Eligible applicants include regional, state, local or tribal agencies, or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality. Nonprofit organizations may apply if they provide pollution reduction or educational services to diesel fleet owners or have, as their principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality.

Eligible diesel vehicles, engines and equipment may include school buses; Class 5 – Class 8 heavy-duty highway vehicles; marine engines; locomotives and nonroad engines; equipment or vehicles used in construction; handling of cargo (including at ports or airports); agriculture; mining; or energy production (including stationary generators and pumps).

Grant funds may be used for clean diesel projects that use:

• EPA-verified retrofit technologies or certified engine configurations.

• California Air Resources Board (CARB)-verified retrofit technologies or certified engine configurations.

• Idle-reduction technologies that are EPA verified.

• Aerodynamic technologies and low rolling resistance tires that are EPA-verified.

• Early engine, vehicle, or equipment replacements with certified engine configurations.

Funds awarded under this program cannot be used to fund emission reductions mandated under federal law. Equipment used for testing emissions or fueling infrastructure is not eligible for funding.

Under this competition, EPA anticipates awarding between 10 and 40 awards. The top and bottom funding limits that will be considered for each proposal varies by region:

• Region 1 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont): EPA is requesting proposals between $100,000 and $800,000.

• Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands): EPA is requesting proposals between $500,000 and $1,800,000.

• Region 3 (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia): EPA is requesting proposals between $750,000 and $2,700,000.

• Region 4 (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee EPA is requesting proposals between): EPA is requesting proposals between $300,000 and $1,900,000.

• Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin): EPA is requesting proposals between $500,000 and $2,500,000.

• Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas): EPA is requesting proposals between $400,000 and $2,700,000.

• Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska): EPA is requesting proposals between $300,000 and $1,500,000.

• Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming): EPA is requesting proposals between $300,000 and $1,500,000.

• Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands): EPA is requesting proposals between $500,000 and $4,400,000.

• Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington): EPA is requesting proposals between $300,000 and $800,000.

Since the first year of the DERA program in 2008, EPA has awarded nearly 700 grants across the US.