Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA G2021 ORD F1

The National Priorities: Evaluation of Pollutants in Biosolids funding opportunity is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) research solicitation focused on improving the scientific foundation behind how biosolids are managed in the United States. Biosolids are the treated residuals generated during wastewater treatment, and they are commonly land-applied or otherwise managed under state and local programs. EPA is looking for research proposals that strengthen the "best available science" needed by states, municipalities, and wastewater utilities to evaluate the potential risks posed by pollutants present in biosolids and to translate that science into practical standards, guidance, and policies for biosolids management.

A central theme of the opportunity is risk-informed decision-making. EPA wants projects that help public agencies and utilities determine whether specific contaminants in biosolids could pose human health or ecological risks under realistic management scenarios, and what actions or standards might be appropriate based on that evidence. The agency is emphasizing work that is useful at multiple operational scales, meaning proposals should consider the realities of large publicly owned treatment works as well as medium- and small-scale wastewater treatment facilities. That matters because treatment technologies, monitoring capacity, and biosolids handling practices can differ widely between a major urban facility and a smaller community plant, and EPA is signaling that it wants research results that can be applied across those varying contexts.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant competition (Opportunity Category: Discretionary) and the award mechanism is a Cooperative Agreement, which typically indicates substantial EPA involvement during the project period compared with a standard grant. The program is categorized under the Environment activity area and is listed under CFDA number 66.511. The opportunity is identified as EPA G2021 ORD F1, and it was created on October 13, 2020. The original closing date listed is January 5, 2021, with a note directing applicants to consult the full announcement, especially Section IV, for specific submission instructions and authoritative due dates.

In terms of funding scale, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $1,498,000 and anticipates making about four awards. That combination suggests EPA was aiming to fund a small set of relatively substantial research projects rather than many smaller, narrowly scoped studies. Eligibility is noted as "Others," with clarification to be found in the announcement's Additional Information on Eligibility section, meaning applicants would need to review the official text to confirm whether universities, nonprofits, state or local governments, private entities, or other organizations are eligible under the specific rules of this solicitation.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as EPA seeking applied, policy-relevant research that can directly support how biosolids programs assess pollutant risks and set management approaches. The intended end users are not only federal regulators but also the state agencies and local utilities responsible for day-to-day biosolids decisions, with research expected to produce evidence and tools that can be used in real-world treatment and management settings across different facility sizes.

  • The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Priorities: Evaluation of Pollutants in Biosolids" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.511.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Oct 13, 2020.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 05, 2021 Please refer to the announcement, including Section IV, for additional information on submission methods and due dates.. (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 $1,498,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for EPA G2021 ORD F1

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FAQs: National Priorities: Evaluation of Pollutants in Biosolids (EPA)

What is the "National Priorities: Evaluation of Pollutants in Biosolids" funding opportunity?

This is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) research solicitation focused on improving the scientific foundation used to manage biosolids in the United States, especially the science needed to evaluate potential risks from pollutants in biosolids and to translate findings into practical standards, guidance, and policies.

What are biosolids in the context of this opportunity?

Biosolids are the treated residuals generated during wastewater treatment. They are commonly land-applied or otherwise managed through state and local programs.

What is EPA trying to accomplish through this solicitation?

EPA is seeking research proposals that strengthen the "best available science" used by states, municipalities, and wastewater utilities to evaluate potential human health and ecological risks from pollutants in biosolids, and to help translate that science into usable management standards, guidance, and policies.

What kinds of research does EPA appear to be prioritizing?

The opportunity emphasizes applied, policy-relevant research that supports risk-informed decision-making. Projects should help determine whether specific contaminants in biosolids could pose human health or ecological risks under realistic biosolids management scenarios, and what actions or standards might be appropriate based on the evidence.

What does "risk-informed decision-making" mean in this solicitation?

It refers to generating and applying evidence that helps public agencies and utilities evaluate the likelihood and severity of risks from specific biosolids pollutants under real-world management conditions, and then using that evidence to inform practical decisions, standards, guidance, or policies.

Who are the intended end users of the research results?

The intended end users include state agencies, municipalities, and wastewater utilities responsible for day-to-day biosolids decisions, in addition to federal regulators. EPA is looking for research outputs that can be used in real-world treatment and biosolids management settings.

What operational scales should proposed projects consider?

EPA signals that research should be useful across multiple operational scales, including large publicly owned treatment works as well as medium- and small-scale wastewater treatment facilities, since technologies, monitoring capacity, and handling practices can differ widely.

Why does facility size matter to EPA for this opportunity?

The solicitation highlights that large urban facilities and smaller community plants can have very different treatment technologies, monitoring capacity, and biosolids handling practices. EPA is emphasizing results that can be applied across these varying contexts.

What is the opportunity category and what does it imply?

The opportunity category is Discretionary, indicating it is a competitive grant process rather than a formula-based award.

What is the award mechanism for this funding opportunity?

The award mechanism is a Cooperative Agreement, which typically indicates substantial EPA involvement during the project period compared with a standard grant.

What program area is this opportunity associated with?

It is categorized under the Environment activity area.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 66.511.

What is the opportunity identifier?

The opportunity is identified as EPA G2021 ORD F1.

When was this opportunity created?

The listing indicates it was created on October 13, 2020.

What is the listed closing date, and should applicants rely on it?

The original closing date listed is January 5, 2021. The information provided also notes that applicants should consult the full announcement, especially Section IV, for specific submission instructions and authoritative due dates.

How much funding is available per award?

The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $1,498,000.

How many awards does EPA anticipate making?

EPA anticipates making about four awards.

What does the combination of the award ceiling and number of awards suggest about project scope?

With an award ceiling of $1,498,000 and about four anticipated awards, the solicitation appears designed to fund a small number of relatively substantial research projects rather than many smaller, narrowly scoped studies.

Who is eligible to apply based on the listing?

Eligibility is noted as "Others," with clarification expected in the announcement's Additional Information on Eligibility section. Applicants would need to review the official announcement to confirm which organization types are eligible under the specific rules.

Does the listing specify whether universities, nonprofits, governments, or private entities are eligible?

No. The information provided says eligibility is listed as "Others" and directs applicants to the announcement for details, so the listing alone does not confirm eligibility for any specific applicant type.

What kinds of outputs does EPA seem to want from funded projects?

Based on the description, EPA is looking for evidence and tools that can be translated into practical standards, guidance, and policies for biosolids management, and that can be used by state agencies and local utilities in real-world settings.

Is this opportunity more focused on basic research or applied research?

The description frames it as applied, policy-relevant research intended to support practical biosolids management decisions and risk evaluations, rather than purely theoretical or basic research.

What management contexts are referenced for biosolids in the U.S.?

The listing notes that biosolids are commonly land-applied or otherwise managed under state and local programs.

Where should applicants look for official submission instructions and final deadlines?

The information provided directs applicants to consult the full announcement, especially Section IV, for specific submission instructions and authoritative due dates.

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