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State Environmental Enforcement Training (SEET) Grant
- What is the SEET Grant?
- Who will benefit from this training grant?
- Funding Opportunity
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SEET Grant?
States play a vital role in the implementation of the nation’s environmental laws and regulations. In order to strengthen and build states’ capacity to monitor compliance and enforce against violations of environmental laws, EPA has routinely provided non-competitive grant funds to train state environmental enforcement personnel. These grants have been managed by the National Enforcement Training Institute (NETI) since the late 1980’s as awarded to the four Regional Environmental Enforcement Associations. 
In FY2009, NETI will be conducting an open grant competition to continue providing enforcement training to state enforcement personnel. Competition for NETI’s funds is being done in accordance with EPA Order 5700.5A1 (PDF) (37 pp, 152 K, About PDF).
Who will benefit from this training grant?
The SEET grant is intended to provide a comprehensive training program, similar to the training program that NETI currently manages. The training audience will include regulatory inspectors, attorneys, civil/criminal investigators, and case development specialists, available throughout the 50 United States, offering subject matter coverage across multiple statutes.
Funding Opportunity
NETI is soliciting proposals from eligible entities to provide a comprehensive training program as described in the fiscal year 2009 SEET Solicitation Notice (PDF) (118 pp, 209K, About PDF). This notice announces the application requirements, project description, due dates, the amount of money available, threshold and ranking criteria, and entities eligible to apply. This notice is also published at the government-wide Grants.gov Web site. Frequently asked questions about this solicitation are available below and there are provisions in the notice to ask additional questions before the closing date of the solicitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When are proposals due?
- What are the procedures for submitting a proposal?
- Who are eligible applicants?
- What if applicants have questions about the solicitation process or the nature of the projects being solicited?
- Are there reasons why an application would not be considered for review?
- Can multiple eligible applicants apply for a grant together?
- What types of allowable activities are covered under the SEET Grant Program?
- Please explain the review process.
- What are some examples of outcomes measures that could be used to show environmental results?
- Is this grant program part of the Environmental Exchange Network?
- Does an applicant have the option of determining a preferred assistance agreement (grant or cooperative agreement)?
The submission deadline for all proposals is May 11, 2009, midnight EDT.
2. What are the procedures for submitting a proposal?
The solicitation notice states that all proposals should be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov. However, due to recently identified technical issues with the grants.gov web site, EPA is encouraging the use of two alternative submission procedures:
- mailing (USPS, Fedex, UPS, etc.) a hardcopy to Debra G. Ehlert, NETI-West, 12345 W. Alameda Parkway, Suite 111, Lakewood, Colorado 80228, or
- emailing electronic documents to Debra Ehlert (ehlert.debra@epa.gov).
Applicants are encouraged to call 303-236-6790 to verify receipt of materials.
3. Who are eligible applicants?
State governments, federally recognized Indian Tribes and Intertribal Consortia, multi-jurisdictional state organizations or associations (only if incorporated as non-profits or operating under a state government) with enforcement and compliance assurance responsibilities or responsibilities that support enforcement and compliance assurance are eligible to apply for and receive funds. In addition, state universities and non-profit organizations with expertise in compliance assurance and enforcement issues are also eligible grant applicants. Commercial or for-profit entities are not eligible to apply.
4. What if applicants have questions about the solicitation process or the nature of the projects being solicited?
Applicants may submit questions to Debra Ehlert (ehlert.debra@epa.gov) by April 15, 2009. Answers to all questions will be added to this FAQ file as soon as possible after the questions have been submitted.
5. Are there reasons why an application would not be considered for review?
Yes, if an applicant does not meet all of the threshold criteria, their proposal will not be reviewed. These include:
- proposals that do not address the specific project proposal workplan elements found in Section I. B;
- proposals that do not include the targeted covered disciplines of environmental enforcement personnel, geographic areas or subject matter categories found in Section I B. and C.;
- late submittals or submittals that do not substantially comply with submission instructions and requirements found in Section IV; and
- proposals that do not support Goal 5 of EPA’s Strategic Plan.
6. Can multiple eligible applicants apply for a grant together?
Yes. Because of the comprehensive and broad nature of the work being solicited under this grant solicitation, EPA encourages the formation of coalitions or partnerships of eligible applicants to submit proposals.
7. What types of allowable activities are covered under the SEET Grant Program?
These funds are designed for capacity building purposes and are not for direct implementation. The kinds of training projects being solicited are identified in the project description section (Section I B.) of the solicitation.
8. Please explain the review process.
All proposals are initially reviewed for meeting the threshold requirements using the eligibility criteria (Section III). Proposals that successfully pass this review will then be evaluated on the evaluation criteria (Section V A.) by program experts familiar with training project areas. In general, program experts are composed of EPA Headquarters and Regional enforcement personnel, who are experts in their respective areas and proficient in the technical subjects they are reviewing. Each reviewer assigns a numeric score to each ranking criteria area. These program experts will then convene as a consensus panel to finalize their evaluation and scoring and prepare a list of recommended projects based on the ranking of the final scores. These recommendations will be submitted to the Approving Official. The Approving Official will have the final authority to make the selection.
9. What are some examples of outcomes measures that could be used to show environmental results?
The solicitation notice provides examples of outcomes and outputs that might be achieved. Applicants must develop measures for appropriate outcomes that their proposals will address.
10. Is this grant program part of the Environmental Exchange Network?
No, this is a separate grant program. The Environmental Information Exchange Network is run by EPA’s Office of Environmental Information, a separate Office in EPA. However, Section VIII of the solicitation notice asks recipients to use the Exchange Network to exchange data and information with each other and with EPA. This enhances the capacity building between states.
11. Does an applicant have the option of determining a preferred assistance agreement (grant or cooperative agreement)?
EPA will make the determination if an assistance agreement should be a grant or a cooperative agreement, based on the anticipated level of EPA involvement.
2009 Request for Proposals
- SEET Proposal (PDF) (118 pp, 209K, About PDF) due May 11, 2009