Chapter 2, Section 14

In general, under the SEE Program, one cooperative agreement will be written for each Assistant, Associate, or Regional Administrator's Office. The one cooperative agreement will provide for all of the support needs of that office.

Exceptions to this general rule may be made if, in the opinion of the Funding Office or the Regional Office, the SEE Program Manager, and the Grants Administration Division, the organization needs more than one agreement due to its size, the various types of assignments performed, or the level of support required.

The scope of work on each cooperative agreement must be written so as to make clear the types of assignments which will be performed by the enrollees. The budget and project periods on these cooperative agreements will normally be three years. However, if a funding surplus occurs at the end of the third year, up to two (one year - no cost) extensions may be granted in order to use existing funds.

If SEE technical assistance to an EPA funding organization is required for more than three years, a "new" SEE cooperative agreement must be awarded to run concurrently with the "old" cooperative agreement for the third and final year of the original project period.

Enrollee wages, benefits, and expenses are the major costs of a SEE cooperative agreement. Enrollee's benefits are set by the individual cooperative agreement grantee and they vary from grantee to grantee. Enrollee expenses include travel, training, necessary physical exams, security checks, medical monitoring and safety equipment. The nonprofit organization which receives a SEE cooperative agreement (grantee) is limited to a ceiling of fifteen percent (15%) for its administrative costs (including the indirect costs). Its own staff wages and benefits are also paid from this 15%. Funding of each SEE cooperative agreement is supported 100% by EPA; therefore, grantee cost sharing is not required.

Whenever the enrollee's assignment requires the use of office or other specialized space for the enrollee to complete the task, the EPA (or other Agency) office funding the SEE cooperative agreement is to provide adequate space and equipment to perform the assignment. In this context, adequate is defined to include all of the health and safety rules and guidelines established by EPA and GSA for government employees.