66.517: Regional Applied Research Efforts (RARE)

66.517

Active

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Aug. 24, 2022

Aug. 24, 2022

The RARE program provides the EPA Regional offices with a mechanism to enter into innovative research partnerships to support near term research. RARE projects address a wide array of environmental science issues critical to the Office of Research and Development’s regional partner communities and address regional and national research priorities. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2021: Priorities include but are not limited to conducting high priority air pollutant research, ecological risk assessment, water quality research, watershed and drinking water research, research to improve human health risk assessment, pollution prevention and new technologies, and social science research. Support research to determine the environmental effects of air quality, drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances, and pesticides; and identify, develop, and demonstrate effective pollution control techniques. Projects are managed by the Office of Research and Development in collaboration with EPA regional offices.

B - Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)

Public and private institutions of higher education, public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, hospitals, and laboratories located in the U.S. and its territories or possessions; state and local governments; Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; U.S. territories or possessions; and foreign entities are eligible. Profit-making firms are not eligible to apply. Non-profit organization, as defined by 2 CFR 200.1, means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative or other organization, not including institutions of higher education (IHEs), that: (1) is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable or similar purposes in the public interest; (2) is not organized primarily for profit; and (3) uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operations of the organization. Note that 2 CFR 200.1 specifically excludes Institutions of Higher Education from the definition of non-profit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation. While not considered to be a non-profit organization(s) as defined by 2 CFR 200.1, public or nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this program. Hospitals operated by state, tribal, or local governments or that meet the definition of nonprofit at 2 CFR 200.1 are also eligible to apply as nonprofits or as instrumentalities of the unit of government depending on the applicable law. For-profit colleges, universities, trade schools, and hospitals are ineligible. Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible to apply. National laboratories funded by Federal Agencies (Federally-Funded Research and Development Centers, FFRDCs) may not apply. FFRDC employees may cooperate or collaborate with eligible applicants within the limits imposed by applicable legislation and regulations. They may participate in planning, conducting, and analyzing the research directed by the applicant, but may not direct projects on behalf of the applicant organization. The institution, organization, or governance receiving the award may provide funds through its assistance agreement from the EPA to an FFRDC for research personnel, supplies, equipment, and other expenses directly related to the research. However, salaries for permanent FFRDC employees may not be provided through this mechanism. Federal Agencies may not apply. Federal employees are not eligible to serve in a principal leadership role on an assistance agreement. Federal employees may not receive salaries or augment their Agency’s appropriations through awards made under this program unless authorized by law to receive such funding. The applicant institution may enter into an agreement with a Federal Agency to purchase or utilize unique supplies or services unavailable in the private sector to the extent authorized by law. Examples are purchase of satellite data, chemical reference standards, analyses, or use of instrumentation or other facilities not available elsewhere. A written justification for federal involvement must be included in the application. In addition, an appropriate form of assurance that documents the commitment, such as a letter of intent from the Federal Agency involved, should be included.

State, Local, Public nonprofit institution/organization, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, Private nonprofit institution/organization.

https://sam.gov/fal/699276dcdc3443fe965e91e981b269dc/view