DEP-BAW-RFI-2017-VW settlement mitigation action

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) related to the Volkswagen (VW) settlement funds. The purpose of the RFI is to obtain data and feedback on how Massachusetts should expend its portion of the VW settlement to reduce the air quality impacts of excess nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The RFI covers the VW Settlement Eligible Mitigation Actions (EMAs), which include the replacement or repowering of various vehicle and equipment types such as school buses, transit buses, shuttle buses, forklifts, and cargo handling equipment, with cleaner technologies like alternate fuels or all-electric options. Respondents are asked to provide information on the availability, costs, emission reduction quantification, and other details of potential projects. The RFI response deadline was April 30, 2018, and MassDEP plans to file the Beneficiary Mitigation Plan with the Trustee in the summer/fall of 2018, after which funds may be distributed 30 days later.

The RFI does not require the payment of any fees to apply for VW funds, and MassDEP developed a spreadsheet for respondents to provide data on potential projects. The RFI does not include pricing terms, set asides, or award details, but it is focused on gathering information to help the Commonwealth of Massachusetts determine how to best utilize its VW Settlement funding allocation for vehicle and equipment replacements and emissions reduction projects within the state, with a focus on promoting transportation electrification, equitable geographic distribution, and greenhouse gas reduction.