Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OAR OTAQ 14 02
Apply for EPA OAR OTAQ 14 02
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Projects to Improve Air Quality at Ports 2013 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Funding Opportunity" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.039 National Clean Diesel Emissions Reduction Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 10, 2014 and posted on Dec 11, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 13, 2014 Please see the announcement including Section IV for additional submission information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Please see Section III of the announcement for eligibility information.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ), offered this competitive grant opportunity under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) to fund projects that cut diesel pollution at marine and inland water ports. The program focus is very specific: it targets fleets and equipment operating in and around port environments, where diesel engines often run for long hours and where nearby communities can experience higher exposure to diesel exhaust. The EPA is looking for proposals that deliver measurable, significant reductions in diesel emissions, both in total pollution reduced (for example, tons of pollutants reduced) and in reductions in human exposure to diesel emissions.
The types of projects supported are practical, equipment-focused diesel emission reduction solutions that are already proven and recognized by EPA through verification or certification pathways. Eligible approaches include verified emission control technologies (such as exhaust retrofits and engine upgrades), verified idle reduction technologies (measures that reduce emissions from unnecessary idling), certified engine repowers (replacing older engines with newer, cleaner certified engines), and certified vehicle or equipment replacement (replacing older diesel vehicles or equipment with cleaner options that meet applicable certification requirements). The announcement notes that there are important funding limits tied to the different solution types, summarized in the full solicitation (referenced as Page 2 in the announcement), meaning applicants are expected to structure budgets in line with those caps and cost rules depending on the technology pathway selected.
Eligible equipment spans the main diesel sources found in port operations. That includes drayage trucks that move cargo to and from terminals, marine engines, locomotives serving port rail activity, and nonroad cargo-handling equipment and other diesel-powered vehicles or machinery used in port cargo movement and related operations. In other words, the grant is designed to address the full mix of diesel emitters that commonly contribute to localized air quality impacts at ports, not just on-road trucks.
Eligibility is centered on public port authorities that have jurisdiction related to transportation or air quality at a marine or inland water port. While the port authority is the eligible applicant, the EPA explicitly encourages partnership-driven proposals. Community groups, local governments, terminal operators, shipping carriers, and other businesses involved in port operations are invited to participate by partnering with the eligible port authority. This structure reflects how port emission reduction projects typically work in practice: ports often convene multiple tenants and operators, and the projects can require coordination across public and private stakeholders to access equipment, implement upgrades, and ensure sustained emissions benefits.
Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, which generally indicates EPA expects substantial involvement in the project beyond a simple pass-through grant (for example, coordination, oversight, or technical involvement consistent with cooperative agreement rules). The opportunity falls under CFDA 66.039, the National Clean Diesel Emissions Reduction Program. The total estimated funding available was $4,000,000, with an expectation of about five awards. The maximum award amount (ceiling) was $2,000,000, and the listed award floor was $0, meaning there was no stated minimum award size, though proposals would still need to be large and substantive enough to meet the program goals and be competitive. A cost-share or matching requirement applied, so applicants needed to bring non-federal funds or qualifying in-kind contributions consistent with the solicitation rules.
Key dates provided in the notice include a posted date of December 11, 2013, and a submission deadline (closing date) of February 13, 2014, with an archive date of March 15, 2014. Applicants were directed to review the complete announcement, especially Section III for eligibility details and Section IV for submission requirements. For help accessing the full announcement, EPA provided contacts Faye Swift at (202) 343-9147 and Tyler Cooley at (415) 972-3937.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this grant opportunity about?
This is a competitive Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) to support projects that reduce diesel pollution at marine and inland water ports. It focuses on practical actions that deliver measurable, significant reductions in diesel emissions and reductions in human exposure to diesel exhaust in and around port environments.
2) Which EPA office is administering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the EPA through its Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ).
3) What types of results is EPA looking for from funded projects?
EPA is looking for proposals that produce measurable, significant reductions in diesel emissions. This includes total pollution reductions (such as tons of pollutants reduced) and reductions in human exposure to diesel emissions, especially for communities near ports where exposure can be higher.
4) What kinds of diesel emission reduction solutions are eligible?
Eligible approaches are equipment-focused solutions that are already proven and recognized by EPA through verification or certification pathways. The announcement identifies the following categories:
- Verified emission control technologies (for example, exhaust retrofits and engine upgrades)
- Verified idle reduction technologies (measures that reduce emissions from unnecessary idling)
- Certified engine repowers (replacing older engines with newer, cleaner certified engines)
- Certified vehicle or equipment replacement (replacing older diesel vehicles/equipment with cleaner options that meet applicable certification requirements)
5) Does the grant support unproven or experimental technologies?
Based on the description provided, the program is aimed at practical solutions that are already proven and recognized by EPA through verification or certification pathways, rather than experimental concepts.
6) Are there funding limits or caps depending on the project type?
Yes. The announcement notes that important funding limits apply based on the solution type. These limits are summarized in the full solicitation (referenced as Page 2 in the announcement). Applicants are expected to structure budgets to fit the caps and cost rules tied to the selected technology pathway.
7) What equipment types can be addressed under this grant?
The opportunity targets the major diesel emission sources found in port operations, including:
- Drayage trucks moving cargo to and from terminals
- Marine engines
- Locomotives serving port rail activity
- Nonroad cargo-handling equipment and other diesel-powered vehicles or machinery used for port cargo movement and related operations
8) Is this grant only for on-road trucks?
No. The opportunity is designed to address the full mix of diesel emitters commonly operating in and around ports, including marine engines, locomotives, and nonroad cargo-handling equipment, in addition to drayage trucks.
9) Who is eligible to apply as the main applicant?
Eligibility is centered on public port authorities that have jurisdiction related to transportation or air quality at a marine or inland water port.
10) Can other organizations participate if they are not an eligible port authority?
Yes. While the public port authority is the eligible applicant, EPA explicitly encourages partnership-driven proposals. Community groups, local governments, terminal operators, shipping carriers, and other businesses involved in port operations may participate by partnering with the eligible port authority.
11) Why does EPA emphasize partnerships for this program?
The structure reflects how port emission reduction projects often work in practice. Ports commonly coordinate with multiple tenants and operators, and the work may require cooperation across public and private stakeholders to access equipment, implement upgrades, and sustain emissions benefits.
12) What funding instrument is used for awards?
The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument.
13) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates EPA expects substantial involvement in the project beyond a simple pass-through grant, such as coordination, oversight, or technical involvement consistent with cooperative agreement rules.
14) What program or catalog identifier is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under CFDA 66.039, the National Clean Diesel Emissions Reduction Program.
15) How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The total estimated funding available was $4,000,000.
16) About how many awards did EPA expect to make?
EPA expected to make about five awards.
17) What is the maximum award amount per project?
The maximum award amount (ceiling) was $2,000,000.
18) Is there a minimum award amount?
The listed award floor was $0, meaning there was no stated minimum award size. Proposals would still need to be substantive and competitive in meeting program goals.
19) Is a cost-share or match required?
Yes. A cost-share or matching requirement applied, meaning applicants needed to bring non-federal funds or qualifying in-kind contributions consistent with the solicitation rules.
20) When was the opportunity posted?
The posted date provided in the notice was December 11, 2013.
21) What was the submission deadline?
The closing date (submission deadline) was February 13, 2014.
22) When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed was March 15, 2014.
23) Where should applicants look for eligibility and submission instructions?
Applicants were directed to review the complete announcement, especially Section III for eligibility details and Section IV for submission requirements.
24) Who can be contacted for help accessing the full announcement?
EPA provided the following contacts for assistance:
- Faye Swift: (202) 343-9147
- Tyler Cooley: (415) 972-3937
25) What kinds of locations are targeted by this program?
The grant is specifically focused on port environments, including marine and inland water ports, with attention to equipment operating in and around ports where diesel engines can run for long hours and nearby communities can face higher exposure to diesel exhaust.
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