National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has released Round 2 of its National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program Request for Proposals (RFP), inviting applications from eligible entities to design, construct, operate, and maintain direct current fast charging (DCFC) electric vehicle charging stations along federally designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). This initiative is part of a nationwide effort funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, specifically the NEVI Formula Program, which allocated approximately $5 billion across all U.S. states to develop a cohesive, accessible EV charging network. North Carolina is set to receive up to $109 million through the program and has committed $3.6 million for its Round 1 awards. This Round 2 RFP aims to allocate a portion of the remaining $105.4 million to support further site development. The program targets 16 priority location clusters across six major corridors in the state. Awardees will be reimbursed up to 80% of eligible project costs associated with building NEVI-compliant EV charging stations, including both capital and operational expenditures. Each project site must host at least four concurrently operating 150 kW DCFC ports and must not be located on undeveloped land. The charging sites must be established at existing businesses and cannot involve undeveloped properties or those with only an option to purchase. Funded stations must also comply with technical specifications such as ADA accessibility, cybersecurity, and data reporting standards as defined in 23 CFR 680. Additionally, awardees are required to match a minimum of 20% in non-federal funds and are subject to provisions under the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA). Applications are to be submitted via JotForm, with two mandatory components: the Team Information Form (submitted once per applicant team) and the Site Information Form (submitted once per proposed site). Applicants must provide various supporting materials, including project schedules, cost proposals, host site letters of intent, utility rate documentation, and notarized certifications. Detailed instructions for each required component are outlined in the RFP packet available on the NCDOT NEVI Program website. Applications must ensure public 24/7 access to the site, as well as the installation of supporting infrastructure such as signage, protective canopies, and pedestrian-safe access routes. The application window officially opens on March 27, 2026, and closes on May 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A question period runs through April 27, 2026, with responses posted weekly. Following submission, NCDOT anticipates issuing conditional awards approximately 90 days after the deadline, with final agreements expected 60–90 days thereafter, contingent on successful NEPA clearance. Selected awardees must sign project agreements within 45 days of receiving NEPA clearance and will be reimbursed through a structured pay-for-performance model, which includes milestone-based payments and annual operations and maintenance (O&M) evaluations tied to uptime requirements. Evaluation criteria for proposals include both technical and cost considerations. Technical scores are based on a maximum of 175 points, assessing applicant qualifications, site suitability, EVSE performance specs, and available amenities. The cost score, worth up to 25 points, is awarded based on the lowest maximum total reimbursement requested per site cluster. NCDOT will finalize awards based on aggregate scoring and reserves the right to reject proposals that fail administrative or technical responsiveness checks. The NEVI Round 2 RFP represents a significant opportunity to expand North Carolina’s electric vehicle infrastructure in a strategic, federally coordinated manner. It emphasizes accessibility, sustainability, and readiness for future transportation needs, while also requiring a high level of technical compliance and organizational readiness from applicants.

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