Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Technology Integration (TI) (Part A): Clean Cities Outreach, Engagement, and Technical Assistance - FY 2024
| Agency: | U.S. Department of Energy |
|---|---|
| CFDA: | 81.086 |
| Federal FON: | DE-FOA-0003250 |
| Office: | Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) |
| Multipart Grant: | Yes |
| Next Due: | 04/30/2024 (Multiple) |
|---|---|
| Solicitation Date: | 02/12/2024 |
| Match Required: | Recommended |
| Match Type: | Cash/In-Kind |
| Actual Funds: | $15,000,000 (Estimated) |
| Range: | $5,000,000 (Max) |
| Award: | $1,000,000 (Estimated) |
| Number of Awards: | 5 (Estimated) |
Summary:
The purpose of this program is to deliver an equitable, clean energy future, and put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions, economy-wide, by no later than 2050, to the benefit of all Americans. The funding agency is committed to pushing the frontiers of science and engineering, catalyzing clean energy jobs through research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D), and ensuring environmental justice and inclusion of underserved communities. Specifically, this program will advance the deployment of efficient and sustainable transportation technologies throughout the country. Projects will advance decarbonization of the transportation sector by supporting innovative approaches to address pressing transportation sector efficiency and equity needs. The program will support a broad technology portfolio that includes alternative fuels, energy-efficient mobility systems and technologies, and other efficient advanced technologies that can reduce transportation energy costs for businesses and consumers.
Project activities must support the federal Justice40 initiative, which stipulates that at least 40 percent of benefits from the program must flow to disadvantaged communities.
Funding will be provided for the following program components:
- (Part A): Clean Cities Outreach, Engagement, and Technical Assistance
- (Part B): Training on Zero Emission Vehicle and Infrastructure Technologies for Critical Emergency Response Workers
- (Part C): Clean Transportation Demonstration and Deployment
The purpose of the Clean Cities Outreach, Engagement, and Technical Assistance component is to work locally in urban, suburban, and rural communities to advance the affordable, convenient, and energy-efficient movement of people and goods. Projects will advance the nation’s environment, energy security, and economic prosperity through collaboration with communities by building partnerships with public and private stakeholders that create equitable deployment of clean transportation solutions for all. This component's vision is a decarbonized transportation future for all communities. Specifically, award recipient coalitions will:
- Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders to accelerate transportation decarbonization through outreach and engagement activities
- Provide stakeholders targeted technical assistance and training leveraging funding agency resources to advance transportation decarbonization
- Facilitate transportation decarbonization through vehicle and infrastructure planning, barrier reduction, and deployment
The objective is to support projects that strengthen existing Clean Cities coalitions' ability to achieve the Clean Cities mission, vision, and goals, by enabling coalitions to undertake high-impact activities. Project activities must emphasize bringing zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure to local communities in alignment with the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization. Successful applications should demonstrate significant impact on transportation emissions reduction. Project approaches must include coalition outreach, engagement, and technical assistance with stakeholders in at least one of the following priority focus areas:
- Medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fleet stakeholders
- Non-road transportation stakeholders in the off-road, rail, marine, aviation, and port sectors
- Underserved communities pertaining to local transportation and energy priorities rooted in pillars of energy and environmental justice (EEJ)
- Tribal communities pertaining to tribal transportation and energy priorities rooted in best practices for tribal collaboration
- Electric utilities and utility regulators to advance transportation electrification
- Authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) to develop plans leading to infrastructure deployment and address barriers to transportation electrification and such as codes, permitting, and other local policies
Project approaches may include:
- Planning activities to advance transportation decarbonization on a regional or state level such as infrastructure, workforce, or resiliency planning
- Implementation of a green fleet recognition or certification program
- Organization and facilitation of technical training and/or technical education sessions regarding alternative fuel vehicles, their appropriate use, infrastructure, and safety issues
- Collaboration with funding agency national laboratories
Refer to pages 11-13 of the NOFA file for additional details regarding component requirements and expectations.
Last Updated: April 22, 2024
Eligibility Notes:
Eligible applicants are:
- Institutions of higher education
- For-profit entities
- Nonprofit entities
- State and local governmental entities and federally recognized Indian tribes
For this component, all applicant teams must include at least two funding agency-designated Clean Cities coalitions, a list of which can be found online at cleancities.energy.gov, with a significant role in the project, including providing at least 10 percent of the federal budget. Project teams involving multiple Clean Cities coalitions forming statewide partnerships, regional partnerships, or other strategic collaborations of Clean Cities coalitions are encouraged. However, applicants must ensure each participating Clean Cities coalition has the appropriate funding and staffing levels. Award recipient must allocate at least 75 precent of the total project budget to Clean Cities coalitions or their host organizations.
To facilitate the formation of project teams, the funding agency will compile a list of organizations that have expressed an interest to participate in projects. The list will be made available online at eere-exchange.energy.gov.
Each concept paper must be limited to a single concept or technology. An applicant may submit more than one concept paper and full application, provided that each describes a unique, scientifically distinct project.
In limited circumstances, the funding agency may approve a waiver to allow foreign entities to participate in projects, as detailed on page 24 of the NOFA file.
The following entities are not eligible to apply as lead applicants, but may be part of projects as subrecipients:
- Department of Energy (DOE)/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs)
- Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs
- Federal agencies and instrumentalities, other than the DOE
For this component, FFRDC participation in projects may not exceed 20 percent of total project costs. Refer to pages 28-30 of the NOFA file for additional information regarding requirements and limits to FFRDC participation in projects.
Only new applicants are eligible to apply. Existing recipients are not eligible for renewal awards.
The following entities are not eligible to apply:
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory
- Entities banned from doing business with the U.S. government
- Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995
Eligible Applicants:
Local GovernmentAcademic Institutions
Consortia
Non Profits
Private Sector
State Government
Application Notes:
Mandatory concept papers must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on March 12, 2024.
Concept papers must be submitted online at secure.login.gov.
Concept papers must include:
- Cover page (1 page max)
- Project description and impacts (3 pages max)
Concept papers will be evaluated based on overall responsiveness and viability of the project.
Upon review of concept papers, the funding agency will either encourage or discourage each applicant to submit a full application. Applicants may submit full applications even if they are discouraged from doing so.
Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on April 30, 2024.
Applications must be submitted online at secure.login.gov.
Applications must include:
- SF 424
- SF LLL
- Technical volume (30 pages max)
- Resumes (3 pages max each)
- Letters of commitment (1 page max each)
- Statement of project objectives (7 pages max)
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion plan (5 pages max)
- Budget justification workbook
- Summary/abstract for public release (1 page max)
- Subrecipient budget justification
Refer to 33-34 of the NOFA file for a list of required application components, and the required format and page limitation for each. Application forms must be submitted in .pdf format, unless state otherwise. Applications must be formatted on standard-sized, single-spaced pages with one-inch margins on all sides, using a 12-point or larger font. Each application page must be numbered. All application documents must be marked with the control number issued to the applicant. The maximum file size that may be uploaded is 50 MB. Refer to pages 31-51 for additional application formatting instructions.
The following are required in order to submit an application:
- Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
- SAM (System for Award Management) registration
Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.
Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Project approach and impact (30 percent)
- Project plan (30 percent)
- Project team and qualifications (25 percent)
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion (15 percent)
Refer to pages 62-63 of the NOFA file for additional information regarding program policy factors that will be used to evaluate applications.
Refer to the NOFA file and Application folder for additional application information.
| Match Required: | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Match Type: | Cash/In-Kind |
| Actual Funds: | $15,000,000 (Estimated) |
| Range: | $5,000,000 (Max) |
| Award: | $1,000,000 (Estimated) |
|---|---|
| Number of Awards: | 5 (Estimated) |
Match Notes:
Matching funds are not required for this component; however, the degree to which the proposed project optimizes the use of award funds, including through the provision of cash and/or in-kind matching contributions, will be taken into consideration during the application evaluation process.
Cash matching contributions may include personnel, fringe, supply and equipment, indirect, and other direct costs. In-kind contributions may include the donation of volunteer time or the donation of space or use of equipment.
Funding Notes:
An estimated $15 million is available to support 12 to 18 awards through this program overall, with approximately $5 million available through this component to support approximately 5 awards of $1 million each.
Awards may be made in the form of cooperative agreements or grants. If federally funded research and development centers (FFDRCs) are involved in projects, they may be funded separately, as detailed on page 23 of the NOFA file.
Award notifications will be issued on August 5, 2024. Award negotiations are expected to take place between August and November 2024.
Project periods will span from 24 to 36 months, comprised of a single budget period.
Award recipient must allocate at least 75 percent of the total project budget to funding agency-designated clean cities coalitions or their host organizations.
Pre-award costs may be eligible with prior funding agency approval. Refer to pages 52-53 of the NOFA file for details.
Costs of construction and foreign travel are only allowable with prior written approval by the funding agency.
Projects may not involve persons participating in a foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment program of a foreign country of risk.
Funds may not be used for:
- Projects that focus on the development of tools/resources that duplicate resources already available from the funding agency and/or its labs
- Projects that fall outside the program's specific technical parameters
- Projects for proposed technologies that are not based on sound scientific principles
- Projects that include demonstration of any pre-commercial technology or deployment of any vehicles or fueling infrastructure
- Lobbying
- Costs of conferences not directly and programmatically related to the purpose for which the award was made
- Certain telecommunications and video surveillance services and equipment, as detailed on page 80 of the NOFA file
Contacts:
Program Staff
DE-FOA-0003250@netl.doe.gov
Agency Address
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Forrestal Building
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20585
Contact Notes:
Questions should be directed to the program staff, and must be submitted no later than three business days prior to the application due date.
Concept papers and applications must be submitted online at secure.login.gov.
The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.
Files:
NOFA File: US17278A_NOFA_FY2024.pdf (930.6 Kb)Application File: US17278A_Application_FY2024.zip (241.4 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US17278A_Q&A_FY2024.pdf (82.0 Kb)
Federal Forms:
SF 424 (144.4 Kb)SF LLL (98.7 Kb)
File Notes:
The NOFA file contains the full solicitation for this program and component. The Application folder contains required forms for submission. The Q&A file contains a list of questions and answers regarding this program. The required federal forms are attached. Additional program resources can be found online at eere-exchange.energy.gov.
April 22, 2024
An updated list of questions and answers regarding this program has been released and attached as the Q&A file.
April 8, 2024
An updated list of questions and answers regarding this program has been released and attached as the Q&A file.
February 22, 2024
A list of questions and answers regarding this program has been released and attached as the Q&A file.
Grant Keywords
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Training & Vocational ServicesEnergy
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