The California Air Resources Board (CARB), a state agency under the California Environmental Protection Agency, is administering a competitive grant solicitation to select one or more third-party administrators (3PAs) for its California Satellite Methane Project (CalSMP) Community Engagement initiative. CalSMP leverages high-resolution satellite data to detect major sources of methane emissions throughout the state, aligning with California's climate goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CARB aims to ensure that this data is effectively communicated to and utilized by communities through outreach, education, and feedback mechanisms.
The goal of this grant is to fund one to three 3PAs who will distribute sub-grants to community-based organizations (CBOs), focusing on engagement and educational activities regarding methane data and its implications. These CBOs will work on efforts such as creating educational materials, convening community workgroups, gathering feedback on CARB tools, and suggesting notification methods for methane plume detections. The regions targeted are Region 1 (San Joaquin Valley), Region 2 (Northern California excluding SJV), and Region 3 (Southern California excluding SJV), with award allocations of 50%, 25%, and 25% of the total $4.75 million respectively.
Of the total funding, up to 33% may be retained by each 3PA to support their administrative and coordination work. Sub-grants to CBOs must be competitively awarded by the 3PAs in consultation with CARB, ensuring representation across communities and sectors such as oil and gas, landfills, and climate justice. Selected CBOs must produce materials in multiple formats and languages, ensure ADA compliance, and participate in data collection and synthesis activities.
Applicants must be nonprofit or government entities based in California and in good standing with state and federal tax authorities. Applications must include a detailed scope and timeline, budget, conflict of interest declarations, compliance forms, and proof of insurance. Submissions are accepted only via email and must be received by January 13, 2026, 11:59 pm PT. A Q&A session will be held on December 16, 2025.
Selected grantees will be notified by January 30, 2026, and must execute their grant agreements by April 16, 2026. All work must be completed and all funds expended by March 15, 2029. The program supports California’s SB 32, SB 1383, and AB 1279 goals on methane and greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring community engagement informs state mitigation strategies.
Ensure budget aligns with workplan and demonstrates cost-efficiency; highlight strong CBO engagement; customize proposals per region.
