Request for Proposals

Guidance

Community POWER:

Partners On Waste Education and Reduction

The Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB)is looking for applicants to propose new and innovative ways to educate and actively engage residents to recycle more, reduce waste and reuse, compost yard and food waste, and plan green events.

  • Two levels of funding: Up to $5,000 or up to $12,000 for an environmental project.
  • Receive training, support and resources to implement your project.
  • Actively involve your audience, your members, your students, or your neighborhood.
  • Help promote RethinkRecycling.com, as part of the SWMCB’s outreach to Twin Cities residents and businesses.

Your go-to guide for waste & recycling in the Twin Cities.

The purpose of the Community POWER program is for SWMCBto partner with non-profit organizations, such as community groups and schools, to reach individuals who are not currently involved in waste and toxicity reduction and recycling practices. Successful applicants will increase residential awareness of waste issues and engage participants in waste reduction activities, leading to long-term behavior change.

Changes to this document will be posted to by March 20, 2015.

Application Deadline:

Noon on Friday, March 27, 2015

Community POWER contact:

Anita Urvina Davis

Grant Program Manager

Phone: 651-222-7227

Email:

Application Submission Guidelines

Prospective applicants must submit an online proposal. The online proposal form can be accessed at: Applicants should strive to be as accurate and complete as possible when describing their plans; however, it is understood that some details may change as plans develop.

Applicants may submit more than one application for different projects; however, no more than one project per fiscal agent will be funded. School districts, however, may serve as a fiscal agent to more than one applicant, such as projects submitted by different schools or community education programs.

Electronic Submission—Required

Fill out the online proposal, which can be accessed at click on “How to Apply for a Grant”. You will be able to upload workplan and budget documents from the application link. Please see the online sample timeline, project goals and description, and budget for more information.

The Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) reserves the right to reject late submittals. Faxed applications will not be accepted.

Available Funding

In 2015, approximately $95,000is available for Community POWER projects.

Two grant levels

  1. Mini-Grants of up to $5,000 are available for education and train-the-trainer projects using the Community POWER Toolkit or other existing Rethink Recycling or county materials.
  2. Traditional Grants of up to $12,000 are available for comprehensive projects involving development of curriculum or materials, adapting existing toolkit and/or county materials for new audiences, and/or implementing a train-the-trainer program.

It is anticipated that a minimum of one project will be funded in each of the six SWMCB membercounties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington.

New Applicant Eligibility

Organizations that possess the following characteristics are eligible:

  • Geographical Service Area: Organizations that involve or serve residents in one or more of the six SWMCB member counties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey or Washington.
  • Organizational Status:
  • Organizations that possess a 501(c)(3) non-profit status.
  • An organization that does NOT possess a 501(c)(3) non-profit status is only eligible to apply if a partnering organization that possesses a 501(c)(3) non-profit status agrees to act as the fiscal agent for the purposes of the grant.
  • Public and private K-12 schools and programs sponsored by school districts. School projects must involve collaboration and education with others in the community beyond the school who will have a stake in the success of the project.

Organizations that are ideal Community POWER partners possess:

  • A direct line of communication to their members, students, constituents or new audiences
  • An existing framework and established audience to implement community projects

Examples of past recipients: (For a list of past grantees visit

  • Neighborhood associations
  • Community organizations
  • Schools and parent organizations
  • Arts organizations
  • Block nurse programs
  • Social service providers
  • Congregations
  • Youth organizations
  • Immigrant organizations
  • Seniors groups
  • Environmental groups (with the exception of those with a primary mission or goal of waste reduction)

Eligibility of Past Community POWER Grantees

  • Successful past grantees of Community POWER, who have received funds for only ONE grant cycle, may reapply to build on their previous Community POWER accomplishments.
  • Past Community POWER grantees that have received two traditional grants are only eligible to apply for a mini-grant.
  • Past grantees that have received Community POWER funds for three grant cycles are ineligible to reapply for two years (for example, if you received your third grant for 2013-2014, you cannot reapply until 2016).

Past grantees are strongly encouraged to contact the Community POWER Grant Program Manager to discuss the options as a past recipient. A list of previously funded organizations can be found at

Additional eligibility criteria for past Community POWER grantees:

  • Proposed project must reach people who were not reached through the first project.
  • Past grantee applicants must commit to sustain project elements after the funding period.
  • Past grantee applicants must include a detailed plan for disseminating results of the project to other organizations that could replicate it.
  • Past grantee applicants must have an excellent track record of completing goals, activities, and required reports.

Non-Eligible Groups

  • City, county, and state agencies (aside from school districts); or cities, townships, and counties.
  • For-profit businesses and organizations.

Non-eligible groups are encouraged to be involved in Community POWER projects as a partner with an eligible organization. In addition, individual counties may have ways to support groups that are not eligible for Community POWER projects; contact the Grant Program Manager for more information.

Insurance Requirements

SWMCB requires general liability insurance coverage of at least $1,500,000; automotive liability coverage of at least $1,500,000; professional liability insurance coverage of at least $1,500,000; and workers’ compensation coverage or certification of excluded employment from workers’ compensation requirements. If applicants do not have the insurance coverage listed above, SWMCB may be willing to provide waivers. The SWMCB Risk Manager will make the final decision regarding all waiver requests, which you can note on the web application form.For questions on insurance coverage, contact the Community POWER Grant Program Manager, Anita Urvina at 651-222-7227 or via email at .

Selection Criteria

The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications:

All projects must include recycling education. For example, educate on what can be recycled in your community.

If a project includes meetings or events, applicants must take efforts to make them “green” or waste-free. Please review the Green Your Events chapter of the Community Education Toolkit for more information.

Project Focus: Priority will be given to applicants that focus on one or more of the following topics:

Waste Reduction: Teaching residents to reduce the amount of garbage created at home by not generating waste or encouraging reuse of materials.

Recycling: Teaching residents to understand what can be recycled in their community and about products made from recycled materials.

Toxicity Reduction: Teaching residents how to use and dispose of toxic products safely and how to choose less toxic products.

Composting: Teaching residents how to compost organic waste at home.

Green Events: Use the Green Event toolkit resources to reduce waste at green events and develop case studies. Please refer to the Greening Your Events chapter of the Community Education Toolkit for more information.

Project Activities must include:

Action:Activities that actively engage residents in waste reduction, toxicity reduction, and recycling in one or more of the project focus areas listed above.

Education:Activities that educate residents on the topics of waste reduction, toxicity reduction, and recycling in one or more of the project focus areas listed above.

Sustainability:Activities that could extend beyond the grant period without grant funding, and activities that could be used or replicated by other organizations.

Audience: Applicants must focus on helping RESIDENTS change their waste reduction, toxicity reduction and recycling behavior at home.

  • Applicants are encouraged to focus on existing networks and audiences.
  • Community POWER also seeks projects that engage diverse or underserved communities.

Appropriate Use of Funds and Restrictions

Funds may be used for the following:

  • Materials
  • Supplies
  • Printing
  • Dissemination of information
  • Salaries devoted to education, outreach and program/curriculum development. Salaries for administrative costs such as supervisory and reporting time will be limited to 10% of the grant amount.
  • Outreach expenses
  • Durable equipment with the value of over $1,000 and items meant to be used beyond the grant period may be allowed, but a cost-share may be required. This might include books, sewing machines,gardening equipment, and media equipment like cameras, etc.
  • Recycling, organics and compost bins – they must be labeled and used correctly (for example: recycling containers can not be used to collect trash. We will not provide funds for trash containers either).
  • If bins are given away, then a cost-share may be require
  • SWMCB member counties may have resources available for bins and labels. Contact the Grant Program Manager for details.
  • Incentives/giveaways must be appropriate to the activity.
  • Fiscal management fees are not allowed.
  • Other items as agreed to by the SWMCB and its representatives.

Projects That Do NOT Fit Community POWER

The following may be valuable, but are not a good fit for the Community POWER grant program.

  • Projects focused on improving a business’, organization’s, or school’s own internal waste systems. Community POWER projects must be primarily focused on education.
  • Projects that include collection of hazardous materials.
  • Projects focused on energy or energy conservation.

Behavior Change Evaluation and Samples

All Traditional grant projects will administer evaluation questions to the people engaged in the project that help measure behavior changes resulting from the project. A list of over 20 questions will be provided to each grantee and the grantee selects the questions from the list that are most relevant to their project. Grantees may administer the survey questions in whatever way best fits the project. The Community POWER Grant Program Manager will assist groups in planning the best way to administer the questions, including the option of using the Survey Monkey service.

A sample of the evaluation tool can be viewed at

Support and Resources for Completing the Application

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Community POWER Grant Program Manager while preparing the proposal. The Community POWER Grant Program Manager can provide feedback, evaluation guidance, and information on resources. Contact the Grant Program Manager at or call 651-222-7227.

Information Meeting

Applicants are encouraged to attend an informational meeting prior to submitting a proposal. Pre-registration is not necessary.

Thursday, February 26, 12:30– 1:30 pm

Roseville Public Library, Community Room

2108 North Hamline Avenue, Roseville, MN 55113

Review Process

  • Allproposals are due by noon, March 27, 2015.
  • During the review process, the committee may choose to follow up with questions or to perform a site visit to the applicant’s office or program delivery location.
  • All applicants will be contacted the week of May 18, 2015 on the status of their application.

Program Timeline

Application Process

Release of Request for ProposalsJanuary 29, 2015

Informational meetingFebruary 26, 2015

Proposals dueMarch 27 by 12:00 p.m.

Review of full proposalsMarch 28 – May 15, 2015

Site visits & questions (if requested)April 13 – May 1, 2015

Announcement of selected proposalsWeek of May 18, 2015

Contract Process

Contract negotiationMay 18 – July 31, 2015

Project duration (grant period)August 24, 2015 – August 19, 2016

Project Timeline

Projects beginAugust 24, 2015

Individual grantee meetings (required)August 24 – October 2, 2015

New grantee orientation (required)September 2015

Grantee training (required)November 2015

Progress reports due (required for Traditional grants)March 7, 2016

Projects endAugust 19, 2016

End of project celebration (required)September 2016

Final reports due (required)*September 2016

*Mini grant projects may submit whenever project is completed during the grant period

Expectations and Reporting Requirements

All groups awarded a contract through this program will be required to fulfill the obligations described below.

1.Attend the grantee orientation, training session, and the final celebration. The orientation is scheduled to take place in September 2015. The training session is scheduled for November 2016. The final celebration is scheduled to take place in September 2016 (actual dates TBD). Additional trainings for grantees may be offered and attendance is strongly encouraged.

2.Complete one progress report and one final report.Documentation of activities and expenditures must be submitted with reports. Mini grantees only required to submit a final report.

3.Evaluate project activities and behavior changes made using a standard evaluation tool. The tool, designed to measure participant behavior change, can be customized to fit your project.Mini grantees not required to use the behavior change survey tool.

4.Disseminate information about your activities to additional "peer" groups. For example, present information at a conference or meeting of organizations similar to your own or write an article for a publication that reaches other groups.

5.Recognize the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board as the source of funds in publications, presentations, websites, at events, etc.

6.Promote the Rethink Recycling website, , in newsletters, websites, and any new promotional items produced with Community POWER funding. Grantees are encouraged to use the Community Education Toolkit.

7.Use pre-approved language in educational and outreach materials or secure approval of language. Templates will be provided and staff in each county are available to review technical writing.

8.Secure approval for any changes to the work plan, major activities, staff, or budget from the Community POWER Grant Program Manager.

Definitions & Project Resources

Community POWER grantees are strongly encouraged to use previously developed educational resources, some of which you can review on the Rethink Recycling website. Below are definitions of key terms and where to find project resources. Examples of past Community POWER projects are posted at

Waste Reduction and Reuse

When we avoid making garbage in the first place, we don't have to worry about disposing of waste or recycling it later. Stop waste before it starts.

  • Rethink Recycling: Reduce
  • Rethink Recycling: Reuse
  • Reduce & Reuse chapter of the Community Education Toolkit
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: Reduce.org
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: Living Green Citizens: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Toxicity Reduction

Some household products found in kitchens, basements and garages may contain materials that are hazardous to people and the environment and need to be disposed of properly. More information can be found at the following websites:

  • Rethink Recycling: Reducing toxins in your home
  • Rethink Recycling: Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off Sites
  • Toxicity Reduction chapter of the Community Education Toolkit

Wasting Less Paper

Production of recycled paper uses 65% less energy than paper production using raw materials. Metropolitan Area residents can recycle more paper that we think – 21% of our household garbage is recyclable paper!

  • Rethink Recycling: Paper reduction tips
  • Rethink Recycling: How to reduce your junk mail

Composting

Composting is easy and cheap! Residents can reduce their garbage by hundreds of pounds each year and create a mixture that improves the soil.

  • Rethink Recycling: Backyard Composting
  • Organics Managementchapter of the Community Education Toolkit
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency:Living Green Citizens: Composting

Recycling

Projects must include recycling education activities.

Approximately one-third of what residents in the Twin Cities area throw away could be recycled.

  • Rethink Recycling: Recycle
  • Recyclingchapter of the Community Education Toolkit

Green Events

Applicants are encouraged to plan “green” or low-waste events as part of their project proposal.

  • Rethink Recycling: Event Planning
  • Green Your Eventchapter of the Community Education Toolkit

Program Background

Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board

The Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) is the issuing agency for the Request for Applications.The SWMCB, formed in 1990, is a joint powers board comprised of two county commissioners each from Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington Counties. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency also serves as an ex-officio member. The mission of the SWMCB is to increase the efficiency and environmental effectiveness of the region’s solid waste management system.

Community POWER Program

The SWMCB began the Community POWER grant program in 2001 as a way to partner with non-environmental, nonprofit organizations to educate residents in the Twin Cities metro areaabout waste reduction, toxicity reduction, and recycling.

Since 2001, Community POWER has completed 13grant rounds, which have provided funding to 185 community organizations.Community POWER will be entering its fifteenth year this year.Results of past Community POWER grantees can be found at

Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board Rights

The SWMCB may require confirmation of information furnished by applicants. The SWMCB reserves the right to:

1.Reject any or all applications if such action is in the public interest;

2.Cancel the entire Request for Proposals;

3.Issue a subsequent Request for Proposals;

4.Remedy technical errors in the Request for Proposals process;

5.Appoint evaluation committees to review proposals;

6.Negotiate with any, all, or none of the Request for Proposals respondents.

The Request for Proposals does not commit the SWMCB to enter into a contract, nor does it obligate the SWMCB to pay for any costs incurred in preparation and submission of applications or in anticipation of a contract.

2015 Community POWER Request for Proposals Guidance

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