1. GFO-17-503 Pre-Application Workshop
Addressing Barriers to Wider Adoption of Near-Zero Emission Natural Gas Vehicles
October 11, 2017 Peter Chen

2. Agenda Time Item 10:00 am Welcome and Introduction 10:05 am
Solicitation Background
Natural Gas Research Program
Purpose of Solicitation
Available Funding
10:25 am
Application Requirements
Project Group Requirements
Attachments
Submission Process
11:00 am
Q&As
12:00 pm
Adjourn

3. Housekeeping In case of emergency Facilities Sign-in sheet
Updates on solicitation documents including this presentation will be posted at the Grant Funding Opportunity’s webpage:

4. Commitment to Diversity
The Energy Commission adopted a resolution strengthening its commitment to diversity in our funding programs. We continue to encourage disadvantaged and underrepresented businesses and communities to engage in and benefit from our many programs.
To meet this commitment, Energy Commission staff conducts outreach efforts and activities to:
Engage with disadvantaged and underrepresented groups throughout the state.
Notify potential new applicants about the Energy Commission’s funding opportunities.
Assist applicants in understanding how to apply for funding from the Energy Commission’s programs.
Survey participants to measure progress in diversity outreach efforts.

5. We Want to Hear From You! 1 Minute Survey
The information supplied will be used for public reporting purposes to display anonymous overall attendance of diverse groups.
WebEx participants, please use this link:
iPads are being passed around the room
Thanks!

6. Connect with Us

7. Find Partners via LinkedIn
The Energy Commission has created a user-driven LinkedIn group page to help potential applicants connect, collaborate, and partner on proposals for research funding opportunities. Participants may subscribe to the “California Energy Commission Networking Hub” by clicking on this link or searching LinkedIn.
By subscribing you can connect with new colleagues and peers.

8. LinkedIn Networking Webinar
This virtual networking webinar is an opportunity for interested applicants to introduce themselves, explain their interests in this solicitation, and what they seeking from potential project partners. Individuals are encouraged to participate to leverage their connections. The one-hour webinar will be held on October 17 at 2:00 PM Go to energy.webex.com and enter Meeting Number: No password is required Subscribe to the subgroup: NOTE:
Energy Commission staff will facilitate introductions.
Staff involved in development of the solicitation and scoring of proposals will not be present.
Staff will not provide answers to questions on GFO
All questions must be submitted to the Contract Agreement Officer.

9. Natural Gas Research Program Background
The Natural Gas Research and Development Program is funded by a natural gas ratepayer surcharge established by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in 2004
The purpose of the Natural Gas R&D Program is to benefit the ratepayers of natural gas investor owned utilities (PG&E, SDG&E, and SoCalGas)
The Natural Gas R&D Program funds clean energy technology projects that promote benefits such as lower costs, greater reliability, increased safety, economic development, environmental benefits, public health, consumer appeal, and energy security.
Funded projects must lead to technological advancement and breakthroughs to overcome the barriers that prevent the achievement of the state’s statutory energy goals.
Annual program funds total $24 million.

10. Policy Drivers AB 32: reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
SB 32: reduce GHG emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.
EO B-30-15: reduce GHG emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
SB 1250: invest public interest energy research funds to advance transportation technologies that reduce air pollution and GHG emissions beyond applicable standards.
Sustainable Freight Action Plan: highlights the need to transport freight reliably and efficiently by zero emission equipment everywhere feasible, and near-zero emission equipment powered by clean, low-carbon renewable fuels everywhere else.
AB 118/AB 8 (ARFVTP): authorizes the Energy Commission to develop and deploy alternative and renewable fuels and advanced transportation technologies to help attain the state’s climate change goals.

11. Purpose of Solicitation
The transportation sector is one of the primary sources of both criteria pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions in California.
Commercially available near-zero emission natural gas engines represent a near-term solution for reducing NOx emissions from heavy-duty vehicles.
Using renewable natural gas can result in additional greenhouse gas reduction benefits.
This solicitation addresses research needs for expanding beneficial natural gas use in heavy-duty applications with a focus on hybrid-electric vehicles, large off-road engines, and the economics of CNG storage.

12. Available Funding Project Group Available Funding Minimum Award Amount
Maximum Award Amount
Group 1: Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Systems Optimization Research, Development, and Demonstration
$1,500,000
$750,000
Group 2: Advanced Combustion Research for Large Displacement Natural Gas Engines for Off-Road Applications
Group 3: On-Board Compressed Natural Gas Storage Improved Economics Research and Development
$400,000
$200,000

13. Match Funding Match funding is optional.
Applications that include match funding will receive additional points during the scoring phase.
Match funding contributors must submit match funding commitment letters that meet the requirements of Attachment 11. Failure to do so will disqualify the match funding commitment from consideration.
Refer to Section I.F.2 in the Solicitation Manual for more details on match funding.

14. Group 1: Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Systems Optimization Research, Development, and Demonstration
Funding Amount: $1,500,000
Background:
Funded three natural gas hybrid-electric truck projects in 2014.
Intermittent engine operation can lead to increased emissions.
Suboptimal subsystem integration and control can lead to reduced performance.
Near-zero emission natural gas engines are now commercially available with low emissions even during cold start.
Hybridization can increase vehicle efficiency and possibly allow for all-electric range.

15. Group 1: Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Systems Optimization Research, Development, and Demonstration
Requirements:
Take a holistic design approach to subsystem integration and powertrain design to ensure emission reductions and performance improvements.
Demonstrate quantifiable improvements from optimized hybridization on a Class 4-8 vehicle against comparable conventionally powered vehicles (diesel or NG) and existing hybrid vehicles (if applicable).
Integrate a production or production-ready prototype natural gas engine with a hybrid drivetrain.
Demonstrate commercial and economic viability.

16. Group 1: Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Systems Optimization Research, Development, and Demonstration
Requirements (cont.):
Demonstrate NOx emission reductions and fuel economy improvement over a representative duty cycle for the vehicle application.
Emissions should be measured on a gram per mile basis.
Vehicle emissions testing can be done in a laboratory setting (chassis dynamometer) or real world setting (portable emissions measurement system).
A vehicle with all-electric range (AER) capability should be emission tested from the point at which the engine starts at the end of the vehicle’s AER.

17. Group 1: Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Systems Optimization Research, Development, and Demonstration
Examples for maximizing benefits to strengthen proposal:
Include engine, hybrid drivetrain, and vehicle OEM involvement.
Use a low NOx natural gas engine (ability to reach 0.10, 0.05, or 0.02 g/bhp-hr NOx).
Manage engine and after-treatment temperatures to avoid increases in NOx emissions.
Use sufficient all-electric range to potentially support geofencing functions to limit noise and emissions when operating in disadvantaged communities.
Demonstrate equivalent or better vehicle driving experience compared to a conventional diesel vehicle.

18. Group 2: Advanced Combustion Research for Large Displacement Natural Gas Engines for Off-Road Applications
Funding Amount: $1,500,000
Background:
After heavy-duty trucks, the next largest sources of NOx include off-road vehicles, marine vessels, and locomotives.
There is no near-zero engine available that is large enough to support many of these high-horsepower off-road applications.
Conventional spark ignition strategies may not meet the needs of these applications.

19. Group 2: Advanced Combustion Research for Large Displacement Natural Gas Engines for Off-Road Applications
Requirements:
Demonstrate a novel combustion technology that will result in consistent, complete, and stable natural gas combustion in a large displacement engine (greater than 16-liters).
At the minimum, conduct single cylinder testing across a variety of load scenarios to validate performance.
Demonstrate applicability to a real-world application:
Agricultural vehicles
Construction vehicles
Mining vehicles
Locomotives
Marine Vessels

20. Group 2: Advanced Combustion Research for Large Displacement Natural Gas Engines for Off-Road Applications
Requirements (continued):
For technologies that apply to new engines, demonstrate emission reductions to levels below the current lowest applicable engine standard.
Off-road vehicle engines: below CARB Tier 4 (compare to diesel)
Locomotive engines: below EPA Tier 4
Marine engines: below EPA Tier 4 for Category 2 and below EPA/IMO Tier 3 for Category 3
For technologies that apply to Tier 0 or pre-Tier 0 locomotive engines as retrofit solutions, demonstrate NOx reductions of at least 50% below the EPA Tier 2 standard.

21. Group 2: Advanced Combustion Research for Large Displacement Natural Gas Engines for Off-Road Applications
Examples for maximizing benefits to strengthen proposal:
Conduct multi-cylinder testing on a production-ready prototype engine with after-treatment.
Include engine OEM involvement.
Minimize methane emissions and maintain competitive fuel efficiency compared to diesel engines.
Demonstrate ability to retain full diesel capability in a dual-fuel application to allow interoperability.
Demonstrate technology adaptability for applications beyond a specific engine or vehicle application.

22. Group 3: On-Board Compressed Natural Gas Storage Improved Economics Research and Development
Funding Amount: $400,000 Background:
The cost of on-board CNG storage can represent over half the price differential between natural gas vehicles and equivalent diesel vehicles.
Heavy-duty trucks typically use the most lightweight storage tanks available (Type 4), which use large amounts of carbon, glass, or aramid fiber materials.
Storage costs need to decrease to improve the economic viability of natural gas vehicles.

23. Group 3: On-Board Compressed Natural Gas Storage Improved Economics Research and Development
Requirements:
Conduct a pre-project manufacturing analysis to compartmentalize costs and identify potential optimization areas.
Apply value engineering methods to reduce the costs of on-board CNG storage systems.
Conduct a post-project manufacturing analysis to show resulting cost reductions from value engineering activities.
Demonstrate applicability to Type 3 or 4 CNG tanks used for heavy-duty vehicle applications.
Demonstrate capability for near-term adoption.

24. Group 3: On-Board Compressed Natural Gas Storage Improved Economics Research and Development
Examples for maximizing benefits to strengthen proposal:
Demonstrate the ability to provide ancillary benefits such as reducing the costs of compressed hydrogen storage tanks.
Leverage existing research and take advantage of opportunities to gain economies of scale from the fiber-based compressed hydrogen storage industry.
Demonstrate cost reductions from using advanced low-cost carbon fiber produce through unconventional methods without compromising strength, safety, or durability.
Demonstrate cost saving methods for other components (beyond the cylinder).

25. Additional Requirements
Include the following in Project Narrative (Attachment 4).
Provide a comparison of performance parameters between the proposed technology and comparable conventional and existing technology to clearly show a quantifiable improvement objective.
Compare specific vehicles, engines, methods, etc.
Parameters may include costs, efficiency, emissions, reliability, etc.
For technology that will require formal verification and/or certification to achieve commercial status, provide a plan for accomplishing this.

26. Eligible Applicants
This is an open solicitation for public and private entities.
Applicants must accept the PIER terms and conditions.
Standard, UC, and DOE T&Cs available online:
Applicants are required to register with the California Secretary of State and be in good standing to enter into an agreement with the Energy Commission:

27. Application Requirements
Each Applicant must complete and including the following:
1. Application Form (requires wet signature) (.pdf)
7. Budget (.xlsx)
2. Executive Summary (.docx)
8. CEQA Compliance Form (.docx)
3. Fact Sheet (.docx)
9. References and Work Product Form (.docx, .pdf)
4. Project Narrative (.docx)
10. Contact List (.docx)
5. Project Team (.docx, .pdf)
11. Commitment and Support Letters (requires wet signature) (.pdf)
6. Scope of Work (.docx)
12. California Based Entity Form (.docx)
6a. Project Schedule (.xlsx)

28. Project Narrative (Attachment 4)
This is your opportunity to explain the entirety of the project. The narrative should explain:
Why is your project important?
What will you be doing in your project?
How are you going to complete the project?
How will this benefit natural gas ratepayers?
Address the requirements for your group as described in Section II.B.1.
Respond to the scoring criteria described in Section IV.F.

29. Scope of Work (Attachment 6)
Tell us exactly what you are proposing to do in your project.
Identify what you will deliver to the Energy Commission.
Be sure to include in the technical tasks:
At least one product deliverable per task.
Address requirements in Section II.B.1.
Be sure to include in the Project Schedule (Attachment 6a):
Product deliverables that correspond with the Scope of Work.
Realistic dates on when product deliverables can be completed.

30. Budget (Attachment 7)
Identify how you will be spending Energy Commission funds and match funds to complete the project
Subcontractors receiving $100,000 or more Energy Commission funds must complete a separate budget form.
Submit in the format provided. Do not delete sheets or rows, use the hide/unhide functions.
Ensure that all rates provided are maximum rates for the entire project term.

31. Commitment and Support Letter Forms (Attachment 11)
Follow guidelines provided for commitment and support letters.
Commitment letters are required for entities or individuals that are committing match funding, testing/demonstration sites.
Support letters describe a project stakeholder’s interest or involvement in the project.
All applicants must submit at least one support letter.
Match funding must be supported by a match fund commitment letter.
Any project partners that will make contributions to the project (other than match and sites) must submit a commitment letter.
Limit to two pages per letter, excluding the cover page.

32. How will my Application be Evaluated? Application Screening
Admin Screening Process
Energy Commission staff screens applications per criteria in Section IV.E.
Criteria are evaluated on a pass/fail basis.
Applicants must pass all screening criteria or the application will be disqualified.
Some Reasons for Disqualification
Application is not submitted by the specified due date and time.
Applicant did not sign the Application Form (Attachment 1).
Application does not include one or more support letters.
Application contains confidential material.

33. How will my Application be Evaluated? Application Scoring
Evaluation Committee applies the scoring scale to the scoring criteria.
Applications must obtain a minimum passing score of 49 points for Criteria 1-4 in order to continue evaluation.
Applications must obtain a minimum passing score of 70 points for Criteria 1-7 in order to be considered for funding.
Please review Section IV of the solicitation manual and ensure your application provides a clear and complete response to each scoring criteria.
Scoring Criteria
Maximum Points
1. Technical Merit and Need 20
2. Technical Approach
3. Impacts and Benefits for CA IOU Ratepayers
4. Team Qualifications, Capabilities and Resources 10
5. Budget and Cost-Effectiveness
6. Natural Gas R&D Funds Spent in CA 15
7. Ratio of Direct Labor and Fringe Benefit Costs to Loaded Labor Costs 5
Total
100
Minimum Points to Pass 70

34. How will my Application be Evaluated? Additional Bonus Points
Passing applications (score of 70 or more from Criteria 1-7) will be considered for bonus points. Criteria for bonus points include:
Match Funding
Disadvantaged Communities (Group 1 only)
California Based Entities
Scoring Criteria
Maximum Points
8. Match Funding 10
9. Disadvantaged Communities (Group 1 only) 5
10. California Based Entities
Total Bonus Points 20

35. Match Funding Points
Applicants may receive up to 10 additional preference points based on the criteria below:
Up to 5 points will be awarded based on the percentage of match funding relative to the Natural Gas R&D Program funds requested.
The remaining 5 points will be based on the level of commitment, type of match funding, dollar value justification, and funding replacement strategy described in the match funding commitment letter.
Refer to Section IV.F in the Solicitation Manual for more details on the match funding scoring criteria.

36. Disadvantaged Communities (Group 1 only)
Projects with all test or demonstration sites located in disadvantaged communities and justifies how the project will benefit disadvantaged communities will receive additional points.
A disadvantaged community is identified by census tract and represents the 25% highest scoring tracts in CalEnviroScreen 3.0 or later versions:

37. GFO Submission Requirements (Electronic)
Preferred method of Delivery is the Energy Commission Grant Solicitation System, available at:
Electronic files must be in Microsoft Office Word (.doc, .docx) and Excel (.xls, .xlsx) formats, unless originally provided in solicitation in another format.
Attachments requiring signatures (Application Form and Support/Commitment Letters) may be scanned and submitted in PDF format.
First-time users must register as a new user to access system.
“How to Apply” video:

38. GFO Submission Requirements (Hard Copy)
Submit Applications with all attachments in the order specified by the due date and time listed in Section III of the manual.
Application documents should meet formatting requirements, page limits, and number of copies specified on page 22.
Provide one hard copy and one electronic copy (CD-ROM or USB stick) containing electronic files of the application.

39. Next Steps After Grant Award
Notice of Proposed Award: Shows total proposed funding amounts, rank order of applicants by project group, and the amount of each proposed award.
Agreement Development: Proposal documents will be processed into a legal agreement.
Failure to Execute: The Energy Commission reserves the right to cancel the pending award if an agreement cannot be successfully executed with an applicant. (See Section IV.B)
Project Start: Recipients may begin work on the project only after the agreement is fully executed (approved at an Energy Commission business meeting and signed by the Recipient and the Energy Commission).

40. Key Dates Activity Date Solicitation Release September 26, 2017
Pre-Application Workshop
October 11, 2017 at 10:00 am
Deadline for Written Questions
October 13, 2017 at 5:00 pm
LinkedIn Networking Webinar
October 17, 2017 at 2:00 pm
Anticipated Distribution of Questions and Answers
Week of October 23, 2017
Deadline to Submit Applications
November 27, 2017 at 3:00 pm
Anticipated Notice of Proposed Award Posting
January 10, 2018
Anticipated Energy Commission Business Meeting
April 11, 2018
Anticipated Agreement Start Date
May 31, 2018
Anticipated Agreement End Date
May 31, 2020 to May 31, 2021

41. Questions and Answers
Please introduce yourself by stating your name and affiliation.
Keep questions under 3 minutes to allow time for others.
Note that our official response will be given in writing and posted on the GFO webpage in two weeks.

42. Additional Questions
Please send all questions related to GFO to: Phil Dyer Commission Agreement Officer 1516 Ninth Street, MS-18 Sacramento, CA (916) (916) (fax) Deadline to submit questions: Friday, October 13, :00 PM