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 or inadequate.

Yes

Will add when doing a specific posting.

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. To qualify for grant funding, the annual user charges necessary to provide wastewater collection and/or treatment for residential customers served by the project will be established by ordinance for the useful life of the project at a level equal to at least 1% of the service population's median household income. A draft ordinance should be submitted with the UCCGP application. Adoption of the ordinance will be required prior to disbursement of any grant funds.

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Project Grants

Public Safety

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All applicants must be prequalified in the GATA portal.

1) The Illinois EPA shall issue a Notice of State Award (NOSA) to the successful grant applicants. The NOSA shall specify the funding terms and specific conditions resulting from the Fiscal and Administrative and Programmatic Risk Assessments. The NOSA must be accepted by an authorized representative before a grant agreement can be sent to the applicant. A NOSA is not an authorization to begin project activities or incur costs. 2) The terms and conditions of the award shall be specified in the NOSA and 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. 3) All projects require quarterly reporting of progress and a final project evaluation and report. Quarterly 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 1021 North Grand Avenue East P.O. Box 19276 Springfield,Illinois62794-9276 Email: lanina.clark@illinois.gov Phone:(217) 782-2027 (Lanina Clark)

1) Project will eliminate a current situation where untreated or partially treated wastewater is entering waters of the state- 250 points 2) The proposed project will provide wastewater collection and/or treatment to any area within Illinois EPA- 200 points 3) Project will provide wastewater collection facilities for residences currently without wastewater collection facilities - 200 points 4) Project will connect residences from multiple communities, currently without wastewater collection facilities, to an existing wastewater treatment facility- 175 points 5) Project will connect residences from a single community, currently without wastewater collection facilities, to an existing wastewater treatment facility- 150 points 6) The proposed project is the most cost-effective long-term solution- 150 points 7) A user change ordinance has been adopted 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- 150 points 8) Project will connect residences from a single community, or multiple communities, currently with wastewater collection facilities, to an existing wastewater treatment facility- 125 points 9) Project will connect residences from multiple communities, currently without wastewater collection facilities, to a new wastewater treatment facility - 100 points 10) Project design is complete, and applicant has investigated and ascertained the location of all necessary sites with all rights-of-way and easements obtained -100 points 11) All necessary NPDES and construction permits are obtained - 100 points 12) Applicant has a completed Fiscal Sustainability Plan, Asset Management plan or similar documents addressing the long-term plan for maintaining, repairing, funding and as necessary, replacing the project treatment works -100 points 13) Project will not require a new NPDES permitted discharge -100 points 14) Project will connect residences from a single community, currently without wastewater collection facilities, to a new wastewater treatment facility -75 points 15) Project will connect residences from a single community, or multiple communities, currently with wastewater collection facilities, to a new wastewater treatment facility -75 points

After the Illinois EPA has made the final decision, any successful applicant will receive a Notice of State Award (“NOSA”), which specifies the funding terms and specific conditions resulting from pre-award risk assessments. The NOSA will be distributed through the Grantee Portal, and it must be accepted through the Portal. The NOSA must be accepted before a Grant Agreement can be sent to the applicant. 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. Only after the Grant Agreement has been signed by the Director of the Illinois EPA can expenses be incurred for grant reimbursement. Any expenses incurred outside of the grant period (before or after) are at the applicant’s risk and are not eligible either as match or for reimbursement related to the grant unless a waiver has been previously issued.

September 23, 2020 Through 5:00pm on December 31, 2020

Within 30 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, 1021 N. Grand 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 without fourteen calendar days from the date the appeal was received.

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 - Project design costs - Rehabilitation of existing wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities

All projects require quarterly reporting of progress and a final project evaluation and report. Quarterly 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

Add specific when posting.

Illinois EPA is not obligated to make any grant award as a result of this NOFO.

$500,000 - $5,000,000

N/A

a) The Interagency Wetland Policy Act of 1989; 20 ILCS 830/: In accordance with the interagency Wetland Policy Act of 1989, a grantee whose proposed project site is located on or within 250 feet of a wetland site listed on the National Wetlands Inventory will be required to comply with the requirements of the Act. This includes developing a plan to minimize adverse impacts on wetlands or providing written evidence that the proposed project will not have an adverse impact on a wetland. Project must also comply with Federal wetlands Protection regulations at 24 C.F.R, which may require preparation of an Eight-step Wetlands review. b) Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act; 520 ILCS 10/ and the Illinois Natural Area Preservation Act; 525 ILCS 30: Compliance requires consultation with the Endangered species Consultation Program of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to assure compliance .The consultation process must be implemented to avoid or minimize adverse impacts to State-listed species and their essential habitats that may result from the actions of State and local units of government. Grantees must certify the completion of the consultation process. c) Illinois Prevailing Wage Act; 820 ILCS 130/: The Illinois Prevailing Wage Act requires the payment of prevailing wages for all construction funded in whole or in part with State funds, including funds passed through to private firms. Grantees shall comply with all requirements of the Prevailing Wage Act, including but not limited to, inserting into all contracts for construction a stipulation to the effect that not less than the prevailing rate of wages as applicable to the project shall be paid to all laborers, workers, and mechanics performing work under the award and requiring all bonds of contractors to include a provision as will guarantee the faithful performance of such prevailing wage clause as provided by contract. Grantees will be required to report on Prevailing Wage Act compliance. If your project involves construction and/or equipment installation, go to https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/LawsRules/CONMED/Pages/prevailing-wage-act.aspx for more information. d) Illinois Works Jobs Program Act; 30 ILCS 559/: Grantees must comply with requirements in the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act. For grants with an estimated total project cost of $500,000 or more, the grantee will be required to comply with the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative; 30 ILCS 559/20-20 to 559/20-25 and all applicable administrative rules. The “estimated total project cost” is a good faith approximation, at the time an applicant submits a grant application, of the costs of an entire project being paid for in whole or in part by appropriated capital funds to construct a public work. The goal of the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative is that apprentices will perform either 10% of the total labor hours actually worked in each prevailing wage classification or 10% of the estimated labor hours in each prevailing wage classification, whichever is less. Grantees will be permitted to seek a waiver or reduction of this goal in certain circumstances pursuant to 30 ILCS 559/20-20(b). The grantee must ensure compliance for the life of the entire project, including during the term of the grant and after the term ends, if applicable, and will be required to report on and certify its compliance. e) Business Enterprise Program for Minorities, Females, and Person with Disabilities Act; 30 ILCS 575/: For grant awards of $250,000 or more, the grantee will be required to comply with the Business Enterprise Program for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act, which establishes a goal for contracting with businesses that have been certified as owned and controlled by persons who are minority, female, or who have disabilities. The grantee must document a plan for compliance prior to the establishment of the grant agreement and ensure compliance through the life of the grant. f) The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Categories; 40 C.F.R. § 63: These standards assure that, when existing buildings are demolished and/or renovated, people outside of those buildings (i.e., passers-by or neighborhood residents) are protected from airborne asbestos. If asbestos materials are involved in the rehabilitation work, the grantee must contact the Field Operations Section, Bureau of Air of the Illinois EPA to ensure compliance with Asbestos NESHAP.

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Springfield, IL

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10/7/2021

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