Application Process for EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction General Competition Implementation Grants

You must be registered with SAM.gov (and have your Unique Entity Identification (UEID)) and Grants.gov. Registering can take weeks (if not months).

To register on SAM.gov,* go here. For help, access the registration checklist and EPN’s SAM.gov registration webinar. In addition, EPN holds SAM.gov registration office hours every two weeks on Wednesdays from 2-3 p.m. ET. We’ll help you begin, continue, or finish up your registration process. To sign up and get the Zoom link, go to tinyurl.com/EPNSAM. Please email davina.resto@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org with any questions. 

Also, please review the Intro to Grants.gov – Understanding User Roles and Learning Workspace – User Roles and Workspace Actions to assist with application submission.

To register at Grants.gov,* go here. For help, use the registration checklist and watch this Youtube video.

If you need additional help, send us an email.

*To check your registration status, go here for SAM.gov, and here for Grants.gov.

A: Carefully read the CPRG summary and the entire General Implementation Notice of Funding Opportunity to ensure that your project is a good fit. You can also access an overview of both the Tribal and Territories and General competitions here, created by the University of Minnesota-led Region 5 Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center.

B: Double check the CPRG Eligibility on page 17.

C: Read the General Implementation Qs and As.

D: Watch the General Implementation webinars: Sept. 21st Webinar and Oct. 3rd Webinar.

E: Read the Sept. 21st webinar slides.

F: Check out the CPRG Training, Tools, and Technical Assistance.

G. Email questions to CPRG@epa.gov about the NOFO.

H. Sign up for the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program newsletter to receive announcements about future implementation grant application webinars.

A. Submit the optional Notice of Intent (NOI) (Page 1 of the NOFO) to apply by the deadline of February 1, 2024, via email to CPRG@epa.gov.

B: Solidify your partners and collectively envision your proposal.

C: Schedule a time to speak with your partners and brainstorm about your proposal.

D: Read through the CPRG Project Narrative Template and Sample Project Narrative (provided by Anese & Associates). Create a copy of the Template, in Google Docs, that all partners can access. 

E: Divvy up sections of the project using the Project Narrative Template (see instructions below, Step 4) and Mandatory and Optional Documents (see instructions below, Step 5) among partners.

A. If you are a lead organizations for a CPRG planning grant, we recommend that you submit a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) as the first deliverable under the CPRG Planning Grant as soon as possible (ASAP!) to allow time for you to focus on the Implementation Grants application, which includes GHG reduction measures identified in the PCAP.

C: Complete the Summary Project Cover Sheet. If preferred, use the Sample Project Cover Sheet provided by EPA.

D: Access the optional General Competition Workplan Outline to organize the Workplan and ensure that all sections (corresponding with the evaluation criteria) outlined in the NOFO are addressed.

E: Write the full Project Narrative using the Project Narrative Template, and refer to the Sample Project Narrative as needed.

F: Write the budget narrative, which can be completed in the same document as the Cover Sheet and Workplan or in a separate file. Remember, this does not count toward the 25-page Workplan limit.

G: Create the Technical Appendix. Again, this can be included in the same document as the Cover Sheet and Workplan or in a separate file, and it doesn’t count toward the 25-page Workplan limit.

H: Review your Project Narrative using the CPRG Evaluation Criteria to ensure that all requirements have been met in each section and that all possible points should be awarded.

A: Create the following Mandatory Documents, all of which should be completed directly in Grants.gov:

– Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)
– Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)
– EPA Form 4700-4 Preaward Compliance Review Report
– EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54
– Program Narrative: Use the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” to submit the file. This is a PDF of your Project Narrative document (25 page max), which includes the Project Cover Sheet, Workplan, the Budget Narrative and Technical Appendix (Budget Narrative and Technical Appendix can also be submitted as PDFs via the Other Attachments Form).
– Grants.gov Lobbying Form
– Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Required if applicable)
– PDF copy of the applicable PCAP(s) serving as the basis for the application via the Other Attachments Form.
– Use the Other Attachments Form to attach a Letter of Intent from each coalition member if you are submitting a coalition application.
– Attach a list of Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) Census tract IDs or EPA’s EJScreen Census block group IDs for each community that may be affected by a proposed measure in the application via the Other Attachments Form.

B: Create the Optional Documents and submit directly to Grants.gov. 

– Use the Other Attachmnents Form to submit the optional GHG emission reduction calculations spreadsheet. 
– Use the Other Attachmnents Form to submit the optional budget spreadsheet (see a sample budget spreadsheet) for budget narrative.
– Use the Other Attachmnents Form to submit team biographies: Resumes or curriculum vitae for key staff, managers, and any other key personnel.
– Use the Other Attachmnents Form to submit Letters of Commitment from potential partnerships (Encouraged)

C: Review your application using the CPRG Evaluation Criteria to again ensure that all requirements have been met in each section and that all possible points should be awarded.

Although the deadline is Monday, April 1, plan to submit to Grants.gov, ideally by Wednesday, March 27, to give yourself time to troubleshoot if you have any difficulty submitting. These step-by-step instructions and video can help. Please plan to set aside at least three hours to submit your application to Grants.gov.

A: To begin the submission process, go to Grants.gov and click the red “Apply” button at the top of the “view grant opportunity” page associated with this opportunity.

B: Upload your application, including:

• All Project Narrative elements from Step 4 via the Project Narrative Attachment Form.
• Mandatory Documents listed in Step 5, uploaded directly into Grants.gov via their individual submission forms.
• Optional Documents listed in Step 5 via the individual Form LLL and “Other Attachments Form.”

C: Submit and confirm that all verifications & confirmations from Grants.gov are received & saved.

D: Take …a nap!