About This Resource
Expert policy analysts at the Electrification Coalition created this comprehensive outline to help those seeking CFI Community funding put together successful applications.
The elements included in this outline are based on the official guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and on applications that received funding during the first round of awards. Elements marked as “optional” are not officially required for an application to be considered complete, but were consistently observed in the applications for projects that were ultimately selected to receive funding.
Please note that this outline is comprehensive as of June 2024.
For more information about CFI, visit the EC’s CFI Tools & Resources Hub.
If you have any specific questions or are in need of additional support, our organization can provide individualized guidance, tailored resources, and guided community engagement activities. Contact us at infrastructure@electrificationcoalition.org.
Mandatory Forms
- Standard Form 424
- Standard Form 424C
- Standard Form 424D
- Standard Form LLL
- Project Abstract Summary
- Attachments (use this form to submit all Application Support files, outlines for which are provided below)
All of these forms can be found linked in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the second round of CFI funding. All forms should be compiled in an individual section separate from the budget section in the Application Support files.
Application Support Outline
Details of the proposed project should be provided in the Application Support files, as outlined below. Note that all Application Support documents should be submitted together, and should not exceed 25 pages combined.
Executive Summary (Optional)
While not required, many successful applicants included an executive summary highlighting the key points of their project in a concise way.
Project Narrative
A description of the project that introduces the geographic area, the current state of infrastructure, and how funding would be allocated to meet the needs of the community. In this section, there are specific touch points from FHWA that must be introduced.
- Description of project location
- Detailed geographical description of the proposed project location
- Map of the project’s location and connections to existing transportation infrastructure
- Geospatial data of project location
- ESRI Shapefiles, latitude/longitude coordinate intersections, specific addresses
- Number of EV charging ports/alternative fueling dispensers expected at each site
- Traffic safety considerations
- Must mitigate safety risks introduced by the project
- Must not negatively impact the overall safety of the traveling public
- Must discuss National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) and how project will support goal of achieving zero roadway deaths through a Safe System Approach
- Must discuss Americans with Disability Act
- Additionally discuss Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) (optional)
- Description of community-based infrastructure/how project will equitably fill gaps in publicly available EV charging infrastructure
- Additional Project Narrative Focus Areas (must address one; however, applicants are encouraged to be responsive in all areas)
- Neighborhood and Multi-Family Charging
- Multi-Modal Hubs and Shared-Use Fleets and Services
- Multi-Purpose Workplace and Destination Charging
- Community Fleets and Freight
- Additional Project Narrative touchpoints
- Use innovative payment approaches to ensure accessibility to diverse populations, including unbanked and underbanked communities
- Provide directly verifiable data and documentation
- Host educational and community engagement activities at no more than 5% of grant amount awarded (optional)
Budget Information
More information on the amount of funding requested, the distribution of funding, and special forms are included here.
- Description of how funds will be spent on project: estimated amount of funds (in dollars and percentages of total budget) that will be spent in each of the areas listed below, and which entity is responsible for each cost
- Project Planning and Development
- ROW/Acquisition Costs
- Installation/Operation/Maintenance Costs
- Include any operating subsidies that will be obtained
- Educational Activity Costs
- Describe cost share and how required cost share amounts will be met
- Present project budget data in dollars and percentages of total budget
- Identify all funds that are intended to be used
- CFI Program
- Other federal funds
- Non-federal funds
- Provide table (as applicable)
- Federal funding requested for pre-NEPA approval activities (or for activities that do not require approval)
- Federal funding requested for activities that need post-NEPA approval
Project Merit Criteria
Specific focus areas from the NOFO regarding safety, equity, resilience, workforce development and more must be elaborated on in this section.
- Safety (for highly qualified rating)
- Must result in positive safety benefits for all users
- Must not result in negative safety impacts for any users
- Must promote safety through design
- Climate Change, Resilience, and Sustainability (for highly qualified rating): reference DOT Navigator Climate Checklist and National Climate Resilience Framework)
- Must significantly reduce GHG emissions in the transportation sector
- Must incorporate evidence-based climate resilience measures
- Address Federal Flood Risk Mitigation Standard
- Must address climate change/resilience/EJ in project planning and delivery
- Must take measures to avoid adverse environmental impacts
- Address disproportionate negative impacts of climate change in disadvantaged communities
- Natural disaster prevention, response, and recovery
- Address disproportionate negative impacts of climate change in disadvantaged communities
- Equity, Community Engagement, and EJ40 (for highly qualified rating)
- Must include an equity analysis to demonstrate that 40% or more of funds will benefit disadvantaged communities using the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST)
- Disadvantaged communities are defined in the NOFO
- Must facilitate meaningful public engagement throughout the project’s lifecycle
- Must increase affordable transportation options, improve safety, connect Americans to well-paying jobs, fight climate change, or improve access to resources and quality of life
- Must address quality of life/safety/climate change/economic development
- Must enable all people within multimodal transportation networks to reach their desired destination safely, affordably, and with efficiency and ease
- Must address rural and tribal communities in a manner consistent with DOT’s Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES).
- If not, indicate why this is not relevant to your application
- Must promote economic development/revitalization/improvement
- Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth Creation (for highly qualified rating)
- Must create well-paying jobs, allow for free and fair choice to join a union, and expand strong labor standards
- Must promote high-quality workforce development programs with a focus on women, people of color, and other underrepresented populations
- Must utilize hiring policies that promote and retain underrepresented populations
- Must promote the development of disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, or 8(a) firms
- CFI Program Vision (for highly qualified rating)
- Must equitably expand deployment of EVSE in publicly accessible locations for use by the community
- Must identify project locations and state expected number of EV charging ports at each project site
- Must address additional project narrative focus areas
- Neighborhood and Multi-Family Charging
- Multi-Modal Hubs and Shared-Use Fleets and Services
- Multi-Purpose Workplace and Destination Charging
- Community Fleets and Freight
All Statutory Selection Priorities must be incorporated into your application. They are reviewed as second-most important (behind merit criteria) in application evaluation based on responsiveness*
- Priority for EVSE project expansion in rural areas
- Priority for EVSE project expansion in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods
- Priority for EVSE project expansion in communities with low ratio of private parking spaces to households or high ratio of multiunit dwellings to single family homes
Additional Considerations must be incorporated into your application. They are reviewed as third-most important (behind merit criteria and statutory selection criteria) in application evaluation
- Complements and does not duplicate existing Federal investments e.g. NEVI
- Contributes to geographic diversity between urban and rural communities
- Meets current or anticipated market demands
- Faster charging speeds
- High-powered capabilities – minimize refueling current and anticipated vehicles
- Whether project will begin in a timely manner and completion of project
Note: the DOT will prioritize Highly Recommended Projects that demonstrate exceptional benefits to Merit Criteria #3, #4, and #5 (fourth in evaluation criteria)
Project Readiness and Environmental Risk
This section serves as an evaluation and demonstration of whether the project is reasonably expected to begin in a timely manner. The FHWA emphasizes the importance of projects that can be implemented quickly.
- Detailed statement of work, focused on technical/engineering aspects of the project
- Discussion of energy source and storage needs (if applicable)
- Description of engagement with utility providers
- Discussion of whether or not utility upgrades will be needed
- Discussion of whether or not utility designs have been started, submitted, or finalized
- Assessment of real property and ROW acquisition necessary for the project
- Inclusion of project in relevant state, metropolitan, and/or local planning document
- e.g. a metro transportation plan, transportation improvement program, statewide transportation improvement program, etc.
- Project approvals already obtained, including site assessment/permit details
- Discussion of project risks and how they will be addressed
- Evidence of coordination or public engagement that has been completed or is ongoing
- Discussion of intention for disadvantaged business enterprises’ participation or engagement
- Discussion of equity and accessibility requirements
- Intended project timeline, including defined milestones (i.e. a Gantt Chart)
- Inclusion of Title 23 CFR Part 680 requirements
- Further demonstration of project readiness as needed
- Discussion of the environmental impacts of the project
- NEPA reviews or permits needed or completed
Appendix (Optional)
An optional section to include letters of support, additional figures, and other items that you feel will strengthen your application.
- Letters of support
- Supplemental figures, graphs, and data to support your application