Community Engagement for the California Satellite Methane Project: Third-Party Administrator Grant Solicitation

The California Air Resources Board (CARB), under the California Environmental Protection Agency, has released a competitive grant solicitation for third-party administrators (3PAs) to lead community engagement activities in support of the California Satellite Methane Project (CalSMP). With a total of $4.75 million in funding available, CARB intends to select one or more 3PAs to administer sub-grants to community-based organizations (CBOs) and oversee statewide engagement initiatives that help local communities understand, access, and act upon satellite data identifying methane emissions. CARB’s goal is to bridge the gap between technical data and community action through the development of educational materials, engagement campaigns, and capacity building projects. CARB's CalSMP initiative utilizes data from earth-orbiting satellites to identify large methane sources across California. This advanced technology enhances the state’s regulatory efforts by offering near real-time emissions detection, which is crucial in mitigating climate change and protecting public health. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and addressing its emission is part of California’s broader climate policy framework, which includes SB 32, SB 1383, and AB 1279. These legislative measures commit the state to steep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and long-term carbon neutrality. Grant funding is segmented across three defined geographic regions. Region 1, the San Joaquin Valley, will receive 50% of the funds ($2,375,000); Region 2, covering Northern California excluding the SJV, will receive 25% ($1,187,500); and Region 3, covering Southern California excluding the SJV, will also receive 25% ($1,187,500). Each region’s funding allocation reflects the observed density of methane emissions. Grantees may apply for one, two, or all three regions, and CARB will evaluate each region’s proposal independently. Selected Grantees may administer up to 33% of their award for administrative and CBO support activities, with the remaining funds distributed to CBOs via sub-grants. The selected 3PA Grantee(s) will be responsible for creating and publishing competitive solicitations for CBOs, evaluating and awarding at least six sub-grants in Region 1, and three each in Regions 2 and 3. CBOs must have experience in environmental justice, public health, air quality, or related fields and must submit detailed proposals including community demographics, proposed engagement strategies, and budgets. Grantees will be expected to hold monthly meetings with CBOs, provide technical assistance, compile project data, and submit quarterly and final reports to CARB. All educational materials must comply with ADA standards and be available in relevant community languages. Applications must be submitted electronically to [email protected] no later than 11:59 PM PT on January 20, 2026. Required documents include a cover page, budget template, work plan, compliance declarations, and other supporting materials detailed in Appendix A. The review process includes a Q&A session held on December 16, 2025, with final written responses posted by December 19. Notifications of missing eligibility documentation will be sent by January 26, 2026, with final corrections due by January 30, 2026. Preliminary award announcements are expected by February 6, 2026. Finalized Grant Agreements must be executed by April 23, 2026. The grant term runs through March 15, 2029, by which date all activities and reimbursements must be completed. Although the current solicitation is not recurring by default, CARB reserves the right to release future solicitations if needed or extend the current agreements subject to funding availability.

Applicants should emphasize previous experience managing complex grants and strong partnerships with CBOs; quality of community engagement approach is a key evaluation criterion.