Air Quality Enterprise
On June 30, 2020, Governor Polis signed into law Senate Bill 20-204, Additional Resources to Protect Air Quality. The enterprise, through the department and contractors, conducts:
- science-based, unbiased air quality modeling and monitoring, and
- provides emission mitigation services.
Board Meetings
The next Board meeting is scheduled: February 3, 2026 to begin at 9:00 a.m. as a virtual meeting. If you would like to observe the Board meeting, please attend via Zoom
Board and meeting information may be found at: Air Quality Enterprise (AQE)
If you have questions, would like to be added to our email list for Board updates or wish to submit general written comments, please email them to cdphe_aqe@state.co.us
Air Quality Enterprise
The Colorado Air Quality Enterprise is appointed by the governor and authorized by the Colorado General Assembly to function as a government-owned business that provides statutorily specified services to fee payers. It collects fees for a primary purpose of financing or defraying the cost of services provided to those who must pay them. Expenditures of Enterprise revenue may provide benefits to the public or third parties.
The Air Quality Enterprise is charged with conducting science-based, unbiased air quality modeling, monitoring, assessment, data analysis, and research, which may include obtaining, analyzing, and reporting permitting and enforcement data; data regarding potential health risks from emissions; emission data; ambient air quality, visibility, and meteorological sampling data; and similar data, as well as other specified activities as listed in § 25-7-103.5(1)(j)(I) -(V) and (4)(c)(I)-(IV), C.R.S. The Air Quality Enterprise must, in its discretion, prioritize these activities based on a research project's ability to provide information that will: support tangible progress toward aiding fee payers' obligations and commitments to reducing air pollutants emitted by the fee payers; support fee payers in attaining standards and health-based or environmental guidelines; and assess public health that may be affected by fee payer emissions.
If you would like more information or are interested in serving on the Commission for the State of Colorado, please submit an application and resumé to the Governor's Office of Boards and Commissions.
| Board Member | Representing Sector | Term Ends | Bios |
| Patrick Cummins (Vice Chair) | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment appointee | N/A | Bio |
| Frank Flocke (Chair) | Scientific research community, expert in atmospheric or air quality modeling, monitoring, assessment and research | 01-01-2027 | Bio |
| Garvin Heath, Ph.D. | Scientific research community, expert in atmospheric or air quality modeling, monitoring, assessment and research | 01-01-2026 | Bio |
| Silpa Krefft, MD MPH | Scientific research community, expert in the environmental effects of air pollutants and an occupational pulmonologist | 01-01-2027 | Bio |
| Jessica Ayala | Fee payer representative | 01-01-2027 | Bio |
| Daniel Prather | Private sector, business management experience | 01-01-2027 | Bio |
| Martha Rudolph | Current AQCC commissioner | 01-01-2027 | Bio |
| Janessa Salgado | Fee payer representative | 01-01-2026 | |
| Gregg Thomas | Current AQCC commissioner | 01-01-2027 | Bio |
| Daniel Zimmerle | Scientific research community, expert in atmospheric or air quality modeling, monitoring, assessment and research | 01-01-2027 | Bio |
Funding Opportunities
Overview
If you wish to participate in the Board's request for proposal processes, you are responsible for reviewing relevant statutes and rules that apply to the process to make sure you understand your rights and responsibilities. The Air Quality Enterprise (AQE) and it solicitations are exempt from the State Procurement Code and State Procurement Rules. An evaluation team reviews and scores proposals based on criteria outlined in the Request for Proposal (RFP). The Board makes the final decision on the contract award. All communications regarding solicitations should take place directly with the AQE's assigned contract monitor listed within the RFP.
RFP_2025000002: New and Emerging Technologies
On August 5, 2025 the Air Quality Enterprise Board of Directors approved Request for Proposal #2025000002: Advancing Air Quality in Colorado through New and Emerging Technologies.
Purpose:
The Colorado Air Quality Enterprise seeks proposals from qualified organizations, academic researchers, or consortia to develop, deploy, or evaluate innovative technologies that advance the understanding and mitigation of air pollution in the State. This Request for Proposal (RFP) targets new and emerging tools and techniques that improve real-time monitoring, enhance modeling capabilities, facilitate community engagement, and support scalable air pollution mitigation strategies.
Timeline for Submission:
Proposals that meet the requirements outlined in the RFP may be submitted at any time. While there is no set schedule for Board consideration of individual proposals, the Board convenes at least quarterly and aims to act on all complete submissions as soon as possible but at least within six months of receipt, but reserves the right to take additional time for evaluation. Please note that funding is limited, and the Air Quality Enterprise (AQE) reserves the right to suspend or modify the Rolling (Evergreen) Application process at any time based upon available resources or funding constraints. There is no limit to the number of proposals an entity may submit during any given period.
Proposals should be sent in accordance with the RFP to: cdphe_aqe@state.co.us
- RFP_2024000001: Ozone Round 2
The Air Quality Enterprise Board selected the following projects to receive funding. Under the second round of funding for the Ozone Related Research Request for Proposal:
Project Title: An Empirical Model of Ozone-NOx-VOC Relationships in the DM/NFR NAA
Awardee: Ramboll Americas Engineering Solutions, Inc.
Awarded Amount: $75,000
Project Title: NOx and VOC Observations and Analysis in the Denver Metro/North Front Range Ozone Nonattainment Area to Support the State Implementation Plan (SIP)
Awardee: Regional Air Quality Council/Colorado State
Awarded Amount: $1,375,000
Project Title: NOx Emission Inventory Evaluation with TEMPO
Awardee: Ramboll Americas Engineering Solutions, Inc.
Awarded Amount: $250,000
Project Title: Front Range Local Air Monitoring Coalition Ozone Source Area Study
Awardee: Longmont/Front Range Government Air Monitoring Coalition
Awarded Amount: $295,000
Project Title: How much of the Denver Metro Northern Front Range Ozone is Produced from Isoprene?
Awardee: Boulder AIR
Awarded Amount: $285,282
Project Title: Implementation of Explicit Chemistry for Volatile Chemical Products (VCP) in the Denver Metro/North Front Range Serious Ozone SIP for the 2015 Ozone NAAQS
Awardee: Ramboll Americas Engineering Solutions, Inc.
Awarded Amount: $95,000
Project Title: 2020-2024 Wildfire Ozone Impacts
Awardee: Regional Air Quality Council/Ramboll Americas Engineering Solutions, Inc./Air Sciences Inc.
Awarded Amount: $140,000
Request for Proposal
- RFP_2023000001: Ozone Round 1
The Air Quality Enterprise Board selected the following projects to receive funding under the first round for the Ozone Related Research Request for Proposal:
Project Title: Comprehensive Evaluation of SIP Modeling and Emission Inputs
Awardee: National Center for Atmospheric Research
Awarded Amount: $340,248Executive Summary
This project supports activities to reduce ozone (O3) pollution by conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the Colorado State Implementation Plan (SIP) emission inputs and model results. The project will create an evaluation platform that provides access to a range of observations, including satellite products, and makes SIP results and relevant observations more easily accessible to air quality managers as well as the public.
Progress Reports
Contact
If you have questions, would like to be added to our email list for Board updates or wish to submit general written comments, please email them to: cdphe_aqe@state.co.us