Exchange Network Grant Program

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Overview

FY 2024 is the twenty-second year EPA will award competitive funding to eligible recipients for projects through the Exchange Network Grant Program. Between FY 2002 and FY 2023, EPA provided approximately $271 million for state, tribal, and territorial awards and associated program support through this grant program. As of February 1, 2024, all 50 states and the District of Columbia, 90 tribes, and 5 territories have received EN assistance agreements.

FY24 Exchange Network Solicitation Notice

Click this link to access FY 2024 EN Grant Solicitation Notice, published to grants.gov on 3/27/24. The open application period for FY24 EN Grants has now closed, with all applications due by 11:59 PM ET on 5/23/24.

EPA is currently reviewing and scoring received applications, and expects to make final selection decisions and inform FY24 applicants about the status of their application by mid-August, 2024.

Webinar Series: FY24 SN Applicant Webinars

In support of the FY 2024 Exchange Network (EN) Grant cycle, the EPA hosted two general informational webinar(s) and one tribal informational webinar to help potential applicants better understand the EN grant program and the requirements for applying for an EN assistance agreement. Agenda topics included an overview of the EN grant program, notable changes from prior solicitation notices, an overview of available guidance, and common mistakes to avoid.

Each webinar concluded with a question-and-answer session. These questions and the provided answers can be viewed under the ‘Applicant Questions Asked in FY24’ section of the FAQs. These FAQs, as well as the slide deck from the webinar presentation, can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/exchangenetwork/exchange-network-grant-program#Resources.

Resources for FY24 Applicants

Note: Optional templates, budget tools, FAQs, and the applicant webinar presentation are updated annually; applicants should always be sure to use the current grant cycle’s guidance.

EN Grant Registration Requirement

A primary goal of the Exchange Network program is to promote the reuse of existing tools, IT components, and services as developed through prior EN grant projects. To ensure that products and services are available for EN partner use and/or collaboration, Exchange Network grant applicants must commit to register any newly developed resources (required since 2011) and the reuse of existing resources (required since 2018).

The Shared Services Resource Catalog (SSRC) was decommissioned in October 2022. Previous SSRC IT Component registrations can be found in a new web area on the EN website, here: Searchable IT Component and Project Registration Forms. This searchable web area will also host all new project registrations. EN grant applicants are encouraged to view and explore previously completed IT Component and Project Registration Forms for project ideas and to identify IT components which can be reused in their proposed project.

The current version of the IT Component and Project Registration Form is available here: 

IT Component and Project Registration Form (pdf) (1.79 MB, 4/11/23)

At the time of grant close-out, Exchange Network grantees must complete this form and submit it to their Regional Exchange Network Coordinator (RENC). Upon review and approval of this form by EPA, it will be made available on the EN website.

Prior grantees are also highly encouraged to complete IT Component and Project Registration forms for any EN grant projects since 2011 that does not currently have a completed registration form. Please note that this is currently scored under EN application ‘past performance’ evaluation criteria. 

Exchange Network Quality Assurance (QA) Requirements

As of 2023, EN grantees are required to contact their EPA Regional Exchange Network Coordinator (RENC) within 60 days of the award issuance date to ensure applicable Quality Assurance (QA) requirements are understood and implemented by the grantee organization.

EN grant projects which include environmental information operations such as collection and/or data monitoring, etc. may require a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) and/or Quality Management Plan (QMP). RENCs will work with the Regional QA Manager to review and determine appropriate QA documentation for each project, which will be communicated back to the grantee.

NOTE: RENCs may reject semi-annual progress reports for grantees who fail to contact them within 60 days of award issuance date to discuss applicable QA requirements or grantees who fail to implement QA documentation if applicable.

Related Information About Grants

  • Previous Exchange Network Grant Projects
    Review information on Exchange Network grants awarded between 2002 to 2023. Find out more about the types of activities in which states, tribes and territories are involved to support the Environmental Information Exchange Network.
  • Grants Awards Database
    Read a summary record for all non-construction EPA grants awarded in the last 10 years, including grants that were awarded before that time, but that remain open.

  • Grants and Debarment
    Understanding, managing, and applying for EPA grants.

  • Grants.gov
    Visit the federal government's single access point for over 1,000 grant programs offered by all federal grant-making agencies.

  • Searchable IT Component and Project Registration Forms

    PDF versions of completed 'IT Component and Project Registration Forms' can be viewed at this link. Additionally, users can search for specific applicant or project types by selecting one or more filters as provided in the field options.

Exchange Network

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Last updated on August 12, 2024