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GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

WILDFIRE: ASSESSING AND PREPARING FOR RISKS UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE

GFO-18-301Addendum 2

http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/index.html

State of CaliforniaCalifornia Energy Commission

February 2019 March 2019


Table of ContentsI. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................... 1

A. PURPOSE OF SOLICITATION....................................................................................................................................1B. KEY WORDS/TERMS.............................................................................................................................................3C. APPLICANTS’ ADMONISHMENT...............................................................................................................................5D. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS..................................................................................................................................5E. BACKGROUND.....................................................................................................................................................6F. FUNDING.........................................................................................................................................................11G. KEY ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE...................................................................................................................................13H. NOTICE OF PRE-APPLICATION WORKSHOP..............................................................................................................13I. QUESTIONS......................................................................................................................................................15

II. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS...................................................................................................................... 16

A. APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS.................................................................................................................................16B. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS....................................................................................................................................16

III. APPLICATION ORGANIZATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS..............................................................21

A. APPLICATION FORMAT, PAGE LIMITS, AND NUMBER OF COPIES.................................................................................21B. PREFERRED METHOD FOR DELIVERY......................................................................................................................22C. HARD COPY DELIVERY........................................................................................................................................22D. APPLICATION ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT...........................................................................................................23

IV. EVALUATION AND AWARD PROCESS......................................................................................................... 28

A. APPLICATION EVALUATION..................................................................................................................................28B. RANKING, NOTICE OF PROPOSED AWARD, AND AGREEMENT DEVELOPMENT................................................................28C. GROUNDS TO REJECT AN APPLICATION OR CANCEL AN AWARD..................................................................................29D. MISCELLANEOUS................................................................................................................................................30E. STAGE ONE: APPLICATION SCREENING..................................................................................................................31F. STAGE TWO: APPLICATION SCORING....................................................................................................................32

February 2019 March 2019Addendum 2 Page i GFO-18-301

Wildfire: Assessing and Preparing for Risks and Climate Change

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 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 and GHG Emissions

February 2019 March 2019Addendum 2 Page ii GFO-18-301


I. Introduction

A. PURPOSE OF SOLICITATION The purpose of this solicitation is to develop tools and analysis to inform energy policy and planning decisions. The funded applied research and development project must fill gaps in knowledge of fire science and apply that new knowledge to improve models to assess wildfire risk for grid operations and planning. The project will develop next-generation wildfire risk models at both local and statewide scales. Such models are needed to help ensure resiliency of the electric grid in the near- and long-terms in the face of the growing wildfire risk under climate change. This solicitation is seeking specific advances in wildfire modeling regarding extreme weather and wind events, the effects of widespread tree mortality, the dynamics of vegetation/fuel with climate change, and fire behavior in the wildland-urban interface (WUI).

The research will be structured with two phases. Phase I would fill knowledge gaps and develop the next-generation wildfire risk models. Phase II would run the models to conduct analyses as required for California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment and to transfer the technology and knowledge to the investor-owned utilities (IOUs). Because of the uncertainty of what may be required at that time, this second phase will be contingent upon a determination from the Energy Commission to proceed (see section II.B. for details about this process).

Climate change is expected to exacerbate wildfire risk through hotter temperatures, greater moisture deficits even in wetter years, and greater likelihood of prolonged drought and possibly associated beetle-caused tree mortality (Westerling 2018). This increased risk is expected to increase outages and damage on both the transmission and distribution grids unless adaptation measures are implemented (Dale et al. 2018). Preparing the IOUs for climate change and wildfire risk needs to be supported by new tools at two scales.

At the first scale, IOUs need to increase their wildfire situational awareness and near-term (from real-time out to 7 days in advance) risk forecasting at a local scale to ensure resiliency in their operations. San Diego Gas and Electric Co. has pioneered this space, but it remains a “big data” challenge and needs to be extended to other service territories.

At the second scale, utilities and others also need long-term (to mid- and late-century) models of wildfire risk to plan for future infrastructure investment that anticipates the effects of climate change.

Modeling at both scales would greatly benefit from advances in fire science, particularly in the areas of wind regimes, the effects of unprecedented tree mortality, and fire spread in the WUI where the most destructive fires occur.

Extreme wind events (e.g., Santa Ana and Diablo winds) are a critical factor driving many of the most devastating wildfires in California. Historical wind data are poor, and model reconstructions of historical wind speeds do not agree with each other (Pierce et al. 2018). Some projections estimate increases in Santa Ana Winds (SAW) with a changing climate (Jin et al. 2015); some see no trend in the historical record (Guzman-Morales et al. 2016) and no change in the projections; and still others project a gradual decrease in SAW activity (Pierce et al. 2018; Guzman-Morales, 2018).

The Energy Commission has funded the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to refine “downscaling” models (EPC-16-063). These models need to be ready for California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment when the next generation of global climate scenarios become available from the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment. This new

February 2019 March 2019 Page 1 of 38 GFO-18-301Wildfire: Assessing and Preparing for

Risks and Climate Change

downscaling effort will combine statistical models and dynamic “weather” models. The new downscaling technique should improve wind information for wildfire simulations in the future. Utilities have been installing networks of automated weather and environmental monitoring stations designed to observe mesoscale meteorological phenomena, or mesonets, in fire hazard areas within their own service territories to get better real-time situational awareness of conditions including local winds on short time scales. This new wind data can also be used to help validate Scripps’ wind model. Given the cost to install and maintain these mesonets and the computing infrastructure to analyze massive data volumes, it is essential that these weather stations be located to generate maximum information content about wildfire risk.

The recent drought caused unprecedented tree mortality in California’s conifer forests. This massive increase in dead fuels led to fears of further worsening of fire risk, particularly in the southern Sierra Nevada where the die-off was most pronounced. Because tree mortality was at an unprecedented scale, there was insufficient empirical data to parameterize this factor in Westerling’s (2018) fire severity model for the Fourth Assessment. Instead, he employed a heuristic model proposed by a group of fire experts convened by the U.S. Forest Service to explore the sensitivity of severity to a range of plausible probabilities. The effects of the tree die-off on fuels and fire severity need to be investigated, because the situation is so novel. It has been hypothesized that as dead trees fall, the build-up of heavy ground fuels could create very hot, slow moving “mass fires” that California has not experienced before (Stephens et al. 2018). Large, multidisciplinary studies have been initiated by teams led by UCLA and by UC Berkeley to examine the interaction of climate, fire, and tree dieback and the implications of massive tree mortality on forest ecosystems.

It may take a decade or more for this pulse of dead fuel to fall and accumulate on the ground so that the effects on wildfire could be observed. Experimental studies could be undertaken now, however, to parameterize wildfire models in the near term. Wildfire models also appear to be sensitive to whether dynamic changes in fuels are accounted for from the effects of wildfire and climate change on vegetation rather than ignored or assumed to be static (Syphard et al. 2018).

The most destructive fires tend to occur in the low-density WUI and the urban fringe where structures and wildland fuels comingle. This is where the distribution grid is particularly vulnerable to wildfire because of its proximity to heavy fuel loads. Westerling’s model did not fully simulate fire ignition and spread in the WUI. This was partly because the land use change modeling was done independently from the fire modeling and partly because this is a nascent, but complex, area of research in wildfire modeling (Mahmoud and Chulahwat 2018).

Dynamic modeling in the WUI and rural areas is also important for real-time monitoring and near-term fire weather forecasting at a local scale. For example, San Diego Gas and Electric Co. owns and operates an extensive weather station network that provides real-time data for its fire program. These data are used by the utility to calculate a daily Fire Potential Index (FPI) at a district level to guide operational decisions. The IOUs have discussed extending the FPI statewide as they deploy similar weather networks.

See Section II of this solicitation for project eligibility requirements. Applications will be evaluated as follows: Stage One proposal screening and Stage Two proposal scoring. Applicants may submit multiple applications. However, if an applicant submits multiple, each application must be for a distinct project (i.e., no overlap with respect to the tasks described in the Scope of Work, Attachment 6).



B. KEY WORDS/TERMSWord/Term DefinitionApplicant The entity that submits an application to this solicitation

Application An applicant’s written response to this solicitation

Cal-Adapt An interactive web data portal (http://cal-adapt.org/) initially developed under the CEC’s Public Interest Energy Research program to make California climate science available and accessible to the public, utilities, and decision makers.

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

CAO Commission Agreement Officer

CEQA California Environmental Quality Act, California Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.

CPUC California Public Utilities Commission

Days Days refers to calendar days

Disadvantaged Community

These are communities defined as areas representing census tracts scoring in the top 25 % in CalEnviroScreen 3.0. (https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/report/calenviroscreen-30)

EPIC Electric Program Investment Charge, the source of funding for the projects awarded under this solicitation

Energy Commission State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission or as commonly called, the California Energy Commission

FPI Fire Potential Index

IOU Investor-owned utility, an electrical corporation as defined in in California Public Utilities Code section 218. For purposes of this EPIC solicitation, it includes Pacific Gas and Electric Co., San Diego Gas and Electric Co., and Southern California Edison Co.

NOPA Notice of Proposed Award, a public notice by the Energy Commission that identifies award recipients

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

Pilot Test Pilot test means small scale testing in the laboratory or testing on a small portion of the production line of the affected industry. Pilot tests help to verify the design and validity of an approach, and adjustments can be made at this stage before full-scale



https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/report/calenviroscreen-30

http://cal-adapt.org/

Word/Term Definitiondemonstrations

Principal Investigator The technical lead for the applicant’s project, who is responsible for overseeing the project; in some instances, the Principal 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 test, demonstration or deployment site), and does not receive Energy Commission funds

Recipient An entity receiving an award under this solicitation

SAW Santa Ana Winds

Solicitation This entire document, including all attachments, exhibits, any addendum and written notices, and questions and answers (“solicitation” may be used interchangeably with “Grant Funding Opportunity”)

State State of California

WUI Wildland-Urban Interface; the geographic transition zone between human-inhabited structures and wildland



C. APPLICANTS’ ADMONISHMENTThis 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 EPIC terms and conditions located at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/pier.html#epicterms.

Applicants are solely responsible for the cost of developing applications. This cost cannot be charged to the State. All submitted documents will become publicly available records upon the posting of the Notice of Proposed Award.

D. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS1. Time is of the essence. Funds available under this solicitation have

encumbrance deadlines as early as June 30, 2019. This means that the Energy Commission must approve proposed awards at a business meeting (usually held monthly) prior to June 30, 2019, 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 that may arise related to CEQA review include but are not limited to:

Example 1: If another state agency or local jurisdiction, such as a city or county, has taken the role of lead agency under CEQA, the Energy Commission’s review may be delayed while waiting for a determination from the lead agency.



http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/pier.html#epicterms

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 state agency or local jurisdiction, 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 the 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 another state agency or a local jurisdiction, serving as the lead agency, 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 lead agency reviewing the proposed project.

Example 4: If the proposed project clearly falls under a statutory or categorical exemption, or is project for which another state agency or local jurisdiction has already adopted a CEQA finding that the project will cause no significant effect on the environment, 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.

E. BACKGROUND

1. Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) ProgramThis 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 InitiativesEPIC projects must fall within the following program areas identified by the CPUC:1 See CPUC “Phase 1” Decision 11-12-035, December 15, 2011, http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/WORD_PDF/FINAL_DECISION/156050.PDF.2 See CPUC “Phase 2” Decision 12-05-037, May 24, 2012, http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/WORD_PDF/FINAL_DECISION/167664.PDF.3 California Public Resources Code, Section 25711.5(a), http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=prc&group=25001-26000&file=25710-25712.February 2019 March 2019 Page 6 of 38 GFO-18-301


http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=prc&group=25001-26000&file=25710-25712

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=prc&group=25001-26000&file=25710-25712

http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/WORD_PDF/FINAL_DECISION/167664.PDF


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 Plans4 5 and within one or more specific focus areas (“funding initiatives”) identified in the plan. This solicitation targets the following program area, strategic objective, and funding initiative:

EPIC 2018-2020 Triennial Investment Plan Program Area: Applied Research and Development

Strategic Objective S7: Develop Tools and Analysis to Inform Energy Policy and Planning Decisions

o Funding Initiative S7.2: Increase the Resiliency of the Electricity System to Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events

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) 28006 - Climate change: infrastructure planningTo ensure that existing infrastructure is readied for the coming impacts of climate change and associated extreme weather events and investment in new infrastructure accounts for climate change from the outset, AB 2800 (Quirk, 2016) established the Climate-Safe Infrastructure Working Group (CSIWG) to bring together scientific experts, engineers and architects from multiple scientific and infrastructure disciplines to examine how climate change impacts can be included in infrastructure planning, design, and implementation processes.

Additional information: http://resources.ca.gov/climate/climate-safe-infrastructure-working-group/

Applicable Law: Section 71155 of the Public Resources Code

Assembly Bill (AB) 327 - 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

4 2012-14 EPIC Triennial Investment Plan, http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/epic/documents/final_documents_submitted_to_CPUC/2012-11-01_EPIC_Application_to_CPUC.pdf (Attachment 1), as modified and approved by CPUC Decision 13-11-025, http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M081/K773/81773445.PDF. 5 2015-17 EPIC Triennial Investment Plan, http://www.energy.ca.gov/2014publications/CEC-500-2014-038/CEC-500-2014-038-CMF.pdf, as modified and approved by CPUC Decision 15-04-020, http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M151/K183/151183650.PDF. 6 AB 2800 (Statutes of 2016, chapter 580)7 AB 32 (Statutes of 2006, chapter 488)February 2019 March 2019 Page 7 of 38 GFO-18-301


http://resources.ca.gov/climate/climate-safe-infrastructure-working-group/

http://resources.ca.gov/climate/climate-safe-infrastructure-working-group/

http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M151/K183/151183650.PDF

http://www.energy.ca.gov/2014publications/CEC-500-2014-038/CEC-500-2014-038-CMF.pdf

http://www.energy.ca.gov/2014publications/CEC-500-2014-038/CEC-500-2014-038-CMF.pdf

https://mail.ces.ca.gov/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=kIexjtZvqmZM_IMG1JEuhdPnosSWVt4QAzKI6Clj9Skf1tb07MjSCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AZABvAGMAcwAuAGMAcAB1AGMALgBjAGEALgBnAG8AdgAvAFAAdQBiAGwAaQBzAGgAZQBkAEQAbwBjAHMALwBQAHUAYgBsAGkAcwBoAGUAZAAvAEcAMAAwADAALwBNADAAOAAxAC8ASwA3ADcAMwAvADgAMQA3ADcAMwA0ADQANQAuAFAARABGAA..&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.cpuc.ca.gov%2FPublishedDocs%2FPublished%2FG000%2FM081%2FK773%2F81773445.PDF

http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/epic/documents/final_documents_submitted_to_CPUC/2012-11-01_EPIC_Application_to_CPUC.pdf

http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/epic/documents/final_documents_submitted_to_CPUC/2012-11-01_EPIC_Application_to_CPUC.pdf

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.

Policies/Plans

Integrated Energy Policy Report (Biennial)California Public Resources Code Section 25302 requires the Energy Commission to release a biennial report that provides an overview of major energy trends and issues facing the state. The IEPR assesses and forecasts all aspects of energy industry supply, production, transportation, delivery, distribution, demand, and pricing. The Energy Commission uses these assessments and forecasts to develop energy policies. The 2015 IEPR included a multi-agency hearing on drought response and provided recommendations for future research and analysis areas.

Additional information: http://www.energy.ca.gov/energypolicy

Applicable Law: California Public Resources Code § 25300 et seq.

CPUC – Fire Safety RulemakingThe general scope of Rulemaking 15-05-006 was to address the following matters carried over from the scope of R.08-11-005: (1) develop and adopt a statewide fire-threat map that delineates the boundaries of a new High Fire-Threat District (HFTD) where the previously adopted regulations will apply, (2) determine the need for additional fire-safety regulations in the HFTD, and (3) revise GO 95 to include a definition and maps of the HFTD, as well as any new fire-safety regulations. The scope and schedule for R.15-05-006 was divided into two parallel tracks. One track focused on the development and adoption of a statewide fire-threat map. The second track focused on the identification, evaluation, and adoption of fire-safety regulations in the HFTD.

Additional Information:

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/firethreatmaps/

CPUC – Order Instituting Rulemaking to Consider Strategies and Guidance for Climate Change AdaptationThis Order Instituting Rulemaking R.18-04-019 considers strategies to integrate climate change adaptation matters in relevant CPUC proceedings. Robust climate adaptation planning in a time of worsening climate impacts is a prudent next step to ensure the safety and reliability of all investor-owned public utilities. In Phase 1 of this Rulemaking, CPUC expects to consider: how to define climate change adaptation for the electricity and natural gas utilities; ways to address climate change adaptation issues in Commission proceedings and activities to ensure safety and reliability of utility operations; data, tools, and resources necessary for utility planning and operations related to climate adaptation; risks facing the electric and natural gas utilities with respect to climate change adaptation and the magnitudes of these risks; and guidance to electric and gas utilities on how to incorporate adaptation into their planning and operations.




http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/firethreatmaps/

http://www.energy.ca.gov/energypolicy

http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/ab32/ab32.htm

http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/SearchRes.aspx?docformat=ALL&docid=213503721

Executive Order B-30-15

Governor Brown’s Executive Order B-30-15 established a new interim statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40 % below 1990 levels by 2030, to ensure California meets its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80 % below 1990 levels by 2050.

Executive Order B-52-18California Governor Brown issued Executive Order B-52-18 to support the state’s resilience to wildfire and other climate impacts, address extensive tree mortality, increase forests' capacity for carbon capture, and improve forest and forest fire management. Wildfires of magnitude exacerbated by drought and other climate factors are impeding the state’s efforts to mitigate GHGs - while bringing catastrophic effects onto communities, wildlife, and watershed health.


https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5.10.18-Forest-EO.pdf

The Governor's State of Emergency Proclamation on Tree MortalityThe declaration released on October 30, 2015, declared a state of emergency and sought federal action to help mobilize additional resources for the safe removal of dead and dying trees. It also states, “The California Energy Commission shall prioritize grant funding from the Electric Program Investment Charge for woody biomass-to-energy technology development and deployment, consistent with direction from the California Public Utilities Commission.”


https://www.gov.ca.gov/docs/10.30.15_Tree_Mortality_State_of_Emergency.pdf

Climate Change Research Plan for CaliforniaSuccessfully negotiating climate change challenges will require integrating a sound scientific basis for climate preparedness into local planning, resource management, infrastructure, and public health, as well as introducing new strategies to reduce GHG emissions or increase carbon sequestration into nearly every sector of California’s economy. This Climate Change Research Plan presents a strategy for developing the requisite knowledge through a targeted body of policy-relevant, California-specific research. The plan calls for research to better estimate the impacts of climate change on the existing energy infrastructure (e.g., wildfires on electricity distribution networks).


https://www.climatechange.ca.gov/climate_action_team/reports/CAT_research_plan_2015.pdf





https://www.gov.ca.gov/docs/10.30.15_Tree_Mortality_State_of_Emergency.pdf

https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/5.10.18-Forest-EO.pdf

http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/SearchRes.aspx?docformat=ALL&docid=213503721

Safeguarding California Plan: 2018 UpdateAs mandated by AB 1482, the state must prepare an update of its climate adaptation strategy. The Safeguarding California Plan: 2018 Update – California’s Climate Adaptation Strategy builds on nearly a decade of adaptation strategies to communicate current and needed actions state government should take to build climate change resiliency. It identifies hundreds of ongoing actions and next steps state agencies are taking to safeguard Californians from climate impacts within a framework of 81 policy principles and recommendations. Among these recommendations are: Continue to support climate research for the energy sector to better inform climate adaptation and mitigation strategies; continue incorporating implications of climate change into all E-3 energy sector planning and decision-making; and coordinate cross-sector planning to maintain energy system resilience, including wildfire risk and biomass utilization, hydropower, and low carbon vehicles.


http://resources.ca.gov/climate/safeguarding/

Reference Documents

Refer to the documents below for recent information about Energy Commission research associated with wildfire risk modeling, climate change, and grid vulnerability to wildfire:

Westerling 2018 - http://www.climateassessment.ca.gov/techreports/docs/20180827-Projections_CCCA4-CEC-2018-014.pdf

Dale et al. 2018 - http://www.climateassessment.ca.gov/techreports/docs/20180827-Energy_CCCA4-CEC-2018-002.pdf

The documents below are cited in this solicitation manual:

Dale, Larry, Michael Carnall, Gary Fitts, Sarah Lewis McDonald, Max Wei. (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). 2018. Assessing the Impact of Wildfires on the California Electricity Grid. California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, California Energy Commission. Publication number: CCCA4-CEC-2018-002.

Guzman-Morales, J, A. Gershunov, J. Theiss, H. Li, D. Cayan.2016. Santa Ana Winds of Southern California: Their climatology, extremes, and behavior spanning six and a half decades. Geophysical Research Letters.

Guzman-Morales, J. 2018. Santa Ana Winds of Southern California: Historical Variability and Future Climate Projections. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of California San Diego, La Jolla, US.

Jin, Y., M. L. Goulden, N. Faivre, S. Veraverbeke, F. Sun, A. Hall, M. S. Hand, S. Hook, J. T. Randerson. 2015. Identification of two distinct fire regimes in Southern California: implications for economic impact and future change. Environmental. Research Letters.

Mahmoud, H. and Chulahwat, A., 2018. Unraveling the complexity of wildland urban interface fires. Scientific Reports, 8(1), p.9315.

Pierce, D. W., J. F. Kalansky, and D. R. Cayan, (Scripps Institution of Oceanography). 2018. Climate, Drought, and Sea Level Rise Scenarios for the Fourth California Climate Assessment. California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, California Energy Commission. Publication Number: CCCA4-CEC-2018-006.



http://www.climateassessment.ca.gov/techreports/docs/20180827-Energy_CCCA4-CEC-2018-002.pdf

http://www.climateassessment.ca.gov/techreports/docs/20180827-Energy_CCCA4-CEC-2018-002.pdf

http://www.climateassessment.ca.gov/techreports/docs/20180827-Projections_CCCA4-CEC-2018-014.pdf

http://www.climateassessment.ca.gov/techreports/docs/20180827-Projections_CCCA4-CEC-2018-014.pdf

http://resources.ca.gov/climate/safeguarding/

Stephens, S.L., Collins, B.M., Fettig, C.J., Finney, M.A., Hoffman, C.M., Knapp, E.E., North, M.P., Safford, H. and Wayman, R.B., 2018. Drought, Tree Mortality, and Wildfire in Forests Adapted to Frequent Fire. BioScience.

Syphard A. D., Sheehan T., Rustigian-Romsos H., Ferschweiler K. 2018. Mapping future fire probability under climate change: Does vegetation matter? PLoS ONE 13(8): e0201680.

Westerling, Anthony Leroy. (University of California, Merced). 2018. Wildfire Simulations for California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment: Projecting Changes in Extreme Wildfire Events with a Warming Climate. California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, California Energy Commission. Publication Number: CCCA4-CEC-2018-014.

F. FUNDING

1. Amount Available and Minimum/ Maximum Funding AmountsThere is up to $5,000,000 available for a grant awarded under this solicitation. The minimum funding amount for the project is $4,000,000. The maximum funding amount is 5,000,000. The grant will be administered in two phases. Phase I, for scientific advances and development of models and analytics, may be funded for up to $4,000,000. An additional $1,000,000 may be funded for Phase II if, following a Critical Project Review, the Commission Agreement Manager determines in writing that Phase II is needed to support California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment and IOU operations and planning (see section II.B. for details about this process).

2. Match Funding RequirementMatch funding is not required for this solicitation. However, applications that include match funding will receive additional points during the scoring phase.

“Match funds” include the following if used for project expenses: (1) “cash in hand” funds; (2) equipment; (3) materials; (4) information technology services; (5) travel; (6) subcontractor costs; (7) contractor/project partner in-kind labor costs; and (8) “advanced practice” costs. Match funding sources include the prime contractor, subcontractors, and pilot testing/demonstration/deployment sites (e.g., test site staff services).

“Match funds” do not include: Energy Commission awards, EPIC funds received from other sources, future/contingent awards from other entities (public or private), the cost or value of the project work site, or the cost or value of structures or other improvements affixed to the project work site permanently or for an indefinite period of time (e.g., photovoltaic systems).

Definitions of “match funding” categories are listed below.

o “Cash in hand” Funds means funds that are in the recipient’s possession and are reserved for the proposed project, meaning that they have not been committed for use or pledged as match for any other project. “Cash in hand” funds include funding awards earned or received from other agencies for the proposed technologies or study (but not for the identical work). Proof that the funds exist as cash is required. Cash in hand funds will be considered more favorably than other types of match funding during the scoring phase.

o “Equipment” means an item with a unit cost of at least $5,000 and a useful life of at least one year. Purchasing equipment with match funding is



encouraged because there are no disposition requirements at the end of the agreement for such equipment. Typically, grant recipients may continue to use equipment purchased with Energy Commission funds if the use is consistent with the intent of the original agreement.

o “Materials” means tangible project items that cost less than $5,000 and have a useful life of less than one year.

o “Information Technology Services” means the design, development, application, implementation, support, and management of computer-based information systems directly related to the tasks in the Scope of Work. All information technology services in this area must comply with the electronic file format requirements in Subtask 1.1 (Products) of the Scope of Work (Attachment 6).

o “Travel” means all travel required to complete the tasks identified in the Scope of Work. Travel includes in-state and out-of-state travel, and travel to conferences. EPIC funds should be limited to lodging and any form of transportation (e.g., airfare, rental car, public transit, parking, mileage). Use of match funds for out-of-state travel is encouraged, because the Energy Commission might not approve the use of its funds for such travel. If an applicant plans to travel to conferences, including registration fees, they must use match funds. Applicants should be aware of all state requirements and shall adhere to travel restrictions on using state funds to travel to certain other states pursuant to AB 1887 (2016) and codified at California Government Code Section 11139.8. All applicants are encouraged to go to the Attorney General’s website https://oag.ca.gov/ab1887 for a current list of states subject to travel restrictions. Grants awarded under this solicitation shall not contain travel paid for with Commission funds (applicants can instead use match funds) to the listed states unless the Commission approves in writing that the trip falls within one of the exceptions under the law.

o “Subcontractor Costs” means all costs incurred by subcontractors for the project, including labor and non-labor costs.

o “Contractor/Project Partner In-Kind Labor Costs” means contractor or project partner labor costs that are not charged to the Energy Commission.

o “’Advanced Practice’ Costs” means costs not charged to the Energy Commission that represent the incremental cost difference between standard and advanced practices, measures, and products used to implement the proposed project. For example, if the cost of purchasing and/or installing insulation that meets the applicable building energy efficiency standard is $1/square foot and the cost of more advanced, energy efficient insulation is $3/square foot, the Recipient may count up to $2/square foot as match funds.

Match funds may be spent only during the agreement term, either before or concurrently with EPIC funds. Match funds also must be reported in invoices submitted to the Energy Commission.

All applicants providing match funds must submit commitment letters that: (1) identify the source(s) of the funds; (2) justify the dollar value claimed; (3) provide an unqualified (i.e., without reservation or limitation) commitment that guarantees the availability of the funds for the project; and (4) provide a strategy for replacing the funds if they are significantly reduced or lost. Please see Attachment 11,



Commitment and Support Letter Form. Commitment and support letters must be submitted with the application to be considered.

3. Change in Funding AmountAlong with any other rights and remedies available to it, the Energy Commission reserves the right to: Increase or decrease the available funding and the minimum/maximum award

amounts described in this section. Allocate any additional or unawarded funds to passing applications, in rank order. Reduce funding to an amount deemed appropriate if the budgeted funds do not

provide full funding for agreements. In this event, the Recipient and Commission Agreement Manager will reach agreement on a reduced Scope of Work commensurate with available funding.

G. KEY ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE

Key activities, dates, and times for this solicitation and for agreements resulting from this solicitation are presented below. An addendum will be released if the dates change for activities that appear in bold.

ACTIVITY DATE TIME8 Solicitation Release December 27, 2018

Pre-Application Workshop January 25, 2019 10:00 a.m.

Deadline for Written Questions9 January 28, 2019 5:00 p.m.Anticipated Distribution of Questions and Answers Week of February 18,

2019 March 11, 2019

Deadline to Submit Applications March 18, 2019 March 25, 2019

5:00 p.m.

Anticipated Notice of Proposed Award Posting Date April 19, 2019 April 24, 2019

Anticipated Energy Commission Business Meeting Date May 8, 2019 June 12, 2019

Anticipated Agreement Start Date June 28, 2019

Anticipated Agreement End Date March 31, 2023 December 31, 2023

8 Pacific Standard Time or Pacific Daylight Time, whichever is being observed.9 This deadline does not apply to non-technical questions (e.g., questions concerning application format requirements or attachment instructions) or to questions that address an ambiguity, conflict, discrepancy, omission, or other error in the solicitation. Such questions may be submitted to the Commission Agreement Officer listed in Section I at any time prior to the application deadline. Please see Section I for additional information.February 2019 March 2019 Page 13 of 38 GFO-18-301


H. NOTICE OF PRE-APPLICATION WORKSHOP

Energy Commission staff will hold one Pre-Application Workshop to discuss the solicitation with potential applicants. Participation is optional but encouraged. Applicants may attend the workshop in-person, via the internet (WebEx, see instructions below), or via conference call on the date and at the time and location listed below. Please call (916) 654-4381 or refer to the Energy Commission's website at www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/index.html to confirm the date and time.

Date and time: January 25, 2019, 10:00amLocation: California Energy Commission

1516 9th StreetSacramento, CA 95814Imbrecht Hearing Room

Wheelchair Accessible

WebEx Instructions: To join the WebEx meeting, go to https://energy.webex.com and enter the meeting

number and password below:

Meeting Number: 925 420 996Meeting Password: meeting@10Topic: Pre-Application Workshop for GFO-18-301: Wildfire Risks

To Logon with a Direct Phone Number : After logging into WebEx, a prompt will appear on-screen for a phone number. In the “Number” box, enter your area code and phone number and click “OK” to receive a call for the audio of the meeting. International callers may use the "Country/Region" button to help make their connection.

To Logon with an Extension Phone Number : After you login, a prompt will ask for your phone number. Select “CANCEL.” Call 1-866-469-3239 (toll-free in the U.S. and Canada). When prompted, enter the meeting number above and the unique Attendee ID number listed in the top left area of the screen after login. International callers may dial in using the “Show all global call-in numbers” link (also in the top left area).

Telephone Access Only:Call 1-866-469-3239 (toll-free in the U.S. and Canada). When prompted, enter the meeting number above. International callers may select their number from https://energy.webex.com/energy/globalcallin.php.

Technical Support: For assistance with problems or questions about joining or attending the meeting,

please call WebEx Technical Support at 1-866-229-3239. You may also contact Joseph Smith or Gerardo Madrigal at (916) 654-4344.

System Requirements: To determine whether your computer is compatible, visit:http://support.webex.com/support/system-requirements.html.

Meeting Preparation: The playback of UCF (Universal Communications Format) rich media files requires appropriate players. Please determine whether the players are installed on your computer by visiting: https://energy.webex.com/energy/systemdiagnosis.php.



https://energy.webex.com/energy/systemdiagnosis.php

http://support.webex.com/support/system-requirements.html

https://energy.webex.com/energy/globalcallin.php

https://energy.webex.com/


If you have a disability and require assistance to participate, please Erica Rodriguez by e-mail at [email protected] or (916) 654-4314 at least five days in advance.

I. QUESTIONS

During the solicitation process, direct questions to the Commission Agreement Officer listed below:

Angela Hockaday, Commission Agreement OfficerCalifornia Energy Commission

1516 Ninth Street, MS-18Sacramento, California 95814

Telephone: (916) 654-5186FAX: (916) 654-4423

E-mail: [email protected]

Applicants may ask questions at the Pre-Application Workshop, and may submit written questions via mail, electronic mail, and by FAX. However, all technical questions must be received by the deadline listed in the “Key Activities Schedule” above. Questions received after the deadline may be answered at the Energy Commission's discretion. Non-technical questions (e.g., questions concerning application format requirements or attachment instructions) may be submitted to the Commission Agreement Officer (CAO) at any time prior the application deadline.

A question and answer document will be e-mailed to all parties who attended the Pre-Application Workshop and provided their contact information on the sign-in sheet. The questions and answers will also be posted on the Commission’s website at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/index.html.

If an applicant discovers a conflict, discrepancy, omission, or other error in the solicitation at any time prior to the application deadline, the applicant may notify the Energy Commission in writing and request modification or clarification of the solicitation. The Energy Commission, at its discretion will provide modifications or clarifications by either an addendum to the solicitation or by written notice to all entities that requested the solicitation. At its discretion, the Energy Commission may, in addition to any other actions it may choose, re-open the question/answer period to provide all applicants the opportunity to seek any further clarification required.

Any verbal communication with a Commission employee concerning this solicitation is not binding on the State and will in no way alter a specification, term, or condition of the solicitation. Therefore, all communication should be directed in writing to the assigned CAO.




mailto:[email protected]

II. Eligibility RequirementsA. APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

1. EligibilityThis solicitation is open to all public and private entities and individuals with the exception of local publicly owned electric utilities.10 In accordance with CPUC Decision 12-05-037, funds administered by the Energy Commission may not be used for any purposes associated with local publicly owned electric utility activities.

2. Terms and ConditionsEach grant agreement resulting from this solicitation will include terms and conditions that set forth the recipient’s rights and responsibilities. By signing the Application Form (Attachment 1), each applicant agrees to enter into an agreement with the Energy Commission to conduct the proposed project according to the terms and conditions that correspond to its organization, without negotiation: (1) University of California and California State University terms and conditions; (2) U.S. Department of Energy terms and conditions; or (3) standard terms and conditions. All terms and conditions are located at http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/contractors.html. Failure to agree to the terms and conditions by taking actions such as failing to sign the Application Form or indicating that acceptance is based on modification of the terms will result in rejection of the application. Applicants must read the terms and conditions carefully. The Energy Commission reserves the right to modify the terms and conditions prior to executing grant agreements.

3. California Secretary of State RegistrationAll corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships (LPs) and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) that conduct intrastate business in California are required to be registered and in good standing with the California Secretary of State prior to its project being recommended for approval at an Energy Commission Business Meeting. If not currently registered with the California Secretary of State, applicants are encouraged to contact the Secretary of State’s Office as soon as possible to avoid potential delays in beginning the proposed project(s) (should the application be successful). For more information, contact the Secretary of State’s Office via its website at www.sos.ca.gov. Sole proprietors using a fictitious business name must be registered with the appropriate county and provide evidence of registration to the Energy Commission prior to their project being recommended for approval at an Energy Commission Business Meeting.

B. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

1. Applied Research and Development StageProjects must fall within the “applied research and development” stage, which includes activities that support pre-commercial technologies and approaches that are designed to solve specific problems in the electricity sector. By contrast, the “technology demonstration and deployment” stage (not eligible under this solicitation) involves the installation and operation of pre-commercial technologies or strategies at a scale sufficiently large and in conditions sufficiently reflective of anticipated actual operating environments to enable appraisal of the operational

10 A local publicly owned electric utility is an entity as defined in California Public Utilities Code section 224.3.February 2019 March 2019 Page 16 of 38 GFO-18-301


http://www.sos.ca.gov/

http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/contractors.html

and performance characteristics and the financial risks.11 Applied research and development activities include early, pilot-scale testing activities that are necessary to demonstrate the feasibility of pre-commercial technologies.

2. Project FocusBuilding the Next Generation of Wildfire Risk Models for Grid Resilience

The Energy Commission expects that the awardee of this solicitation will be an interdisciplinary team with ample collective expertise in the scientific areas identified in this solicitation. A strong project manager will be required to ensure that progress on this diverse set of tasks stays on schedule and is adequately coordinated among research partners. It is the intent of the Energy Commission that the research team will have an active Technical Advisory Committee to assist in incorporating the rapidly evolving wildfire science and policy. The core of the project is to develop the next generation of wildfire models at two or more spatial and temporal scales. The code for these models should be open source and provided as project deliverables along with documentation. One of these scales would be suitable to generate wildfire scenarios for California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment. Ideally, the recipient will closely coordinate development of the models at the different scales. The research team must address all of the following topics in the indicated timeframes.

The research will be structured with two phases. Phase I would fill knowledge gaps and develop the next-generation wildfire risk models. Phase II would run the models to generate the wildfire scenarios as required for California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment and to transfer the technology and knowledge to IOUs. Because of the uncertainty of what may be required at that time, Phase II will be contingent upon a determination from the Energy Commission to proceed. Phase II of this grant would only take place if, following a Critical Project Review, the Commission Agreement Manager determines in writing that Phase II is needed to support California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment and IOU operations and planning. In that case, the awardee would be directed to apply their models with the latest data.

Phase I ($4,000,000)

1) Develop new information and knowledge about fire behavior in extreme weather conditions to inform the next generation of wildfire models to:

a. Develop a process for selecting an optimal configuration of sites for a robust network of meteorological stations across the state that could provide the maximum information about fire risk (especially wind). The network would be designed for wildfire situations with the potential to affect electrical assets including transmission and distribution lines, substations, and power plants. To minimize capital and maintenance costs and bandwidth of data flow, this task should develop a spatial optimization method that would maximally reduce uncertainty about fire risk by designing an optimal configuration of a network of weather stations. This network would complement the stations already installed or planned by the IOUs. Factors to be considered include wind patterns, wildland fuels, access, and proximity of utility assets and other critical assets at risk. Approximate execution time after the grant is in place: 12 months.

11 See CPUC “Phase 2” Decision 12-05-037 at pp. 36 and 90, http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/WORD_PDF/FINAL_DECISION/167664.PDF.February 2019 March 2019 Page 17 of 38 GFO-18-301



b. Develop realistic physical renditions of fuel loads and conditions that would exist in the future with the availability of surface load due to tree mortality. This could be done by conducting physical experiments that simulate how these dead surface fuels would burn. This could provide rapid information for parameterizing wildfire models. The Wind Tunnel and Combustion Lab12

at the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, for example, might be able to conduct such experiments in collaboration with the grant recipient. Approximate execution time after the grant is in place: 2 years.

c. Improve understanding of the relationship of extreme weather conditions and wildfire to improve the forecasting accuracy about future wildfire risk. Analyze historical weather data of every major weather/fire event in the historical record. This should be done in the various fuel types found in the three IOUs—e.g., chaparral, coastal forest, and Sierran conifer forest—since each type represents different fuel and weather patterns. The emphasis would be on wildfires that have damaged the electricity system to find out if patterns may be different in different regions. Approximate execution time after the grant is in place: 2 years.

2) Develop computationally efficient fire spread models in relation to electricity assets. Integrate the latest fire science knowledge into near-term (from real-time out to 7 days in advance) wildfire analytics (e.g., Fire Potential Index13) and risk forecast models (e.g., Wildfire Risk Reduction Model14 or FireMap15) of ignited or hypothetical fires. Expand existing versions or create new models to incorporate the variation in vegetation and weather conditions across the state. It is critical that fire in the WUI area be reasonably represented in these models, because that is where the distribution grid tends to be most vulnerable. Applicants should address the “big data” challenge inherent in the problem, given the terabytes of weather data and the millions of simulations that could be required, especially for scaling up to statewide analysis. Alternative approaches, such as graph theory, may help reduce the computational burdens (Mahmoud and Chulahwat, 2018). The models and analytics should be tested with observational data on past fires. The models and analytics should allow assessment of proposed fuel treatments and identify critical facilities at risk. The forecast model should be computationally efficient so that it could potentially become an operational tool in Cal-Adapt16 under a potential Phase II of the grant. The researchers should calibrate the model(s) to the types of wildfires that tend to result in damage to the infrastructure owned by IOUs. Approximate execution time after the grant is in place: 3 years.

3) Develop long-term (to mid- and late-century) wildfire scenario models for California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment that incorporate new science on tree mortality, wind speed and direction, and fire spread in the WUI. Adapt or develop models using two or more approaches to project wildfire risk to mid- and end-of-century under climate change, including at a minimum area burned and fire severity. Incorporate new insights from tree mortality studies, and new forecasts of

12 https://www.firelab.org/resource/wind-tunnel-and-combustion-lab13 http://www.westernlampac.org/2018%20Spring/Steve%20V.pdf, slides 6-714 https://sdgenews.com/article/innovation-enhances-safety-wildfire-risk-reduction-model15 https://wifire.ucsd.edu/firemap16 http://cal-adapt.org/February 2019 March 2019 Page 18 of 38 GFO-18-301


changes in wind regimes (e.g., from Scripps) and vegetation/fuel cover. It is critical that fire in the WUI area be reasonably represented in these models, because that is where the distribution grid tends to be most vulnerable. Therefore, the fire modeling should be coupled with a land use/cover change model that includes a low-density residential class for the WUI and a method for applying land use constraints, such as excluding new development in fire hazard severity zones, to investigate adaptation strategies. The various modeling approaches would be compared against historical data as well as satisfying the modeling specifications. The research team will be expected to collaborate with Scripps, which is developing a new hybrid downscaling technique (EPC-16-063), to ensure that future climate projections generate the parameters needed for wildfire modeling for the rest of this century to the degree practical. For example, the IOUs need models that are able to estimate bursts of wind of approximately a few minutes’ duration. In addition to near- and long-term forecasts, seasonal forecasts (3-9 months ahead) of wildfire risks could benefit IOUs by allowing them to plan for fire readiness resources. This task will explore the value of such forecasts to IOUs, grid operators, and regulators. Approximate execution time after the grant is in place: 3 years.

Phase II ($1,000,000)

1) Run long-term wildfire scenario models for California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment that incorporate new science based on the results of Phase I and other efforts such as the studies led by UCLA and UC Berkeley mentioned in Section I.A. The project would also be guided by the Climate Action Team’s Research Working Group17 to ensure that models meet the requirements of the Fifth Assessment, including potentially supporting an assessment of the vulnerability of the energy system to wildfire. The project may also be asked to transfer the local fire risk technology to the IOUs and support them in integrating it into their operations. The project team should also work with the Cal-Adapt team to facilitate the transfer of tools and results into the Cal-Adapt web platform18 as appropriate to make them accessible to stakeholders. Approximate execution time after Phase II is approved: 2 years.

2) Ratepayer Benefits, Technological Advancements, and Breakthroughs

3. Ratepayer Benefits, Technological Advancements, and Breakthroughs California Public Resources Code Section 25711.5(a) requires EPIC-funded projects to:

Benefit electricity ratepayers; and

Lead to technological advancement and breakthroughs to overcome the barriers that prevent the achievement of the state’s statutory energy goals.

The CPUC defines “ratepayer benefits” as greater reliability, lower costs, and increased safety.19 The CPUC has also adopted the following guiding principles as complements to the key principle of electricity ratepayer benefits: societal benefits; GHG emissions mitigation and adaptation in the electricity sector at the lowest possible cost; the loading

17 https://www.climatechange.ca.gov/climate_action_team/research.html 18 http://cal-adapt.org/19 Id. at p. 19.February 2019 March 2019 Page 19 of 38 GFO-18-301


order; low-emission vehicles/transportation; economic development; and efficient use of ratepayer monies.20

Accordingly, the Project Narrative Form (Attachment 4) and the “Goals and Objectives” section of the Scope of Work Template (Attachment 6) must describe how the project will: (1) benefit California IOU ratepayers by increasing reliability, lowering costs, and/or increasing safety; and (2) lead to technological advancement and breakthroughs to overcome barriers to achieving the state’s statutory energy goals.

20 Id. at pp. 19-20.February 2019 March 2019 Page 20 of 38 GFO-18-301


III. Application Organization and Submission InstructionsA. APPLICATION FORMAT, PAGE LIMITS, AND NUMBER OF COPIES The following table summarizes the application formatting and page limit recommendations:

Format Font: 11-point, Arial (excluding Excel spreadsheets, original template headers and footers, and commitment or support letters)

Margins: No less than one inch on all sides (excluding headers and footers)

Spacing: Single spaced, with a blank line between each paragraph

Pages: Numbered and printed double-sided (when determining page limits, each printed side of a page counts as one page)

Signatures: Manual (i.e., not electronic) Labeling: Tabbed and labeled as required in Sections B and C

below Binding: Original binder clipped; all other copies spiral or comb

bound (binders discouraged) File Format: MS Word version 1997-2003, or version 2007 or

later (.doc or .docx format), excluding Excel spreadsheets and commitment or support letters (PDF files are acceptable for the letters)

File Storage: Electronic files of the application must be submitted on a CD-ROM or USB memory stick

Page Limit Recommendations Executive Summary (Attachment 2): two pages

Fact Sheet (Attachment 3): two pages Project Narrative Form (Attachment 4): twenty pages excluding

documentation for CEQA Project Team Form (Attachment 5): two pages for each resume Reference and Work Product Form (Attachment 9): one page

for each reference, two pages for each project description Commitment and Support Letter Form (Attachment 11): two

pages, excluding the cover page

The following attachments are recommended not to exceed seventy pages:o Executive Summary Formo Fact Sheet Templateo Project Narrative Form o Scope of Work Template (Attachments 6 and 6a)

There are no page limits for the following:o Application Form (Attachment 1) o Budget Forms (Attachment 7)o CEQA Compliance Form (Attachment 8)o Contact List Template (Attachment 10)

Number of Copies of the Application

For Hard Copy Submittal Only: 1 hard copy (with signatures) One electronic copy (on a CD-ROM or USB memory stick)



B. PREFERRED METHOD FOR DELIVERY

The preferred method of delivery for this solicitation is the Energy Commission Grant Solicitation System, available at: https://gss.energy.ca.gov/. This online tool allows applicants to submit their electronic documents to the Energy Commission prior to the date and time specified in this solicitation. Electronic files must be in Microsoft Word XP (.doc format) and Excel Office Suite formats unless originally provided in the solicitation in another format. Attachments requiring signatures may be scanned and submitted in PDF format. Completed Budget Forms, Attachment 7, must be in Excel format. The system will not allow applications to be submitted after the due date and time.

First time users must register as a new user to access the system. Applicants will receive a confirmation email after all required documents have been successfully uploaded. A tutorial of the system will be provided at the pre-application workshops and you may contact the Commission Agreement Officer identified in the Questions section of the solicitation for more assistance.

C. HARD COPY DELIVERY

An applicant may also deliver a hard copy of an application by:

U.S. Mail In Person Courier service

Applications submitted in hard copy must be delivered to the Energy Commission Contracts, Grants and Loans Office according to the schedule in Section I.G. If applications are delivered prior to the due date shown on this schedule, then they can be delivered during normal business hours (8 am – 5 pm). Applications received after the specified date and time shown in Section I.G. are considered late and will not be accepted. There are no exceptions to this. Postmark dates of mailing, E-mail and facsimile (FAX) transmissions are not acceptable in whole or in part, under any circumstances. There is no need to submit a hard copy of an application that is submitted through the Grant Solicitation System, as it will only cause confusion.

Number of CopiesApplicants submitting a hard copy application are only required to submit one paper copy. Applicants must also submit electronic files of the application on CD-ROM or USB memory stick along with the paper submittal. Electronic files must be in Microsoft Word XP (.doc format) and Excel Office Suite formats. Completed Budget Forms, Attachment 7, must be in Excel format. Electronic files submitted via e-mail will not be accepted.

Packaging and LabelingAll hard copy applications must be labeled "Grant Funding Opportunity GFO-18-301," and include the title of the application.



https://gss.energy.ca.gov/

Include the following label information on the mailing envelope:

Applicant’s Project Manager Applicant’s NameStreet AddressCity, State, and Zip Code

GFO-18-301Contracts, Grants, and Loans Office, MS-18California Energy Commission1516 Ninth Street, 1st FloorSacramento, California 95814

D. APPLICATION ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT1. For all hard copy submittals, submit attachments in the order specified below.

2. Label the proposal application cover “Grant Funding Opportunity GFO-18-301” and include: (a) the title of the application; and, (b) the applicant’s name.

3. Separate each section of the application by a tab that is labeled only with the tab number and section title indicated below.

Tab/Attachment Number

Title of Section

1 Application Form (requires signature)2 Executive Summary 3 Fact Sheet 4 Project Narrative 5 Project Team 6 (includes 6a) Scope of Work 7 Budget 8 CEQA Compliance Form 9 References and Work Product10 Contact List 11 Commitment and Support Letters (require signature)

Below is a description of each required section of the application. Completeness in submitting are the required information requested in each attachment will be factored into the scoring:

1. Application Form (Attachment 1)This form requests basic information about the applicant and the project. The application includes an original form that includes all requested information. The application must be signed by an authorized representative of the applicant’s organization or will be failed as indicated in Section IV.E.

2. Executive Summary Form (Attachment 2)The Executive Summary includes: a project description; the project goals and objectives to be achieved; an explanation of how the goals and objectives will be achieved, quantified, and measured; and a description of the project tasks and overall management of the agreement.



3. Fact Sheet Template (Attachment 3)The project fact sheet presents project information in a manner suitable for publication (if the project receives funding, the Energy Commission may use the fact sheet to publicize the project). The fact sheet follows the template, which includes a summary of project specifics and a description of the issue addressed by the project, a project description, and anticipated benefits for the state of California.

4. Project Narrative Form (Attachment 4) This form will include the majority of the applicant’s responses to the Scoring Criteria in Section IV, including the following:

a. Specific Questions Include required specific information (see Section II.B.2) in the specified

sections.

5. Project Team Form (Attachment 5)Identify by name all key personnel21 assigned to the project, including the project manager and principal investigator (if applicable), and individuals employed by any major subcontractor (a major subcontractor is a subcontractor receiving at least 25% of Commission funds or $100,000, whichever is less). Clearly describe their individual areas of responsibility. Include the information required for each individual, including a resume (maximum two pages, printed double-sided).

6. Scope of Work Template (Attachments 6 and 6a)Applicants must include a completed Scope of Work for each project, as instructed in the template. The Scope of Work identifies the tasks required to complete the project. It includes a project schedule that lists all products, meetings, and due dates. All work must be scheduled for completion within 36 to 48 months of the project start date.

Electronic files for Parts I-IV of the Scope of Work are in MS Word. Part V (Project Schedule, Attachment 6a) is in MS Excel.

7. Budget Forms (Attachment 7)The budget forms are in MS Excel format. Detailed instructions for completing them are included at the beginning of Attachment 7. Read the instructions before completing the worksheets. Complete and submit information on all budget worksheets. The salaries, rates, and other costs entered on the worksheets will become a part of the final agreement.

1) All project expenditures (match share and reimbursable) must be made within the approved agreement term. Match share requirements are discussed in Part I of this solicitation. The entire term of the agreement and projected rate increases must be considered when preparing the budget.

2) The budget must reflect estimates for actual costs to be incurred during the agreement term. The Energy Commission may only approve and reimburse for actual costs that are properly documented in accordance with the grant terms and conditions. Rates and personnel shown must reflect the rates and personnel the applicant would include if selected as a Recipient.

21 “Key personnel” are individuals that are critical to the project due to their experience, knowledge, and/or capabilities. February 2019 March 2019 Page 24 of 38 GFO-18-301


3) The proposed rates are considered capped and may not change during the agreement term. The Recipient will only be reimbursed for actual rates up to the rate caps.

4) The budget must NOT include any Recipient profit from the proposed project, either as a reimbursed item, match share, or as part of overhead or general and administrative expenses (subcontractor profit is allowable, though the maximum percentage allowed is 10 % of the total subcontractor rates for labor, and other direct and indirect costs as indicated in the Category Budget form). Please review the terms and conditions and budget forms for additional restrictions and requirements.

5) The budget must allow for the expenses of all meetings and products described in the Scope of Work. Meetings may be conducted at the Energy Commission or by conference call, as determined by the Commission Agreement Manager.

6) Applicants must budget for permits and insurance. Permitting costs may be accounted for in match share (please see the discussion of permits in the Scope of Work, Attachment 6).

7) The budget must NOT identify that EPIC funds will be spent outside of the United States or for out of country travel. However, match funds may cover these costs if there are no legal restrictions.

8) Applicants should be aware of and shall adhere to restrictions of using state funds to travel to certain other states pursuant to AB 1887 (2016) and codified at California Government Code Section 11139.8. All applicants should go to the Attorney General’s website https://oag.ca.gov/ab1887 for a current list of states subject to travel restrictions. Grants awarded under this solicitation shall not contain travel paid for with Commission funds (applicants can instead use match funds) to the listed states unless the Commission approves in writing that the trip falls within one of the exceptions under the law.

9) Prevailing wage requirement: Projects that receive an award of public funds from the Energy Commission often involve construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair or maintenance work over $1,000. For this reason, projects that receive an award of public funds from the Energy Commission are likely to be considered public works under the California Labor Code. See Chapter 1 of Part 7 of Division 2 of the California Labor Code, commencing with Section 1720 and Title 8, California Code of Regulations, Chapter 8, Subchapter 3, commencing with Section 16000.

Projects deemed to be public works require among other things the payment of prevailing wages, which can be significantly higher than non-prevailing wages.

By accepting this grant, Recipient as a material term of this agreement shall be fully responsible for complying with all California public works requirements including but not limited to payment of prevailing wage. Therefore, as a material term of this grant, Recipient must either:

(a) Proceed on the assumption that the project is a public work and ensure that:

(i) prevailing wages are paid; and

(ii) the project budget for labor reflects these prevailing wage requirements; and



(iii) the project complies with all other requirements of prevailing wage law including but not limited to keeping accurate payroll records, and complying with all working hour requirements and apprenticeship obligations;

or, (b) Timely obtain a legally binding determination from the Department of Industrial Relations or a court of competent jurisdiction before work begins on the project that the proposed project is not a public work.

8. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Compliance Form (Attachment 8)The Energy Commission requires the information on this form to facilitate its evaluation of proposed activities under CEQA (California Public Resources Code Section 21000 et. seq.), a law that requires state and local agencies in California to assess the potential environmental impacts of their proposed actions. The form will also help applicants to determine CEQA compliance obligations by identifying which proposed activities may be exempt from CEQA and which activities may require additional environmental review. If proposed activities are exempt from CEQA (such as paper studies), the worksheet will help to identify and document this. This form must be completed regardless of whether the proposed activities are considered a “project” under CEQA.

Failure to complete the CEQA process in a timely manner after the Energy Commission’s Notice of Proposed Award may result in the cancellation of a proposed award and allocation of funding to the next highest-scoring project. Refer also to section I.D of this solicitation.

9. Reference and Work Product Form (Attachment 9)1) Section 1 : Provide applicant and subcontractor references as instructed. 2) Section 2 : Provide a list of past projects detailing technical and business experience

of the applicant (or any member of the project team) that is related to the proposed work. Identify past projects that resulted in market-ready technology, advancement of codes and standards, and/or advancement of state energy policy. Include copies of up to three of the applicant or team member’s recent publications in scientific or technical journals related to the proposed project, as applicable.

10. Contact List Template (Attachment 10)The list identifies the names and contact information of the project manager, administrator, accounting officer, and recipient of legal notices.

11. Commitment and Support Letter Form (Attachment 11)A commitment letter commits an entity or individual to providing the service or funding described in the letter. A support letter details an entity or individual’s support for the project. Commitment and Support Letters must be submitted with the application. Letters that are not submitted by the application deadline will not be reviewed and counted towards meeting the requirement specified in the solicitation.

1) Commitment Letters If match funding will be provided that exceeds the minimum requirements in

Section I.F., applicants must submit a match funding commitment letter signed by each representative of the entity or individual that is committing to



providing match funding. The letter must: (1) identify the source(s) of the funds; and (2) guarantee the availability of the funds for the project.

Project partners that are making contributions other than match funding or a site, and are not receiving Energy Commission funds, must submit a commitment letter signed by an authorized representative that: (1) identifies how the partner will contribute to the project; and (2) commits to making the contribution.

2) Support Letters All applicants must include at least one support letter from a project stakeholder (i.e., an entity or individual that will benefit from or be involved in the project) that: (1) describes the stakeholder’s interest or involvement in the project; (2) indicates the extent to which the project has the support of the relevant industry and/or organizations; and (3) describes any support it intends (but does not necessarily commit) to provide for the project, such as funding or the provision of a site.



IV. Evaluation and Award Process A. APPLICATION EVALUATION

Applications will be evaluated and scored based on responses to the information requested in this solicitation. To evaluate applications, the Energy Commission will organize an Evaluation Committee that consists primarily of Energy Commission staff. The Evaluation Committee may use technical expert reviewers to provide an analysis of applications. Applications will be evaluated in two stages:

1. Stage One: Application Screening The Contracts, Grants, and Loans Office and/or the Evaluation Committee will screen applications for compliance with the Screening Criteria in Section E of this Part. Applications that fail any of the screening criteria will be rejected. The Evaluation Committee may conduct optional in-person or telephone Clarification Interviews with applicants during the screening process to clarify and/or verify information submitted in the application. However, these interviews may not be used to change or add to the content of the original application. Applicants will not be reimbursed for time spent answering clarifying questions.

2. Stage Two: Application Scoring Applications that pass Stage One will be submitted to the Evaluation Committee for review and scoring based on the Scoring Criteria in Section F of this Part.

The scores for each application will be the average of the combined scores of all Evaluation Committee members.

A minimum score of 70.00 points is required for the application to be eligible for funding. In addition, the application must receive a minimum score of 49.00 points for criteria 1−4 to be eligible for funding.

Clarification Interviews: The Evaluation Committee may conduct optional in-personor telephone interviews with applicants during the evaluation process to clarify and/or verify information submitted in the application. However, these interviews may not be used to change or add to the content of the original application. Applicants will not be reimbursed for time spent answering clarifying questions.

B. RANKING, NOTICE OF PROPOSED AWARD, AND AGREEMENT DEVELOPMENT

1. Ranking and Notice of Proposed AwardApplications that receive a minimum score of 70.00 points for all criteria will be ranked according to their score.

The Energy Commission will post a Notice of Proposed Award (NOPA) that includes: (1) the total proposed funding amount; (2) the rank order of applicants; and (3) the amount of each proposed award. The Commission will post the NOPA at its headquarters in Sacramento and on its website, and will mail it to all entities that submitted an application. Proposed awards must be approved by the Commission at a business meeting.

Debriefings: Unsuccessful applicants may request a debriefing after the release of theNOPA by contacting the Commission Agreement Officer listed in Part I. A request for debriefing must be received no later than 30 calendar days after the NOPA is released.



In addition to any of its other rights, the Energy Commission reserves the right to:o Allocate any additional funds to passing applications, in rank order; ando Negotiate with successful applicants to modify the project scope, schedule,

and/or level of funding.

2. AgreementsApplications recommended for funding will be developed into a grant agreement to be considered at an Energy Commission Business Meeting. Recipients may begin the project only after full execution of the grant agreement (i.e., approval at an Energy Commission business meeting and signature by the Recipient and the Energy Commission).

Resolution Requirement (for government agency recipients only): Prior to approval of the agreement at a business meeting, government agency recipients (e.g., federal, state, and local governments; air/water/school districts; joint power authorities; and state universities) must provide a resolution that authorizes the agency to enter into the agreement and is signed by a representative authorized to execute the agreement and all documents related to the award. Resolutions must include: (1) a brief description of the project; (2) the award amount; and (3) an acceptance of the award.

Agreement Development: The Contracts, Grants, and Loans Office will send the Recipient a grant agreement for approval and signature. The agreement will include the applicable terms and conditions and will incorporate this solicitation by reference. The Energy Commission reserves the right to modify the award documents (including the terms and conditions) prior to executing any agreement.

Failure to Execute an Agreement: If the Energy Commission is unable to successfully execute an agreement with an applicant, it reserves the right to cancel the pending award and to fund the next highest-ranked, eligible application.

Agreement Amendment: The executed agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the Energy Commission and the Recipient. The agreement may requireamendment as a result of project review, changes in project scope, and/or availability of funding.

C. GROUNDS TO REJECT AN APPLICATION OR CANCEL AN AWARD

Applications that do not pass the screening stage will be rejected. In addition, the Energy Commission reserves the right to reject an application and/or to cancel an award in any of the following circumstances:

The application contains false or intentionally misleading statements or references that do not support an attribute or condition contended by the applicant.

The application is intended to erroneously and fallaciously mislead the State in its evaluation and the attribute, condition, or capability is a requirement of this solicitation.

The application does not comply or contains caveats that conflict with the solicitation, and the variation or deviation is material.

The applicant has previously received funding through a Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) or EPIC agreement, has received the royalty review letter (which the Energy Commission annually sends out to remind past recipients of their obligations to pay royalties), and has not responded to the letter or is otherwise not in compliance with repaying royalties.



The applicant has received unsatisfactory agreement evaluations from the Energy Commission or another California state agency.

The applicant is a business entity that is not in good standing with the California Secretary of State.

The applicant has not demonstrated that it has the financial capability to complete the project.

The applicant fails to meet CEQA compliance within sufficient time for the Energy Commission to meet its encumbrance deadline, as the Energy Commission in its sole and absolute discretion may determine.

The applicant has included a statement or otherwise indicated that it will not accept the terms and conditions, or that acceptance is based on modifications to the terms and conditions.

The application contains confidential information or identify any portion of the application as confidential.

D. MISCELLANEOUS

1. Solicitation Cancellation and AmendmentIt is the policy of the Energy Commission not to solicit applications unless there is a bona fide intention to award an agreement. However, if it is in the State’s best interest, the Energy Commission reserves the right, in addition to any other rights it has, to do any of the following:

Cancel this solicitation; Revise the amount of funds available under this solicitation; Amend this solicitation as needed; and/or Reject any or all applications received in response to this solicitation.

If the solicitation is amended, the Energy Commission will send an addendum to all entities that requested the solicitation, and will also post it on the Energy Commission’s website at: www.energy.ca.gov/contracts. The Energy Commission will not reimburse applicants for application development expenses under any circumstances, including cancellation of the solicitation.

2. Modification or Withdrawal of ApplicationApplicants may withdraw or modify a submitted application before the deadline to submit applications by sending a letter to the Commission Agreement Officer listed in Part I. Applications cannot be changed after that date and time. An Application cannot be “timed” to expire on a specific date. For example, a statement such as the following is non-responsive to the solicitation: “This application and the cost estimate are valid for 60 days.”

3. ConfidentialityThough the entire evaluation process from receipt of applications up to the posting of the NOPA is confidential, all submitted documents will become publicly available records after the Energy Commission posts the NOPA or the solicitation is cancelled. The Energy Commission will not accept or retain applications that identify any portion as confidential.

4. Solicitation Errors

If an applicant discovers any ambiguity, conflict, discrepancy, omission, or other error in the solicitation, the applicant should immediately notify the Energy Commission of the error in writing and request modification or clarification of the solicitation. The Energy Commission will



http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts

provide modifications or clarifications by written notice to all entities that requested the solicitation. The Energy Commission will not be responsible for failure to correct errors.

5. Immaterial DefectThe Energy Commission may waive any immaterial defect or deviation contained in an application. The Energy Commission’s waiver will not modify the application or excuse the successful applicant from full compliance with solicitation requirements.

6. Disposition of Applicant’s DocumentsUpon the posting of the NOPA, all applications and related materials submitted in response to this solicitation will become property of the State and publicly available records. Unsuccessful applicants who seek the return of any materials must make this request to the Agreement Officer listed in Part I, and provide sufficient postage to fund the cost of returning the materials.

E. STAGE ONE: APPLICATION SCREENING

SCREENING CRITERIA The Application must pass ALL criteria to progress to Stage Two.

Pass/Fail

1. The application is received by the Energy Commission’s Contracts, Grants, and Loans Office by the due date and time specified in the “Key Activities Schedule” in Part I of this solicitation and is received in the required manner (e.g., no emails or faxes).

Pass Fail

2. The application Form (Attachment 1) is signed where indicated. Pass Fail

3. If the applicant has submitted more than one application, each application is for a distinct project (i.e., no overlap with respect to the tasks described in the Scope of Work, Attachment 6).

If the projects are not distinct and the applications were submitted at the same time, only the first application screened by the Energy Commission will be eligible for funding. If the applications were submitted separately, only the first application received by the Energy Commission will be eligible for funding.

Pass Fail

4. The requested funding falls within the minimum and maximum range specified in Part I of this solicitation.

Pass Fail

5. The application does not contain any confidential information or identify any portion of the application as confidential.

Pass Fail

6. The applicant has not included a statement or otherwise indicated that it will not accept the terms and conditions, or that acceptance is based on modifications to the terms and conditions.

Pass Fail



F. STAGE TWO: APPLICATION SCORING

Proposals that pass ALL Stage One Screening Criteria and are not rejected as described in Section IV.C. will be evaluated based on the Scoring Criteria on the next page and the Scoring Scale below (with the exception of criteria 6−8, which will be evaluated as described in each criterion). Each criterion has an assigned number of possible points, and is divided into multiple sub-criteria. The sub-criteria are not equally weighted. The Project Narrative (Attachment 4) must respond to each sub-criterion, unless otherwise indicated. The minimum passing score for criteria 1−4 is 49.00 points and the total minimum

passing score is 70.00 out of 100 points for criteria 1-7. The points for criteria 5−7 will only be applied to proposals that achieve the minimum score

for criteria 1−4. The points for criteria 8-10 will only be applied to proposals that achieve the minimum scores for criteria 1-4 and criteria 1-7.

SCORING SCALE

% of Possible Points

Interpretation Explanation for Percentage Points

0% Not ResponsiveResponse does not include or fails to address the requirements being scored. The omission(s), flaw(s), or defect(s) are significant and unacceptable.

10-30% Minimally Responsive

Response minimally addresses the requirements being scored. The omission(s), flaw(s), or defect(s) are significant and unacceptable.

40-60% Inadequate

Response addresses the requirements being scored, but there are one or more omissions, flaws, or defects or the requirements are addressed in such a limited way that it results in a low degree of confidence in the proposed solution.

70% AdequateResponse adequately addresses the requirements being scored. Any omission(s), flaw(s), or defect(s) are inconsequential and acceptable.

75%Between

Adequate and Good

Response better than adequately addresses the requirements being scored. Any omission(s), flaw(s), or defect(s) are inconsequential and acceptable.

80% Good

Response fully addresses the requirements being scored with a good degree of confidence in the applicant’s response or proposed solution. No identified omission(s), flaw(s), or defect(s). Any identified weaknesses are minimal, inconsequential, and acceptable.

85% Between Good and Excellent

Response fully addresses the requirements being scored with a better than good degree of confidence in the applicant’s response or proposed solution. No identified omission(s), flaw(s), or defect(s). Any identified weaknesses are minimal, inconsequential, and acceptable.

90% Excellent

Response fully addresses the requirements being scored with a high degree of confidence in the applicant’s response or proposed solution. Applicant offers one or more enhancing features, methods or approaches exceeding basic expectations.



95% Between Excellent and Exceptional

Response fully addresses the requirements being scored with a better than excellent degree of confidence in the applicant’s response or proposed solution. Applicant offers one or more enhancing features, methods or approaches exceeding basic expectations.

100% Exceptional

All requirements are addressed with the highest degree of confidence in the applicant’s response or proposed solution. The response exceeds the requirements in providing multiple enhancing features, a creative approach, or an exceptional solution.



SCORING CRITERIA

The Project Narrative (Attachment 4) must respond to each criterion below, unless otherwise indicated. The responses must directly relate to the solicitation requirements and focus as stated in Section I.A. and Section II.B. Failure to comply with the solicitation could be grounds for application rejection as stated in Section IV.C. Any estimates of energy savings or GHG impacts should be calculated as specified in the References for Calculating Energy End-Use and GHG Emissions (Attachment 12), to the extent that the references apply to the proposed project.

Scoring Criteria Maximum Points

1. Technical Merit and Need a. Provides a clear and concise description of the goals, objectives,

technological or scientific knowledge advancement, and innovation in the proposed project.

b. Explains how the proposed project will lead to technological advancement and breakthroughs that overcome barriers to achieving the State’s statutory energy goals.

c. Summarizes the current status of the relevant technology and/or scientific knowledge, and explains how the proposed project will advance, supplement, and/or replace current technology and/or scientific knowledge.

d. Justifies the need for EPIC funding, including an explanation of why the proposed work is not adequately supported by competitive or regulated markets.

e. Discusses the degree to which the proposed work is technically feasible and achievable within the proposed project schedule in Attachment 6A and the key activities schedule in Section I.G.

f. Provides a clear and plausible measurement and verification plan that describes how energy savings and other benefits specified in the application will be determined and measured.

g. Provides information documenting progress towards achieving compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by addressing the areas in Section I.D, and Section III.D.4, and Section III.D.8.

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2. Technical Approach a. Describes the technique, approach, and methods to be used in

performing the work described in the Scope of Work. Highlights any outstanding features.

b. Describes how tasks will be executed and coordinated with various participants and team members.

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c. Identifies and discusses factors critical for success, in addition to risks, barriers, and limitations. Provides a plan to address them.

d. Describes how the knowledge gained, experimental results, and lessons learned will be made available to the public and key decision-makers.

e. Includes a complete Scope of Work and Project Schedule, as instructed in Attachments 6 and 6a.

3. Impacts and Benefits for California IOU Ratepayers a. Explains how the proposed project will benefit California Investor-Owned

Utility (IOU) ratepayers with respect to the EPIC goals of greater reliability, lower costs, and/or increased safety).

b. Provides clear, plausible, and justifiable quantitative estimates of potential benefits for California IOU electricity ratepayers, including the following (as applicable): annual electricity and thermal savings (kilowatt-hour and therms), peak load reduction and/or shifting, energy cost reductions, greenhouse gas emission reductions, air emission reductions (e.g., NOx), and water use and/or cost reductions.

c. States the timeframe, assumptions, and calculations for the estimated benefits, and explains their reasonableness.

d. Identifies impacted market segments in California, including size and penetration or deployment rates, with underlying assumptions.

e. Discusses any qualitative or intangible benefits to California IOU electricity ratepayers, including timeframe and assumptions.

f. Provides a cost-benefit analysis that compares project costs to anticipated benefits. Explains how costs and benefits will be calculated and quantified, and identifies any underlying assumptions.

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4. Team Qualifications, Capabilities, and Resourcesa. Describes the organizational structure of the applicant and the project

team. Includes an organizational chart that illustrates the structure.

b. Identifies key team members, including the project manager and principal investigator (include this information in Attachment 5, Project Team Form).

c. Summarizes the qualifications, experience, capabilities, and credentials of the key team members (include this information in Attachment 5, Project Team Form).

d. Explains how the various tasks will be managed and coordinated, and how the project manager’s technical expertise will support the effective management and coordination of all projects in the application.

e. Describes the facilities, infrastructure, and resources available to the team.

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f. Describes the team’s history of successfully completing projects (e.g., RD&D projects) and commercializing and/or deploying results/products.

g. Identifies past projects that resulted in a market-ready technology (include this information in Attachment 9, Reference and Work Product Form).

h. References are relevant to the proposed project and are current, meaning within the past three years (include this information in Attachment 9, Reference and Work Product Form).

i. Identifies any collaborations with utilities, industries, or others. Explains the nature of the collaboration and what each collaborator will contribute.

j. Demonstrates that the applicant has the financial ability to complete the project, as indicated by the responses to the following questions:

Has your organization been involved in a lawsuit or government investigation within the past five years?

Does your organization have overdue taxes? Has your organization ever filed for or does it plan to file for

bankruptcy? Has any party that entered into an agreement with your

organization terminated it, and if so for what reason? For Energy Commission agreements listed in the application that

were executed (i.e., approved at a Commission business meeting and signed by both parties) within the past five years, has your organization ever failed to provide a final report by the date indicated in the agreement?

k. Support or commitment letters (for match funding, test sites, or project partners) indicate a strong level of support or commitment for the project.

l. Evaluations of ongoing or previous agreements may be used in scoring for this criterion.

Total Possible Points for criteria 1−4(Minimum Passing Score for criteria 1−4 is 49.00) 70




5. Budget and Cost-Effectivenessa. Budget forms are complete, as instructed in Attachment 7.b. Justifies the reasonableness of the requested funds relative to the project

goals, objectives, and tasks.c. Justifies the reasonableness of costs for direct labor, non-labor (e.g.,

indirect overhead, general and administrative costs, and subcontractor profit), and operating expenses by task.

d. Explains why the hours proposed for personnel and subcontractors are reasonable to accomplish the activities in the Scope of Work (Attachment 6).

e. Explains how the applicant will maximize funds for the technical tasks in Part IV of the Scope of Work and minimize expenditure of funds for program administration and overhead.

f. The requested funding falls within the minimum and maximum range specified in Part I of this solicitation.

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6. EPIC Funds Spent in CaliforniaProjects that spend EPIC funds in California will receive points as indicated in the table below. “Spent in California” means that: (1) Funds under the “Direct Labor” category and all categories calculated based on direct labor (Prime and Subcontractor Labor Rates) are paid to individuals who pay California state income taxes on wages received for work performed under the agreement; and/or (2) Business transactions (e.g., material and equipment purchases, leases, rentals, and contractual work) are entered into with a business located in California.

Airline ticket purchases for out-of-state travel and payments made to out-of-state workers are not considered funds “spent in California.” However, funds spent by out-of-state workers in California (e.g., hotel and food) and airline travel originating and ending in California are considered funds “spent in California.”

Percentage of EPIC funds spent in CA(derived from budget Attachment 7)

Percentage of Possible Points

>60% 20%>70% 40%>80% 60%>90% 80%>98% 100%

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7. Ratio of Direct Labor and Fringe Benefit Rates to Loaded Labor Costs

The score for this criterion will derive from the Category Budget in the budget forms, which compare the total Energy Commission funds for the direct labor and fringe benefits costs to the total loaded costs (Total Direct Labor + Total Fringe)/ (Total Direct Labor + Total Fringe + Total Indirect + Total Profit). This ratio, as a percentage, is multiplied by the possible points for this criterion and rounded two decimal places. For the purposes of this criteria, the Energy Commission will include the facility charges (e.g., rent, utilities, etc.), burdens and other like costs that are budgeted as direct costs into the indirect costs in the formula.

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Total Possible Points(Minimum Passing Score is 70) 100

Additional Points Applications must meet both minimum passing scores (Scoring Criteria 1-4 and 1-7) to be eligible for the additional points.

8. Match Funding (Optional)

Each match funding contributor must submit a commitment letter that meets the requirements of Attachment 11. Failure to meet these requirements will affect the match funding points.

Points for this criterion will be awarded as follows:o 5 points will be awarded based on the match funding divided by the

total amount of EPIC funds requested. This ratio will be multiplied by 5 to yield the points. For example: If requested EPIC funds are $1,000,000, and the applicant pledged $500,000 in match funding, the amount that will be evaluated for additional points is $500,000. The match funding ratio is 0.50. (5 x 0.50 = 2.5 points).

o 5 points will be awarded based on the level of commitment and will consider type of match funding (cash in hand funds will be considered more favorably than other types of match funding), dollar value justification, and funding replacement strategy described in the match funding commitment letter for the amount above the minimum (see Attachment 11). The proposal scoring scale in Section IV. F will be used to rate these criteria.

Any match funding pledged in Attachment 1 must be consistent with the amount or dollar value described in the commitment letter(s) (e.g., if $5,000 “cash in hand” funds are pledged in a commitment letter, Attachment 1 must match this amount). Only the total amount pledged in the commitment letter(s) will be considered for match funding points.

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