Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OAR OTAQ 23 06
The 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aimed at helping replace or upgrade school buses in ways that improve air quality and protect public health. Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), EPA expects to award about $400 million in total funding, although the final amount depends on available funds as well as how many applications are submitted and how competitive they are. The program is listed under CFDA 66.045, and awards will be issued through grants and cooperative agreements, which typically means recipients may have standard grant responsibilities and, in some cases, closer coordination with EPA during implementation.
To broaden participation and make the competition more workable for different types of applicants, EPA structured this NOFO as two separate competitions within one overall program. The first is the School District Sub-program, intended for eligible school districts and Tribal applicants. This track is designed for applicants that directly operate or oversee student transportation and want to modernize their fleets to reduce emissions. The second is the Third-Party Sub-program, which is intended for eligible third-party applicants that will carry out projects on behalf of school districts. A key requirement of this third-party track is that the applicant must serve at least four school district beneficiaries, meaning the third-party applicant is expected to bundle support across multiple districts rather than focusing on a single beneficiary.
In practical terms, EPA is using the two-subprogram design to reflect real-world differences in capacity and needs. Some school districts and Tribal entities are prepared to apply and manage projects directly, while others may rely on partners such as nonprofits, state or local entities, or other organizations that can coordinate bus replacements, charging or fueling planning, procurement support, or other implementation steps across several districts. By offering two pathways, EPA is trying to maintain a healthy level of competition, reduce barriers for smaller or resource-limited districts, and encourage a wider range of applicants to participate.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity title (2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program) and number (EPA-OAR-OTAQ-23-06). The opportunity was posted/created on April 24, 2023, and the original application deadline was August 22, 2023. EPA anticipated making around 50 awards under this NOFO, with an overall program ceiling of $400,000,000 across the expected set of awards. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility rules contained in the full NOFO, so applicants would need to confirm which sub-program they qualify for and what documentation is required before applying.Apply for EPA OAR OTAQ 23 06
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.045.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 24, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 22, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program (EPA)
What is the 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program?
The 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intended to help replace or upgrade school buses in ways that improve air quality and protect public health.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The program is focused on modernizing school bus fleets (through replacement or upgrades) to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and protect public health.
How much funding does EPA expect to award under this opportunity?
EPA expects to award about $400 million in total funding under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The final amount depends on available funds, the number of applications received, and how competitive those applications are.
How many awards does EPA anticipate making?
EPA anticipated making around 50 awards under this NOFO.
Is this program competitive?
Yes. It is a discretionary program, and the total funding ultimately awarded depends in part on how many applications are submitted and how competitive they are.
What is the opportunity number for this NOFO?
The funding opportunity number is EPA-OAR-OTAQ-23-06.
What is the official title of the funding opportunity?
The official title is the 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted/created on April 24, 2023.
What was the application deadline?
The original application deadline was August 22, 2023.
What assistance listing (CFDA) number is associated with this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 66.045.
What types of awards will EPA issue under this NOFO?
Awards will be issued through grants and cooperative agreements.
What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement in this program?
Based on the NOFO description, both grants and cooperative agreements are used. Cooperative agreements typically indicate that recipients may have standard grant responsibilities and, in some cases, closer coordination with EPA during implementation.
Why did EPA structure this NOFO as two separate competitions?
EPA structured the NOFO as two competitions to broaden participation and make the competition more workable for different types of applicants, recognizing that school districts and Tribal entities may have different capacities and needs than third-party organizations that implement projects on their behalf.
What are the two competitions (sub-programs) within this NOFO?
The NOFO is divided into two sub-programs: (1) the School District Sub-program and (2) the Third-Party Sub-program.
Who is the School District Sub-program intended for?
The School District Sub-program is intended for eligible school districts and Tribal applicants, particularly those that directly operate or oversee student transportation and want to modernize their fleets to reduce emissions.
Who is the Third-Party Sub-program intended for?
The Third-Party Sub-program is intended for eligible third-party applicants that will carry out projects on behalf of school districts.
What is a key requirement for applicants under the Third-Party Sub-program?
A key requirement is that the third-party applicant must serve at least four school district beneficiaries. In other words, the third-party applicant is expected to support multiple districts rather than focusing on only one.
Why does the Third-Party Sub-program require at least four school district beneficiaries?
The structure suggests EPA is encouraging bundled support across multiple districts to help address differences in capacity and to reduce barriers for smaller or resource-limited districts by enabling partners to coordinate implementation across several beneficiaries.
What kinds of entities might apply as third-party applicants?
The information provided indicates that third-party partners could include nonprofits, state or local entities, or other organizations capable of coordinating bus replacements, charging or fueling planning, procurement support, or other implementation steps across several districts (subject to eligibility rules in the full NOFO).
What types of activities might be supported by third-party applicants?
Examples mentioned include coordinating bus replacements, charging or fueling planning, procurement support, and other implementation steps across several school districts.
Does the eligibility section provide a definitive list of eligible applicant types?
No. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility rules contained in the full NOFO. Applicants would need to confirm which sub-program they qualify for and what documentation is required before applying.
How should an applicant decide which sub-program to apply under?
Applicants should determine whether they are an eligible school district or Tribal applicant (School District Sub-program) versus an eligible organization applying on behalf of school districts (Third-Party Sub-program). The full NOFO contains the detailed rules needed to confirm fit and documentation requirements.
What is the overall funding ceiling for the program?
The overall program ceiling is $400,000,000 across the expected set of awards.
Will every applicant receive funding?
No. EPA anticipated around 50 awards and described the program as competitive, so not every application would be expected to receive an award.
What does EPA mean by "replace or upgrade" school buses?
The description indicates funding is intended to support bus replacement or upgrades that improve air quality and protect public health, though the specific eligible technologies, upgrade types, and project parameters would be defined in the full NOFO.
What should applicants verify in the full NOFO before applying?
Applicants should verify which sub-program they qualify for, confirm detailed eligibility requirements, and understand what documentation is required for submission, since the summary lists eligibility broadly and points to the full NOFO for the full rules.
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