​​​​​​​GFO-25-604 – California’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program - Solicitation 4

This form must be completed and submitted as part of your application.

Please refer to Attachment 00 - Solicitation Manual for detailed information, instructions, and program requirements.

Please respond to the following questions to describe the project. The questions are organized into seven sections: Applicant Overview, EV Charging Station Location and Equipment, Project Readiness, Expected Project Benefits, Project Budget and Finances, Operations and Maintenance Plan, and Team Experience and Qualifications. The Project Narrative will be scored according to the evaluation criteria in Section IV. E. and scoring scales found in Section IV. D. of Attachment 00 - Solicitation Manual. All questions must be answered unless otherwise noted.

In your response, please keep the section headings as well as the individual prompts within them. The limit for the Project Narrative, including all sections, is 25 pages. The limit for the Operations and Maintenance Plan is 5 pages and counts toward the overall 25-page limit.

Section 1: Applicant Overview

Note: This section is not scored and is for informational purposes only to identify the applicant and the proposed project.

Section 2: EV Charging Station Location and Equipment

Describe the expected customer base of the EV charging station (e.g., open to the public, or restricted to specific MDHD fleet customers). Provide a compelling justification for the specific proposed EV charging station location in terms of how it will serve the needs of those expected customers.

Calculate the maximum distance between the proposed station location and the end of the off-ramp, or highway intersection if there is no off-ramp, to demonstrate the proposed project will satisfy the one-mile or less distance requirement by attaching a screen shot showing the distance calculation from a commercially available distance measuring tool. Explain how the proposed EV charging station location will be easily accessible from the Alternative Fuel Corridor.

Explain the rationale for the types of charging equipment, number of charging ports, and types of connectors proposed based on expected customer needs.

Explain if the proposed EV charging station is located at or adjacent to an existing site where MDHD EV charging already occurs.

Explain how the station site design will provide excellent customer experience, including plans for lighting and shelter. Describe the stall configurations, including how MDHD turning radii will be accommodated. If proposing to serve LD EV customers in addition to MDHD EV customers, explain how the stalls will be clearly differentiated, and how the different customer groups will be separated to ensure safety and comfort. Narrative should be supported by and consistent with a Preliminary Site Plan (Attachment 5).

Discuss the proposed EV charging station's onsite or nearby amenities including restrooms, retail shops, restaurants, and other attributes relevant to the experience of charging station customers.

Identify the grid connection supply and capacity. Identify any proposed renewable DER equipment such as solar arrays or BESS that will be used to reliably supply and manage power at the proposed EV charging station. If the proposal includes renewable DER equipment, explain how these features will lead to lower costs to consumers and greater EV charging station reliability, and how they will not increase the timeline for completing the proposed project.

Section 3: Project Readiness

Explain the status of site control or access rights for the proposed charging station property. Provide backup documentation, including, but not limited to: leases, proof of ownership, site host agreements, or letters of intent, in the Letters of Commitment attachment (Attachment 4). If control or access rights are not secured at the time of application, explain how control or access rights will be obtained and the anticipated timeline to do so.

Identify the entity(ies) that will own and operate the proposed EV charging station and associated equipment and explain their readiness to assume those responsibilities.

Explain the zoning for the site and provide a comprehensive list of permits required for the EV charging station as well as the permitting agencies with which the Applicant will need to coordinate. Identify which required permits have been obtained already or describe how the Applicant plans to obtain the permits required for the project and coordinate with the relevant permitting agencies in a timely manner.

Explain progress made in obtaining a CEQA determination for the EV charging station, from outreach to the local authority having jurisdiction up to actual receipt of a notice of exemption or a determination that no CEQA review is required. Supporting information should be provided in the CEQA Worksheet (Attachment 6).

Explain if any of the following environmental issues were identified when completing the NEPA PES Form (Attachment 7): The proposed EV charging station site is in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) or have open cleanup cases within a 1,000-foot radius. How to find this information is explained in Section III.D.7 of this manual. Supporting documentation should be provided in the NEPA PES Form (Attachment 7).

Complete a Utility Verification Form (Attachment 8) and discuss the likely available electrical capacity for the project site. Discuss the plan and timeline for reaching full electrical capacity to deliver the nameplate capacity of the EV charging equipment.

Document any communications with the manufacturer(s) that identify the estimated timeline to deliver equipment including chargers, switchgear, BESS, and any other equipment proposed for installation.

In case the charging station location must be changed, explain if any backup sites have already been identified or describe the process by which a new site will be selected and evaluated to assure it meets or exceeds the original site characteristics. Describe the likely duration time of that process.

Section 4: Expected Project Benefits

Discuss methods that will be deployed to reduce or minimize the charging cost to drivers. Document your assumptions.

Describe and quantify the expected utilization of the installed charging equipment from MDHD vehicles including specific fleets. Include justification to substantiate the expected utilization.

Explain the estimated return on investment and the project team's plans for ensuring station utilization increases over time.

Describe the outreach conducted in the community, how the project is responsive to community input, and how the surrounding local community will benefit from the installation or expansion of MDHD charging infrastructure.

Discuss any plans for hiring, apprenticeships, or other workforce development components to the proposed project that will bring economic benefits to the local communities surrounding the proposed station site.

Explain how the proposed project will meet or exceed the solicitation's goal of 25 percent small business participation.

Section 5: Project Budget and Finances

Describe how the proposed project's budget is cost effective in maximizing the number of proposed eligible charging ports per CEC dollar requested.

Describe how the proposed project's budget is cost effective in maximizing the aggregate new charging capacity (kW) across all eligible charging ports per CEC dollar requested.

Provide a clear and well-supported cost rationale for the requested CEC funds, including cost-per-new-CCS-port and cost-per-kW.

Describe how the proposed budget minimizes administrative and overhead expenses.

Provide the amount of Match Funds (cash and/or in-kind) and provide verification and documentation of the source and availability. Applicants must provide a Letter of Commitment (Attachment 4) documenting their funding support. Provide details (name and business location, type of entity, amount, etc.) for each match share funding partner.

Provide rationale as to why public funds are necessary for the proposed project and identify why the proposed use of public funds is crucial to project success.

Describe how the proposed project will use income or revenue earned from the operation of the EV charging station in compliance with the 23 CFR 680.106(m) and describe how the Applicant will supply the CEC with documentation to verify compliance during the first five years of operations.

Present credible strategies to secure additional capital, as needed, to ensure project success and to continue operations and maintenance of the project beyond the term of the funding agreement.

Section 6: Operations and Maintenance Plan (Limit: 5 pages)

Applicants must submit an Operations and Maintenance Plan that details their strategy to operate and maintain the charging equipment funded through this solicitation for at least five years after its commissioning date. The plan should address, but is not limited to:

Demonstration of how each charging port will achieve an average annual uptime of greater than 97 percent.

Strategies to physically secure the site and limit or prevent tampering with or damage to equipment at the charging station.

Strategies and timelines to provide prompt attention to chargers that are not operational and carry out repairs to maximize uptime.

Site host training and responsibilities of the site host in conducting operations and maintenance.

Who will be responsible for maintaining the charging station, charging equipment, and all ancillary equipment, including but not limited to any awnings, canopies, shelters, restrooms, and information display kiosks or signage associated with the charging station. "Maintain," as used in this solicitation means "to provide all needed repairs or desired and approved alteration, as well as to clean the equipment and keep it safe and presentable."

The Applicant's plan to continue the proposed project beyond the agreement term and minimum five-year operation, maintenance, and data reporting period.

Section 7: Team Experience and Qualifications

Identify, by name, all key personnel assigned to the project, including the project manager, and clearly describe their individual areas of responsibility. The project manager is the one individual responsible for interacting with the Commission Agreement Manager (CAM) on all issues relating to the overall project and coordinating all aspects of work under the project.

Identify members of the project team with at least three (3) years of experience designing, planning, constructing, testing, operating, or maintaining EV charging stations, and explain how their qualifications, skills, abilities, and relevant technical and business experience align with the needs and successful completion of the proposed project.

Explain how the Applicant or lead installation Subrecipient(s) from the proposed project team meet(s) or exceed(s) the Experienced Contractor definition in Section II.B.7 Project Team.

Explain how the Applicant's selected charging station network provider has demonstrated experience keeping DC fast chargers in service for at least five years.

Detail the Applicant's experience with federally funded projects and compliance with all the federal requirements like the Davis Bacon Act.

Explain how the Applicant demonstrates experience meeting deadlines and completing milestones associated with large, complex public projects, including examples of previously successful EV charging projects. Past Performance forms (Attachment 11) will be evaluated in this criterion, if the Applicant has relevant past performance, including:

Adherence to schedules and due dates.

Effective and timely issue resolution.

Quality of deliverables.

Objectives of past projects have been attained.

Honest, timely, and professional communication with staff from the funding entity.

Effective coordination with project partners, subrecipients, vendors, and other stakeholders.

Timely and accurate invoicing.