Exchange Network Grant Program
On this page:
- Overview
- FY 2024 Exchange Network Grant Solicitation Notice
- Webinar Series: Upcoming SN Applicant Webinars
- Resources for Applicants
- EN Grant Registration Requirement
- Exchange Network Quality Assurance (QA) Requirements
- Related Information About Grants
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.
- See Summary of Previously Awarded EN Grants by Fiscal Year
- Search IT Component and Project Registration Forms from Prior Grants
FY24 Exchange Network Solicitation Notice- Update to Application Due Date
Click this link to access FY 2024 EN Grant Solicitation Notice, published to grants.gov on 3/27/24. Please note that the Exchange Network Grant Program has extended the FY24 application due date by one business day to 11:59 PM ET on Thursday May 23rd.
The FY24 application due date was modified from the original date of Wednesday May 22nd, 2024, following an announcement of scheduled system maintenance by grants.gov from May 18th - 21st, 2024. Applicants for the FY24 Exchange Network Grant program must submit an application package to EPA through the Grants.gov on or before Thursday, May 23, 2024, 11:59 PM Eastern.
Please note that applicants cannot be submitted during the grants.gov maintenance period of May 18th - May 21st, 2024.
EPA only accepts project proposals for EN grants submitted electronically through Grants.gov unless applicants have a waiver. Please allow for enough time to successfully submit your application and allow for unexpected errors requiring you to resubmit. Following the application due date, EPA will score applications against evaluation criteria. EPA anticipates that it will announce selection decisions around July 2024, and tentatively plans to issue awards by September 30th, 2024.
Webinar Series: Upcoming SN Applicant Webinars
In support of the FY 2024 Exchange Network (EN) Grant cycle, the EPA will host 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 notable changes from prior solicitation notices, an overview of available guidance, and common mistakes to avoid.
Each session will close with a question-and-answer session to address all participants’ questions. These questions and the answers provided, plus applicant webinar presentation PowerPoint will added following the webinars to the EN Grant Program website at: https://www.epa.gov/exchangenetwork/exchange-network-grant-program#Resources.
General Webinar Details and Connection Information:
- Thursday, April 25th from 3 - 4:30PM ET
- TEAMS Presentation Link – https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_M2JmOGZmNDEtNTkwNy00NjY0LWI2N2MtNjNlMTllMjdjN2M3%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2288b378b3-6748-4867-acf9-76aacbeca6a7%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22ba29ef8d-9344-44c3-8ef7-94f4fe17adfb%22%7d
- Meeting ID: 284 979 500 965; Passcode: 6DpRAM
- Dial-In Option (Audio Only) - Number: (202) 991-0477; Conf. ID: 680 029 327#
- Tuesday, April 30th from 3 - 4:30PM ET
- TEAMS Presentation Link – https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MDExMzM5MWUtNGFmNy00YjhlLWE3NjctOGRhZTJlODgwMGY5%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2288b378b3-6748-4867-acf9-76aacbeca6a7%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22ba29ef8d-9344-44c3-8ef7-94f4fe17adfb%22%7d
- Meeting ID: 277 512 051 869; Passcode: nHDWaj
- Dial-In Option (Audio Only) - Number: (202) 991-0477; Conf. ID: 659 552 784#
Tribal Webinar Details and Connection Information:
- Thursday, May 2nd from 3 - 4:30PM ET
- TEAMS Presentation Link – https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NGM4ZjU4OTctMzFiZS00MmQ0LTljYmItNDVjNDExZmM3ODRm%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2288b378b3-6748-4867-acf9-76aacbeca6a7%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22ba29ef8d-9344-44c3-8ef7-94f4fe17adfb%22%7d
- Meeting ID: 284 243 695 920; Passcode: aJfYDd
- Dial-In Option (Audio Only) - Number: (202) 991-0477; Conference ID: 166 861 172#
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.
- FY24 Optional Cover Letter Template (docx)
- FY24 Optional Project Narrative Template (docx)
- FY24 Optional Budget Narrative Attachment Form Template (docx)
- FY24 Optional Budget Calculating Tool (xlsx)
- FY24 Exchange Network General FAQ
- Tribal Exchange Network FAQs FY24
- FY24 Solicitation Notice Webinar (pdf)
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)
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 2019. 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.