Minnesota Department of Transportation

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National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program in Minnesota

We have published two addendums to this RFP. The first on January 24, 2024. The second on March 20, 2024.

EV fast charger funding

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program provides funds to states to build a convenient, affordable, reliable, and equitable fast charging network for EVs across the United States. Over five years (federal fiscal year 2022 through 2026), Minnesota expects to receive and invest about $68 million from the NEVI Formula Program. MnDOT is responsible for administering the NEVI Formula Program funds in Minnesota.

Eligibility

The NEVI Formula Program funds must first be used to build out a state's Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) with fast charging stations as described in FHWA Final National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Standards and Requirements.

Key requirements

  • Stations located no more than 50 miles apart along the AFC.
  • Stations located less than one mile driving distance from the AFC Exit.
  • Stations have a minimum of four 150 kW charging ports able to operate simultaneously.
  • Stations are open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week with no entry fee to access the chargers.

In Minnesota, the AFCs for EV Charging are Interstate 94 (I-94) and Interstate 35 (I-35). For the first round of NEVI funds, we'll select projects in each of the clusters of exits identified in the 2023 MN Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan. These areas can be found on the online mapping tool.

Private or public entities are eligible to apply for NEVI funds. Successful applicants will be required to enter a contract with MnDOT. The project team must include an experienced charging network provider and an entity with ownership or lease of the property through the five-year operations and maintenance period.

Request for proposals

We are issuing a request for proposals as part of a competitive grant program for Round 1 of the NEVI funding investments.

Timeline

  • Dec. 11, 2023: Application window opened
  • Noon CST, Dec. 18, 2023: Recording of informational presentation published
  • 5 p.m. CST, Jan. 10, 2024: Deadline to email questions to MnDOT
  • Jan. 24, 2024: Written responses posted to all questions received
  • January 20, 2024 – RFP Addendum 1 posted
    • Technical Requirements. Section 1.2, 1.5, 2.6
    • Scope of Work. Section 1.8, 3, 3.5
    • Technical Application, Section 6.3, 20.4
  • Noon CST, Feb. 9, 2024: Deadline to submit an application to MnDOT
  • March 20, 2024: RFP addendum posted
  • 5 p.m. CST, Apr. 1, 2024: Deadline for questions to be submitted for Addendum 2
  • Noon CST, April 3, 2024: Deadline to submit new or updated RFP
  • Spring 2024: Awards announced

Guidance

Informational presentation

We recorded an informational presentation to guide you through the application requirements.  

Questions and answers

We posted Addendum 2 to this RFP on March 20, 2024. Email your questions about Addendum 2 to neviproject.dot@state.mn.us with the subject line: “NEVI RFP Addendum 2 Question”, no later than 5 p.m. CST on April 1, 2024. MnDOT will post responses to questions on this webpage on a rolling basis.

Please contact us only through this official process. Our staff members are not authorized to discuss the RFP with applicants outside of the email process. If you contact us about this RFP outside the email process your application may be disqualified. You must address your questions via email with the following information.

  • RFP Document Name
  • RFP Document Section #
  • RFP Document Page #
  • Question

If your question doesn’t identify all the requested information, we will not address it.

How to apply

Each application can only include one site. You may submit only one application per cluster.

Step 1: Download and review the following documents

We strongly urge you to conduct your due diligence as it relates to the NEVI Formula Program and the federal, state, and local laws that apply to this funding.

Step 2: Register for a Unique Entity ID (UEI) (also called a SAMS number)

A UEI is required to receive federal funds. UEIs are issued by Federal Contracting Services.

Step 3: Register as a Vendor in SWIFT (Statewide Integrated Financial Tools)

The Vendor ID will be included on the RFP Application document to track the application through the scoring process. It will also be used for processing invoices and payments for grantees. If the grant applicant already has a SWIFT Vendor ID, you do not need to register again. Navigate to the Supplier Portal Vendor Registration to register as a vendor.

Step 4: Complete the form and gather the documents as described in the RFP

Applicants must complete the following and all documents must be saved as searchable PDFs unless a different format is noted. Information on these forms and requirements can be found in the RFP Instructions.

  • Signed Technical Application Form, including all required information detailed in Attachment 3 (Searchable PDF)
  • Signed Cost Proposal Form (XLSX Excel format)
  • Letter from the Site Owner (Searchable PDF format)
  • Letter from Bank or Financial Institution (Searchable PDF format)
  • Acknowledgement of Federal Form 1273 (Searchable PDF format)
  • Signed Addendum 1 Cover Sheet
  • Signed Addendum 2 Cover Sheet
Step 5: Submit application

Any applicants who had previously submitted an application by the February 9, 2024 deadline must submit a signed Addendum 2 Cover Letter (Attachment 10) along with any updated submittal documents that may have changed because of the addendum.

New applications will be accepted.

All required submittals must be emailed to neviproject.dot@state.mn.us by April 3, 2024 by 12:00 pm Central Standard Time.

After you apply

  • We intend to fund 18 charging stations in the first round (one project per cluster of exits).
  • We intend to announce conditional awards in May 2024, depending on the volume of applications received.