The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking Requests for Proposals (RFP) from contractors that can develop and implement a pilot project that will provide financial assistance to Minnesota residents seeking to purchase electric or battery-powered lawn and snow equipment in Environmental Justice (EJ) areas with prioritization to the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area (including Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties), Duluth, and Rochester.
The legislative environmental fund has allocated $995,000 to establish a pilot program.
Applications are due no later than 4 p.m. Central Time on May 8, 2026.
Questions and answers
Applicants who have any questions regarding this RFP must email questions to grants.pca@state.mn.us, subject line: “Electric Landscaping Grant Question”, no later than, Friday, April 24, 2026. Answers to questions will be posted frequently in the SWIFT Supplier Portal.
MPCA personnel are not authorized to discuss this RFP with applicants outside of the question-and-answer forum. Contact regarding this RFP with any MPCA personnel may result in disqualification.
Informational meeting
The MPCA will hold a virtual meeting at 11 a.m. on April 14 to discuss this grant opportunity, the SWIFT process, and answer questions from participants.
Eligibility
The intent of this RFP is to award funding to one applicant, either a single organization or a team. Multiple organizations may work together, but one organization will need to submit as the lead applicant.
The awarded applicant will encourage community awareness of the program, encourage participation, and provide financial assistance to residents for snow and landscaping equipment. Projects must be completed by May 31, 2027.
Eligible applicants:
- a governmental entity, educational institution, or nonprofit organization with any number of employees
- Tribal governments
- for-profit entities, such as utility companies or equipment manufacturers
- combinations and collaborations of any of these organizations are also allowed
Available funds
Approximately $995,000 in funding is available to develop, administer, and fund a financial assistance program for electric landscaping and snow removal equipment.
How to apply
The request for proposal (RFP) and application materials can only be viewed through the online SWIFT portal. The RFP is termed an “Event” within the SWIFT system.
- go to the online SWIFT portal
- click on "Bidding opportunities"
- find the event by name (MPCA Electric Landscaping Equipment Pilot Program) or ID (2000018153)
- click "View Bid Package" to see the RFP and forms (there’s no need to log in to see the documents)
Grant applications are only accepted through the SWIFT portal.
- register as a bidder in the SWIFT Supplier Portal (Bidding = "applying")
- choose "Register for an Account" and then "Register as a Bidder"
If you are already registered in the SWIFT system as a supplier (previously known as a vendor), use your supplier ID. Visit the SWIFT Supplier Portal under “Informational Tips” and “Supplier Portal Help” for more information. For questions about applying through SWIFT, please contact the Vendor Assistance Help Desk at 651-201-8100, option 1.
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