Charge Ready NY - Large Public Sector Project Program

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, or NYSERDA, is offering the Charge Ready NY - Large Public Sector Project Program through Program Opportunity Notice 6141. The program makes up to $35 million available from New York's Sustainable Future Program to support public sector organizations developing large portfolios of publicly accessible Level 2 electric vehicle charging sites within their jurisdictions. The initiative is intended to reduce the cost of purchasing and installing Level 2 charging infrastructure, expand public access to electric vehicle charging across New York State, accelerate electric vehicle adoption, reduce harmful emissions and dependence on fossil fuels, and improve the reliability and resiliency of the state's electric vehicle charging experience. NYSERDA may fund up to 80 percent of eligible project costs, with awards generally ranging from a minimum of $1 million to a maximum of $15 million. Funding is limited to a maximum of $20,000 per installed port. Applicants must provide at least 20 percent of eligible project costs from non-NYSERDA sources. An exception to the $1 million minimum applies to certain public sector entities previously included as planned sites in NYSERDA's awarded Community Level 2 and Direct Current Fast Charging Infrastructure in New York State proposal from Round 1A of the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure grant program, provided all other eligibility requirements are satisfied. Eligible costs include Level 2 EVSE hardware and shipping, installation materials and work, eligible customer-side make-ready and load-management expenses not funded by a utility incentive, eligible signage and pavement painting, directly related site restoration, and certain EVSE-related hardware, software, and prepaid network costs. Up to 10 percent of project costs may cover preliminary planning, design, site selection, and construction management. Real estate purchases, unrelated capital improvements, electricity consumption and demand charges, general site maintenance, certain utility-funded make-ready costs, costs incurred before agreement execution, unrelated administrative expenses, maintenance service agreements, extended warranties, and other costs not directly related to EV charging are ineligible. The program is open only to public sector and government entities. The applicant must be the public entity that will own or oversee the installed EVSE and must itself submit the proposal and enter into the agreement with NYSERDA. Public-private partnerships and similar arrangements are permitted when a third party operates the EVSE under contract with the public entity. Sites must be on publicly owned property in New York State and be publicly accessible, although paid parking facilities and eligible college or university systems requiring access permits are permitted. Off-street sites must accommodate at least four plugs capable of simultaneously charging at least four vehicles at a minimum of 6.2 kW, while on-street sites must accommodate at least two vehicles at a minimum of 6.2 kW per vehicle. Off-street sites require at least one ADA-compliant port, while an ADA-accessible port is encouraged for on-street sites. Equipment and network services must satisfy the program's technical requirements and be qualified through NYSERDA RFQL 5312. Proposers must complete Attachment A, Proposal Narrative, and Attachment B, Budget Form. The proposal narrative addresses the introduction and project narrative, project map and siting plan, project approach, schedule or work plan, and cost proposal. Applicants must provide a map of proposed project areas, proposed numbers of sites and ports, a site-selection methodology and rationale, equity considerations and community stakeholder engagement, an implementation approach identifying responsibilities and intended results, a task schedule with estimated completion dates and responsible team members, and a project budget. Sample site plans, schematics, or prototypical designs are preferred when available but are not required. Applicants must also answer the required solicitation proposal and vendor responsibility questions and disclose intended use of artificial intelligence for proposed work, reports, or deliverables. Online submission is preferred, although mail or hand delivery is allowed when online submission is not possible. Late, faxed, or emailed proposals are not accepted, and online applicants are advised to allow at least 60 minutes to enter and submit the proposal. Eligible proposals are reviewed by a Scoring Committee. Evaluation criteria, in order of importance, are the project approach and plan, proposed site information, project schedule, and project budget or cost proposal. Review considerations include team expertise, an executable project plan, risk management, maintenance planning, vendor selection, site-selection methodology, ADA considerations, expected utilization, equity considerations, schedule feasibility, project management measures, cost effectiveness per port, and cost share exceeding the required minimum. NYSERDA may request interviews, clarification, additional information, or conduct due diligence. NYSERDA anticipates notifying proposers approximately six to eight weeks after the proposal deadline. Awardees may incur non-construction costs after final agreement execution, while construction and site work must wait for NYSERDA's Notice to Proceed. Sites are anticipated to be installed and energized within approximately 12 to 36 months after contract execution, and funded EVSE must remain in service for at least 60 months from the Activation Date. NYSERDA anticipates an overall contract duration of seven years. Proposals are due October 20, 2026 by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The online system closes promptly at that time, and submissions or edits still in process after the deadline will not be accepted. NYSERDA will hold an optional proposer webinar on September 15, 2026, but the webinar is not a required pre-application gate. Technical questions may be directed to Megan Quirk at 518-862-2847 or Nicholas Miller at 646-873-7982 using charging@nyserda.ny.gov. Contractual questions may be directed to Jim Cowaman at 518-362-0487 or Jim.Solicitations@nyserda.ny.gov. The solicitation does not state that this opportunity recurs annually or on another regular schedule, so no recurring next-cycle deadline is established.

Develop a realistic and executable project plan with clearly assigned responsibilities and risk controls; demonstrate relevant team expertise and a credible maintenance strategy; provide a well-supported siting methodology focused on locations likely to receive substantial use; address ADA accessibility, equity, and community stakeholder engagement directly; provide an achievable schedule with active project-management measures; demonstrate cost effectiveness on a dollars-requested-per-port basis; provide cost share above the required 20% where feasible; allow at least 60 minutes for the online submission process and do not wait until the 3:00 p.m. deadline to upload files