Electric Vehicle Charging Program RFP 4

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is soliciting proposals for electric vehicle charging station development and operation under its NEVI Formula Program RFP 4, with proposals due July 13, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. ET. A pre-bid webinar was held June 8, 2026, and the question submission period closed June 12, 2026.

KYTC intends to award one project site per zone across 32 identified Kentucky zones (corridor, urban, and rural designations). Eligible proposers include for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations, private utilities, governmental entities excluding state agencies, municipal utilities, electric membership cooperatives, and teaming partnerships; all must be licensed to do business in Kentucky and cannot appear on federal or state suspension and debarred lists.

Each project must include a minimum of four charging ports—at least two Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) ports capable of continuous 150 kW power output with both NACS and CCS1 connectors—and be publicly accessible 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Level 2 ports, if included, must deliver minimum 6 kW continuous power. All equipment must be Build America, Buy America compliant with 55 percent U.S.-manufactured components. Sites must include at least one ADA-compliant parking space, emergency stop buttons, security cameras with 24-hour rolling recording, vehicle bollards, adequate lighting, and snow/ice removal services. Developers must ensure 97 percent uptime per port over the five-year operating period, with $1,000 per percentage point performance deductions applied for failures. Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates apply; electricians performing work must obtain EVITP or IEC Training Advantage certification.

Proposers must provide a minimum 20 percent non-federal cost share, with federal reimbursement capped at 80 percent of eligible costs. Eligible capital costs include EVSE procurement and installation, utility distribution upgrades, site design and engineering, and ADA compliance upgrades; eligible operations and maintenance costs span five years post-commissioning. Demand charge reimbursement up to $150,000 and battery energy storage systems are eligible. Ineligible costs include pre-agreement expenses, major grid upgrades, real estate purchases, and indirect administrative costs. Developers must obtain a Letter of Credit equal to 60 percent of maximum total project reimbursement and a payment bond prior to contract execution. The contract term runs five years from Notice to Proceed through Task 4 (Operations and Maintenance), with liquidated damages of $100 per business day for delays in achieving Notice to Proceed beyond the proposer's submitted project schedule.

Evaluation consists of 30 administrative points, 145 technical points (covering proposer experience, project schedule quality, site characteristics, amenities, and distance from existing infrastructure), and 25 cost points. KYTC anticipates Notice of Award approximately 45 calendar days after submission, with agreement execution expected 60–90 calendar days thereafter. Approximately $55 million from federal fiscal years 2022–2025 out of Kentucky's total $70 million NEVI allocation is already obligated. Contact Laura Hagan at 502-782-3980 for additional information. Proposals must be submitted electronically via MoveIt/Secure File Transfer at https://ftp.ky.gov.