Funding: $20,000,000
Dates: Pre-Application Workshop: August 11, 2020
Written Questions Deadline: August 25, 2020 Application Submission Deadline: September 25, 2020
Summary:
This is a competitive block grant solicitation. The California Energy Commission’s (CEC’s) Clean Transportation Program (formerly known as the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program) is seeking a block grant Recipient to design and implement up to $50 million in grant funds for various medium- and heavy-duty (MD/HD) zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) refueling infrastructure incentive projects throughout California.
Project Topic Areas:
Incentive projects developed under the funding agreement resulting from this solicitation shall include (at a minimum):
- Type(s) of MD/HD EV charging equipment eligible (e.g., Level 2, direct current fast chargers, wireless, etc.) and hydrogen refueling equipment eligible (e.g., compressors, high pressure storage tubes, dispensers, etc.);
- Minimum technical requirements of MD/HD ZEV refueling equipment (e.g., equipment specifications, warranty requirements, operational requirements, etc.);
- Type of incentive structure (e.g., voucher or rebate);
- Type of funding mechanism (e.g., first come, first served, competitive, etc.);
- Quantity of MD/HD EV chargers and hydrogen refueling projects targeted;
- Incentive amount per EV charger and hydrogen refueling equipment/project; and
- Total funding required to complete proposed project.
Funding:
Up to $50 million may be available under this solicitation to implement zero-emission MD/HD electric vehicle (EV) charger and hydrogen refueling incentive project(s) throughout California. Up to $20 million is currently available under this solicitation. Additional funding under this solicitation is subject to future California State Budget Act appropriations to the Clean Transportation Program and Clean Transportation Program Investment Plan funding allocations. Funds may be added to the agreement resulting from this solicitation contingent upon those additional funds becoming available between FY 2020/21 through FY 2022/2023 and allocated for these purposes. The CEC, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to increase or decrease the amount of funds available under this solicitation. There is no match share or cash match requirement.
Up to 7% of funds are available under the resulting agreement for administrative costs to implement the block grant incentive project(s). For the purposes of this solicitation, administrative costs include all costs incurred under the agreement, except for incentive funds disbursed to eligible third parties for EV chargers or hydrogen refueling stations. Applicants will be evaluated, in part, on their ability to minimize and control administrative costs under the resulting agreement. Costs incurred must be for the development and implementation of a block grant designed to provide incentives for MD/HD ZEV refueling infrastructure projects.
Topic Area Requirements:
Applicants are only eligible to submit one application under this solicitation.
The block grant recipient will be responsible for identifying MD/HD ZEV refueling infrastructure incentive projects and implementing those incentive projects for MD/HD ZEV infrastructure installations. All MD/HD infrastructure incentive projects are subject to the review and approval of the Commission Agreement Manager (CAM).
- Identify MD/HD ZEV refueling infrastructure incentive projects.
- Develop simple and user-friendly application documents for each MD/HD ZEV refueling infrastructure incentive project.
- Develop an outreach and advertisement plan for each approved MD/HD ZEV infrastructure incentive project tailored to target markets and areas, supported by education and outreach materials appropriate for potentially affected residents, in the languages needed for the targeted markets and areas, to educate on the potential future impacts of the project.
- Conduct outreach in accordance with CAM approved outreach and advertisement plan to maximize participation by the targeted markets and areas.
- Engage regional community-based organizations (CBOs), community leaders, California Native American Tribes, and potentially affected local residents in the planning process of incentive projects and education on the benefits of ZEV transportation. With regional organizations, determine if a community needs assessment is warranted and develop an appropriate scope.
- Develop user-friendly, public access webpages.
- Conduct an annual technical advisory workshop, in partnership with the CEC, to identify the fueling needs of the zero-emission MD/HD industry. This workshop shall include an assessment of EV charging and hydrogen refueling standards and interoperability.
- Collect (through surveys, webinars, or other means), and submit to the CEC upon request, data on individual incentive recipients including, at a minimum: incentive recipient information, incentive recipient experiences, and motivations for incentive recipients to participate in MD/HD ZEV charging and refueling infrastructure incentive project.
- Develop a plan to implement internal control processes and documentation standards to minimize errors, fraud, waste and abuse.
- Develop processes and procedures to ensure incentive payments are processed and paid within 30 calendar days of receipt of a complete and valid request for incentive funds.
- Develop processes and procedures to allow interested third parties (other than the CEC) to provide funding for MD/HD ZEV refueling infrastructure incentive projects. Established processes and procedures must allow these third parties to contribute to the project efficiently.
- Establish, maintain, and submit incentive project records to the CEC, including but not limited to financial records, incentive payment documentation (e.g., completed incentive request forms, photographs of installed chargers or hydrogen refueling equipment, and other appropriate documentation to confirm compliance with project requirements), problems/issues experienced, and how identified problems/issues were resolved.
- Establish separate accounts and implement procedures to separately accept, track, disburse and report on funding from sources other than the CEC.
Eligible Applicants:
This solicitation is open to all not-for-profit technology entities with a physical office in California. For the purpose of this solicitation, a not-for-profit technology entity is defined as an entity filing as and operating under the Internal Revenue Service’s requirements of a 501(c)(3) corporation and organized to advance transportation technologies. The Applicant does not need to have its company headquarters in California, but it must have at least one existing physical office within the State of California (State).