Federal grant programs / Environmental Protection Agency

Surveys, Studies, Investigations and Special Purpose Grants within the Office of the Administrator (66.610)

Also known as ECOS Omnibus and the Interstate Technology Resource Council Cooperative Agreements

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$3.3 million
• Grant awards4
• Typical award$587,276
• Awarded in FY 2025$1.1 million
• Size rank1,695 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceProject grants

Key findings

• Annual funding rose from $623,438 in fiscal 2021 to $1.1 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 1695th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• Awards went to recipients in 2 states and territories.

What the program funds

The goals of these assistance programs are to: (1) improve the capability of state environmental agencies and their leadership to protect and improve human health and the environment; (2) develop tools and strategies to reduce interstate barriers to the deployment of innovative environmental technologies; and (3) promote collaboration on projects and activities within the states and enable wider and more coordinated state input on national environmental issues.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

What the money can and cannot pay for

Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved surveys, studies, investigations and special purpose assistance, plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Geospatial information is information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features or boundaries on the earth, or applications, tools, and hardware associated with the generation, maintenance, or distribution of such information. This information may be derived from, among other things, GPS, remote sensing, mapping, charting, and surveying technologies, or statistical data. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: Geospatial Resources at EPA (https://www.epa.gov/geospatial). Funds awarded under Section 311(b)(3) of CERCLA must be used for projects relating to innovative or alternative treatment technologies that may be utilized in response actions to achieve more permanent protection of human health and welfare and the environment. This program makes Federal awards on a discretionary basis.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Deadlines

For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). For non-competitive awards, please contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

Funding amounts for competitive awards generally range between $50,000 to $250,000. Smaller, non-competitive award amounts are used to support workshops on research topics, or provided funding support technical assistance to help communities learn about and implement smart growth approaches. Awards on the upper end of the range would typically support multiple year projects focusing on identified priority research topics (e.g., using alternative survey methods; examination of alternative market-based mechanisms).

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: In FY25, EPA funded the following projects: Research – supporting robust engagement between EPA, state environmental departments, and state health departments, especially in the area of lead and children’s health, and to continue the One Health Community of Practice. PFAS – enabling the close partnership between states, federal agencies, and other stakeholders to keep each other informed about policy and scientific developments, newly-identified sources and exposure pathways, and best practices for risk communication. Permit Streamlining – to help state agencies replicate successes, increase efficiencies, improve collaboration, and deliver higher quality environmental outcomes in the dynamic field of environmental permitting. Resilience - highlighting successes, challenges, and capacity gaps, and sharing best practices in the area of preparedness and adaptation in state regulatory and permitting programs. Budget & Management – supporting meaningful state engagement on EPA annual budgeting and planning efforts, including state input on EPA’s FY26-30 Strategic Plan. Sustainable Materials Management – helping states support U.S. independence from foreign markets and lower energy costs for hardworking families and small businesses while reducing pollution and waste associated with resource extraction and manufacturing.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Nonprofits received 88% of the money, colleges and universities 12%.

By state

1 state has a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. It is District of Columbia.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.