Request for Applications
Clean Diesel Funding Program
The principal goal of this Request for Applications is to select organizations that will become beneficiaries under our current projects funded through EPA’s Clean Diesel program. These projects (approximately $1,200,000 in funds) will be authorized to begin work this spring.
MEC’s priority goals for applicant selection include reduced air emissions affecting vulnerable populations, reduced use of petro diesel in school buses, electrification of heavy diesel vehicles, and beneficiary participation in outreach and public awareness campaigns.
This rolling-deadline RFA will remain open this year until funds are depleted.
| RFA Issue Date: | 4/13/2021 |
|---|---|
| Pre-Application Meeting | 4/20/2021 10:00am CT |
| RFA Questions Deadline | open throughout application period |
| RFA Submission Deadlines | 05/14/2021 2:00pm CT 06/15/2021 2:00pm CT 07/15/2021 2:00pm CT 08/13/2021 2:00pm CT 09/15/2021 2:00pm CT |
| Expected Date for MEC Selection Notifications | approximately 2 weeks from the end of an application period |
Request for Applications
MEC RFA guidance document (click to download PDF)
Application Form (click to download Word Doc)
Budget Table and Fleet Data Worksheet (click to download Excel Doc)
Engine Model Year Summary (click to download Word Doc)
Staff Assistance
MEC transportation program staff is available to assist applicants. Contact David Albrecht for assistance if needed. David will not participate in project selection.
Informational Webinar
An informational webinar will be conducted on Tuesday April 20, 2021. Those who are not able to attend live may access a recording, which will be posted here.
Click here to register for the Pre-Application webinar.
Webinar Recording
January 2021 Pre-Application Webinar recording. This link will be replaced with the new recording, once available. There have been minimal updates to the grant program and application since release of the January RFA, and this recording will still be useful in the meanwhile.
Reference Docs
Grant Application Webinar recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M2Z3oioByM&feature=youtu.be
U.S. EPA Clean Diesel National Grants web page
Questions and Answers
Q1. This RFA is for on-road only, right?
A1. No. Motive off-road equipment may also be proposed, provided that the replacement or repower would be powered by an alternative fuel or a zero-emission alternative, and that it meets all other eligibility requirements.
Q2. Will you allow propane bus replacements older than 2019, namely MY 2014?
A2. It is the intent of this program to award funds to Beneficiaries that deploy the newest and cleanest options for any engine/fuel chosen. We selected engine model year (EMY)2019 as our oldest allowed replacement and will judge applications accordingly. Note: Any applicant may propose projects that vary from the guidelines; those must be marked as variances in your application. Also note: per EPA governing documents, no vehicle replacement under any of the program years may be older than EMY16.
Q3. Is there a cost-efficiency ($/NOx) standard or goal set for the program?
A3. No, we did not set a cost-efficiency standard or goal for this program. However, please note that cost-efficiency and emissions reductions are our highest weighted evaluation criteria.
Q4. A prospective applicant is planning on applying for funds to replace a diesel terminal tractor with a 100% electric tractor. However, the future ownership of this vehicle is an issue we’d like MEC’s input on so we can advise them accurately and quickly. Please allow me to explain:
- Site Owner currently owns a diesel terminal tractor they want to repower.
- Site Operator provides site-management services at that location.
- Post repower, Site Owner wants Site Operator to continue operating the electric truck with Operator as the owners of the asset.
- The repowered truck will continue working at the site in the exact same duty cycle they have always undertaken – the only difference is that the site Operator would own the truck as opposed to the site Owner.
Question: Which entity should apply for the incentive funding?; and does it matter how and when the ownership of the trucks would be transferred? We see three possibilities for how such a transfer might be accomplished and would like to know which MEC prefers:
-
-
- Transfer ownership of the diesel-powered terminal tractor from Owner to Operator prior to submitting an incentive application so Operator is able to submit the application as the owners of the vehicle;
- Have Owner apply for the incentive and then transfer ownership of the diesel-powered terminal tractor to Operator after an incentive has been awarded, but prior to the diesel-powered terminal tractor being repowered; or
- Have Owner apply for the incentive and complete the repower, then transfer ownership of the terminal tractor to Operator after the new equipment is deployed.
-
Please advise as to the following also:
- Regarding repowering/remanufacturing diesel terminal tractors: please confirm that repowered/remanufactured terminal tractors are eligible for a 45% cost-share incentive under this RFP.
- Regarding EMY eligibility: please confirm that a diesel-powered terminal tractor with any EMY is eligible for replacement under this offering if it is being replaced by a 100% electric, zero emissions terminal tractor.
A4. First, for application, we prefer to see option 3. Should the project be selected for award, we could then seek guidance from EPA managers regarding whether they would approve one of the other options as a variance, if need be.
Second, the answer to both follow up questions is yes, your assumptions are correct. While there is more opportunity for EMY1996 – 2009, there is also opportunity for older and newer units.
Q5. Intentionally omitted
Q6: Intentionally omitted
Q7. We have clients that have replaced old diesels in the past with Tier 4 diesels but are now wanting to clean up further. I believe we’re talking about fleets running almost 10-yr-old Tier 4 non-road diesel engines. They are hoping they could be able to apply for electric replacements, as an example. Is this possible?
A7. Yes, the new program rules allow for Tier 4 replacement with zero emission engines/vehicles. EPA has provided further guidance that owners of the Tier 4 should to try to engage in a “scrappage swap,” where an older fleet could purchase the Tier 4s and then scrap their older (Tier 3) vehicles. This type of scrappage swap with a second fleet is not required but would increase emission reduction and cost efficiency scores.
Q8. I just want to make sure, can the replacement vehicles be diesel or gasoline?
A8. Please see eligibility requirements. For MEC’s program, we require proof of biodiesel operations to allow a new diesel replacement or E85 operations for a gasoline replacement. Proposed traditional gasoline or ULSD operations (which normally meet EPA’s eligibility requirements) are outside the scope of this RFA, and applications requesting these fuels will be treated as exceptions.