Request for Proposals: Climate-Critical Workforce Training, Equipment & Infrastructure

Two workers in hard hats consulting clipboard

The Challenge: Train Massachusetts Residents for Clean Energy Workforce Opportunities

By 2030, the Massachusetts clean energy workforce will need to grow by 38%, or more than 38,000 workers, to meet the state’s climate goals. To fill gaps in the workforce for climate-critical sectors, clean energy and climate tech employers need assistance in providing high-quality training and support for residents across the Commonwealth.

About Climate-Critical Training, Equipment, and Infrastructure Grants

Climate-Critical Workforce Training, Equipment, and Infrastructure Grants increase access to modern, relevant training equipment and infrastructure and provide up to $800,000 across one to two years in direct funding and technical assistance support to organizations that can build and scale career pathways and upskilling that help Massachusetts residents access and advance in climate-critical priority occupations. Applicants may apply for one or more of the following strands:

Strand A: Career Pathway Training Leading to Employment in Climate-Critical Priority Occupations
Strand B: Climate-Critical Upskilling for Incumbent Workers
Strand C: Equipment and Infrastructure to Support Climate-Critical Training

Successful applicants will propose projects that demonstrate a high level of employer engagement and leverage of existing workforce development systems, and lead to high-quality careers in climate-critical occupations.

Status

Open

Award Potential

Career Pathway Training: $800,000
Climate-Critical Upskilling: $600,000
Equipment & Infrastructure: $750,000

Application Deadline

Jan 26, 2024 and May 15, 2024 (Extended from original deadline of May 1, 2024)

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Questions? Contact

Funding Schedule

This solicitation has two proposal deadlines, each associated with a separate review and award notification timeframe.

Applicants not currently ready for training or equipment should consider Equity Workforce Training Planning & Capacity Grants to prepare for the next round of training funding.

Process Step	Timing
Release of RFP	December 7, 2023
Questions due to MassCEC via rfpworkforce@masscec.com	Ongoing, through April 5, 2024
Questions with answers posted to MassCEC website	Updated monthly on 2nd Tuesday through April 5, 2024
Pre-application webinars	December 19, 2023, 1 pm March 15, 2024, 3 pm
Pre-application office hours	Detailed below
Proposals due	January 26, 2024, by 11:59 pm for review during February 2024 May 15, 2024, by 11:59 pm for review during May 2024
Interviews of applicants (as needed)	TBD
Notification of award	March/April 2024, if received by January 26, 2024 June 2024, if received by May 1, 2024

Who's Eligible

Single organizations or partnerships are eligible to apply. Partnerships are strongly encouraged and may be looked upon more favorably to the extent that they can provide a range of expertise and experience to deliver a comprehensive proposal. One party should take on the role of Lead Applicant.

The following entities are eligible to serve as a Lead Applicant:

Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), including CBOs relying on a fiscal agent
Community Colleges, Colleges, Universities, Comprehensive and Vocational High Schools, and Vocational Schools offering an after-hours or Career Technical Initiative evening training program
Comprehensive and Vocational High Schools, including Vocational Schools offering an after-hours or Career Technical Initiative evening training program
For-Profit Entities
Workforce Development Organizations
MassHire Workforce Investment Boards and Career Centers

Additional eligibility requirements:

Lead Applicant must have a Massachusetts office or staffing.
Lead Applicant is currently in good standing with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and can provide certification if requested (COGS).

Applicants are also eligible to apply for MassCEC’s other workforce development grants and programs, as long as those applications seek support for separate and distinct efforts from those described in this application.

For full eligibility requirements and other Program details, please refer to the Climate-Critical Training, Equipment, and Infrastructure Grant Request for Proposals (RFP).

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Application Process

RFP - Climate-Critical Training Equipment Infrastructure Grant FY24

This solicitation has three strands, which are described in the RFP above. Strand A and Strand B have common application materials. Strand C has specific application materials, provided below.

Proposals should be emailed to rfpworkforce@masscec.com by 11:59 PM on the deadline date with "Climate-Critical Workforce Training, Equipment and Infrastructure Grant Application" in the subject line.

Application Materials

Send completed application to rfpworkforce@masscec.com

Pre-Application Office Hours

MassCEC hosts a series of office hours (one-hour blocks) to answer questions about all open Workforce Development grant opportunities. Register below to receive a meeting invitation. Join anytime during the one-hour block!

Tuesday, 5/7 at 1 pm

Tuesday, 5/14 at 3 pm

Pre-Application Webinars

On March 14, 2024, MassCEC held a webinar about the Climate-Critical Training Grants, including eligibility, budget, and the application process.

Watch Webinar Recording

View Webinar Slides

Which Program is Right for Us?

MassCEC has two open solicitations that provide funding and technical assistance to develop and scale workforce training programs for climate-critical occupations: 1) Climate-Critical Training, Equipment, and Infrastructure (this page), and 2) Equity Workforce Training, Equipment and Infrastructure. Both programs support training, the purchase of equipment, and the development of training infrastructure. In both programs, equipment and infrastructure projects will be funded with federal ARPA monies, however the required financial match for these projects differs by program. See which funding opportunity best suits your program goals.

	Climate-Critical Workforce Training	Equity Workforce Training
Funding Amount per Award	Up to $800,000	Up to $1.2 million
Deadlines	January 26, 2024 May 15, 2024	January 19, 2024 May 15, 2024
Programmatic Goals	Support Massachusetts residents with career pathway training or incumbent workers with upskilling	Support individuals from priority populations with career pathway training or exploration
Match Requirement (Equipment and Infrastructure only)	Private entities must provide a 1:1 financial match; public entities must supply a 25% project cost-share.	Matching funds are recommended, but not required.

Frequently Asked Questions

These FAQs were last updated on April 17, 2024.

1. For Strand B, can an applicant apply for funding for its own internal upskilling/workforce development for existing and future employees?

An applicant is not restricted from proposing upskilling of its employees, however awards are competitive and the overall scale and impact of the proposed project on the clean energy workforce ecosystem will be taken into consideration during scoring.

2. Can the plan combine Strand C funding with the Technical Trades and Learning subsidy reimbursements?

We encourage applicants to leverage other MassCEC workforce development resources, such as the Clean Energy Internship Program and the Technical Trades and Learning Program, as long as the proposed budget for a strand is distinct from the reimbursement funding that other programs offer.

3. Are universities required to demonstrate matching funds for Strand C?

Public universities are required to supply a 25% project cost-share and private universities are required to provide a 1:1 financial match for Strand C proposals.

4. Can a lead applicant apply to multiple strands?

Yes, applicants are eligible to apply to multiple strands if each strand application showcases distinct outcomes. The capacity to successfully complete the work will be part of the award consideration.

5. Can the Match requirement be satisfied in Strand A or does the Match requirement only apply to the budget for Strand C?

The Match requirement in the Climate Critical Training Grants only applies to Strand C and the budget must show matching funds that satisfy the requirement based on lead applicant type (i.e., 25% project cost-share for public entities and 1:1 Match for private entities).

6. If we don't receive funding during the current round, can we resubmit for the next round of applications?

Yes, MassCEC will provide written feedback to applicants who did not receive funding for the current round. Applicants are encouraged to revise their proposals and resubmit by the next deadline.

7. If we are using another entity to assist in wraparound support services, do we need an MOU or can we list their information on the application without a formal letter of agreement?

We ask that you get a letter of support that shows they are aware of this application. The MOU or LOS should include the responsibilities of the entity as included in the application.

8. When applying for Strand C, are written quotes for equipment costs needed?

They are not required to apply, but they are recommended as they make the application stronger. Once your application has been reviewed, we may request written quotes for items included in the proposed budget.

9. What is comprised in the 25% project cost share for public entities applying for Equipment and Infrastructure funding?

Project cost-share can comprise of financial contributions, in-kind contributions, or a combination thereof. In-kind cost-share includes non-monetary contributions that are not covered by grant funds, including personnel time, facility space, and materials & supplies necessary for project activities. Projects with greater levels of cost-share will be prioritized in the selection process.

10. Can state grants be used as matching funds?

State grants can be used as matching funds. However, grants from other MassCEC departments are not eligible as matching funds.

11. Are municipalities eligible for this funding?

Municipalities are not eligible for the workforce training grants. However, municipalities can partner with an organization that meets the eligibility criteria that can serve as a lead applicant.

12. Can the same applicant apply for both the Climate Critical Training Grant and an Equity Workforce Training Grant?

Yes, the proposals for the Climate-Critical Training Grant and the Equity Workforce Training Grant must be separate and distinct. The proposals should differentiate the different participants that will be served resulting from the two separate workforce grants.

13. Is there any preference in the selection process for the organization type that is submitting the application?

The type of organization of the lead applicant does not influence our selection process. However, we recommend that organizations that can perform the contract administration, which handles the invoicing, reporting, and meeting consistently with the technical assistance provider, should be the lead applicant. The lead applicant should have the staff capacity, as reflected in the application form, to perform the contract administration.

14. Can we find an example or format for a letter of support? Does it need to be from the head of the company?

We do not have a specific format for the letter of support. We require letters of support on the company letterhead describing the responsibilities of the organization providing the letter. We prefer a letter signed by a high-level decision maker of the organization as possible.

15. Would we need to submit a separate budget for partners or include the partners in one budget?

The lead applicant will submit the budget and add partners in a subcontractor line. If the partner is receiving $50,000 or more from the requested amount, the lead applicant will need to submit an additional budget that includes the allocated amount for each line item for the given amount.

16. If we have previously received funding from MassCEC, do we have to target a different geographic area?

MassCEC reviews applications based on multiple factors, including geographic area. If you have received funding from the same grant, the application must be separate and distinct from the funded project. Diversifying the target geographic area will be viewed as distinct and more competitive.

Other Resources

MassCEC will look favorably on applications that propose data-driven approaches and leverage pre-existing resources from the robust workforce development and clean energy sectors in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Applicants are advised to use Powering the Future: A Massachusetts Clean Energy Workforce Needs Assessment along with the following additional resources to inform their applications: