Cooperative Agreement 00A01184

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA). THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE PENOBSCOT INDIAN NATION. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL WORK WITH A CONTRACTOR TO INSTALL UP TO 180 ENERGY EFFICIENT HEATING SYSTEMS IN TRIBAL HOUSING UNITS. THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS A PARTNERSHIP AMONG THE WABANAKI ALLIANCE. THE RECIPIENT WILL WORK WITH OTHER WABANAKI NATIONS AS SUBRECIPIENTS TO MANAGE THEIR OWN BUDGETS. EACH NATION WILL WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY CANDIDATE HOMES FOR HEAT PUMP INSTALLATION. EACH NATION WILL WORK WITH THEIR OWN CONTRACTOR TO COMPLETE THE INSTALLATIONS. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE TRAINING FOR TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP TO MAINTAIN AND PROPERLY OPERATE THEIR HEAT PUMP UNITS TO PROMOTE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO CREATE TRAINING AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AT LEAST TEN CITIZENS TO BECOME CERTIFIED RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNICIANS. THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION RELATED TO CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND IMPROVING SUSTAINABILITY FOR MEMBERS OF WABANAKI NATIONS.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES WILL ESTABLISH A CO-MANAGED PLAN AMONG FOUR THE WABANAKI TRIBES AS A CONSORTIUM. THE PENOBSCOT INDIAN NATION WILL BE THE GRANTEE AND MANAGE THE GRANT. THE CONSORTIUM WILL ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR RECEIVING A HEAT PUMP TO ENSURE UNITS WITH THE GREATEST NEED ARE ADDRESSED. THE CONTRACT IMPLEMENTATION WILL BE EQUALLY DIVIDED AS SUB-AWARDS, DUE TO THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FOUR TRIBES OF THE WABANAKI ALLIANCE. THIS SPREADS THE MANAGEMENT AND FUNDING AMONGST FOUR TRIBES AND HELPS TO ENSURE THAT HEAT PUMPS WILL BE DEPLOYED TO THE HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE GREATEST NEED. EACH TRIBE'S PROGRAM MANAGER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING THE PROGRAM EVALUATION AND SUBMITTING DATA TO THE PENOBSCOT INDIAN NATION FOR COMPILATION AND COLLABORATION. A PROPERTY NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND SITE VISIT WILL BE INCORPORATED IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS. THIS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PROGRAM MANAGER TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITHIN THE HOME. THIS NEEDS ASSESSMENT WILL ALSO HELP DETERMINE THE SIZE OF THE HEAT PUMP THAT IS NEEDED FOR THE HOME. THIS IS CRUCIAL TO MAINTAINING A BUDGET WHILE INSTALLING THE MOST HEAT PUMPS IN HOMES. EACH TRIBE WILL MANAGE AN OPEN BIDDING PROCESS THAT WILL ENGAGE QUALIFIED VENDORS TO INSTALL THE HEAT PUMPS IN THE SELECTED HOMES. THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS WILL INCLUDE NATIVE PREFERENCE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CONTRACTS FOR TRIBAL CITIZENS. CONTRACTS WILL BE BUNDLED BY TRIBE AND WILL VARY DEPENDING ON THE TRIBE. THE WABANAKI ALLIANCE WILL BE WORKING WITH EFFICIENCY MAINE TO MAXIMIZE THE VARIOUS INCENTIVES, REBATES, AND TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE FOR HEAT PUMPS. THIS PROGRAM IS EXPECTED TO INSTALL AT LEAST 45 HEAT PUMPS PER TRIBE, DEPENDING ON INCENTIVES AND CONTRACTOR BIDS. THE WABANAKI CONSORTIUM WILL HOLD QUARTERLY MEETINGS TO COORDINATE FOR THIS PROGRAM, AND TO DEVELOP THE RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNICIAN TRAINING, THE RESIDENT OR TENANT MAINTENANCE TRAINING, AND THE OUTREACH MATERIALS FOR HOMEOWNERS.SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARDS TOTALING $725,751.60 ARE TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO THREE TRIBES; THE HOULTON BAND OF MALISEET INDIANS, MI'KMAQ NATION, AND PASSAMAQUODDY PLEASANT POINT. EACH SUBAWARD IS AN EVEN THREE WAY SPLIT OF $241,790.20. $2,068 IS SET ASIDE FOR TRAVEL FOR THE NATION. $5,338.25 IS SET ASIDE FOR PARTICIPANT SUPPORT COSTS FOR THE GREEN ENERGY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION. $1,800 IS SET ASIDE FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES. $1,920.75 IS SET ASIDE FOR EDUCATIONS SUPPLIES. $15,000 IS SET ASIDE FOR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION COSTS TO SURVEY WHICH HOMES WILL RECEIVE HEAT PUMPS, PROVIDE OUTREACH MATERIALS, AND TO MANAGE THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT. $215,790.20 IS SET ASIDE FOR THE CONTRACT TO INSTALL APPROXIMATELY 45 HEAT PUMPS.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE UP TO 180 HEAT PUMPS INSTALLED, A MINIMUM OF SIX WABANAKI HOUSING CIRCLE MEETINGS, A REDUCTION OF 73,500 GALLONS OF HEATING OIL FOR THE REGION, AND 10 TRIBAL CITIZENS CERTIFIED AS RENEWABLE ENERG