2025_CSCG_RFA_FINAL-May9.pdf

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REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

2025 Climate Smart Communities Grant Program

Apply through the Consolidated Funding Application https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/index.cfm

Application Due Date: 4:00 p.m. ET, July 31, 2025 https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/index.cfm

Climate Smart Communities Grant Program

Contents

1. Program Description

2. Question and Answer Period

3. Eligibility

3.1 Eligible Applicants

3.2 Eligible Timeline

3.3 Disadvantaged Communities

3.4 Eligible Project Types and Funding Levels

3.4.1 Implementation Category

3.4.2 Certification Category

3.5 Eligible Expenses for Reimbursement

3.6 Eligible Expenses for Match

3.6.1 In-kind Match

3.6.2 Cash Match

3.7 Ineligible Expenses

4. Application Criteria, Terms and Conditions

4.1 Statewide Financial System Grants Management (SFS GM) Registration

4.2 Application Authorization

4.3 Ownership

4.4 Maps

4.5 Work Plan and Budget

4.6 Agreements

4.6.1 Partnership Agreement

4.6.2 Climate Change Mitigation Easement

4.7 Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act

4.8 Sexual Harassment Prevention Certification

4.9 Executive Order 16

4.10 Coastal Consistency Requirements

4.11 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act 2006

5. Application Review and Scoring

5.1 Eligibility Review

5.2 Detailed Application Review

5.3 Implementation Category

5.3.1 Implementation Scoring Overview

5.3.2 Mitigation Scoring Criteria

5.3.3 Adaptation Scoring Criteria

5.4 Certification Category

5.4.1 Certification Scoring Overview

5.4.2 Certification Scoring Criteria

6. Awards

6.1 Master Contract for Grants

6.2 Contractual Requirements

6.2.1 Minority Women Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Goals

6.2.2 Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) Goals

6.2.3 Green Products Procurement

6.2.4 Insurance Requirements

6.2.5 Acknowledgment of Financial Support

6.2.6 Metrics and Reporting

6.2.7 Agreements

6.2.8 Retainage

6.2.9 30-day Notice

6.2.10 Procurement of Contractors/Subcontractors

6.2.11 State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) Documentation

6.2.12 Historic Preservation Review Requirements

6.2.13 Iran Divestment Act

6.2.14 Permit Requirements

6.2.15 Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire

6.2.16 Access for Individuals with Disabilities

6.3 Reimbursement

7. Debriefing

8. Protest Procedure

9. DEC Oversight

10. Attachments

10.1 Attachment A: Resolution Template

10.2 Attachment B: Median Household Income Determination Instructions

10.3 Attachment C: List of Municipalities that Contain Disadvantaged Community Populations . 54

10.4 Attachment D: Using DECinfo Locator to Identify Disadvantaged Communities Within Municipalities

10.5 Attachment E – Office of the State Comptroller Environmental Stress Rating List

10.6 Attachment F – Climate Change Mitigation Easement Template

1. Program Description The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Grant program provides funding for municipalities to address greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and climate change adaptation at the local level. This request for applications (RFA) will make at least $22 million available.

Projects are divided into three categories:

I. Implementation - There are three subcategories of implementation projects:

A. GHG Mitigation (non-power sector, e.g., from transportation and food waste).

B. Climate Adaptation (reducing risks to residents, infrastructure, and/or natural resources from changing climate hazards).

C. Engineering feasibility studies for flood risk reduction and climate friendly

HVAC and refrigeration equipment replacement

II. Certification - Projects in this category include inventories, assessments, and planning projects that move municipalities toward designation as certified Climate Smart

Communities.

CSC grants are reimbursement-based. See Reimbursements section starting on page 45 of this RFA for additional details.

2. Question and Answer Period For grant-specific questions, contact Myra Fedyniak at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Office of Climate Change (OCC), 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233- 1030, 518-402- 8448 or cscgrants@dec.ny.gov. Also see https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/resources-for-local-governments/grants-for-climate-action for additional information on OCC grant programs.

The question-and-answer period will run from the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) opening date

(May 12, 2025) to the middle of the CFA cycle (June 23, 2025). Questions and answers will be posted to https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/resources-for-local-governments/grants-for-climate-action following the end of the question-and-answer period.

For general information and questions about the CSC Certification program, visit https://climatesmart.ny.gov, email climatesmart@dec.ny.gov, or call the DEC OCC at 518-402-

8448.

Two informational webinars will be held June 9, 2025, 10:00 – 11:30am and July 14, 2025, 1pm

– 2:30pm. Register here:

June 9, 2025, https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/r6a2238710215335de63a78106554464f

July 14, 2025, https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/ra9afc4a5d7740c130233915594e50858 mailto:cscgrants@dec.ny.gov https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/resources-for-local-governments/grants-for-climate-action https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/resources-for-local-governments/grants-for-climate-action https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/resources-for-local-governments/grants-for-climate-action https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/resources-for-local-governments/grants-for-climate-action https://climatesmart.ny.gov/ mailto:climatesmart@dec.ny.gov https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/r6a2238710215335de63a78106554464f https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/ra9afc4a5d7740c130233915594e50858

3. Eligibility

3.1 Eligible Applicants

All municipalities in the State of New York are eligible to apply for funding in response to this request for applications (RFA). For the purposes of this RFA and pursuant to 6 NYCRR Subpart 492-1.1(j), a municipality is defined as a county, city, town, village, or borough (referring only to Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island) residing within New York State. Political subdivisions such as municipal corporations, school districts, district corporations, boards of cooperative educational services, fire districts, public benefit corporations, industrial development authorities, and similar organizations are not eligible to apply in response to this RFA.

Applicants do not need to be a certified or registered CSC or be working toward CSC certification to apply in response to this RFA.

Applicants must submit either a resolution or a formal letter, signed by an authorized municipal representative. The resolution or letter should note the authority to submit the application and specify the match amount and the source of the local match (capital fund, general fund, bond, etc.). See attachment A of this RFA for a template of a resolution. If an applicant submits a letter signed by an authorized municipal representative, such letter will contain proof that the municipal representative is authorized by the municipal governing body to submit a grant application on behalf of the governing body. Proof may include a delegation of authority, statutory authorization, or other municipal authorization. Applications submitted without such documentation will be deemed ineligible

Two or more municipalities, or a municipality and a quasi-governmental entity(ies) or non-profit organization(s), may collaborate on a project; however, the applicant must be a municipality. See the Partnerships section on page 25 of this RFA for more details.

Applicants may submit several applications, but no more than one application may be submitted for the same project or project location.

3.2 Eligible Timeline

The start date for all contracts awarded through this RFA will be March 15, 2026, and the contract end date will be March 14, 2031. Project costs must be incurred between the contract start and end dates to be considered eligible for reimbursement or match. Applicants should not submit applications in response to this RFA if they do not anticipate they can complete the proposed project(s) within five years of the contract start date.

The contracting process will not begin until the procurement package has been approved by the New York State Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) and New York State Office of the Attorney General (OAG), as applicable, the awards have been announced, and the contracts have been created in the Statewide Financial System (SFS).

3.3 Disadvantaged Communities

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) directed the Climate Justice

Working Group (CJWG) to develop criteria to identify disadvantaged communities to ensure that frontline and underserved communities benefit from the State’s historic transition to cleaner sources of energy, reduced pollution, cleaner air, and economic opportunities.

The CJWG developed criteria to identify census tracts that qualify as disadvantaged communities by evaluating indicators, including environmental exposures, burdens, climate change risks, and socioeconomic factors. Please see https://climate.ny.gov/Resources/Disadvantaged-Communities-

Criteria for more information.

DEC is committed to meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Climate Act with respect to disadvantaged communities, including the requirement in Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) § 75- 0117 that disadvantaged communities receive at least 35 percent of the benefits of spending on clean energy and energy efficiency programs, with a goal of 40 percent. Similarly, the Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act (ECL § 58-1101) requires that at least 35%, with a goal of 40%, of Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act funds benefit disadvantaged communities.

DEC will make every effort, consistent with this RFA and relevant regulations and policies, to provide adequate outreach to municipalities that contain disadvantaged communities to communicate the program benefits and application process to increase access to the program’s benefits. Implementation projects with all components occurring completely in disadvantaged communities census tracts and certification projects occurring in municipalities with some percentage of their population residing in disadvantaged communities will receive points in the scoring criteria. See the scoring tables in the Application Review and Scoring section starting on page 28 for details. See Attachment D for instructions on using the DECinfo Locator to locate census tracts identified as disadvantaged communities within a municipality.

3.4 Eligible Project Types and Funding Levels

Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) § 54-1507 provides that adaption and mitigation “[p]rojects must demonstrate an ability to identify, mitigate, and/or adapt to climate change vulnerability and risk or demonstrate potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” Projects that do not meet this requirement are not eligible for grant funding under this program.

The CSC Grant program includes two different project categories: implementation and certification. The implementation category is divided into three subcategories: greenhouse gas mitigation, climate change adaptation, and engineering feasibility studies. Each category and the related project types are detailed below.

3.4.1 Implementation Category1

Eligible implementation projects must be GHG mitigation or climate change adaptation projects, as described below, and be located within the State of New York. The expected useful life of an implementation project is a minimum of 10 years, pursuant 6 NYCRR § 492-3.3(e).

• Funding available – $21 million

• Minimum grant award - $50,000

• Maximum grant award - $2,000,000

A local match of 20% of total project costs is required under at least one of the following circumstances:

1 Additional funding for this project type is contingent on Clean Water, Clear Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act allocations.

https://climate.ny.gov/Resources/Disadvantaged-Communities-Criteria https://climate.ny.gov/Resources/Disadvantaged-Communities-Criteria

• All project components are located in and take place in a disadvantaged community census tract.

• Municipal applicant appears on the NYS Office of the State Comptrollers environmental stress score list with a designation of “Significant Environmental Stress,” “Moderate Environmental Stress,” or “Susceptible Environmental Stress” (see Attachment E).

• Municipal applicant has a 2019-2023 median household income less than or equal to $67,662 per census table B19013.

A local match of 50% of total project cost is required under the following circumstances:

• All project components or some project components are located outside/take place outside of a disadvantaged community census tract.

• The applicant municipality has a 2019-2023 median household income greater than $67,662 per census table B19013.

See Attachment B of this RFA for detail on how to determine the median household income for the purposes of this program. The applicant is responsible for correctly calculating the match based on the total project cost and the median household income as returned in census table B19013.

Applications with incorrect match will be deemed ineligible.

See attachment E for a list of municipalities with an environmental stress score designation of “Significant Environmental Stress,” “Moderate Environmental Stress,” or “Susceptible Environmental Stress.”

For both the mitigation and adaptation implementation projects categories, design and engineering expenses are limited to a maximum of fifteen percent (15%) of the grant request. For projects with outreach or educational components, curriculum or program development expenses are limited to fifteen percent (15%) of the grant request. These limitations do not apply to the engineering feasibility study subcategory.

No more than fifty percent (50%) of the total available funds for implementation projects will be awarded to municipalities with populations greater than 100,000 or to any single municipality.

If funding in the implementation category remains after all awards in the implementation category are made based on eligibility, program requirements and goals, and passing score, DEC reserves the right to apply the remaining funding to eligible proposals in the certification category.

3.4.1.a GHG Mitigation Projects Eligible projects in the mitigation category must reduce GHG emissions outside the power sector.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Reduction of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). These projects include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Construction of on-road or off-road facilities for non-motorized forms of transportation that facilitate commuting or access to daily needs. Recreational trails are not eligible.

• Implementation of transit improvements that have the potential to substantially increase ridership, improve access to daily needs, and/or increase commuting by mass transit.

• Studies or analysis, such as zoning buildout analysis or zoning code updates, or programs to support densification or implementation of smart-growth strategies that reduce the need for passenger vehicles.

2. Reduction of Organic Waste. These projects include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Implementation, expansion, or piloting of education and outreach programs to prevent wasted food and reduce the volume of surplus food in the community, e.g., source reduction at the consumer level, thereby increasing the diversion of food waste from landfills.

• Increasing edible food donated to the needy, e.g., establishment or expansion of food-donation programs, purchase and installation of storage equipment for food, purchase and use of edible-food collection vehicles, and infrastructure for the storage and management of edible food.

• Implementation, expansion, or piloting of a food-waste pick-up service for residents, businesses, institutions, or municipal facilities to repurpose food waste as animal feed or to compost it at an organic material recycling facility.

• Construction of new (or the expansion of existing) facilities to process food scraps, e.g., at wastewater treatment facilities or composting facilities.

3. Refrigerant Management. Refrigerant management projects include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Establishment of municipal and/or community disposal programs to recover and recycle refrigerants, including those from automobiles, and/or to properly dispose of equipment containing refrigerants. (See https://www.epa.gov/rad as one example.)

• Adoption of codes to enable and encourage the use of alternative refrigerants or requirements for proper monitoring, repair, and disposal of refrigerants.

• Implementation of education and outreach programs for residents and local businesses regarding the reduction of GHG emissions from refrigerants.

• Replacement of existing refrigeration systems with, or conversion of existing systems to, systems using natural refrigerants (i.e., ammonia; carbon dioxide; natural hydrocarbons, such as propane; water; or air).

Refrigeration systems are those in which the equipment is charged with refrigerant onsite after completion of equipment installation, e.g., ice rinks.

Variable refrigerant flow/variable refrigerant volume systems are not eligible for funding.

• Replacement of existing HVAC equipment as part of a CSC grant-funded adaptation project, e.g., development of a cooling center.

Equipment installed as part of a grant-funded adaptation project must use the lowest GWP refrigerant available.

Applications for installation of packaged HVAC equipment using refrigerants other than natural refrigerants must complete a refrigerant management plan that addresses proper disposal of retired equipment and refrigerants; a leak monitoring, detection, and repair plan; and an end-of-life disposal plan for the equipment purchased and installed through this program as part of the contract for State assistance.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Frad&data=05%7C02%7Cmark.lowery%40dec.ny.gov%7Ccb2e081243f545a1110208dc2f2a96c7%7Cf46cb8ea79004d108ceb80e8c1c81ee7%7C0%7C0%7C638437107167110646%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rOeJQF8nbZuKyWXIYPMylrMbJl334LucWo4kem5Rl6k%3D&reserved=0

Unsealed equipment that uses refrigerants must include a leak detection system.

In December 2024, New York State amended 6 NYCRR Part 494, Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and Reporting (Part 494), to phase down climate-disrupting refrigerants to meet the required GHG emission limits pursuant to the Climate Act. https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024- 12/part494expressterms.pdf.

See https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/regulations/proposed-emergency-recently-adopted-regulations/climate-change for information relating to climate change regulatory revisions.

Note that, although a 100-year global warming potential (GWP) is referenced in most technical documents, New York State has adopted a 20-year GWP accounting methodology pursuant to the Climate Act.

See page 13 of this RFA for information regarding the engineering feasibility study option that can help an applicant plan for climate friendly refrigerant system and HVAC replacement.

4. Renewable Energy in Low-income Housing. These projects must establish and implement easily replicable renewable energy projects, including solar arrays, heat pumps, and wind turbines in public low-income housing. Projects requesting funding for heat pumps and/or HVAC must comply with the requirements listed in Section 3, Refrigerant Management, in the mitigation category on page 9.

3.4.1.b Climate Adaptation Projects Eligible adaptation project types include projects designed to provide a meaningful reduction of risk to residents, infrastructure, and/or natural resources from hazards projected to become more severe or frequent as a result of climate change. Such projects include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Increasing or preserving the risk reduction benefits of nature and natural resilience, such as construction of living shorelines and other nature-based landscape features to decrease vulnerability to the effects of climate change and to improve or facilitate conservation, management, and/or restoration of natural floodplain areas and/or wetland systems. See Using Natural Measures to Reduce the Risk of Flooding and Erosion (https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crranaturalmeasuresgndc.pdf).Such projects may include mapping of wetlands, as long as the cost of the wetland mapping does not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the grant request.

Applications for all natural resilience projects involving flooding must include projected increases in sea level (for tidal areas), water level change, flood volume or precipitation due to climate change (future flows) in the calculations performed for project sizing and design. At minimum, the calculations must include the guideline elevations specified in the NYS Flood Risk Management Guidance (https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf). However, use of detailed local data is preferred in cases where it is available. See Estimating Guideline Elevations (https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf#ESTIMATING%2 0GUIDELINE%20ELEVATIONS) for instructions on calculating these elevations.

2. Flood-risk reduction, including but not limited to, strategic relocation or retrofit of climate-https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/part494expressterms.pdf https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/part494expressterms.pdf https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/regulations/proposed-emergency-recently-adopted-regulations/climate-change https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/regulations/proposed-emergency-recently-adopted-regulations/climate-change https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crranaturalmeasuresgndc.pdf https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf#ESTIMATING%20GUIDELINE%20ELEVATIONS https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf#ESTIMATING%20GUIDELINE%20ELEVATIONS vulnerable critical municipal facilities or infrastructure to reduce future climate change-induced risks to those facilities.

Applications that propose to relocate a building out of a flood area or floodproof an existing building and also request funding to purchase new HVAC products or equipment must comply with the requirements listed in Section 3, Refrigerant Management, in the mitigation category on page 9. DEC encourages applicants to consider solar panels, geothermal, or wind as the power source for all new buildings to the extent practical. The previous prohibition on funding renewable energy components has been removed as long as the system is not returning electricity to the grid for sale to customers.

Applications for all other flood-risk reduction projects must include projected increases in sea level rise (for tidal areas), water level change, flood volume or precipitation due to climate change (future flow) in the calculations performed for project sizing and design. At minimum, the calculations must include the guideline elevations specified in the NYS Flood Risk Management Guidance (https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf). However, use of detailed local data is preferred in cases where it is available. See Estimating Guideline Elevations (https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf#ESTIMATING%2 0GUIDELINE%20ELEVATIONS) for instructions on calculating these elevations.

If the proposed project is located in a 100-year or 500-year flood zone, the following must be included in the planning and design of the project (attach a copy of the project design to the application):

• A site plan with the contours indicating the special flood hazard area (100-year floodplain, coastal High Hazard Area), 500-year floodplain, or coastal erosion hazard area.

• Location of and elevation of non-critical and critical equipment, infrastructure, and/or facilities.

• Certification of floodproofing.

• A floodway analysis with a no-rise certificate if the project is within a regulated floodway.

• Fulfillment of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program Special Flood Hazard Area process requirements.

3. Replacing, right-sizing, or removing flow barriers, including but not limited to, right-sizing bridges or culverts, improving or removing flow barriers to facilitate emergency response or protection of population centers, critical facilities, infrastructure, and/or natural resources, based on assessment of projected future conditions. Such projects should include information on upstream occurrences that may be contributing to the problem, potential downstream impacts of the proposed project, and overall watershed assessment of the waterbody. Impacts must be due to climate change and not the result of deferred maintenance.

Applications for all right-sizing flow barrier projects must include projected increases in flood volume or precipitation due to climate change (future flows) in the calculations performed for project sizing and design. At minimum, the calculations must include the guideline elevations https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf#ESTIMATING%20GUIDELINE%20ELEVATIONS https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf#ESTIMATING%20GUIDELINE%20ELEVATIONS specified in the NYS Flood Risk Management Guidance (https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf). However, use of detailed local data is preferred in cases where it is available. See Estimating Guideline Elevations (https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf#ESTIMATING%2 0GUIDELINE%20ELEVATIONS) for instructions on calculating these elevations.

Culverts and bridges in waterways with an internal opening greater than 20 feet should be designed to safely pass a flow that results from the 100-year flood event plus the appropriate climate change flow multiplier (minimum 10% or 20% per the Flood Risk Management Guidance) by gravity and without pressure flow. Bridge design shall also provide sufficient bridge freeboard, not less than two feet, when passing flows from the 50-year flood event including the appropriate climate change flow multiplier. See DECs Guidance for the Review of Bridge and Culvert Projects in Nontidal Waters Requiring a Protection of Waters Permit and a Water Quality Certificate (https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/gs2401.pdf).

Culvert pipes over waterways, four-sided box culverts, and small bridges spanning less than 20 feet should be designed to safely pass a 50-year flood event plus the appropriate climate change flow multiplier (minimum 10% or 20% per the Flood Risk Management Guidance) by gravity and without pressure flow. Box and culvert pipe design shall provide at least two feet of roadway freeboard above the 50-year flood elevation and be able to pass the projected check flow (or 100-year flow) without roadway overtopping including the appropriate climate change flow multiplier. See DECs Guidance for the Review of Bridge and Culvert Projects in Nontidal Waters Requiring a Protection of Waters Permit and a Water Quality Certificate (https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/gs2401.pdf).

Stormwater conveyance system upgrades/repairs can be designed to carry the greatest possible flow (e.g., 25-year storm) that can be accommodated by the location, including the climate change flow multiplier. These upgrades should also intercept, attenuate, and infiltrate stormwater before it flows into the system to avoid the creation of additional flooding problems downstream of the stormwater conveyance system. Stormwater projects must incorporate the DEC stormwater design manual (https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/swdm2015chptr01.pdf), including climate change flow multiplier.

4. Extreme-heat preparation, including but not limited to, establishment of cooling centers, construction of permanent shade structures, and implementation of other cooling features or programs. Cooling center projects requesting funding to purchase new HVAC products or equipment must comply with the requirements listed in Section 3, Refrigerant Management, in the mitigation category on page 9. Generators associated with a cooling center must be powered by means other than fossil fuels to qualify for grant funding or match. Back-up battery systems or solar plus storage batteries are current options for generators allowed under this program. Projects that retrofit an existing facility within a 100-year of 500-year floodplain must elevate or floodproof all utilities and generators.

5. Emergency preparedness, including but not limited to, establishment of emergency warning systems or implementation of emergency preparedness and/or response programs (excluding radio communications). Applications requesting funding for a generator must meet the following requirements: 1) The generator installation must be a component of a larger adaptation project, and 2) the generator must be powered by means other than fossil fuels. If a https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf#ESTIMATING%20GUIDELINE%20ELEVATIONS https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf#ESTIMATING%20GUIDELINE%20ELEVATIONS https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/gs2401.pdf https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/gs2401.pdf https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/swdm2015chptr01.pdf hydrogen fuel cell powered generator is selected, it must be powered by hydrogen produced through electrolysis, either created onsite or delivered.

3.4.1.c Engineering Feasibility Studies Engineering feasibility studies and engineering design of climate change adaptation projects designed to provide a meaningful reduction of risk to residents, infrastructure, and/or natural resources from flood hazards projected to become more severe or frequent as a result of climate change including, but not limited to, flood control, dam repair/upgrade/removal, levee certification/recertification studies , bridge or culvert replacement, stormwater system upgrade, natural resilience measures including natural feature restoration, nature-based feature construction (floodplain and wetlands), and bio-infiltration/bioretention.

All engineering feasibility studies related to flood mitigation must be prepared by a NYS licensed professional engineer and meet the following requirements:

• Include project location maps with the following labeled: hazard(s) areas, resources (natural and manmade) and populations (including disadvantaged communities) at risk.

• Include projected increases in flood volume, precipitation, storm surge, and/or sea level rise due to climate change (future flows) in the calculations performed for project sizing and design, or levee certification/recertification documents. At minimum, the calculations must include the guideline elevations specified in the NYS Flood Risk Management Guidance

(https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf) and sea level rise projections in 6 NYCRR Part 490

(https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/risslr.pdf), where applicable. However, use of detailed local data is preferred in cases where it is available. See Estimating Guideline

Elevations

(https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf#ESTIMATIN

G%20GUIDELINE%20ELEVATIONS) for instructions on calculating these elevations.

• Include HEC-RAS hydraulic modeling or comparable hydraulic analysis that evaluates the effectiveness of the project(s) in reducing water surface elevations.

• Take a comprehensive, watershed wide or sub-watershed approach in flow modeling, best practice selection, and siting of the project, as opposed to only moving water downstream.

• Consider groundwater migration due to sea level rise, if the project is coastal.

• Prioritize nature-based flood mitigation measures. These may be combined with “grey” infrastructure and “hard” infrastructure to mitigate flooding comprehensively throughout the contributing watershed. See Using Natural Measures to Reduce the Risk of Flooding and Erosion

(https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crranaturalmeasuresgndc.pdf).

• Identify the problem, investigate the root cause(s) of the problem, consider how climate change may exacerbate the problem, and develop a capital improvement project as the recommended solution.

• Provide an analysis of various alternatives and a cost estimate for each alternative, including a

“no action” alternative. Each alternative must include a section that describes the type of maintenance required, a maintenance schedule, estimated maintenance costs, and estimated personnel time required to complete the maintenance.

• Provide a conceptual design for the preferred alternative.

https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/risslr.pdf https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf#ESTIMATING%20GUIDELINE%20ELEVATIONS https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crraestelevguidelines.pdf#ESTIMATING%20GUIDELINE%20ELEVATIONS https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crranaturalmeasuresgndc.pdf

• If the project is within a 100-year or 500-year floodplain, the following must be included in the feasibility study and design documents.

o A site plan with the contours indicating the special flood hazard area (100-year floodplain coastal High Hazard Area, 500-year floodplain, or coastal erosion hazard area.

o Location and elevation of non-critical and critical equipment, infrastructure, and facilities.

o Certification of floodproofing o A floodway analysis with a no-rise certificate if the project is within a regulated floodway.

o Fulfillment of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance

Program Special Flood Hazard Area process requirements.

• Culverts and bridges in waterways with an internal opening greater than 20 feet should be designed to safely pass a flow that results from the 100-year flood event plus the appropriate climate change flow multiplier (minimum 10% or 20% per the Flood Risk Management

Guidance) by gravity and without pressure flow. Bridge design shall also provide sufficient bridge freeboard, not less than two feet, when passing flows from the 50-year flood event including the appropriate climate change flow multiplier. See DECs Guidance for the Review of

Bridge and Culvert Projects in Nontidal Waters Requiring a Protection of Waters Permit and a

Water Quality Certificate (https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/gs2401.pdf).

• Culvert pipes over waterways, four-sided box culverts, and small bridges spanning less than 20 feet should be designed to safely pass a 50-year flood event plus the appropriate climate change flow multiplier (minimum 10% or 20% per the Flood Risk Management Guidance) by gravity and without pressure flow. Box and culvert pipe design shall provide at least two feet of roadway freeboard above the 50-year flood elevation and be able to pass the projected check flow (or 100-year flow) without roadway overtopping including the appropriate climate change flow multiplier. See DECs Guidance for the Review of Bridge and Culvert Projects in Nontidal Waters Requiring a Protection of Waters Permit and a Water Quality Certificate (https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/gs2401.pdf).

• Stormwater conveyance system upgrades/repairs can be designed to carry the greatest possible flow (e.g., 25-year storm) that can be accommodated by the location, including the climate change flow multiplier. These upgrades should also intercept, attenuate, and infiltrate stormwater before it flows into the system to avoid the creation of additional flooding problems downstream of the stormwater conveyance system.

• Stormwater projects must incorporate the DEC stormwater design manual

(https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/swdm2015chptr01.pdf), including climate change flow multiplier.

All engineering feasibility studies related to levee recertification must also meet the following FEMA requirements for levee recertification in addition to the requirements above for flood projects:

• Levee systems must meet the National Flood Insurance Program minimum design, operation, and maintenance requirements described in Title 44, Chapter 1, Section 65.10 of the Code of

Federal Regulations (44 CFR 65.10).

• Accredited levee systems must meet the requirements outlined in “FEMA Guidance for Flood

Risk Analysis and Mapping: Levees,” dated November 2023

(https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_rm-levee_guidance_nov_2023.pdf https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/gs2401.pdf https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/gs2401.pdf https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/swdm2015chptr01.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_rm-levee_guidance_nov_2023.pdf

All engineering feasibility studies related to replacing existing heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) systems with systems that use natural refrigerants2 must be prepared for an individual facility by a NYS licensed professional engineer and meet the following requirements:

• The feasibility study must describe compliance with 6 NYCRR Part 494, Hydrofluorocarbon

Standards and Reporting.

• The feasibility study shall provide an alternatives analysis, including a “no action” alternative, a cost estimate for each alternative, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction estimates for each alternative. Each alternative must include a section that describes the type of maintenance required, a maintenance schedule, estimated maintenance costs, and estimated personnel time required to complete the maintenance.

• The feasibility study must include a conceptual site plan for the preferred alternative.

All types of municipal facilities are eligible (e.g., DPW building, town hall, ice rink, cooling center).

Applicants are encouraged to include a heat recovery in one of the design alternatives of a new HVAC/R system.

In December 2024, New York State amended 6 NYCRR Part 494, Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and

Reporting, to phase down climate-disrupting refrigerants to meet the required GHG emission limits pursuant to the Climate Act. https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/part494expressterms.pdf.

See https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/regulations/proposed-emergency-recently-adopted-regulations/climate-change for information relating to climate change regulatory revisions.

3.4.2 Certification Category

Certification projects focus on assessments, inventories, and planning activities that are part of becoming a certified Climate Smart Community. These actions also provide a basis for future grant applications in the implementation category. Only the 20 certification actions listed below are eligible for grant funding.

• Total available - up to $1,000,000

• Minimum grant award - $10,000

• Maximum grant award - $200,000

No more than fifty percent (50%) of the total available funds for certification will be awarded to municipalities with populations greater than 100,000 or to any single municipality.

A local match of 20% of total project costs is required under one of the following circumstances:

• Municipal applicant appears on the NYS Office of the State Comptrollers environmental stress score list with a designation of “Significant Environmental Stress,” “Moderate Environmental Stress,” or “Susceptible Environmental Stress” (see Attachment E).

• Municipal applicant has a 2019-2023 MHI less than or equal to $67,662 per census table B19013.

A local match of 50% of total project costs is required under the following circumstances:

2 Natural refrigerants include but are not limited to ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons (e.g., R-290).

https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/part494expressterms.pdf https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/regulations/proposed-emergency-recently-adopted-regulations/climate-change https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/regulations/proposed-emergency-recently-adopted-regulations/climate-change

• The applicant municipality has a 2019-2023 MHI greater than $67,662 per census table B19013.

See Attachment B of this RFA for detail on how to determine median household income for the purposes of this program. The applicant is responsible for correctly calculating the match based on the total project cost and the median household income as returned in census table B19013.

Applications with incorrect match will be deemed ineligible.

See attachment E for a list of municipalities with an environmental stress score designation of “Significant Environmental Stress,” “Moderate Environmental Stress,” or “Susceptible Environmental Stress.”

If funding in the certification category remains after all awards in the certification category are made based on eligibility, program requirements and goals, and passing scores, DEC reserves the right to apply the remaining funding to eligible proposals in the implementation category.

3.4.2.a Certification Actions Eligible for Funding Eligible applications must include completion of at least one of the following 20 CSC certification actions:

• PE2 Action: Government Operations GHG Inventory https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/6

• PE2 Action: Community GHG Inventory https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/7

• PE2 Action: Government Operations Climate Action Plan https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/10

• PE2 Action: Community Climate Action Plan https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/11

• PE3 Action: Fleet Inventory https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/147

• PE3 Action: Fleet Efficiency Policy https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/21

• PE5 Action: Refrigerant Management Program https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/165

• PE5 Action: Organics Management Plan https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/158

• PE5 Action: Construction and Demolition Waste Policy https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/57

• PE6 Action: Comprehensive Plan with Sustainability Elements https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/66

• PE6 Action: Complete Streets Policy https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/74

• PE6 Action: Planning for Biking and Walking https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/164

• PE6 Action: Natural Resources Inventory https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/82

• PE7 Action: Climate Vulnerability Assessment https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/85

• PE7 Action: Evaluate Policies for Climate Resilience https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/87

• PE7 Action: Climate Adaptation Plan https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/6 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/7 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/10 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/11 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/147 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/21 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/165 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/158 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/57 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/66 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/74 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/164 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/82 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/85 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/87 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/88

• PE7 Action: Heat Emergency Plan https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/91

• PE7 Action: Design Flood Elevation and Flood Maps https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/104

• PE7 Action: Freeboard Policies https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/103

• PE7 Action: National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/99

Work plans submitted as part of an application for a project under the certification category must include completion of the minimum requirements for the selected certification action(s) as described in the CSC certification portal website https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/. These action descriptions are available via the links above, under subheadings “E. How to Obtain Points for this Action” and “F. What to Submit.”

Fees related to accessing tools for climate change adaptation and GHG mitigation for the duration of the project are reimbursable if directly related to the proposed project, e.g., ICLEI ClearPath, the Temperate tool, GHG software. Approval of these expenses will be made by DEC during application review.

3.5 Eligible Expenses for Reimbursement

The following expenses are eligible for reimbursement:

• Personnel Services: Salaries of staff, including fringe, directly devoted to project implementation. Grantees will be required to document dates and hours worked and tasks completed via time records.

• Contractual Services: Tasks completed by professional and technical consultants or contractors, e.g., engineering, planning, construction, and legal services, directly related to the project. Costs for the installation of alternative energy systems, such as solar panels, geothermal systems, and heat pumps as long as electricity is not returned to the grid for sale to customers.

• Equipment: Purchase or rental of equipment, e.g., backhoe, directly required to implement the project.

• Travel: Project related travel costs for municipal staff and/or volunteers assigned to the project only. Mileage will be reimbursed at the current federal rate and lodging at current state per diem rates for the location. Note that consultants should include travel in the overall cost proposal and not bill the grantee separately.

• Supplies and Materials: Supplies and materials are defined as consumable products needed to directly implement the project, e.g., printing, copying, paving material, crushed stone.

• Real Property: The cost of fee simple land acquisition and associated legal fees, filing fees, closing costs, and transactional costs, provided they result in the final acquisition of land in New York State necessary to facilitate a climate adaptation or mitigation implementation project.

Transactional costs can be submitted for reimbursement as incurred throughout the contract term, but grantees may be required to return payments to New York State should the land transaction not successfully close. Transactional costs are limited to property surveys, appraisals, certified appraisal review, map and GIS/remote sensing data, phase I environmental assessment, title reports and title insurance, prorated property taxes, and State or local real https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/88 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/91 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/104 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/103 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/99 https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-certification/actions/ estate transfer taxes, that are directly related to the project.

See the Land Acquisition Toolkit at https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/resources-for-local-governments/grants-for-climate-action for additional information, requirements, and documentation that must be provided for land acquisition. Specific documents, language, and requirements will vary depending on project type and various State and program requirements.

o Applicants are strongly encouraged to investigate the steps involved in the land acquisition process and any State and local approvals that may be required and to initiate conversations with landowners before starting an application.

o Real property (land) for which grants funds are requested but acquired prior to an executed contract are not eligible. However, the land value of parcels acquired prior to an executed contract may be eligible as match; see the Match section of this RFA on page 20.

o Real property that is currently protected by a State or federal easement program is not eligible for grant funding.

o Phase I environmental site assessment reports are required for all properties acquired in fee simple and must be completed by a qualified consultant. If a phase II environmental assessment is recommended, the awardee must contact DEC to propose and request approval on appropriate next steps if reimbursement will be requested.