Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA R10 PS 2020 001
The Puget Sound Action Agenda - Implementation Strategies and Actions for Vital Sign Recovery Assistance Program (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA R10 PS 2020 001) is a discretionary U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 funding opportunity that supports environmental recovery work in Puget Sound through cooperative agreements. The program is built around the Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) Action Agenda, which is the region's shared recovery plan, and it is specifically aimed at turning that plan into on-the-ground and programmatic results by funding entities that can lead implementation in a structured, accountable way. The opportunity sits under CFDA 66.123 and was announced on September 9, 2020, with an original closing date of November 9, 2020 (with the notice directing applicants to Section IV of the full announcement for detailed submission instructions).
At the center of the solicitation is the request for applicants to serve as Strategic Initiative Implementation Leads, commonly shortened to Strategic Initiative Leads (SILs). Rather than simply funding isolated projects, EPA is looking to fund a small number of lead organizations that can coordinate a broader portfolio of work tied to specific Strategic Initiatives within the Action Agenda. These SILs are expected to work in close coordination with PSP, EPA, and other key parties involved in Puget Sound recovery, reflecting the collaborative governance model used by the National Estuary Program (NEP) and the Puget Sound NEP Management Conference.
The solicitation lays out three core responsibilities for SILs. First, SILs are responsible for awarding and managing subawards that directly support implementation of the Action Agenda, with a particular emphasis on Implementation Strategies. This means the lead recipient is expected to function as a pass-through manager for a suite of subgrants or similar subawards, ensuring funds are invested effectively and aligned with the recovery plan. As part of this investment and oversight role, SILs must maintain Strategic Initiative Advisory Teams (SIATs). These advisory teams are intended to provide guidance and input on investment decisions, helping ensure that subaward selections and priorities reflect the best available science, practical implementation realities, and regional priorities.
Second, SILs must serve as Implementation Strategy Leads for the Puget Sound "Vital Signs" connected to their Strategic Initiative. In the Puget Sound recovery framework, Vital Signs are the indicators used to track ecological and environmental health and measure progress. The SIL role here is not passive reporting; it is active leadership. The notice expects SILs to form technical groups (including interdisciplinary teams) and/or policy workgroups that can develop, refine, and operationalize Implementation Strategies. This includes adaptive management, meaning strategies are expected to evolve as new data, lessons learned, and changing conditions emerge. In practice, this could involve clarifying what actions are most effective, developing implementation plans or guidance, coordinating across jurisdictions and sectors, and keeping strategies actionable rather than purely conceptual.
Third, SILs are expected to participate in PSP and NEP Management Conference processes and work groups. This requirement ties SIL activities into the broader coordination and decision-making structures used for Puget Sound recovery. The intent is that Strategic Initiative work does not operate in a silo; it is integrated into region-wide planning, coordination, and accountability systems. Alongside this, SILs must proactively coordinate with Local Integrating Organizations (LIOs) and tribal partners. LIOs are key regional coordination bodies in Puget Sound recovery, and tribal governments are central sovereign partners with deep place-based expertise, authority, and responsibilities. The solicitation makes clear that coordination with these partners is not optional or incidental; it is an expected part of how SILs carry out their leadership and investment responsibilities.
From a funding perspective, the opportunity is structured to make a small number of comparatively large awards. The listed award ceiling is $33,300,000, and EPA anticipated making three awards. The instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which typically means EPA expects to have substantial involvement in the project beyond what is common in a standard grant. That aligns with the program design, where SILs are not only implementing and managing subawards but are also working closely with EPA and PSP in ongoing strategy leadership, coordination, and participation in governance processes.
Eligibility is described broadly in the summary as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," indicating that the detailed eligibility rules are contained in the full announcement. In general terms, the solicitation is geared toward entities capable of acting as regional implementation leaders: organizations with the administrative capacity to manage subawards, convene advisory and technical groups, coordinate across multiple partners, and align investments with the Action Agenda's Implementation Strategies and Vital Sign recovery outcomes.
Overall, this RFA is best understood as an effort to fund backbone organizations that can translate Puget Sound recovery priorities into coordinated action. It emphasizes strategic leadership, disciplined investment through subawards, active management of recovery strategies tied to measurable indicators, and continuous coordination with PSP, EPA, NEP processes, LIOs, and tribal partners to drive meaningful progress on Puget Sound Vital Sign recovery.Apply for EPA R10 PS 2020 001
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Puget Sound Action Agenda – Implementation Strategies and Actions for Vital Sign Recovery Assistance Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.123.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 09, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 09, 2020 Please see Section IV of the announcement for additional submission information. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $33,300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Puget Sound Action Agenda - Implementation Strategies and Actions for Vital Sign Recovery Assistance Program?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 that supports environmental recovery work in Puget Sound through cooperative agreements. The program is designed to turn the Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) Action Agenda (the region's shared recovery plan) into on-the-ground and programmatic results.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is EPA R10 PS 2020 001.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 66.123.
When was this funding opportunity announced?
The opportunity was announced on September 9, 2020.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date was November 9, 2020. The notice directs applicants to Section IV of the full announcement for detailed submission instructions.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The instrument type is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that awards are cooperative agreements?
A cooperative agreement generally means EPA expects substantial involvement in the project, beyond what is typical for a standard grant. This matches the program design where selected entities are expected to coordinate closely with EPA and PSP while leading implementation and managing subawards.
What is the main goal of this solicitation?
The solicitation is focused on funding a small number of lead organizations to drive structured, accountable implementation of the PSP Action Agenda. Instead of supporting isolated projects, it supports coordinated leadership of portfolios of work tied to specific Strategic Initiatives within the Action Agenda.
Who is EPA looking to fund under this opportunity?
EPA is seeking applicants to serve as Strategic Initiative Implementation Leads, commonly referred to as Strategic Initiative Leads (SILs).
What is a Strategic Initiative Lead (SIL)?
A SIL is a lead organization funded to coordinate a broader portfolio of recovery work tied to a specific Strategic Initiative within the Action Agenda. SILs are expected to provide leadership, manage investments through subawards, support and refine Implementation Strategies, and coordinate through regional governance processes.
How is this program different from a typical project-based grant?
Rather than funding stand-alone projects, the program funds lead entities that act as "backbone" organizations. The expectation is that these leads coordinate multiple actions and partners, manage subawards aligned with the Action Agenda, and provide active leadership tied to measurable recovery indicators (Vital Signs).
What are the three core responsibilities for Strategic Initiative Leads (SILs)?
The solicitation identifies three core SIL responsibilities: (1) awarding and managing subawards aligned with the Action Agenda (especially Implementation Strategies) and maintaining Strategic Initiative Advisory Teams (SIATs); (2) serving as Implementation Strategy Leads for Puget Sound Vital Signs connected to their Strategic Initiative, including convening technical and/or policy workgroups and using adaptive management; and (3) participating in PSP and National Estuary Program (NEP) Management Conference processes and work groups, including proactive coordination with Local Integrating Organizations (LIOs) and tribal partners.
Are SILs expected to make subawards?
Yes. SILs are responsible for awarding and managing subawards that directly support implementation of the Action Agenda, with a particular emphasis on Implementation Strategies.
What does it mean for a SIL to act as a pass-through manager?
It means the lead recipient manages a suite of subgrants or similar subawards, overseeing how funds are invested to ensure they are effective and aligned with the Action Agenda recovery priorities.
What are Strategic Initiative Advisory Teams (SIATs), and are they required?
SIATs are advisory teams that provide guidance and input on investment decisions, helping ensure subaward selections and priorities reflect best available science, practical implementation realities, and regional priorities. SILs are required to maintain SIATs as part of their investment and oversight role.
What are Puget Sound "Vital Signs" in the context of this opportunity?
Vital Signs are indicators used in the Puget Sound recovery framework to track ecological and environmental health and to measure progress. SILs are expected to lead Implementation Strategies connected to the Vital Signs for their Strategic Initiative.
What does it mean to be an Implementation Strategy Lead for Vital Signs?
It involves active leadership rather than passive reporting. The notice expects SILs to form technical groups (including interdisciplinary teams) and/or policy workgroups to develop, refine, and operationalize Implementation Strategies, including the use of adaptive management so strategies evolve with new data, lessons learned, and changing conditions.
What kinds of coordination activities are expected from SILs?
SILs are expected to coordinate closely with PSP, EPA, and other key parties involved in Puget Sound recovery, consistent with the collaborative governance model used by the National Estuary Program (NEP) and the Puget Sound NEP Management Conference. They are also expected to participate in PSP and NEP Management Conference processes and work groups.
Are SILs required to coordinate with Local Integrating Organizations (LIOs) and tribal partners?
Yes. The solicitation states that SILs must proactively coordinate with LIOs and tribal partners. Coordination with these partners is described as an expected part of SIL leadership and investment responsibilities, not an optional activity.
How many awards did EPA anticipate making?
EPA anticipated making three awards.
What is the award ceiling listed in the opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $33,300,000.
Is eligibility limited to a specific applicant type?
Eligibility is described broadly in the summary as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which indicates the detailed eligibility requirements are contained in the full announcement.
What kind of organizations is this opportunity geared toward, based on the description?
Based on the solicitation summary, it is geared toward entities capable of acting as regional implementation leaders: organizations with the administrative capacity to manage subawards, convene advisory and technical groups, coordinate across multiple partners, and align investments with the Action Agenda's Implementation Strategies and Vital Sign recovery outcomes.
Where can applicants find detailed submission instructions?
The notice directs applicants to Section IV of the full announcement for detailed submission instructions.
What is the role of the Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) in this opportunity?
The program is built around the PSP Action Agenda as the shared regional recovery plan. SILs are expected to work in close coordination with PSP to translate the plan into structured, accountable implementation and results.
How does the National Estuary Program (NEP) relate to this funding opportunity?
The solicitation references the collaborative governance model used by the NEP and the Puget Sound NEP Management Conference. SILs are expected to participate in these processes and work groups so Strategic Initiative work is integrated into region-wide coordination and accountability systems.
What overall approach is EPA supporting through this RFA?
Overall, EPA is supporting an approach that funds backbone organizations to translate Puget Sound recovery priorities into coordinated action. The emphasis is on strategic leadership, disciplined investment through subawards, active management of Implementation Strategies tied to measurable Vital Signs, and continuous coordination with PSP, EPA, NEP processes, LIOs, and tribal partners.
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