Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA G2020 ORD B1
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued this discretionary funding opportunity to support research on how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) affect water quality and water availability in rural communities and agricultural operations across the United States. The main goal is to generate practical, usable science that helps explain where PFAS are showing up in rural and agricultural water sources, how these chemicals move through and persist in the environment, and what kinds of treatment approaches can realistically work for smaller systems that often have limited budgets and technical capacity.
The research focus is twofold. First, EPA is looking for new information about PFAS occurrence, fate, and transport in water sources that rural residents and agricultural producers rely on. That includes identifying where PFAS are present (for example, in groundwater, surface water, or other local sources), how concentrations vary over time, and what environmental conditions or land-use patterns influence movement and persistence. “Fate and transport” work can cover how PFAS travel through soils and aquifers, how they behave in watershed settings, and how they may move between water, sediments, and other environmental media in ways that ultimately impact rural drinking water supplies or water used in farm operations.
Second, EPA is seeking new or improved PFAS treatment methods designed for small drinking water and small wastewater systems. The emphasis on “small” systems matters because many rural communities and agricultural operations do not have the infrastructure, staffing, or financing available to adopt treatment technologies that might be feasible for large municipal utilities. The opportunity explicitly includes treatment considerations across the wastewater cycle, including influents (what comes into a treatment system), effluents (what is discharged), and biosolids or other residuals (the solid byproducts of treatment). That signals an interest not only in removing PFAS from water, but also in understanding where PFAS end up after treatment and how to manage residuals so PFAS are not simply shifted from one place to another.
This opportunity was offered under EPA’s environment research and development assistance listing (CFDA 66.511) and uses either grants or cooperative agreements as the funding instruments. Cooperative agreements generally imply a higher level of EPA involvement during the project compared with standard grants, so applicants would typically expect more coordination, reporting, and potential collaboration with EPA staff during the course of the work.
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed for an individual project is $1,610,752, with EPA expecting to make approximately three awards. The funding opportunity number is EPA G2020 ORD B1, and it was created on November 22, 2019, with an original closing date of February 11, 2020 (with submission instructions referenced in Section IV of the full announcement). Eligibility is listed broadly as “Others,” with clarification provided in the official eligibility section of the announcement, meaning prospective applicants would need to check the detailed solicitation language to confirm whether their organization type qualifies and whether there are any restrictions or partnership requirements.
In practical terms, the projects funded through this solicitation are meant to help answer real-world questions rural communities and agricultural operators face: what PFAS compounds are present in their water sources, how those compounds move and persist in local environmental conditions, and what treatment strategies can reduce PFAS in drinking water and wastewater without creating additional disposal problems in residual streams like biosolids. The overall intent is to strengthen the evidence base and provide actionable research that can inform future monitoring approaches, risk management decisions, and technology selection for PFAS challenges in rural and agricultural settings.Apply for EPA G2020 ORD B1
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NATIONAL PRIORITIES: RESEARCH ON PFAS IMPACTS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS" 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 Nov 22, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 11, 2020 Please see Section IV of the announcement for additional submission information.. (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 $1,610,752.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this EPA funding opportunity about?
This is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discretionary funding opportunity to support research on how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) affect water quality and water availability in rural communities and agricultural operations across the United States. The emphasis is on producing practical, usable science that can help smaller communities and farm-related operations understand PFAS in their water and identify realistic ways to address it.
What are the main research areas EPA is looking to fund?
The solicitation describes two main research focus areas: (1) PFAS occurrence, fate, and transport in rural and agricultural water sources; and (2) new or improved PFAS treatment methods designed for small drinking water and small wastewater systems, including attention to residual streams such as biosolids.
What does "PFAS occurrence" mean in this context?
"Occurrence" refers to identifying where PFAS are present in water sources that rural residents and agricultural producers rely on. Examples mentioned include groundwater, surface water, and other local sources, along with understanding how PFAS concentrations may vary over time.
What does "fate and transport" mean for PFAS research?
"Fate and transport" work looks at how PFAS move through and persist in the environment. The opportunity notes examples such as PFAS traveling through soils and aquifers, behavior in watershed settings, and movement between water, sediments, and other environmental media that can impact rural drinking water supplies and water used in farm operations.
What types of water sources are included for PFAS occurrence and movement studies?
The opportunity explicitly references water sources relied on by rural residents and agricultural producers, including groundwater and surface water, as well as other local sources. The overall intent is to understand PFAS in rural and agricultural water supplies and how local conditions influence their movement and persistence.
Does the opportunity consider seasonal or time-based changes in PFAS levels?
Yes. The description specifically mentions examining how PFAS concentrations vary over time, which indicates an interest in temporal variability rather than only single point-in-time measurements.
What environmental factors or local conditions are relevant to the research?
The solicitation highlights interest in environmental conditions and land-use patterns that influence PFAS movement and persistence. It also mentions settings like soils, aquifers, and watersheds, as well as exchanges between water and sediments and other media.
Is this opportunity focused only on drinking water?
No. While rural drinking water supplies are a key concern, the opportunity also calls out agricultural operations and includes research related to wastewater systems, including influents, effluents, and biosolids or other residuals.
What kinds of treatment projects does EPA want to support?
EPA is seeking new or improved PFAS treatment methods designed for small drinking water systems and small wastewater systems. The emphasis is on approaches that can realistically work for smaller systems that often have limited budgets and technical capacity.
Why is the focus on "small" drinking water and wastewater systems important?
The opportunity explains that many rural communities and agricultural operations may not have the infrastructure, staffing, or financing to implement treatment technologies that could be feasible for large municipal utilities. Research supported by this funding is intended to be relevant and workable for smaller systems.
Does the treatment research include the full wastewater cycle?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes treatment considerations across influents (what enters a treatment system), effluents (what is discharged), and biosolids or other residuals (solid byproducts). This signals that EPA is interested in both PFAS removal and what happens to PFAS after treatment.
Why does the opportunity mention biosolids and residuals?
The description indicates interest in understanding where PFAS end up after treatment and how to manage residuals so PFAS are not simply shifted from one place to another. In other words, it is not only about reducing PFAS in water, but also about avoiding unintended disposal problems in residual streams.
What is the overall goal of the funded research?
The main goal is to generate practical, usable science that explains where PFAS are present in rural and agricultural water sources, how PFAS move and persist under local conditions, and what treatment strategies can reduce PFAS in drinking water and wastewater without creating new problems in residuals.
How are the results expected to be used?
The opportunity states that the intent is to strengthen the evidence base and provide actionable research that can inform future monitoring approaches, risk management decisions, and technology selection for PFAS challenges in rural and agricultural settings.
What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under EPA's environment research and development assistance listing, CFDA 66.511.
What funding instruments will EPA use?
The solicitation indicates EPA will use either grants or cooperative agreements as the funding instruments.
What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement for this opportunity?
The description notes that cooperative agreements generally imply a higher level of EPA involvement during the project compared with standard grants. Applicants should typically expect more coordination, reporting, and potential collaboration with EPA staff during the work under a cooperative agreement.
What is the maximum award amount per project?
The award ceiling for an individual project is $1,610,752.
How many awards does EPA expect to make?
EPA expects to make approximately three awards.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is EPA G2020 ORD B1.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
It was created on November 22, 2019, and the original closing date was February 11, 2020. The announcement references Section IV of the full solicitation for submission instructions.
Where are the application submission instructions described?
The summary indicates that submission instructions are referenced in Section IV of the full announcement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with clarification provided in the official eligibility section of the full announcement. Prospective applicants would need to review the detailed solicitation language to confirm whether their organization type qualifies and whether any restrictions or partnership requirements apply.
Is the opportunity limited to rural communities only?
The stated scope is research focused on rural communities and agricultural operations across the United States, particularly regarding the water sources those groups rely on and the small systems that often serve them.
Does EPA want research that produces site-specific insights or generalizable findings?
The description emphasizes practical, usable science for real-world questions in rural and agricultural settings. It also highlights building an evidence base that can inform future monitoring, risk management, and technology selection, which suggests value in findings that can be applied beyond a single location.
What kinds of real-world questions is this research intended to answer?
The solicitation frames examples such as: which PFAS compounds are present in rural and agricultural water sources; how those compounds move and persist under local environmental conditions; and which treatment strategies can reduce PFAS in drinking water and wastewater without creating additional disposal issues in residuals like biosolids.
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