DOT Charging & Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program

The Department of Transportation (DOT) published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the recently enacted Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) discretionary grant program. The first round of funding will deploy up to $700 million to implement EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure projects. DOT has stated they seek to fund projects which address environmental justice, particularly for communities such as rural and low- and moderate- income neighborhoods that have been impacted by climate change. Interested entities have until May 30, 2023, to submit applications.

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) established the CFI program to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure, and natural gas fueling infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors or in certain other locations that will be accessible to all drivers of electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles, propane vehicles, and natural gas vehicles. The IIJA authorized a total of $2.5 billion over the next five fiscal years for the CFI grant program.

Funding Categories

The IIJA splits the CFI program into two funding categories, the Community Program and the Corridor Program, and requires that 50 percent of the total funding be made available equally to each.

The Community Program will have access to $1.25 billion to deploy publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure within communities. Chargers may be built on any public road such as parking facilities at public buildings, schools, and parks. For Community Program projects, awardees may contract with a private entity for the acquisition, construction, installation, maintenance, or operation of eligible infrastructure in the project.

The Corridor Program will have access to $1.25 billion to deploy publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure along designated alternative fueling corridors. Projects under the Corridor Program, awardees must contract with a private entity for acquisition and installation of eligible infrastructure. Awardees must provide a private entity with operating assistance for the first five years of operations after the installation.

Eligible Applicants

• County governments
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• City or township governments
• State governments
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Special district governments
• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities

Cost-Share Requirements

The IIJA provides that the maximum federal share for projects is 80 percent of the total project cost with awardees providing 20 percent of the total project cost. If an awardee contracts with a private entity, such as a corporate entity, the private entity is responsible for the 20 percent.

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Webinar: Charging & Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program

On March 22, 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) held a webinar outlining the release of their notice of funding opportunity relating to the charging and fueling infrastructure discretionary grant program. Specifically, the webinar provided an overview of the CFI program, available funding and program eligibility, an application overview, and an outline of the application review process. Below is a summary of the webinar:

Welcoming Remarks

The webinar began with opening remarks from the executive director of join office of energy and transportation, Gabe Klein and the FHWA administrator Shailen Bhatt. Both individuals provided an overview of their agency’s role with the implementation of electric infrastructure around the country. They also provided the resources each agency can provide to interested applicants as they proceed through the application process.

Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program Overview

CFI Overview and Program Goals

• The CFI Program was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
• The CFI was authorized to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure along designated alternative furl corridors.
• Program goals include accelerating an electrified and alternative fuel transportation system.

Eligible Infrastructure for the CFI Grant Program

• EV Charging and other alternative fueling infrastructure systems include
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
  • Hydrogen Fueling
  • Natural Gas Fueling
    • Compressed and Liquified Natural Gas
  • Propane Fueling

Available Funding & Program Eligibility

Award Size

• Community Program Grants
  • Minimum Anticipated Award: $500,000
  • Maximum Award: $15 million
  • Amount Available: $350 million (FY 22 & FY 23)
• Corridor Program Grants
  • Minimum Anticipated Award: $1 million
  • Maximum Award: No maximum award size
  • Amount Available: $350 million (FY 22 & FY 23)

Community Program Eligible Projects

• Any projected that is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expands access to infrastructure.
• Infrastructure is publicly accessible and related to charging and fueling infrastructure.
• Awardees may contract with a private entity for the acquisition, construction, installation, maintenance, or operation of eligible projects.

Corridor Program Eligible Projects

• Eligible projects are expected to support buildout of charging or alternative fueling infrastructure along designated corridors.
• Infrastructure is publicly accessible and related to charging and fueling infrastructure.
• Projects must be located along an alternative fuel corridor, on the condition that any affected Indian tribes are consulted before designation.
• Awardees must contract with a private entity for the acquisition, construction, installation, maintenance, or operation of eligible projects. Awardees must also provide such private entity with operating assistance for the first five years after installation.

Application Overview

Content and Form of Application

• Applications must include the required standard forms listed on the notice of funding opportunity and a narrative document that addresses the following items:
  • Project Narrative
  • Budget Information
  • Project Merit Criteria
  • Project Readiness and Environmental Risk

Project Narrative Requirements

• Description of project location;
• Description of how the projects expands community-based infrastructure or fills gaps in access; and
• Description of how funds will be spent on various portions of the projects.

Project Merit Criteria

• The following factors are taken into consideration when discussing a projects merit:
  • Safety
  • Climate Change, Resilience, and Sustainability
  • Equity, Community Engagement, and Justice40
  • Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth Creation
  • CFI Program Vision

DOT Priority Considerations

• DOT will prioritize projects which demonstrate exceptional benefits under:
  • Merit Criteria #3: Equity, Community Engagement, and Justice40;
  • Merit Criteria #4: Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth Creation
  • Merit Criteria #5: CFI Program Vision

Selection, Review, and Submission Process

Overall Application Rating

• Highly Recommended:
  • Meets all eligibility requirements; and
  • Receives a highly qualified rating in at least three of the five project merit criteria and at least a rating of qualified for each project merit criteria.
• Recommended:
  • Meets all eligibility requirements: and
  • Receives a rating of qualified for each project merit criteria.
• Not Recommended:
  • Does not meet one or more eligibility requirements; or
  • Receives a rating of not qualified in any of the project merit criteria.

Review Process

• The application Technical Review Team will produce the overall project rating and an evaluation of responsiveness to DOT Statutory Selection Priorities and DOT Priority Considerations.
• A FHWA Senior Review Team will identify which projects to advance to the Administrator.
• The FHWA Administrator will decide which projects to advance to the Secretary.
• The Secretary makes final project selections.