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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReports - 2024.04.11 - 41124 AGENDA ITEM: Application to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy for the 2024-2025 Rapid Methods and Microbial Source Tracking for Beaches Program DEPARTMENT: Health & Human Services MEETING: Board of Commissioners DATE: Thursday, April 11, 2024 6:31 PM - Click to View Agenda ITEM SUMMARY SHEET COMMITTEE REPORT TO BOARD Resolution #2024-3933 Motion to approve the submission of the 2024 – 2025 Rapid Methods and Microbial Source Tracking for Beach Program grant application in the amount $134,000. ITEM CATEGORY SPONSORED BY Grant Penny Luebs INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The Oakland County Health Division is applying for the 2024 – 2025 Rapid Methods and Microbial Source Tracking for Beach Program grant funding from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), Water Resources Division in the amount of $134,000. The grant provides funding for routine monitoring of high priority beaches to identify hosts and locations of fecal contamination through December 31, 2025. Grant funds will be used to continue analyzing bathing beach waters to prevent illness, provide data to assist in evaluating the detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli), and identifying sources of fecal contamination. POLICY ANALYSIS The application and future acceptance of this grant does not obligate the County to any future commitment and continuation of this program is contingent upon continued future levels of grant funding. BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: No Committee members can contact Michael Andrews, Policy and Fiscal Analysis Supervisor at 248.425.5572 or andrewsmb@oakgov.com or the department contact persons listed for additional information. CONTACT Leigh-Anne Stafford, Director Health & Human Services ITEM REVIEW TRACKING Aaron Snover, Board of Commissioners Created/Initiated - 4/11/2024 AGENDA DEADLINE: 04/21/2024 6:31 PM ATTACHMENTS 1. Grant Review Sign-Off 2. Timetable 2024-2025 3. RFP INSTRUCTIONS - RAPID METHOD AND MST FOR BEACHES - 2024 DRAFT 4. PCR Grant Work Plan 2024-2025 5. New Proposed budget qPCR 2024-2025 6. New Project Description qPCR 2024-2025 7. qPCR Grant application cover sheet 2024 8. Independent auditors report 9. Letter - Local HDs - 2024 Rapid Testing and Source Tracking for Beaches (002) COMMITTEE TRACKING 2024-04-02 Public Health & Safety - Recommend to Board 2024-04-11 Full Board - Adopt Motioned by: Commissioner Michael Gingell Seconded by: Commissioner Penny Luebs Yes: David Woodward, Michael Spisz, Michael Gingell, Penny Luebs, Kristen Nelson, Christine Long, Robert Hoffman, Philip Weipert, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Marcia Gershenson, Yolanda Smith Charles, Charles Cavell, Brendan Johnson, Ajay Raman, Ann Erickson Gault, Linnie Taylor (17) No: None (0) Abstain: None (0) Absent: Karen Joliat, William Miller III (2) Passed GRANT REVIEW SIGN-OFF – Health & Human Services/Health GRANT NAME: 2024-2025 Rapid Methods and Microbial Source Tracking for Beaches Program FUNDING AGENCY: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Stacey Sledge 248-452-2151 STATUS: Application (Greater than 50,000) Please be advised that the captioned grant materials have completed the internal grant review. Below are the returned comments. The Board of Commissioners’ liaison committee resolution and grant application package (which should include this sign- off and the grant application with related documentation) should be placed on the next agenda(s) of the appropriate Board of Commissioners’ committee(s) for grant acceptance by Board resolution. DEPARTMENT REVIEW Management and Budget: Approved – Sheryl Johnson (02/22/2024) Human Resources: Approved by Human Resources. No position impact. - Heather Mason (02/21/2024) Risk Management: Approved. Allows self-insurance – Robert Erlenbeck 02/22/2024) Corporation Counsel: Approved. No legal issues were identified. - Sharon Kessler (02/22/2024) Oakland County Beach Monitoring Program 2024/2025 Timetable 2024 2025 % of Time Task #Task Name Ma y Ju n Ju l Au g Se p Oc t No v De c Ja n Fe b Ma r 8%1 Planning 1.1. QAPP 1.2. GPS 1.3. Deliver Notification Signs 1.4. Create database/forms 1.5. Assign beaches to students/ create maps 1.6. Update website 1.7. Identify contacts and send letters 3%2 Training 2.1. Update presentation 2.2. Field exercise 51%3 Sampling 3.1. Surveys 3.2. Weekly samples 3.3 Enter survey info 20.5%4 Laboratory Analysis 3%5 Data Entry and Sample Review 5.1. Calculate geometric mean 5.2. Update OCHD website 5.3. Update BeachGuard 5.4 Supervisor Review 5.5. Review/data entry/filing 10%6 Follow-Up 1.0%7 Complaint Response 1%8 Contractual Services 3%9 Reporting 100.0% Ap r Ma y Ju n Ju l Au g Se p Oakland County Beach Monitoring Program 2024/2025 Timetable 2025 1 Rapid Methods and Microbial Source Tracking for Beaches Program Request for Proposals Announced on February 14, 2024 Applications are requested for proposals by Friday, May 3, 2024 Checklist for a Complete Application Your application should consist of the following: ☐ One-page Application Cover Sheet (Form EQP5832-Rapid) ☐ Maximum five-page Project Description ☐ Maximum four-page Work Plan with all mandatory elements. ☐ One or two-page Timetable. ☐ Proposed Budget Attachments: Required as described in Appendix A. ☐ Letter from a certified public accountant (CPA) showing a successful audit (an Independent Auditors Report from a Comprehensive Annual Report). ☐ Letters of commitment (from collaborators). Full applications must be emailed to BriggsS4@Michigan.gov and received by 5:00 PM, Friday, May 3, 2024. Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) staff will reply to all applications submitted to the listed address. Please contact Dr. Shannon Briggs, Beach Monitoring Program Manager, at 517-290-8249 for assistance. Late proposals will not be accepted or reviewed. EGLE does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, age, national origin, color, marital status, disability, political beliefs, height, weight, genetic information, or sexual orientation in the administration of any of its programs or activities, and prohibits intimidation and retaliation, as required by applicable laws and regulations. This publication and its contents are subject to the Freedom of Information Act and may be released to the public. 2 Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................3 Funding .....................................................................................................................................3 Source and Availability ...........................................................................................................3 No Required Match ................................................................................................................3 Minimum and Maximum Funding Amounts ............................................................................3 Eligibility ....................................................................................................................................3 Eligible Applicants ..................................................................................................................3 Ineligible Applicants ...............................................................................................................4 Eligible Activities ....................................................................................................................4 Ineligible Activities ..................................................................................................................4 General Requirements for All Proposals ...................................................................................4 Project Evaluation, Monitoring, and Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP)..........................5 Proposal Evaluation Criteria ......................................................................................................5 Funding Priority .........................................................................................................................5 Proposal Selection ....................................................................................................................6 Process, Schedule, and Deadline .............................................................................................6 Project Clarification/Revisions ...................................................................................................6 Confidentiality .........................................................................................................................6 Acceptance of Contract Content ................................................................................................6 Contacts ....................................................................................................................................6 Appendix A. Instructions for Preparing Proposals ....................................................................7 Cover Sheet ...........................................................................................................................7 Project Description: ................................................................................................................8 Work plan: ..............................................................................................................................9 Timetable: ............................................................................................................................ 10 Proposed Project Budget: .................................................................................................... 10 Attachments ......................................................................................................................... 11 Appendix B. Required Beach Monitoring Program Elements ................................................. 12 Appendix C. Example Boilerplate ............................................................................................ 14 3 RAPID METHODS AND MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING FOR BEACHES PROGRAM GRANTS Introduction Funds from the Technology Advancement for Water Monitoring from the state of Michigan are available to assist local health departments to use rapid methods for routine monitoring of high priority beaches to determine that a beach should be open or posted with a closure or an advisory. High priority beaches may be characterized as being heavily visited, having potential for contamination, or having historical closures. Funds may also be used to conduct microbial source tracking to identify hosts and locations of fecal contamination that cause beach closures. Funding Source and Availability This Request for Proposals (RFP) contains information concerning funding authorized with Technology Advancement for Water Monitoring Funds. An amount up to $500,000 is available through this RFP to support monitoring efforts at beaches with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and digital droplet (ddPCR) methods. Grant awards should be announced June of 2024. Grant awards are contingent upon the enactment of sufficient funding in the state budget to support this grant program as well as any other necessary approvals. No Required Match Projects do not require match. Minimum and Maximum Funding Amounts There is no minimum or maximum amount. Applicants may be asked to revise budgets due to available funding. Eligibility Eligible Applicants The local health department or their designee(s) or an entity that provides support to a local health department can apply to receive funds and administer the project. Applications from entities must identify which health department will be supported in the work plan and clearly explain tasks in the work plan that support the identified local health department. Project partners listed in the work plan or budget should provide a one-page letter ensuring their commitment to the project. I n addition, all applicants must: • Supply proof of a successful financial audit for a period ending within the 24 months immediately preceding the application due date as demonstrated by an Independent Auditor’s Report signed by a Certified Public Accountant from a Comprehensive Annual Report. The audit must be of the applicant organization – No fiduciary arrangements will be accepted (i.e. the proposed work plan must include an active role for the applicant organization). The audit date is based on the audit period and not the date of the audit or the audit letter. To be eligible under this RFP, the end date of the audited period must be after December 30, 2021. 4 • Be in good standing with EGLE programs. Within the 24 months immediately preceding the application due date: • No EGLE grant revoked or terminated. • No demonstrated inability to manage a grant or meet the obligations in a project contract with EGLE. • Not appear on the Federal Debarment and Suspension List. The list can be searched through the System for Award and Management website (Sam.gov). • Successful applicants and all contractors will be required to certify they are not an Iran -based business and contractors must also certify they are not an Iran -linked business as defined in MCL 129.312. For questions and clarifications about eligibility issues please contact Dr. Shannon Briggs, Water Resources Division at BriggsS4@Michigan.gov or 517-290-8249. Ineligible Applicants Entities that cannot meet the bulleted eligibility elements above are ineligible applicants. However, these entities can serve as project partners or receive grant funds as subcontractors to eligible grantees. Eligible Activities Activities include rapid testing and microbial source tracing for monitoring beaches in Michigan conducted by the local health departments. Health departments are required to comply with Michigan’s Water Quality Standards (WQS) according to R 333.12544 of the Public Health Code, 1978 PA 368 (Act 368), as amended. According to R 333.12541 of Act 368, a local health officer or an authorized representative of a local health department that conducts tests at bathing beaches is required to notify EGLE and other entities of the test results within 36 hours of conducting a test or evaluation. This rule also states that the local health department may petition the circuit court for an injunction ordering the owners of a beach to close the beach. Owners of public bathing beaches must post a sign that states whether the bathing beach has been tested, and if so, where the test results may be accessed. Ineligible Activities Activities that are unrelated to monitoring beaches. General Requirements for All Proposals • The time frame for monitoring projects can be one or two years. • EGLE retains the right to withdraw funding if a contract has not been signed within 90 days. • All projects selected for funding will be required to take steps to minimize the risk of spreading terrestrial and aquatic invasive species. Selection of project -appropriate measures should be dependent on the type of work being conducted and the specific situation. 5 Project Evaluation, Monitoring, and Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP) All projects must include an evaluation component to determine the success of the project activities in relation to the stated project goals. Projects that include physical, chemical, biological, or microbiological activities for evaluation or project guidance will be required to submit a QAPP for approval by EGLE. A QAPP is not needed for the proposal phase. Proposal Evaluation Criteria • The ability to open and close beaches on the same day that samples are collected using all available data (e.g., sanitary survey and rapid testing data). • The anticipated public health and water quality benefits of the project in relation to the cost (although a thorough cost/benefit analysis is not required). • The ability of the applicant and the partners and contractors to carry out the project as demonstrated by previous grants or submitted information. • Financial and technical assistance from the partners in the project, as documented by letters of commitment. • Expectations for long-term public health and water quality improvement or protection. Funding Priority These grants are meant to fund proposals that rapidly determine levels of E. coli in public swimming areas at beaches and can conduct microbial source tracking methods to identify hosts and locations of fecal contamination that cause beach closures. The position of EGLE is that the qPCR value of 1.863 log10 copies per reaction for E. coli is equivalent to the daily geometric mean of 300 E. coli per 100 milliliters (ml) as stated in Rule 62 (R 323.1062) of the Part 4 rules, W ater Quality Standards, of Part 31, Water Resources Protection, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended (NREPA). EGLE’s position is that implementation of Draft Method C and the qPCR value of 1.863 log10 copies per reaction for E. coli to monitor beaches is consistent with the beach monitoring rules of the Public Health Code. Funds from this grant may use Draft Method C and the qPCR value of 1.863 log10 copies per reaction for E. coli to make decisions about whether beaches are safe for swimming. In selecting projects for grant awards, EGLE will consider the following: 1. Location and frequency of beach use. 2. History of beach monitoring and bacterial contamination. 3. Ability to communicate results to the public within 36 hours (consistent with the Public Health Code). 4. Ability to respond and take appropriate action in the event of beach contamination. 5. Proximity of beach to a known bacterial contamination source. 6. Innovativeness and feasibility of proposed project. 7. Ability to reduce time delay between sampling and results (e.g., beach status determined same day as samples collected and analyzed). 6 Proposal Selection Proposals will be selected based on the above Evaluation Criteria. Process, Schedule, and Deadline The project description, work plan, timeline, budget, and all necessary forms must be submitted using Microsoft Office compatible formats or a searchable PDF. Detailed instructions are provided in Appendix A. The Cover Sheet (signed, electronic or typed signature accepted), maps, graphics, and photographs can be submitted as PDF or similar files. Full applications must be emailed to BriggsS4@Michigan.gov and received by 5:00 PM, Friday, May 3, 2024. EGLE will reply to all applications submitted to the listed address. If you do not receive a reply within one day during regular business hours or if your proposal is too large to email, please contact Dr. Shannon Briggs at BriggsS4@Michigan.gov or 517-290-8249 for assistance. Late proposals will not be accepted or reviewed. Project Clarification/Revisions EGLE may request additional information for clarification purposes. EGLE can offer grant amounts other than those requested and request changes to the proposed work plan. Confidentiality Submitted proposal information is not confidential. Grant proposals are considered public information under the Freedom of Information Act, PA 442 of 1976, as amended. Acceptance of Contract Content Successful applicants will be required to enter into a project contract with EGLE. A project contract consists of standard “boilerplate” language (similar to the past year example in Appendix C), the applicant’s project description, work plan, timeline, and budget information. Failure of a successful applicant to accept these obligations will result in cancellation of the grant award. Please note: 1. Faxed or mailed full proposals will not be accepted. 2. Late proposals will not be considered for funding. Contacts For questions about this RFP and its contents or general grant or grant process questions, contact Dr. Shannon Briggs BriggsS4@Michigan.gov, 517-290-8249. 7 Appendix A. Instructions for Preparing Proposals Cover Sheet MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY WATER RESOURCES DIVISION BEACHES PROGRAM RAPID METHODS AND MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING FOR BEACHES PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION COVER SHEET (Authorized by 1994 PA 451) Project Name: Project Location (Primary County): Organization Name: Organization Address: (# and Street Name) (City) (State) (Zip Code) Organization UEI #: Organization Federal ID #: SIGMA ID: SIGMA Location Code: Contact Person: (Name) (Title) Contact’s E-Mail: Organization Phone: Grant Amount Requested: $ Senate District Number(s): Representative District Number(s): Person with Grant Acceptance Authority: (Name) , (Title) Signature: Date: If you need this information in an alternate format, contact EGLE-Accessibility@Michigan.gov or call 800-662-9278. EGLE does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, age, national origin, color, marital status, disability, poli tical beliefs, height, weight, genetic information, or sexual orientation in the administration of any of its programs or activitie s, and prohibits intimidation and retaliation, as required by applicable laws and regulations. Questions or concerns should be directed to the Nondiscrimination Compliance Coordinator at EGLE-NondiscriminationCC@Michigan.gov or 517-249-0906. This form and its contents are subject to the Freedom of Information Act and may be released to the public. This cover page is page 1 of all proposals. Continue with the remainder of proposal on a separate page . 8 Project Description: In no more than five pages, provide the following information in the order listed, and using the headings given. While there is a five-page maximum for this section, you are not required to use the full five-page allowance. Use 11 or 12-point font on 8 ½” x 11” paper with 1” margins. Consider each bulleted statement as it applies to your project. At the top of the page, include the project name followed by “Project Description.” Number each page beginning at page 2 and attach the project description to Page 1, the Application Cover Sheet. Be sure to include a complete entry for each element A through E. Due to space limitations, it is recommended that applicants focus their efforts on developing elements B, D, and E. A. Statement of water quality concerns/issues. • List beaches that will be monitored with rapid methods and briefly describe the current water quality conditions. • List beaches that will be monitored with microbial source tracking methods and briefly describe the current water quality conditions. • Discuss the needs/problems (pollutants, sources, and causes) to be addressed with the proposed project. B. Project goals and objectives. • Describe the project goals (what you hope to achieve) and measurable objectives. • Describe generally how you intend to accomplish the goals and objectives (details will be in the work plan). • Describe the anticipated water quality benefits in relation to the cost of the project. • Describe any water quality activities that will continue after the project is completed. C. Organization Information. • Describe the relevant qualifications of project staff pertinent to the project. There should be a brief description for each staff person listed on the budget form. D. Partners. Describe: • The project partners, their qualifications, roles, and commitments. • Any other sources of funding not listed on page 1 of the proposal or on the budget and include other grants you have received that relate to this proposal. E. Project Summary In 150 words or less and in paragraph format, provide a summary of your project. This will be used as a basis for the summary documents during the review process. 9 Work plan: In a maximum of four-pages. Use 11- or 12-point font on 8 ½” x 11” paper with 1” margins. • The work plan should begin with a heading consisting of the bolded title of the project followed by “Work Plan”. • The work plan should be presented by task (with sub -tasks, as necessary), including a brief narrative description. • For each task, include an estimated percentage of time (grantee time only – not contractual time). The total estimated percentage of time must equal 100 percent. • For each task, identify the staff person(s) or agency responsible for carrying out the task. • For each task include an estimated budget breakdown by major budget category (Staffing/Fringe, Contractual, Supplies, etc.). Totals must balance with the budget. • For each task, identify the resulting product(s). • Each contractual service listed on the Budget sheet must have its own task(s), responsible agency, and product(s). Note: All work plans must include the following mandatory tasks: Required Task for Grant Administration and Close Out A. Develop and submit quarterly status reports following EGLE guidance. Reports will be submitted within 30 days of the end of each quarter. B. Provide draft and final products and deliverables. C. Develop and submit a final report following EGLE guidance and submit the final report within 30 days of the end of the grant. D. Submit an electronic copy of all project-related photos with the final report. Products: Quarterly reports, copies of all products and deliverables in the quantities and format specified, draft and final project report, project, and fact sheet. Required Task for monitoring/data collection: A. Develop and submit a QAPP to EGLE for review and approval prior to monitoring. Monitoring will not begin without EGLE approval. B. All monitoring data will be submitted to EGLE’s BeachGuard Web site. C. Health departments are required to comply with Michigan’s WQS according to R 333.12544 of the Public Health Code, 1978 PA 368 (Act 368), as amended. According to R 333.12541 of Act 368, a local health officer or an authorized representative of a local heal th department that conducts tests at bathing beaches is required to notify EGLE and other entities of the test results within 36 hours of conducting a test or evaluation. 10 Timetable: In a maximum of 2 pages, using standard 8.5” x 11” paper only. Include in a table format a timetable of activities, showing when each task will be started and completed. This must cover all quarters of the project and correspond to the state’s quarter system (i.e., October -December; January-March; April-June; July-September). Include time for EGLE staff to review and comment on all draft products and deliverables. Timetable Example Task Apr - Jun 2024 Jul - Sep 2024 Oct - Dec 2024 Jan - Mar 2025 Apr - Jun 2025 Jul - Sep 2025 Task 1. Grant Administration 1a. Quarterly Reports X X X X X X 1b. Drafts & Final Products X X X Task 2. Environmental Monitoring 2a. Submit QAPP (9 weeks prior to monitoring) X Task 3. 3a. continue with tasks as needed For accessible tables, please follow these tips: • Use a 12 point sans serif font such as Arial or Calibri • Avoid the use of merged cells. Borders can be removed to create a merged line look. • Color fill can be used to identify task periods; however, an X or other symbol should also be used. Proposed Project Budget: Prepare a budget for your proposal including the following categories, for example: Project Total Salary Fringe (limit to 40% of salary) Contractor Supplies Equipment Mileage Indirect Costs Indirect Rate* *Indirect maximum is 20% on state funding. ELGE staff will provide Grantees the EGLE budget form that will include the final budget and will be used for reporting reimbursement requests as part of the grant agreement. 11 Attachments The following attachments are to be submitted by all applicants. Audit. All applicants must include with their application, an Independent Auditors Report from a Comprehensive Annual Report documenting that the organization has undergone a successful financial audit for a period ending after December 30, 2021. The letter must also include the dates and scope of the successful financial audit. This information is necessary to assure that the applicant has a financial accounting system in place that operates in accordance with accepted accounting principles. Note: An Independent Auditors Report is a one or two-page letter that includes the title “Independent Auditors Report”. Letters of Commitment. Required for all proposals that include local match from partners. These are letters from partners in the project committing a specific amount of time, money, activities, or other specified resources for the project and reflected o n the budget. General letters of support (those not showing time, money, or specific resource commitment) are not requested. 12 Appendix B. Required Beach Monitoring Program Elements The Grantee is expected to provide the following services for monitored beaches that are used by the public for recreational use: 1. Obtain User ID and Password from the Beach Monitoring Program Manager. Identify and update organization information on EGLE’s BeachGuard Website. 2. Identify beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public for recreation. Report location information on BeachGuard. Information includes location name, location description, water body name, water body type, site type, if located in a state park, coordinates for latitude and longitude in decimal degrees for the endpoints and center point of each location, an 8 -digit hydrological unit code, beach length in meters, the county and township location, facilities available, and optional description of amenities. 3. Notify the city, village, or township in which the beach or point of access is located prior to conducting monitoring activities. 4. Update the QAPP for the beach monitoring program prior to monitoring beaches. The QAPP must be consistent with requirements in the Public Health Code, the Part 4 Rules, and the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act, and must be approved by the State prior to initiation of monitoring. QAPPs that have been approved and have current approval letters from EGLE will satisfy this requirement. 5. Monitor beaches according to approved QAPP. 6. A composite sample can be submitted to a lab for testing instead of three individual samples. This approach has potential to reduce costs thus providing funds that can be used to increase the duration and frequency of monitoring, conduct more sanitary surveys, and use quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and digital droplet (ddPCR) methods for source tracking of fecal contamination sources. Please note that a revised beach monitoring QAPP will be required to include the procedures for composite sampling and performing qPCR or ddPCR methods. Please contact the Beach Monitoring Program Manager for more information about revising the QAPP. The revised QAPP must be approved prior to conducting these activities. 7. Beaches will be monitored for E. coli. Beach monitoring activities in Michigan are prescribed in R 325.2101-325.2103, promulgated by Sections 333.12501 and 333.12541 -333.12545, of the Public Health Code, 1978 PA 368, as amended. Beach water samples may be analyzed with culture-based methods or rapid testing methods (i.e., Draft Method C) to make decisions about whether beaches are safe for swimming. 8. The position of EGLE is that Draft Method C and the qPCR value of 1.863 log10 copies per reaction for E. coli to monitor beaches is equivalent to daily geometric mean of 300 E. coli per 100 milliliters (ml) as stated in R 323.1062 of the Part 4 Rules. Subrule 62(1) of the Part 4 Rules states: All waters of the state protected for total body contact recreation shall not contain more than 130 Escherichia coli (E. coli) per 100 milliliters (ml), as a 30-day geometric mean. Compliance shall be based on the geometric mean of all individual samples taken during 5 or more sampling events representatively spread over a 30 -day period. Each sampling event shall consist of three or more samples taken at representative locations within a 13 defined sampling area. At no time shall the waters of the state protected for total body contact recreation contain more than a maximum of 300 E. coli per 100 ml. Compliance shall be based on the geometric mean of three or more samples taken during the same sampling event at representative locations within a defined sampling area. 9. Report the current monitoring plan for each location on EGLE’s BeachGuard Website. Each monitoring plan will include the start and end dates for the swimming season, and the monitoring season and frequency that the location will be monitored. Locations can be updated individually or in groups by county. Usually, the sampling events are regularly scheduled throughout the swimming season. EGLE acknowledges that some beaches may have fewer sampling events due to financial limitations. 10. Report location of at least three monitoring points per site on EGLE’s BeachGuard Website prior to reporting monitoring data. Report results for composite samples or individual samples for E. coli and status of beach (open/closed/advisory) within 36 hours of the test or evaluation to EGLE via the BeachGuard Website, the city, village, or township in which the site is located, and the owner or operator. EGLE’s BeachGuard Website can calculate daily geometric means and 30-day geometric means as individual results are reported. 11. Conduct a beach sanitary survey for each location that will be monitored. Please contact the Beach Monitoring Program Manager for instructions to get this information. It is recommended that a beach sanitary survey also be conducted at non-monitored locations when possible. The sanitary survey will indicate whether beach owners have posted signs that indicate whether the site is monitored or not and where the results can be found if the site is monitored. The Grantee may purchase signs with grant funds that will be posted as described in the Public Health Code for publicly owned beaches. Open stretches of beach or beaches at road ends that are not advertised or posted as public bathing beaches do not need to have signs posted. Notify the Beach Monitoring Program Manager, the city, village, or township in which the site is located, and the owner or operator of the beach of the results or findings of the sanitary survey. 12. Report beach sanitary survey results to EGLE’s BeachGuard Website. 13. Provide training for staff involved in the program as necessary to maintain knowledge of current regulations and internal policies and procedures to keep staff informed of technological improvement and advancements as approved by the state. Recommended Training Opportunities: • Attend MiNet weekly calls, typically one hour per week. The MiNet is a voluntary group of staff from laboratories that work with local health departments in Michigan. Contact Dr. Shannon Briggs to connect with MiNet. • Great Lakes Beach Association Conference will be held at Grand Portage, Minnesota in the fall of 2024. More information will be available soon at GreatLakesBeachAssociation.org. 14. Submit a final report to the Beach Monitoring Program Manager. The final report shall include a list of monitored beaches, summary of monitoring results, summary of beach sanitary survey reports, and a description of the public notification plan, outreach activities, public education effort, and effort to receive public comment about beach monitoring activities. 14 Appendix C. Example Boilerplate PROGRAM NAME GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY AND GRANTEE NAME This Grant Agreement (“Agreement”) is made between the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Division (“State"), and Name of Grantee ("Grantee"). The purpose of this Agreement is to provide funding in exchange for work to be performed for the project named below. The State is authorized to provide grant assistance pursuant to [Name of Legislation, Year and Public Act No.] Legislative appropriation of Funds for grant assistance is set forth in [Year and Public Act No.] This Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions specified herein. Project Name: Amount of Grant: $ Amount of Match: $ = % Start Date: Project #: % of Grant State 0 / % of Grant Federal 0 PROJECT TOTAL: $ (grant plus match) End Date: GRANTEE CONTACT: STATE’S CONTACT: Name and Title Name and Title Organization Division Address Address City, State and Zip Code City, State and Zip Code Telephone Number Telephone Number Email Address Email Address SIGMA VSS Vendor Code Address ID Federal ID Number UEI Number 2 Example Boilerplate The individuals signing below certify by their signatures that they are authorized to sign this Agreement on behalf of their agencies and that the parties will fulfill the terms of this Agreement, including any attached appendices, as set forth herein. FOR THE GRANTEE: Signature Date Name and Title FOR THE STATE: Signature Date Name and Title 3 I. PROJECT SCOPE This Agreement and its appendices constitute the entire Agreement between the State and the Grantee and may be modified only by written agreement between the State and the Grantee. (A) The scope of this project is limited to the activities specified in Appendix A and such activities as are authorized by the State under this Agreement. Any change in project scope requires prior written approval in accordance with Section III, Changes, in this Agreement. (B) By acceptance of this Agreement, the Grantee commits to complete the project identified in Appendix A within the time period allowed for in this Agreement and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. II. AGREEMENT PERIOD Upon signature by the State, the Agreement shall be effective from the Start Date until the End Date on page 1. The State shall have no responsibility to provide funding to the Grantee for project work performed except between the Start Date and the End Date specified on page 1. Expenditures made by the Grantee prior to the Start Date or after the End Date of this Agreement are not eligible for payment under this Agreement. III. CHANGES Any changes to this Agreement [other than budget line item revisions less than [ ] percent of the budget line item] shall be requested by the Grantee or the State in writing and implemented only upon approval in writing by the State. The State reserves the right to deny requests for changes to the Agreement or to the appendices. No changes can be implemented without approval by the State. IV. GRANTEE DELIVERABLES AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS The Grantee shall submit deliverables and follow reporting requirements specified in Appendix A of this Agreement. (A) The Grantee must complete and submit [quarterly] [financial and/or progress] reports according to a form and format prescribed by the State [and must include supporting documentation of eligible project expenses]. These reports shall be due according to the following: Reporting Period Due Date January 1-March 31 April 30 April 1-June 30 July 31 July 1-September 30 Before October 15* October 1-December 31 January 31 *Due to the State’s year-end closing procedures, there will be an accelerated due date for the report covering July 1-September 30. Advance notification regarding the due date for the quarter ending September 30 will be sent to the Grantee. If the Grantee is unable to submit a report in 4 early October for the quarter ending September 30, an estimate of expenditures through September 30 must be submitted to allow the State to complete its accounting for that fiscal year. The forms provided by the State shall be submitted to the State’s contact at the address on page 1. [All required supporting documentation (invoices, proof of payment, etc.) for expenses must be included with the report.] (B) The Grantee shall provide a final project report in a format prescribed by the State. [The Grantee must provide a draft final report 45 days prior to the end date of the agreement.] [The Grantee shall submit the final status report, including all supporting documentation for expenses, along with the final project report and any other outstanding products within 30 days from the End Date of the Agreement.] (C) The Grantee must provide a copy of all products and deliverables in accordance with Appendix A. (D) All products shall acknowledge that the project was supported in whole or in part by the Beach Monitoring Program, EGLE, per the guidelines provided by the program. (E) If 15 percent or more of the grant amount is expended in a single quarter, payment requests may be submitted once monthly during that quarter. V. GRANTEE RESPONSIBILITIES (A) The Grantee agrees to abide by all applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, ordinances, and regulations in the performance of this grant. (B) All local, state, and federal permits, if required, are the responsibility of the Grantee. Award of this grant is not a guarantee of permit approval by the State. (C) The Grantee shall be solely responsible to pay all applicable taxes and fees, if any, that arise from the Grantee’s receipt or execution of this grant. (D) The Grantee is responsible for the professional quality, technical accuracy, timely completion, and coordination of all designs, drawings, specifications, reports, and other services submitted to the State under this Agreement. The Grantee shall, with out additional compensation, correct or revise any errors, omissions, or other deficiencies in drawings, designs, specifications, reports, or other services. (E) The State’s approval of drawings, designs, specifications, reports, and incidental work or materials furnished hereunder shall not in any way relieve the Grantee of responsibility for the technical adequacy of the work. The State’s review, approval, a cceptance, or payment for any of the services shall not be construed as a waiver of any rights under this Agreement or of any cause of action arising out of the performance of this Agreement. (F) The Grantee acknowledges that it is a crime to knowingly and willingly file false information with the State for the purpose of obtaining this Agreement or any payment under the Agreement, and that any such filing may subject the Grantee, its agents, a nd/or employees to criminal and civil prosecution and/or termination of the grant. 5 VI. USE OF MATERIAL Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, the Grantee may release information or material developed under this Agreement, provided it is acknowledged that the State funded all or a portion of its development. The State, and federal awarding agency, if applicable, retains a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, and use in whole or in part, and authorize others to do so, any copyrightable material or research data submitted under this grant whether or not the material is copyrighted by the Grantee or another person. The Grantee will only submit materials that the State can use in accordance with this paragraph. VII. ASSIGNABILITY The Grantee shall not assign this Agreement or assign or delegate any of its duties or obligations under this Agreement to any other party without the prior written consent of the State. The State does not assume responsibility regarding the contractual relationships between the Grantee and any subcontractor. VIII. SUBCONTRACTS The State reserves the right to deny the use of any consultant, contractor, associate, or other personnel to perform any portion of the project. The Grantee is solely responsible for all contractual activities performed under this Agreement. Further, the State will consider the Grantee to be the sole point of contact with regard to contractual matters, including payment of any and all charges resulting from the anticipated Grant. All subcontractors used by the Grantee in performing the project shall be subject to the provisions of this Agreement and shall be qualified to perform the duties required. IX. NON-DISCRIMINATION The Grantee shall comply with the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act, 1976 PA 453, as amended, MCL 37.2101 et seq., the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, 1976 PA 220, as amended, MCL 37.1101 et seq., and all other federal, state, and local fair employment practices and equal opportunity laws and covenants that it shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment, to be employed in the performance of this Agreement, with respect to his or her hire, tenure, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, or any matter directly or indirectly related to employment, because of his or her race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, marital status, or physical or mental disability that is unrelated to the individu al’s ability to perform the duties of a particular job or position. The Grantee agrees to include in every subcontract entered into for the performance of this Agreement this covenant not to discriminate in employment. A breach of this covenant is a mate rial breach of this Agreement. X. UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES The Grantee shall comply with the Employers Engaging in Unfair Labor Practices Act, 1980 PA 278, as amended, MCL 423.321 et seq. 6 XI. LIABILITY (A) The Grantee, not the State, is responsible for all liabilities as a result of claims, judgments, or costs arising out of activities to be carried out by the Grantee under this Agreement, if the liability is caused by the Grantee, or any employee or agent of the Grantee acting within the scope of their employment or agency. (B) Nothing in this Agreement should be construed as a waiver of any governmental immunity by the Grantee, the State, its agencies, or their employees as provided by statute or court decisions. XII. CONFLICT OF INTEREST No government employee, or member of the legislative, judicial, or executive branches, or member of the Grantee’s Board of Directors, its employees, partner agencies, or their families shall benefit financially from any part of this Agreement. XIII. ANTI-LOBBYING If all or a portion of this Agreement is funded with federal funds, then in accordance with Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 200, as appropriate, the Grantee shall comply with the Anti-Lobbying Act, which prohibits the use of all project funds regardless of source, to engage in lobbying the state or federal government or in litigation against the State. Further, the Grantee shall require that the language of this assurance be included in the award documents of all subawards at all tiers. If all or a portion of this Agreement is funded with state funds, then the Grantee shall not use any of the grant funds awarded in this Agreement for the purpose of lobbying as defined in the state of Michigan’s lobbying statute, MCL 4.415(2). “‘Lobbying’ means communicating directly with an official of the executive branch of state government or an official in the legislative branch of state government for the purpose of influencing legislative or administrative action.” The Grantee shall not use any of the grant funds awarded in this Agreement for the purpose of litigation against the State. Further, the Grantee shall require that language of this assurance be included in the award documents of all subawards at all tiers. XIV. DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION By signing this Agreement, the Grantee certifies that it has checked the federal debarment/suspension list at SAM.gov to verify that its agents and its subcontractors: (1) Are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by any federal department or the state. (2) Have not within a three-year period preceding this Agreement been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public (federal, state, or local) transaction or contract under a public transaction, as defined in 45 CFR, Part 1185; violation of federal or state antitrust statutes or commission of 7 embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property. (3) Are not presently indicted or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a government entity (federal, state, or local) with commission of any of the offenses enumerated in subsection (2). (4) Have not within a three-year period preceding this Agreement had one or more public transactions (federal, state, or local) terminated for cause or default. (5) Will comply with all applicable requirements of all other state or federal laws, executive orders, regulations, and policies governing this program. XV. AUDIT AND ACCESS TO RECORDS The State reserves the right to conduct a programmatic and financial audit of the project, and the State may withhold payment until the audit is satisfactorily completed. The Grantee will be required to maintain all pertinent records and evidence pertaining to this Agreement, including grant and any required matching funds, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and other procedures specified by the State. The State or any of its duly authorized representatives must have access, upon reasonable notice, to such books, records, documents, and other evidence for the purpose of inspection, audit, and copying. The Grantee will provide proper facilities for such access and inspection. All records must be maintained for a minimum of five years after the final payment has been issued to the Grantee by the State. XVI. INSURANCE (A) The Grantee must maintain insurance or self-insurance that will protect it from claims that may arise from the Grantee’s actions under this Agreement. (B) The Grantee must comply with applicable workers’ compensation laws while engaging in activities authorized under this Agreement. XVII. OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING The Grantee guarantees that any claims for reimbursement made to the State under this Agreement must not be financed by any source other than the State under the terms of this Agreement. If funding is received through any other source, the Grantee agrees to delete from Grantee's billings, or to immediately refund to the State, the total amount representing such duplication of funding. XVIII. COMPENSATION (A) A breakdown of costs allowed under this Agreement is identified in Project-Specific Requirements in Appendix A. The State will pay the Grantee a total amount not to exceed the amount on page 1 of this Agreement, in accordance with Appendix A, and only for expenses incurred [and paid]. All other costs necessary to complete the project are the sole responsibility of the Grantee. 8 (B) Expenses incurred by the Grantee prior to the Start Date or after the End Date of this Agreement are not allowed under the Agreement, unless otherwise specified in Appendix A. (C) The State will approve payment requests after approval of reports and related documentation as required under this Agreement. (D) The State reserves the right to request additional information necessary to substantiate payment requests. (E) Payments under this Agreement may be processed by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). The Grantee may register to receive payments by EFT at the SIGMA Vendor Self Service Website. (F) An amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the grant award or ($ ) will be withheld by the State until the project is completed in accordance with Section XIX, Closeout, and Appendix A. (G) The Grantee is committed to the match percentage on page 1 of the Agreement, in accordance with Appendix A. The Grantee shall expend all local match committed to the project by the End Date on page 1 of the Agreement. XIX. CLOSEOUT (A) A determination of project completion, which may include a site inspection and an audit, shall be made by the State after the Grantee has met any match obligations, satisfactorily completed the activities, and provided products and deliverables described in Appendix A. (B) Upon issuance of final payment from the State, the Grantee releases the State of all claims against the State arising under this Agreement. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement or by State law, final payment under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of the State’s claims against the Grantee. (C) The Grantee shall immediately refund to the State any payments in excess of the costs allowed by this Agreement. XX. CANCELLATION This Agreement may be canceled by the State, upon 30 days written notice, due to Executive Order, budgetary reduction, other lack of funding, upon request by the Grantee, or upon mutual agreement by the State and Grantee. The State may honor requests for just and equitable compensation to the Grantee for all satisfactory and eligible work completed under this Agreement up until 30 days after written notice, upon which time all outstanding reports and documents are due to the State and the State will no lon ger be liable to pay the Grantee for any further charges to the grant. XXI. TERMINATION (A) This Agreement may be terminated by the State as follows. (1) Upon 30 days written notice to the Grantee: 9 a. If the Grantee fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the Agreement, or with the requirements of the authorizing legislation cited on page 1, or the rules promulgated thereunder, or other applicable law or rules. b. If the Grantee knowingly and willingly presents false information to the State for the purpose of obtaining this Agreement or any payment under this Agreement. c. If the State finds that the Grantee, or any of the Grantee’s agents or representatives, offered or gave gratuities, favors, or gifts of monetary value to any official, employee, or agent of the State in an attempt to secure a subcontract or favorable tr eatment in awarding, amending, or making any determinations related to the performance of this Agreement. d. If the Grantee or any subcontractor, manufacturer, or supplier of the Grantee appears in the register of persons engaging in unfair labor practices that is compiled by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs or its successor. e. During the 30-day written notice period, the State shall withhold payment for any findings under subparagraphs a through d, above and the Grantee will immediately cease charging to the grant and stop earning match for the project (if applicable). (2) Immediately and without further liability to the State if the Grantee, or any agent of the Grantee, or any agent of any subcontract is: a. Convicted of a criminal offense incident to the application for or performance of a State, public, or private contract or subcontract. b. Convicted of a criminal offense, including but not limited to any of the following: embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification, or destruction of records, receiving stolen property, or attempting to influence a public employee to breach the e thical conduct standards for state of Michigan employees. c. Convicted under State or federal antitrust statutes. d. Convicted of any other criminal offense that, in the sole discretion of the State, reflects on the Grantee’s business integrity. e. Added to the federal or state Suspension and Debarment list. (B) If a grant is terminated, the State reserves the right to require the Grantee to repay all or a portion of funds received under this Agreement. XXII. IRAN SANCTIONS ACT By signing this Agreement, the Grantee is certifying that it is not an Iran -linked business, and that its contractors are not Iran-linked businesses, as defined in MCL 129.312. 10 PROGRAM-SPECIFIC SECTION XXIII. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION All reports and other printed or electronic material prepared by or for the Grantee under the Agreement will not be distributed without the prior written consent of the State except for items disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, Court Order, or subpoena. XXIV. ADVANCES Upon written request by the Grantee, the State will make an advance payment. An advance payment does not require a financial status report form but does require a letter requesting the specific dollar amount of the payment as stated in the Agreement. It is not necessary to use up the advance payment before applying for additional reimbursement. XXV. QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL A project specific QAPP must be submitted to the State in accordance with guidance provided by the Beach Monitoring Program Manager. Monitoring conducted prior to final EGLE approval of the QAPP will not be reimbursed. XXVI. PREVAILING WAGE This project is subject to the Davis-Bacon Act, Title 40 of the United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 276a, et seq, which requires that prevailing wages and fringe benefits be paid to contractors and subcontractors performing on federally funded projects over $2,000 for the construction, alteration, repair (including painting and decorating) of public buildings or works. XXVII. BEACH MONITORING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS The Grantee agrees to perform the following services for beaches that are used by the public for recreational use: (A) Obtain User ID and Password from the Beach Monitoring Program Manager. Identify and update organization information on EGLE’s BeachGuard Website. (B) Identify beaches or similar points of access that are used by the public for recreation. Report location information on EGLE’s BeachGuard Website. Information needed includes location name; location description; water body name; water body type; site type; if located in a state park, coordinates for latitude and longitude in decimal degrees for the endpoints and center point of each location; an 8-digit hydrological unit code; beach length in meters; the county and township location; facilities available; and optional description of amenities. (C) Notify the city, village, or township in which the beach or point of access is located prior to conducting monitoring activities. (D) Update the QAPP for the Beach Monitoring Program prior to monitoring beaches. The QAPP must be consistent with requirements in the Public Health Code and Part 4 Rules and 11 must be approved by the State prior to initiation of monitoring. QAPPs that have been approved and have current approval letters from the State will satisfy this requirement. (E) Monitor beaches according to approved QAPP. (F) A composite sample can be submitted to a lab for testing instead of three individual samples. This approach has potential to reduce costs thus providing funds that can be used to increase the duration and frequency of monitoring, conduct more sanitary surveys, and use qPCR or ddPCR methods for rapid testing and source tracking of fecal contamination sources. Please note that a revised beach monitoring QAPP will be required to include the procedures for composite sampling and performing qPCR or ddPCR methods. Please contact the Beach Monitoring Program Manager for more information about revising the QAPP. The revised QAPP must be approved prior to conducting these activities. (G) Beaches will be monitored for E. coli. Beach monitoring activities in Michigan are prescribed in R 325.2101 325.2103, promulgated by Sections 333.12501 and 333.12541 -333.12545, of the Public Health Code, 1978 PA 368, as amended. Beach water samples m ay be analyzed with culture-based methods or rapid testing methods (i.e., Draft Method C) to make decisions about whether beaches are safe for swimming. The position of EGLE is that Draft Method C and the qPCR value of 1.863 log10 copies per reaction for E . coli to monitor beaches is equivalent to daily geometric mean of 300 E. coli per 100 milliliters (ml) as stated in R 323.1062 of the Part 4 Rules. Subrule 62(1) of the Part 4 Rules states: "All waters of the state protected for total body contact recreation shall not contain more than 130 Escherichia coli (E. coli) per 100 milliliters (ml), as a 30-day geometric mean. Compliance shall be based on the geometric mean of all individual samples taken during 5 or more sampling events representatively spread over a 30-day period. Each sampling event shall consist of three or more samples taken at representative locations within a defined sampling area. At no time shall the waters of the state protected for total body contact recreation contain more than a maximum of 300 E. coli per 100 ml. Compliance shall be based on the geometric mean of three or more samples taken during the same sampling event at representative locations within a defined sampling area." (H) Identify beaches that exceed WQS and consider additional information to identify potential sources of contamination. For example, the use of sanitary surveys and microbial source tracking with qPCR or ddPCR methods could be used to determine host and location of fecal contamination. (I) Report the annual monitoring plan for each location on EGLE’s BeachGuard Website. Each monitoring plan will include the start and end dates for the swimming season, and the monitoring season and the frequency that the location will be monitored. Locations can be updated individually or in groups by county. Usually, the sampling eve nts are regularly 12 scheduled throughout the swimming season. The State acknowledges that some beaches may have fewer sampling events due to financial limitations. (J) Report location of at least three monitoring points per site on EGLE’s BeachGuard Website prior to reporting monitoring data. Report results for composite samples or individual samples for E. coli and status of beach (open/closed/advisory) within 36 hours of the test or evaluation to EGLE (via the BeachGuard Website; the city, village, or township in which the site is located; and the owner or operator. EGLE’s BeachGuard Website can calculate daily geometric means and 30-day geometric means as individual results are reported. (K) Conduct a beach sanitary survey for each location that will be monitored. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has provided the following beach sanitary survey tools that may be used to conduct an annual or routine beach sanitary survey: Survey123, an annual beach sanitary survey form, a routine beach sanitary survey form, a beach sanitary survey database, and a guidance document. This information is available at EPA.gov/Beach- Tech/Sanitary-Surveys-Recreational-Waters or contact the Beach Monitoring Program Manager for instructions to get this information. It is recommended that a beach sanitary survey also be conducted at nonmonitored locations when possible. The sanitary survey will indicate whether beach owners have posted signs that indicate whether or not the site is monitored and where the results can be found if the site is monitored. The Grantee may purchase signs with grant funds that will be posted as described in the Public Health Code for publicly owned beaches. Open stretches of beach or beaches at road ends that are not advertised or posted as public bathing beaches do not need to have signs posted. Notify the Beach Monitoring Program Manager; the city, village, or township in which the site is located ; and the owner or operator of the beach of the results or findings of the sanitary survey. (L) Report beach sanitary survey results to EGLE’s BeachGuard Website. (M) Provide training for staff involved in the Beach Monitoring Program as necessary to maintain knowledge of current regulations and internal policies and procedures to keep staff informed of technological improvement and advancements as approved by the s tate. 13 PROJECT-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS – APPENDIX A Appendix A will be the most project-specific part of the Agreement. It will generally include the following and will be attached by the program manager: • The broad project scope stating the purpose of the grant or loan. • The project description, which is a more detailed description of the type of work to be done with the grant or loan money. • Work plan with specific tasks and products expected. Please identify the analytical methods used for the monitored beaches. • Timetable/schedule. • Budget. • Any other program-specific requirements. Oakland County qPCR Grant Work Plan If funding is awarded, Oakland County is requesting additional funds for the qPCR Methods for Oakland County Beaches grant. The Grant application requests additional funding of $134,000.00 to expand the beach monitoring program to cover the 2024-2025 beach monitoring season. The Work Plan for the 2024-2025 beach monitoring season is as follows: Task 1 (Planning- Staffing/Fringe) The beach monitoring program will be organized and planned in the winter and spring of 2024 and 2025. The Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) will be prepared and reviewed with laboratory staff. Any beaches currently without recent GPS coordinates will be captured. Proposed beach sampling points will be mapped. Data entry programs and websites will be updated to reflect current sampling sites. Notices will be sent to beach contacts and city, villages, and townships regarding sampling. Sub-Task 1.1 Drafting and submission of the required Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) will be completed by the Program Supervisor and laboratory staff in accordance with EGLE guidelines. Approval of the QAPP is to be granted prior to any beach sampling for the season. Sub-Task 1.2 The proposed lists of bathing beaches to be sampled will be used to create a spreadsheet for data entry. Other tables, forms and reports are developed as necessary for program information management. Annual and Routine survey forms may be updated/revised. Sub-Task 1.3 Beaches will be clustered by geographical area and assigned to a Student Sanitarian. Each Student Sanitarian is given a report generated from the bathing beach database indicating the beach name, beach identifier, city, village, or township of beach location, and beach address and/or cross-streets as a reference. Sub-Task 1.4 The Program Coordinator will update the Oakland County website and Beach guard with current beach monitoring information. Sub-Task 1.5 The cities, villages, and townships in which each of the season’s beaches is located, as well as the beach operator/contact person for each beach will be notified via form letter informing them of the sampling to occur. The Program Coordinator/Supervisor will complete the letters. Work will be in accordance with Section 12541, Act 368, P.A. 1978 as amended. Estimate percentages for Task 1: 1.1 % Staffing/Fringe Budget (13 Total Hours: Beach Program Coordinator, Beach Program Supervisor, Program Sanitarian) Task 2 (Training- Staffing/Fringe) Seasonal training will be conducted by the Program Coordinator, Program Sanitarian and/or Supervisor. Student Sanitarian training includes an introduction to Oakland County’s beach monitoring program, beach survey methodology, laboratory tour, and sampling techniques and transport. Laboratory students that are hired will be trained by a Clinical Laboratory Scientist in the technique for running culture samples and filtering beaches for qPCR. Only trained Clinical Laboratory Scientists will do extractions and pipet the 96 well plates. Clinical Laboratory Scientists will also analyze data in the workbooks provided by the EPA. Additionally, Oakland County staff will be kept up to date regarding current beach sampling information through attendance at MiNet calls. Sub-Task 2.1 Training materials, including the inventory of equipment will be reviewed. Hard-copy training materials and electronic presentations will be updated (MS PowerPoint). Folders containing PowerPoint notes, regulations, water guidelines, etc. will be provided to each Student Sanitarian. Sub-Task 2.2 A field exercise and demonstration will be performed by the Program Coordinator for proper depth and sampling technique. Proper sample handling, storage and transport will be discussed. A tour of the laboratory will also be included. Sub-Task 2.3 As time allows, the Program Supervisor will attend MiNet calls to stay abreast of current monitoring throughout the state. Estimated percentages for Task 2: 3.5% Staffing/Fringe Budget (54.75 Total Hours: Program Coordinator, Program Sanitarian, Program Supervisor, 6 EH Students) Task 3 (Sampling- Staffing/Fringe, Supplies) The sampling season will run for 10 weeks each summer. Each of 12 beaches selected for qPCR testing will be sampled four days per week. Beaches remaining closed past the routine monitoring dates will continue to be sampled by program staff until the E.coli levels fall below standards or the beach is closed for the season. Beach surveys will be conducted prior to routine sampling. Routine beach surveys will be done prior to each sampling event. Survey results will be entered into Beach guard. Sub-Task 3.1 Annual beach surveys will be performed the week prior to the sampling start date. Routine beach sanitary surveys will be done during each sampling event. Oakland County sanitary survey forms will be used. Sub-Task 3.2 Water will be sampled at 3 locations within the boundaries of each assigned beach. Samples will generally be taken one foot below the surface in water that is between three and six feet in depth and will be collected 4 days per week. Each sample will be stored and transported in coolers with cold-packs and delivered to the county lab within 4 to 5 hours of the day’s first sample. Sampling will be for 10 weeks. Sub-Task 3.3 EH Students will enter the beach annual and routine surveys into Beach guard upon returning to the office or at their earliest convenience if resampling is necessary. Estimated percentages for Task 3: 23.0% Staffing/Fringe Budget (450 Total Hours: 6 EH Students) 10 % Supplies Budget (Bottles) Task 4 (Laboratory Analysis- Staffing/Fringe, Supplies) Standard curves will be created by each Clinical Laboratory Scientist prior to qPCR analysis. Water samples will be delivered directly to the laboratory the day of sampling. The Health Division lab is EGLE certified. Culture samples are set up and run the day of receipt. Results are read for each sample at the end of the 18-hour incubation time. All qPCR samples will be analyzed the same day. If samples arrive late to the laboratory, they may be filtered and frozen for analysis at a later date. Resampling and complaint response may extend beyond the 10 weeks scheduled for Student Sanitarians due to unresolved closures. Beaches sampled for qPCR will also have resamples analyzed with qPCR. Beaches selected for standard culture monitoring will have resamples run with standard culture-based analysis. Selected beaches showing elevated E. Coli levels and consistent beach closures will further be tested for source-tracking. Sub-Task 4.1 Standard curves- these will be done at the beginning of the season by each Clinical Laboratory Scientist that will be running the samples. Sub-Task 4.2 Laboratory analysis of samples using culture and qPCR. Composites will be made for each beach sample that will have qPCR. The composite sample will also be run using a culture method. Sub-Task 4.3 Source-tracking will be done on select samples for beaches with consecutive closures. Filters will be sent out or run at Oakland County Lab for testing on markers requested by EH. Estimated percentages for Task 4: 28% Staffing/Fringe Budget (280 Total Hours: 4 Lab Technicians, 2 Lab Students) 90% Supplies Budget (qPCR Supplies, Bottles, Reagent, Trays) Task 5 (Data Entry and Sample Review- Staffing/Fringe) Once sample results have been obtained from the County’s laboratory, the Program Coordinator, Sanitarian, or Supervisor enters results into an in-house database. Results are entered and any closures are updated well within the 36-hour requirement per the Public Health Code. Sub-Task 5.1 The Program Coordinator will calculate the geometric mean for each sampling event. Analysis will comply with Rule 62, of the Part 4 Rules, Water Quality Standards, Part 31, Act 451, P.A. 1994 for total body contact. Sub-Task 5.2 The Program Coordinator will update closings or re-openings on the Oakland County Website. Information updates may extend beyond the 10 weeks scheduled for Student Sanitarians. Sub-Task 5.3 The Program Coordinator will enter all sampling results directly to the EGLE database via the BeachGuard website. Annual and routine Sanitary Survey information will also be entered (EH Students may perform this task). Information updates may extend beyond the 10 weeks scheduled for Student Sanitarians. Sub-Task 5.4 The Program Supervisor will review beach sample results each week and determine if source- tracking is necessary. Sub-Task 5.5 The Program Coordinator will complete any outstanding survey entries and file beach information appropriately at the conclusion of each beach season. Sub-Task 5.6 Environmental Epidemiologist will review all reports and estimate individual qPCR numbers for each beach. Estimated percentage for Task 5: 20% Staffing/Fringe Budget (Total Hours 175: Beach Program Coordinator, Beach Program Supervisor, Program Sanitarian, Epidemiologist) Task 6 (Follow-up- Staffing/Fringe) The sampling results may indicate needed follow-up for individual beaches. Follow-up may include notifying the beach owner/operator of noncompliance, notifying the appropriate city, village, or township, and closing the bathing beach to the public by posting the beach closing sign or advisory sign on site. Student sanitarians are assigned follow-up as needed. All results will be entered into Beachguard. Estimated percentages for Task 6: 3.8% Staffing/Fringe Budget (46 Total Hours: 6 EH Students, Program Coordinator, Program Supervisor, Program Sanitarian Task 7 (Complaint Response- Staffing/Fringe) The Oakland County Health Division will respond to all bathing beach complaints during the standard swimming season (June – August) within 24 hours. Each complaint will be entered into our in house Ehealth or Accella system for tracking purposes and documented in the quarterly reports submitted to EGLE. When necessary, a site visit and investigation will occur. Water samples may be taken at bathing beach locations if the beach is identified as a semi-public beach. Estimated percentage for Task 7: 3.1% Staffing/Fringe Budget (25 Total Hours: Senior Sanitarian/ Beach Program Coordinator, Program Supervisor, Program Sanitarian) Task 8 (Contractual Services- Staffing/Fringe, Contractual Services) Recognizing the importance of keeping up to date on newer technologies, keeping abreast of the latest findings, as well as networking with fellow beach program coordinators, Oakland County proposes to send staff to applicable conferences/webinars, such as the Great Lakes Beach Association conference. We will also contract with other labs to run source tracking on beach samples that have consistently high E coli results. Estimated percentages for Task 8: 2.5 % Staffing/Fringe Budget (20 Total Hours: Beach Program Coordinator, Beach Program Supervisor, Epidemiologist -100% Contractual Services Budget (Conference/Webinar fees) Task 9 (Reporting- Staffing/Fringe) The development and submission of the quarterly status reports and a final report, following EGLE guidance, will be completed by the Laboratory Supervisor. Draft and final products and deliverables will be provided, as applicable, to EGLE. Estimated percentage of for Task 7: 15% Staffing/Fringe Budget (100 Total Hours: Beach Program Supervisor, Epidemiologist) Note: Providing products and deliverables will include all data collected in both hard copy and electronic format as requested. Estimated total hours in proposed Grant for qPCR Methods for Oakland County Beaches= 1163.75 hours Rapid Methods and Microbial Source Tracking for Beaches Program 2024- 2025 PROPOSED BUDGET: Project Total $134,000.00 Salary $35,000.00 Fringe (limit to 40% of salary)$12,000.00 Contractor/ conference $25,000.00 Supplies $ 42,182.00 Equipment $ 0 Mileage $10,000.00 Travel $7,000.00 Indirect Costs $2818.00 Indirect Rate is 20% max for state funded grants 8.05% Project Description- Rapid Methods and Microbial Source Tracking For Beaches Program 2024-2025 Statement of Water Resource Concerns/Issues Oakland County’s bathing beach water quality has been monitored for nearly 40 consecutive years by testing for fecal coliform (until 1995) and E.coli (1995-present). The county has had reason to recommend closure of beaches to swimmers many times due to the presence of E. coli bacteria that exceeded water quality standards. The Health Division’s concern is for the health and safety of its recreational bathing beach users and for the accurate and timely conveyance of sampling results to would be swimmers. Though this is not a mandated program, Oakland County intends to continue dedicating resources to bathing beach water quality sampling for the purpose of protecting and promoting public health by evaluating the quality of water at bathing beaches to determine whether the water is safe for bathing purposes. In 2015, Oakland County acquired 2 Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) machines for beach water analysis. The Oakland County laboratory began analyzing beach samples via qPCR late that year and continued through the summers of 2016 through 2023. In the summer of 2023, Oakland County Laboratory began testing 12 beaches daily and using a calculated threshold for each beach to issue advisories. With continued funding, Oakland County hopes to maintain analyzing beach waters with qPCR to ultimately aid in creating a standard for E.coli using this rapid testing analysis. Additional funding will also allow for source- tracking analysis on select beaches. By enforcing 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.12541) as amended, citizens will be made aware of the sampling efforts and the location of reported sampling results. If the water is determined to be unsafe for bathing, the bathing beach will be closed by order or by other measures. Project Goals and Objectives Oakland County’s Bathing qPCR Beach Program has the following goals: 1) to prevent illness associated with recreational bathing beach waters, 2) to provide accurate and timely sampling results to the public 3) to protect and improve the environment 4) to provide data to assist in evaluating the detection of Escherichia coli (E.coli) via qPCR compared to traditional culture based methods and 5) to identify sources of fecal contamination at selected beaches. These goals will be met with the following objectives: Sampling will occur at the season’s selected public and semi-public beaches at least 4 times per week during the 10-week bathing season and will be consistent with sections 12541 to 12546 of Act 368, P.A. 1978 and Rules. Beaches will be selected that were sampled and analyzed with qPCR in previous beach seasons. These beaches were originally selected for qPCR analysis based on historical E.coli levels consistently greater than 10 E.coli/100ml. The left, center, and right samples (A, B, and C) will be run using the traditional culture-based method (Colilert) and a composite will be done with both culture and qPCR. This will allow for 12 paired samples (Colilert vs qPCR) per day Monday through Thursday. Additional beaches will be sampled and analyzed using the standard culture-based method only. Standard results will be recorded and made available to the public electronically through the State and County websites and updated on a daily basis. Beach contacts and local municipalities will be notified via telephone and/or email. Monitoring protocol will comply with Rule 62, of the Part 4 Administrative Rules, Water Quality Standards, Part 31, Act 451, P.A. 1994. Beaches with high levels of E.coli based on qPCR results will have an advisory posted the same day as testing. Waters not in compliance with culture-based quality standards will be immediately closed to swimmers until such time that additional samples have shown the waters to be safe by laboratory analysis. Signage, indicating the beach is temporarily closed, will be posted at the beach entrance, and removed upon acceptable sampling results. The geometric mean results and closures will be posted on the BeachGuard website. In addition, Oakland County will maintain a list of seasonal beach closings and re-openings on the County Website. Oakland County’s summer Student Sanitarians will be utilized for sampling, beach surveys, and closing/reopening of beaches. The Program Coordinator and/or Assistant will perform sample result review and data entry. Laboratory Students and Clinical Laboratory Scientists will set up beach water samples for analysis. Clinical Laboratory Scientists will read beach water sample results and run qPCR and source-tracking samples. Background Information and Study Design In the past, Oakland County routinely sampled over 100 public and semi-public beaches each season. With the unfortunate downturn in available resources, Oakland County was forced to limit its sampling program to exclusively public beaches beginning in 2009. Only 45 public beaches were monitored during that time. With the funding opportunities available Oakland County has been able to increase monitoring to include not only the public beaches but also subsets of semi-public beaches. The semi-public beaches are often subdivision or lake association beaches typically frequented by residents of a particular area. These beaches are used by hundreds of bathers each summer and tend to be closed more often than the public beaches. Sampling the semi- public beaches is important as many may not be maintained on a regular basis. Deficiencies in maintenance would be identified during the sanitary surveys. Sampling of the semi-public beaches would not only help to educate the homeowners, but would call attention to the importance of maintaining septic systems, and keeping the beaches free from debris including animal waste if sampling results proved unsatisfactory and further source- tracking analysis pinpointed the causes of closures. The semi-public beaches having elevated E. coli levels would continue to be sampled the following year. By identifying these problem semi- public beaches, and sampling more frequently, Oakland County hopes to work with the homeowner associations, encouraging participation in the active improvement of their beach water quality. Each of the proposed 12 bathing beaches is to be sampled four times weekly for qPCR- for a minimum of 10 weeks during the swimming seasons. Each will be sampled in a minimum of three locations representative of the designated swimming area. A composite will be used for qPCR and left, right, center and composite will be run with Colilert. The daily geometric mean and 30-day geometric mean, as applicable, will be calculated and results entered directly to DEQ’s database via BeachGuard. Closing and re-openings will be posted on the Oakland County website. qPCR values will be used to issue a beach advisory the same day as sampling. Sampling is proposed to begin in June and continue through mid-August for each of the bathing seasons. Organization Information Oakland County’s mission is, “To protect the community through health promotion, disease prevention and protection of the environment.” We do this by focusing on our current strategic priority “Protecting Environmental Health” and our vision of being “Your recognized leader in public health”. The Health Division’s proposed bathing beach monitoring program encompasses these as well as our values of service, education and safety. With the help of program staff, the County has been able to keep bathing beach sampling viable as a county program, and it remains one of our most in-demand and high-profile summer programs. With additional grant assistance and the continued use of the qPCR equipment for source-tracking, the beach monitoring program will be able to expand, thus providing greater protection to our citizens and environment, moving toward real-time beach analysis providing results to the public the same day. Program staff consists of full time and part-time county employees and summer students that devote a portion of their time to beaches. All staff involved have a strong educational background in science, and the laboratory students are currently studying Clinical Laboratory Science or related programs in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. The student sanitarians are currently studying environmental health or related programs in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree. Partners None Project Sustainability Once the Student Sanitarians and Laboratory Students have completed their service to Oakland County, full-time staff will monitor those beaches that continue to have water quality problems as determined in the previous months’ sampling. Media contact will continue to be a part of the program. When done in a responsible fashion, media stories help inform the public about the program. Dissemination of the Oakland County and EGLE beach monitoring websites also help keep the public informed. The County is optimistic that continued sampling of all public beaches, as well as the semi-public beaches, will occur in seasons to come. Oakland County intends to continue its summer bathing beach sampling program in the future as it has in the past. Evaluation Evaluations of the Student Sanitarians and Laboratory students training, sampling, and monitoring protocol will be conducted weekly. Improvements will be developed as opportunity arises. All results will be reported to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) per Section 12541 of Act 368, P.A. 1978 as amended and rules. This will be done by utilizing the Oakland County portion of the BeachGuard website. Additional reporting will be completed via Oakland County’s website by posting all beach closings and re-openings for public use. Also, notifications of scheduled sampling will be provided to the appropriate City, Village or Township, as well as the beach contacts, prior to the sampling start date with directions on how to locate individual results on both State and County Websites. Beach contact personnel as well as the appropriate City, Village, or Township will be notified via telephone and/or email when beaches are closed and/or reopened. qPCR and source-tracking results will be provided to EGLE, as samples are analyzed, via spreadsheets supplied by the EPA. Project Summary OCHD’s concern is for the health and safety of beach users. The Beach Monitoring Program’s goals are to prevent illness associated with recreational waters, provide timely sampling results to the public, and protect and improve the environment. Monitoring will comply with Part 4, Rule 62, Water Quality Standards, Part 31, Act 451, P.A. 1994. qPCR results will be used to issue beach advisories the same day as sampling. Waters not in compliance will be closed until resamples show the waters to be safe. Closure and Advisory signs will be posted and removed upon acceptable results. Results and closings/reopening will be posted on the OCHD and EGLE websites. Beaches that have consistent high E.coli results will be sent out to other labs or run in Oakland County Lab for Source tracking. All source tracking results will be evaluated by the environmental epidemiologist who will contact beach managers to resolve any issues. The following 12 beaches will be run for qPCR testing. 2024 qPCR Beaches BEACH LAKE WATERSHED CVT Seven Lakes State Park Big Seven Lake Flint Holly Independence Oaks County Park Crooked Lake Clinton Independence Crossroads for Youth Handsome Clinton Oxford Pontiac Recreation Area Pontiac Lake Huron White Lake Ferndale Park Sylvan Lake Clinton Sylvan Lake Thelma Spencer Park Carter Lake Clinton Rochester Hills Willow Street Beach Cass Lake Clinton Keego Harbor Grove Street Beach Cass Lake Clinton Keego Harbor Dodge Park #4 Teeple Lake Recreation Area Cass Lake Clinton Waterford Highland State Park Groveland Oaks County Park Teeple Lake Huron White Lake Paradise Beach Stewart Lake Flint Groveland E.V. Mercer City Beach Walled Lake Rouge Walled Lake Michigan.gov/EGLE Page 1 of 1 EQP5832 RAPID (Rev. 02/2222) MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY WATER RESOURCES DIVISION BEACHES PROGRAM RAPID METHODS AND MST FOR BEACHES GRANT APPLICATION COVER SHEET (Authorized by 1994 PA 451) Project Name: Project Location (Primary County): Organization Name: Organization Address: (# and Street Name) (City) (State) (Zip Code) Organization UEI #: Organization Federal ID #: SIGMA ID: SIGMA Location Code: Contact Person: (Name) (Title) Contact’s E-Mail: Organization Phone: Grant Amount Requested: $ Senate District Number(s): Representative District Number(s): Person with Grant Acceptance Authority: (Name) , (Title) Signature: Date: If you need this information in an alternate format, contact EGLE-Accessibility@Michigan.gov or call 800-662-9278. EGLE does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, age, national origin, color, marital status, disability, political beliefs, height, weight, genetic information, or sexual orientation in the administration of any of its programs or activities, and prohibits intimidation and retaliation, as required by applicable laws and regulations. Questions or concerns should be directed to the Nondiscrimination Compliance Coordinator at EGLE-NondiscriminationCC@Michigan.gov or 517-249-0906. This form and its contents are subject to the Freedom of Information Act and may be released to the public. This is page 1 of all proposals. Continue on the next page with the remainder of proposal. S TATE OF M ICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT , GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY L ANSING CONSTITUTION HALL • 525 WEST ALLEGAN STREET • P.O. BOX 30473 • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-7973 Michigan.gov/EGLE • 800-662-9278 GRETCHEN WHITMER GOVERNOR PHIL ROOS DIRECTOR February 14, 2024 VIA EMAIL Local Health Department Health Officers Dear Sir or Madam: SUBJECT: Opportunity for Assistance to Monitor Beaches. Please respond by Friday, May 3, 2024 The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Water Resources Division (WRD), invites local health departments to respond to an opportunity for assistance to monitor beaches with rapid testing methods and conduct microbial source tracking to identify hosts and locations of fecal contamination. The local health departments or their designee(s) can receive funds and administer the monitoring project. This opportunity utilizes $500,000 from the State of Michigan’s Technology Advancement for Water Monitoring funds during the summers of 2024 and 2025. This opportunity supports the monitoring projects through December 31, 2025. Please email applications by Friday, May 3, 2024, to BriggsS4@Michigan.gov. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Shannon Briggs Shannon Briggs, Ph.D., Toxicologist Surface Water Assessment Section Water Resources Division 517-290-8249 Attachments cc: Kevin Cox, WRD