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P3 Award: National Student Design Competition for Sustainability
P3 highlights people, prosperity, and the planet - the three pillars of sustainability - as the next step beyond P2 or pollution prevention.
The
Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2008: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites submissions to the P3 Award: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability.
The P3 competition will provide grants to teams of college students to research, develop, and design solutions to challenges to sustainability.
The Phase I competition is designed to provide flexibility for creativity, allowing interdisciplinary teams of students to: (1) define a technical challenge to sustainability; (2) discuss the relationship of the challenge to people, prosperity, and the planet; and (3) develop a design approach to address the challenge.
Challenges from a wide range of categories will be considered.
These include: agriculture (e.g., irrigation practices, reduction or elimination of pesticides); materials and chemicals (e.g., materials conservation; renewable, bio-based feedstocks; inherently benign materials and chemicals through green engineering and green chemistry, biotechnology; recovery and reuse of materials through product, process, or system design); energy (e.g., reduction in air emissions through innovative strategies for energy production and energy distribution; energy conservation; inherently benign energy through green chemistry, green engineering, biotechnology); information technology (e.g., delivery of and access to environmental performance, technical, educational, or public health information related to environmental decision making); water (e.g., water quality, quantity, conservation, availability, and access); built environment (e.g., environmental benefits through innovative green buildings, transportation and mobility strategies, and smart growth as it results in reduced vehicle miles traveled or reduces storm water runoff).
Winners of Phase I will be eligible for Phase II awards.
Phase II awards will be made for further development and demonstration of the designs created by Phase I winners.
Phase II will begin in the Spring when the student teams and their faculty advisor (the Principal Investigator on the grant) will be invited to submit their completed Phase I design to compete for the P3 Award.reduction in air emissions through innovative strategies for energy production and energy distribution; energy conservation; inherently benign energy through green chemistry, green engineering, biotechnology); information technology (e.g., delivery of and access to environmental performance, technical, educational, or public health information related to environmental decision making); water (e.g., water quality, quantity, conservation, availability, and access); built environment (e.g., environmental benefits through innovative green buildings, transportation and mobility strategies, and smart growth as it results in reduced vehicle miles traveled or reduces storm water runoff).
Winners of Phase I will be eligible for Phase II awards.
Phase II awards will be made for further development and demonstration of the designs created by Phase I winners.
Phase II will begin in the Spring when the student teams and their faculty advisor (the Principal Investigator on the grant) will be invited to submit their completed Phase I design to compete for the P3 Award.
(1) Propose a unique approach to blend green and animal wastes into a product that will be a nutrient-rich soil amendment and/or fuel source.
This product represents a new approach toward waste use that combines two problem wastes to form a usable product.
(2) Develop a novel solid acid catalyst (NSAC) for the esterification of fatty acids to remove them from feedstocks that would be utilized in biodiesel production.
The removal of these fatty acids would make the processing of waste oil feedstock less difficult, helping minimize the costliness of biofuels.
(3) A novel scrubber will be designed for the selective capture of trace elements such as mercury, selenium, and arsenic from the flue gases of coal combustion.
The novel sorbent material will prevent trace element contamination in flue gas desulfurization (FGD) byproducts and thereby permit safer handling and recycling of the products, making coal combustion more sustainable.
(4) Use virgin plant oils, animal fats and waste cooking oil as sustainable resources that can reduce the use of petroleum derived fuels.
(5)Design and demonstrate a sustainable point-of-use water treatment facility consisting of biosand filtration and UV sterilization systems.
See Web Page (http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3/past/index.html) for additional information on previously funded grants.
- 14th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Energy
- 14th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Built Environment
- 14th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Water
- 14th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Materials and Chemicals
- 13th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
The solicitation may be found at: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3.
Program Accomplishments
Applications received for the P3 Phase I Award- FY 07: 116; FY 08: 110. New awards for the P3 Phase I Award: FY 07: 58. Applications received for the P3 Phase II Award- FY 07: 42; FY 08: 56. New awards for the P3 Phase II Award: FY 07: 6. Abstracts of grant awards, and final summary results of the research will be available on the NCER P3 homepage: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3/past/index.html.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Awards are made in response to an announced competitive request for applications (RFA).
Funds awarded via grant agreements are available for allowable direct cost expenditures incident to the performance of research plus allocable portions of allowable indirect costs of the institutions, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations.
Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information.
Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.
Public nonprofit institutions/organizations (limited to degree-granting public institutions of higher education) and private nonprofit institutions/organizations (limited to degree-granting private institutions of higher education) located in the U.S.
are eligible to apply to be the recipient of a grant to support teams of undergraduate and/or graduate students.
The students on the teams supported by the institution receiving the grant must be enrolled in the college, university, or post-secondary educational institution they will be representing at the time the proposal is submitted.
Institutions are allowed to submit more than one proposal where each proposal represents a unique design concept and student team.
For the purposes of grant administration, the team's faculty advisor will be designated the principal investigator throughout the P3 Award grant and competition process.
In addition to the principal investigator, each team selected for award will also be asked to provide contact information for a student lead.
Universities and educational institutions must be subject to OMB Circular A-21.
Profit-making firms are not eligible to receive grants from the EPA under this program.
Eligible nonprofit organizations include research institutes, corporations, or foundations that are part of a U.S.
degree-granting institution of higher education.
However, nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible to apply.Federal Agencies may not apply.
Federal employees are not eligible to serve in a principal leadership role on an assistance agreement, and may not receive salaries or augment their Agency's appropriations in other ways through awards made under this program.
National laboratories funded by Federal Agencies (Federally-Funded Research and Development Centers) may not apply.Interdisciplinary teams, including representatives from multiple engineering departments and/or departments of chemistry, architecture, industrial design, business, economics, policy, social science, and others, are strongly encouraged to submit an application through their institution.
Collaboration with colleges and universities outside the United States is permitted, but only U.S.
institutions will be eligible for awards.
Up to 40% of the total grant may be sub-contracted to another educational institution (domestic or foreign) as described in instructions for submitting to this RFA.
If foreign work is performed, in the process of funding the grant, EPA's Office of Research and Development is required to obtain clearance from EPA's Office of International Activities and the U.S.
Department of State.
See RFA at: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3/ for additional information pertaining to eligibility requirements.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Public Nonprofit Institutions/Organizations, Private Nonprofit Institutions/Organizations, Anyone/General Public, Education Professional, Student/Trainee, Graduate Student, Scientists/Researchers.
Credentials/Documentation
EPA may request that students document their affiliation with an eligible institution. The EPA may also request that applicants demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out the research. EPA may ask principal investigators for information documenting past performance.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement.
For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog.
When applicable, an environmental impact assessment is made by the Office of Research and Development as required by the National Environmental Protection Act.
The standard application forms as furnished by the EPA and required by OMB Circular No.
A-110 must be used for this program.
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.
12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedures
For regular mail, completed paper applications must be submitted to the following address: Environmental Protection Agency, Peer Review Division (8725F),Funding Opportunity Number: (include appropriate number as shown in the solicitation), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460. For express mail and couriers, completed paper applications must be submitted to the following address: Environmental Protection Agency, Peer Review Division (8725F. Funding Opportunity Number: (include appropriate number as shown in the solicitation), 1025 F Street, N.W., (Room 3500), Washington, DC 20004, Telephone: (202) 233-0686. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110. Specific details on the application process is described in the solicitation which is located at: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3/. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.
Award Procedures
For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. Customarily, applicants are notified of award decisions within six months of the close of the RFA. After being recommended for award, applicants will be required to submit additional certifications and an electronic version of the revised project abstract, and may be requested to provide responses to comments or suggestions offered by the peer reviewers, a revised budget, past performance documentation, and/or make appropriate proposal revisions. EPA Project Officers will contact Principal Investigators to obtain these materials. The official notification of an award will be made by the Agency's Grants and Interagency Agreement Management Division.
Deadlines
As shown in the solicitation, which is accessible through the EPA/ORD/NCER P3 Web site at http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3.
Authorization
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Section 102(2)(F); Clean Air Act, Section 103, 42 U.S.C. 7403; Clean Water Act, Section 104, 33 U.S.C.; Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001, 42 U.S.C. 6981; Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442, 42 U.S.C. 300j-1; Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20, 7 U.S.C. 136r; Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10, 15 U.S.C. 2609.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Approximately 180 days.
Appeals
Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
P3 Awards will be fully funded. Project period for Phase I will normally not exceed 1 year. Project period for Phase II will normally not exceed 2 years.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Phase I Report, Phase II report, expenditure, equipment and invention reports as appropriate.
Audits
Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," non-federal entities that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-federal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records
The record retention requirements of 40 CFR Part 30 are applicable. Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate charges to each grant, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained until three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0107-0-1-304.
Obigations
FY 07 $1,067,000; FY 08 est. $1,077,000; FY 09 est. $1,095,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Phase I Awards range from $7,000 to $10,000. Average awards total $9,800. Phase II Awards range from $35,000 to $75,000. Average awards total $69,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
General Grant Regulations and Procedures, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 30) and Research and Demonstration Grant Regulations, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 40).
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Applicants are encouraged to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog or the contact listed on the solicitation. The solicitation may be found at: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3.
Headquarters Office
To obtain further information via the Internet for the P3 Award, click on "P3" at http://www.epa.gov/ncer. Further information, if needed, may also be obtained from Cynthia Nolt-Helms; phone: 202-343-9693; fax: 202-233-0680; e-mail: nolt-helms.cynthia@epa.gov; 1025 F Street, N.W.Washington, DC 20004. E-mail inquiries are preferred.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement. See the Web page (http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3) for additional information on the evaluative criteria for this RFA.
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