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1. Question: Can awarded funding from the grant be used possibly to
provide an incentive to Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQG)?
Answer: Yes, but you will need to address how the program will be funded
once the grant is over. This grant is intended to help you start programs but
is not intended to maintain programs.
2. Question: Could a project dedicated to improve the collection and
disposal of grease from local restaurants be eligible for funding through this
grant.
Answer: Since vegetable oil is not considered HHW, it is not eligible for
funding through this grant program.
3. Question: Is there some sort of master guidebook where those new to
the grant proposal process can go and get their general questions answered?
Answer: Currently there is no master guidebook where
questions can be answered but there are tips that are located throughout the
body of the application that should help to focus your application. Specific
questions should be submitted to staff during the question and answer period.
4. Question: Is there a distinction between regional and
multi-jurisdictional programs?
Answer: There is no distinction between regional or multi-jurisdictional
programs. However, they both must contain two or more applicants one of which
is selected as a lead for the application.
5. Question: What is the definition of a regional project that requires
the submittal of a regional application, regional resolution and authorization
letters, as opposed to requesting just letters of support?
Answer: We do not define "regional project" for the purposes of our
grant. We do define a regional application as one having two or more
applicants with one of the applicants acting as the lead to conduct the grant
if awarded. A regional application requires a resolution from the lead
applicant and either a resolution or a letter of authorization from each of
the participating or coapplicants. Letters of support should be provided with
any type of application, whether it is an individual or regional application,
to demonstrate that there is support for this proposal from all the
stakeholders.
6. Question: Let's say X County submits a proposal that involves setting
up three collection facilities, two within unincorporated areas, and one within
the city limits of Z City. All three sites will accept waste from any county
resident, no matter what city they live in. Is this inherently regional,
requiring a regional application, regional resolution, and authorization letter
from Z City (versus letter of support)? Or would it only be regional if Z City
wants it to be regional, so that the combined award would be greater than an
individual jurisdiction award?
Answer: There are no inherently regional programs. To be considered
regional you must obtain letters of authorization or resolutions from
participating Cities and/or Counties. If Z City submits a letter of
authorization or a resolution authorizing the lead jurisdiction (county) to
act on it's behalf, the lead applicant could request up to $300,000.
7. Question: Say Q County submits a proposal to expand one of its
facilities located at the Y City Public Works Yard, to include an extra bin for
collecting a new waste type. The facility will continue to be operated by Y City
personnel, as per their contract with Q County. Is this proposal considered
regional (because it involves participation on the part of both agencies)? Does
it require regional application materials, or just the understanding between the
two agencies, and necessary adjustments to their contractual agreement?
Answer: A facility expansion is not automatically considered a regional
program. As previously stated, regional programs require either letters of
authorization or resolutions from the participating Cities and/or Counties.
For more detail please see the answer to question 6.
8. Question: If a county jurisdiction wishes to collect waste within an
incorporated city, without actually locating a facility in the city (as with
door to door CESQG, residential collection from disabled people), is it
considered regional?
Answer: See answer to question 5.
9. Question: If the county site is located in an unincorporated area, but
intends to accept waste from residents of incorporated areas, is this in any way
construed as a regional project?
Answer: See answer to question 5.
10. Question: If a city jurisdiction wishes to (only) store waste
collected (resulting from grant proposal submitted by the city) at a
county-contracted facility located within their city, is the city required to
submit a formal agreement for said storage along with their application, so that
the county facility cannot be held liable for abandoned waste, disposal of
specified waste, over accumulation of waste, disposal funding after grant
period, etc.
Answer: This is a county- and/or city-specific question and should be
referred to your attorney.
11. Question: Should the agent of such a host agency request from the
applying city, a copy of their grant proposal, to ensure that the applicant has
provided contingencies for such circumstances?
Answer: See answer to question 10.
12. Question: Is a county applicant intending to implement a mobile
collection extending into incorporated areas obligated to notify/request
permission for the project from individual city jurisdictions?
Answer: See answer to question 10.
13. Question: Proposal narrative describes by task the activities to be
undertaken to achieve the objectives. Include completion of the Work Statement
Form.
Do they want narrative on:
- each individual task, in addition to the Work Statement,
- groups of tasks, or
- Something more qualitative?
Answer: The more information you can give us on your proposed project the
better. Assume that we have no background on your project and you are
discussing it for the first time. Also, you must stay within the 15-page limit
(not counting attachments).
14. Question: What is required by way of "Identify staffing required to
carry out the proposed project"?
- Identify the Classifications of those involved?
- Identify the amount of staffing?
- Identify the staff by Name & Title?
- Distinguish only between Staff or Contractor?
Answer: Items ii, iii. and iv should be provided for both staff and any
proposed contractor.
15. Question: How detailed should the details regarding equipment,
services and supplies be?
Answer: See answer to question #13.
16. Question: Do quotes have to be on vendor letter-head or some other
document that identifies the vendor, and identifies the document as a "quote,"
or can the applicant use copies of program invoices as quotes?
Answer: Any form of a quote is better than no quote. A quote on a vendor's
letterhead and not just copies of pages out of a catalog creates a more
favorable impression by showing that you have put a significant amount of time
and thought into your proposal.
17. Question: Should the applicant account for increases in pay of
staffing, as was requested in the OG6 application instructions?
Answer: We cannot increase the amount of the grant once it is awarded so
you should take all factors into consideration when you are putting together
your budget. For all claims made to the grant, reimbursement can only be made
up to the grant award amount. If awarded a grant, staffing costs are subject
to the terms of the Grant Agreement.
18. Question: Should the applicant estimate a potential increase in
product pricing, or stay as close to the actual quoted cost of a given purchase,
adding only costs for taxes/freight, where necessary?
Answer: We cannot increase the amount of the grant once it is awarded so
you should take all factors into consideration when you are putting together
your budget. Alternatively speaking, if awarded a grant, you will be
reimbursed for actual invoiced costs up to the grant award amount and subject
to compliance with all other terms and conditions and procedures and
requirements of the grant.
19. Question: What is meant by ‘an empirical determination of the
percentage of the project goals that were accomplished'?
Does this in any way refer to whether or not the applicant spent the
expected amount of funds allocated to the project?
Or is it more related to "50% of the targeted population utilized the
new facility", therefore the project was 50% accomplished. Or, "Four out of
six ABOPS established remained open and received waste during the grant period",
therefore it was 66% successful????
Answer: We want to know what percentage of the original goals stated in the
application were achieved. If your application stated that you were going to
build five permanent facilities but you only build four then 80 percent of
your project goals were completed.
20. Question: With respect to the Notice of Funds Available (NOFA), HHW
Grant FY 2002/03, Funding paragraph, does the "regional group"
definition include, for example, the oil sanitary district (OSD) as a qualified
regional group?" the OSD service area includes all of the City of X, part
of the City of Y, and some unincorporated areas of Z County.
Answer: To be deemed a regional grant you must have either authorization
letters or Resolutions from other participating local governments i.e. Cities
and/or Counties only. In addition, remember that to be considered eligible for
funding OSD must have direct responsibility for HHW management in their area.
21. Question: Are these letters of support the same as the letters of
authorization from the jurisdictions, or are they like letters of recommendation
from other sources?
Answer: Letters of support are generally from individuals or groups in
favor of your program while letters of authorization are from local
jurisdictions and delegate authority to the lead agency to apply for and
conduct the grant on their behalf.
22. Question: The City of Z, currently has a permanent household hazardous
waste facility. We are planning to collect e-waste at the facility. If we were
to start this program as a pilot program, would it be considered a new program
if we permanently began e-waste collection after September 1, 2002.
Answer: The criteria state that to receive the points you need to initiate
a new program or expand an existing program to collect e-waste, u-waste, or
paint. You would be eligible to receive the 10 points available for this
section because you will be expanding your program to permanently collect
e-waste.
23. Question: Will the Board consider funding the collection/disposal of
diazinon from retail stores who are willing to remove it from their store
shelves prior to the EPA deadline?
Answer: This type of project would be eligible for funding through this
grant.
24. Question: While development of school curricula is an ineligible cost,
would a few simple lesson plans or activities be considered a "curriculum"?
What is meant by that word?
Answer: Curriculum encompasses a set of courses, which constitute learning
in an area of specialization. Curriculum includes lesson plans and
assessments, measuring the learner's comprehension through outcomes and
objectives. A curriculum lesson plan can be used singularly or in combination
in educational delivery in order to educate a specific area i.e. science,
environmental science, language arts, history, and social science. Curriculum
uses different methodologies for instructional delivery such as project-based
learning, lecture, inquiry-based assessment, service learning, and hands-on/
minds-on investigation. Educators quantify a learner's comprehension within
any given curriculum through the use of assessments.
Educational activities are companion materials, which highlight specific
concepts, for example water pollution, safe handling of toxic materials, or
boating safety. These include activity work sheets, crossword activities, and
coloring activity books. Educational activities are not correlated to the
national or state standards, and do not contain assessments to determine a
learner's comprehension.
25. Question: Can you please define "underserved populations" in
terms of HHW Collection Programs and/or an HHW Collection Education Programs?
Answer: Underserved areas are areas that have less access to HHW collection
facilities and/or a lack of HHW collection service when compared to other
areas served by their jurisdiction or neighboring jurisdictions with
comparable or similar population density and socioeconomic status.
26. Question: Does the CIWMB have a definition for Underserved in terms of
the following:
- Number of certified centers per population of a jurisdiction.
- Number of households in a jurisdiction participating that have
participated in HHW events.
- Percentage of non-English speaking or Hispanic residents that have
participated in HHW events.
Answer: At a minimum, you must have one certified center per 100,000
people. See answer to question 25 to answer your
remaining questions.
27. Question: For the Hazardous Waste Discretionary Grant purposes, does a
progress report have to be submitted with a reimbursement request?
Answer: A progress report must be submitted with each reimbursement
request. At a minimum, a progress report should be submitted every six months
even if there are no costs to claim.
28. Question: In the Methodology the Tips section states "List Tasks;
sequenced timeline..." Is this something they want in addition to the Work
Statement?
Answer: If you read the first sentence under the methodology section it
states "Proposal narrative describes by task the activities to be undertaken
to achieve the objectives. Include completion of the Work Statement."
Knowing that; your methodology section should include some text explaining why
the proposed activities are the best way to address the identified need,
present a plan for future funding, etc. These items would not be addressed if
you just simply attached a work statement.
29. Question: List funding priorities, and give reasons…" Not sure
what this means?
Answer: This cycle is usually very oversubscribed meaning the passing
applications request more money than we have to give out. It is important that
you list your funding priorities and compelling reasons why items were chosen
in case we have to make budget modifications and remove items from the
proposed project. Additionally, if you do not address a component of your
program in the methodology section and it only appears as a line item in the
budget it may be cut from your proposed budget.
30. Question: I am in the process of possibly implementing sharps into my
HHW program. I have heard that in the past, there have been grants for sharps
(implementation, purchasing containers and disposal). What about now?
Answer: Ineligible costs for this grant include but are not limited to
managing, handling, disposing, or treating or radioactive, explosive, or
medical waste and other extremely hazardous waste. Sharps programs are
eligible only if they are integrated into proposed or existing HHW collection
programs.
31. Question: Please tell us how we can demonstrate that the proposed
expenses are reasonable and that the project is cost effective and makes
judicious use of the requested grant funds. We need precise interpretation.
Answer: This is a proposal-specific question and we cannot answer this
question for you. You need to give serious thought and consideration to the
project that you are proposing and why the items, equipment, personnel, etc.
would be a worthy project to fund and a good use of grant monies.
32. Question: You mention: "(2pts) Include resumes and/or background
statements for key personnel and contractors, references, etc." We don't
understand how, until we get grant award and bids back how we can identify the
contractor and furnish his references (the contractor who would handle the
recycling itself, on Collection Event Day). Please explain.
Answer: If you do not already have a list of potential contractors you
should state in your application and work statement how a contractor would be
selected if the grant were awarded. This section should also include
information about the city and/or county staff that will be responsible for
implementation of the program.
33. Question: Would a thermometer exchange program set up for multiple
cites within a county be acceptable as a project for this type of grant?
Answer: A program that intended to exchange mercury thermometers for
digital thermometers would be eligible for funding through this grant.
34. Question: We have not received funding for HD 9 and HD 10. If we
entered into an agreement for a regional program with other jurisdictions that
participated in grant cycle 9 but were not the lead agency would we be eligible
for requesting $300,000 in funding? Does applying for grant funds with an agency
that participated in a regional program (not lead agency) automatically
eliminate your application from consideration in the 11th cycle grant?
Answer: Regardless of whether or not you received funding through the HD9
or HD10 grant cycles you will still be eligible to receive up to $300,000
assuming you obtain letters of authorization and/or resolutions from the
participating cities. Your question relates more to whether or not you will
receive the points associated with not receiving a HD9 or HD10 grant. The
answer to that question is if any one of the participants in the regional
program did not participate in an HD9 or HD10 grant, the proposal would be
eligible to receive the maximum points for criteria #10.
35. Question: Could you propose collection of HHW materials as well as
e-waste in the same grant proposal?
Answer: Yes, the collection of both of these waste streams can be
incorporated into the same grant application.
36. Question: Do you have a list of vendors for mobile collection
programs?
Answer: You must submit a Public Records request to obtain this
information.
37. Question: If we are applying for a HHW grant for a regional e-waste
collection program, are we to include a description of all past and current Used
Oil and HHW grants from all participating jurisdictions if none of the awards
were for an e-waste collection program?
Answer: You should summarize all of the past Used Oil/HHW grants that your
city or county has been awarded and all the grants that the participants
received regardless of the grant focus. These grants would include HHW grants,
Used Oil Block grants, Used Oil Opportunity grants, and Research and
Demonstration grants.
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