Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA R5 GL2015 1
Apply for EPA R5 GL2015 1
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Request for Applications" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.469 Great Lakes Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 9, 2015 and posted on Feb 5, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 17, 2015 Please refer to the full 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 $6,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $6,500,000.00 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Request for Applications (Funding Opportunity Number EPA-R5-GL2015-1) was a discretionary Environmental Protection Agency funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 66.469 (Great Lakes Program). It was issued as the first GLRI funding announcement for fiscal year 2015 and was tied directly to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan II, which lays out the federal strategy and priorities for restoring and protecting the Great Lakes ecosystem. The core purpose of this particular RFA was narrowly defined: to fund a project that would carry out chemical analyses supporting the Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program. In practice, that means the selected applicant would be responsible for laboratory-style analytical work that helps federal and partner agencies track contaminants and related chemical indicators in Great Lakes fish as part of ongoing monitoring and surveillance efforts.
Funding was substantial but limited to a single award. EPA anticipated making one cooperative agreement, with an estimated total funding amount of up to $6,500,000. The award ceiling was also $6,500,000, while the award floor was listed as $0, reflecting that EPA could decide the final amount based on the submitted application and project scope. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for applicants, which typically lowers barriers to participation and allows the work to be funded entirely with federal dollars if the proposed budget is justified and allowable under the agreement terms.
The opportunity was posted on February 5, 2015, and the application deadline (original and current closing date) was April 17, 2015, with an archive date of May 17, 2015. The notice emphasized that applicants needed to consult the full announcement, especially Section IV, for the official submission methods and detailed deadline instructions. Eligibility was not fully defined in the summary fields and was instead described as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," with the formal eligibility requirements located in Section III of the full announcement. This structure is common in federal RFAs when eligibility depends on specific categories, qualifications, or capacities that are too detailed for the summary listing.
Because the award instrument was a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, EPA expected to have substantial involvement in the project after award. Cooperative agreements are typically used when an agency anticipates active collaboration, technical direction, shared planning, coordination with other federal monitoring efforts, or ongoing review of deliverables. For a program like fish monitoring and chemical surveillance, that often implies close alignment with established methods, quality assurance/quality control procedures, data management expectations, and integration of results into broader GLRI reporting and decision-making.
For assistance, EPA provided both general and technical points of contact. Administrative and general RFA questions were directed to Michael Russ (312-886-4013) at GLRI_RFA@epa.gov. Technical questions could be directed to Elizabeth Murphy (312-353-4227) at murphy.elizabeth@epa.gov, with GLRI_RFA@epa.gov also listed. An additional information link was provided referencing the Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program RFA, which would typically include program context, expectations for analytical work, and other supporting details for applicants preparing proposals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Request for Applications (RFA), Funding Opportunity Number EPA-R5-GL2015-1. It was issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the first GLRI funding announcement for fiscal year 2015.
2. What program and assistance listing is this opportunity associated with?
The RFA was offered under CFDA 66.469, identified as the Great Lakes Program.
3. What is the main purpose of this RFA?
The purpose was narrowly defined: to fund a project that performs chemical analyses in support of the Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program. The work is described as laboratory-style analytical work that helps track contaminants and related chemical indicators in Great Lakes fish as part of ongoing monitoring and surveillance.
4. How does this opportunity relate to GLRI priorities?
This RFA was tied directly to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan II, which lays out the federal strategy and priorities for restoring and protecting the Great Lakes ecosystem.
5. What type of funding instrument is used?
The award instrument is a cooperative agreement (not a standard grant).
6. What does it mean that this award is a cooperative agreement?
Because it is a cooperative agreement, EPA expected to have substantial involvement in the project after award. The summary indicates this can include active collaboration, technical direction, shared planning, coordination with other federal monitoring efforts, and/or ongoing review of deliverables. For fish monitoring and chemical surveillance work, this often implies close alignment with established methods, quality assurance/quality control procedures, data management expectations, and integration of results into broader GLRI reporting and decision-making.
7. How much funding is available?
EPA anticipated a single cooperative agreement with an estimated total funding amount of up to $6,500,000.
8. Is there an award ceiling?
Yes. The award ceiling was listed as $6,500,000.
9. Is there an award floor or minimum award amount?
The award floor was listed as $0, meaning EPA could decide the final amount based on the submitted application and the project scope.
10. How many awards did EPA expect to make?
EPA anticipated making one award.
11. Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was stated for applicants in the information provided.
12. When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on February 5, 2015.
13. What was the application deadline?
The application deadline (original and current closing date) was April 17, 2015.
14. When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was May 17, 2015.
15. Where are the official submission methods and deadline instructions provided?
The notice emphasized that applicants needed to consult the full announcement, especially Section IV, for official submission methods and detailed deadline instructions.
16. Who is eligible to apply?
The summary fields did not fully define eligibility and instead listed eligibility as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." The formal eligibility requirements were located in Section III of the full announcement.
17. Why does the eligibility field say "Others"?
The notice indicates this structure is common in federal RFAs when eligibility depends on specific categories, qualifications, or capacities that are too detailed for the summary listing, and therefore must be reviewed in the full announcement (Section III).
18. Who should be contacted for administrative or general questions?
Administrative and general RFA questions were directed to Michael Russ at 312-886-4013 or by email at GLRI_RFA@epa.gov.
19. Who should be contacted for technical questions about the project work?
Technical questions could be directed to Elizabeth Murphy at 312-353-4227 or by email at murphy.elizabeth@epa.gov. The email address GLRI_RFA@epa.gov was also listed for technical questions.
20. Is there a reference link or additional information source mentioned?
Yes. An additional information link was provided referencing the Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program RFA, which would typically include program context, expectations for analytical work, and supporting details for applicants preparing proposals.
21. What should applicants pay special attention to in the full announcement?
Based on the notice, applicants were specifically directed to review Section III (eligibility requirements) and Section IV (submission methods and detailed deadline instructions) of the full announcement.
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