Grant Details


Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program (Low-No Ferry Program) - FY 2024

Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation
CFDA: 20.532
Federal FON: FTA-2024-008-TPM-FERRYPILOT
Office: Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Office of Program Management
Multipart Grant: No
Next Due: 06/17/2024 (Application)
Solicitation Date: 04/17/2024
   
Match Required: Yes
Match Type: Cash/In-Kind
Actual Funds: $49,000,000 (Confirmed)
Summary:

The purpose of this program is to support the purchase of electric or low-emitting ferries, the electrification or other reduction of emissions from existing ferries, as well as the related charging or other fueling infrastructure. The overarching aim of the program is to reduce emissions or produce zero onboard emissions under normal ferry service operations.

Support is available for capital projects for the purchase of electric or low-emitting ferry vessels that reduce emissions by using alternative fuels or on-board energy storage systems and related charging infrastructure or other fueling infrastructure. Ferry systems that accommodate cars must also accommodate walk-on passengers to be eligible. For the purposes of this program, alternative fuels include:

  • Methanol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols
  • A mixture containing at least 85 percent of methanol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols by volume with gasoline or other fuels
  • Natural gas
  • Liquefied petroleum gas
  • Hydrogen
  • Fuels, except alcohol, derived from biological materials
  • Electricity, including electricity from solar energy

Before the conclusion of this program that utilizes FY 2026 funds, the funding agency must select at least one project from a ferry service that serves the state with the largest number of marine highway system miles and at least one project from a bi-state ferry service with an aging fleet and whose development of zero- and low-emission power source ferries will propose to advance the state of the technology toward increasing the range and capacity of zero-emission power source ferries.

Priority consideration will be given to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Create significant community benefits relating to the environment, including incorporating low- or no-emission technology or specific elements to address greenhouse gas emissions as well as disproportionate negative impacts of climate change
  • Support workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation, as detailed on page 8 of the NOFA file
  • Support the Justice40 initiative, as detailed on pages 8-9 of the NOFA file

For facility projects, priority will also be given to projects that include elements to strengthen the resilience of the community and/or the transit system with regard to climate change.

An optional webinar is scheduled for this program. Refer to the Application section for details.

Eligibility Notes:

Eligible applicants are eligible recipients of Section 5307 or Section 5311 funding.

Eligible recipients of Section 5307 funding are designated recipients as defined in the funding agency's Circular "Urbanized Area Formula Program: Program Guidelines and Application Instructions," as well as direct recipients of the funding agency's Urbanized Area Formula Grants program and public entities engaged in providing public transportation passenger ferry services to urban areas eligible to be direct recipients. Refer to the FTACircular file for additional information. Eligible recipients of Section 5311 funding include states, territories, and tribal governments.

The funding agency encourages applicants to notify the appropriate state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in areas likely to be served by the project. Supported projects must be incorporated into long-range plans and transportation improvement programs of states and MPOs before they are eligible for funding. The funding agency may take into consideration a project's consistency with, or inclusion in, such plans during the application evaluation process.

No more than one supplemental form will be accepted per SF 424 submission. The funding agency encourages states and other applicants to consider submitting a single supplemental form that includes multiple activities as one project to be evaluated as a consolidated application. If a state or other applicant chooses to submit separate applications for individual consideration, each application must be submitted using a separate SF 424 and supplemental form.

Before the conclusion of this program that utilizes FY 2026 funds, the funding agency must select at least one project from a ferry service that serves the state with the largest number of marine highway system miles and at least one project from a bi-state ferry service with an aging fleet and whose development of zero- and low-emission power source ferries will propose to advance the state of the technology toward increasing the range and capacity of zero-emission power source ferries.

Previous award recipients include:

  • Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF)
  • Georgia Department of Transportation - Office of Intermodal Programs
  • City of Annapolis
  • New Jersey Transit Corporation
  • Washington State Department of Transportation, Ferries Division

Refer to the Award file for additional information on previous award recipients.

Eligible Applicants:
Local Government
Native American Tribe
State Government
Application Notes:

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 17, 2024.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov. Mailed and faxed submissions will not be accepted.

Applications must include:

  • SF 424
  • Supplemental form
  • Supporting documents, such as eligibility documentation, letters of support, project budgets, fleet status reports, and excerpts from relevant planning documents (optional)

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.

An optional webinar for this program is scheduled as follows:

May 2, 2024
2:30 p.m. ET
Passcode: 638376
URL: usdot.zoomgov.com

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Demonstration of need
  • Demonstration of benefits
  • Planning and local/regional prioritization
  • Local financial commitment
  • Project implementation strategy
  • Technical, legal, and financial capacity

Refer to pages 7-8 of the NOFA file for information regarding additional application evaluation criteria.

Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.

Match Required: Yes
Match Type: Cash/In-Kind
Actual Funds: $49,000,000 (Confirmed)
Match Notes:

In general, applicants must provide at least 20 percent of the net project cost via nonfederal cash and/or in-kind contributions.

For projects that involve acquiring vehicles, applicants must provide at least 15 percent of the net project of acquiring vehicles, including clean-fuel or alternative-fuel vehicles, for the purposes of complying with or maintaining compliance with the Clean Air Act (CAA) or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

For projects that involve acquiring, installing, or constructing vehicle-related equipment or facilities, applicants must provide at least 10 percent of the net project cost of acquiring, installing, or constructing vehicle-related equipment or facilities, including clean fuel or alternative-fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities, for the purposes of complying with or maintaining compliance with the ADA or CAA.

Additional consideration will be given to projects for which local funds have already been made available or reserved.

Eligible matching contributions include:

  • Cash from non-governmental sources other than revenues from providing public transportation services
  • Non-farebox revenues from the operation of public transportation services, such as the sale of advertising and concession revenues
  • Monies received under a service agreement with a state or local social service agency or private social service organization
  • Undistributed cash surpluses, replacement or depreciation cash funds, reserves available in cash, or new capital
  • Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to a department or agency of the government, other than the funding agency, that are eligible to be expended for public transportation
  • In-kind contributions integral to the project
  • Revenue bond proceeds for a capital project, with prior funding agency approval
  • Transportation Development Credits (TDCs)
Funding Notes:

A total of $49 million is available to support awards through this program.

Funds will be available for obligation for five years. Additional consideration will be given to projects for which funds can be obligated within 12 months of the award.

Funds may not be used for projects that have already incurred costs, unless the funding agency provides pre-award authority to incur costs, as detailed on pages 2 and 9 of the NOFA file.

Funds may not be used for:

  • Operating expenses
  • Planning
  • Preventive maintenance
  • Any project that does not include the purchase, construction, replacement, or rehabilitation of ferries, terminals, related infrastructure, or related equipment

For FY 2022, a total of $97.6 million was distributed via seven awards ranging from $2,975,000 to $46,214,008 through this program. Refer to the Award file for details.

Contacts:

Vanessa Williams
(202) 366-4818

Sarah Clements
(202) 366-3062

Program Staff
FTAFerryPrograms@dot.gov

Agency Address
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Transit Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590

Contact Notes:

Questions should be directed to the program contacts provided.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov.

The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.

Files:
NOFA File: US17458_NOFA_FY2024.pdf (321.1 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US17458_Overview_FY2024.pdf (144.5 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US17458_Webinar_FY2024.pdf (82.6 Kb)
Award File: US17458_Award_FY2024.pdf (82.1 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US17458_FTACircular_FY2024.pdf (997.8 Kb)
File Notes:

The NOFA file contains the full solicitation for this program. The Overview file contains general program information. The Webinar file contains information regarding the optional webinar scheduled for this program. The FTACircular file contains the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Circular pertaining to this program's eligibility requirements. The Award file contains information on previous award recipients.

Grant Keywords
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Grant Categories
Community Development
Energy
Environment/Natural Resources
Transportation