GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
ADVANCED VEHICLE-GRID INTEGRATION RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION
GFO-16-303
http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/index.html
State of California
California Energy Commission
July 2016
Table of Contents
I. Introduction 1
A. Purpose of Solicitation 1
B. Applicants’ Admonishment 4
C. additional requirements 4
D. Background 5
E. Funding 9
F. Key Activities Schedule 12
G. Pre-Application Workshop 12
H. Questions 13
II. Eligibility Requirements 15
A. Applicant Requirements 15
B. Project Requirements 15
III. Application Organization and Submission Instructions 21
A. Application Format, Page Limits, and Number of Copies 21
B. Electronic Method For Delivery 22
C. Hard Copy Delivery 22
D. Application Organization and Content 23
IV. Evaluation and Award Process 28
A. Application Evaluation 28
B. Ranking, Notice of Proposed Award, and Agreement Development 28
C. Grounds to Reject an Application or Cancel an Award 29
D. Miscellaneous 30
E. Stage One: Application Screening 31
Stage Two: Application Scoring 32
AttachmentsAttachment Number / Title
1 / Application Form (requires signature)
2 / Executive Summary Form
3 / Fact Sheet Template
4 / Project Narrative Form
5 / Project Team Form
6 / Scope of Work Template
6a / Scope of Work Template: Project Schedule (Excel spreadsheet)
7 / Budget Forms (Excel spreadsheet)
8 / CEQA Compliance Form
9 / Reference and Work Product Form
10 / Contact List Template
11 / Commitment and Support Letter Form (letters require signature)
12 / References for Calculating Energy End-Use, Electricity Demand, and GHG Emissions
July 2016 Page i GFO-16-303
Advanced Vehicle-Grid Integration
Research And Demonstration
I. Introduction
A. Purpose of Solicitation
The purpose of this solicitation is to fund Applied Research and Development (AR&D) and Technology Demonstration and Deployment (TD&D) projects. The projects from this solicitation will advance technologies for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), including charging systems; communications for bi-directional power flow; recycling of PEV batteries; and integration of PEV fleets to help California achieve the Governor’s Executive Order B-16-2012 goal of reaching 1.5 million zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) on California’s roadways by 2025.
Projects must fall within the following four project groups and meet the objectives specified below for each group:
· Group 1: Smart and Efficient Charging of PEVs
· Group 2: Advanced Vehicle-Grid Integration (VGI) Technologies and Methods
· Group 3: Advanced Technologies for PEV Batteries
· Group 4: Advanced VGI for Fleets
The intent of the first three project groups is to fund AR&D projects that effectively integrate PEVs into the electricity grid by enabling a higher mix of renewable resources, advancing the capabilities of PEVs, and improving the commercial viability of PEVs. Projects within these groups will research, develop, and advance technologies that optimize the benefits of PEVs to the electricity system by:
· Developing advanced tools and methods for smart and efficient charging with a focus on addressing intermittency and over-generation issues associated with renewable generation, allowing for a higher mix of renewable resources;
· Developing communication and protocols to enable bi-directional power flow to perform vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-building (V2B) strategies expanding into home and private/public fleet applications; and
· Further developing and evaluating advanced technologies and methods for safe and efficient recycling of PEV batteries.
The intent of the fourth project group is to fund TD&D projects that yield and quantify multiple real-world benefits of advanced vehicle-grid integration (VGI) applications for electric vehicle fleets. Projects within this group will be full-scale demonstrations of the integration of PEV fleet(s) with the electric grid and customer sites, with the aim of accelerating commercialization. Projects must validate the economics and operating characteristics of any one or combination of the following technologies: actively-managed "smart" one-way charging (SC); V2B; and V2G, which are all elements of VGI.
See Part II of this solicitation manual for project eligibility requirements. Applications will be evaluated in the following sequence: in Stage One the proposals will be screened for completeness, and in Stage Two the proposals will be quantitatively scored. Applicants may submit multiple applications, even for the same project group. However, each application must be labeled as responding to only one of the project groups identified above. If an applicant submits multiple applications that address the same project group, then each application must be for a distinct project (i.e. no overlap with respect to the tasks described in the Scope of Work, Attachment 2). If an applicant or subcontractor is involved in more than one proposal responding to this solicitation, then the applicant or subcontractor must be able to perform in the event multiple or all proposals they appear in are selected for funding awards.
Key Words/Terms
Word/Term / Definition /Applicant / The respondent to this solicitation
Application / An applicant’s formal written response to this solicitation
AR&D / Applied Research and Development
CAM / Commission Agreement Manager, the person designated by the Energy Commission to oversee the performance of an agreement resulting from this solicitation and to serve as the main point of contact for the Recipient
Days / Days refers to calendar days
Disadvantaged Community / These are communities defined as areas representing census tracts scoring in the top 25 percent in CalEnviroScreen 2.0. (http://oehha.ca.gov/ej/ces2.html)
EPIC / Electric Program Investment Charge, the source of funding for the projects awarded under this solicitation
Energy Commission / California Energy Commission
GFO / Grant Funding Opportunity; may be used interchangeably with “solicitation.”
IOU / Investor-owned utility, including Pacific Gas and Electric Co., San Diego Gas and Electric Co., and Southern California Edison Co.
NOPA / Notice of Proposed Award, a public notice that identifies award recipients
PEV / Plug-in electric vehicle
Pre-Commercial / Pre-commercial technology means a technology that has not reached commercial maturity or been deployed at scales sufficiently large and in conditions sufficiently reflective of anticipated actual operating environments to enable the appraisal of operational and performance characteristics, or of financial risks.
Principal Investigator / The lead scientist or engineer for the applicant’s project, who is responsible for overseeing the project; in some instances, the PrincipaI Investigator and Project Manager may be the same person
Project Manager / The person designated by the applicant to oversee the project and to serve as the main point of contact for the Energy Commission
Project Partner / An entity or individual that contributes financially or otherwise to the project (e.g., match funding, provision of a demonstration site), and does not receive Energy Commission funds
Recipient / The recipient of an award under this solicitation
Solicitation / This entire document, including all attachments and exhibits (“solicitation” may be used interchangeably with “Grant Funding Opportunity”)
State / State of California
SC / “Smart charging,” actively-managed one-way PEV charging
TD&D / Technology Demonstration and Deployment
V2B / Vehicle-to-building
V2G / Vehicle-to-grid
VGI / Vehicle-grid integration
ZEV / Zero-emission vehicle
B. Applicants’ Admonishment
This solicitation contains application requirements and instructions. Applicants are responsible for carefully reading the solicitation, asking appropriate questions in a timely manner, ensuring that all solicitation requirements are met, submitting all required responses in a complete manner by the required date and time, and carefully rereading the solicitation before submitting an application. In particular, please carefully read the Screening/Scoring Criteria and Grounds for Rejection in Part IV, and the terms and conditions located at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/contractors.html.
Applicants are responsible for the cost of developing applications. This cost cannot be charged to the State. All submitted documents will become public records upon the posting of the Notice of Proposed Award.
C. additional requirements
1. Time is of the essence. Funds available under this solicitation have encumbrance deadlines as early as June 30, 2017. This means that the Energy Commission must approve proposed awards at a regularly scheduled business meeting prior to June 30, 2017 in order to avoid expiration of the funds. Prior to approval and encumbrance, the Energy Commission must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). To comply with CEQA, the Commission must have CEQA-related information from applicants and sometimes other entities, such as local governments, in a timely manner. Unfortunately, even with this information, the Commission may not be able to complete its CEQA review prior to the encumbrance deadline for every project. For example, if a project requires an Environmental Impact Report, the process to complete it can take many months. For these reasons, it is critical that applicants organize project proposals in a manner that minimizes the time required for the Commission to comply with CEQA and provide all CEQA-related information to the Commission in a timely manner such that the Commission is able to complete its review in time for it to meet its encumbrance deadline.
2. Reservation of right to cancel proposed award. In addition to any other right reserved to it under this solicitation or that it otherwise has, if the Energy Commission determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the CEQA review associated with a proposed project would not likely be completed prior to the encumbrance deadline referenced above, and that the Commission’s ability to meet its encumbrance deadline may thereby be jeopardized, the Energy Commission may cancel a proposed award and award funds to the next highest scoring applicant, regardless of the originally proposed applicant’s diligence in submitting information and materials for CEQA review. Examples of situations which may arise related to CEQA review include but are not limited to:
· Example 1: If another jurisdiction, such as a city or county, has taken the role of lead agency, the Energy Commission’s review may be delayed while waiting for a determination from the lead agency.
· Example 2: If the proposed work is part of a larger project for which a detailed environmental analysis has been or will be prepared by another agency, the Energy Commission’s review may be delayed as a result of waiting for a supplemental or initial analysis, respectively, from the other agency.
· Example 3: If the nature of the proposed work is such that a project is not categorically or otherwise exempt from the requirements of CEQA, and an initial study or other detailed environmental analysis appears to be necessary, the Energy Commission’s review, or another lead agency’s review, may take longer than the time available to encumber the funds. If an initial study or environmental impact report has already been completed by a local jurisdiction, the applicant must ensure that such an analysis covers the work in the proposed project, or must obtain a revised analysis and determination from the local jurisdiction reviewing the proposed project.
· Example 4: If the proposed project clearly falls under a statutory or categorical exemption, or is work for which another agency has already adopted a CEQA finding, the project will likely have greater success in attaining rapid completion of CEQA requirements.
The above examples are not exhaustive of instances in which the Energy Commission may or may not be able to comply with CEQA within the encumbrance deadline, and are only provided as further clarification for potential applicants. Please plan project proposals accordingly.
D. Background
1. Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Program
This solicitation will award projects funded by the EPIC, an electricity ratepayer surcharge established by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in December 2011.[1] The purpose of the EPIC program is to benefit the ratepayers of three investor-owned utilities (IOUs), including Pacific Gas and Electric Co., San Diego Gas and Electric Co., and Southern California Edison Co. The EPIC funds clean energy technology projects that promote greater electricity reliability, lower costs, and increased safety.[2] In addition to providing IOU ratepayer benefits, funded projects must lead to technological advancement and breakthroughs to overcome the barriers that prevent the achievement of the state’s statutory energy goals.[3] The EPIC program is administered by the California Energy Commission and the IOUs.
2. Program Areas, Strategic Objectives, and Funding Initiatives
EPIC projects must fall within the following program areas identified by the CPUC:
· Applied research and development;
· Technology demonstration and deployment; and
· Market facilitation
In addition, projects must fall within one of the general focus areas (“strategic objectives”) identified in the Energy Commission’s EPIC Investment Plans[4] [5] and within one or more specific focus areas (“funding initiatives”) identified in the plan. This solicitation targets the following program areas, strategic objectives, and funding initiatives:
2015-2017 EPIC Triennial Investment Plan
· Program Area: Applied Research and Development
· Strategic Objective S9: Advance Electric Vehicle Infrastructure to Provide Electricity System Benefits
o Funding Initiative S9.1: Advance Electric Vehicle Charging to Increase Renewable Energy Levels and Improve Grid Reliability
o Funding Initiative S9.2: Advance Vehicle-Grid Integration Technologies and Methods for Broader Use and Benefit for Residential, Private, and Public Users
o Funding Initiative S9.3: Advance Technologies and Methods to Enable Safe, Efficient, and Smart Recycling of Electric Vehicle Batteries
· Program Area: Technology Demonstration and Deployment
· Strategic Objective S16: Expand Smart Charging and Vehicle-to-Grid Power Transfer for Electric Vehicles
o Funding Initiative S16.1: Demonstrate the ability of Electric Vehicles to Provide Advanced Grid Services
3. Applicable Laws, Policies, and Background Documents
This solicitation addresses the energy goals described in the following laws, policies, and background documents.
Laws/Regulations
· Assembly Bill (AB) 32 - The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
AB 32 created a comprehensive program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in California. GHG reduction strategies include a reduction mandate of 1990 levels by 2020 and a cap-and-trade program. AB 32 also required the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to develop a Scoping Plan that describes the approach California will take to reduce GHGs. ARB must update the plan every five years.
Additional information: http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/ab32/ab32.htm
Applicable Law: California Health and Safety Code §§ 38500 et. seq.
· Assembly Bill (AB) 2514 - Energy Storage Systems (Statutes of 2010)