Q___A_4.14.25.docx

The document is a Questions and Answers (Q&A) file for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) School Bus Replacement Grant, dated 4/14/25. The Q&A addresses key details about the grant application process, including eligibility for hybrid buses, RFP access through SWIFT, application restrictions, and grant deployment timelines. Specifically, the document clarifies that hybrid buses fueled by diesel engines are eligible, the RFP is only viewable in SWIFT without requiring account registration, and applicants should submit all buses on a single application. The initial grant period is two years, with an anticipated 80-day timeline for grant agreement signatures after the submission deadline.

The grant provides funding for school bus replacements, with a maximum award of $15,000 per bus, increasing to $20,000 for school districts where 40% or more of students qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch. Funding is sourced from the Volkswagen NOX Mitigation Settlement Phase 3, with 40% ($252,000) allocated to Greater Minnesota and 60% ($378,000) to the Twin Cities 7-County Metropolitan Area. Applicants can stack local, state, and federal funds, and the program prioritizes funding for communities with low-income residents, people of color, and Tribal communities. Eligible applicants include private, public, and nonprofit entities in Minnesota, with a focus on replacing older diesel buses (1998-2009 model years) with new 2024 or newer vehicles meeting EPA or California Air Resources Board emissions standards.