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Recovery Act: National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) provided $156 million in new funding for 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.
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2009 Recovery Act: National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Projects
About the Program
Recovery Act Funding for National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program was a competitive grant program. Funded projects were required to achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions, particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by the Administrator as having poor air quality. In addition, projects had to demonstrate the ability to maximize job preservation and creation.
Although this was a National competition, applicants submitted applications to the EPA Region in which the projects took place. Assistance agreements funded under this announcement were evaluated and awarded by each of EPA’s ten Regional Offices.
Information about the EPA's Clean Diesel programs and funding is available at:
Timeline
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Request for Applications Available | March 19, 2009 |
| Request for Application Closing Date | April 28, 2009  |
| EPA evaluations | May 2009 |
| Project review and award | June/July 2009 |
| Project implementation end date | September 30, 2010 |
Application Information
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 (PDF) (99 pp; 418K; April 27, 2009; Final Revision; About PDF) regarding this RFA are available. They include answers to questions posed at information sessions hosted by EPA regions
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 provided 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 was 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 were required to reduce diesel emissions, create and/or preserve jobs, and be implemented quickly.
Under EPAct 2005, priority for funding under this Request For Application went to projects that accomplished the following:
- Maximized public health benefits;
- Were the most cost effective;
- Were in areas with high population density that are poor air quality areas;
- Were 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;
- Included a certified engine configuration or verified technology that has a long expected useful life;
- Maximized the useful life of any certified engine configuration or verified technology used or funded by the eligible entity;
- Conserved diesel fuel; and
- Utilized ultra low sulfur diesel fuel (15 parts per million of sulfur content) ahead of EPA’s mandate (for non-road projects).
Some regions also had additional requirements.
Application Forms
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)
Individual grant application forms are available from EPA’s Office of Grants and Debarment web site at: www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/application.htm.
An optional Project Narrative Suggested Format (90K, March 2009, MS Word reader 
) is available to assist in writing the narrative portion of the application package.
In addition, the application package may require an Applicant Fleet Description (XLS) (60K, April 2009, MS Excel reader ). Instructions are available under the “READ ME” tab of the spreadsheet.