13T0079 and CMM-6000 (306) and 13T0039

Federal-aid Highway Program: The purpose of the Federal-aid Highway Program is to assist the States in providing for construction, preservation, and improvement of highways and bridges on eligible Federal-Aid routes, (including the National Highway System (NHS) - an integrated, interconnected transportation system important to interstate commerce and travel), and for other special purpose programs and projects. The Federal Lands Highway Program: The Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP) provides assistance to the Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs) for Federally-owned roads and trails. It provides transportation engineering services and funding for planning, design, construction, and rehabilitation of the highways and bridges that are on or provide access to federally owned lands. The FAST Act established two new freight programs: the formula-based National Highway Freight Program (NHFP) which provides funds to the States to improve efficient movement of freight on the National Highway Freight Network (NHFN); and the discretionary Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects (NSFHP) program which provides targeted investment to freight projects on the NHFN as well as highway and bridge projects on the NHS and railway-highway grade crossing or grade separation projects. The Highway Infrastructure Programs in the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2018, included two new discretionary programs: Competitive Bridge Program and Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program.

23 U.S.C 149

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The purpose of CMAQ funding is to enable the State to make awards to grantees for implementing eligible projects that reduce diesel emissions from on-road vehicles in the Chicago ozone nonattainment area where there is a disproportionate amount of diesel emissions and where air quality improvements are needed.

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Will add when doing a specific posting.

ALL;

Eligible applicants include public schools, public school districts, private schools, private school districts, and non-profit organizations that own and operate Class 4-8 diesel school buses and provide school transportation services for their students in the Chicago area. Furthermore, commercial school bus companies that own and operate Class 4-8 diesel school buses and that provide school bus transportation services for public schools, public school districts, private schools, private school districts, and non-profit organizations in the Chicago area are eligible to apply. Selected applicants are required to own and operate the heaters on school buses that operate at least 80 percent of the time in the Chicago area for a minimum of five years from the date of installation, unless otherwise agreed to by the Illinois EPA.

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Project Grants

Public Safety

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All applicants must be prequalified in the GATA portal.

Add specific information during next funding opportunity.

1. Criteria All applications will be reviewed for administrative completeness and adherence to the competitive grant evaluation merit-based criteria described in this NOFO. Applications found to be administratively complete will undergo a comprehensive, merit-based review performed in compliance with GATA and 2 CFR 200 Uniform Requirements. The merit-based review is designed to evaluate applications against the following criteria: • Need (Identification of stakeholders, facts and evidence that demonstrate the proposal supports the grant program purpose). The purpose of the program is to achieve emissions reductions. Selected applicants must purchase and install heaters that are currently verified by the USEPA and listed on its “SmartWay Verified List of Idling Reduction Technologies for Trucks and School Buses.” Heaters that are verified by the USEPA for installation on school buses and are listed on its “SmartWay Verified List of Idling Reduction Technologies for Trucks and School Buses” reduce pollutant emissions in lieu of idling the school bus engine. In addition, the applicant must certify that it will own and operate the heaters on its school buses for a minimum five-year period from the original date of installation. Therefore, applications for heaters that are USEPA verified and where the applicant certifies that it will own and operate the heaters for a minimum of five years from the date of installation will be scored a “Yes” for achieving emissions reductions. If an application is for a heater that is not currently verified by USEPA and/or the applicant does not certify to the 10 five-year operational requirement, it will be scored a “No.” No points will be awarded. • Capacity (Ability of an entity to execute the grant project according to project requirements). This component will be evaluated based on whether the applicant’s proposed project meets school bus eligibility requirements as stated in this NOFO. The answer will be scored as either a Yes or No. No points will be awarded. • Quality (Totality of features and characteristics of a service, project or product that indicated its ability to satisfy the requirements of the grant program). This component will be evaluated based on whether the applicant’s proposed project meets the specific application funding eligibility requirements established in the NOFO, which includes the type of applicant, location of bus operation, and other specific project-type eligibility requirements. The answer will be scored as either a Yes or No. No points will be awarded. Awards will be based on whether applicants meet the criteria of need, capacity, and quality. In the event there are insufficient funds to provide awards to all applications meeting the meritbased criteria, awards will be made according to the order in which the applications were received (time and date) until no funds remain. Partial funding may be awarded. Cost-sharing is mandatory for commercial school bus companies under this program but will not otherwise be considered in the application evaluation. 2. Review and Selection Process Additional review and selection processes are provided below. • If the Agency determines that an applicant incorrectly calculated or indicated the project cost, applicant cost-share, and/or total funding request based on the applicable cost estimate, required cost shares, or eligible costs, the application will still be accepted and reviewed. If the applicant is awarded a grant, the Agency will contact the applicant and request a decision from the applicant as to whether it will accept the award based on the Agency’s determination of the project cost, applicant cost-share, and/or total funding requested. If the applicant does not accept the Agency’s determination, the application will be rejected. • Any remaining eligible project applicants/applications not funded may be eligible to reapply in future funding rounds depending on the eligibility criteria of the subsequent funding round. • Illinois EPA staff will be responsible for evaluating applications. • A merit-based evaluation appeal process is available to applicants, but appeals are limited to the evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested. Only the evaluation process is subject to appeal. An appeal must be submitted in writing to the following address: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Attn: Driving a Cleaner Illinois 11 Program, Bureau of Air, 1021 N. Grand Avenue East, Mail Code 40, PO Box 19276, Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276. Appeals must be received within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published by the Illinois EPA to grants.Illinois.gov. The written appeal should include at a minimum the following: the name and address of the appealing party, identification of the grant, and a statement of reasons for the appeal. The Agency will acknowledge receipt of an appeal within 14 calendar days from the date the appeal was received. When an appeal is received, the execution of all grant agreements that the Illinois EPA intends to make under this NOFO shall be stayed until the appeal is resolved, unless the Illinois EPA determines the needs of the State require moving forward with execution of the grant agreements. The State need determination and rationale shall be documented in writing. The Agency will respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by the Illinois EPA within the time period set in the request. The Illinois EPA will resolve the appeal by means of written determination, which shall include, but not be limited to, review of the appeal, appeal determination, and rationale for the determination.

After the Illinois EPA has made the final decision, any successful applicant will receive a Notice of State Award (“NOSA”), which specifies the funding terms and specific conditions resulting from pre-award risk assessments. The NOSA will be distributed through the Grantee Portal, and it must be accepted through the Portal. The NOSA must be accepted before a Grant Agreement can be sent to the applicant. Once all the final requirements have been completed, the Grant Agreement between the Illinois EPA and the applicant will be sent for the applicant to sign and return. Once the agreement is fully executed by the Agency, a copy will be returned to the applicant. Only after the Grant Agreement has been signed by the Director of the Illinois EPA can expenses be incurred for grant reimbursement. Any expenses incurred outside of the grant period (before or after) are at the applicant’s risk and are not eligible either as match or for reimbursement related to the grant unless a waiver has been previously issued.

Agency Specific deadline will be added.

Agency Specific range will be added.

An appeal process is available to applicants and other interested parties; however, appeals are limited to the Illinois EPA evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested. An appeal must be submitted in writing to the Illinois EPA and must be received within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published by the Illinois EPA on Grants.Illinois.gov. The written appeal shall include at a minimum the following: the name and address of the appealing party, identification of the grant, and a statement of reasons for the appeal. Illinois EPA shall acknowledge receipt of an appeal within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the appeal was received. When an appeal is received, the execution of the grant agreement that Illinois EPA intends to make under this NOFO shall be stayed until the appeal is resolved. Illinois EPA shall respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by Illinois EPA within the time period set in the request. The Director of the Illinois EPA may appoint one or more Appeal Review Officers (ARO) to consider the grant-related appeal and make a recommendation to the Director of the Illinois EPA or designee for resolution. The ARO shall make a recommendation to the Director of the Illinois EPA or designee as expeditiously as possible after receiving all relevant, requested information. In determining the appropriate recommendation, the ARO shall consider the integrity of the competitive grant process and the impact of the recommendation on the Illinois EPA. The Illinois EPA shall resolve the appeal by means of written determination, which shall include, but not be limited to: review of the appeal, appeal determination, and rationale for the determination.

Eligible if grantee meet the requirements per the GATA rules.

Grant Amounts and Eligible Costs Illinois EPA will provide grants to reimburse 100 percent of eligible costs per heater unit for the purchase and installation of eligible heaters on diesel school buses owned by public schools, public school districts, private schools, private school districts, and non-profit organizations that provide school transportation services in the Chicago area. Illinois EPA will provide grants to reimburse 50 percent of eligible costs for the purchase and installation of eligible heaters on diesel school buses owned by commercial school bus companies that provide school bus transportation services for public schools, public school districts, private schools private school districts, and non-profit organizations in the Chicago area. Eligible costs include the heater unit, installation costs, delivery charges, and the costs for auxiliary components and hardware needed for the proper installation and functioning of the unit. Other costs, such as taxes and applicant’s administrative costs, are the responsibility of the applicant. Cost Sharing For applicants eligible for reimbursement of 100 percent of eligible costs, there is no cost sharing for the grants offered under this NOFO. For eligible commercial school bus companies, Illinois EPA requires a 50 percent mandatory cost share of the eligible costs. In-kind contributions are not acceptable for meeting the required cost share. Indirect Costs Indirect costs are not eligible for reimbursement.

No indirect costs will be eligible for reimbursement. The award will not allow for reimbursement of pre-award costs. Only eligible costs will be reimbursed to the applicant. Eligible costs for the new heaters include the heater unit, installation costs, delivery charges, and the costs for auxiliary components and hardware needed for the proper installation and functioning of the unit. Other costs, such as taxes and applicant’s administrative costs, are not eligible costs and are the responsibility of the applicant. Applicants may not use funds to fund the cost of emissions reductions that are mandated or required under federal law or regulation or by any court, consent order, decree, or agreement of any kind.

All grantees will be required to submit reports to the Illinois EPA describing the progress of the projects and costs incurred during the reporting period. Grantees must report the status of the project, specific tasks completed during the reporting period, tasks that remain to be completed, specific costs incurred and paid by the grantee during the reporting period, and projected date of project completion. A template of the report will be attached to the Grant Agreement. Grantees are required to provide reports consistent with the Grant Funds Recovery Act (30 ILCS 705). In addition, a final project report will be required.

Per GATA Administrative Rules

Per GATA Administrative Rules

Add specific when posting.

Add specific when posting.

Add specific when posting.

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Springfield, IL

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10/7/2021

FY 2015 : $2,508,000
FY 2016 : $2,186,000
FY 2017 : $1,824,000
FY 2019 : $2,127,311
FY 2020 : $1,827,919
FY 2021 : $299