Senior Environmental Employment Program
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
To use the talents of Americans 55 years of age or older to provide technical assistance to Federal, State, and local environmental agencies for projects of pollution prevention, abatement and control. Funding Priority: The Environmental Programs Assistance Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 98-313) authorized the Administrator of the EPA to make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements, with private, nonprofit organizations designated by the Secretary of Labor under Title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965. These cooperative agreements are to utilize the talents of older Americans in temporary full time or part time positions providing technical assistance to Federal, State, and local environmental agencies for projects of pollution prevention, abatement, and control. Technical assistance may include any activity performed for the EPA in support of its projects of pollution prevention, abatement, and control ranging from for example inspections of schools for asbestos, to support for a Headquarters staff office. This allows for the coverage of all types of SEE program positions from professional to clerical.
Possible uses and use restrictions...
The SEE Act states that only nonprofit organizations which are designated by the Secretary of labor under Title V of the Older Americans Act can participate.
Who is eligible to apply...
Private, nonprofit organizations designated by the Secretary of Labor under Title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965.
Credentials/Documentation
The Environmental Programs Assistance Act of 1984 requires a certification by the Federal, State or local agency that is to receive the SEE workers that the grant/cooperative agreement will not displace any Federal or State workers, prevent the rehiring of any laid-off Federal/State workers or affect existing service contracts. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
Requests for application forms and completed applications must be submitted to: Environmental Protection Agency, Grants Administration Division, (3903R), Washington, DC 20460. A copy of the completed application should also be sent to: Susan Street, Director; SEE Program, Human Resources Staff (3650A), Washington, DC 20460. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102.
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
Each application shall be subjected to administrative evaluation to determine adequacy of application in relation to assistance regulations, and to program objectives.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
None.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
No time range for approval.
Preapplication Coordination
This program is excluded from coverage under Executive Order 12372. This program is included under OMB Circulars No. A-110 and No. A-122.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
Appeals
As described in 40 CFR Part 30-60, Subpart F.
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Renewals
None. Standard application should be prepared and submitted which will be reviewed in the same manner as a new application and will compete for available funds.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
Federal, State, and local environmental agencies and individuals 55 years old or older.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Project Grants
The funding, for fixed or known periods, of specific projects. Project grants can include fellowships, scholarships, research grants, training grants, traineeships, experimental and demonstration grants, evaluation grants, planning grants, technical assistance grants, survey grants, and construction grants.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
FY 2003: range - $2,500 to $1,676,800; average - $152,500. FY 2004 to date: range - $3,500 to $1,102,500; average - $136,600.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
FY 03 $54,562,000; FY 04 est $55,000,000; FY 05 est $55,000,000.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
Provide senior citizens to do national non-agricultural pesticide surveys; monitor for Asbestos Compliance in Schools; provide support to the Agency to review and monitor in the Import Car Program; use senior citizens to monitor for the anti-fuel switching program; provide senior citizens to EPA to do research and general administrative and clerical tasks.
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
In fiscal year 2003, approximately 355 cooperative agreements/amendments were awarded.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
Proposals must demonstrate that the Organizations have the capability of operating nationwide; can manage the program within the prescribed administrative funding limits; provide a quality fringe benefit package to enrollees under the proposal (including health insurance); and the qualifications of the applicant the staff.
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Usually one to three years.
Formula and Matching Requirements
No matching funds required. Cost sharing has been waived.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
Recipients must furnish quarterly reports on expenditures by cooperative agreement.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
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 $300,000 ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003) 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 $300,000 ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003) a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year except as noted in OMB Circular No. A-133.
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
Records
Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes to each assistance agreement must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA assistance accounts. All records must be maintained until expiration of three years from the date of submission of the final financial status 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.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
Environmental Programs Assistance Act of 1984; Public Law 98-313; 42 U.S.C. 4368a.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
Assistance Administration Manual, available from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 on a subscription basis; 40 CFR Part 30, General Regulation for Assistance Programs; Office of Administration and Resources Management for the Management of the Senior Environmental Employment Program.