Request for Applications (RFA)
Green Building Fund Grant Program (RFA 2014-OPS-2)
The District of Columbia District Department of the Environment (“DDOE”) is seeking nonprofit organizations, government agencies or universities/higher educational institutions to meet the ambitious goals related to green buildings set out in the Mayor's Sustainable DC Plan. The amount available for the projects in this RFA is approximately $325,000. This amount is subject to continuing availability of funding and approval by the appropriate agencies.
Obtaining text of the RFA: The full text of this Request for Applications (RFA), and the three required attachments, are available as links at the bottom of this page. Additionally, a person may obtain a copy of this RFA by any of the following methods:
- Email a request to [email protected] with “Request copy of RFA 2014-OPS-2” in the subject line;
- In person by making an appointment to pick up a copy from DDOE's offices at the 5th floor reception desk at the following street address (call Latonia Tabb at 202-645-5664 and mention this RFA by name); or
- Write DDOE at 1200 First Street, N.E., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002, “Attn: Request copy of RFA 2014-OPS-2” on the outside of the letter.
The deadline for application submissions is February 28, 2014, at 4:30 p.m. Five hard copies must be submitted to the above address and a complete electronic copy must be e-mailed to [email protected].
RFA Contact: For additional information regarding this RFA, send email to [email protected].
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Public Comments Question & Answer:
Q: "The RFA indicates that non-profit organizations, "including" 501c3s and 501c4s, are eligible to be the prime applicant for any of the grants listed, and I was wondering if that was an exclusive list of the non-profit types that were eligible, or if 501c6s were also eligible to apply?"
A: All non-profit organizations are eligible to apply.
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Q: Does the 15-page limit include the “Description of applicants” and “filing requirements” or it is only dedicated to project description?
A: The project description only is limited to 15 pages.
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Q: If a group of partners would want to submit a proposal under leadership of one group, should they all provide you the “filing requirements” or only the leader team should do so?
A: An applicant may partner with other organizations in applying for these funds. However, the funds will be awarded only to the applicant organization. Therefore, all filing requirements should only be fulfilled by the (main) applicant.
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Q: Our organization is considering submitting a proposal. The organization is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) educational institution. As such, it may be unable to agree to some items in the PCA such as the Rights in Data and Indemnification provisions. The PCA states that “[i]f the Applicant does not or cannot agree to the terms, it should not apply or sign.” There is a signature line below various certifications on the last page of the PCA. Does DDOE have a different PCA for non-profit, 501(c)(3) educational institutions? If not, can an organization submit a proposal without signing the PCA and indicate in a cover letter that the terms and conditions of any grant award shall be negotiated between the parties or words to that effect? Or, in short, is the PCA offered on a “take it or leave it basis” for lack of a better phrase?
A: The referenced section on intellectual property is not a deal breaker for this RFA. Because the stated confidentiality and intellectual property terms are not at the core of these RFA projects, DDOE will negotiate on this issue. However, “negotiation” does not mean “elimination”. That is, any special terms in a notice of grant award that vary from the RFA language must still advance the purpose of the language. Thus, the applicant may submit a proposal, and flag the variation, including proposed language and the reasons for it. DDOE will look at the educational institution’s formal rules or guidelines for the variance from the DDOE language.
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Q: “Are private sector firms eligible?”
A: Private companies can partner with non-profit, government agency, or educational institution on any of the projects with no limit on the percentage of the work done by either party. However, the prime grantee must be either a non-profit, government agency, or educational institution.
