Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OAR OTAQ 11 03
Apply for EPA OAR OTAQ 11 03
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SmartWay Finance Program" 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 13, 2011 and posted on Dec 7, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 10, 2011 Please see the announcement, including Section IV, for additional information on due dates and submission methods.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $6,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Please see Section III of the announcement for additional eligibility information.
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Opportunity Summary:
The SmartWay Finance Program was a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Office of Air and Radiation (OTAQ), aligned with the SmartWay Program and the National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC). Its purpose was to cut diesel pollution across the United States by helping applicants set up finance mechanisms that make it easier and cheaper for fleets and equipment owners to adopt verified diesel emission-reduction technologies. Rather than paying directly for equipment replacements in a one-time grant style, EPA aimed to use federal funds to seed or strengthen finance programs that could keep recycling capital over time and continue producing emission benefits after the initial award period.
The core idea was to fund the creation or expansion of finance programs at the national, tribal, regional, state, or local level. Examples mentioned include low-cost lease programs and revolving loan funds, along with other financing structures that could drive adoption of eligible retrofits or cleaner diesel solutions. A key feature of the program was the expectation that the financing would include a clear borrower or lessee benefit, such as below-market interest rates, extended repayment terms, or similar incentives that reduce upfront barriers and improve affordability. In practical terms, EPA was looking for proposals that could translate grant dollars into accessible capital for fleets to purchase or lease retrofitted vehicles or equipment that reduces diesel emissions.
EPA emphasized two design expectations: maximizing the amount of project funding available for actual financing of eligible diesel emission reduction solutions, and building a program that could be sustained. That sustainability focus signals that EPA wanted applicants to think beyond a single round of loans or leases and propose structures that preserve capital, manage risk, and maintain operations, so the program could continue financing additional projects over time. The cooperative agreement instrument type also indicates EPA anticipated ongoing involvement during the project, such as oversight, coordination, and collaboration on implementation rather than a hands-off grant.
From a funding standpoint, EPA anticipated making about two awards with an estimated total funding amount of $6,000,000. Individual awards were expected to range from a floor of $1,000,000 up to a ceiling of $6,000,000, meaning one large national-scale award or two substantial awards were both plausible depending on proposal quality and scope. The opportunity was listed under CFDA 66.039, the National Clean Diesel Emissions Reduction Program, and it did not require cost sharing or matching funds according to the posted summary, though applicants would still have been expected to present a credible financial and operational plan.
Administrative details show the opportunity was posted on December 7, 2010, with a closing date of February 10, 2011, and it was archived on March 12, 2011. Eligibility was described broadly as “Others,” with EPA directing applicants to Section III of the full announcement for the precise eligible applicant types and any restrictions. For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement, EPA listed agency contacts Tyler Cooley (202-343-9561) and Ken Adler (202-343-9402).
SmartWay Finance Program (EPA) FAQs
What is the SmartWay Finance Program?
The SmartWay Finance Program was a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air and Radiation (OTAQ). It was aligned with the SmartWay Program and the National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) and focused on reducing diesel pollution across the United States.
What was the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose was to cut diesel emissions by helping applicants establish or expand finance mechanisms that make it easier and cheaper for fleets and equipment owners to adopt verified diesel emission-reduction technologies.
How was this different from a typical one-time equipment replacement grant?
Instead of primarily paying directly for equipment replacements as a one-time grant, EPA intended to use federal funds to seed or strengthen financing programs that could recycle capital over time. The goal was for the program to keep financing additional projects and continue generating emission benefits after the initial award period.
What kinds of programs or mechanisms did EPA want to fund?
EPA aimed to fund the creation or expansion of finance programs at the national, tribal, regional, state, or local level. Examples mentioned included low-cost lease programs and revolving loan funds, as well as other financing structures designed to support adoption of eligible diesel emission reduction solutions.
What was a key expected feature of the financing offered to borrowers or lessees?
The financing was expected to provide a clear benefit to the borrower or lessee, such as below-market interest rates, extended repayment terms, or similar incentives that reduce upfront barriers and improve affordability.
What types of emission-reduction actions was the financing meant to support?
The intent was to provide accessible capital for fleets to purchase or lease retrofitted vehicles or equipment that reduces diesel emissions, using verified diesel emission-reduction technologies.
What were EPA's major program design expectations?
EPA emphasized two major expectations: (1) maximizing the portion of project funding that would be available for actual financing of eligible diesel emission reduction solutions, and (2) building a program that could be sustained over time rather than operating for only a single round of financing.
What does "sustainable" mean in the context of this program?
It means EPA wanted applicants to propose financing structures that preserve capital, manage risk, and maintain operations so the program could continue making loans or leases and financing additional diesel emission-reduction projects beyond the initial award period.
What funding instrument did EPA plan to use?
EPA planned to use a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply about EPA's involvement?
The cooperative agreement instrument suggests EPA anticipated ongoing involvement during the project, such as oversight, coordination, and collaboration on implementation, rather than a fully hands-off approach.
How many awards did EPA anticipate making?
EPA anticipated making about two awards.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount was $6,000,000.
What was the expected award size range?
Individual awards were expected to range from $1,000,000 (floor) up to $6,000,000 (ceiling).
Could the funding have been made as one large award or multiple awards?
Yes. Based on the posted range and total, one large national-scale award or two substantial awards were both plausible depending on proposal quality and scope.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching funds were required according to the posted summary.
If matching was not required, what was still expected from applicants financially?
Even without a matching requirement, applicants were still expected to present a credible financial and operational plan for the proposed finance program.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 66.039, the National Clean Diesel Emissions Reduction Program.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on December 7, 2010.
What was the application closing date?
The closing date was February 10, 2011.
When was the opportunity archived?
It was archived on March 12, 2011.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described broadly as "Others." EPA directed applicants to Section III of the full announcement for the specific eligible applicant types and any restrictions.
Where would applicants find the precise eligibility rules and restrictions?
EPA indicated that the precise eligible applicant types and any restrictions were located in Section III of the full announcement.
Who were the EPA contacts for help accessing the full announcement?
EPA listed Tyler Cooley (202-343-9561) and Ken Adler (202-343-9402) as agency contacts for applicants needing help accessing the full announcement.
What EPA office administered this opportunity?
The opportunity was under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air and Radiation, OTAQ.
How did this opportunity relate to other EPA initiatives?
It was aligned with the SmartWay Program and the National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC), and it was associated with the National Clean Diesel Emissions Reduction Program (CFDA 66.039).
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