Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Opportunity to Advance Resilience (SOAR) Fund is sponsored by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The SOAR Fund streamlines the federal grant process and encourages new applicants and community-based organizations to apply, with a focus on advancing climate resilience in disadvantaged communities.

Southeast New England Program Opportunity to Advance Resilience (SOAR) Q&A | US EPA Southeast New England Program Opportunity to Advance Resilience (SOAR) Q&A 2024 SOAR Questions & Answers: Last Day to Ask Questions via SECoastalNE@epa. gov is May 1, 2024; this page will be periodically updated as additional questions are received.

What is the process for requesting agency feedback on a 2023 application that was not selected for funding? Applicants who are not selected are given a two-week window following time of notification to request that a debriefing be scheduled. Unfortunately, debriefs are no longer available for projects not selected during the 2023 application cycle.

Are projects within the SNEP geographic boundary to improve reservoirs, lakes, and freshwater ponds that do not have a direct connection to coastal waters eligible for funding? Geographic eligibility for the SOAR Fund is defined via the web mapping application located in Appendix A of the RFP, which can also be found here: https://epa. maps.

arcgis. com/apps/webappviewer/index. html?

id=35aa363ddd574202bc12dcf01ede86ca . All regions shaded in orange or red meet the geographic eligibility requirements for the SOAR Fund. Areas shaded in red, however are identified as high priority areas and would be considered under the CEJST set aside described in Section II.

B. of the RFP. SNEP strongly encourages that applicants tailor projects to the needs of the community; and that proposed projects include substantial community involvement and support.

The [planned] lead applicant filed for a tax-exempt status to the IRS in March 2024. Should we plan to apply through our fiscal sponsor [instead]? As stated in Section III of the RFP, “this funding opportunity under Assistance Listing 66.

129 to the following eligible entities as permitted by the applicant eligibility section of the listing which allows EPA to limit eligibility to a subset of eligible applicants: state, local and tribal governments, public and private universities and colleges, public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations (includes institutions of higher education such as community colleges, and philanthropic organizations), interstate agencies, and Intertribal Consortia ( a coalition between two or more Indian tribal governments authorized by the governing bodies of those tribes to apply for and receive assistance and participate in self-governance).

Hospitals operated by state, tribal, or local governments or that meet the definition of nonprofit at 2 C. F. R.

§ 200. 1 are also eligible to apply as nonprofits or as instrumentalities of the unit of government depending on the applicable law. ” The primary applicant must be able to demonstrate that they qualify as one of these applicant types at time of submission, in addition to meeting the other threshold eligibility criteria included in Section III.

C. of the RFP. Can you please clarify SNEP’s goal to award X number of projects at $50,000 each, and X number of projects at $300,000 each?

The SOAR Fund is providing awards between $50,000 and $300,000. Applicants can request any amount within this range, with a project budget minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $300,000. SNEP has set a goal to provide 7 awards in the $50k range and 3 awards in the $300k range; but the actual distribution of awards will depend on the number and quality of applications received.

Can you provide examples of how partnerships are considered? There is only one primary applicant who submits their application; however, the role of project partners and their level of involvement in the project should be described in the application. In what way is the coordination between a community and nonprofit part of the application?

SNEP strongly encourages applicants to tailor projects to the needs of the community. The level of partnership between the primary applicant and project partners is up to the applicant. There could be a greater level of effort for the primary applicant, or the weight could be more equally dispersed between partners.

Demonstrating strong community involvement and support in your application is critical. Should a proposed project fit only one of the listed project categories, or can it be multiple? For example, the project has planning and implementation components.

An applicant must meet at least one of the project categories listed in Section I. D of the RFP, however applicants can propose a project that involves multiple project categories. Additionally, SNEP plans to recompete this opportunity at least 2 more times; so, for example, applicants can apply this year for a planning project, then apply next year or in the future for an implementation project.

In this example, however, applicants should only prioritize the work proposed for this current grant cycle in their applications. Are projects limited to 1-2 years, or can the timeline for the project run longer? Projects are not limited to one year.

Applicants can submit a proposed timeline for up to 5 years. Since SNEP plans to recompete the SOAR For the next 2 years - is this funding guaranteed or contingent upon future Congressional budget allocation? EPA expects to receive $15M over 5 years to support SNEP infrastructure needs through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Our receipt of the funding is always contingent on Congress allocating the funds for that purpose. Are state agencies eligible? State agencies are eligible.

All eligible and ineligible entities are listed in Section III. A of the RFP. For projects that are largely or fully focused on outreach and education – is there a limit to these activities for a project?

Do projects need to include a component of implementation at all? If an applicant is meeting at least one project category, they are eligible. Regardless of the work proposed, the applicant must demonstrate how the proposed work directly results in the improvement of climate resiliency in disadvantaged communities.

Are there other vendor requirements such as open bidding, a review of multiple bids, etc? Yes. Grant recipients must, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure open and free competition in their purchasing.

Sole-source contracts more than the micro-purchase threshold should be rare. More information on competitive purchasing and sole source contracts can be found here: https:/www. epa.

gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/documents/best-practice-guide-for-procuring-services-supplies-equipment. pdf . Is it possible that an applicant can apply for the maximum amount of $300,000 and SNEP will award a smaller amount, for example, $100,000?

Yes. SNEP is limited to awarding a maximum of $1. 25M, however, SNEP reserves the right to provide funding lower than what was requested of the applicant to fund a portion of the work proposed.

In these circumstances, the applicant can either accept or decline this reduced offer. 2023 SOAR Questions & Answers: "[Are there] any limitations on what kind of activities could be done for implementation grants?" There are no explicit limitations on implementation projects under SOAR with respect to dredging.

Any proposal submitted to the SOAR Fund should demonstrate increased climate resiliency in disadvantaged communities as an intended outcome of any proposed effort; and ideally be a project that can demonstrate strong community support and commitment throughout. Is this grant more for water projects, or could air monitoring/pollution focused projects also be considered?

If word limit is 5,000, but no page limit, can we provide figures to supplement the narrative? Yes, figures, images, and tables can be included. Will presentation slides be posted online?

Yes, they are posted here: https://www. epa. gov/snep/funding-and-technical-assistance-southeast-new-england-program Is there any issue if a request for SNEP funds would support an ongoing project funded through another Federal grant?

The request would not be duplicative of tasks funded under the other federal grant, but rather provide additional public outreach and education not covered under that award. This does not pose an issue. While federal funds cannot be used as match for the SOAR, such an opportunity could be considered as leverage in a proposal.

In this example, however, applicants should be sure to focus on the benefits and value added of the activities proposed via SNEP SOAR funds. These activities should be unique and relevant to the mission of the SOAR Fund. I am inquiring about geographic eligibility for the SNEP – SOAR/Opportunity to Advance Resilience grant .

Is a project in the Narragansett Bay watershed eligible, or must it be a coastal project? I am specifically asking about a possible project in Worcester, MA which is in the Narragansett Bay watershed and has received past funding from SNEP and Narragansett Bay Estuary Program. Is a project in that location – within the SNEP region map- also eligible for SOAR?

Geographic eligibility for the SOAR Fund is defined via the web mapping application located in Appendix A of the RFP, which can also be found here: https://epa. maps. arcgis.

com/apps/webappviewer/index. html? id=35aa363ddd574202bc12dcf01ede86ca .

All regions shaded in orange or red meet the geographic eligibility requirements for the SOAR Fund. Areas shaded in red, however are identified as high priority areas and would be considered under the CEJST set aside described in Section II. B.

of the RFP. Is there any preference for local, neighborhood-focused projects over more regional projects that may affect more than one location?

We are looking at potentially applying for a project affecting a specific neighborhood in Worcester which experiences recurring flooding that is expected to worsen due to climate change, and also include training programs that affect a different geographic area including New Bedford and Fall River.

There is no explicit preference for local, neighborhood-focused projects over regional projects, however community support and involvement in any proposed project is paramount along with ensuring projects are located in SNEP's disadvantaged communities (as defined by our web mapping application included in Appendix A of the RFP).

In the example provided, both training programs and improved flood resilience for disadvantaged communities are eligible for the SOAR Fund. I have worked with SNEP in the past and am planning to apply for a project that builds off previous SNEP-funded work. Can I save space in my application by assuming that the review committee already knows about the work that my organization has completed in the past?

Review committees are made up of subject matter experts both within and outside of EPA. Because of this, applicants should never assume that the review committee is already aware of the work that an applicant has completed and should always write their applications with the assumption that the review committee knows nothing about the applicant's previous work.

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