ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING (EJCPS) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAM

Background
EPA is issuing this solicitation to request applications for projects supporting community-based nonprofit organizations (CBOs) in their efforts to collaborate and partner with other stakeholders to develop solutions that will significantly address environmental and/or public health issue(s) in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and risks. This competition is being launched in order to meet the goals and objectives of two Executive Orders (EO 14008 and EO 13985) issued by the Biden Administration that demonstrate the EPA’s and Administration’s commitment to achieving environmental justice and embedding environmental justice into Agency programs.

Grant Details
The program’s objective is to support projects that demonstrate the utility of the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model. The Collaborative Problem-Solving Model is intended to assist vulnerable and underserved communities in developing proactive, strategic, and visionary approaches to address their environmental justice issues and achieve community health and sustainability. The model includes seven elements:

1. Issue Identification, Visioning, and Strategic Goal-Setting;
2. Community Capacity-Building and Leadership Development;
3. Development of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships and Leveraging of Resources;
4. Consensus Building and Dispute Resolution;
5. Constructive Engagement with Other Stakeholders;
6. Sound Management and Implementation;
7. Evaluation.

Eligibility Requirements
For this RFA, the EJ Grants program defines a “community-based nonprofit organization” (CBO) as a public or private nonprofit organization that supports and/or represents a community through engagement, education, and other related services provided to individual community residents and community stakeholders. Only entities that qualify as community-based nonprofit organizations are eligible for funding under this RFA.

Period of Performance
The closing date for applications is April 10, 2023. The period of performance/work schedule of the contract will be determined upon award.

Grant Value
Under IRA, Congress created the Environmental and Climate Justice Block grant program in Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 138 and appropriated $2.8 billion for grants for projects to benefit disadvantaged communities.

Place of Performance
Projects funded under this announcement must include strategies for addressing local environmental and public health issues, educating and empowering the community about those issues, building consensus with other stakeholders, leading to ongoing efforts that address local environmental justice issue(s).