Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OP OSC 12 01

  • The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Governors Institute for Community Design, Request for Proposals (RFP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.611 Environmental Policy and Innovation Grants.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Oct 4, 2011 and posted on Oct 4, 2011.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 5, 2011 Please refer to the announcement, including Section IV, for additional information on submission methods and due dates.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • See Section III of the announcement for additional eligibility information.
Apply for EPA OP OSC 12 01

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Opportunity Summary:

The Governors Institute for Community Design RFP (Funding Opportunity Number EPA OP OSC 12 01) is a discretionary U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funding opportunity run through the Office of Sustainable Communities (OSC) within EPAs Office of Policy. The goal is to fund one organization to operate the Governors Institute for Community Design, a program that works directly with state leadership to address complex, cross-cutting challenges that often sit at the intersection of environmental protection, public health, land use, and economic development. The opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means EPA expects to remain actively involved during the project period rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back.

At its core, the Institute is meant to provide high-level, tailored technical assistance to governors, their cabinets, and senior staff who are dealing with issues like air and water pollution, development pressures, and land use conflicts. The funded operator is expected to do more than provide general advice. The work described includes conducting research and studies, analyzing state policies and programs, and designing and delivering technical assistance programs that help states implement smart growth and sustainable community development strategies. In practical terms, that implies helping states align transportation, housing, infrastructure, and environmental priorities in ways that reduce pollution and sprawl, protect natural resources, improve public health outcomes, and support job creation and broader economic opportunity.

This RFP anticipates making a single award, with an estimated total funding amount of $2,000,000 and an award ceiling of $2,000,000. The award floor is listed as $325,000, indicating EPA was willing to consider proposals with different scopes or phased approaches, as long as they met the program intent and were competitive. No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated, which lowers a common barrier for applicants and places greater emphasis on the applicants technical capacity, partnerships, and ability to deliver results at the state leadership level. The assistance is categorized under CFDA 66.611, Environmental Policy and Innovation Grants, which fits the emphasis on policy analysis, program design, and scalable approaches rather than construction or direct infrastructure investment.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with direction to consult Section III of the full announcement for specifics. In similar EPA cooperative agreement programs, this category often includes nonprofits, academic institutions, and other qualified organizations with demonstrated expertise in planning, smart growth, environmental policy, facilitation, and technical assistance delivery. Because this Institute is designed to work with governors offices and senior state agencies, a strong applicant would generally be expected to show credibility with public-sector leadership, an ability to convene multi-agency stakeholders, and a track record delivering actionable recommendations that can be implemented across different political and regional contexts.

The timeline indicates the opportunity was posted on Oct 4, 2011, with a closing date of Dec 5, 2011, and an archive date of Jan 4, 2012. Applicants were instructed to follow the announcement, particularly Section IV, for submission methods and due dates, implying that specific application mechanics (such as electronic submission requirements, formatting rules, and required forms) were detailed in the full RFP package rather than in the summary listing. For access issues or questions about the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Adhir Kackar at (202) 566-2846.

Overall, this opportunity is about building state capacity and accelerating better development decisions through expert support: diagnosing policy and program barriers, recommending improvements, and helping state leaders adopt smart growth and sustainable community development approaches that protect environmental resources, improve health outcomes, and strengthen economic resilience and quality of life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Governors Institute for Community Design RFP?

The Governors Institute for Community Design RFP is a discretionary U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity to support the operation of the Governors Institute for Community Design, a program that works directly with governors, their cabinets, and senior state staff on complex policy and planning challenges.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this RFP?

The Funding Opportunity Number is EPA OP OSC 12 01.

Which EPA office is running this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is run through the Office of Sustainable Communities (OSC) within EPA's Office of Policy.

What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?

The goal is to fund one organization to operate the Governors Institute for Community Design and provide high-level, tailored technical assistance to state leadership to address cross-cutting challenges at the intersection of environmental protection, public health, land use, and economic development.

How many awards does EPA expect to make?

The RFP anticipates making a single award.

What type of funding instrument is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means EPA expects to remain actively involved during the project period rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back.

How much funding is available under this opportunity?

The estimated total funding amount is $2,000,000.

What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?

The award ceiling is $2,000,000.

What is the minimum (floor) award amount?

The award floor is $325,000, indicating EPA was open to proposals with varying scopes or phased approaches if they met the program intent and were competitive.

Is cost sharing or a match required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the provided summary.

What is the CFDA number and program name associated with this opportunity?

The assistance is categorized under CFDA 66.611, Environmental Policy and Innovation Grants.

What kinds of activities is the funded organization expected to perform?

The funded operator is expected to conduct research and studies, analyze state policies and programs, and design and deliver technical assistance programs that help states implement smart growth and sustainable community development strategies.

What does "technical assistance" mean in this context?

In this context, technical assistance refers to high-level, tailored support for governors and senior state staff, including diagnosing policy and program barriers, recommending improvements, and helping state leaders adopt and implement smart growth and sustainable community development approaches.

What kinds of challenges does the Institute help states address?

The program is intended to help with issues such as air and water pollution, development pressures, and land use conflicts, especially when these challenges overlap with public health and economic development goals.

What outcomes is the program trying to support?

The work is aimed at helping states align transportation, housing, infrastructure, and environmental priorities in ways that reduce pollution and sprawl, protect natural resources, improve public health outcomes, and support job creation and broader economic opportunity.

Does this opportunity fund construction or infrastructure projects?

Based on the information provided, the emphasis is on policy analysis, program design, research, and technical assistance rather than construction or direct infrastructure investment.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with direction to consult Section III of the full announcement for specifics.

What types of organizations might fall under "Others" for eligibility?

The summary notes that in similar EPA cooperative agreement programs, "Others" often includes nonprofits, academic institutions, and other qualified organizations with demonstrated expertise in planning, smart growth, environmental policy, facilitation, and technical assistance delivery.

What capabilities would make an applicant competitive for this program?

Because the Institute is designed to work with governors' offices and senior state agencies, a strong applicant would generally be expected to show credibility with public-sector leadership, the ability to convene multi-agency stakeholders, and a track record of delivering actionable recommendations that can be implemented across different political and regional contexts.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on Oct 4, 2011.

What was the application closing date?

The closing date was Dec 5, 2011.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date was Jan 4, 2012.

Where are the submission instructions and application requirements described?

Applicants were instructed to follow the announcement, particularly Section IV, for submission methods and due dates. The summary indicates that details like electronic submission requirements, formatting rules, and required forms were contained in the full RFP package rather than the summary listing.

Who can be contacted for access issues or questions about the full announcement?

The listed point of contact is Adhir Kackar at (202) 566-2846.

What is the overall purpose of funding the Governors Institute for Community Design?

Overall, the opportunity is intended to build state capacity and accelerate better development decisions by providing expert support to state leaders, including identifying barriers, recommending improvements, and helping implement smart growth and sustainable community development strategies that protect environmental resources, improve health outcomes, and strengthen economic resilience and quality of life.

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