may not exceed 60% of the total eligible project cost). Eligible Projects/Activities for Match Funding The same types of projects/activities that are eligible for grant funding are eligible to use for match funding. In addition, planning is eligible to use for match funding. Certain in-kind services can count towards match. Ineligible Projects/Activities for Match Funding The same projects/activities that are ineligible for grant funding are also ineligible for match funding, with the exception of planning. Federal funding and other federal in-kind services cannot count as match. Page 2 of 2 Attachment 2 319(h) Education Grant - Eligibility Guidelines

10 SECTION 319(h) EDUCATION PROJECT PROPOSAL EVALUATION FORM PROPOSAL NO. PROJECT NAME: AMOUNT REQUESTED: $ MATCH CONTRIBUTION: $ GRANTEE: REVIEWER: Description Score 1. Project addresses priorities identified in the adopted BMAP document. Score (0-150) 2. Size and type of the target audience Score (0-180) 3. Effectiveness of Education Project Staff should use their best professional judgment to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the education project (e.g., how effective will the outreach methods and materials be at reducing nonpoint source pollution in the adopted BMAP area). 4. Project includes measuring the effectiveness of the education through appropriate means (e.g., monitoring, surveys, etc.). Score will be based on how thorough an evaluation of the project can be made with the measures used. 5. Project educates the public on how to implement BMPs to reduce nonpoint source pollution (e.g rain gardens, rain barrels, landscaping, septic maintenance, pollution prevention). 6. Section 319 funds are supplemented by other funding. Match funds as % of total project cost (319 + match) equal. 40% (0 points) 41 to 50% (15) 51 to 60% (30) 61 to 70% (45) Score (0-220) Score (0-80) Score (0-150) Score (0-60) >70% (60) 7. Project educates on Low Impact Development BMPs. Score (0-30) 8. Project is cost effective Score (0-130) Total Score (out of 1000 possible points): To be inserted COMMENTS:

11 Attachment 3 Section 319(h) EDUCATION GRANT Instructions to Application This document contains instructions for submitting and filling out the application, including examples of tasks and deliverables, and definitions of terms. Please follow these instructions when completing the application. The DEADLINE for accepting proposals is: Close of business, March 15, 2017 Please the completed Application in both Word format and PDF format by the above date. Attachments to the application can be in either Word or PDF format. Proposals received after the deadline may not be evaluated. Please send the electronic files to: Katherine Britt at katherine.britt@dep.state.fl.us Ph An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent to you. If you haven t received an acknowledgment within 3 business days of submission, please contact Katherine Britt at the number above. When ing the application, please enter in the Subject Heading: 319 Education Grant Application. If more than one application is being submitted then send them in separate s and include the title in the Subject Heading: 319 Education Grant Application, Septic Maintenance Education Outreach. Large files can be ed separately if needed. If files are too large to send by please contact Katherine Britt. Application Format Space can be expanded to add more text (e.g., additional space can be used for the Project Overview information, and more tasks/deliverables/budgets can be added). Please do not make any modifications to the application other than what is described above. Please do not insert tables or pictures into the application. Send any additional information in separate attachments. Attachments to the application, such as maps, letters, and other information, can be in word and/or pdf format. Page 1 of 2 319(h) Education Grant Instructions to Application

12 Project Eligibility Refer to the eligibility requirements specified in the Eligibility Document, Attachment 2 Completing the Application Complete all the components of the application, unless specified as optional. Page 2 of 2 319(h) Education Grant Instructions to Application