Non-competitive Subgrants

Non-competitive awards are are Tier 1 Assessment subgrants (e.g., research, sampling, testing, monitoring, surveys) designed for severely capacity-constrained organizations that would be unlikely to obtain funding through a competitive process or have the capacity to implement federally funded awards. Applicants will go through a non-competitive process where they will need to include an organizational capacity assessment and provide a project description. If awarded, applicants will receive a fixed-amount contract with payments based on achieving specified project milestones.

Who can apply for Non-competitive Tier 1 Subgrant?

Non-competitive awardees must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Be located in, or providing services in, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, and Federally or State Recognized Tribes in Region 8.
Be one of the following entity types:
- Nonprofit organizations
- Tribal governments (both federally recognized and state-recognized) and intertribal consortia
- Native American Organizations
- Local governments
- Institutions of higher education.
Not have another active federal grant/contract/cooperative agreement (it is ok to have been a contractor or subrecipient on another federal award).
Not have served as the primary recipient of a competitive federal grant/contract/cooperative agreement within the past 3 years.
Have an annual operating budget of $300,000 or less.
Be proposing project activities that address an environmental health and safety issue in a community of focus.

Examples of organizations or groups may want to consider applying for these awards:

Newly formed nonprofits
Organizations building capacity to address emerging environmental health issues in their community
Organizations that are volunteer-run or who have a small staff (less than 5 people)
Organizations who are restructuring or have recently had a significant turnover of leadership, staff, or board members
Organizations that have never won a competitive contract or bid
Organizations who have been told in the past that they do not meet minimum criteria to receive federal funds (or have never applied due to application requirements)
Organizations who have basic financial and administrative infrastructure in place, but could use support in developing this capacity

Note: This list is not exhaustive and should not discourage applicants who do not meet these criteria from applying. These are examples and should not be construed as formal evaluation criteria.

What types of projects are eligible for Non-Competitive Tier 1 Subgrants?

Non-competitive subgrants can only fund Tier 1 Assessment projects. Tier 1 projects intend to assess and/or measure an environmental health or safety issue to better understand its impact on a community of focus, and/or to inform a future invention. This includes:

Research to inform project design
Sampling and testing
Environmental monitoring and investigations
Surveys and studies

Examples include Tier 1 projects:

An organization proposing to provide backyard soil sampling in a community that suffers the impacts of historic mining pollution. TCGM funds go towards soil sampling tests and outreach and education on how to best mitigate impacts of soil pollutants.

An organization is gathering and analyzing data on housing conditions, energy consumption, and environmental health indicators in an effort to build capacity for sustainable development and climate justice initiatives within the community.

An organization is establishing working groups, conducting interviews, and hosting webinars to identify workforce gaps and growth opportunities for sustainable clean energy jobs in their community.

Why are you only accepting non-competitive applications from North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming in Cycle 2?

The MAP EJ Grants Hub is committed to ensuring geographic distribution of funding across Region 8. In Cycle 1, we received the most applications from Montana and Colorado with about 30-40 percent of the total awards going to these two states, respectively. There were significantly fewer total applications and awards in Wyoming, Utah, South Dakota, and North Dakota. By prioritizing non-competitive applications in these states in Cycle 2, we hope to build both individual organizational capacity as well as capacity across Region 8 more broadly.

Potential subgrant applicants can review the process summary and then learn more details about the steps below.

Non-competitive Grants Application Process Summary

Pre-screening

Interested applicants will complete pre-application screening questions to review eligibility requirements.

Application submission

Cycle 2 applications will be open between March 10 – March 31, 2025.

After submission

Eligibility screening and Application scoring

All eligible non- competitive applications will participate in an informational interview to review their proposed project and organizational assessment.

Finalists will be notified approximately 6-8 weeks after application closes.

If you are a finalist

Pre-award assessment

Finalists will complete a pre-award assessment to determine if any technical assistance or special subgrant conditions are needed.

Finalists will work with their Grants Manager to co-design a workplan with clear milestones.

If you are selected for an award

Subgrant Agreement

We anticipate that subgrant agreements will be implemented approximately 3-4 months after the application closes.

If you become a subgrantee

Subgrantees will be matched with a Grants Manager who will provide ongoing support. Subgrantees will develop a workplan, evaluation plan, and logic model. Quarterly reporting and a final closeout report at the end of the subgrant are required.

What to expect throughout the subgrant applications process

Application Submission

Interested applicants will first complete pre-application screening questions to review eligibility requirements. Eligible applicants are then invited to submit their application online or by mail.

As a reminder to be eligible for a non-competitive grant, the proposed project must fall under a Tier 1 grant. Review the grant tiers.

Additionally, for Cycle 2, non-competitive grants will be open to applicants with projects in Wyoming, Utah, South Dakota, and North Dakota, & Federally and State Recognized Tribes in Region 8.

After Submission

Email confirmation

Online applicants will receive an email confirmation stating that their application has been received within 48 hours of submission*. Physical submission made through the mail will receive confirmation of receipt within five (5) business days of receipt.

*If confirmation email is not received within 48 hours of submission, please reach out to mapejgrants@jsi.com.

Eligibility and completeness screening

The MAP EJ Grants Team will then conduct an initial review of applications to confirm eligibility and application completeness. This screening will also verify project location eligibility and Tier 1 project activities. You will receive a follow-up email within two (2) weeks of submission with the status of your application.

Non-competitive application review

All eligible non-competitive applications will be reviewed to assess organizational capacity and project alignment with the goals of the grantmaking program. All eligible non-competitive applicants will be asked to participate in an interview to discuss their project and organizational assessment, and they may be asked to provide additional documentation.

Finalist notification

Notifications will be made approximately 6-8 weeks after the application closes.

After receiving notification that you are a finalist

Pre-Award Assessment

Finalists will complete a pre-award assessment to assess their capacity to manage subgrant funds, and to determine if any technical assistance or special subgrant conditions are needed. The MAP EJ Grants Hub may also request modifications to the scope of work to ensure compliance with federal requirements. You will be assigned a Grants Manager to work with you to prepare for your subaward agreement.

Non-competitive awards are $75,000 fixed-amount agreements, and payments are based on the completion of milestones and deliverables. You will work with your Grants Manager to establish the payment schedule that will be included in your subgrant agreement.

During the pre-award assessment, finalists will also be asked to determine whether their project includes research that requires a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) or approval of Human Subjects Research. If so, then additional steps will be required.

Subgrant Agreement

Finalists will implement subgrant agreements, then be assigned a subgrant manager for next steps. We anticipate that subgrant agreements will be implemented approximately 3-4 months after the application closes.

If you are not selected for an award

If you are not selected for an award, you will have the opportunity to request a feedback session with the MAP EJ Grants Hub.

Once you are a subgrantee

Each subgrantee will be assigned a grant manager, who will work with you throughout the subgrant period. This will include:

Phone calls or videoconferences, approximately monthly.
At least one site visit during the subgrant period.
Email communication regarding project progress, contract compliance, and any questions that you may have or support that you need.

During the first quarter of the project period, subgrantees will work with their grant manager to complete a project workplan, logic model, and performance measurement plan. Subrantees will also be required to submit quarterly reports and invoices throughout the project period as well as a closeout report.

Subgrantees may have additional subgrant requirements depending on the nature of the project and the results of the pre-award assessment. These requirements will be discussed prior to award and included in the award conditions. Subgrantees will also have the opportunity to participate in training, coaching sessions, and peer communities of practice to build capacity to successfully compete for future federal funding opportunities.