UCCGP

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is seeking proposals for projects which will provide wastewater collection and/or treatment solutions for areas where wastewater collection and/or treatment are presently nonexistent or inadequate. IEPA is making $100 million available through the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan over five years for Construction Grants for wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities.

23 U.S.C 149

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The Illinois EPA is seeking proposals for projects which will provide wastewater collection and/or treatment solutions for areas where wastewater collection and/or treatment are presently nonexistent.

Yes

See posted NOFO for details

Government Organizations;

Applicants must be in good standing with the Secretary of the State. Eligible proposals will come from a local government unit within the State of Illinois, as defined in Title 35 of the Illinois Administrative code Part 365.

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Project Grants

Public Safety

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All applicants must be prequalified in the GATA portal.

1) The terms and conditions of the award shall be specified in the grant agreement. No grantee shall receive a grant or any other state or federal assistance that would provide 100% or more of the eligible project costs. If the grantee of a UCCGP grant is at any time offered any State, federal, or local grant or any other Unsewered Communities Construction Grant Program funding source, to assist in the payment of expenses for which the UCCGP grant payment has been issued, the recipient shall reimburse the State of Illinois for any UCCGP grant funds used to pay expenses or offered to be paid under another grant or funding source. 2) Projects will require, at minimum, annual reporting of progress and a final project evaluation and report. Annual progress reports shall include both a Periodic Financial Report and a Periodic Performance Report. These reports need to be sent to the Illinois EPA’s Infrastructure Financial Assistance Section staff at: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Bureau of Water, #15 2520 West Iles Avenue P.O. Box 19276 Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276 Email: Julie.matthews@illinois.gov - Julie Matthews Jillian.fowler@illinois.gov – Jillian Fowler Rachael.heaton@illinois.gov – Rachael Heaton Kaitlyn.m.holtsclaw@illinois.gov – Kaitlyn Holtsclaw Allison.fry@illinois.gov - Allison Fry Phone: (217) 782-2027 (Julie Matthews)

Complete applications shall be reviewed by an Evaluation Panel consisting of IEPA, BOW, Infrastructure Financial Assistance Section staff who will rank and prioritize applications in accordance with the scoring system below: MHI - 0 to 200 POINTS - The following points will be awarded based on the median household income (MHI) of the applicant as a percentage of the statewide average MHI: POINTS MHI AS % OF STATEWIDE MHI 200 Points Below 60% 150 Points 60 – 69.99% 125 Points 70 – 79.99% 100 Points 80 – 89.99% 50 Points 90 – 99.99% 0 Points AT OR ABOVE 100% PROJECT TYPE - 50 to 200 POINTS (APPLICANT ONLY QUALIFIES FOR ONE OF THE OPTIONS LISTED BELOW): REGIONALIZATION - 200 POINTS – Project will connect properties from multiple communities, currently without a wastewater central collection facility, to an existing wastewater treatment facility. MULTIPLE WITHOUT, TO NEW - 175 POINTS – Project will connect properties from multiple communities, currently without a wastewater central collection facility, to a new wastewater treatment facility. ONE WITHOUT, TO EXISTING - 150 POINTS – Project will connect properties from a single community, currently without a wastewater central collection facility, to an existing wastewater treatment facility. SINGLE, TO NEW - 100 POINTS – Project will connect properties from a single community, currently without a wastewater central collection facilities, to a new wastewater treatment facility. PORTION, TO EXISTING - 50 POINTS – Project will connect a portion of the community, currently without a wastewater central collection facility, to an existing wastewater treatment facility. APPLICATION HISTORY - 100 POINTS - Applicant is a former Unsewered Communities Planning Grant Program (UCPGP) Grantee AND NOT a previous UCCGP Grantee. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE - 200 POINTS – The proposed project will provide wastewater collection and/or treatment to any area within IEPA Areas of Environmental Justice Concern according to the IEPA EJ Start Tool: “Environmental Justice (EJ)": is based on the principle that all people should be protected from environmental pollution and have the right to a clean and healthy environment. Environmental justice is the protection of the health of the people of Illinois and its environment, equity in the administration of the State's environmental programs, and the provision of adequate opportunities for meaningful involvement of all people with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. More information regarding EJ policies and activities can be found on the following IEPA webpage: Environmental Justice (EJ) - Environmental Justice UNTREATED WASTERWATER DISCHARGE - 250 POINTS – Project will eliminate a current situation where untreated or partially treated wastewater is entering waters of the state. NOTE: Supporting documentation must be attached in order for these points to be awarded. Examples include correspondence from public health, photos, etc. USER CHARGE ORDINANCE - 150 POINTS – Applicant has a draft or current user charge ordinance in place detailing the necessary fees to be collected from customers for the operation, maintenance and replacement of the wastewater collection and treatment facilities related to the proposed project (Must be provided and included with the application submittals). PROJECT DESIGN - 100 POINTS – Project design is complete, and applicant has investigated and ascertained the location of all necessary sites with all rights-of-way and easements obtained. PLEASE NOTE: To receive points, applicant must submit a link to their completed Plans and Specifications in addition to a completed copy of the Illinois EPA Grantee Plans and Specifications Checklist. PERMITS - 100 POINTS – All necessary NPDES and construction permits have been obtained and have not expired. (Must be provided and included with application submittals) ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST - 150 POINTS – Applicant has completed a current Illinois EPA Grantee Environmental Checklist or an Illinois EPA Loan Applicant Environmental Checklist with all applicable consultation documentation detailing the required environmental mitigation measures. PLEASE NOTE: If the project will be utilizing SRF Loan Program funds OR grant funds from a federal source, the Illinois EPA Loan Applicant Environmental Checklist must be used. Furthermore, to receive points, all environmental checklist consultations must NOT be expired. The checklist includes instructions and additional information regarding the completion and expiration of the checklist. The Illinois EPA Grantee Environmental Checklist can be found at the following link: https://epa.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/epa/topics/grants-loans/unsewered-communities/documents/GRANT-ENVIRONMENTAL_CHECKLIST.pdf The Illinois EPA Loan Applicant Environmental Checklist can be found at the following link: https://epa.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/epa/topics/grants-loans/state-revolving-fund/documents/environmental_checklist.pdf UCCGP funds will be awarded per this NOFO starting with the highest ranked (most points) applicant first. Available funds will be awarded to the next ranked project on the list until all available funds have been exhausted. TIEBREAKER - If two, or more, projects receive the same number of points, the project(s) serving the SMALLER population will be ranked above any project serving a LARGER population.

Once all the final requirements have been completed, the Grant Agreement between the Illinois EPA and the applicant will be sent for the applicant to sign and return. Once the agreement is fully executed by the Agency, a copy will be returned to the applicant. Design engineering costs incurred after January 1st, 2025, and prior to the executed contract date of the grant agreement are deemed an ELIGIBLE expense. Construction engineering and construction costs incurred prior to the executed contract date of the grant agreement or after the grant agreement term ends are INELIGIBLE for reimbursement.

See NOFO for deadlines

Within 90 days of application deadline

An appeal process is available to applicants and other interested parties; however, appeals are limited to the Illinois EPA evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested. An appeal must be submitted in writing to the following address: Illinois EPA, Attn: Infrastructure Financial Assistance Section, Bureau of Water, 2520 West Iles Avenue, Mail Code #15, P.O. Box 19276, Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276 and must be received within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published by the Illinois EPA on Grants.Illinois.gov. The written appeal shall include, at a minimum, the following: the name and address of the appealing party, identification of the grant, and a statement of reasons for the appeal. Illinois EPA shall acknowledge receipt of an appeal within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the appeal was received. When an appeal is received, the execution of all grant agreements that Illinois EPA intends to make under this NOFO shall be stayed until the appeal is resolved, unless the Illinois EPA determines the needs of the State require moving forward with execution of the remaining grant agreements. The State need determination and rational shall be documented in writing. Illinois EPA shall respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by Illinois EPA within the time period set in the request. The Director of the Illinois EPA may appoint one or more Appeal Review Officers (ARO) to consider the grant-related appeal and make a recommendation to the Director of the Illinois EPA or designee for resolution. The ARO shall make a recommendation to the Director of the Illinois EPA or designee as expeditiously as possible after receiving all relevant, requested information. In determining the appropriate recommendation, the ARO shall consider the integrity of the competitive grant process and the impact of the recommendation on the Illinois EPA. The Illinois EPA shall resolve the appeal by means of written determination, which shall include, but not be limited to: review of the appeal, appeal determination, and rationale for the determination.

Eligible if grantee meet the requirements per the GATA rules.

No

Examples of ineligible activities, tasks, and components that shall not be funded through the UCCGP are provided below. The list is not all-inclusive: - Land acquisition costs - Project Planning costs - Rehabilitation of existing wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities - Stormwater related projects - Future growth or development projects

All projects require, at minimum, annual reporting of progress and a final project evaluation and report. Annual progress reports shall include both a Periodic Financial Report and a Periodic Performance Report. These reports need to be sent to the Illinois EPA's Infrastructure Financial Assistance Section staff.

Shall adhere to the applicable Uniform Administrative requirements, cost principles, and Audit requirements; 2 C.F.R 200.

Per GATA Administrative Rules

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$500,000 - $5,000,000

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https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/grants-loans/unsewered-communities/uccgp.html

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Springfield, IL

https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/grants-loans/unsewered-communities/uccgp.html

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10/7/2021

Indirect Cost Rate; Other;

FY 2021 : $20,000,000
FY 2022 : $20,000,000
FY 2023 : $20,000,000
FY 2024 : $20,000,000
FY 2025 : $20,000,000
FY 2027 : $60,000,000