Indoor Air Quality
Applicant
Information Session 1
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air
Pollution at Schools
Kelley Smith, IAQ Schools Team Co-Lead
Sheila Brown, IAQ Schools Team Co-Lead
Tracy Enger, IAQ Schools Team Member
January 25, 2024
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Table of Contents:
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
1. Inflation Reduction Act
2. The Big Picture
3. Stakeholder Feedback
4. Grant Program Overview
5. How to Apply
6. Threshold Review Process
7. Ineligible Activities
8. Application Evaluation Criteria
9. Website and NOFO PDF Demo
10.Questions and Answers
The Adventure Begins
Graphic Source: Giphy.com
1/25/2024
The Inflation Reduction Act 1/2
• The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) makes historic investments in climate
action that are expected to reduce U.S. emissions ~40% by 2030 while
supporting disadvantaged communities and the clean energy industrial base.
• IRA investments will drive significant emissions reductions over the next
decade while also laying the groundwork for long-term decarbonization of
hard-to-abate sectors.
• EPA will play a major role in delivering these programs. The Agency
received $41.5 billion in appropriated funds and expects to receive an
additional $11.7 billion in future revenue from reinstating the Superfund Tax
on oil and gas production. Funds from methane waste emissions charges will
go to the general Treasury.
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EPA’s Office of Air and the Inflation Reduction Act 2/2
1/25/2024 Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools 4
Theme IRA Provisions Exp. Year Use of Funds Funding
Climate
Pollution
Reduction
Grants
*Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
2031 /
2026
$250 million for Greenhouse Gas Air Pollution Planning Grants with at least
one grant to an eligible entity in every state. $4.75 billion for grants to
implement select Planning Grants.
$5B
Funding to
Address
Community Air
Pollution
*Air Monitoring & Screening 2031 Grants and other activities to support air monitoring and screening. $205.5M
*Clean Air Act Grants 2031 Funding for Clean Air Act’s research, development, and grants program. $25M
*Funding to Address Air Pollution at
Schools
2031
Grants and other activities to monitor and reduce air pollution and
greenhouse gas emissions at schools.
$50M
Mobile Source
Programs
*Grants to Reduce Air Pollution at Ports 2027 Competitive grants and rebates to reduce air pollution at ports. $3B
*Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles 2031
Grants, rebates, and contract support to help cover costs of replacing dirty
heavy-duty vehicles with clean zero emission vehicles.
$1B
*Diesel Emissions Reductions 2031 Funding for Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program. $60M
Mobile Source Grants 2031
Grants for States to adopt and implement zero-
emission standards for mobile
sources per Section 177 of the Clean Air Act (i.e., adopt / implement
California’s mobile source standards).
$5M
Methane
Emissions
Program
*Methane Emissions Reduction 2028
Financial (grants, rebates, contracts, loans, etc.) and technical assistance to
reduce methane emissions and implement a methane fee.
$1.55B
* Tribes / tribal entities are eligible recipients
1. Table does not include: Low Emissions Electricity Program, GHG Corporate Reporting, Funding for section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act, and Funding for implementation of the American Innovation & Manufacturing Act.
The Big Picture
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools 5
Schools, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), and Opportunities Provided by this New Grant Program
Context
1/6
th
of Americans attends
or works in K-12 schools
50% of schools do not have
IAQ plans or programs in place
Opportunity to build sustainable IAQ
implementation infrastructure
In states, regions, and nationally by leveraging existing
programs and investments
Most funding EPA has been given
in decades
for IAQ in schools
Outcomes
Significant increase in sustainable
comprehensive IAQ plans & programs at EJ
& Tribal schools
New generation of IAQ mgt leaders
identified, trained, and developed
Expand & better connect IAQ community
Facility management staff, health officers, and key decision
makers
Develop, improve, and accelerate the use
of practical IAQ guidance
for effective IAQ practices, policies, and procedures
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Stakeholder Feedback
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
We received 1,364 comments from 354 people/organizations over 6 months
from 11 listening sessions, 2 grants.gov requests for public comments, and numerous emails.
Where to Invest
Public Education Campaign
Training
R&D: IAQ connection to health/edu outcomes
Setting IAQ Standards
Create one all gov. source for IAQ info
Science proven solutions only
IAQ sensors in schools
Make data public
Fund infrastructure updates
Who Should Benefit
Prioritize schools with the worst
air pollution & disadvantages
Data to track
IAQ/GHG pollutant changes
Health/educational outcomes
Cost-benefit of each solution
Grant Process
Max flexibility: funding uses & timelines
Simplify processes & oversight
EPA should convene & share best practices
Technical Assistance
Data/science assistance
Grant writing help
Provide templates and tips
Provide guidance on what IAQ solutions are best
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Overview: Key Information
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
Goal:
Enable more low-income, disadvantaged, and Tribal schools to
more sustainably address indoor air quality (IAQ) problems, reduce
GHG emissions, and improve IAQ system energy efficiency through
national IAQ capacity building and the implementation of
comprehensive IAQ management plans consistent with EPA’s IAQ
guidance and best practices.
Eligible Entities:
States, Tribes, Territories, local
governments & educational agencies and
non-profits.
Total Funding:
$32,000,000
Length:
5 years
Anticipated Awards:
Between 4-6 grants worth $5-$8
million will be awarded to
organizations with the ability to
execute
state, regional, and national
IAQ programs and activities.
Apply Today:
grants.gov/search-results-detail/351780
Contact Us: IA[email protected]
Learn More: epa.gov/iaq-
schools/grant-funding-address-indoor-air-
pollution-schools
1/25/2024
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) 1/3
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Overview: Project Areas
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
1. IAQ and GHG Reduction Capacity Building targeting facility management staff, health
officers, and key decision makers at K-12 schools and/or school districts in low-income and
disadvantaged communities.
2. Tribal IAQ and GHG Reduction Capacity Building targeting facility management staff,
health officers, and key decision makers at K-12 schools in Tribal communities.
3. IAQ and GHG Reduction Training and Education Campaign for facility management staff
and health officers at K-12 schools and school districts in low-income, disadvantaged, and
Tribal communities, and/or the development of qualified K-12 school staff necessary to
execute comprehensive IAQ and GHG Reduction Plans.
4. IAQ and GHG Reduction Research and Demonstration Projects in K-12 schools located in
low-income, disadvantaged, and/or Tribal communities.
1/25/2024
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) 2/3
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Overview: Important Dates
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools1/25/2024
Date Event
January 11, 2024 Application Window Opens
January 25 from 1-2:30 p.m. ET Information Session Webinar 1
February 12 from 1-2:30 p.m. ET Information Session Webinar 2
February 22 Deadline to Submit Optional Notice of Intent to Apply*
March 5 Final Date to Submit Questions to IA[email protected]v
March 19 by 11:59 p.m. ET Deadline to Apply
May Anticipated Notification of Selection
October 2024 Anticipated Awards
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) 3/3
*To allow for efficient management of the competitive grant process, EPA requests that applicants email an optional Notice of
Intent to Apply by February 22, 2024, to IAQSchool[email protected]
. The email should include a project title, project area(s), the
applicant’s name, and the expected funding amount that will be requested. This notice of intent will help EPA anticipate the
total staff time required for efficient review, evaluation, and selection of submitted applications.
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How to Apply 1/2
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
Visit grants.gov/search-results-detail/351780 and
submit an application by March 19, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)
Warning/Tip: Registering in SAM.gov or
Grants.gov for the first time can take a month
or more. Applicants are advised to begin their
registration process early, so it does not
interfere with drafting the application near the
deadline.
Mandatory Application Elements
• Project Narrative
• Application for Federal Assistance
• Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs
• Pre-Award Compliance Review Report
• Key Contacts Form
Please review the NOFO
for additional application
information and guidance.
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How to Apply 2/2
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
Need Help?
Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical
Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) funded by EPA and in partnership
with DOE will help underserved and overburdened communities
across the country. TCTAC help will include:
• Training and assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant
application systems, developing strong grant proposals, and
effectively managing grant funding;
• Guidance on community engagement, meeting facilitation, and
translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking
participants; and
• Each of the technical assistance centers will create and manage
communication channels to ensure all communities have direct
access to resources and information.
Learn more or submit a request for assistance HERE.
Questions and IT Support
Grants.gov:
Visit grants.gov/support.html
SAM.gov:
Visit sam.gov/content/help
Grant Q&A:
Updated weekly HERE
based on
applicant questions
General Questions:
Contact EPA at IAQschools@epa.gov
“I am from the Federal Government and I am here to help.” – Former President Ronald Reagan
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Threshold Evaluation Process
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
Must meet ALL threshold criteria below to move on to Step 2:
1. Substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set
forth in Section IV.
The project narrative, including the cover page, workplan, and budget table and detail, must not exceed a maximum of 10 single-spaced typewritten pages.
Pages in excess of the 10-page limit will not be reviewed.
2. Application was submitted by 11:59 PM EST on March 19 through Grants.gov.
Except for the limited circumstances explained in Section IV.
3. Application demonstrates that is supports Goal 1: Objective 1.1, Goal 2: Objective 2.1 & 2.2,
and Goal 4: Objective 4.1 & 4.2 in
EPA’s Strategic Plan.
4. Application requests EPA funds at or between $5,000,000 and $8,0000,000.
5. Does not request funds for permanent improvements or renovations to buildings.
Except for research and demonstration projects in schools.
6. Includes activities under two or more of the four project areas provided in Section I.B.
Activities unrelated to one of the four project areas will not be reviewed.
7. Applicants can submit no more than one application per organization.
If an applicant submits more than one application, EPA will contact the applicant to determine which application(s) to withdraw. If the
applicant does not respond to EPA within two business days of being contacted, EPA will only review the last application submitted.
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Ineligible Activities
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
Applicants are encouraged to review RAIN-2019-G02, “Interim General Budget Development
Guidance for Applicants and Recipients of EPA Financial Assistance” for further guidance on
determining if a cost is eligible. The inclusion of ineligible activities may lead to a portion, or
all of the application not being reviewed.
a. For Project Areas 1-3, EPA will not consider activities that promote the use of air cleaning and energy efficiency
technologies of unknown or unclear performance against indoor air pollutants and GHG reductions such as
bipolar ionization, ozone generators, ionizing air cleaners, and oxidizing air cleaners. All tasks and activities must
be supported by robust scientific evidence in peer-reviewed publications and be consistent with EPA’s
IAQ Tools
for Schools Action Kit
and Framework, Energy Savings Plus Health Guidance, Preventive Maintenance Guidance,
and other EPA recommended IAQ best practices.
b. For Project Area 4, EPA will not consider proposals that do not include both research and demonstration
components. EPA will also not consider proposals that fund the research or demonstration of bipolar ionization,
ozone generators, ionizing air cleaners, and oxidizing air cleaners.
c. Except for in demonstration projects, funding cannot be used to make permanent facility improvements.
d. Human subject studies will not be funded through this NOFO. If you are unsure whether a proposed research
and demonstration activity would be considered human subject research, contact EPA at IAQSchools@epa.gov
.
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Application Evaluation Criteria
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
• Each eligible application will be evaluated by an EPA
evaluation team.
• Proposals are ranked and scored by the evaluation
criteria shown in the graphic to the right.
• The EPA evaluation team will provide preliminary
funding recommendations to the EPA Headquarters
Selection Official based on the proposal scores.
• Final funding decisions will be made by the Selection
Official based on ranking and preliminary
recommendations of the evaluation team and other
factors including: 1) the availability of funds 2) the
quantity and quality of applications received 3) the
broadest geographic impact of activities 4) EPA
priorities and 5) other applicable considerations.
Evaluation Criteria Score
1. Project Summary and Approach
Track B applications include R&D activities while Track A does not
30 (Track A)
40 (Track B)
2. Environmental Results — Outputs,
Outcomes and Performance
Measures
20
3. Programmatic Capability and Past
Performance
15
4. Environmental Justice and
Underserved Communities
20
5. Project Sustainability
5
6. Budget
15
Total Possible Points
105 (Track A)
115 (Track B)
Overview
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Application Evaluation Criteria
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
EPA will evaluate applications based on the extent and quality of the applicant’s project summary, overall
approach, and need for funding. Specifically, EPA will evaluate applications based upon how the proposed
activities (in two or more of the four project areas from Section I.B.) provide the most/best IAQ monitoring and
improvements and GHG monitoring and reductions for K-12 schools and school districts located in low-income,
disadvantaged, and Tribal communities using the following criteria (as appropriate):
Tracks A & B
A. (15 points): The highest likely number of comprehensive IAQ plans that K-12 schools and/or school districts
develop or enhance and adopt as a result of the proposed activities.
B. (5 points): Ability for schools, school districts, or states/territories/Tribes to access grant activity benefits and
adopt, replicate, enhance, or institute similar IAQ plans, policies, and programs.
C. (10 points): Highest likelihood of increased and/or improved of state, regional, and/or national
systems/capacity to address IAQ issues and reduce GHG emissions in K-12 schools and/or school districts.
Track B applications only
D. (10 points): Quality of research and demonstration project design and likelihood of providing
useful/actionable IAQ data and findings that K-12 school and/or school district facility management staff, health
officers, and key decision makers can incorporate into their comprehensive IAQ management plans and
programs.
Criteria 1
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Application Evaluation Criteria
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate:
a. (10 points) The extent and quality to which the applicant identifies and proposes
outputs and outcomes, as described in Section I.C of this announcement.
b. (5 points) The quality of the proposed quantitative and qualitative performance
measures and effectiveness of the applicant’s plan for tracking and measuring its
progress toward achieving the expected project outputs and outcomes, including
those identified in Section I.C of this announcement.
c. (5 points) The reasonableness of the proposed timeline including key milestones for
specific tasks and the likelihood of completion of the project’s goals and objectives by
project end.
Criteria 2
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Application Evaluation Criteria
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate applicants based on their ability to
successfully complete and manage the proposed project considering their:
a. (5 points) Past performance in successfully completing and managing the assistance agreements
identified in the project narrative as described in Section IV.C of the announcement.
b. (5 points) History of meeting the reporting requirements under the assistance agreements
identified in the project narrative as described in Section IV.C. of the announcement, including
whether the applicant submitted acceptable final technical reports under those agreements and
the extent to which the applicant adequately and timely reported on their progress towards
achieving the expected outputs and outcomes under those agreements and if such progress was
not being made whether the applicant adequately reported why not.
c. (5 points) Organizational experience, including staff expertise and qualifications, staff knowledge,
and resources or the ability to obtain them, and experience working with low-income,
disadvantaged, and Tribal schools, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project.
Criteria 3
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Application Evaluation Criteria
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate applications based on the extent to which they demonstrate how the
project will address the disproportionate and adverse (see below) human health, environmental, climate-related
and other cumulative impacts, as well as the accompanying economic challenges of such impacts, resulting from
industrial, governmental, commercial and/or other actions that have affected and/or currently affect
communities, including affected low-income, disadvantaged, and Tribal communities. As part of this evaluation,
applications will be evaluated based on:
A. (5 points) How effectively the project will benefit K-12 schools and/or school districts, and their Tribal communities, that
have experienced a lack of resources or other impediments to addressing the impacts identified above that affect their
community;
B. (5 points) How effectively the project will benefit K-12 schools and/or school districts, and their low-income and
disadvantaged communities, that have experienced a lack of resources or other impediments to addressing the impacts
identified above that affect their community;
C. (5 points) How effectively the project will assess, quantify, and report on benefits and avoided disbenefits to K-12
schools, school districts, and nearby low-income, disadvantaged, and Tribal communities throughout the grant period;
D. (5 points) The extent to which the project addresses engagement with these affected low-income, disadvantaged, and
Tribal communities and/or populations (see A above), especially local residents and school/school district officials
responsible for developing and adopting comprehensive IAQ plans (facility management staff, health officers, and key
decision makers), to ensure their meaningful participation with respect to the design, planning, and performance of the
project.
Criteria 4
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Application Evaluation Criteria
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
Under this criterion, EPA will evaluate applications based on the extent to which they demonstrate how the
project will address the disproportionate and adverse (see below) human health, environmental, climate-related
and other cumulative impacts, as well as the accompanying economic challenges of such impacts, resulting from
industrial, governmental, commercial and/or other actions that have affected and/or currently affect
communities, including affected low-income, disadvantaged, and Tribal communities. As part of this evaluation,
applications will be evaluated based on:
A. (5 points) How effectively the project will benefit K-12 schools and/or school districts, and their Tribal communities, that
have experienced a lack of resources or other impediments to addressing the impacts identified above that affect their
community;
B. (5 points) How effectively the project will benefit K-12 schools and/or school districts, and their low-income and
disadvantaged communities, that have experienced a lack of resources or other impediments to addressing the impacts
identified above that affect their community;
C. (5 points) How effectively the project will assess, quantify, and report on benefits and avoided disbenefits to K-12
schools, school districts, and nearby low-income, disadvantaged, and Tribal communities throughout the grant period;
D. (5 points) The extent to which the project addresses engagement with these affected low-income, disadvantaged, and
Tribal communities and/or populations (see A above), especially local residents and school/school district officials
responsible for developing and adopting comprehensive IAQ plans (facility management staff, health officers, and key
decision makers), to ensure their meaningful participation with respect to the design, planning, and performance of the
project.
Criteria 4
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Application Evaluation Criteria
Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
Under criteria 5 (5 points), EPA will evaluate applicants based on the extent to which the
project results and benefits are sustainable and are most likely to be continued after project
completion.
Under criteria 6, EPA will evaluate applicants based on the extent and quality to which:
A.(5 points) The proposed budget provides a detailed breakout by funding type in the proper
budget category for each activity the applicant is requesting funding.
B.(5 points) The proposed costs are reasonable to accomplish the proposed goals, objectives,
and measurable environmental outcomes; and
C. (5 points) The applicant’s approach, procedures, and controls will ensure that awarded
grant funds will be expended in a timely and efficient manner.
Criteria 5 & 6
1/25/2024
Thank you for your interest in this funding
opportunity!
• Applications are due by March 19
• Submit questions to [email protected] by March 5
•
www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/grant-funding-address-indoor-
air-pollution-schools
1/25/2024 Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools 23
