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Recovery Act: National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) provides $156 million in new funding for the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program to support the implementation of verified and certified diesel emission reduction technologies. The Request for Applications (RFA) closed on April 28, 2009, and EPA is evaluating the applications. A separate competitive announcement for the FY 2009 National Diesel Emissions Reduction Program Appropriation funds will be issued later in 2009. Comprehensive information about the EPA's overall clean diesel program is available at National Clean Diesel Campaign.
- About the Program
- Request for Applications
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Information Sessions
- Eligibility
- Project Priorities
- Application Procedures, Forms, and Timeline
About the Program
This Recovery Act Funding for National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program is a competitive grant program and funding from it must be used to achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of tons of pollution produced and diesel emissions exposure (particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by the Administrator as poor air quality areas), and the project must demonstrate the ability to maximize job preservation and creation.
Although this is a National competition, applicants must submit applications to the EPA Region in which the project will take place. Assistance agreements funded under this announcement will be evaluated and awarded by each of EPA’s ten Regional Offices.
EPA anticipates notification to the successful applicant will be made via telephone, electronic or postal mail by June 1, 2009. EPA anticipates notification to unsuccessful applicant(s) will be made via electronic or postal mail June 15, 2009.
Comprehensive information about the EPA's National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program is available at:
Request for Applications
The Request For Applications (RFA) (PDF) (43 pp; 280K; April 28, 2009; About PDF) for the Recovery Act Funding for the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program is now closed.
Various tools and resources are available to help you prepare an application, including tips for successful projects and previously funded projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
A document containing Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) (99 pp; 420K; April 23, 2009; Final Revision; About PDF) regarding this RFA is available.
Information Sessions
EPA Regions have hosted question and answer sessions regarding the Request For Applications (RFA). Answers to questions posed from the regional sessions are included in the Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) (49 pp; 210K; April 8, 2009; About PDF)
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- U.S. regional, State, local or tribal agencies 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, as their principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality
School districts, municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), cities and counties are all eligible entities under this assistance agreement program to the extent that they fall within the definition above.
Eligible Diesel Vehicles, Engines and Equipment
- Buses
- Medium or heavy duty trucks
- Marine engines
- Locomotives
- Non-road engines or vehicles used in:
- construction
- handling of cargo(including at a port or airport)
- agriculture
- mining
- energy production (including stationary generators and pumps)
Eligible Diesel Emissions Reduction Solutions
The Recovery Act Funding for National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program provides funding to reduce emissions from existing diesel engines through a variety of strategies, including but not limited to:
- exhaust controls
- engine upgrades
- cleaner fuel use
- idle reduction technologies
- aerodynamic technologies
- low rolling resistance tires
- engine repowers
- vehicle or equipment replacement
Under this grant program, funding is restricted to the use of EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) verified and certified diesel emission reduction technologies.
Project Priorities
Projects funded under the Recovery Act must reduce diesel emissions, create and/or preserve jobs, and projects must be implemented quickly.
Under EPAct 2005, priority for funding under this Request For Application will go to projects that accomplish the following:
- Maximize public health benefits;
- Are the most cost effective;
- Are in areas with high population density, that are poor air quality areas;
- Are in areas that receive a disproportionate quantity of air pollution from diesel fleets, or that use a community-based multi-stakeholder collaborative process to reduce toxic emissions;
- Include a certified engine configuration or verified technology that has a long expected useful life;
- Maximize the useful life of any certified engine configuration or verified technology used or funded by the eligible entity;
- Conserve diesel fuel; and
- Utilize ultra low sulfur diesel fuel (15 parts per million of sulfur content) ahead of EPA’s mandate (for non-road projects).
Although this is a National competition, applications will be evaluated and awarded by the EPA Region where the project will take place. The Request For Application lists regional priorities that highlight specific environmental issues/projects/programs that are focal points with each EPA regional program.
Application Procedures, Forms, and Timeline
The following grant application forms were required as part of the application package.
- Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)
- Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)
- Assurances, Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B)
- Pre-Award Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)
- Pre-Award Compliance Review Report for All Applicants Requesting Federal Financial Assistance (EPA Form 4700-4)
- Key Contacts Form (EPA Form 5700-54)
Applicants may download individual grant application forms from EPA’s Office of Grants and Debarment web site at: www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/application.htm.
Applicants may download an optional Project Narrative suggested format (90K, March 2009. To view this document you might need: MS Word reader 
) to assist in writing the narrative portion of the application package.
In addition, the application package may include an Applicant Fleet Description (XLS). (60K, April 2009. To view this spreadsheet you might need: MS Excel reader ). You will find directions under the “READ ME” tab of the spreadsheet.
Timeline
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Request for Applications | March 19, 2009 |
| Request for Application Closing Date | April 28, 2009 |
| EPA evaluations | May 2009 |
| Project review and award | May/June 2009 |
| Project implementation | June 2009 to September 30, 2010 |