Enhancing Stormwater Control Infrastructure

EPA Centers of Excellence for Stormwater Control Infrastructure Technologies

Background:

Stormwater poses a significant threat to water quality and ecosystems nationwide, exacerbated by climate change and urban development. Many communities struggle with stormwater impacts, including flooding, water quality degradation, and soil erosion, often due to financial constraints hindering infrastructure development. Underserved communities, including low-income groups and Indigenous populations, are particularly vulnerable to these challenges.

Recognizing the urgent need for practical stormwater solutions, Congress authorized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish Centers of Excellence for Stormwater Control Infrastructure Technologies. These centers aim to advance new technologies and funding approaches to address stormwater and sewer overflow issues. By providing technical assistance and fostering resilience, the EPA seeks to ensure equitable access to clean water and enhance community safety and environmental health.

Project Description:

This grant program is to improve stormwater management across the United States. Stormwater poses significant challenges to water quality and ecosystems, exacerbated by factors such as climate change and urban development. Many communities struggle with stormwater issues due to financial constraints and lack of access to effective infrastructure solutions. To address these challenges, the program seeks to establish multiple Centers of Excellence for Stormwater Control Infrastructure Technologies (Centers of Excellence) nationwide.

Centers of Excellence:

This project aims to establish regional Centers of Excellence dedicated to researching and implementing new stormwater control infrastructure technologies. These centers will conduct research, provide technical assistance, and collaborate with regional stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness and cost efficiency of stormwater management efforts.

National Electronic Clearinghouse:

In addition to regional Centers of Excellence, this project seeks to create a national electronic clearinghouse to centralize information on stormwater control infrastructure technologies. This clearinghouse will compile research, technical assistance, and outreach efforts from the Centers of Excellence, facilitating knowledge sharing and accessibility of resources.

Project Area 1: Establish and Maintain Regional Centers of Excellence

Description:

Under Project Area 1, we need to establish regional Centers of Excellence dedicated to researching and implementing new stormwater control infrastructure technologies. These centers will conduct research, provide technical assistance, and collaborate with regional stakeholders to address stormwater challenges effectively.

i. Conduct Research on New and Emerging Technologies:

Centers of Excellence will conduct research on various stormwater control infrastructure technologies, including green infrastructure, cost-saving approaches, climate resilience enhancements, smart technologies, and more. Research outcomes should aim to improve effectiveness, cost efficiency, and public safety related to stormwater management.

ii. Provide Technical Assistance:

Technical assistance will be offered to state, Tribal, and local governments to support the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of innovative stormwater control infrastructure projects. This assistance will include addressing NPDES challenges, identifying funding sources, troubleshooting operational issues, and providing information on stormwater requirements and permitting practices.

iii. Collaborate with Regional Institutions and Organizations:

The Centers will collaborate with regional institutions of higher education, private and public organizations, and community-based partnerships to share findings, recommendations, and best practices. Collaboration efforts will involve conducting webinars, co-authoring publications, engaging with community leaders, developing communication tools, and promoting the national electronic clearinghouse.

Project Area 2: Create and Maintain a National Electronic Clearinghouse

Description:

Under Project Area 2, you must develop and maintain a national electronic clearinghouse consolidating information on new stormwater control infrastructure technologies. This clearinghouse will serve as a central hub for research, technical assistance, and outreach from the Centers of Excellence, promoting accessibility and dissemination of resources to disadvantaged and underserved communities.

Approach:

You must outline your plan to populate the clearinghouse with information from the Centers of Excellence and promote it among technical assistance providers, government agencies, and other stakeholders. Collaboration with the EPA and existing clearinghouses is encouraged to avoid duplication of efforts and maximize coordination. Additionally, you should describe their outreach approach to reach diverse communities, ensuring cultural competence and addressing community sensitivities to build trust and engagement.

Goals and Objectives:

Goal:

Establish and maintain regional Centers of Excellence for new and emerging stormwater control infrastructure technologies.

Objectives:

  1. Conduct Research: Conduct research on new and emerging stormwater control infrastructure technologies, including stormwater and sewer overflow reduction, alternative funding approaches, and other environmental, economic, and social benefits.
  2. Provide Technical Assistance: Offer technical assistance to state, Tribal, and local governments for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of stormwater control infrastructure projects using innovative technologies. This includes supporting financial components of funding stormwater projects.
  3. Collaborate with Institutions and Organizations: Collaborate with regional institutions of higher education, private and public organizations, community-based public-private partnerships, and other stakeholders to share findings, recommendations, and best practices for stormwater management. This collaboration aims to strengthen regional stormwater approaches and ensure equitable access to stormwater infrastructure solutions.

Goal:

Create and maintain a national electronic clearinghouse for stormwater control infrastructure technologies.

Objectives:

  1. Develop and Operate Clearinghouse: Establish a national electronic clearinghouse containing information on new and emerging stormwater control infrastructure technologies, including research findings, technical assistance resources, and best practices from Centers of Excellence.
  2. Promote Clearinghouse: Promote the national electronic clearinghouse to stormwater professionals, community organizations, educational institutions, utilities, and other stakeholders across the United States to expand access to water technical assistance, especially in disadvantaged and underserved communities.

Project Narrative Requirements

Note:

The Project Narrative must not exceed 12 typewritten, single-spaced pages, including the cover page and executive summary. Pages should be consecutively numbered. Readability is crucial, and you are encouraged to use a standard 12-point font with 1-inch margins. Supporting materials are not included in the page limit.

1. Cover Page (included in the page limit):

  • Project Title
  • Name of Applicant
  • Project Area Addressed in the Application
  • Key Personnel and Contact Information (E-mail Address and Phone Number)
  • Total Project Cost (Federal Funds Requested, Non-federal Cost-share/Match, Total Project Cost)

2. Executive Summary (Maximum one page):

  • Provide a detailed overview of the proposed project, including its objectives, methodologies, and expected outcomes. This section should succinctly summarize the key aspects of the project, highlighting its significance and potential impact.

3. Workplan:

  • Project Areas: Describe in detail the approach for addressing one of the Project Areas previously specified in the announcement. If applying under Project Area 1, delineate the proposed strategies for establishing a regional Center of Excellence focusing on research, technical assistance, and collaboration with regional institutions. If applying under Project Area 2, outline the plan for developing, operating, and maintaining a national electronic clearinghouse.
  • Project Partnerships: Identify and explain the partnerships essential for the successful execution of the project. Under Project Area 1, specify the partnerships necessary for conducting research and providing technical assistance within the designated geographical region. Considerations should include community engagement and addressing the needs of harder-to-reach populations. Under Project Area 2, describe the partnerships required for posting information from other Centers of Excellence, along with clear delineations of roles and responsibilities.
  • Transfer of Results: Detail the plan for actively disseminating project results to stakeholders, including states, Tribes, local governments, and decision-makers. For Project Area 1, outline information-sharing strategies through a national electronic clearinghouse. For Project Area 2, describe methods for collecting and promoting information from the Centers of Excellence.

4. Environmental Results and Measuring Progress:

  • Stated Objective/Link to EPA Strategic Plan: Clearly state the project objective and its alignment with EPA’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2022-2026, specifically Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for all Communities, and Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds.
  • Results of Activities (Outputs): Describe the anticipated products or results expected from the project and establish an approach for monitoring and reporting progress towards achieving these outputs. 
  • Projected Environmental Improvement (Outcomes): List the anticipated environmental improvements resulting from the project, including changes or benefits to the environment or public health. Develop a strategy for tracking and reporting progress towards achieving these outcomes. 

5. Milestone Schedule:

  • Provide a projected milestone schedule outlining the phases, associated tasks, and completion timeframe for each task. Demonstrate an approach for ensuring the timely and efficient expenditure of awarded funds. 

6. Detailed Budget Narrative:

  • Provide a comprehensive breakdown of the budget, including estimated funding amounts for each project component or task. Detail costs related to personnel, fringe benefits, contractual expenses, travel, equipment, supplies, other direct costs, and indirect costs. Describe the budget elements in sufficient detail for EPA evaluation regarding their allowability, cost-effectiveness, and reasonableness.

7. Programmatic Capability/Experience:

  • Organizational Experience: Provide a concise overview of the applicant organization, highlighting its experience, infrastructure, and capabilities relevant to successfully implementing the proposed project.
  • Staff Expertise/Qualifications: List key staff members and describe their expertise, qualifications, experience, and resources necessary for achieving the project’s goals. Include information on the availability of resources or the ability to obtain them as needed.

8. Past Performance:

  • Previous Assistance Agreements: Describe federally funded and/or non-federally funded assistance agreements (grants and cooperative agreements) performed by the applicant within the last three years, focusing on EPA agreements if applicable. Detail the successful completion and management of these agreements, including adherence to reporting requirements and progress tracking toward achieving expected results (outputs and outcomes).

9. Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) (not counted in the page limit for the Project Narrative):

  • QA/QC Compliance: Explain how the project will comply with Quality Assurance/Quality Control requirements, particularly if collecting or using environmental data or information. Note the requirement for developing a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for EPA assistance agreements funding data collection and/or analysis, and include the cost of QAPP development in the project budget.

Job Description:

The Project Manager will oversee the implementation of the Stormwater Control Infrastructure Program, ensuring that project activities are executed efficiently, effectively, and in alignment with the goals and objectives outlined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This role requires strong leadership, project management, and communication skills and a deep understanding of stormwater management principles and practices.

Key Responsibilities:

  1. Project Planning and Coordination:
    • Develop comprehensive project plans, timelines, and budgets in collaboration with stakeholders.
    • Coordinate with regional Centers of Excellence and other partners to ensure alignment of activities with program objectives.
    • Monitor project progress, identify potential risks, and implement mitigation strategies as needed.
  2. Research and Innovation:
    • Facilitate research efforts on new and emerging stormwater control infrastructure technologies, funding approaches, and environmental outcomes.
    • Stay abreast of the latest developments and best practices in stormwater management to inform project strategies and decision-making.
  3. Technical Assistance and Capacity Building:
    • Provide technical assistance to state, Tribal, and local governments on the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of stormwater control infrastructure projects.
    • Develop and deliver training programs, workshops, and webinars to enhance stakeholders’ knowledge and skills in stormwater management.
  4. Collaboration and Outreach:
    • Foster collaboration with regional institutions, public and private organizations, and community-based partnerships to share research findings and best practices.
    • Promote the national electronic clearinghouse to increase access to stormwater information and resources among diverse stakeholders.
  5. Monitoring and Reporting:
    • Establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track project outputs and outcomes.
    • Prepare regular progress reports, presentations, and publications to communicate project achievements and lessons learned to stakeholders and funders.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in environmental science, civil engineering, water resources management, or a related field.
  • Minimum of 2 years of experience in project management, preferably in the field of stormwater management or environmental engineering.
  • Strong knowledge of stormwater control infrastructure technologies, green infrastructure practices, and regulatory requirements.
  • Excellent communication skills, including the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and facilitate collaboration.
  • Proficiency in data analysis, reporting, and use of project management tools/software.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Experience working with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions is desirable.
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