GFO-20-602Zero-Emission Transit Fleet Infrastructure Deployment

Addendum 1September 24, 2020

Disclaimer: Textual content contained within brackets to be removed.

The purpose of this addendum is to make the following revisions to the Solicitation Manual and Attachment 11, Past Performance Reference Form: Page 6 of the Solicitation Manual, Section I.D., Key Activities and Dates:   

ACTIVITY   ACTION DATE   Anticipated Distribution of Questions/Answers September 24, 2020 Deadline to Submit Applications by 5:00 p.m.* 

November 13, 2020  

Anticipated Notice of Proposed Awards Posting   December 2020   Anticipated CEC Business Meeting   February   2021   

 Page 7 of the Solicitation Manual, Section I.F., Availability of Funds: 

A total of $20.0 million is available for awards under this solicitation.

Applicants will be divided into four categories based on Type of Fleet Conversion[ the type of fleet conversion and the number of zero-emission buses that supported at the fleet’s facility].

Type of Fleet Conversion Population

Total Buses Operated in

Annual Maximum Service***

Number of Zero-Emission Buses Supported by Infrastructure

Small fleet / Rural   Area with a population

below 200,000* 

 Under 100 

 At least 10 

Small fleet / Urban   

Area with a population of at least 200,000 

 Under 100 

 At least 15 

Large fleet / Urban  Area with a population of at least 200,000 

 More than 100

 At least 25 

[Small] Multiple fleets / Shared** 

N/A More than 100 At least 25 

  

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*As last published by the Bureau of Census before December 31, 2017. The “area” is defined as the boundary of the public transit agency’s service territory. ** Conversion of more than one small fleet with a shared major corridor and shared use of infrastructure. [Large fleet(s), operating any number of total buses in annual maximum service, may act as a project partner, as long as two or more small fleets are utilizing the shared infrastructure.] *** “Annual Maximum Service” means the number of buses in revenue service that are operated during the peak season of the year, on the week and day that maximum service is provided but excludes demand response buses. Cal. Code of Regs., Title 13, Article 4.3. Innovative Clean Transit section 2023(b)(3). 

Page 8 of the Solicitation Manual, Section I.G., Maximum Award Amounts:   

Type of Fleet Conversion Maximum Award Amount  Small fleet / Rural  Up to $3.0 million Small fleet / Urban  Up to $5.0 million Large fleet / Urban  Up to $6.0 million[ Small] Multiple fleets / Shared Up to $6.0 million

Page 8 of the Solicitation Manual, Section I.H., Maximum Number of Applications:

Applicants may submit multiple applications under this solicitation. Each proposed project must be separate and distinct and adhere to all requirements contained in this solicitation.

If multiple applications are submitted for the same public transit agency, only the highest scoring application will be eligible for funding.

Page 17 of the Solicitation Manual, Section II.C, Eligible Project Costs:

2.         For Hydrogen Refueling Infrastructure  

Compressors  Dispenser with hose and nozzles  High pressure hydrogen storage tubes  Onsite hydrogen production  Shipping  Planning and engineering design Installation  Commissioning  Project management  

 

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Page 26-27 of the Solicitation Manual, Section III.D.2.a., Applicant’s Past Performance:

a. Applicant’s Past Performance: Information provided to address past performance will not count towards the page limitations and should be addressed in Attachment 11, Past Performance Reference Form.

The Applicant should address performance under current or prior [funding] agreements using public funding (e.g., contract, grant, or loan), including agreements with the CEC, [and ]other public agencies, and those that used Settlement Funds administered by a public agency. This must include all CEC agreements (e.g., contract, grant, or loan) within the last 10 years (if any) and the 5 most recent agreements with other public agencies within the past 10 years (if any). Applicants should indicate whether the projects were successfully completed in a timely manner. Applicants should:

1. Provide a list of all [grant] agreements with the CEC [and other public agencies] received by the Applicant [or team] in the last 10 years (if applicable).

2. Provide a list of the 5 most recent agreements (e.g., contract, grant, or loan) with other public agencies received by the Applicant within the past 10 years (if applicable).

3. Provide references for the agreements [grants] received by the Applicant and identified above [or team in the last 10 years, or for similar or related types of projects completed in the last 10 years,] to verify the Applicant’s [or team’s] past performance. Each reference must include a contact person name and phone number (or email address). If contacted by CEC staff, references should be able to speak to the Applicant’s ability to successfully complete projects in a timely manner and their performance.

4. (For projects that did not complete (or timely complete) project objectives) Describe the challenges faced, what led to those challenges and indicate whether those challenges were within the Applicant’s control.

5. Describe any severe audit findings and how they were ultimately addressed and resolved.

6. Describe the final outcome of the project.

Page 27 of the Solicitation Manual, Section III.D.2.b., Team Experience and Qualifications:

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1. Team Qualifications. Describe how the project team’s experience and qualifications are well rounded and suitable to the tasks described in the proposed Scope of Work. If the description of the team’s experience and qualifications includes a specific project(s) under current or prior agreements with public funding, the Applicant must submit a Past Performance Reference Form(s) (Attachment 11) for the project(s), even if the team member is not the primary Applicant.

Page 28-29 of the Solicitation Manual, Section III.D.2.c., Project Readiness and Implementation:

4. Vehicle Acquisition. Describe the timeline for deploying zero-emission transit vehicles. Applications must include a deployment schedule that ensures successful project completion within the timeframe specified in this solicitation. Application shall include information documenting other vehicle populations that will utilize infrastructure upon installation and include plans for future vehicle acquisitions beyond project closeout. Applicants must describe the transit fleet’s replacement schedule and zero-emission bus transition plans. Applications must also include information documenting total number of transit vehicles within the fleet that have the potential of being replaced with a zero-emission bus.

5. Equipment Acquisition. Describe how the equipment to be deployed is appropriate for the proposed project and [leads to successful] will be used to accelerate deployment of zero-emission transit [vehicles]buses in the future.   Applications shall describe equipment manufacturers, connector/refueling standards, fuel delivery methods (for hydrogen projects), security measures, and safety standards. 

Page 29 of the Solicitation Manual, Section III.D.2.d., Project Budget:

1. Cost Effectiveness. Discuss how the proposed budget implements cost-saving strategies that reduce the amount of CEC funding necessary for project completion. Describe how administrative and overhead expenses are minimized.  Explain how the planned deployment will help avoid greater costs in the future, and how the planned investments today will help reduce future investments.

Page 34 of the Solicitation Manual, Section III.D. Application Organization:

9. CEQA Worksheet.Applicants must include a completed CEQA Worksheet (Attachment 7). The CEC requires this information to assist it in making its own

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determination under the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section §§ 21000 et seq). Applicants must complete the detailed CEQA Worksheet and submit it with their application. This worksheet will help Applicants and the CEC to determine CEQA compliance obligations by identifying which projects may require more extensive CEQA review. Applicants shall provide an estimate of the potential or actual impacts the proposed project has on the surrounding environment. Failure to complete the worksheet may lead to disqualification of the proposal. Projects recommended for funding must complete the CEQA process within 6 months of the release date of the NOPA. The CEC reserves the right to cancel proposed awards that do not meet this CEQA compliance deadline and recommend funding for the next, highest-scoring passing proposal submitted under this solicitation. Applicants are encouraged to provide documentation of communication with the local lead agency, if one exists (e.g., a county or city). Documentation such as a completed notice of exemption, a letter from the local agency acknowledging their role in the CEQA process, or a permit application to the lead agency that is stamped as received. If no CEQA review would be required by the local lead agency, provide documentation (letter or e-mail) from the local agency explaining why not.

Prior to approval of a proposed award, the CEC must comply with CEQA. In most cases, the CEC will act as a responsible agency.

Page 36-37 of the Solicitation Manual, Section IV.A.4., Application’s Past Performance Screening Criterion (Pass/Fail):

4. Application’s Past Performance Screening Criterion (Pass/Fail)The Applicant—defined as at least one of the following: the business, principal investigator, or lead individual acting on behalf of themselves—received funds from the CEC and/or other public agencies (e.g., contract, grant, or loan) and entered into an agreement(s) with the CEC and/or other public agencies. An Applicant must pass this screening criterion to be eligible to be scored under the evaluation criteria. The Applicant may be disqualified under this solicitation due to severe performance issues under one or more prior or active CEC and/or other public agency agreement(s) within the last 10 years. Severe

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performance issues are characterized by significant negative outcomes under an agreement and may include:

Agreement was terminated with cause. The CEC and/or other public agency filed litigation against

the Applicant. Severe audit findings are not resolved to the CEC and/or other

public agency’s satisfaction. Severe audit findings may include but not limited to funds were used inappropriately (i.e., other than as represented and approved); questioned costs remain unresolved; significant internal control weaknesses identified by an audit have not been adequately addressed by the Applicant.

If an agreement has ended, project objectives were not met, and the non-performance was caused by factors that were, or should have been, within the Recipient’s control.

Significant delays in project completion resulting in delayed benefits for California. Project completion delays of two years or more from the originally executed CAM-approved project schedule and caused by factors within the Recipient’s control may be considered significant. Additionally, project completion delays of one year or more past the project’s liquidation deadline and caused by factors within the Recipient’s control may be considered significant.

Deliverables were not submitted to the CEC and/or other public agency or were of poor quality or consistently late. For example, Recipient delivered poorly written reports that required significant rework by staff prior to acceptance or publication.

Demonstrated and documented poor or delayed communication when significant issues or setbacks were experienced that materially and negatively impacted the project. For example, delays in informing the CEC and/or other public agency when the Recipient experiences loss of a key project partner or site control may be considered significant.

Page 41-42 of the Solicitation Manual, Section IV.E., Evaluation Criteria: 

Criterion  Possible Points 

2. Project Readiness and Implementation Applications will be evaluated on the degree to which: 

Required permitting for the proposed project has been completed or the permitting schedule ensures successful project completion within the timeframes specified in this

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solicitation.  Site control is secured.  Thorough safety, maintenance, and training procedures will

be in place.  The project has achieved compliance under the CEQA or

can be completed within the timeframes specified in this solicitation. 

The infrastructure to be deployed is appropriate for the project’s vehicle population and [leads to successful] will be used to accelerate deployment of zero-emission buses in the future.

The transit agency’s fleet replacement schedule and zero-emission bus transition plans are accelerated and realistic.

The date for full deployment of zero-emission vehicles is expedited and no later than March 31, 2025. 

The plans for future vehicle acquisitions beyond project closeout are described and demonstrate greater market adoption.    

Equipment manufacturers, connector/refueling standards, fuel delivery methods (for hydrogen projects), security measures, and safety standards is appropriate for the proposed project and leads to successful deployment of zero-emission buses. 

The tasks in the Scope of Work contribute to the successful and timely completion of the proposed project. 

Equipment service support will be deployed to address issues in the field when they arise.  

The proposed equipment will continue to operate beyond the term of the CEC’s funding agreement. 

Planned community outreach is appropriate and comprehensive and contributes to the overall success of the proposed project. 

Page 42 of the Solicitation Manual, Section IV.E. Evaluation Criteria:  

Criterion  Possible Points 

3. Project BudgetApplications will be evaluated on the degree to which: 

The proposed budget implements cost-saving strategies that reduce the amount of CEC funding necessary for

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project completion. Administrative and overhead costs are minimized. The planned deployment is expected to avoid or

decrease future costs and, reduce the need for future investments.

The proposed project will cost-effectively reduce GHG emissions, in terms of dollars of CEC funding divided by the amount of GHGs reduced annually.

The Applicant demonstrates the need for state funds for successful completion of the proposed project.

The budget is reasonable, and the budget forms are filled out completely and accurately.

Match share funds are documented, committed, and readily available for the proposed project.

Attachment 11, Past Performance Reference Form:

Provide references for CEC agreements (e.g., contract, grant, or loan) [grants] received by the Applicant [or team] in the last 10 years and the 5 most recent agreements with other public agencies within the past 10 years[, or for similar or related types of projects completed in the last 10 years,] to verify Applicant’s [or team’s] past performance. Each reference must include a contact person name and phone number (or email address). If contacted by California Energy Commission staff, references should be able to speak to Applicant’s ability to successfully complete projects in a timely manner.

In response to Section III.D.2.b., Team Experience and Qualifications, if the team’s experience and qualifications includes a specific project(s) under current or prior agreements with public funding (e.g., contract, grant, or loan) , the Applicant must also submit a Past Performance Reference Form(s) for the project(s), even if the team member is not the primary Applicant.

Applicants should fill out a separate Past Performance Reference Form for each reference[ addressed in the Project Narrative].

Tonya Heron,Commission Agreement Officer