The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Award Program – is seeking applications proposing to research, develop, design, and demonstrate solutions to real world challenges.

The P3 competition highlights the use of scientific principles in creating innovative technology-based projects that achieve the mutual goals of improved quality of life, economic prosperity and protection of the planet – people, prosperity, and the planet. The EPA offers the P3 competition to respond to the environmental and human health protection needs of people in the United States, including those in small, rural, tribal and/or disadvantaged communities.

EPA recognizes the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting adaptions to inperson learning and laboratory access experienced by colleges and universities. P3 encourages applicants to consider projects that are conducive to conducting research during a pandemic (social distancing, on-line learning, etc.). EPA is monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and if it is still impacting in-person meetings, a virtual Expo will be planned. PIs will be notified in advance if the National Student Design Expo moves from in-person to virtual.

Funding Information

• Anticipated Funding Amount: Approximately $1 million total for all awards
• Potential Funding per Award: Up to $25,000 per Phase I grant including direct and indirect costs. Applications for Phase I grants requesting an award of more than $25,000 will not be considered. Applications for Phase I grants must be for one year. Applications with budgets exceeding the total award limits and duration will not be considered. Upon the successful completion of Phase I, grant recipients will have the opportunity to apply for a P3 Phase II grant of up to $100,000 total with a two-year duration, including direct and indirect costs. Applications for Phase II grants requesting an award of more than $100,000 or with a duration of more than two years will not be considered.

Eligibility Criteria

Public and private institutions of higher education (limited to degree-granting institutions of higher education) located in the U.S. (includes eligible institutions of higher education located in U.S. territories and possessions) are eligible to apply to be the recipient of a grant to support teams of undergraduate and/or graduate students. Profit-making firms are not eligible to receive assistance agreements from the EPA under this program.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.