National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Grant Program

The FY26 National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program – Funding Round 1 – is a grant initiative administered by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The program seeks to support the District of Columbia’s efforts to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure along federally designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). The initiative aligns with national goals under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which dedicates $5 billion to NEVI funding across the U.S. to promote a reliable, accessible, and nationwide network of EV charging stations by 2030. The District is allocated approximately $16.7 million over five years, with $9.6 million made available under this first competitive funding round. The grant’s primary objective is to support the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of NEVI-compliant Direct Current (DC) fast charging stations located within one travel-mile of the District’s six AFCs. Successful applicants are expected to install at least four network-connected charging ports capable of simultaneously delivering 150 kW or more of power to any CCS-compliant EV. The awarded stations must meet robust technical, security, and access standards as outlined in 23 CFR §680, including uptime requirements, cybersecurity protocols, accessibility compliance under the ADA, and detailed reporting responsibilities. Recipients are also eligible for an annual incentive of up to $100,000 over five years to reimburse Pepco demand charges associated with energy delivery for eligible stations. Applicants must be registered organizations, businesses, or property owners in good standing with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection and capable of managing the full scope of EV infrastructure development. The project performance period includes up to one year for installation, followed by five years of operation and maintenance. The grant covers up to 80% of total project costs, requiring a minimum 20% cost share from applicants. A detailed price proposal, utility and property owner support letters, and a comprehensive operations and maintenance plan are mandatory parts of the application package. Applications must be submitted by email to [email protected] no later than 5:00 PM EST on May 26, 2026. No late or partial submissions will be accepted. The evaluation process includes a two-stage review: technical completeness based on mandatory checklist items and a scoring rubric assessing site attributes, safety features, team qualifications, sustainability practices, and project readiness. Applications failing to meet baseline requirements will be deemed ineligible. Award notifications will be issued by DDOT following internal review panel recommendations. Awardees must submit monthly reports during the installation phase, followed by quarterly and annual reports detailing station performance and financial claims. Compliance with NEVI regulations, including Buy America requirements, Davis-Bacon wage standards, and civil rights provisions, is strictly enforced. Approved grantees must also ensure future-proofing through hardware capable of software upgrades, support for ISO and OCPP protocols, and charging network interoperability. In addition to compliance with federal requirements, applicants must address long-term maintenance, workforce training and licensing, public notification systems, and privacy safeguards for user data. The grant emphasizes equitable access and is designed to serve both current and future EV infrastructure needs across the District. Interested applicants can receive updates by subscribing to the DDOT NEVI Program mailing list or contacting the program manager directly at [email protected].

Emphasize compliance with NEVI Final Rules (23 CFR 680), charger uptime >97%, cybersecurity measures, and Buy America adherence.