Each year EPA receives numerous inquiries regarding preparation of proposals for the Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) grant competitions. Many potential applicants find that it is difficult to prepare their proposals in only 60 days, the typical amount of time the Request for Proposals (RFP) allows from publication until the proposals are due. While the RFP for the ARC Guidelines is on schedule to be available in early Fall, there are still many activities that applicants can perform in advance of the RFP. Many of the activities are listed in a new 3-page EPA guidance document.