School_Bus_Replacement_application.xlsx

This document is a School Bus Replacement Grant application for the Minnesota Diesel Replacement Program, funded through the Volkswagen NOX Mitigation Settlement Phase 3 Grant. The application provides a comprehensive template for school districts and transportation entities to apply for funding to replace older diesel school buses with newer, more environmentally friendly vehicles. The grant application allows for multiple bus replacements, with detailed requirements for documenting existing bus characteristics such as vehicle identification numbers (VINs), miles traveled, fuel usage, county of operation, and service area demographics.

The grant program prioritizes environmental justice and air quality improvements, with specific evaluation criteria that consider whether buses operate near vulnerable populations (children and elderly) or in areas with high proportions of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Applicants must provide detailed information about both the existing diesel bus and the proposed new bus, including fuel type, manufacturer, expected annual mileage, accessibility features, and total eligible costs. The grant amount is subject to guidelines outlined in the Request for Proposals (RFP), with funding sourced from the Volkswagen NOX Mitigation Settlement. Submission requires electronic filing of the Excel workbook, and all information must be verified and accurate to maintain project eligibility.