Fiscal Year 2025 National Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Program Solicitation Notice

The Fiscal Year 2025 National Environmental Information Exchange Network (EN) Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Mission Support. The EN Program is a collaborative initiative among EPA, states, territories, and federally recognized Tribes to promote improved environmental decision-making by facilitating the exchange of high-quality environmental data. The EN operates using a standards-based approach, allowing diverse agencies to share environmental data regardless of their specific information systems. Launched in 2002, the EN has evolved to meet emerging technologies and new programmatic needs. The 2025 grant program seeks to support projects that enhance the collection, management, and exchange of environmental data, with an emphasis on shared, reusable services and tools. Projects must support at least one of three designated funding areas: increasing data access and business process innovation, eliminating paper submittals and expanding electronic reporting, and augmenting the information management capacity of EN partners (specifically for territories, federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Villages, and inter-Tribal consortia). Applications must explicitly align with at least one of these funding areas and propose measurable outputs and outcomes. EPA anticipates providing approximately $9.5 million in total funding through this program, with an estimated 30 to 35 awards. Individual applicants may request up to $400,000, while eligible EN partnership applicants may request up to $600,000. Applicants under the "Individual Capacity Building with Mentorship" category may request up to $415,000. Awards will have a project period of three years. Cost sharing is not required, though funds may be included in a Performance Partnership Grant if applicable. Funding restrictions apply, including prohibitions on construction costs, maintenance of previously implemented projects, management fees above direct/indirect costs, and the use of funds for prohibited telecommunications equipment. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages, inter-Tribal consortia, U.S. territories, states, and instrumentalities of states or Tribes (with required certification documentation). Local governments and interstate entities are not eligible unless they can demonstrate instrumentality status. Each applicant may submit only one application under this opportunity. Applications that include previously funded activities without differentiation, exceed page limits, or fail to comply with submission requirements will be deemed ineligible. Applications are due via Grants.gov by April 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Awards are anticipated to be announced in September 2025, with selection notifications sent in July 2025. Required application components include a cover letter, project narrative, budget documents, key contacts form, pre-award compliance report, and, where applicable, additional documentation such as indirect cost agreements or certification of status. Evaluation criteria include alignment with EPA strategic goals, feasibility and technical merit, data-sharing improvements, budget appropriateness, and applicant past performance. Final selections will consider geographic distribution, funding history, and EPA's capacity to provide in-kind services. Applicants with technical issues must contact Grants.gov and notify the EPA with a PDF version of their application before the deadline. For further information, applicants can contact the EN Grant Program at ENGrantProgram@epa.gov. Specific project-related contacts are available for EN project opportunities across various environmental domains, including water quality, air emissions, land management, and data modernization.