California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Dairy Methane Reduction Programs Technical Review

CDFA Dairy Methane Reduction Programs Technical Review Subcontract with UC Davis on behalf of the California Biomass Collaborative Abstract UK PI: Tyler Barzee UC Davis PI: Stephen Kaffka November 16, 2022 BACKGROUND/AUTHORITY The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) administers funding for projects that reduce methane emissions from California dairy and livestock operations. These include: • Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP), • Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) PURPOSE The purpose of this interagency agreement (Agreement) is to set forth the terms and conditions under which University of Kentucky (UK/Tyler Barzee) will provide California Biomass Collaborative at UC Davis (CBC/UC Davis/ Stephen Kaffka, Director and Principal Investigator) with an independent technical review of grant applications submitted to the DDRDP and AMMP. The technical reviews conducted by the CBC/UC Davis/UK and its affiliates will include the review and scoring of the following key aspects: A. DDRDP (60% of the total score): (1) Digester Project Plan and Long-Term Viability (20 points) (2) Estimated Greenhouse Gas Reductions (20 points) (3) Environmental Performance (15 points) (4) Budget Worksheet and Financials (5 points) B. AMMP (65% of the total score): (1) Project Plan and Long-Term Viability (25 points) (2) Estimated Greenhouse Gas Reductions (20 points) (3) Environmental Co-Benefits (10 points) (4) Budget Worksheet and Financials (10 points) Reviewers will use the Wizehive online electronic application and review system or a similar electronic platform to submit their written reviews. UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESPONSIBILITIES • The University of Kentucky (UK) will assemble a team of technical reviewers with subject matter expertise necessary for review, in consultation with CDFA and CBC/UCD. CBC/UCD may subcontract further with academic experts on anaerobic digestion and manure management. • UK will plan and facilitate a review process for the technical reviewers. The plan must be approved by CDFA prior to implementation and may include multiple (up to 3) reviewers per grant application and facilitation of consensus meetings. • UK will ensure that all technical reviews completed by the technical review team selected by UK must be verified and approved by the UK Review Team Liaison. • UK must ensure GHG calculations provided in incentive program grant applications are accurate and adhere to the latest California Air Resources Board (CARB) Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Calculator Tools (Quantification Methodology) for the respective programs. If the calculations are inaccurate, then the reviewer(s) must provide CDFA with re-calculated correct GHG emission reduction values upon consensus among assigned reviewers using the latest CARB Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Calculator Tool. • UK will coordinate with CDFA to solicit feedback from the California Air Resources Board in case of technical questions that arise during the review process. • Technical reviewers appointed by UK will conduct a review of the proposed digester technologies and manure management practices, work plan, and long-term operations and maintenance plan and assess if the proposed technologies and methods are adequate and feasible with consideration of the overall project plan and can achieve the GHG reductions and environmental benefits as proposed. • Technical reviewers appointed by UK must score each application according to the scoring criteria provided by CDFA. Each scoring category must include detailed comments to support the score and may be utilized by CDFA to provide feedback to the grant applicant. • UK will complete technical reviews for approximately o 10-100 DDRDP applications per solicitation o 10-100 AMMP grant applications per solicitation • UK technical reviewers will complete the reviews using the Technical Review Evaluation template provided by CDFA and attach the completed form within Wizehive or another review portal within 15 business days (three weeks) of receiving the review assignment for DDRDP and AMMP. A preview of review questions and instructions will be provided by CDFA. • UK Review Team Liaison will ensure responses are provided to CDFA within a timely manner regarding questions and clarification of comments for grant applications from the technical reviewers. • UK agrees to maintain confidentiality throughout the technical review process. Accordingly, the technical reviewers must not discuss or disclose any information contained in incentive program applications. Each reviewer must sign the Conflict of Interest form provided by CDFA for the appropriate incentive program included under Exhibit E. • Troubleshooting-related questions related to Wizehive (or other online electronic application and review system) should be directed to the CDFA (or as directed during the technical reviewer workshop). • All other correspondence related to the review process should be directed to CDFA at: o DDRDP: [email protected] o AMMP: [email protected] TECHNICAL REVIEW TIMELINE The Technical reviews will take place between March 1, 2023 – September 30, 2023, for all programs. All DDRDP and AMMP reviews must be completed within 15 business days (three weeks) of receiving the review assignment.