National Grants: Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA)
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COMING SOON: 2022-2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
EPA anticipates this NOFO will open early 2023. DERA National Grants are moving to a 2-year competition cycle. The EPA is implementing this change to reduce the administrative workload associated with grant competitions for both applicants and the Agency.
EPA is confident this change will facilitate long term planning and budgeting for our applicants and allow for more realistic project timelines. Thereby reducing the need for amendments and extensions later in the project.
Awards may be fully or incrementally funded as appropriate. Incremental funding means a portion of the total requested funding will be awarded for phase 1 of the project. Additional funding will be awarded for phase 2 of the project (subject to the availability of funds).
Important Dates
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| COMING SOON: 2022-2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) |
TBD |
|
NOFO Closed - Applications Due |
TBD |
| Anticipated Notification of Selection | TBD |
Coming Soon: Supporting Information for NOFO
Eligible Applicants and Projects
The following U.S. entities are eligible to apply for DERA National Grants:
- Regional, state, local or tribal agencies/consortia or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality
- Nonprofit organizations or institutions that represent or provide pollution reduction or educational services to persons or organizations that own or operate diesel fleets or have the promotion of transportation or air quality as their principal purpose.
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Scalable Projects: If the project is scalable, applicants must submit a workplan, timeline and budget which has two clearly delineated phases with separate budget estimates for each phase of the project within the project period. For example, a project with two vehicle replacements is scalable: one vehicle replacement during phase 1 of the project and one vehicle replacement during phase 2 of the project.
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Non-Scalable Projects: If the project is not scalable, applicants must submit a workplan, timeline and budget for phase 1 only. For example, a project with a single vehicle replacement is not scalable.
School districts, municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), cities and counties are all eligible entities to the extent that they fall within the definition above.
Eligible Uses of Funding
Eligible diesel vehicles, engines and equipment include:
- School buses
- Class 5 – Class 8 heavy-duty highway vehicles
- Locomotive engines
- Marine engines
- Nonroad engines, equipment or vehicles used in construction, handling of cargo (including at ports or airports), agriculture, mining or energy production (including stationary generators and pumps).
Grant funds may be used for diesel emission reduction projects including:
- EPA verified technologies or certified engine configurations
- California Air Resources Board (CARB) verified technologies or certified engines
- Idle-reduction technologies that are EPA verified
- Aerodynamic technologies and low rolling resistance tires that are EPA verified
- Early engine, vehicle, or equipment replacements with certified engine configurations
Funds awarded under this program cannot be used to fund emission reductions mandated by federal law. Equipment for testing emissions or fueling infrastructure is not eligible for funding.
Grant Process
The RFA includes information on how to prepare and submit a proposal package. The proposal package must be received by the deadline and include the following documents:
- Project Narrative (no more than 11 pages)
- Standard Form SF 424 – Application for Federal Assistance
- Standard Form SF 424A – Budget Information
- EPA Form 4700-4 - Pre-Award Compliance Review
- EPA Key Contacts Form - Key Contacts Form
- Applicant Fleet Description information (not included in the page limit)
- Emissions Reduction Calculations (not included in the page limit)
- Cost-Share Commitment Letters, if applicable (not included in the page limit)
- Partnership Letters, if applicable (not included in the page limit)
- Mandated Measures Justification Supporting Information, if applicable (not included in the page limit)
Tools and Resources for Applicants
- EPA Grants Management Training for Applicants and Recipients provides an online training course that is designed to introduce EPA grant applicants and recipients to key aspects of the entire grant life cycle, from preparation of an application through grant closeout.
- Tips for a Successful Diesel Retrofit Project (PDF) (7 pp, 500 K, April 2013, EPA-420-B-13-025) provides tips to help you get started and avoid common mistakes.
- Technology Tips: Diesel Emissions Reduction Program (DERA): Technologies, Fleets and Projects Information (PDF) (36 pp, 1.3MB, October 2011, EPA-420-P-11-001) provides information about retrofit technologies and what to look for.
- Clean Diesel Clearinghouse (CDCH) is a web-based tool that helps users determine the best available emission reduction technology for retrofitting diesel-powered vehicles and equipment.
- Shore Power Technology Assessment at U.S. Ports reviews the availability of shore power at ports, characterizes the technical and operational aspects of shore power systems, and presents a methodology for estimating emission reductions from shore power systems for vessels docked and connected to shore power.