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NCDC images (truck, tractor, etc.) National Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Program

EPA's National Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Program awards competitive grants to projects that reduce diesel emissions through the use, development and commercialization of emerging technologies.

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Assistance in application preparation, including tips for successful projects and previously funded projects.

Request For Proposal

Activity Date
RFP published (PDF) (36 pp, 240K, About PDF) October 6, 2009
RFP closes December 8, 2009
Notification of results to applicants February 2010 (estimated)
Awards distributed March 2010 (estimated)

Frequently Asked Questions

All applicants are encouraged to review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (PDF) (64 pp; 372K; November 18, 2009; About PDF) document for further clarification of this Request for Proposals.

In accordance with EPA’s Assistance Agreement Competition Policy (EPA Order 5700.5A1), EPA staff will not meet with individual applicants to discuss draft proposals, provide informal comments on draft proposals, or provide advice to applicants on how to respond to ranking criteria. Applicants are responsible for the content of their proposals.

EPA will respond to questions in writing from individual applicants regarding threshold eligibility criteria, administrative issues related to the submission of the proposal, and requests for clarification about the announcement.

Please email written questions to cleandiesel@epa.gov. Please type "Emerging Technology RFP Question" in the subject line of your email. All questions and answers will be posted in the FAQ document. All questions submitted via email by 5:00 pm EST each Friday during the RFP open period will be answered and posted in the FAQ document by 5:00 pm EST on the following Wednesday. The deadline for submitting questions via email is Friday, November 27, 2009 at 5:00 pm EST. The final posting of the FAQ document will be Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 5:00 pm EST.

Information Sessions

EPA hosted a teleconference on October 15, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. EDT. Questions and answers from this teleconference, as well as any questions received in writing, will be posted in the document posted in Frequently Asked Questions section.

Background

In 2009, EPA’s National Clean Diesel Campaign is distributing funding for the Emerging Technologies Clean Diesel Program through two separate funding sources:

The Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Program is an opportunity to advance new, cutting edge technologies that reduce diesel emissions from existing fleets. Under this competitive grant program, EPA provides funding assistance to eligible entities for the deployment of diesel emission reduction technologies which have not yet been verified or certified by EPA or the California Air Resources Board (CARB). To qualify as an emerging technology, the manufacturer of the technology must be in the initial stages of the verification process with EPA or CARB and listed on EPA‘s Emerging Technology List.

There are two components of the Emerging Technology Program. The first component focuses on the technology manufacturer and their efforts to seek placement of their technology on the Emerging Technologies List. The second component is the grant competition, through which an eligible entity applies for funds to purchase an emerging technology listed on the Emerging Technologies List. Both components are described in more detail below.

What is an Emerging Technology?

By law, an emerging technology is defined as an emissions control technology that has not been certified or verified by EPA or CARB, but for which an approvable application and test plan for verification have been submitted. An emerging technology should be close to being, if not already, commercially available.

A technology may not qualify as an emerging technology if it is essentially the same as one that has been verified or used in certification.

Factors considered in determining if a technology is emerging include but are not limited to:

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Placement on the Emerging Technology List

Emerging Technology List

To be placed on the Emerging Technologies List, the technology manufacturer must be in the initial stages of the verification process with EPA or CARB. This means that:

  1. The manufacturer has submitted an approvable application, as well as an explanation of why the technology should be considered an emerging technology, to EPA or CARB;
  2. The manufacturer has worked with EPA or CARB to develop an appropriate test plan for verification; and
  3. EPA or CARB has approved the application and test plan for verification in accordance with applicable regulations and procedures.

The manufacturer should contact EPA as soon as possible to insure sufficient time for review and approval of their emerging technology. In general, the review process may take some time depending on the specific technology.

Once approved as an emerging technology, the technology will be included on the Emerging Technology List on EPA's web site. A technology may remain on the Emerging Technology List for up to two years. During that time, the manufacturer should complete the necessary steps to obtain full verification. For the purpose of this program, once a technology is verified or certified, it will no longer be considered emerging.

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Application Process for the Emerging Technologies List

To begin the process, the technology manufacturer should:

  1. Review the materials and instructions for the technology verification process.
  2. Submit the following information:
    1. Intent To Verify Form
    2. Verification Application (Excel) (9K, October 2006)
    3. A detailed technical description of the technology including, but not limited to:
      • Science behind why the technology works
      • Any chemical equations
      • Description of any real-world experience
      • Any precious metal loading
      • Discussion of how and where the technology is fitted on the vehicle
      • Discussion on operating constraints (i.e. engine temperature, backpressure, ambient air conditions)
      • Manufacturer of each critical component
    4. Explanation of why the technology should be considered an emerging technology.
  3. Work with EPA to answer all questions related to the emission reduction design, performance, functions, and all other aspects of the technology.
  4. Complete testing and obtain full verification within two years.

If a manufacturer wishes to initiate the above process with CARB or already has an application on file with CARB, they may contact EPA to determine if their technology qualifies as emerging under the definitions of this program. Manufacturers seeking placement on EPA's Emerging Technologies List via CARB‘s Verification process must submit the following information for EPA review:

  1. Application submitted to and approved by CARB for verification
  2. Technology-specific test plan submitted to and approved by CARB for verification testing.
  3. Detailed technical description of the technology including, but not limited to:
    • Science explaining how the technology works
    • Any chemical equations
    • Description of any real-world experience
    • Any precious metal loading
    • Discussion of how and where the technology is fitted on the vehicle
    • Discussion on operating constraints (i.e. engine temperature, backpressure, ambient air conditions)
    • Manufacturer of each critical component
  4. Explanation of why the technology should be considered an emerging technology.
  5. Letter from CARB to EPA stating that CARB approves of BOTH the application and the test plan and has no concerns about the technology performance or any other aspect that might hinder the technology from being placed on CARB's Verified List.

Please note that submitting the information to EPA does not guarantee placement on the list, but merely submits the technology for consideration.

The information outlined above is the minimum required to be submitted to the EPA by a manufacturer of an emerging technology. Additional information will be requested from the manufacturer by EPA during the application review process. Once EPA has a clear understanding of the engineering/chemical principals of how the technology reduces emissions EPA will work with the manufacturer to prepare a test plan for evaluating the effectiveness of the technology.

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Test Plan

For EPA verification, a test plan must be developed in consultation with EPA and in accordance with existing verification protocols. However, if there is no existing protocol applicable to a specific technology, a unique test plan may be developed. For CARB verification, manufacturers must comply with applicable California regulations. An approvable test plan will detail the following:

It is recommended that the test plan reflect existing verification protocols where appropriate. If the engine has unique characteristics (e.g., large or difficult to remove), a special test program may be necessary.

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Applying for Emerging Technology Grants

Eligible Entities

Organizations are eligible to apply for EPA grant funds if they are

School districts, municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), cities and counties are all eligible entities under this program to the extent that they fall within the definition above.

A manufacturer of an emerging technology must partner with an eligible entity able to receive the grant funding. EPA recommends that manufacturers establish this partnership early in the process, prior to the release of any EPA Request for Proposals, in order to complete the necessary steps in a timely manner.

Eligible Use of Funding

Only technologies on the Emerging Technology List can be used on a project funded through the Emerging Technologies Program. Funding may be used to monitor and evaluate performance of the emerging technology.

Application Process for Eligible Entities Seeking Funding

An Eligible Entity may apply for Emerging Technology funding during an open competition.  The Eligible Entity should:

  1. Assess the target fleet and determine the best technology available.
  2. Partner with a manufacturer that has a listed emerging technology.
  3. Submit an application for funds under the Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Program Request for Proposals.
  4. If funded, manage the project to completion.

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