The MPCA sought proposals from eligible applicants for projects that focus on sustainable building and materials management strategies that reduce waste and increase deconstruction, salvage, and reuse.
Closed: Applications were due June 20, 2024.
Questions and answers
Applicants who have any questions regarding this RFP must submit questions to grants.pca@state.mn.us no later than 4 p.m. CT on Monday, June 17, 2024, using the subject line: “FY24-FY25 Statewide Sustainable Building & Materials Management Grant Question.” Answers to questions will not be emailed back to you directly but will be posted frequently in the SWIFT Supplier Portal.
MPCA personnel are not authorized to discuss this RFP with applicants and contact regarding this RFP with any MPCA personnel may result in disqualification.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include Minnesota not-for-profit and nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, institutions, political subdivisions of the state (including counties, cities, towns, etc.), state agencies, and tribal governments located in Minnesota or serving Minnesota. Multi-organizational collaboration is encouraged.
Eligible project examples include, but are not limited to:
- Research and pilot a project with a focus of built environment waste reduction, and or material/building reuse.
- Develop a program that focuses on building preservation, adaptive reuse of buildings, and/or reuse of building materials.
- Coordinate and oversee the redistribution of funds awarded to the grantee as smaller grants to other entities (i.e., “micro grants”) along with technical assistance for:
- Building preservation and maintenance: Repair an existing building to ensure its continued use, avoiding demolition and preserving the cultural and historical integrity of the building;
- Structural moving: Physically move an existing structure to avoid demolishing or even deconstructing the building;
- Building material reuse: Include salvaged or used building materials in construction or renovation projects to avoid the need for new products and materials; and/or
- Building deconstruction: Fully or partially deconstruct an existing structure instead of demolishing it to preserve the building materials.
- Equipment needed to facilitate harvesting, storing, and/or re-distributing used or surplus building materials.
Preferred projects. Based on feedback from focus groups and stakeholder meetings conducted by the MPCA, there are two focus areas identified as preferred projects in this round. Applicants that include one of these preferred focuses will be scored more favorably:
- Build or acquire and operate a reuse center to collect, store, and redistribute salvaged building materials. If the project involves new construction or renovation, used building materials or other sustainable building practices should be used. Household goods collection and redistribution can be included in the center’s operations, as long as building materials are the primary focus.
- Develop and implement a deconstruction training program curriculum that provides classroom and hands-on skills-building for the careful unbuilding of partial or full structures to capture building materials that can be reused, using course content outlined in the 2012 Introduction to Deconstruction - Textbook (Oregon State Edition) by the Building Materials Reuse Association.
Available funds
Approximately $2 million in funding is available.
- The minimum individual project grant amount should be no less than $75,000, but there is no maximum individual grant amount for projects except as limited by the total amount available.
- Match requirement: 25%, meaning the grant recipient must match at least 25% of the total project cost. The match may be in the form of in-kind services or cash. Recycling or other waste management costs are not eligible as grant or match. Refer to the RFP for examples of eligible matching funds.
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-Statewide Building & Materials) or ID (2000015678).
- 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.
More information
The EPA estimates that approximately 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris are generated in the United States annually, which is more than twice the amount of generated municipal solid waste. In addition, the resources and energy needed to manufacture new building materials is incredibly high and there is also significant pollution and waste generated throughout that production.
There are clear opportunities to break the cycle of demolishing usable buildings and wasting valuable materials to immediately build replacement structures with new building materials. Many buildings can be renovated or adaptively reused, preventing an entire building of materials from being landfilled or recycled. Building materials can also be salvaged and reused if a structure is carefully unbuilt.
These strategies decrease demand for new construction of buildings and extend the useful life of existing buildings and building materials, which supports the local economy and increases access to products and services. Investing in and raising awareness on the importance of building material waste prevention, reduction, and reuse is a priority for the MPCA.