School Bus: Fleet Deployment

MassCEC / Clean Transportation / Funding / School Bus: Fleet Deployment

The Challenge: Reduce Barriers to Electrifying School Buses

Despite the long-term savings and health benefits of going electric, school districts face barriers to electrifying their school bus fleets. Challenges that school districts encounter include

Higher up-front costs for buses and associated charging infrastructure, compared to diesel buses
Implementing necessary depot upgrades
Training drivers and mechanics during the transition to electric buses
Coordinating with third-party transportation providers for districts that choose to lease their buses

About School Bus Fleet Deployment

The School Bus Fleet Deployment program offers school bus fleets flexible funding for depot upgrades and purchases of electric school buses and associated charging infrastructure. Participating fleets also have the opportunity to work with MassCEC's consultant team to address the gaps in technical knowledge impeding school bus fleets from electrifying, in areas such as coordination with stakeholders, equipment selection, procurement, and project implementation.

Open

Award Potential

$2,500,000

Apply

Questions? Contact

Funding Schedule

Although this RFP schedule complements the 2024 EPA Clean Heavy Duty Vehicles Grant Program, applicants are not required to have applied to or received CHDV funding.

School Bus Fleet Deployment, Round 4
Process Step	Date
Release of RFP	May 12, 2025
Webinar hosted by MassCEC. Register for webinar here.	May 23, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Questions due to MassCEC via email to CleanTransportation@MassCEC.com	May 23, 2025
Questions with answers posted to MassCEC website	May 30, 2025
Proposals due	June 13, 2025 by 4pm ET
Interviews of top applicants	June 16-20, 2025
Notification of award	June 30, 2025

This schedule is tentative and subject to change at MassCEC's discretion.

Who's Eligible

Eligible Applicants for the School Bus Fleet Deployment Program include:

Public school districts that are eligible under EPA’s Clean Heavy Duty Vehicles Program (CHDV). This includes Massachusetts public school districts, including charter schools, that have an NCES District ID; and
Private school bus transportation contractors that are eligible under EPA’s Clean School Bus Program. These generally include school bus service providers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and private school bus fleets that provide student transportation services. (Please see RFP for further information.) Note that private school bus contractors can apply only on behalf of their associated Massachusetts public school district(s).
Both awardees of the CHDV program and entities who would be eligible for CHDV but did not apply or receive an award are encouraged to apply to our program.

Program Structure

The responsibilities and expectations of each of the program participants are summarized below. These lists may vary with the needs of the school district and may not be exhaustive.

School District

Collaborate with the Technical Consultant on project design, deployment, and reporting on project outcomes
Provide baseline fleet assessment data, e.g., fleet size and makeup, routes data and schedules, current fuel types and costs
With the help of the technical consultant, deploy electric school buses and charging infrastructure to serve district schools

Technical Consultant

Conducting technical and financial electrification analyses that inform decision-making options for school bus fleets
Finalizing analyses of vehicle needs, charging needs, financial details, and distributed energy resources integration
Creation of plans for site work and electric school bus operation
Procurement support for purchase of electric school buses and charging equipment
Management of construction, equipment testing, and technical training
Operational support for school bus fleets and related entities

MassCEC

Participate in meetings with the technical consultant and the school district
Record and share lessons learned between school districts
Retain the technical consultant
Available for extra support via email or office hours.

Benefits of Participation

Obtain a plan for fleet electrification
Preparation of depot site(s) for fleet electrification
Procurement of electric school buses and associated infrastructure
Deployment of electric school buses and associated infrastructure

If your district is in the early stages of electrification planning, the School Bus Advisory Services Program can provide free technical assistance you need to help you get started on your school bus electrification journey.

School Bus Fleet Deployment Overview
Contact us at cleantransportation@masscec.com

Apply

Application Process

Please begin the application process by reading the RFP (see Application Materials) and then working through the attachments in posted order.

Submit completed application to CleanTransportation@masscec.com.

Applications are due June 13, 2025 by 4pm ET.

Application Materials

RFP School bus deployment

Attachment A - List of EPA CDHV disadvantaged community applicants

Attachment B - Authorized applicant signature and acceptance form

Attachment C - Round 4 application

Attachment D - Proposed budget template

Attachment E - Proposed site plan

Attachment F - Sample agreement

If Applicable:

Attachment G: Letters of Commitment
Applicants should plan to submit letters of commitment from the local school board, local utility partner, and other relevant stakeholders as applicable (including a third-party transportation provider or landowner).
Attachment H: Vendor Quotes for Equipment
If available, applicants should provide quotes for the cost of supplies or equipment, including but not limited to, electric school buses and charging systems.