MVP 02 RFR.pdf

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

Rebecca Tepper, Secretary

Grant Announcement

Project # FY27CLIM0036

COMMBUYS Bid # BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-134963

Request for Responses (RFR) ENV 27 MVP 02

Dated: November 2, 2026

MUNICIPAL VULNERABILITY PREPAREDNESS GRANT PROGRAM (MVP) FY27

MVP PLANNING 2.0

Application Deadline: Friday, December 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET via the EEA Grants Management System: greenhub.mass.gov

Table of Contents:

1. Grant Opportunity Summary, Performance, and Contract Specifications

2. Instructions for Application Submission

3. BID/RFR Deadlines and Procurement Calendar

4. Additional Details and Attachments

a. Application Form

b. Communities Required to Apply for MVP 2.0 to be Eligible for FY28 MVP Action

Grant Opportunity

c. MVP 2.0 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

d. MVP Regional Coordinator Contacts (Map)

e. Request for Modified Scope or Designation as an MVP 2.0 Community Based on

Prior Work

1. Grant Opportunity Summary, Performance, and Contract Specifications

A. OVERVIEW: Applications sought from eligible entities (see eligibility section part C below) to complete the two-year MVP Planning 2.0 (“MVP 2.0”) process.

The MVP 2.0 program expands on the climate resilience planning and action communities have done to date and supports communities with new methods, tools, and resources for building climate resilience. In particular, the grant will support the municipality or Tribe in revisiting their community resilience priorities with a focus on https://massgov.sharepoint.com/sites/EEA-O365/EEA/WorkSpace/Municipal_Vulnerability_Preparedness_Program/Shared%20Documents/grants_admin/RFRs/FY27%20RFRs/MVP%202.0/greenhub.mass.gov equity and translating those priorities into action through project development support and implementation. The MVP 2.0 program does this through:

• Convening a community team to do equitable climate resilience work;

• Providing training on strategies for building climate resilience, equity, and climate justice;

• Revisiting climate resilience priorities with the involvement of the wider community and a stronger assessment of social vulnerability and resilience;

• Helping the municipality and community to co-develop and implement a project that builds community resilience, with guaranteed funding for implementation;

and

• Providing a process that can be replicated for future MVP Action Grants.

A web tool called “Guides for Equitable and Actionable Resilience” was created for this process to support communities in climate data exploration and action brainstorming.

The MVP program supports Executive Order 569, “Establishing an Integrated Climate Change Strategy for the Commonwealth,” and Chapter 209 of the Acts of 2018, “An Act Promoting Climate Change Adaptation, Environmental and Natural Resource Protection, and Investments in Recreational Assets and Opportunities.”

B. PROCESS OVERVIEW AND GOALS: Those selected for a grant award will complete the MVP

2.0 process by following the steps and guidance in the MVP 2.0 Process Guide:

https://resilientma.mass.gov/gear https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-569-establishing-an-integrated-climate-change-strategy-for-the-commonwealth https://malegislature.gov/laws/sessionlaws/acts/2018/chapter209 https://www.mass.gov/doc/mvp-20-process-guide/download

Step 1: Starting to Build Your Core Team Months 1 & 2

• Meet with MVP assigned Equity Partner to get ready for the process and start recruiting other municipal members of the Core Team.

• Follow local procurement processes to hire a vendor or vendor team to support the community in completing the planning steps of the MVP 2.0 process. This planning vendor should have expertise in equity-centered project facilitation, community-driven processes, and climate and community resilience.

Step 2: Identifying Lived Expertise Month 3

• Dig deeper into understanding who lives and works in the community and who will likely be disproportionately affected by climate change.

• Identify perspectives and lived experience within the community that will be important to include in your Core Team.

Step 3: Recruiting the Rest of Your Core Team Months 4 & 5

• Build out the Core Team by recruiting community liaisons to join the team to lead equitable climate resilience work in the community. Community Liaisons are community members from and/or with strong relationships with those who will likely be disproportionately affected by climate change. Community Liaisons will be compensated for their time through the grant funding and play an important role in making sure the insight, needs, and priorities of those most impacted by climate change inform decisions throughout the process.

• Onboard the Community Liaisons.

Step 4: Kicking Off Collaboration Month 6

• Watch a series of kickoff videos to learn about the process.

• Participate in activities and discussions as a Core Team to get-to-know each other and to build skills for working together.

Step 5: Uncovering Social Resilience Months 6, 7, & 8

• Build understanding of the root causes of social vulnerability and how it relates to climate equity.

• Identify factors that contribute to vulnerability and resilience for people who live and work in the community and region.

• Learn about inclusive community engagement.

• Practice what you learn by engaging with community members and learning about community needs and priorities.

Step 6: Revisiting Resilience Priorities Months 9 & 10

• Review and update climate resilience priorities based on wider community input about factors that influence vulnerability and resilience for people in the community.

• Vet those updated priorities with community members to create shared understanding, transparency, and accountability around community resilience priorities.

Step 7: Selecting a Seed Project Month 11

• Collaborate on the development of a project that will jump-start or advance the community resilience priorities; this project will receive $50,000 in grant funding, should be able to be completed in 9-10 months and should not require much if any permitting or regulatory approval.

• Vet the project with community members, to ensure those who will be most impacted by climate change inform decisions related to the project.

Step 8: Developing Seed Project Implementation Plan Month 12

• Learn about ways to measure and monitor the equity impacts of projects.

• Collaborate on the development of an implementation plan for your Seed Project that will help translate the idea into action.

• Apply a process that can be replicated for future Action Grants.

Step 9: Implementing the Seed Project Month 13 to 22

• Follow local procurement processes to hire a vendor or vendor team to support Seed Project implementation.

• Implement a Seed Project that will set the groundwork for future Action Grants and/or contribute to building community resilience in your community or region.

Step 10: Reflecting, Adjusting, and Next Steps Month 23

• Reflect on the process in order to evolve and improve it for future resilience building efforts.

Any additions, deletions or other changes to the scope outlined in the MVP 2.0 Process Guide must be approved by EEA prior to commencement of such activities.

As outlined in the MVP 2.0 Process Guide, all grantees will be required to submit deliverables and have check in communications with their MVP Regional Coordinator at various points in the process.

In certain cases, MVP staff may have approved a community for a modified scope based on prior work conducted in line with this grant opportunity. Communities who have already been approved by MVP staff for a modified scope should indicate that in the application. Those who wish to request a modified scope based on prior work conducted in line with this grant opportunity at this time may do so by filling out Attachment E and summitting it via the EEA Grants Management System. The award amount will be adjusted for any community approved for a modified scope based on the effort needed to complete that scope.

Other communities may have been approved to be designated as an MVP 2.0 community based on prior work after submitting necessary paperwork outlined by MVP staff. Those communities do not need to apply to MVP 2.0 and remain eligible for action grants. Those who wish to request designation based on prior work may fill out Attachment E and summit via the EEA Grants Management System along with an application. MVP staff will review and either award designation or recommend the community implement a complete or modified scope of MVP 2.0.

C. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: Applications sought from Massachusetts municipalities,1 Tribal Governments, and political subdivisions (e.g., Regional Planning Agencies) applying on behalf of a municipality or municipalities to complete the two-year MVP 2.0 process during the FY26 round.

First priority of grant awards under this RFR will go to:

1 And Devens.

• Communities who completed the original MVP planning grant process with plans from that process dated Jan – May 2019 . These communities are listed in Attachment B.

These communities must apply to this grant opportunity to be eligible to apply for FY27 (and future) MVP Action Grants, unless they are currently participating in MVP 2.0 or have applied and been notified by MVP staff that they can opt out based on prior work that fulfills the MVP 2.0 requirements. Those approved for a modified scope must still apply but will be able to indicate that they were approved for a modified scope on the application.

Please note that communities will receive priority for an MVP 2.0 grant in the round they are assigned. If your community decides not to apply this round, you will not get this priority and may need to wait several rounds to complete the 2.0 process and be eligible for Action Grants.

Tribal Governments or municipalities who do not have an MVP- approved climate resilience plan will also be prioritized in this funding round.

Other communities may apply with the understanding that the above will have highest priority.

Municipalities are encouraged to apply to MVP 2.0 as a region (i.e., 2 or more municipalities applying and completing this process together). Up to six communities may apply together, with exceptions at EEA’s discretion. Regional projects will receive more grant funding than individual projects due to the larger geographic scope and additional partners.

Regional projects can be managed in two ways. One of the municipal governments in the group can apply for and administer the grant on behalf of the other communities.

Alternatively, an MVP-eligible political subdivision (e.g., Regional Planning Agency) can apply and administer the grant on behalf of a group of municipalities (with their support and commitment to undertaking the process).

Applications require a letter of endorsement from a chief official of every community participating in the MVP 2.0 process.

D. APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, December 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET via the EEA Grants Management System: greenhub.mass.gov

E. FUNDING & ANTICIPATED DURATION OF CONTRACT: Funding amounts for each community or regional group is anticipated $50,0002 for Steps 1-8 and 10 and $50,000 per community for Step 9 (implementing the seed project). Exceptions may be made at EEA’s discretion and will be adjusted for any modified scope awards. This is expected to be a two-year grant. Funding for Steps 1-8 and 10 is expected to be awarded as an up-front payment upon contract execution. The funding for Step 9 is expected to be released after the seed project selection framework is reviewed and approved by the MVP Regional Coordinator. All funds must be placed in a non-interest bearing account.

Funding must be used to cover the scope and steps outlined in the MVP 2.0 Process Guide. Costs eligible for funding include all approved project costs incurred on or after a selected Applicant’s contract execution date and on or before June 30, 2029 (unless an extension is requested and granted). Failure to produce the required deliverables and documentation of spent funds by the contract deadline will result in a return of the money to the state by fiscal year end.

2 Regional projects will receive a bit more grant funding for Steps 1-8 and 10 due to the larger geographic scope and additional partners.

What circumstances work well for regional projects?

• Applying to conduct the MVP 2.0 process as a region works well when communities share similar resilience concerns or goals. For example, two (or more) communities that experience flooding from the same river may want to collaborate to work on flood management at a regional scale.

• Applying as a region may also work well for neighboring communities that share cultural or linguistic communities, or whose local community-based organizations serve populations across both towns. For example, two adjacent towns may have a large population of individuals from a specific ethnic background, many of whom know each other and frequent the same community spaces across the two towns.

• Some communities may also find that applying as a region is a way to help share capacity.

Communities that don’t have many (or any) organized community-based organizations may find that they are reaching out to the same regional organizations or community leaders as their neighbors in order to identify local community liaisons, particularly if those organizations serve a broader region. In this case, municipalities may want to collaborate and lead outreach with a group of regional liaisons.

All contracts are subject to available funding, whether through the appropriation or capital planning process. If available funding ceases for any reason, a contract shall be deemed under suspension and contract performance must halt. A grantee will not be entitled to compensation for any performance provided during the period of contract suspension. EEA may lift the suspension if available funding is received. In the absence of foreseeable available funding, EEA may terminate the contract.

Please note that EEA does not guarantee that any contracts may result from this BID/RFR or that any particular funding level will be awarded.

F. EXTENSIONS AND SCOPE CHANGES: Extensions to the contract deadline must be requested at least two months in advance of the contract end date. Any extensions granted will not necessarily change, or increase, the monetary value of the contract.

Any additions, deletions, or other changes to the scope must be approved in writing by EEA prior to commencement of such activities.

G. MATCH: There is no formal match requirement for this MVP 2.0 grant, but applicants should commit sufficient time to assure completion of the steps and goals of the MVP

2.0 process. The estimated number of hours the project manager and other municipal Core Team members will need to dedicate over the two-year grant is 105 hours and 85 hours, respectively, for Steps 1-8 and Step 10, with additional hours to manage the Seed Project in Step 9. Time provided by the grantee will include the following activities:

• Complete a contract with the Commonwealth and maintain all necessary reporting;

• Procure a planning vendor based on the provided vendor qualifications;

• Recruit municipal staff to participate in the Core Team;

• Work with an EEA-procured and assigned Equity Partner to ensure equity and

Environmental Justice is central to the process;

• Complete Part A of the Social Resilience Roadmap to identify perspectives and lived experience within your community that will be important to include in your Core Team (Step 2);

• Recruit community liaisons with strong connections to Environmental Justice and other priority populations in your community to the Core Team (Step 3);

• Participate in kickoff and orientation for the Core Team (Step 4);

• Learn about the root causes of social vulnerability and inclusive engagement; work with community liaisons on your Core Team to lead inclusive and equitable community outreach and engagement activities to gather insight on sources of vulnerability and resilience in the community and complete Part B of the Social Resilience Roadmap (Step 5);

• Participate in discussions with your Core Team to revisit and update your community resilience priorities; vet the updated priorities with the community (Step 6);

• Participate in discussions with your Core Team to identify a Seed Project idea; vet the Seed Project idea with the community (Step 7);

• Participate in discussions with your Core Team to develop a Seed Project Implementation Plan and learn about how to measure and monitor the equity impacts of projects; identify a subject matter advisor(s) to support this process (Step 8);

• Identify/procure an implementation vendor to lead or support the implementation of the Seed Project; work with the implementation vendor and community stakeholders to implement the Seed Project (Step 9);

• Reflect on the MVP 2.0 process, and submit the MVP 2.0 Final Submission form with all associated deliverables to the MVP team (Step 10).

H. REPORTING: As outlined in the MVP 2.0 Process Guide, all grantees will be required to submit deliverables and have check in communications with their MVP Regional Coordinator at various points in the process. There will also be a final submission form due at the end of the grant period where invoices showing that funds were expended according to the MVP 2.0 scope and information about the process must be uploaded.

I. DELIVERABLES, OWNERSHIP, AND CREDIT DUE: All materials, software, maps, reports, and other products produced through the grant program shall be considered in the public domain and thus available at the cost of production. All materials created through this opportunity and as a result of this award should credit the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program.

J. REGULATIONS, STATUTES, OR AUTHORIZATION GOVERNING THIS GRANT PROGRAM:

This BID/RFR is issued according to Chapter 209 of the Acts of 2018, Chapter 102, Section 2A of the Acts of 2021, Chapter 42 of the Acts of 2022, Sections 28-30 of Chapter 248 of the Acts of 2024, and other authorities, including Executive Order 569.

MVP will take compliance with Section 3A of MGL c. 40A into account when making grant award recommendations.

https://malegislature.gov/laws/sessionlaws/acts/2018/chapter209 https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2021/Chapter102 https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2021/Chapter102 https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2022/Chapter42 https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2024/Chapter248 https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2024/Chapter248 https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-569-establishing-an-integrated-climate-change-strategy-for-the-commonwealth https://www.mass.gov/info-details/section-3a-guidelines

2. Instructions for Application Submission

A. EVALUATION CRITERIA: EEA expects to award funding to every community listed in Attachment B that applies to this grant opportunity.3 Other eligible entities that are interested in applying will be evaluated based on age of original MVP plan/designation for prior work, demonstrated commitment and capacity of the community to take on the project, description of motivation for participating in MVP 2.0, demonstrated need for help in moving from planning to action, presence of Burdened Areas and other priority populations and commitment to centering those populations in the process, compliance with Section 3A of MGL c. 40A, and whether the application is for a regional project. Those eligible entities that have not participated in MVP Planning 1.0 will be prioritized for funding. EEA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals that do not meet the goals and terms of this BID/RFR. EEA reserves the right to reach out to applicants to clarify elements in their applications prior to funding decisions if deemed necessary. Final funding decisions and amounts are at the discretion of the Secretary.

B. APPLICATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Submit via the EEA Grants Management System:

greenhub.mass.gov

Online applications and other supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Friday, December 11, 2026.

Tribal government applicants should also submit documentation of eligibility as a Massachusetts Tribal government, such as documents establishing presence within Massachusetts, tribal governance documents, documents demonstrating tribal status, or other relevant documents showing eligibility.

All responses and information submitted in response to this BID/RFR are subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L., c. 66, s. 10, and c. 4, s. 7, cl. 26. Any statements in submitted responses that are inconsistent with these statutes, including marking by bidders of information as confidential during the quote submission process, shall be disregarded. Please do not submit any information that the Applicant may not wish to disclose publicly, such as home addresses or personal telephone numbers, social security numbers, or other similar information. All applications under this RFR will be public record and may not be withheld from a public records request after the BID/RFR open date.

Respondents are REQUIRED to use the online application form and upload tool provided at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Grant

3 Exceptions may be made for non-compliance with Section 3A of MGL c. 40A.

https://greenhub.mass.gov/

Management System. Applicants are required to establish a profile on the system and apply through the portal.

No paper applications will be accepted for this program. No applications will be accepted through any other electronic means other than the online system. Submissions through the site will be digitally time stamped. EEA shall make no allowance for technical difficulties or inability of the respondent to utilize the online system. No applications will be accepted after the deadline for any reason. No additional documentation will be accepted after the deadline for any reason.

Digital files uploaded to the application site must be provided in Microsoft Office compatible format or unlocked Adobe Acrobat. Respondents may not return to the application form to edit or add files after the deadline.

Applicants will need to create a user profile in order to apply.

1) Obtain a username and password utilizing the MyMassGov (MyMassGov | Mass.gov).

MyMassGov is a secure service that allows members of the public to use a single account and password to sign in to all participating Massachusetts state services and applications.

2) When creating your new MyMassGov username and password, please select the business account option and utilize your work email address.

3) Follow the steps to verify your email address and set up multifactor authorization.

When logged into the MyMassGov you will see a number of Commonwealth of Massachusetts Services. Select the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Grant Management System.

The System will request some information about the user in order to validate the user.

Users will not be provided access to the grant application until their profile is validated.

Please follow the instructions provided. Please note that validation may require one or more days to complete.

C. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Kara Runsten, MVP Director Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900 Boston, MA 02114 kara.runsten@mass.gov 617-312-1594 https://greenhub.mass.gov/ https://www.mass.gov/orgs/mymassgov mailto:kara.runsten@mass.gov mailto:kara.runsten@mass.gov

MVP Regional Coordinator Contact Information:

o Berkshires and Hilltowns: Emma Sass; emma.sass@mass.gov; 857-283-7597 o Greater Connecticut River Valley: Andrew Smith; andrew.b.smith@mass.gov;

617-655-3874 o Central: Hillary King; hillary.king@mass.gov; 617-655-3913 o Northeast: Michelle Rowden; michelle.rowden@mass.gov; 857-343-0097 o Greater Boston: Carolyn Norkiewicz; carolyn.m.norkiewicz@mass.gov; 617- 894-7128 o Southeast: Courtney Rocha; courtney.rocha@mass.gov; 617-877-3072

D. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION: If selected for an award the Applicant will be required to submit the following signed forms to complete a contract:

• Commonwealth Standard Contract Form

• W-9 Form

• Commonwealth Terms and Conditions filled out and signed by the Applicant

• Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing Form

• Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) set-up form, if an account has not been set-up previously

Applicants are encouraged to review these forms prior to submission of a Response.

The forms may be found at this site: https://www.mass.gov/lists/osd-forms mailto:emma.sass@mass.gov about:blank about:blank about:blank mailto:carolyn.m.norkiewicz@mass.gov about:blank https://www.mass.gov/lists/osd-forms

3. BID/RFR Deadlines and Procurement Calendar

A. RELEASE OF BID/RFR: November 2, 2026

B. QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD: Written questions should be submitted by email to one of the regional coordinators listed in Attachment D no later than Monday, November 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM. The issuing department reserves the right not to respond to questions submitted after this date. It is the Bidder’s responsibility to verify receipt of questions.

EEA will publish answers to submitted questions via COMMBUYS on or before November 23, 2026 (estimated).

C. APPLICATION DEADLINE: 11:59 PM ET on Friday, December 11, 2026

D. ESTIMATED AWARD DATE: Selected communities are expected to be notified by January 2027 with contract negotiations to begin immediately thereafter.

E. ESTIMATED CONTRACT START DATE: Notwithstanding any verbal representations by the parties, or an earlier start date listed in the Standard Contract Form, and only after an award is issued and a final scope of services has been negotiated, the effective start date of a contract shall be the latest of the following dates: the date the Standard Contract Form has been executed by an authorized signatory of the contractor and the procuring department; the date of secretariat or other approval(s) required by law or regulation;

or a later date specified in the Standard Contract Form.

4. Additional Details and Attachments

A. TYPE OF PROCUREMENT: Grant

B. USE OF THIS PROCUREMENT BY SINGLE OR MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS: This BID/RFR is a single department procurement. All contracts awarded under this BID/RFR will be utilized solely by EEA.

C. REQUEST FOR SINGLE OR MULTIPLE CONTRACTORS: Multiple contracts may be awarded under this BID/RFR.

D. RFR DISTRIBUTION METHOD: This BID/RFR is being distributed electronically using the COMMBUYS system. It is the responsibility of every Applicant to check COMMBUYS for any addenda or modifications to a BID/RFR to which they intend to respond. EEA accepts no liability and reserves the right to reject any applications that fail to address amended BID/RFR requirements and submit inadequate or incorrect responses. Any amendments or updates will be posted to CommBuys. It is recommended that applicants register with the CommBuys system to be alerted about updates to bids.

E. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS:

a. Application Form

b. Communities Required to Apply for MVP 2.0 to be Eligible for FY28 MVP

Action Grant Opportunity

c. MVP 2.0 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

d. MVP Regional Coordinator Contacts (Map)

e. Request for Modified Scope or Designation as an MVP 2.0 Community Based on Prior Work

Attachment A: Application

MUNICIPAL VULNERABILITY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM FY 27

MVP 2.0

RFR ENV 27 MVP 02

Below are the questions on the required online form for reference. Applicants must apply via the EEA Grants Management System: greenhub.mass.gov

Please verify that the information shown from the user profile is correct. Information input here will be used by EEA to contact the applicant

1. Applicant Organization Name: This is the name of the organization or municipality applying for the grant.

2. Contact Name: This is the individual that will be the primary contact for the EEA program managers.

3. Contact Title

4. Legal Address of Applicant (i.e., address listed on entity’s w9): This is the business address of the applicant organization.

5. Primary Contact Phone: This is the preferred phone number for EEA use only.

6. Primary Contact Email Address

7. Organization Web Site

MVP 2.0 Applicant Information:

1. Applicant MVP Region:

Use this site to determine your MVP Region: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/contact-mvp-regional-coordinator

2. Are you applying with partner applicants or applying as a region?

a. Partner or regional application (2 or more municipalities in a single application)

i. If a partner or regional application, please list all applicants.

b. No – single application

3. Is the community required to apply to MVP 2.0 this round?

The following are communities that have an MVP Plan or were designated as an MVP community based on prior work that is dated Jan – May 2019. These communities will need to apply to this MVP 2.0 program grant opportunity or receive designation from EEA for prior work that fulfills the MVP 2.0 requirements to be eligible to apply for FY28 (and future) MVP Action Grants. See Attachment B of the RFR for more details.

Pittsfield, Brockton, Medfield, Mansfield, Millis, Plainfield, Hull, Walpole, Salisbury, Marlborough, Lakeville, Rochester, Palmer, Monson, Brewster, Boylston, Wayland, Woburn, Kingston, Nantucket, Granby, Nahant, Auburn, Sheffield, Hudson, Framingham, Rockland, Erving, Ipswich, Wenham, Bourne, Freetown, Longmeadow

4. Signed letter of commitment upload (required):

Upload your letter of commitment. A signed letter of commitment from a chief official of the applicant (e.g., chair of the board of selectmen, mayor, a town administrator, Tribal leader, or equivalent official) demonstrating a willingness to take on and complete the MVP 2.0 process. The letter should also state that leadership will participate in the process as needed, support the identified local project lead, meet the estimated timeline for each step listed in Section 1B of the RFR, and provide sufficient staff time to complete the process. Regional applicants should include such a signed letter from each community compiled into one document. Applications submitted by eligible political subdivisions on behalf of one or more municipalities should include a letter from each participating municipality.

MVP 2.0 - Application Questions

5. Why is the community interested in completing MVP 2.0? How do you see it benefitting the community?

6. Description of Burdened Area or priority populations4 in the community and recognition and commitment to centering these populations in the MVP 2.0 process.

Use EEA's Mass EnviroScreen viewer to see whether your community has Environment Burdened Area(s):

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/0e1a1991dd4b4b37ba0298bf74f347a0

7. Has the community had any challenges in moving from planning for climate resilience work to implementing those actions?

Please describe details like success in applying for and receiving MVP Action Grants or implementation funding from other sources.

4 Priority populations are people or communities who may be disproportionately impacted by climate change due to life circumstances that systematically increase their exposure to climate hazards or make it harder to respond. This includes factors like physical ability, access to transportation, health status, and age that shape whether someone or their community will be disproportionately affected by climate change.

8. Does the community have any ongoing MVP Action Grant projects or intend to apply in the FY28 Action Grant round?

If so, please describe capacity to take on this two-year grant in addition.

9. Do you anticipate significant translation or interpretation needs?

Please provide a description of need and estimated budget.

MVP 2.0 - Modified Scope of Work

10. Has the community already been approved by the MVP program for a modified MVP

2.0 scope of work?

a. Yes

b. No

11. Is the community requesting a modified scope or designation as an MVP 2.0 community based on prior work? (i.e., the community has not already been approved but feels they have met some/all the requirements of MVP 2.0).

If you are requesting a modified scope of work, please read and fill out Attachment E and submit it with your application through the GMS.

Yes- I confirm that I have filled out and submitted Attachment E to request a modified scope of work.

No

Attachment B: Communities Required to Apply for MVP 2.0 to be Eligible for FY28 MVP Action Grant Opportunity

The following are communities that have an MVP Plan or were designated as an MVP community based on prior work that is dated Jan - May 2019. These communities will need to apply to this MVP 2.0 program grant opportunity or receive designation from EEA for prior work that fulfills the MVP 2.0 requirements to be eligible to apply for FY28 (and future) MVP Action Grants.

Please note that communities will receive priority for an MVP 2.0 grant in the round they are assigned. If your community decides not to apply this round you will not get this priority and may need to wait several rounds to complete the 2.0 process and be eligible for Action Grants.

Note the list does not include communities currently participating in MVP 2.0 or those already approved to opt out as they have already fulfilled the requirement to remain eligible for future Action Grant funding.

Also note that this list does not include communities that were required to apply to MVP

2.0 in the FY25 & FY26 round and did not. These communities do not have the same priority as those below but also need to pursue an MVP 2.0 grant this round to maintain eligibility for FY28 (and future) MVP Action Grants.

Community Name:

Pittsfield Brockton Medfield Mansfield Millis Plainfield Hull Walpole Salisbury Marlborough Lakeville Rochester Palmer Monson Brewster

Boylston Wayland Woburn Kingston Nantucket Granby Nahant Auburn Sheffield Hudson Framingham Rockland Erving Ipswich Wenham Bourne Freetown Longmeadow

Attachment C: MVP 2.0 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Application Process and Eligibility

Do I need to submit a budget as part of the MVP 2.0 application?

No, the funding awarded will be the same across communities to complete the process. The only difference is for those with additional translation/interpretation needs and/or regional projects (i.e., more than one community applying together) that will get $50,000 per community for the seed project and a bit of extra funding for the other steps of the process as well, as there will be more coordination involved.

How will the funding be distributed?

Our intention is to distribute funding in two installments. The first installment will be $50,0005 for Steps 1-8 and 10 (i.e., all tasks but Task 9) and will be distributed after a contract is in place between EEA and the grantee. The second installment is intended to be released after Part A of the Seed Project Plan is submitted to your MVP Regional Coordinator and approved. That will be the $50,000 per community for Step 9— Implementing the Seed Project.

Will local match be required for any part of the MVP 2.0 process?

Beyond providing enough municipal staff time to complete the process well, there is no required match, and communities will not be required to track match hours. We estimate around 105 hours for the project manager and 85 hours for each municipal staff/volunteer member of the Core Team for Steps 1-8 and 10, with additional time needed to manage Step 9: Implementing the Seed Project.

Is my community required to apply to MVP 2.0?

Communities listed in Attachment B must apply to this grant opportunity to be eligible to apply for FY28 (and future) MVP Action Grants, unless they are currently participating in the MVP 2.0 pilot round or have received written notice from EEA that they are allowed to opt out based on designation for prior work that they applied for.

My community is listed in Attachment B but the community does not want to apply this round. Can I apply next round?

5 Will be more for regional groups and for those with translation/interpretation needs.

Technically yes, but please note that communities will receive priority for an MVP 2.0 grant in the round they are assigned. If your community decides not to apply this round you will not get this priority and may need to wait several rounds to complete the 2.0 process and be eligible for Action Grants.

Designation for Prior Work

What is the process for “opting out” or conducting a modified MVP 2.0 scope of work?

If your community has completed a robust, inclusive, and equitable community-driven climate planning process, then you are able to apply to the MVP program for designation for prior work to maintain eligibility for Action Grant funding.

You may fill out Attachment E as part of this application and submit it. The MVP Team will review the form, reach out with any questions, and make a determination while reviewing applications from this RFR. One outcome of the determination may be that the community can “opt out” of the full MVP 2.0 program and maintain eligibility for Action Grant without applying to the MVP 2.0 program. Another may be that the MVP team determines the community will need to complete a modified scope to fulfill the program requirements. A third outcome may be that the community is required to complete the full MVP 2.0 process to maintain eligibility for Action Grants.

What if my community conducted a more intensive climate resilience planning process after our original MVP Planning Grant?

Communities who conducted a more intensive climate resilience planning process after the original MVP Planning Grant can still complete the MVP 2.0 process. Under this circumstance, communities should revisit their climate resilience priorities in their most recent climate plan when they get to Step 6: Revisiting Resilience Priorities.

Process Duration

Two years seems like a long time, why is this process so long?

The reason for two years is because of the inclusion of the Seed Project. We want to give communities enough time to expand their Core Teams, participate in innovative trainings, revisit priorities in their MVP plans, and be able to design and implement a Seed Project.

Two years does not seem like enough time, what should I do if I need more time?

If you find that extra time is needed to ensure that the goals of the MVP 2.0 program are met, please set up a time to discuss with your MVP Regional Coordinator. We are dedicated to giving communities enough time to build relationships while balancing the need for deadlines.

Vendors

How will my community find a qualified vendor to help us complete the MVP 2.0 process?

Hiring a vendor that meets the qualifications outlined here is of crucial importance to ensuring the community will be best prepared to meet the goals of the program and complete an equitable, inclusive MVP 2.0 process and Seed Project. The list of state-trained vendors that was used with the original MVP Planning Grant process (i.e., MVP 1.0) is no longer relevant as those vendors were trained in the old process. Instead, communities are asked to use the qualifications outlined here. Hiring a vendor who will subcontract with another vendor may be one way to make sure that all the qualifications and skill sets required are met. Additionally, EEA will pair each community with an Equity Partner who to supplement the equity expertise needed and implement the climate justice and equity learning series.

Seed Projects

What is a Seed Project? How much guaranteed funding will my community get to implement the Seed Project?

A Seed Project is a project selected by the MVP 2.0 Core Team that jump-starts or advances the community’s resilience priorities, and that can be completed in 9-10 months. As part of MVP 2.0, communities receive $50,000 to complete a Seed Project with no local match required.

Will a regional MVP 2.0 grant get additional funding to implement the Seed Project?

Yes. One benefit to working with multiple communities is that we expect to award $50,000 per community for the Seed Project.

Regional Process

I am interested in doing a regional MVP 2.0 process. Is there a maximum number of communities allowed to apply together?

Climate change is a regional issue, and we strongly encourage regional partnerships where possible. In order to make sure all communities are involved and that coordination is feasible we ask that no more than six communities apply together.

Are there any other reasons to strongly consider doing MVP 2.0 as a region?

Some communities may find that applying as a region is a way to help share capacity.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/fy-24-mvp-20-vendor-qualifications/download

Communities that don’t have many community-based organizations may find that they are reaching out to the same regional organizations or community leaders as neighboring communities in order to identify local community liaisons, particularly if those organizations serve a broader region. In this case, municipalities may want to collaborate and lead outreach with a group of regional liaisons.

Who manages a regional project?

Regional projects can be managed in a couple ways. One of the municipal governments in the group can apply for and administer the grant on behalf of the other communities.

Alternatively, a regional planning agency that is a “political subdivision of the Commonwealth” can apply and administer the grant on behalf of a group of municipalities (with their support and commitment to undertaking the process). If you have questions about the eligibility of a specific regional entity, please reach out to anyone on the MVP staff team.

My community completed the original MVP Planning Grant (MVP 1.0) as a regional collaboration. Should we work with that same group?

You can, but you don’t have to. You can choose whether to do an individual project, work with the same group, or work with a different set of communities.

When we revisit our resilience priorities as part of a regional project, will they be local priorities or regional priorities?

The updated priorities can include both regional and local priorities. It will be important to identify shared regional priorities, but also to acknowledge when a community has unique concerns or needs.

Attachment D: MVP Regional Coordinator Contacts

For a list of MVP Regional Coordinators and the municipalities in their regions, please see: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/contact-mvp-regional-coordinator https://www.mass.gov/service-details/contact-mvp-regional-coordinator https://www.mass.gov/service-details/contact-mvp-regional-coordinator

Attachment E: Request for Modified Scope or Designation as an MVP 2.0 Community Based on Prior Work

Communities who have recently (i.e., within the past 2 years) completed robust, equity-centered community processes to build climate resilience can request MVP 2.0 designation for that process and maintain eligibility to apply to MVP Action Grants.

Why MVP 2.0 can be valuable for most communities MVP 2.0 is designed to build on, not recreate, ongoing and existing climate resilience work in communities:

• If your community has already completed a robust community-driven climate planning process focused on inclusion and equity, then MVP 2.0 provides funding to dig deeper into understanding social vulnerability, continue to build relationships with community partners, and to work together to develop and implement a specific project that advances community resilience priorities.

• If your community completed a climate planning process, but the people most affected by climate change weren’t involved in defining the goals and priorities, then MVP 2.0 provides funding and a process to make sure the needs and priorities of those who will be disproportionately affected by climate change inform the actions taken. Without addressing inequities as a part of building climate resilience, climate plans risk reinforcing climate vulnerability. After revisiting and resetting your community resilience priorities, MVP 2.0 provides funding to develop and implement a specific project that aligns with your updated priorities.

How to request designation for prior work

Submit this form and any attachments via the application portal along with the community’s application. There will be a spot to upload in the online application form.

The MVP Team will review the form, reach out with any questions, and make a determination while reviewing applications from this RFR. One outcome of the determination may be that the community can “opt out” of the full MVP 2.0 program and maintain eligibility for Action Grant without applying to the MVP 2.0 program. Another may be that the MVP team determines the community will need to complete a modified scope to fulfill the program requirements. A third outcome may be that the community is required to complete the full MVP 2.0 process to maintain eligibility for Action Grants.

Request for Designation for Prior Work Form

Community Name:

Community Contact Name:

Community Contact Email:

Community Contact Phone:

Please indicate how your recently completed process conducted outside of MVP fulfills and aligns with the goals of each of the steps MVP 2.0 outlined below and in the MVP 2.0 process guide. Please attach relevant documents that resulted from this planning process that will help the MVP team in reviewing this request.

Step 1: Starting to Build Your Core Team

• Meet with MVP assigned Equity Partner to get ready for the process and start recruiting other municipal members of the Core Team.

• Follow local procurement processes to hire a vendor or vendor team to support the community in completing the planning steps of the MVP 2.0 process. This planning vendor should have expertise in equity-centered project facilitation, community-driven processes, and climate and community resilience.

Step 2: Identifying Lived Expertise

• Dig deeper into understanding who lives and works in the community and who will likely be disproportionately affected by climate change.

• Identify perspectives and lived experience within the community that will be important to include in your Core Team.

Step 3: Recruiting the Rest of Your Core Team

• Build out the Core Team by recruiting community liaisons to join the team to lead equitable climate resilience work in the community. Community Liaisons are community members from and/or with strong relationships with those who will likely be disproportionately affected by climate change. Community Liaisons will be compensated for their time through the grant funding and play an important role in making sure the insight, needs, and priorities of those most impacted by climate change inform decisions throughout the process.

• Onboard the Community Liaisons.

Step 4: Kicking Off Collaboration

• Watch a series of kickoff videos to learn about the process.

• Participate in activities and discussions as a Core Team to get-to-know each other and to build skills for working together.

Step 5: Uncovering Social Resilience

• Build understanding of the root causes of social vulnerability and how it relates to climate equity.

• Identify factors that contribute to vulnerability and resilience for people who live and work in the community and region.

• Learn about inclusive community engagement.

• Practice what you learn by engaging with community members and learning about community needs and priorities.

Step 6: Revisiting Resilience Priorities

• Review and update climate resilience priorities based on wider community input about factors that influence vulnerability and resilience for people in the community.

• Vet those updated priorities with community members, to create shared understanding, transparency, and accountability around community resilience priorities.

Step 7: Selecting a Seed Project

• Collaborate on the development of a project that will jump-start or advance the community resilience priorities; this project will receive $50,000 in grant funding, should be able to be completed in 9-10 months and should not require much if any permitting or regulatory approval.

• Vet the project with community members who will be most impacted by climate change to inform decisions related to the project.

Step 8: Developing Seed Project Implementation Plan

• Learn about ways to measure and monitor the equity impacts of projects.

• Collaborate on the development of an implementation plan for your Seed Project that will help translate the idea into action.

• Apply a process that can be replicated for future Action Grants.

Step 9: Implementing the Seed Project

• Follow local procurement processes to hire a vendor or vendor team to support Seed Project implementation.

• Implement a Seed Project that will set the groundwork for future Action Grants and/or contribute to building community resilience in your community or region.

Step 10: Reflecting, Adjusting, and Next Steps

• Reflect on the process in order to evolve and improve it for future resilience building efforts.

Attachment E: Request for Modified Scope or Designation as an MVP 2.0 Community Based on Prior Work