The ACT School Bus program is deploying $23.3 million to advance school bus fleet electrification by providing planning, technical support, and gap funding to Massachusetts public school districts. ACT School Bus supports electric school bus deployment, leveraging other funding sources such as the federal Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program.
MassCEC offers two program opportunities: Advisory Services and Fleet Deployment.
Advisory Services is currently open and accepting applications on a rolling basis.
Round 2 of the ACT School Bus Fleet Deployment Program opened for applications on November 6, 2023, with a deadline of January 17, 2024. Through the current Request for Proposals (RFP), MassCEC is seeking applications from any of the following:
- Massachusetts public school districts as sole applicants
- Public school districts partnered with a private school bus transportation contract
- Private school bus transportation contractors (school bus service providers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and private school bus fleets that provide student transportation services) partnered with Massachusetts public school districts under the Fleet Deployment Program
This Fleet Deployment RFP complements the 2023 EPA Clean School Bus Grant Program. MassCEC anticipates releasing a similar RFP to complement the 2023 EPA School Bus Rebate Program in Spring, 2024.
Please continue to monitor both the ACT School Bus and EPA Clean School Bus webpages for timeline updates on future rounds of programming.
Which program is right for my school district?
Advisory Services
Up to 25 school bus fleets will receive free electrification planning services under the ACT School Bus Advisory Services Program. This program does not provide funding to buy electric school buses. Rather, it provides technical services to public school districts and/or third-party school bus fleet operators, including
- Preparing for future funding opportunities
- Identifying internal approval procedures
- Feasibility designs
- Financial modeling
- Vehicle and charging station procurement plans
- Educational materials
Fleet Deployment
The ACT School Bus Fleet Deployment Program offers to each selected school bus fleet up to $2.5 million in flexible funding for electric school buses, associated infrastructure, construction, and staff time. Selected school districts can also receive free technical advice from MassCEC's hired consultant team. Services offered by the technical consultant for school districts include
- Assistance with the electric school bus procurement process
- Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) charging infrastructure selection, procurement, and installation
- Recommendations for depot upgrades
- Data collection on electric school bus performance
- Plans for future electrification
Program Schedule
Program Stage |
Timeframe |
|---|---|
December 2022 |
|
Advisory Services Program: Application Period |
Rolling: To be considered for selection, fill out this interest form. |
Advisory Services Program: School District Selection and Project Launch |
Beginning Summer 2023 |
Fleet Deployment Program: Round 2 Application Period |
RFP released November 6, 2023. Applications due by January 11, 2024. |
All dates are subject to change at MassCEC's discretion. See respective program pages for more detailed schedules.
Resources and Support
Key Resources
ACT School Bus MASBO Presentation (May 2023)
US Department of Energy's Guide to Electric School Buses
Sierra Club School Bus Electrification Webinar: featuring EPA, MassCEC, and two Electric School Bus Deployment Projects
Support from Our Team
Email us at cleantransportation@masscec.com with any questions or to set up a call with MassCEC's Clean Transportation team.
Virtual Office Hours: We've set up several 30-minute time slots for you to speak directly with our Clean Transportation team.
FAQ & Additional Resources
Past Awardees
In December 2022, MassCEC awarded funding and technical assistance to six school districts across the Commonwealth under the first round of the ACT School Bus Fleet Deployment Program.
Program Backgrounds
ACT School Bus
Launched in November 2019, the first round of ACT programming, Accelerating Clean Transportation Now (“ACTNow”), resulted in the deployment of $1.4 million in funding and leveraged over $2 million in external cost share funding across nine clean transportation projects, three of which were school bus electrification grants and six of which reduced air pollution in environmental justice communities. The second round of ACT programming, Accelerating Clean Transportation for All (“ACT4All”), focused on addressing transportation needs and burdens in disadvantaged communities. MassCEC awarded $5 million in funding through this equity-focused program across ten clean transportation projects. Selected projects, announced in February 2022, spanned a range of topic areas including e-bike pilots and EV consumer education and are being deployed in various environmental justice neighborhoods and Gateway Cities across the Commonwealth.
MassCEC developed the ACT School Bus program to complement EPA's Clean School Bus funding, serve as a continuation of the ACTNow school bus projects, and extend ACT4All’s equity focus by prioritizing high-needs and low-income school districts.
EPA School Bus
Following passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program will provide $5 billion over five years (FY22-26) for clean school bus programming. Under the program, half of the funding is dedicated to zero-emission school buses and half is for clean school buses (including zero-emission, propane, and natural gas buses). Eligible recipients for this first round of funding included state or local governments that provide bus service, contractors who sell or arrange financing for the sale of clean school buses, nonprofit school transportation associations, and tribes, tribal organizations, and tribally controlled schools. EPA prioritized applications from organizations that serve high-need school districts and low-income areas, rural school districts, and tribal school districts. Applications were open via online form from May-August 2022, and applicants were notified of their selection status in October 2022.