The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking applications from eligible entities for the Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program to incentivize and accelerate the replacement of existing school buses with clean and ZE school buses.
Donor Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/22/2023
Size of the Grant: $400,000,000
Grant Duration: 24 months
Details:
The CSB program intends to increase program adoption by educating prospective applicants and stakeholders about the CSB program and the benefits of clean school buses. EPA continues to empower, engage, and support clean school bus stakeholders and recipients throughout program implementation by equipping them with the information and data needed to develop outreach plans, amplify key messages and collaborate with the other members of the clean school bus community beyond EPA. CSB funding opportunities continue to support underserved populations through meaningful and intentional outreach to increase the number of prospective applicants who would most benefit from reduced emissions through the replacement of buses in their communities.
Applications will be evaluated on the extent to which they propose to replace buses that serve high-need local educational agencies; rural school districts; Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded school districts; and school districts receiving basic support payments for children who reside on Indian land. Further priority for funding will be given to applicants that leverage additional external funds, such as public-private partnerships, grants from other entities, or the issuance of school bonds, in order to support the proposed project activities.
Goals and Objectives
While new buses meet EPA’s tougher emission standards, many older buses continue to emit pollutants that can be harmful to health like nitrogen oxides (NOx) or particulate matter (PM). Students are particularly vulnerable to air pollution inside and near older diesel school buses.
The CSB program aims to:
- improve air quality by replacing highly polluting buses while accelerating the transformation to low and zero emission alternatives;
- engage stakeholders in program development,
- evolve the program, as needed, based on successes and lessons learned,
- promote cost parity between bus technologies,
- allow school districts multiple funding opportunities to apply for funding,
- maximize the number of zero-emission and clean buses that get funded, and
- ensure a broad geographic distribution of awards.
To support development and implementation of the CSB Program, EPA utilized a variety of tools to engage with stakeholders, receive feedback, and transparently share information.
In order to meet the unique needs of diverse recipients and address gaps identified in the 2022 CSB rebate program, the CSB grant program has designed two separate sub-programs under this NOFO:
- School District Sub-program: for school district and Tribal applicants, targeting large single-fleet turnovers that may have been limited by the 25-bus maximum in the rebate program, and
- Third-Party Sub-program: for third-party applicants to apply in partnership with school districts, particularly small, rural, Tribal, or low-income beneficiaries that may benefit from third-party technical support, grant administration and coordination (e.g., with utilities). Third Party Sub-program applicants must serve at least four school district beneficiaries to be eligible for funding under this program. The sub-programs in the 2023 CSB grant program address several programmatic goals discussed throughout this section, along with other criteria listed throughout this NOFO.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $400,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $400,000,000
Period of Performance
The estimated project period for awards resulting from this solicitation will be up to 24 months, however initial project periods of up to 36 months will be allowed where justified by the activities, timeline, and milestones detailed in the workplan.
Eligibility Criteria
Under this solicitation, only the following entities are eligible to apply for assistance, in accordance with Assistance Listing 66.045 and EPA’s Policy for Competition of Assistance Agreements (EPA Order § 5700.5A1):
- Public School Districts
- One or more local or State governmental entities responsible for:
- Providing school bus service to one or more public school systems; or
- The purchase, lease, license, or contract for service of school buses;
- A public charter school district responsible for the purchase, lease, license, or contract for service of school buses for that charter school; or
- One or more local or State governmental entities responsible for:
- Tribal Applicants
- An Indian Tribe Tribal organization , or Tribally-controlled school that is responsible for:
- Providing school bus service to one or more Bureau-funded schools ; or
- The purchase, lease, license, or contract for service of school buses;
- An Indian Tribe Tribal organization , or Tribally-controlled school that is responsible for:
- Third Parties
- A nonprofit school transportation association; or
- An eligible contractor.
Applicants falling under III.A.1 (school districts) and III.A.2 (Tribal applicants) must apply under the School District Sub-Program; Applicants falling under III.A.3 (third parties) must apply under the Third-Party Sub-Program.
Nonprofit organizations that are not exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code must submit other forms of documentation of nonprofit status, such as certificates of incorporation as nonprofit under state or Tribal law. Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible for EPA funding as provided in the Lobbying Disclosure Act, 2 U.S.C. 1611.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
