First Student, Inc.

First Student, Inc. is a leading provider of school bus transportation services in North America, operating a large fleet of buses that serve school districts and communities across the United States and Canada. As a foreign-owned, for-profit organization registered in SAM.gov since 2001, First Student has been actively involved in providing passenger transportation services to various federal agencies. The company specializes in bus transportation for government and military events, training, and school-related activities. First Student's involvement with federal contracts and grants encompasses a wide range of transportation services, including the provision of buses for specific events and the replacement of older diesel buses with cleaner, more environmentally friendly alternatives.

Through federal contracts, First Student has provided commercial bus transportation services to multiple defense and civilian agencies. The company has secured contracts with the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army National Guard, Air Force Air Mobility Command, and Army Forces Command. These contracts typically involve transporting personnel for specific events or between military installations. For example, First Student was awarded a $13,000 contract to provide bus transportation for the USCG Academy Secretaries Cup event in New London, Connecticut, and a $140,434 contract to transport personnel from home station to Yakima Training Center for the Washington Army National Guard. The company also received a $90,000 contract for FY22 OHAS bus transportation services from the Air Force. While most of these contracts are not set aside for small businesses, one Coast Guard contract for $4,117.50 was designated as a total small business set-aside, demonstrating the company's ability to compete in various contract categories.

First Student has been extensively involved in federal grant-funded projects, particularly those focused on reducing diesel emissions and promoting cleaner transportation alternatives. The company has received significant funding through the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program, which falls under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA). In a series of Project Grant awards totaling over $141 million, First Student is replacing hundreds of older diesel school buses with zero-emission electric buses and installing the necessary charging infrastructure across multiple states, including California, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Washington, and Oregon. These projects aim to reduce harmful air pollutants, lower greenhouse gas emissions, decrease fuel costs, and build capacity in electric vehicle technology. As a subgrantee in state-level DERA programs, First Student has also participated in smaller-scale bus replacement projects. In New Hampshire, the company received funding to replace 13 older school buses with newer, cleaner models, while in Pennsylvania, it planned to replace 29 eligible 2006 diesel buses with new diesel replacement vehicles. These grant-funded initiatives ultimately benefit school children and communities through improved air quality and health outcomes.