Climatetech Testing and Demonstration Assets (TDA) Program

3. What are the payment terms?

MassCEC will disburse funds on a reimbursement basis in accordance with the budget, payment terms, schedules, and other terms and conditions established in the Grant Agreement and Statement of Work. Costs for all budget items must be incurred after the execution of a grant agreement with MassCEC.

4. Can an ESO partner with another organization on a joint infrastructure project?

Yes, partnerships are encouraged as long as the lead applicant and the proposed project meet all eligibility requirements. Only one ESO may serve as the official applicant and recipient of the grant, and this entity must be responsible for all contractual obligations with MassCEC. Collaborating organizations may support cost share contributions, programming, or project operations but cannot jointly hold the award.

5. Can one organization receive multiple awards?

No. Awards will be given per project and per organization (i.e., each organization may receive only one grant per funding round).

6. Are vehicles (medium or heavy-duty) eligible for funding?

Yes, vehicles may be eligible as long as the proposed project aligns with the RFP requirements, particularly those outlined in the Summary (Section I) and Eligibility (Section IV).

7. Is vehicle infrastructure eligible for funding, including zero-emission charging infrastructure?

Yes, vehicle infrastructure may be eligible as long as the proposed project aligns with the RFP requirements, particularly those outlined in the Summary (Section I) and Eligibility (Section IV).

8. Is solar or wind eligible for funding?

Yes, solar and wind equipment may be eligible as long as the proposed project aligns with the RFP requirements, particularly those outlined in the Summary (Section I) and Eligibility (Section IV).

9. What is the total amount of funding available (USD)?

Up to $15M is available in total for this solicitation, with individual grants ranging from $1.5M to $5M per awardee.

10. The RFP states that "each organization may receive only one grant per funding round." Does this mean we can submit multiple applications but only receive one award, or are we limited in the number of applications we can submit?

Yes, an organization may submit multiple applications; however, only one grant will be awarded per organization per funding round. For example: if ABC University's Wet Lab and ABC University's Innovation Center both apply, only one of the two may receive funding.

11. In order to commit to that level of cost share and to the shared use of the funded space, organizations like ours would like to know more about (1) expected operations support from MassCEC and (2) any expected limitations on user fees. The funded spaces may contain specialized equipment requiring an experienced technician for operations and maintenance, so we will need to have some sense of how such a technician may be supported.

What is the operations support from MassCEC likely to look like? What is the expected amount of a given Innovation Ecosystem Program (IEP) award in FY2026, and what is the expected duration of a given award? What kinds of "operations and management expenses" are you planning to support through the IEP (e.g. technician time, IT management, etc.)? Will "Capital labor and fringe" be funded under the IEP?

As further described in Section IX of the RFP, MassCEC will not provide operational expense support through TDA; however, such support is available through the Innovation Ecosystem Program (IEP). The IEP RFP is anticipated to be released in November. The IEP awards have historically been made on an annual basis, with amounts up to $120,000 depending on the program's annual budget. IEP funds may be used for ESO operations and management expenses (e.g., staff salaries, technician time, IT management, capital labor, fringe), as well as programming and marketing.

12. What, if any, limitations, are expected to be placed on user fees for the space?

There are no limitations on user fees. However, competitive applications should align with the following language from Attachment 5 - Sample Agreement: "Grantee shall publicly market such equipment and make it available to internal and external academic researchers, as well as climatetech start-ups and scientists from industry, subject to an appropriate agreement in accordance with a core services model."

13. Do you expect to offer similar calls, through the TDA program, in the future?

We anticipate running TDA annually in the coming years, however, each year's budget is subject to approval.

14. I noticed that Attachment 1 must be signed and submitted as part of the concept paper application. By signing the Authorized Applicant's Signature and Acceptance Form, it states: "The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that all of the terms and conditions of the RFP are mandatory." Could you please clarify whether this means there is no room for negotiation at the award stage?

The terms and conditions of the RFP are mandatory. By applying, all applicants confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria and agree to the RFP terms. At the award stage, there will be contract negotiations as further described in Section VII of the RFP. All applicants invited to submit a Full Application must review the Sample Agreement (Attachment 5), mark up any proposed changes, and include a redlined version with their Full Application to be considered by MassCEC.

15. Are public benefit corporations that work on an open innovation model eligible?

No. As defined in Section IV of the RFP, all eligible applicants must be, "legally organized as one of the following: (a) nonprofit entity, (b) public agency, (c) public or nonprofit university."

16. If you have been operating for 3.5 years is there a way to still apply for the grant or would you need to wait for a future round?

No. As defined in Section IV of the RFP, eligible applicants "have been in continuous operation for at least five (5) years (i.e., established on or before July 1, 2020)." Applicants that do not meet the 5-year requirement are encouraged to apply in future rounds.

17. Would real estate purchasing for a co-working space be a viable capital expenditure under this program?

Yes, provided all other RFP requirements are met (see Section IV and IX). The property must be owned and operated by the applicant ESO and serve as a site for testing and demonstrating climate technologies. Land acquisition is only allowed if it includes existing facilities.

18. Are you looking to get feedback from startups to help specify what kinds of facilities would be useful?

Yes. Startups may submit letters of support as part of the ESO's application. Clearly articulating startup needs for the proposed project will help strengthen the application.

19. My ESO's current work is less focused on physical testing infrastructure and more on founder support, network connectivity, and commercialization. From my read, the RFP emphasizes physical lab assets or digital testing tools. Would network-based digital infrastructure or access platforms be considered competitive under this program?

Yes, if the Applicant can demonstrate that the proposed digital infrastructure enables testing and demonstration of climate technologies, is publicly marketed and accessible to innovators in Massachusetts, and has a minimum useful life of 10 years. Additional details on eligible budget items can be found in Section IX of the RFP.

20. What is the motivation for only considering organizations 5+ years old? This seems it would limit applicability to these focus areas you are discussing in place of more mature organizations that fit less well.

By focusing on organizations that have been operating for at least five years, the program can provide resources to entities that have demonstrated stability, operational capacity, and the ability to deliver long-term impact. While this may narrow eligibility for this particular round, it also helps ensure that funded projects are supported by organizations with the experience necessary to maximize outcomes for startups, researchers, and the Massachusetts taxpayer.

21. Is there a minimum of $1.5M budget requirement, or can projects with a smaller budget be submitted?

Yes, as stated in Section I and III of the RFP, "TDA provides capital grants between $1.5M and $5M to ESOs in Massachusetts." Projects with a smaller budget are not eligible for this program.

22. Are coworking spaces included within eligible project areas, or is it just limited to lab and maker spaces?

Yes, coworking spaces are eligible provided all other RFP requirements are met (see Section IV and IX).

23. Are subcontracts eligible under this program, including the case where an applicant partners with another organization to install or operate innovative equipment?

Subcontracts may be allowable; however, the proposed equipment or infrastructure must clearly meet program requirements. Specifically, it must function as shared equipment that is publicly marketed and accessible for use by startups and researchers, not solely for the internal benefit of the subcontracted organization. See Attachment 5 – Sample Agreement for more details on Subcontracting requirements.

24. Is the Concept Paper template a guide, or do we need to populate word doc provided?

Applicants must use and populate the provided Word document template for the Concept Paper submission. See Attachment 2 – Concept Paper Template.

25. My ESO works with many startups that have Climatetech applicability, but they might not describe themselves as a purely "Climatetech" startup. How will you go about vetting if an ESO has 20-50% Climatetech membership?

Applicants should refer to Section III (subsection: "Focus Areas & Priorities") and Section IV (subsection: "Climatetech Definition") of the RFP for detailed guidance on eligibility. ESOs are expected to make a good-faith effort to demonstrate how they meet the percentage criteria. This may include:

1. A direct count or percentage of member startups that meet the RFP's Climatetech definition.
2. Data from affiliated researchers or labs (e.g., the proportion of researchers working on climatetech topics).
3. Usage metrics (e.g., how frequently shared equipment is used for Climatetech testing and demonstration purposes).

 

26. Was the decision on not including ESOs that are public benefit corporations reached through specific language in the legislation?

The restriction is tied to the requirements of the funding source. Bond funding in Massachusetts has historically been limited to supporting public and nonprofit entities, and that precedent carries through to this program for this particular round. As a result, public benefit corporations and other for-profit entities are not eligible applicants.

27. Can the purpose of this grant include capital expansion for an ongoing demonstration project funded by MassCEC? For example, if we are currently running a project under the InnovateMass program and are looking to scale to additional locations as part of the demonstration, would that be considered eligible?

No, startups are not eligible applicants. As described in Section IV of the RFP, "eligible applicants include Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs)...registered to conduct business and operate a physical location in Massachusetts." Startup applicants pursuing this type of activity may wish to explore MassCEC's CriticalMass program as a more suitable funding opportunity.

28. Does the ESO applicant need to be a nonprofit 501(x)?

Yes, if applying as a nonprofit, the organization must be a registered 501(c)(3) or otherwise able to verify its nonprofit status.

29. Do educational institutions need to show 20-50% membership related to climatetech? How would they achieve or demonstrate this?

Yes, applicants should make a good-faith effort to show how they meet the 20 – 50% Climatetech membership rate. Educational institutions can provide this information in the Concept Paper (Attachment 2 – Concept Paper Template), specifically in questions 14 – 15. Applicants from an educational institution can focus on a membership rate from a specific lab, center, or program within the university to demonstrate eligibility.

30. In terms of MassCEC's objectives with the program, will more (or less) weight be put towards proposals that could be seen as more "transformative" (i.e. something big and new and exciting) vs. proposals that cover more of the mundane day-to-day improvements that would lead to greater ongoing productivity? We hear a lot from our startups about the need for both, but the latter can be a bit more challenging to fundraise for (e.g., improving Wi-Fi).

All proposals, including both transformative initiatives and operational improvements, will be evaluated according to the criteria outline in Section VIII of the RFP.

31. Would a public utility be considered as an eligible entity for a demonstration project that can be used for educational purposes?

Possibly, if the project enables testing and demonstration of climate technologies, is publicly marketed and accessible to innovators in Massachusetts, and has a minimum useful life of 10 years. Projects that are strictly for educational purposes would not be eligible.