Granite State Clean Fleets Program: Rolling Request for Proposals

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is administering a rolling Request for Proposals for the Granite State Clean Fleets (GSCF) program, funded by the New Hampshire Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. This competitive reimbursement program procures fleet modernization projects from eligible public entities including municipalities, state agencies, public school districts, public community colleges and universities, and transit agencies operating in New Hampshire. Eligible projects include the scrapping and replacement of existing diesel units with cleaner diesel-powered, electric, or alternative-fueled units, as well as marine shore power unit installations. Deliverables and eligible project costs encompass replacement units, necessary components, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, energy storage, driver training, and marine shore power installation costs. Projects are evaluated on proposal clarity and project readiness (40 points), cost effectiveness of NOx reductions (20 points), cost effectiveness of PM2.5 reductions (20 points), cost effectiveness of CO2 reductions (10 points), and additional benefits (10 points), with potential bonus points for alternative fuel types and priority community status. Applications must be submitted via email to ms-grants@des.nh.gov using designated application forms (Appendix A1 for unit replacements and Appendix A2 for marine shore power installations) by the last day of each calendar month on a rolling basis, with selection notifications anticipated within five business days of the submission deadline. All projects must be completed by December 31, 2027, though extensions may be requested at NHDES's discretion.

This procurement is open exclusively to public entities with no set-aside designations or restrictions on disadvantaged enterprises specified in the RFP. Projects benefiting Priority New Hampshire communities—those identified by highest poverty rates—are eligible for bonus points, with up to ten points available for communities ranked 1-50 and up to five points for communities ranked 51-100. There is no incumbent vendor or current contractor information applicable to this program, as it represents newly available funding through the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. Applicants must cover full project costs upfront and request partial reimbursement of eligible costs, with maximum reimbursement percentages and caps varying by project type: diesel-to-diesel replacements receive 80% reimbursement up to $250,000; diesel-to-alternative fuel replacements receive 90% up to $350,000; battery-electric, grid electric, or hydrogen fuel cell replacements receive 95% up to $500,000; and marine shore power projects receive 90% up to $350,000. The maximum grant award per entity is $750,000 regardless of the number of projects submitted, with approximately $2.5 million in total funding available through the program. There is no limit to the number of applications a single entity may submit, and the program remains open through December 31, 2027.