Region 10 Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP)
- About GAP
- Role of the Tribal Council
- Apply for a GAP Grant
- Administrative Resources
- Partners
- Contacts
About GAP
In 1992, Congress passed the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Act. This act authorized EPA to provide General Assistance Program (GAP) grants to federally recognized tribes and tribal consortia for planning, developing and establishing environmental protection programs in Indian country, and for developing and implementing solid and hazardous waste programs on tribal lands. Learn more about EPA's national GAP program.
National GAP Guidance
The Guidance on the Award and Management of General Assistance Agreements for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia provides a consistent national framework for building tribal environmental program capacity under GAP and is designed to improve the management of GAP resources.
Legal Provisions and Policies
Legal Provisions and Policies Applicable to Guidance for the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program summarizes many of the legal provisions and policies relevant to GAP.
Success Stories
Region 10 GAP Success Stories highlight successes in Region 10 tribal communities. Find recommendations for creating your own GAP success story and an optional template that you can download.
Role of the Tribal Council
The Tribal Council guides the work, reviews and approves all grant application documents, accepts the grant award, supports GAP staff, and reviews staff reports to understand and track work plan activities. An informed and supportive Tribal Council is the underpinning for a successful environmental program. Contact your EPA Tribal Coordinator to request a presentation on GAP for your Tribal Council.
Apply for a GAP Grant
EPA Region 10 administers GAP for tribes and tribal consortia in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. We typically issue a notice of funding availability each year in the fall for work beginning in the following fiscal year.
- To apply for GAP funding, see our Region 10 GAP Funding Announcement.
- To help applicants learn about the application process, EPA hosts webinars related to the Notice of Funding Availability. See Region 10 Tribal Environmental GAP Webinars to find a schedule of current webinars and past events.
- Questions? Contact your EPA Tribal Coordinator.
Administrative Resources
Grants Training
We recommend that all GAP grantees complete the following course at least once during their 4-year funding cycle:
This comprehensive online training is designed to introduce EPA grant applicants and recipients to key aspects of the entire grant life cycle, from preparation of an application through grant closeout.
Best Practices
EPA Region 10's webinar on best practices for GAP provides ideas to help tribes assess their financial and administrative operations.
Below are some of the resources available to help tribes manage their GAP grant:
- GAP Work Plan and Narrative
- Budget
- Forms
- Reporting Requirements
- GAP Webinars
- Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs)
Also visit EPA Grants to learn more about applying for and managing an EPA grant.
GAP Work Plan and Narrative
- GAP Standardized Work Plan Template (Microsoft Word)(4 pp, 26 K)
- GAP Work Plan Template Instructions (PDF)(2 pp, 111 K)
- Super Cool Planning Tool (PDF)(1 pg, 215 K): Logic model designed to help applicants develop the different parts of their GAP work plan.
- GAP Narrative Template for Tribes (Microsoft Word)(3 pp, 24 K)
- GAP Narrative Template for Inter-Tribal Consortia (Microsoft Word)(2 pp, 24 K)
- Webinar: Developing a GAP Work Plan (Nov. 29, 2017)Exit
Sample Work Plan Components
The following templates provide ideas for developing GAP work plan components on specific environmental topics. These templates do not represent official GAP or other grants guidance.
If you wish to include commitments from these templates in your work plan, please tailor them to meet your tribe’s specific needs. EPA approval on work plan activities is required before conducting grant-funded work.
- Administrative GAP Sample Work Plan Template (PDF)(4 pp, 210 K, December 2019)
- Air Quality GAP Sample Work Plan Templates (PDF)(20 pp, 690 K, November 2018)
- Climate Change GAP Sample Work Plan Template (PDF)(2 pp, 45 K, December 2018)
- Environmental Education GAP Sample Work Plan Template (PDF)(3 pp, 136 K, December 2019)
- Shoreline Erosion Work Plan Template (PDF)(2 pp, 160 K, December 2020)
- Solid Waste GAP Sample Work Plan Templates (PDF)(3 pp, 139 K, December 2019)
Budget
Grantees may use either of the following Detailed Budget Worksheet and Cost Review Forms, or another budget spreadsheet that contains the same level of detail. Additional information is provided below these forms to help grantees better understand budgeting for a GAP grant.
- GAP Detailed Budget Worksheet and Cost Review Form (PDF)(7 pp, 592 K) (This form in Excel format is available below.)
- GAP Detailed Budget Worksheet and Cost Review Form (Microsoft Excel)(154 K)
- FTE and Cost Component Calculator (Microsoft Excel)(15 K)
- Webinar: Developing a GAP Budget (Dec. 6, 2017)EXIT
Indirect Cost Rates
Indirect cost rates help ensure that recipients are compensated for administrative costs incurred under an EPA assistance agreement (e.g., costs for renting space, utilities, accounting services, human resource services). Grantees that have an indirect cost rate should include them in their GAP budget.
- Indirect Cost Guidance for Recipients of EPA Assistance Agreements (RAIN-2018-G02): This notice explains EPA’s 2018 policy that aligns indirect costs with 2 CFR Part 200.
- Webinar: EPA’s Indirect Cost Rate Policy (Dec. 10, 2018)Exit
Forms
- Optional Self-Audit Form (Microsoft Word)(6 pp, 49 K, September 2020) : This form is designed to help tribes determine if their administrative and financial policies and procedures comply with federal guidelines. EPA encourages tribes to complete this form at least once every four years.
- SF 425 Federal Financial Report: This form is required annually within 90 days of the end of the performance period. In year four, the SF-425 must cover all four years of the grant.
The following EPA grantee forms are typically required when applying for a GAP grant:
- EPA Form 4700 4, Pre-award Compliance Review Report for All Applicants and Recipients Requesting Federal Financial Assistance: This form is required annually.
- EPA Form 5700 54, Key Contacts Form: This form is required annually.
- EPA Form 6600 06, Certification Regarding Lobbying: This form is required at the beginning of the four-year grant period for all grants over $100,000.
- SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance: This form is required annually.
- SF 424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs: This form is required annually.
Reporting Requirements
GAP grantees are required to report on their project activities. Grantees typically report quarterly but may negotiate a different reporting cycle with their EPA Tribal Coordinator.
- Online reporting: GAP Online 3.0 (GO3) is a tool for creating work plans and quarterly progress reports. Use of GO3 is currently optional. (GAP Online version 2.3.5 is the online reporting tool used previously. This platform is no longer active.)
- Paper reporting: Tribes that elect to do paper reporting may choose to use EPA’s Quarterly Report Template (Microsoft Word)(3 pp, 79 K) or another template approved by their EPA Tribal Coordinator.
GAP Webinars
EPA Region 10 hosts periodic webinars to assist GAP applications. Visit Region 10 Tribal Environmental GAP Webinars to learn about upcoming webinars and view recordings of past events.
Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs)
EPA Region 10 has developed simplified guidelines and templates to help tribes develop or update their Quality Assurance Project Plan.
Partners
EPA works in collaboration with many organizations in Region 10 to help GAP grantees achieve their environmental goals. One example is the Region 10 Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC), a partnership with EPA that furthers tribal environmental objectives at the regional level.
Many other partners also provide training, technical assistance, and/or financial assistance. Visit our Training and Technical Assistance page to learn more.
Contacts
For questions about GAP, contact your EPA Tribal Coordinator.
For questions about tribal work on air, land, and water issues, contact an EPA Tribal Specialist.