CBPG_QA_01.21.25.pdf

CLEAN BUILDING PERFORMANCE GRANT - 2024 1

V6.0

Clean Building Performance Grants – CBPG-024

Question and Answer Document

Current as of 01/21/2025

Submit all questions to the RFA Coordinator at

CBPSGrants@commerce.wa.gov. Commerce will post answers periodically through the question and answer period. Questions must be submitted by January 23, 2025.

Contents Emailed Questions received through 12/17/2024

Emailed Questions received through 12/20/2024

Questions received at the 12/19/2024 Applicants’ Conference

Emailed Questions received through 12/30/2024

Emailed questions received through 01/06/2025

Questions received at the 01/09/2025 Applicants’ Conference

Emailed questions received through 01/14/2025

Emailed questions received through 01/21/2025

Emailed Questions received through 12/17/2024

1) Question: Any idea when grants will open up for Private T2 buildings?

Answer: It is difficult to say with any certainty. Commerce will continue to advocate for the need on behalf of building owners. The Tier 2 Early Adopter Incentive Program will open July1, 2025.

CLEAN BUILDINGS

https://www.commerce.wa.gov/cbps/early-adopter-incentives/

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2) Question: Please advise if Tier 2 privately owned, non-profit (registered 501C3) facilities are eligible for any of the funding if only specific ones.

Answer: No, the legislation did not identify Tier 2 privately owned non-profit (501C3) facilities as eligible for this funding opportunity. The Tier 2 Early Adopter Incentive Program will open July1, 2025.

3) Question: I have a doctor’s appointment at this time, will the conference be recorded?

Answer: Yes, we will be recording the pre-application conferences and posting them on the Clean Building Performance Grants webpage. Commerce will have an additional pre-application conference scheduled for January 9th, at the same time.

4) Question: The language in the RFA is all in terms of single buildings. Will projects focused upon campus-level compliance also be eligible? Not district energy, but simply a college intending to comply as a whole campus.

Answer: There is nothing in the RFA which prohibits applications for projects focused on campus-level compliance.

Referencing section 1.3 Minimum Qualifications; scopes of work would need to be specific to an eligible building and all portions of the proposed project must directly relate to pursuing compliance with the CBPS.

Additionally, per section 1.4 Funding; applicants can combine multiple scopes of work into a single application.

5) Question: I had two questions regarding the Clean Building Performance Grants:

a. 1) Eligibility: I wanted to confirm that PHA’s (Public Housing Authorities” are eligible as they were not explicitly listed in Section 1.3 of the RFP that lists: “Publicly owned: local governments, municipalities, port and hospital districts, public higher education institutions, school districts, federally recognized Tribal governments and state agencies”

b. 2) EUI: Is there a preferred assessment tool? Relatedly, are there any resources to help agencies make an assessment of their portfolios?

Answer: Regarding eligibility, as long as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 building is publicly owned, it would be an eligible building for this funding. If it is not publicly owned, it would need to be a Tier 1 building in order to be eligible for this funding.

Regarding EUI, the Clean Buildings Performance Standard CBPS Support and Resources page has guidance for benchmarking a building’s EUI. The EPA’s Portfolio Manager tool is utilized by the program for benchmarking.

https://www.commerce.wa.gov/cbps/early-adopter-incentives/ https://www.energystar.gov/buildings?testEnv=false

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As this is a competitive solicitation, we are unable to direct potential applicants to specific portfolio assessment resources for the purposes of this funding opportunity. However, we can direct you to the Clean Buildings Team who is here to support you as you pursue compliance with the CBPS. If you have not already explored the resources available on the Clean Buildings Website, here you can find links to supporting guidance, past workshops, and the document library, as well as the customer support form, which will get you in touch with staff who can provide direct support around pursuing compliance.

6) Question: Are funds needed to be expended prior to June 30, 2025?

Answer: Yes. Per Substitute Senate Bill 5949, which authorizes these funds, the scope of work would need to be completed and funds would need to be expended prior to June 30, 2025. The deliverables and timeline of an eligible scope of work from an apparently successful applicant would be determined at the time of contract negotiation.

7) Question: Can you tell me where I might find the Request for Applications page for additional details on the DOC (Commerce) Clean Buildings Performance Grants?

Answer: Request for applications for the Clean Building Performance grants – Washington State

Department of Commerce

8) Question: Are these grants not repayable or loans?

Answer: These are grants, which have no repayment requirements.

9) Question: It seemed that we would not be able to apply if we are just beginning the process (meaning we do not yet know our EUI, nor have we benchmarked for 12 months). Is that a fair statement?

Answer: To the statement around an ability to apply, applicants can reference section 1.3

Minimum Qualifications, which details applicant qualifications and identifies as eligible, among others, Tier 1 and Tier 2 Publicly-owned buildings. Further down, Minimum Project Qualifications states, “All portions of the project must be directly related to pursuing compliance with the CBPS.”

Applicants can also refer to section 1.2 for the objectives of the funding, which outlines possible scopes of work, which may respond to current needs of the applicant where they are at in the compliance process. .

Emailed Questions received through 12/20/2024

10) Question: I’m hoping you can guide us regarding the performance of _____________.

____________ School District was recently awarded $________ for the Indoor Air Quality Assessment for ___________, as well as $_________ through the ____________________.

https://www.commerce.wa.gov/cbps/early-adopter-incentives/ https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/2ab4ee9bbd8d44e7b2af62aa5dfc717f https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/request-for-applications-for-the-clean-building-performance-grants/ https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/request-for-applications-for-the-clean-building-performance-grants/

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Currently, we are working with ___________, and they’ve provided us with several options to consider. Additionally, we’ve reached out to other districts regarding TIPS, but I’m not sure if you’re familiar with this program. Any guidance you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Clarification: Commerce cannot provide guidance as to the performance of individual contractors or direction as to an individual applicant’s internal procurement procedures, as it relates to an open, competitive solicitation. Applicants can reference the provided Example Contract – Exhibit

E, for contractual expectations of apparently successful applicants and can further review Section

32 under the General Terms and Conditions, for terms specific to Subgranting/Subcontracting.

Answer: If you have a Clean Buildings question in general, you can reach out to our Performance

Team via the customer contact form. If you have a question about applying for a Clean Building

Performance Grant, could you please be a little more specific as to the support you need in applying to the program? Applicants can also refer to section 1.2 for the objectives of the funding, which outlines possible scopes of work, which may respond to current needs of the applicant where they are at in the compliance process.

11) Question: I see we're starting at 9 ... how long does this zoom conference last?

Answer: The January 9th Zoom conference is set to start at 12pm Pacific time and is scheduled for 1 hour.

12) It is common for Public Housing Authorities (PHA) to develop land using an LLLP.

In these developments:

The PHA owns the land fee simple and leases it to an LP or LLLP The PHA is the general partner in the LP or LLLP controlling that entity The PHA is the property manager of the project

This structure is used because the Housing Authorities want to access the low income housing tax credit program (LIHTC) which is the largest source of funding for affordable housing in the country. Those projects have very limited access to additional funding for things like energy upgrades for at least 15 years after the building is built or renovated using the program.

Answer: Based on the description provided, the owner of the building on the leased land is an LP or an LLLP which, for the purposes of the application, would not be considered publicly owned as defined in the RFA.

13) Question: I'm writing from _____________ (___, a non-profit organization) about eligibility for the Clean Buildings Performance Grant. The City of _______ owns the grounds and facilities of _________, and (non-profit organization) manages all ______________ operations, including exhibits and capital projects, as delineated in a 20-year Operations and Management Agreement with the City. Our first operations and management https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/2ab4ee9bbd8d44e7b2af62aa5dfc717f

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agreement with the City of __________ was for the 20__-20__ period and this was renewed in December 20__ and now extends through 2041.

Based on my understanding of the RFP, an applicant must either own the facilities proposed for a project or hold a lease that extends beyond the time of the expected life of the proposal project. Would our 20-year operating agreement with the City of _______ meet the lease requirement? Or would the City of ________ need to be the applicant for this opportunity given their ownership of the _____ buildings? Note that we were eligible to apply for a _________________ grant this year given our management agreement with the City, but we are not sure that that same eligibility criteria applies to the Clean Buildings Performance Grant opportunity.

The ______ buildings would fit into the Tier 2 category (because of square footage and the fact that they are publicly owned buildings); the projects would be building retrofits. So, our interpretation is that we have Tier 2 buildings that are eligible for the opportunity.

_____is responsible for all compliance/everything related to the buildings, the City does not do any maintenance, improvements, etc., we are responsible for all of that. So, we have a unique situation where we are talking about tier 2 publicly owned buildings, but we are a nonprofit.

One final note, the City of ______ does not typically apply for grants for ____ (they don’t have the staff capacity to submit/manage those grants, while _____ does have that capacity and it is part of our responsibility to raise funding for building operation/maintenance/improvements within the management agreement). So, if _____ is not eligible for the Clean Buildings Performance opportunity, it would a unique situation for us to talk to the City to see if they have the capacity to apply.

Answer: Assuming the project(s) are directly related to pursuing compliance with the CBPS, and the non-profit organization has defined with the building owner the obligations of compliance with the CBPS and holds a lease on the building(s) which extends beyond the expected lifetime of the proposed project , a private entity (non-profit organization) is eligible to submit a Clean Buildings

Performance Grant application in relation to a publicly owned, Tier 2 building.

14) Question: We have several clients that want to pursue this grant opportunity. We are trying to sort through several different elements of the RFA so that we can best help our clients.

We are going to attend the Applicants Conference on Dec 19.

Below are some of the more urgent questions that we have. Please review and let us know how to proceed.

Application date is Jan 30th. Can we submit applications early?

Answer: Yes, applications may be submitted at any time before the response due date of January 30, at 3:00 pm Pacific Time.

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The period of performance is March 12, 2025 (at the earliest) through June 30, 2025.

a. This doesn’t give much time.

Answer: Yes, due to legislative requirements regarding the timeline of the program, the period of performance is limited.

b. When will the legislature decide if this program can be extended into the next biennium?

Answer: Unknown. No current announcement on the full budget at this time.

c. Should we submit on projects with long lead equipment and hope for the extension?

Or should we just submit projects that can be accomplished in the short time given?

Answer: It is not advised for applicants to plan for any reimbursement of activities performed beyond June 30, 2025. Equipment purchases related to pursuing CBPS compliance of an eligible building, is an eligible expense.

d. Awardees will be notified in late February. Is it acceptable to incur cost before the contract between Commerce and the owner is fully executed?

Answer: On a case-by-case basis, Commerce reserves the right to adjust the cost date for eligible expenses which have been incurred before the signature of a contract and are directly related to the apparently successful project, at the time of contract negotiation.

Commerce does not advise incurring any costs prior to contract signature and cannot guarantee any expenses will be reimbursable prior to contract signature.

Do building retrofit projects need to get the wnEUI of a building below the EUIt? Section 1.2 indicates “yes”, Exhibit B question 3 indicates “no”.

Answer: Where a building may need multiple projects to meet its energy goals in pursuance of compliance with the CBPS and only certain scopes of work are feasible during the period of performance, a retrofit scope of work would not need to bring the building below the EUIt, assuming the project is part of a larger plan toward achieving compliance with the CBPS.

Are extra points given for energy savings guarantees vs. savings estimates? If yes, this would unfairly benefit ESCO’s.

Answer: No extra points are given specifically for savings guarantees, though savings guarantees can be used to evaluate the expected performance of a proposed scope of work.

Exhibit B asks for a schedule. Is it acceptable to submit a project where the schedule is known to extend beyond June 30, 2025? i.e. can we hope that the legislature will extend the performance period?

CLEAN BUILDING PERFORMANCE GRANT - 2024 7

Answer: It is acceptable to submit a schedule of all compliance related projects which may extend beyond June 30, 2025 and identify which scopes of work an application intends to accomplish within the period of performance.

Are extra points given to building retrofit project applications where an ASHRAE 2 audit has already been completed?

Answer: No extra points are given specifically for applications where an energy audit has already been completed, though energy audits can be used to evaluate the expected performance of a proposed scope of work.

Further, is an ASHRAE 2 energy audit (or investment grade audit) required to validate energy savings listed in the grant application?

Answer: As project needs and scopes of work will vary from one applicant to the next, contract deliverables will be negotiated with apparently successful applicants on a case-by-case basis. As the validation of energy savings would likely extend beyond the period of performance of the contract, it is not anticipated that an energy audit would be required to validate savings listed in an apparently successful application.

Are extra points given to applications that will use disadvantaged businesses for subcontracted services?

Answer: Additional administrative priority points will be given to applications for buildings located in either a rural area of Washington or in a Community highlighted on the Office of Financial Management’s Overburdened Communities and Vulnerable Populations Map. Additional administrative priority points will also be given to first time applicants, those who anticipate subcontracting with or purchasing from State Certified Minority, Woman, or Veteran Owned Businesses, as well as Washington Small Businesses. Finally, Additional administrative priority points will be given for a worker’s rights certification per Executive Order 18-03.

15) Question: I was wondering if _____ office (20,000sqft+, privately owned) would be eligible for this grant? I read on the DOC's (Commerce)_website that $15,427,000 is available for Tier 1 and Tier 2 publicly owned buildings. Being ______ building is privately owned, does this exclude us from applying for this grant?

Answer: As per section 1.3 of the RFA, for privately owned buildings, only applications for Tier 1

(greater than 50,000 square feet) would be eligible.

16) I was with _________ earlier this year and had started the process there but after I left they are not pursuing it to my knowledge. I have quite a bit of experience in the type of work and would be glad to help others navigate this. I have a WA business license. How do I get on a list of contractors to help applicants? I’m betting just to apply for the grant. With __________ I had to and gather quite a bit of documentation and information plus redo ESTAR just to see how we could participate. Anyway I’m interested in helping and would perhaps be cheaper than the big contractors. Thanks for any light you can shine on this for me.

CLEAN BUILDING PERFORMANCE GRANT - 2024 8

Answer: There is no list of contractors to help applicants of the Clean Building Performance

Grants. I would encourage you to explore the voluntary directories for Qualified Persons and

Qualified Energy Auditors, which Commerce maintains. More information and links to the directory registration forms can be found at the link below in the “Qualified persons and energy auditors” drop down under “Supporting roles for compliance.”

CBPS Support and Resources – Washington State Department of Commerce

17) Question: Being new to the grant space, I am trying to understand if the CBPG-024 grant can be utilized for Tier 1 buildings who have already paid a consultant for an audit or if the entirety of the activity needs to take place during the period of performance.

Answer: Funds cannot be used to supplant funds already committed to projects.

18) Question: Can the Clean Building Performance Grant be used for new construction? Or for renovation of an older building that has not been occupied in several years?

Answer: Depending on the needs of the building or buildings pursuing compliance with the Clean

Building Performance Standard both activities could be allowable. However, funding is not intended to support new construction, such as a new building. New construction would be more related to needed housing space for new or updated equipment, for example. Additionally, where a building which has not been occupied for several years, may apply for an occupancy exemption with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard, an application for renovations on an unoccupied may not be directly related to compliance with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard.

19) Question: ________ does not have a single building with a larger footprint of 20,000 sq ft.

However we occupy over 33 site locations and some locations have up to 6 buildings.

Some of these building have degrading HVAC systems and less than adequate weatherization, some of which we have been trying to acquire funds to help with repairs and replacements. Would combined resources be allowable to qualify for a grant application?

Answer: Per Section 1.3 of the RFA applicants must related to a Tier 1 or Tier 2 Building. As the above buildings do not meet either threshold, they would be ineligible for this funding, as described.

20) Question: Hello, I'm looking for the webinar on the grants today. Having trouble locating.

Answer: Links to the webinars can be found on the webpage linked below.

https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/request-for-applications-for-the-clean-building-performance-grants/

21) Question: We had _____ pass along the information about this grant and were wondering if we qualified for either tier 1 or tier 2. And if so how do we go about it? We are looking about the opportunity of putting solar panels up. We got a quote from _____ solar and we are $316,875 out of pocket and then after our federal tax return we would still be $221,813.

https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/request-for-applications-for-the-clean-building-performance-grants/ https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/request-for-applications-for-the-clean-building-performance-grants/

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Just wondering if this grant would cover any of this or if we are even able to apply for this grant.

Answer: Referencing section 1.3 Minimum Qualifications; scopes of work would need to be specific to an eligible building and all portions of the proposed project must directly relate to pursuing compliance with the CBPS. A standalone installation of solar panels would generally not meet the minimum requirements whereas a solar installation directly related to pursuing compliance with the CBPS would generally qualify as meeting the minimum qualifications.

22) Question: ______ School District has completed and incurred costs for energy benchmarking and development of an energy management plan. Are these incurred expenses eligible for grant funding?

Answer: See response to question 17. The expected period of performance for these grants are

March 12, 2025- June 30, 2025.

23) Question: We are puzzling through various eligible opportunities for this grant, and we are running up against the same challenge with all of the options – the tight timeline (March 2025-June 30, 2025). To make any energy efficiency improvements (i.e. a new roof or LED lights) we would need to order in January to ensure materials are onsite in time for install by the end of June 2025. As for the consultant work – developing an EMP, for example – local consulting firms are about maxed with the variety of OSPI and DOC grants that have launched in the past year (energy audits, IAQ assessments, etc.).

Do you think the timeline might be extended and if so, how far out?

Answer: While the legislature may extend funding for this program in future biennia, nothing is guaranteed and we do not advise planning on project timelines being extended beyond June 30, 2025. If the entirety of a project is not able to be completed by June 30, 2025, potential applicants are encouraged to examine if any portions of a project can be finalized within the period of performance.

24) Question: Please send me details for the Jan 9 CBPS grant webinar.

Answer: Links to the webinars can be found on the webpage linked below.

https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/request-for-applications-for-the-clean-building-performance-grants/

25) Question: Multi-family residential condominium buildings have dedicated reserve funds that typically encompass replacement of building components over time. Does that mean that replacement of components that will help bring a building into compliance are ineligible for this grant? Or is there acknowledgment that retrofitting components that are more energy efficient (replacement of gas burner boilers with electric heat pumps) which are far more expensive that would allow us to apply for these funds? As an aging high rise https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/request-for-applications-for-the-clean-building-performance-grants/ https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/request-for-applications-for-the-clean-building-performance-grants/

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building that will struggle dramatically to reach compliance, we’re anxious to take steps to improve our EUit but it’s unclear if these funds can be used for anything except our O&M, etc.

Answer: If the replacement of components is required to pursue compliance for an eligible building as defined in section 1.3 of the RFA, such a project would be eligible for this funding.

Where reserve funds are already committed to a specific project, any potential Clean Building

Performance Grant funds could not be used to supplant the already committed funds.

26) Question: I know the criteria for this grant opportunity specifically refers to the Clean Building Performance Standard, would that make an outdoor LED lighting retrofit project at a sports filed ineligible for this funding?

Answer: Where an LED lighting retrofit project at a sports field applies to pursuing compliance with the CBPS for an eligible building as defined in Section 1.3, this would be an eligible activity.

Where a similar project is standalone and not in relation to an eligible building pursuing compliance with the CBPS, this would be an ineligible activity. Where building owners are not certain of how compliance applies to their building in general, they are encouraged to reach out to the Clean Buildings Performance Team for more information.

27) Question: Our accelerator programs simply cover the educational elements of the law and don’t involve us actually performing the benchmarking, O&M, EMP and audit work for building owners. That said, we are regularly asked by building owners if we can provide that assistance to any degree. We’ve observed a greater need for these services in the East/Central region of the state. Is there space within the RFA to support these deeper services to let’s say, a to-be named group of, 20-50 buildings across a non-utility-defined East/Central region? If needed, we can seek building owner signatures to commit to the effort.

Answer: There is nothing in the RFA which prohibits such coordination from an entity which is not directly applying for an eligible building pursuing compliance with the Clean Buildings

Performance Standard. That being said, all applications for funding and any pursuant contracts with apparently successful applicants would need to be submitted by the building owner or entity, leasing an eligible building as defined in section 1.3 in the RFA, and negotiated by the apparently successful applicant.

28) Question: I attended this and was wondering when the recording and slides would be available, and where to go look for them.

Answer: We intend to have the slides, recording and the first Q&A document up on the website early next week. A notification will be sent out to registrants, once posted, and you can check the link below for updates.

Request for applications for the Clean Building Performance grants – Washington State

Department of Commerce https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/2ab4ee9bbd8d44e7b2af62aa5dfc717f https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/request-for-applications-for-the-clean-building-performance-grants/ https://www.commerce.wa.gov/funding/request-for-applications-for-the-clean-building-performance-grants/

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29) Question: I attended the yesterday’s webinar and I’m unclear about the statement highlighted in (section 1.2 objectives). My primary question is whether retrofit projects must take a building for non-compliance (above EUI target) to in-compliance (below EUI target) to be considered eligible?

If this interpretation is correct, then it appears buildings implementing retrofit projects to comply via the Investment criteria compliance pathway (as opposed to the EUI target pathway) are not eligible – is that correct? Similarly, if a building already complies with the EUI target but still plans to implement a retrofit project to provide more “cushion”, are these projects not eligible?

Answer: As compliance will look different from one building to the next and building owners across the State are in various stages of pursuing compliance, scopes of work are not required to bring a building fully into compliance, though the retrofits must directly correlate to pursuing compliance with the CBPS.

If a building is already in compliance with the standard, “cushion” type projects, as described, would most likely not be responsive to the intent of the grant program.

Questions received at the 12/19/2024 Applicants’ Conference

30) Question: Do these grants apply to the installation of heat pumps and energy recovery ventilators to replace natural gas heating?

Answer: These grants are neutral as to which energy efficiency measures are pursued by an applicant. In general, building retrofit projects that support the compliance of an eligible building with the CBPS, are eligible. From the RFA 1.2, 1: Building retrofit projects. These projects can include but are not limited to heating and cooling upgrades, lighting upgrades, building and HVAC controls upgrades, building envelope upgrades, and purchasing equipment and materials. These projects must directly correlate to bringing a building below its Energy Use Intensity Target (EUIt), in relation to the CBPS.

31) Question: Knowing that the legislature may extend the performance period beyond June 30 2025, should we submit construction projects where we know final completion will be after June 30 2025?

Answer: Per section 1.5, the period of performance ends June 30, 2025. Extensions of the period of performance or additional funding is not guaranteed. While projects may extend beyond the period of performance, only eligible costs incurred during the period of performance will be reimbursed.

32) Question: What kind of projects qualify? Do completed, in-progress or prospective projects qualify? How are grant values determined?

Answer: Per section 1.2 and 1.3, the primary objective of the funding is to support compliance with the CBPS and all portions of the scope of work must directly relate to pursuing compliance with the CBPS. Scopes of work must be performed within the period of performance and grant

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costs cannot be used to supplant funds which have already been committed to a scope of work.

In relation to project costs, applicants determine and propose grant values.

33) Question: Is a project eligible if it helps a building to move *towards* its EUIt, even if the predicted savings are not enough to help it meet its EUIt?

Answer: Yes, a project is eligible to apply if it helps a building to move toward its EUIt. Per section

1.2 Objectives, these projects must directly correlate to bringing a building below its Energy Use

Intensity Target (EUIt), in relation to the CBPS.

34) Question: I am in a non profit Senior Facility of 650,000 square feet in ________. Are we eligible for this Clean Buildings Grant Conference as a non-public mulita-family building?

Answer: Multifamily buildings over 20,000 sq. ft are Tier 2 buildings. As the legislation only allows for publicly-owned Tier 2 buildings to receive funding with this grant program, the facility, as described (a privately owned [building ownership structure must be reviewed], Tier 2, multi-family building), does not appear to meet the eligibility requirements of the Clean Building Performance

Grant RFA. As the building in your question is stated to be a multifamily building larger than

50,000 square feet, the building could opt in to comply as a Tier 1 building and would then be eligible to apply.

Another point of clarification, senior care facilities are considered institutional occupancies according to the Washington State Building Codes and institutional occupancies are considered

Tier 1 buildings for the purposes of the CBPS. Building owners are encouraged to reach out to the

Clean Buildings Team, if they have general questions about how the CBPS may apply to their building.

35) Question: Regarding school districts; can a grant cover multiple projects across multiple buildings?

Answer: Yes. Per RFA section 1.3, all publicly-owned buildings in the application must be Tier 1 or

Tier 2 and be pursuing the clean building performance standard (CBPS).Additionally, per section

1.4 Funding; applicants can combine multiple scopes of work into a single application.

36) Question: If a grant is only requested for non building retrofit services (e.g. O&M and EM plan development), how should the applicant respond to questions #5 & 6 within the Complinace Questions section of Exhibit B.

Answer: An applicant can describe why those questions are not applicable.

37) Question: Likely to be addressed, but if Contracts are signed Mar 12, and period of performance ends June 30, this leaves three months- which is not enough time to complete nearly any construction project. What flexibility is there on this requirement?

Answer: Per section 1.5 of the RFA: Pending legislative approval, this funding may be appropriated to extend the contract end date. COMMERCE reserves the option at its sole discretion to extend

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the contract for two additional one-year periods. Extensions and/or additional funding are not guaranteed.

38) Question: Could receiving this grant require a building to need to submit additional projects if they are complying through the Investment Criteria Pathway due to improved cost effectiveness and Savings to Investment Ratio?

Answer: It is difficult to anticipate with specificity what impacts an apparently successful application would have on an individual building’s compliance through the Investment Criteria

Pathway. That being said, if a building is pursuing compliance through the Investment Criteria

Pathway and were to be awarded a Clean Building Performance Grant, such an award would need to be included when calculating the Savings to Investment Ratio for the purposes of compliance with the CBPS.

39) Question: Would those pursuing a campus compliance pathway still be eligible to apply?

Answer: See response to question 4.

40) Question: Is the June 30, 2025 deadline for completion of projects?

Answer: Clean Building Performance Grants are intended to reimburse eligible expenses of apparently successful applications for costs incurred during the period of performance.

Deliverables of apparently successful applications will be determined on a case-by-case basis at the time of contract negotiation.

41) Question: Is the application (and application limit of $2,000,000) per building, organization, "covered site," or something else?

Answer: As proposed in the question, the application and maximum funding amount would be in relation to the organization (building owner). Per section 1.4 Funding, applicants can combine multiple scopes of work into a single application with a combined amount not exceeding

$2,000,000.00.

42) Question: Is a project eligible if its timeline goes beyond June 30, 2025? Would it be scored differently than a project that concludes by June 30, 2025?

Answer: Per the RFA, section 4.3, applications must demonstrate that the project can be completed within the period of performance. While a compliance project timeline may extend beyond the Clean Building Performance Grant period of performance, an application’s scope of work must be executable before June 30, 2025.

43) Question: Can already completed projects pursue a grant? If so, is there a cutoff date?

Answer: Per section 1.4, this funding cannot be used to supplant or replace funds already committed to a project. Per section 1.5 the period of performance of any contract(s) resulting from this RFA is scheduled to begin upon contract execution and to end on June 30, 2025. On a case-by-case basis, Commerce reserves the right to adjust the cost date for eligible expenses

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which have been incurred before the signature of a contract and are directly related to the apparently successful project, at the time of contract negotiation. Commerce does not advise incurring any costs prior to contract signature and cannot guarantee any expenses will be reimbursable prior to contract signature.

44) Question: If a building, which is not fully occupied, is currently already performing under the EUIt, but if it were to be fully occupied, would likley exceed EUIt, would this building be eligible to apply?

Answer: The primary objective of this funding is to support compliance with the CBPS. RFA 4.3:

Applications will be evaluated in relation to compliance with the Clean Buildings Performance

Standard and how the proposed project(s) will address either bringing a building into compliance or closer to compliance, with the CBPS. Where building owners are unsure how the CBPS balances occupancy and compliance needs in general, they are encouraged to reach out to the

Clean Buildings Team.

45) Question: When does the CBPS need to be billed by to qualify for the grant?

Answer: Per section 1.5 the period of performance of any contract(s) resulting from this

RFA is scheduled to begin upon contract execution and to end on June 30, 2025.

46) Question: Is a project eligible if the grant pays for only a portion of the project, for example design, materials and mobilization? This would allow us to close out the grant earlier (by June 30, 2025) and use internal funds for the construction portion of the project.

Answer: Yes, assuming all portions of the proposed project are directly related to pursuing compliance with the CBPS, per section 1.3 Minimum Qualifications.

47) Question: given the deadline of Jun 30, 2025, can you explain how O&M projects would recieve a grant for a project that has many years of annual O&M costs?

Answer: Clean Building Performance Grants are intended to reimburse eligible expenses of apparently successful applications for costs incurred during the period of performance.

Deliverables of apparently successful applications will be determined on a case-by-case basis at the time of contract negotiation. RFA 1.2, 2: Contracted service projects. These projects can include but are not limited to developing an operations and maintenance program.

48) Question: Housing authorities are not specifically mentioned in Tier 2. Are they eligible for this grant?

Answer: RFA 1.3: Only privately-owned Tier 1 and Publicly owned Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings are eligible to receive this funding.

49) Question: Is this grant opportunity likely to be repeated in future years?

Answer: It is unknown if this grant opportunity will likely be repeated in future years.

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50) Question: If working towards campus wide compliance and not individual building compliance, can we still apply? Especially for the cost of getting to compliance documentation.

Answer: See response to question 4.

51) Question: Can you give some clarification on this sentence from Section 1.4: "The funding cannot supplant or replace funds already committed to the project" Is that committed by another grant or internally committed wihtin the building owner's budget?

Answer: Supplantation would refer to any funds, including another grant or internally committed within the building owner’s budget, which have already been paid or have been specifically identified or put aside to pay for a specific eligible cost.

52) We will be hiring a consultant to help us develop EMP and O&M plans for 2ea Tier 1 buildings and 3 Tier II buildings. Can we apply for a grant before we have selected a consultant? Can we apply for more than one of these buildings?

Answer: "RFA 1.2, 2: Contracted service projects. These projects can include but are not limited to developing an energy management plan, operations and maintenance program, energy auditing services, accounting support intended to either bring a building into compliance with the CBPS or identify a clear pathway toward compliance. There is no requirement that the application identify a selected consultant. RFA 1.4: Applicants can combine multiple scopes of work into a single application with a combined amount not exceeding $2,000,000.00."

53) Question:

1. Can buildings pursuing the investment pathway for compliance apply or does this solicitation only work for target EUI pathway?

Answer: Per section 1.3 minimum qualifications, all portions of the proposed project must be directly related to pursuing compliance with the CBPS.

2. Section 1.5 Period of Performance in the RFA says completion by June 30, 2025. Is that a typo? Is the expectation really to negotiate contracts up to March 12 then complete work in 3.5 months?

Answer: No, that is not a typo. Yes, it is the expectation to negotiate apparently successful contracts for projects which can be completed in 3.5 months.

3. Are lighting projects acceptable? Previous Commerce grant solicitations have excluded lighting.

Answer: Yes, as they relate to an eligible building pursuing compliance with the CBPS, lighting retrofits are acceptable.

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4. Are smart meter projects acceptable?

Answer: In most instances, stand alone metering projects may not be required in order to comply with the CBPS. Where meter installation in an eligible building(s) is a necessary component of a project to pursue compliance with the CBPS, this would be an eligible activity.

54) Question: If the building is designed and permitted but not yet built, could the applicant apply under the contracted service projects for EMP?

Answer: RFA 1.3: Only privately-owned Tier 1 and Publicly owned Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings are covered. A not yet built building would likely not be covered by the CBPS during the period of performance for this RFA.

55) Question: Can a building that is already in compliance with the EUI benchmark still apply if project will result in significant energy savings?

Answer: Per section 1.3 Minimum Qualifications, all portions of the proposed project must be directly related to pursuing compliance with the CBPS. If a building is already in compliance, a proposed project would most likely not meet the minimum qualifications of the RFA.

56) For clients who may have multiple projects, should they apply for each individually or together as bundle. As an example, a K-12 school district: should they apply for projects at each school or for one overarching project?

Answer: RFA 1.4: Applicants can combine multiple scopes of work into a single application with a combined amount not exceeding $2,000,000.00.

57) Can Tier 2 apply for building retrofit projects even though it is not required to meet an EUIt?

Answer: As there is no current performance metric required for Tier 2 buildings to come into compliance with the CBPS, building retrofits projects of Tier 2 buildings would not be eligible for this funding.

58) How is geographic equity scored in the application review process?

Answer: Additional administrative priority points will be given to applications for buildings located in either a rural area of Washington or in a Community highlighted on the Office of Financial Management’s Overburdened Communities and Vulnerable Populations Map. Additional administrative priority points will also be given to first time applicants, those who anticipate subcontracting with or purchasing from State Certified Minority, Woman, or Veteran Owned Businesses, as well as Washington Small Businesses. Finally, Additional administrative priority points will be given for a worker’s rights certification per Executive Order 18-03.

59) Are building owners pursuing compliance through 1390 able to apply for these grants?

How about other campus-level benchmarking configurations?

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Answer: See response to question 4.

60) Is project life the measure life of the technology, payback period, construction period?

Answer: For the purposes of the Clean Building Performance Grant program, the term “project life” is interpreted as being in reference to “Useful Life,” as defined in the Clean Buildings Performance

Standard:

“Useful life: the expected service life of building systems or equipment as published by the

AHJ. For EEMs not included, the qualified energy auditor will be responsible for determining useful life. Used interchangeably with service life.”

61) Questions: What does the securitization process look like on this grant?

Answer: Currently, there is no securitization process for this grant.

62) Question: If the project can’t be complete by June 30 2025, does that preclude the project from funding?

Answer: Section 1.3 of the RFA outlines the minimum qualifications for applying. Section 4.3 outlines evaluation and scoring of applications. The period of performance of any contract(s) resulting from this RFA is scheduled to begin upon contract execution and to end on June 30, 2025. Applications need not be for the entire "project" of CBPS compliance. That being said, the grant-funded portion must be completed within the period of performance.

63) Question: Can you share the language you mentioned about legislative / Commerce authorization on extensions?

Answer: 1.5 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance of any contract(s) resulting from this RFA is scheduled to begin upon contract execution and to end on June 30, 2025.

Pending legislative approval, this funding may be appropriated to extend the contract end date.

COMMERCE reserves the option at its sole discretion to extend the contract for two additional one-year periods. Extensions and/or additional funding are not guaranteed.

64) Question: So the period of performance could be 2 - 3 months depending on when the contract is signed? am I reading that correctly?

Answer: RFA 2.2 provides a schedule. The earliest contract signed date is March 12, 2025. The period of performance of any contract(s) resulting from this RFA is scheduled to begin upon contract execution and to end on June 30, 2025.

65) Question:

1. Can you clarify the criteria for needing to hold a lease that covers the expected life of the project? Is this the ASHRAE expected useful life of equipment?

Answer: RFA 1.3 Minimum Qualifications: “Applicant must either own the facilities proposed for the project, or hold a lease that extends beyond the time of the expected life

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of the proposed project.” This section clarifies the relationship of the applicant to the covered building. In the case where the applicant leases the building, the building lease length will be compared to the project scope of work expected life. Projects could vary greatly.

2. period of performance - does this mean the project must be completed by June 30 2025?"

Answer: The scope of work of an apparently successful application must be completed by

June 30, 2025.

66) Question: For public building owners who plan to use the State Energy Program, are they equipped with enough support to turn around contracting documents quickly?

Answer: While we cannot speak to the realities and internal capacity of all applicants, we encourage feedback on how we can make any possible future solicitations more responsive to the needs of building owners pursuing compliance with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard.

67) Question: If the grant will be used for contracted service projects like benchmarking, will it be weighed against a school district if they have limited information as requested in the compliance question section?

Answer: Applicants can describe why the questions are not applicable in the compliance question section.

68) Question: On the form, Application Questions, specifically the "Compliance Questions" - Is there a word/character limit?

Answer: There is no word/character limit for responses, though applicants are encouraged to be concise.

69) Question: Same question on the June 30th "performance period" end. Please clarify if projects must be completed by then. If so, how should applicants account for permitting lead times?

Answer: See response to question 6.

70) Question: This funding cannot supplant or replace funds already committed to the project"...I intepret this as meaning the project cannot start before the grant is awarded, otherwise funding to complete would have already been committed. With grant announcements not occurring until end of February, this leaves only 4 months to complete a project. Am I interpretting this correctly?

Answer: See response to question 51

71) Question: Can these grants be used for a private university Tier one (1), two (20) and smaller buildings (7). Need help funding the metering of buildings heated by a central steam plant. We need a complete picture of how efficient the energy use of our steam heated buildings are.

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Answer: See response to question 4.

72) Question: The Grid Resiliency Grants that were Due in September and awarded as of 11/14/24 were considered to be an aggressive timeline to be completed prior to June 30, 2025 due to manpower issues and possible long-lead item equipment delays. Seeing is that this grant is due at the end of January, it will be difficult to get people to sign up for a contractor to do $2 million worth of work with no guarantee of extension and possibly needing to fund the project themselves. How soon will you know if this does get rolled over for at least 1 year?

Answer: We have no way of being certain this funding will be appropriated in future biennia.

73) Question: If the award announcement isn't until March 12, public building owners will then have approximately 3.5 months to get bids out, awards made and projects completed. Is that correct?

Answer: That is correct. The earliest contract signed date is March 12, 2025. The period of performance of any contract(s) resulting from this RFA is scheduled to begin upon contract execution and to end on June 30, 2025.

74) Question: The award/agreements for earlier grants has been anywhere from on-time to 6 months later, despite the advertised timeline. Has commerce planned to ensure they can get the agreements out on time?

Answer: While every effort will be made to ensure the timely execution of contracts, Commerce can make no guarantees and reserves the right to revise the estimated schedule of procurement activities.