Quality Assurance/Quality 

 Control Requirements 



Checklist 



Timeframe 



The "General Regulations for Assistance Agreements" (30 CFR 

 Sec. 30.302 [d]) stipulate that quality assurance/quality control 

 plans are required tor any projects containing environmental meas- 

 urements. Therefore, where appropriate, each application must 

 include a quality assurance plan certification. Valid quality as- 

 surance/quality control plans must be in place and certified by the 

 regional quality assurance officer before EPA will fund the project. 

 (For further guidance, see the EPA report, "Guide for Preparation 

 of Quality Assurance Project Plans for the National Estuarine 

 Program.") 



The EPA regional estuary coordinator should identify which 

 projects require quality assurance/quality control plans and refer 

 them to the regional quality assurance officer before the region 

 approves the application for funding. Some projects, like historical 

 data collection or public participation, may not require a plan. In 

 these cases, the regional quality assurance officer will prepare a 

 negative statement to be submitted with the application. 



A checklist identifying the critical elements of a complete applica- 

 tion appears in Figure A.I . The final application form should contain 

 an original signature. In addition, it should include a detailed 

 breakdown of budget categories and the applicant's procurement 

 system certification (EPA 5700-48). The application kit provides 

 further information. 



Although there is some flexibility in the annual cycle, OMEP en- 

 courages each Management Conference to adopt a cycle that 

 allows for completing Annual Work Plans and assistance applica- 

 tion review within the first quarter (by January 1 ) of each federal 

 fiscal year (October 1 to September 30). A typical cycle calls for 

 establishing program targets for total expenditure on each estuary 

 program by October 1 5, submittal of draft fy/lanagement Conference 

 Annual Work Plans by December 1 , and submittal of assistance 

 applications by January 1 . 



However, the annual schedule depends upon the date on which 

 OMEP is informed of its annual budget. For instance, sometimes 

 Congressional appropriations are not made by October 1 st. In such 

 cases, OMEP will inform Conferences two weeks after the OMEP 

 budget is appropriated. The schedule for that year would be 

 delayed. 



To be considered for fiscal year funding, completed applications 

 must usually reach the EPA regional program office by June 1 . 

 Check with the regional program office for information about dead- 

 lines for submittal of applications. 



A8 



