Resources
Funding Source
Maximum Award
Award Details
Equipment Available for Loan in 2026: Vehicle Add-on Mobile Monitoring System (VAMMS). EPA will provide technical support information along with the loaned air monitors and provide remote troubleshooting support. EPA covers the cost of shipping to location and return to EPA.
Eligibility
State and local air agency monitoring staff; Professional Tribal air quality staff members. The equipment is not available for general public use.
Eligible Activities
The primary measurement of the supplemental technologies is fine particulate matter (PM2.5), with carbon monoxide (CO), total volatile organic compounds (tVOCs), and black carbon also measured in some systems. For the 2026 season, the current system available upon request is a portable system called the Vehicle Add-on Mobile Monitoring System (VAMMS).
Duration
Notable Requirements
The use of the monitors should be for supplemental and informational air quality monitoring purposes related to wildfire smoke response. The recipients have flexibility regarding where the monitors are utilized to collect data to best meet their goal. The recipients cannot officially transfer a federal property loan, but can collaborate with local partners (e.g., community groups, municipalities) on the measurement locations and request local partner participation in the data collection. The PurpleAir data are posted on the web by the vendor and will post publicly to the Fire and Smoke Map on the EPA-managed AirNow.gov website after undergoing quality assurance and bias adjustments built into that data platform.
Preferences
The request form asks for a description of how the equipment would be used for supplemental air monitoring of areas impacted by wildland fire smoke.
How to Apply
Complete and submit the online Wildfire Smoke Air Monitoring Research Technology (WSMART) Pilot Request Form.