Full NOFO 693JJ323NF00005 - Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities.pdf

U.S. Department of Transportation

Notice of Funding Opportunity Number 693JJ323NF00005

“Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities

Grant Program”

Issue Date: 4/27/2023

Application Due Date: 6/26/2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

SECTION A – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

SECTION D – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

SECTION E – APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

SECTION F – FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

SECTION G – FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

SECTION H – OTHER INFORMATION

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is using www.Grants.gov for issuance of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Applicants must register at Grants.gov under the NOFO number to receive notifications of updates/amendments to this NOFO. It is the Applicant’s responsibility to monitor the Grants.gov site for any updates/amendments to this NOFO.

This notice contains collection-of-information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction

Act. This information collection has been approved by Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) under 2125-0673. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, 424C, 424D, and SF-

LLL has been approved by OMB under 2105-0520. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection displays a currently valid OMB control number.

http://www.grants.gov/

Summary Information

Funding Opportunity

Summary:

Up to $160 million in Federal funding to provide grants to eligible entities to reduce idling and emissions at port facilities, including through the advancement of port electrification.

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Office of Operations

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Mail Drop: E86-205

Washington, DC 20590

Attn: Chip Millard

Funding Opportunity

Title:

Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant Program

Announcement Type: This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity. This is not a follow-on notice.

Funding Opportunity

Number:

693JJ323NF00005

Type of Award: Grant agreements

Assistance Listing

Number:

20.205 (Highway Planning and Construction)

Application Due Date: Submission Deadline: Applications Due by 6/26/2023 at 11:59

PM Eastern Time through www.Grants.gov

Questions: Submit Questions to: RTEPF@dot.gov mailto:RTEPF@dot.gov

Funding Opportunity Informational Webinar

The FHWA will host an informational session regarding this funding opportunity. This session will be conducted as a virtual forum and will focus on specific topics to help potential applicants gather additional information and ask specific questions.

Participation in this session is not mandatory to submit an application under this NOFO.

However, FHWA encourages potential applicants to take advantage of this opportunity to gather information regarding this specific funding opportunity.

INFORMATIONAL SESSION: Reduction of Truck Emission at Port Facilities (RTEPF)

Grant Program

SESSION: Virtual Webcast: Background and Application Information for the

Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant Program

DATE: TBD

TIME: 1:00 pm Eastern Time

INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION: To Be Determined

Note: The FHWA will also consider conducting additional virtual and/or in person workshops regarding the RTEPF Grant Program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For further information concerning this notice, please contact the RTEPF Grant Program staff via email at RTEPF@dot.gov. A Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) is available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 202-366-3993. In addition, FHWA will post answers to questions and requests for clarifications on FHWA’s Website at [INSERT WEBLINK OR

GRANTS.GOV AS APPLICABLE]. To ensure applicants receive accurate information about eligibility or the program, the applicant is encouraged to contact FHWA directly, rather than through intermediaries or third parties, with questions.

SECTION A – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Section 11402 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure

Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58, Nov. 15, 2021), established the RTEPF Grant Program to reduce idling at port facilities. Under the statute, the Secretary of Transportation shall 1) study how ports and intermodal port transfer facilities would benefit from increased opportunities to reduce emissions at ports, including through the electrification of port operations, 2) study emerging technologies and strategies that may help reduce port-related emissions from idling trucks, and 3) coordinate and provide funding to test, evaluate, and deploy projects that reduce port-related emissions from idling trucks, including through the advancement of port electrification and improvements in efficiency, focusing on port operations, including heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and other related projects.

The FHWA is hereby accepting applications to result in the award of new grants, under the

“Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant Program.” This NOFO will result in the distribution of up to $160 million, which represents the combined amounts authorized for this program for fiscal years 2022 and 2023. The actual amount available to be awarded under this notice will be subject to the availability of funds. The assistance listing number for this funding opportunity is 20.205, Highway Planning and Construction.

1. Statement of Purpose

The RTEPF Grant Program is a new discretionary grants program aimed at funding projects that reduce port-related emissions from idling trucks, including the advancement of port electrification and improvements in port operations efficiency.

2. Legislative Authority

Legislative authority for this program was established by Section 11402 of BIL. The BIL

Section 11101(b)(1)(F)(i) authorized $50 million in contract authority from the Highway Trust

Fund (HTF) for each Federal fiscal year (FY) from 2022 to 2026 to carry out the RTEPF Grant

Program, subject to the imposition of annual obligation limitation. Section 11101(b)(1)(F)(ii) states amounts made available under Section 11101(b)(1)(F)(i) shall be available for obligation in the same manner as if those amounts were apportioned under 23 United States Code (U.S.C.)

Chapter 1. Section 11402(b)(5) of BIL states that notwithstanding any other provision of law, any project funded by a grant under this subsection shall be treated as a project on a Federal-aid highway under Chapter 1 of Title 23, U.S.C.

In addition, BIL Division J, title VIII, Highway Infrastructure Program heading, paragraph (5) appropriates a total of $150 million in advanced appropriations from the General Fund in equal amounts for each of the FY 2022 through FY 2026, i.e., $30 million per fiscal year, to carry out the RTEPF Grant Program under Section 11402 of the BIL, subject to the administrative takedown of up to 1.5 percent of the amounts appropriated for operations and administration of

FHWA. Unless otherwise provided in Section 11402, the funds made available in Section (5) shall be administered as if apportioned under 23 U.S.C. Chapter 1.

3. Background

The RTEPF Grant Program is a new discretionary grants program aimed at funding projects that reduce emissions at ports, including through the advancement of port electrification.

4. Program Vision, Program Goals, and Administration Goals

Many port facilities and their neighboring communities experience poor air quality due to significant truck congestion and idling both inside and outside the port facility. In addition, many trucks that serve ports operate locally or regionally and do not make multiple day, over the road trips, providing opportunities for those trucks to use alternative fuels that have less extensive fueling infrastructures in place or require longer fueling periods. The RTEPF Grant

Program provides funding opportunities for ports to address truck emissions challenges at their facilities while also reducing the emissions’ impact on the ports’ neighboring communities.

Program Goal:

The primary goal of the RTEPF Grant Program as identified in BIL Section 11402(a)(1) is to coordinate and provide funding to test, evaluate, and deploy projects that reduce port-related emissions from idling trucks, including through the advancement of port electrification and improvements in efficiency, focusing on port operations, including heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and other related projects.

The program goal can be achieved through, though is not restricted to, one or more of the following means:

• Promoting development of port-related infrastructure that reduces emissions from port-related truck idling, including the electrification of port operations, which can include truck parking electrification;

• Promoting development of on-truck technologies that reduce emissions from port-related truck idling;

• Promoting use of zero or low emissions powertrains or fuels on trucks;

• Reducing truck congestion within or adjacent to ports, which can include promoting enhanced rail intermodal connections at ports; and

• Other improvements that reduce port-related emissions from idling trucks, including through the advancement of port electrification and improvements in efficiency focusing on port operations, including heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and other related projects.

Administration Goals:

Safety: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is committed to advancing safe, efficient transportation, including in the RTEPF Grant Program.

The National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS), issued January 27, 2022, commits the

Department to respond to the current crisis in roadway fatalities by “taking substantial, comprehensive action to significantly reduce serious and fatal injuries on the Nation’s roadways,” in pursuit of the goal of achieving zero roadway deaths through a Safe System

Approach.1 The outcomes that are anticipated from the projects funded by RTEPF Grant

Program should align with the NRSS.

Climate Change and Sustainability: The Department seeks to fund projects under the RTEPF

Grant Program that reduce greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant emissions in the transportation sector, incorporate evidence-based climate resilience measures and features, reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from the project materials, and avoid adverse environmental impacts to air or water quality, wetlands, and endangered species, and address the disproportionate negative environmental impacts of transportation on disadvantaged communities, consistent with

Executive Order (E.O.) 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (86 FR 7619).

Preference will be given to port projects located in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) designated non-attainment and maintenance areas for National Ambient Air Quality

Standards for at least one of the four transportation-related pollutants measured (carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and particulate matter). Applicants should quantify how their proposed projects will reduce emissions of one or more of the criteria pollutants and its precursors, decreasing the impact truck emissions at port facilities have on populations near the port.

Equity and Justice40: The Department seeks to award projects under the RTEPF Program that will create proportional impacts to all populations in a project area, remove transportation related disparities to all populations in a project area, and increase equitable access to project benefits, consistent with E.O. 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities

Through the Federal Government (86 FR 7009).

The Department also seeks to award projects that address equity and environmental justice, particularly for communities that have experienced decades of underinvestment and are most impacted by climate change, pollution, and environmental hazards, consistent with E.O. 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (86 FR 7619) and E.O. 14096, Revitalizing Our

Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All (88 FR 25251)2.

Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth Creation: The Department intends to use the RTEPF Grant Program to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and training and placement programs, especially registered apprenticeships, in project planning stages, consistent with E.O.

14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and E.O. 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). The Department also intends to use the RTEPF Grant Program to support wealth creation, consistent with the Department’s

Equity Action Plan (https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2022-

04/Equity_Action_Plan.pdf) through the inclusion of local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship such as the utilization of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, Minority-owned

Businesses, Women-owned Businesses, or 8(a) firms.

1 https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS

2 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/04/21/executive-order-on-revitalizing-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all/ https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/04/21/executive-order-on-revitalizing-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/04/21/executive-order-on-revitalizing-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all/

Section E of this NOFO, which outlines the FY 2022 and FY 2023 RTEPF Grant Program awards selection criteria, describes the process for selecting projects that further these goals.

Section F.3 describes progress and performance reporting requirements for selected projects, including the relationship between that reporting and the program’s selection criteria, and the

Administration’s goals as appropriate.

SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Award Amount Available

This NOFO will provide funding for both FY 2022 and FY 2023. A total of up to $160 million will be available to RTEPF Grant Program awards under this NOFO; up to $80 million from FY

2022 funding and up to $80 million from FY 2023 funding subject to the imposition of the annual obligation limitation and administrative take down discussed in Section A.2.

All FY 2022 funding awards are available for obligation through September 30, 2025, and all FY

2023 funding awards are available for obligation through September 30, 2026. The $30 million in FY 2022 Highway Infrastructure Program general funds from the U.S. Treasury must be expended by September 30, 2030. The $30 million in FY 2023 Highway Infrastructure

Programs general funds from the U.S. Treasury must be expended by September 30, 2031.

Funds authorized out of the HTF do not have an expenditure deadline.

*Please note that this NOFO is subject to availability of funding. The Government’s obligation under any resulting award is contingent upon the availability of funding. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise until funds are available and obligated to an award. The FHWA is not obligated to make any award as a result of this notice.

2. Award Size

There is no minimum or maximum award amount for FY 2022 and FY 2023 RTEPF Grant

Program awards.

3. Type of Award

The anticipated award(s) will be cost-reimbursable grant agreements.

4. Period of Performance

The total period of performance for the award(s) is anticipated to be between 1 and 4 years.

Note that RTEPF Grant Program advanced appropriations from the General Fund must be expended (the grant obligation must be liquidated or paid out to the grant recipient) at the end of the fifth fiscal year after the period of availability ends. After this date, unliquidated funds are no longer available to the project.

SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants for RTEPF Grant Program funds are entities that 1) have authority over, operate, or utilize port facilities and/or intermodal port transfer facilities, 2) have authority over areas within or adjacent to ports and intermodal port transfer facilities, or 3) will test and/or evaluate technologies that reduce truck emissions at port facilities and/or intermodal port transfer facilities.

Multiple eligible entities that submit a joint application should identify a lead applicant as the primary point of contact and recipient for purposes of financial administration of the project.

Joint applications should include a description of the roles and responsibilities of each applicant and should be signed by each applicant.

For both individual applications and joint applications, it is strongly encouraged that the applicant responsible for financial administration of the project be familiar with the requirements associated with managing Federal assistance projects.

2. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

Cost sharing or matching is required under a RTEPF Grant Program award. An RTEPF Grant

Program award shall not exceed 80 percent of the total cost of the project funded (BIL Section

11402(b)(2)). Hence, this NOFO requires a minimum non-Federal cost share of 20 percent.

Cost sharing or matching means the portion of project costs not paid by Federal funds. For a more complete definition, please see the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, including section 200.306 on Cost Sharing or matching. Other Federal funds using their appropriate matching share may be leveraged for selected projects but cannot be considered as part of the RTEPF matching funds unless otherwise supported by statute.

3. ELIGIBLE PROJECT LOCATIONS

Eligible project locations for deployment projects using RTEPF Grant Program funds include areas within or adjacent to ports and intermodal port transfer facilities. Testing and evaluation projects can be conducted anywhere but must be focused on reducing truck emissions within or adjacent to ports and/or intermodal port transfer facilities. Intermodal port transfer facilities are facilities that handle the transfer of freight shipments between two or more modes of transportation. The goods are transported via shipping containers, truck trailers, or as bulk cargo, and are transferred between marine vessels and trucks, marine vessels and rail cars, or rail cars and trucks.

SECTION D – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

Applicants may obtain application forms on Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov under the

NOFO Number cited herein.

Once at Grants.gov, select the Search Grants tab. Then enter one of the following:

• Opportunity Number: 693JJ323NF00005

• Opportunity Name: Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant Program

• Assistance Listing Number: 20.205

When at one of these pages, select the Opportunity, which will open to a page with several tabs.

The first tab is a synopsis of the opportunity. Select the Application Package tab to download the forms needed to submit an FY 2022 and FY 2023 RTEPF Grant Program application. The applicant must complete and submit all forms included in the application package for this notice as contained at www.Grants.gov.

Should applicants have any difficulties in accessing any standard forms and require paper copies, please contact Ryan Buck by either of the means below:

Ryan Buck

Phone: 202-366-4229

Email: Ryan.Buck@dot.gov

For a TDD, please call (202) 366-3993.

2. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Content and Form of Applications

Applicants shall submit an application that includes the following information:

1. Volume 1: Technical Application;

2. Volume 2: Budget Application, including the Standard Form (SF) 424 (Application for

Federal Assistance); SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Projects) or

SF-424C (Budget Information for Construction Projects); SF-424B (Assurances for Non-

Construction Projects) or SF-424D (Assurances for Construction Projects), only if required (see details below in Volume 2 Section I); and SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying

Activities).

A more detailed description of the technical application and budget application submission elements is shown below:

mailto:Ryan.Buck@dot.gov

Table D.2 – Application Volumes

Volume Section Individual

Page Limits Overall Page Limits

Volume 1.

Technical

Application

I – Cover Page and Table of Contents No page limit

II - Project Narrative

One (1) file, 30-page limit III – Management

Structure

IV – Staffing Description 5-page limit

Appendix – Résumés

4-page limit on individual résumés

One (1) file, no overall page limit

Exhibits and attachments in support of Sections II-

IV

One (1) file, 30-page limit

Volume 2. Budget

Application

I – Application Standard

Forms

Separate files, no page limit

II – Summary Budget

Narrative

One (1) file, no page limit

III – Cost Share

Information (including letters of commitment)

IV – Other Federal

Funding Received or

Requested

V – Organizational

Information

For the submitted application package, FHWA suggests that pictures, graphics, and other large files be reduced in number and quality to keep the size of the application files manageable and in line with the Grants.gov suggested maximum size of 200 megabytes for the entire grant application package.

The FHWA recommends that applicants use a file naming format of: “[Applicant organization]-

2023-RTEPF” where “Applicant organization” reflects the applicant’s legal name, abbreviated as appropriate. If necessary, the workspace title can be edited per the instructions on Grants.gov.

Sharing of Application Information

The Department may share application information within the Department or with other Federal agencies if the Department determines that sharing is relevant to the respective program’s objectives.

VOLUME 1 – TECHNICAL APPLICATION

a) Section I - Cover Page and Table of Contents

Cover Page including the following Table:

Project Name

Eligible Entity Applying to Receive Federal Funding

Total Project Cost (from all sources) $

Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant

Program funding request (Federal share)

Are matching funds restricted to a specific project component? If so, which one?

Yes/No

State(s) in which the project is located

Is the project currently programmed in the:

• Transportation Improvement Program

• Statewide Transportation Improvement Program

• Metropolitan Planning Organization Long Range

Transportation Plan

• State Long Range Transportation Plan

• State Freight Plan

Yes/No – please specify in which plans the project is currently programmed

Methods used to reduce truck emissions (briefly describe)

Include a table of contents for Volume I Technical Application.

b) Section II - Project Narrative

The Project Narrative must include all the necessary information required for FHWA to determine that the project satisfies the RTEPF Grant Program requirements described in Sections

A, B, and C of this NOFO, and for FHWA to evaluate the project in relation to the selection criteria specified in Section E.1 of this NOFO. To the extent practicable, applicants should provide data and evidence of project merits in a form that is verifiable or publicly available. The

FHWA expects applications to be complete upon submission.

The FHWA recommends that the Project Narrative, at a minimum, provide the information listed below. Include any appropriate exhibits or attachments that will aid in the review and assessment of the application. All exhibits and attachments must clearly identify what technical area of the project narrative the document supports. See Section D.2(g) for information on the page limit applicable to exhibits and attachments.

1. A short (50-70 words) summary of the proposed project at the beginning of the Project

Narrative section and a table or other summary that clearly identifies which of the program and administration goals in section A.4 of this NOFO will be addressed by the proposed project (see below for additional program and administration goals details and an example table format).

2. An introduction that provides a clear, concise description of the project and the proposed reducing truck emissions initiatives, including greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts and/or criteria pollutant emissions reduction efforts.

3. For a proposed deployment project, a description of the port and geographic area or jurisdiction the deployment will service, including whether the port is in an EPA designated non-attainment or maintenance area for air quality.

4. A description of the real-world issues and challenges to be addressed by the reducing truck emissions initiative. Applicants must discuss how the proposed truck emission reduction efforts address the Program Goal listed in section A.4 of this NOFO.

5. A discussion of how the proposed project addresses the Administration Goals listed in

Section A.4 of this NOFO:

a) Safety: Applicants must address how their project provides substantial safety benefits. Prior to receiving funds, all projects are expected to, at a minimum, identify and mitigate to the extent practicable any significant safety risks that could result after the project completion. Applicants should include how their project will not negatively impact the overall safety of the traveling public.

b) Climate Change and Sustainability: Applicants must address how the project will consider climate change and environmental justice in the planning stage and in project delivery. In particular, applicants must address how the project reduces greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, incorporates evidence-based climate resilience measures and features, and reduces the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from the project materials. Applicants also must address the extent to which the project avoids adverse environmental impacts to air or water quality, wetlands, and endangered species, as well as address disproportionate negative impacts of climate change and pollution on disadvantaged communities.

c) Equity and Justice40: Applicants must address how their project will include an equity assessment that evaluates whether a project will create proportional impacts and remove transportation related disparities to all populations in a project area. Applicants should demonstrate how meaningful public engagement will occur throughout a project’s life cycle. Applicants should address how project benefits will connect Americans to good-paying jobs, fight climate change, and/or improve access to resources and quality of life. Applicants should use the interactive Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, created by the

Council on Environmental Quality, as the primary tool to identify disadvantaged communities that will benefit from the project.3 Although not required, applicants may and are encouraged to use DOT’s Transportation Disadvantaged Census tool

(https://usdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/d6f90dfcc8b44525b04c7ce748a3

674a) for further prioritizing or demonstrating benefits within the list of these communities, to highlight particularly transportation-disadvantaged census tracts

(see also more information on the Justice40 Initiative). Projects should demonstrate, to the extent possible, that outcomes should target at least 40 percent of benefits towards low-income communities, disadvantaged communities, communities underserved by affordable transportation, or overburdened communities.

3 See Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, Version 1.0 (Nov. 22, 2022), https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5.

https://www.transportation.gov/equity-Justice40 https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5

d) Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth Creation: Applicants must address how their project will create good-paying jobs with free and fair choice to join a union; and change hiring policies and workplace cultures to promote the entry and retention of underrepresented populations. Applicants should address how the project promotes local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship such as the utilization of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises

(DBE), Minority-owned Businesses, Women-owned Businesses, or 8(a) firms.

6. A description of transportation systems and services to be included in the project. Please note operational improvements eligible to receive Federal funding for implementation are defined in 23 U.S.C. 101(a)(19).

7. A detailed statement of work.

8. A deployment plan that includes providing long-term operation and maintenance of truck emissions reduction and/or congestion reduction technologies after the RTEPF Grant

Program funded project is completed to achieve implementation goals.

9. A description of any challenges in the regulatory, legislative, or institutional environments or other obstacles to deployment. This should include, as applicable:

a) A discussion of how the proposed project can comply with the Buy America Act.

(See Sections E.1 and F.2.P.2 of this NOFO, 23 U.S.C. 313, and 23 CFR 635.410)

b) A discussion of how the proposed project will comply with Federal Motor

Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations

(FMCSR) and if your plan includes applying for any necessary exemptions (See

Section E.1 of this NOFO).

c) A discussion of how the proposed project will comply with the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (See Section E.1 of this NOFO).

10. A data collection plan that provides an overview of data that may be obtained or created through the project. Projects focused on testing or evaluating emissions reduction technologies shall also include in their preliminary data collection plan overview information that specifies how the emissions testing efforts will be measured and tracked.

Please note RTEPF Grant Program funding recipients should include applicable data collection plan information in their initial Data Management Plan.

11. A description of quantifiable truck emissions reductions improvements, including electrification, related to:

a) developing port-related infrastructure;

b) developing on-truck technologies;

c) using zero or low emissions powertrains or fuels;

d) reducing truck congestion within or adjacent to ports, which can include promoting enhanced rail intermodal connections at ports; and

e) other improvements that reduce port-related emissions from idling trucks, including through the advancement of port electrification and improvements in efficiency; focus on port operations, including heavy-duty commercial vehicles;

and other related projects.

12. A description of how the application meets the merit selection criteria in section E.1 of this NOFO.

13. The applicant’s and/or port’s vision, goals, and objectives for reducing truck emissions at ports, including quantifying how the decreased emissions as a result of the project will reduce negative impacts on populations near the port and any future related deployments and activities to address the identified issues and challenges.

14. The applicant’s past initiatives, if applicable, and current plan to contact and coordinate with communities, including Tribal communities, adjacent to or near the port facility regarding the planned project testing, evaluation, and/or deployment to reduce truck emissions at the port facility to ensure those communities experience benefit from and support the proposed project(s). Applicants are encouraged to submit documentation of support for proposed projects from neighboring communities.

15. A plan to leverage and optimize existing local and regional truck and transportation emissions reduction initiatives.

16. Quantifiable safety or mobility benefit projections such as data-driven estimates of how the project will improve mobility for people and goods.

17. A detailed schedule for conducting the truck emissions reduction implementation and for completion of all proposed deliverables, to include achievable timeframes for successful execution of project milestones. The following format may be used to this information.

The schedule shall include at a minimum the following items.

Deliverable Approximate Due

Date

Section 508

Compliant?

Preliminary Kick-off Meeting

Conduct a preliminary kick-off meeting with FHWA at a mutually-agreed-upon location.

Within 6 weeks after the announcement of project selection.

No

Draft Grant Agreement

The FHWA will provide a template for the grant agreement, which will be completed by the applicant.

The grant agreement shall include a Project

Management Plan. The Project Management Plan, shall include, at a minimum:

a) A Statement of Work, with a description of

Tasks and Sub-Tasks by which the project work activities will be organized, executed, and monitored;

b) A Project Schedule (Gantt Chart or equivalent) displaying begin and end times for each Task and Sub-Task, plus achievement of Project Milestones;

c) A description of major Project Milestones, including key Reports, the start of operations of important systems or subsystems, and other important deliverables or events;

d) A Risk Management Plan, which includes:

identification and assessment and of all known risks, assignment of risk roles and

Within 45 days after the preliminary kickoff meeting responsibilities, processes for monitoring and controlling risks, and a risk registry;

e) A Staffing Table, which identifies a single

Project Manager, plus project staff and/or consultants that will lead and support each

Task (or Sub-Task if appropriate); and

f) A Project Budget, displaying planned expenditures for each Task, with a further breakdown by Cost Element for each Task, and by the Federal share vs. non-Federal share.

Fully Executed Grant Agreement Within 6 weeks after completion of the draft agreement.

Kick-off Meeting

Conduct a kick-off meeting with FHWA at a mutually-agreed-upon location.

Within 4 weeks after the execution of the grant agreement.

Quarterly Progress Reports & Meetings

Submit progress reports to document activities performed, anticipated activities, and any changes to the schedule or anticipated issues.

Quarterly No

Federal Financial Reports (SF-425)

Submit financial reports to document federal funds spent on the project.

Quarterly No

Systems Engineering Documents

For any intelligent transportation systems construction projects awarded under this program, in accordance with 23 CFR 940.11, the recipient shall submit electronic copies of the Milestone Systems

Engineering documents applicable to this project for approval by FHWA. This shall include, at a minimum:

a) Systems Engineering Review Form

b) Concept of Operations

c) Systems Engineering Management Plan.

As applicable No

Project Evaluation Plan

The recipient shall submit to FHWA for approval a

Project Evaluation Plan, which shall include, at a minimum:

a) Statement of Project Objectives;

b) List of Evaluation Criteria (e.g., quantitative performance metrics and/or qualitative assessments) tailored to the Project

Objectives;

c) Description of Data-Collection procedures tailored to these criteria, which could include, for example, before/after data, surveys, interviews, system-monitoring data, or other data needed to report on achievement of project objectives.

d) Outline of Evaluation Report (1-page, draft list of topics to be addressed).

Within 45 days after agreement execution

Data Management Plan (DMP)

The recipient shall submit to FHWA for approval a DMP based on their application’s data collection plan that provides a preliminary overview of data that may be collected or created through the project. The DMP shall include at a minimum:

a) Data description

b) Data access policies

c) Data storage and retention approach

Projects focused on testing or evaluating emissions reduction technologies shall also include in their DMP a preliminary data overview that specifies how the emissions testing efforts will be measured and tracked.

The recipient shall then update the DMP throughout the project with more details on the data that is collected or created, including information on data rights and standards.

Additional information on DMPs can be found at:

https://ntl.bts.gov/ntl/public-access/creating-data-management-plans-extramural-research.

Within 90 days after the Effective Date, to be updated throughout the project.

No https://ntl.bts.gov/ntl/public-access/creating-data-management-plans-extramural-research https://ntl.bts.gov/ntl/public-access/creating-data-management-plans-extramural-research

NOTE: Section 508 requirements are included in the General Terms and Conditions available online at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/aaa/generaltermsconditions.cfm. Section 508 information can also be found at the following link: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/508.

The following format may be used to convey how the program goals and Administration goals outlined in Section A will be implemented or addressed by the application:

Report to the FHWA Administrator – submit a report describing the deployment and operational costs compared to the benefits, savings, and how the project has met the original expectations projected in the deployment plan.

Annually beginning 1 year after the execution of the grant agreement.

Yes

Annual Budget Review and Program Plan

Reporting

Submit the Annual Budget Review and Program

Plan Report. The report should describe:

(1) Overview and schedule of tasks, activities, milestones, and deliverables for the upcoming year, to include:

• the latest deliverables table or project management schedule; and

• a discussion of whether the current approved

Technical Application attached to the award needs to be updated. If an update is warranted, propose the updates.

(2) Overview and forecast budget for the upcoming year, including a discussion of whether the current approved Budget Application attached to the award needs to be updated. If an update is warranted, propose the updates.

60 days prior to the anniversary date of the project selection being announced.

Final Report

The recipient shall provide a final report within 90 days after the termination or expiration of this agreement. The FHWA Agreement Officer

Representative (AOR), in consultation with the recipient, will determine the final design and scope of the evaluation and report. Submit an electronic copy of all reports to the RTEPF Grant Program mailbox at RTEPF@dot.gov.

Within 90 days after the termination or expiration of this agreement.

Yes

(Additional deliverables to be identified in separate rows by the applicant) http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/aaa/generaltermsconditions.cfm https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/508

Means to Achieve RTEPF Grant Program Goal

Implemented/Addressed by

Application

(Check all that apply)

1. Promoting development of port-related infrastructure that reduces emissions from port-related truck idling, including the electrification of port operations, which can include truck parking electrification

2. Promoting development of on-truck technologies that reduces emissions from port-related truck idling

3. Promoting use of zero or low emissions powertrains or fuels on trucks

4. Reducing truck congestion within or adjacent to ports, which can include promoting enhanced rail intermodal connections at ports

5. Other improvements that reduce port-related emissions from idling trucks, including through the advancement of port electrification and improvements in efficiency, focusing on port operations, including heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and other related projects.

Administration Goals

Implemented/Addressed by

Application

(Check all that apply)

1. Safety

2. Climate Change and Sustainability

3. Equity and Justice40

4. Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth

Creation

c) Section III – Management Structure

The applicant shall provide a description of the proposed management structure that will oversee the implementation of the project and administer the agreement. The applicant shall include the following information:

1. A description of the applicant’s organization that will be designated as the recipient entering the agreement (i.e., receiving Federal funding) with FHWA, including:

a. If a project is managed by multiple organizations, the other member organizations of any partnership or entity proposed to carry out the deployment; and

b. An explanation of how the entity will manage the program, including management of project funding.

2. As appropriate, a plan for partnering with the private sector or public agencies, including multimodal and multijurisdictional entities, research institutions, organizations representing transportation and technology leaders, or other transportation stakeholders.

3. Designation of all proposed subrecipients and their role in delivering the project. See 2

CFR § 200.1 for the definition of subrecipient and distinction between a subrecipient and a contractor for the purpose of Federal financial assistance.

4. A diagram or chart depicting the organizational structure of the project team.

Organizations that are proposed subrecipients or contractors should be clearly identified.

Note: A multijurisdictional entity is any combination of eligible entities in which each member of the group has signed a written agreement to implement the RTEPF Grant Program across jurisdictional boundaries.

d) Section IV – Staffing Description

Applicants shall provide a staffing description that includes the following information:

1. A description of the organization of staffing to manage and conduct the project, including identification of key personnel across all participating organizations, including their organization, role, and responsibility. Applicants shall describe key personnel’s past or current experience managing federally funded grants. Applicants shall also designate no more than five key personnel. Finally, applicants shall identify the expected level of involvement for each designated key personnel (e.g., percent of work time to be committed to the project during the period of performance) by task or milestone.

2. A primary point of contact (POC) and complete contact information for this individual.

e) Appendix - Résumés for Key Personnel

Résumés: Applicants shall provide résumés for all designated key personnel. See Section

D.2(g) for information on the page limit applicable to résumés.

f) Formatting

The FHWA recommends that Volume 1 be prepared with standard formatting preferences: a single-spaced document, using a standard 12-point font such as Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins on 8.5 by 11-inch paper. (Applications may include appropriately sized pages for conveying detailed information important for the technical review, such as maps.) All application pages shall be consecutively numbered.

g) Page Limitations

Section I has no page limit. Sections II, III, and IV shall not exceed 30 pages in total length.

Section IV Staffing Description shall not exceed 5 pages in length (inclusive of the 30-page limitation). There is no overall page limitation for the Appendix (résumés of key personnel);

however, individual resumes shall not exceed four pages in length and shall only contain experience relevant to the subject matter of this NOFO.

Exhibits and attachments shall not exceed 30 pages in length and shall be limited to documents that support the assertions or conclusions made in the 30-page limitation of Sections II through

IV.

Material that exceeds the page limits will not be evaluated.

VOLUME 2 – BUDGET APPLICATION

a) Section I – Application Standard Forms (SFs)

Volume 2 of the application should be submitted in a PDF format and must include: Standard

Form 424 (Application for Federal Assistance), either Standard Form 424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs) or Standard Form 424C (Budget Information for Construction

Programs), and SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities). Either Standard Form 424B

(Assurances for Non-Construction Programs) or Standard Form 424D (Assurances for

Construction Programs) is required if the applicant does not have an updated SAM.gov registration as of 02/01/2019. Standard Forms (SF) are available online at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

On the SF-424, the information in block 8a (Applicant’s “Legal Name”) must be the same as entered for registration in www.SAM.gov and for the Applicant’s System for Award

Management (SAM) Universal Entity Identifier (UEI) number. The title for an applicant’s workspace on www.Grants.gov is limited to 240 characters and may be different from the SAM

UEI.

For non-construction project applications under this NOFO, the breakdown of the applicable sections of SF-424A is:

• Section A: Since this is an initial application, only columns (a) through (d) and (g) need to be completed. The applicant should enter the proposed project as one program or function; however, as an option, the applicant may subdivide this entry into partial programs (e.g., Phase I and Phase II).

• Section B is a summary of the entire project budget across all years.

• Section C is the source of the non-Federal matching share.

• Section D is the forecasted funding needs for year 1.

• Section E is the forecasted funding needs for years 2 and after (i.e., does not include the first year’s funding).

b) Section II - Summary Budget Narrative

The applicant shall provide a summary budget narrative that describes all of the planned project costs (i.e., direct labor, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual, construction, & other) and how these planned costs are connected to the project scope. The summary budget narrative must be sufficiently clear, concise, and detailed to describe how funds will be spent under the project.

The applicant shall also provide a summary budget table that provides estimated costs across project components or tasks, and across all years of the project. The summary budget table should represent the total cost of the project, inclusive of both the Federal share and the required matching non-Federal cost share. An example of a summary level budget table is provided below:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html http://www.sam.gov/

Table 2. Example of Summary Budget Table

c) Section III - Cost Share Information

The applicant shall provide evidence that funding has been identified for the project that will cover the 20 percent non-Federal cost-share requirement. The applicant shall include letters of commitment from organizations that will provide a portion of the cost-share and identify the source of those funds (e.g., general treasury funds, revolving loan fund, capital budget, in-kind labor, in-kind equipment, etc.).

Note: The maximum amount of funding requested from the RTEPF Grant Program cannot exceed 80 percent of the total cost of the activities proposed to be funded. The amount that will be awarded to each successful applicant will depend on the number of awards, any reduction in available RTEPF Grant Program funds due to the imposition of the Federal-aid highways obligation limitation, and the amount reserved for FHWA administrative expenses. Selection of an application to receive grant funding in one fiscal year is not a commitment to any future funding. Applications will be solicited annually for competitively selecting grant recipients for that funding year.

d) Section IV – Grant Funds, Sources, and Uses of Project Funds

Project budgets should show how different funding sources will share in each activity and present those data in dollars and percentages. The budget should identify other Federal funds the applicant is applying for or has been awarded, if any, that the applicant intends to use. Funding sources should be grouped into three categories: non-Federal, RTEPF Grant Program, and other

Federal with specific amounts from each funding source.

e) Section V - Organizational Information

Provide the following organizational information:

1. Identify any exceptions to the anticipated award terms and conditions as contained in

Section F, Federal Award Administration Information. Identify any preexisting intellectual property that you anticipate using during award performance and your position on its data rights during and after the award period of performance.

Year 1 Costs Year 2 Costs Year 3 Costs Year 4 Costs

Description of Project

Component or Task

Total Federal Share =

Total Non-Federal Share =

2. Effective April 4, 2022, the use of a SAM UEI is required on all applications for Federal grants or cooperative agreements. Please provide your organization’s SAM UEI number in your budget application.

3. A statement to indicate whether your organization has previously completed an A-133

Single Audit and if so, the date that the last A-133 Single Audit was completed.

4. A statement regarding conflicts of interest. The applicant must disclose in writing any actual or potential personal or organizational conflict of interest in its application that describes in a concise manner all past, present, or planned organizational, contractual, or other interest(s), which may affect the applicants' ability to perform the proposed project in an impartial and objective manner. Actual or potential conflicts of interest may include but are not limited to any past, present, or planned contractual, financial, or other relationships, obligations, commitments, or responsibilities, which may bias the applicant or affect the applicant’s ability to perform the agreement in an impartial and objective manner. The Agreement Officer (AO) will review the statement(s) and may require additional relevant information from the applicant. All such information, and any other relevant information known to FHWA, will be used to determine whether an award to the applicant may create an actual or potential conflict of interest. If any such conflict of interest is found to exist, the AO may (a) disqualify the applicant, or (b) determine that it is otherwise in the best interest of the United States to enter into an agreement with the applicant and include appropriate provisions to mitigate or avoid such conflicts in the agreement pursuant to 2 CFR 200.112.

5. A statement to indicate whether a Federal or State organization…