SECAT Program

Status: Open May 9, 2024

The Sacramento Emergency Clean Air Transportation (SECAT) Program is a partnership between the Sac Metro Air District and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG). The program's goal is to promote zero emission on-road vehicles based in the SACOG region.

For this solicitation, $9,500,000 will be made available for applicants in the SACOG region. Only zero emission vehicle applications are eligible under this solicitation. The SECAT Program will continue to fund $100,000 per replacement zero emission heavy duty vehicle. New in 2024, government and non-profit organizations can receive up to $35,000 towards the purchase of a light or medium-duty zero emission vehicle.

The solicitation announcement for this funding cycle is available here. It includes the details for the funding amounts for each vehicle and county. Light duty vehicles can receive up to $20,000. Medium duty vehicles can receive up to $35,000. Heavy duty vehicles will continue to receive up to $100,000. Applicants based in Placer County can only purchase vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating over 6,000 lbs.

Funds may still be combined with HVIP funding. Applications will be reviewed under the traditional first-come, first-served program as described in the Project Selection and Funding section of this document.

The SECAT Program no longer funds the purchase of conventional diesel vehicles. Only zero emission vehicles using battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell technology are eligible. No funding is available to help replace diesel vehicles to comply with the ARB Truck & Bus Regulation. SECAT funded vehicles cannot be used to comply with ARB Advanced Clean Fleet requirements.

Background Information

In 2000, the SECAT Program received $66 million to reduce emissions released from heavy-duty vehicles in the SFNA by providing incentives to offset the costs of purchasing lower-emission technologies and an additional $4 million used by SACOG to help replace old diesel transit buses – totaling $70 million in funding from the state Traffic Congestion Relief Fund ($50 million) and the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding program ($20 million). This program was originally created by California Assembly Bill (AB) 2511 to help assure that the Sacramento Federal Nonattainment Area (SFNA) would meet its commitments under the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for air quality attainment.

In 2008, the SECAT Program received an additional $3.2 million in federal CMAQ funds with additional allocations on a yearly basis, which will be primarily used for projects that benefit the Sacramento region through improved air quality. Projects will need to demonstrate reductions in oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions, but the program will also result in additional greenhouse gas reductions to meet regional, state, and federal targets.

The SMAQMD now has program and fiscal control of the SECAT program under oversight from SACOG. Agreements funded by SACOG under previous guidelines are now fully administered by the SMAQMD with most covered by the provisions of these guidelines as outlined in the memorandum of agreement between the agencies. Funding will now be allocated to the six counties in the SACOG region based on the population of each county.

The SECAT Program will now encourage the displacement of conventional trucks and buses with zero emission vehicles without scrapping an existing vehicle. This will allow regional fleets to better leverage state and federal grants and promote the technology in the region. As part of other efforts with the SMAQMD and SACOG, these vehicles will play a key role in meeting regional commitments to greenhouse gas and community air protection goals.

For more details about SECAT, please review the guidelines below:

2023 SECAT Guidelines

Application Process

The application period opens on May 9, 2024. Applicants will enter most of the information through the online form found on each program page and upload attachments as needed for each funding stream. Once complete, applicants will receive an email showing their application was received. The Sac Metro Air District recommends that applicants keep a copy of all application records. It is also recommended that applicants use a PDF app for their Apple or Android phones that can convert pictures into PDF to make the process easier.

Projects with an award greater than $1 million will require approval by the Sac Metro Air District Board of Directors. This may delay projects as the board meets monthly.

Applications missing information may be given 30 days to submit any incomplete or ineligible documents. Staff may also request additional information from applicants if needed to evaluate the project. In some cases, the applicant will be offered an award lower than the amount requested in the application or the maximum grant for the project. This reduction is done if the Sac Metro Air District does not have enough funding for the project or staff determines that the application does not qualify for full funding.

If selected for funding, applicants will enter into a funding agreement with the Sac Metro Air District. The agreement will match the individual or business entity listed on the application and Payee Data Record.

Applicants must be compliant with state and local air quality regulations and will be checked. Most agreements have a term of 3 years with annual reporting requirements and penalties for non-compliance. Participants can transfer their agreements to other parties if in the best interest of air quality in the region. On-road vehicle projects require the Sac Metro Air District to be listed a lien holder on the title. These are released at the end of the agreement.

For this solicitation, projects must be delivered within 180 days of approval. All zero emission vehicles funded under this solicitation must be ready for delivery with no delays. This may mean that certain vehicles or technolgies may not be eligible for SECAT funding if the estimated delivery is months or years in the future. Applicants should also have charging infrastructure installed at their facility or be able to use existing public charging infrastructure.

Applications not selected for funding will be placed in a pending file for future funding opportunities. If an applicant does not want their application to be held, she or he must contact the Sac Metro Air District to withdraw their application. The Sac Metro Air District may also forward applications to other agencies who may have funding for the project. Please contact staff if you have any questions about the application process.

Please ensure that your application includes the following documents scanned into PDF format to attach to your online application:

Completed Incentive Application (Online or using Form S1)
Copy of Authorized Signatory's Driver's License or Valid State-Issued Photo Identification Card
Vendor Payee Data Record W9 and ACH Forms with Cancelled Check or Bank Letter
Certificate of Compliance from California Air Resources Board (CARB) TRUCRS Database
Zero Emission Vehicle Price Quote and Specification Sheet

Applicants are encouraged to fill out the online application form or download, complete, print, and mail an application form or contact a local truck dealer for more information. If you have questions regarding the SECAT guidelines, please contact Kristian Damkier, or Gina O'Neal using the links below.

The following things are old pages copied and pasted from 4secat.com:

How to Apply

Applications can be delivered to the Sacramento Metropolitan AQMD front desk at:

Sacramento Metropolitan AQMD
777 12th St, 3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Incomplete applications will be rejected, so please ensure that you have all application materials before you apply. We anticipate a very high demand for funding and will be unable to hold applications missing documentation.

How To Apply

All applicants must submit the original signed documents listed below during an open application period. Submitting the required information does not guarantee that the application will be approved, but is necessary for the review process to be completed. Applicants must submit one (1) main application per business entity and at least one (1) vehicle application per vehicle. If you are turning in multiple old vehicles, please submit the 2-for-1 Application for the second old vehicle.

For School Buses (Public and Private)

Three Way School Bus Replacement Grant Application Form

All applicants must be compliant with the California Air Resources Board Truck & Bus Regulation prior to applying for SECAT grant funds. Applicants may be subject to additional rules and regulations for heavy-duty diesel vehicles. Staff will evaluate each application to determine if the purchase is required under the applicable regulation, and applicants will need to demonstrate surplus emission reductions through 2018 to qualify for SECAT funding.

Funding Levels

Currently, the SECAT Program provides grant funds to replace on-road heavy-duty diesel vehicles that have 2006 and older model year engines with diesel particulate filter (DPF) retrofits or other limited exempt vehicles with cleaner emission vehicles. The amount of incentive funds awarded per truck depends on several factors, including the potential surplus emission reductions of the replacement vehicle operating within the SFNA. The SECAT Program will fund the minimum of the following:

B. 50% of the total vehicle purchase; or C. The maximum cost effective amount of $100,000 for one ton of NOx reductions in one year.

Maximum Funding Cap for Compliant Trucks;
1. $60,000 limit for Class 8 trucks equipped with 0.20 g/bhp-hr NOx engines
2. $50,000 limit for Class 8 trucks equipped with 0.50 g/bhp-hr NOx engines
3. $40,000 limit for Class 4-7 trucks equipped with 0.20 g/bhp-hr NOx engines
4. $30,000 limit for Class 4-7 trucks equipped with 0.50 g/bhp-hr NOx engines
50% of the total vehicle purchase; or
The maximum cost effective amount of $100,000 for one ton of NOx reductions in one year.

For more information, see the Summary of Program Requirements listed above or the current SECAT Guidelines.

Click below to view a larger map of the Sacramento Federal Nonattainment Area (SFNA).

Tools for Existing Participants

Annual Reporting Requirements

All program participants must report their miles or hours of use for each vehicle they have under contract with the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) on an annual basis. Each year the SMAQMD will send out an equipment usage survey form to all current contract holders. The form needs to be filled out completely and returned to the SMAQMD.

What happens if I do not report my equipment usage to the SMAQMD?

If we do not receive the usage survey form in a timely manner, you will be considered in non-compliance with your contract reporting requirements until this information is received. You and your equipment will automatically be placed on our audit list and an inspector will contact you to schedule an on-site inspection. If you refuse to grant us access to your equipment to perform the audit inspection, your contract will be referred to the SMAQMD's legal group for further handling.

What if my odometer breaks or has been replaced?

You are required to keep a working odometer on your vehicle at all times during the life of your contract. If your odometer breaks or you replace it for any reason, we will need to know the following information:

What date did the odometer stop working?
What was the odometer reading of the meter at the time it broke or was replaced?
What date was it replaced?
What is the new odometer reading at the time of replacement (typically zero if it is a new meter)

Without this information we will not be able to accurately calculate the number of miles you have driven your vehicle. This could impact your compliance status when we evaluate your contracted mileage commitment.

Mileage Tracking Requirements

All program participants must track their miles of use within the Sacramento Federal Non-Attainment Area (SFNA) for each vehicle they have under a SECAT contract. This should be done throughout the life of the contract. Having these records available and up to date will make an audit of your records, if required, go more smoothly.

To facilitate this requirement, you may reference the sample mileage tracking log as an example of the information we will be looking for. If you choose to use a different format to track your mileage, it must contain at a minimum all of the information listed below (also found on the sample form):

Date
Starting Address/Location
Job Address/Location
Total Miles Driven
Total Miles Driven in SFNA

If you have any questions on how to track vehicle use in the SFNA or have questions about whether or not your current tracking system is adequate, please contact Jaime Lemus at (916) 874-2911 or JLemus@airquality.org.

Audit Inspections

Audit inspections are performed throughout each year for various reasons. If we do not receive annual usage information as requested we will automatically schedule an audit inspection of your vehicle. We also randomly select a certain percentage of vehicles for audit inspections every year. If you are in the last year of your contract and are not meeting your usage requirements we may also need to inspect your vehicle.

What happens during an audit inspection?

An inspector will call and arrange an inspection location and time with a participant that requires an audit inspection of their vehicle. A typical inspection lasts 15-30 minutes during which time the inspector will take photographs of the vehicle and the odometer. An inspector may also request records to confirm mileage driven within the Sacramento Federal Non-Attainment Area (SFNA).

See Mileage Tracking Requirements for more information.

Under-use Options

Existing SECAT participants who do not foresee being able to complete the terms of their SECAT contract should contact the SECAT Program to explore compliance options. Typical compliance options include the following:

a participant reimburses the SECAT Program a pro-rated amount of the original funding value to release their contractual obligations to the District;
a participant sells their SECAT funded vehicle and reimburses the SECAT Program a pro-rated amount of the original funding value;
a participant sells their SECAT funded vehicle to an interested party to take over the existing SECAT contract with no reimbursement requirement.

NOTE: for all listed options listed above, it is imperative that the participant contact District staff to assure proper handling of the reimbursement or vehicle transfer/sale process. Please call Jaime Lemus at (916) 874-2911 or Mike Neuenburg at (916) 874-1676 for further assistance with these and other compliance issues.

US EPA SmartWay

Sacramento Area Council of Governments

Participating Dealers

Truck Dealerships

Future Ford of Sacramento	Jim Feusi	916-349-3336
Golden State Peterbilt	Ron Kress	559-442-1590
Municipal Maintenance Equipment	Nancy Steffan	916-922-1101
NorCal Kenworth - Sacramento	Steve Randolph	916-371-3372
Opperman and Son Inc.	Karen Stumbaugh	707-433-4421
Pape Kenworth	Bill Myers	209-983-6970
Riverview International Trucks	Eric Bassett	916-371-3110
Rush Truck Centers	Patrick Motley	805-343-7403
Sacramento Truck Center	Jon Michel	916-286-2000
TEC Equipment, Inc.	Scott Cowan	510-577-5500
Valley Peterbilt	Jason Range	209-922-0215
Western Truck Center	Brian Rottweiler	916-375-3040
Western Truck Parts & Equipment	Christian Weaver	916-319-5249

Approved Salvage Yards & Dismantlers

*UPDATE* As of 12/10/13, all old trucks turned into the SECAT program must be delivered to BAR NONE AUCTION. If you have questions about this requirement, please call Jaime Lemus at (916) 874-2911.

Bar None Auction

Kelly Peterson

916-262-7578

Participating Finance Companies

Bar None Auction	Kelly Peterson	916-262-7578
Participating Finance Companies
American River Bank	Haitham Bisharat	916-231-6156
Engs Commercial Finance	Charlie Engs	415-601-6330
General Electric Capital Corporation	Dan Hensler	916-286-8027
Navistar Financial Corporation	James P. Gats	972-731-5271
PACCAR Financial Corporation	Brian Getz	916-373-9198

Status: Closed

SECAT Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the applicant REQUIRED to REPLACE a vehicle to participate in the program?

No, you are not required to scrap a vehicle to receive SECAT incentive funds.

2. Are there minimum qualifications for the existing vehicle?

There are no existing vehicle requirements.

3. Does the existing vehicle have to be SCRAPPED? Or just taken out of service?

There are no existing vehicle requirements.

4. If combined with HVIP funding, can the SECAT grant be applied to taxes and fees charged for the new vehicle?

Yes, alhtough HVIP may require SECAT to reduce our grant amount to the 90% grant level for non-government applicants.

5. Are the reporting requirements similar to the previous round - are participants required to return annual usage reports at least once a year or install Electronic Monitoring Units (EMU's)?

Yes, reporting requirements are the same. We do not require EMU on projects.

6. Are vehicle leases eligible for funding?

We can accept applications from leasing companies to rent/lease the vehicles in Sacramento. We require leasing companies to list us as lien holders and agree to the same terms as the applicant.

7. What is the maximum amount of funding an applicant may receive?

There is no cap on the maximum funding an applicant may receive. Each vehicle is subject to a cap, and each county has a maximum funding for all projects. Essentially, first come, first serve, until the funding is exhausted.

8. It’s noted that applicants should have charging infrastructure at their facility or be able to use existing public charging infrastructure. Does this mean funding is only available for heavy-duty BEVs? What about heavy-duty hydrogen FCEVs? If they qualify for funding, would they need to have hydrogen fueling in their property or be able to use public hydrogen fueling (if available)?

Funding is available for both HD BEVs and HD H2 FCEVs. No EVSE or H2 fueling is required to be at your facility. We actually advocate for public fueling and charging when appropriate.

9. Are any dealerships in the eligible counties able to deliver trucks for SECAT funding? Do they have to complete any training or sign any agreement to participate?

There are no dealership requirements.

10. Regarding vehicle leasing, the SECAT guidelines document mention that all leases must be from an approved leasing company. Is there a public document that lists the approved leasing companies? Would SECAT consider funding deals where the OEM acts as lessor?

No, there is no public document listing the approved leasing companies. The OEM is able to be the lessor.

11. Does SECAT fund used Zero-Emission vehicles?

Yes, up to the purchase price of the used vehicle, or the max grant amount, whichever is lower.

12. I have already issued a PO to order vehicles that would qualify for SECAT funds, am i able to apply for SECAT to assist in paying for these vehicles?

Yes, you can use SECAT for PO's as long as no money has excahnged hands. As long as the date of reimbursement and expense is after contract execution with SMAQMD you may still qualify for funds.

13. “SECAT funded vehicles cannot be used to comply with ARB Advanced Clean Fleet requirements.” Since all vehicles in our fleet over 8,500 need to be reported to CARB under ACF, how will SECAT vehicles somehow be “quarantined” from that reporting. I am trying to understand this requirement and how they will actually be excluded from ACF.?

When you report a vehicle to ARB, they will ask if the vehicle received incentive funding. This will exclude it from the fleet requirements while still being compliant for reporting.

We cannot double count projects with SECAT. The funding is specifically to fund voluntary actions surplus to regulations. The ARB passed ACF with the expectation that fleets would pay 100% of the compliance cost without any assistance. This is part of the reason we are expanding SECAT to fund light and medium duty vehicles not subject to fleet requirements. This is stated in the 2023 SECAT guidelines 3.1.2.

14. Will the application be reviewed and awarded right after it’s received or will be reviewed and awarded together after Nov 2024? For example, if a school district applied in May, will the AQMD announce its award in June or wait until after November?

Yes, we intend to review and approve applications as soon as possible upon receipt. Applicants approved for more than $1 million in SECAT funding will require approval by our Board of Directors which will delay the process, but most may get awards within 30 days.

15. Can we stack SECAT with HVIP set aside? Including the HVIP SB114 incentive?

Yes

16. Please clarify the difference between who may apply for Heavy-Duty vs. Light-Duty and Medium Duty vehicles?

Qualified applicants for HD vehicles are EVERYONE. Only government and non-profit organizations may apply for LD and MD vehicles through SECAT.

17. I am a non-profit who would like to purchase three light duty vehicles, do I qualify to apply to SECAT?

The first 45 days through June 24, 2024, the minimum application requirement is five vehicles. As of June 24th, if funding is available, you may apply for three vehicles.