ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)
2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Project Narrative - EPA-OAR-OTAQ-23-06
Cover Page:
Project DeKalb County School District’s Clean School Bus Initiative
Title
Applicant Name: DeKalb County School District
Address: 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd. Stone Mountain, GA 30083
UEI Number: WVNNLFF8YQN7
Applicant
Office Phone and Fax: 678-875-0090/678-676-1546
Information
Point of Contact and website: Bernando Brown, Director of Student Transportation,
bernando_brown@dekalbschoolsga.org,
https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/operations/transportation/
Entity X State or local governmental entity that provide bus service, including a public school
Eligibility district or charter school
EPA Funding External Leveraged
Applicant Costs Total Project Cost
Budget Requested Costs
[B] [A+B+C=D]
Summary [A] [C]
$20,139,250.36 $2,027,303.16 $219,500.00 $22,386,053.52
Buses will be deployed through DeKalb County, Georgia with service to the cities of Tucker
(30084), Redan (30074), Decatur (30032, 30034, 30034), Lithonia (30038, 30058), and
Project
Stone Mountain (30083, 30087). Vehicles and chargers will be based at two bus depots
Location(s)
located at 5855 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain, GA 30083, and 3414 Memorial Drive,
Decatur, GA 30032.
Poor Air All electric buses will be deployed and operate in non-attainment areas 100% of the time
Quality as indicated in the Fleet Sheet and listed in the project locations.
Project Project Start Date: April 1, 2024 Project End Date: April 1, 2026
Period
DeKalb County School District’s Clean School Bus Initiative will reduce emissions and
Short
improve air quality by replacing 50 class 7 diesel buses that are around 20 years old with
Project
50 bi-directional capable clean and zero-emission electric school buses. The district will
Description
add 44 level 2 and 6 DCFC charging stations that will use managed charging.
School NCES# School Fuel Type [ZE, CNG, Charging Infrastructure [Y/N] and
District Name Buses (#) Propane, Mix – define Type [EVSE Level 1, 2, 3, or Mix]
Fuel Type]
Dekalb County 1301740 50 ZE Y – EVSE Mix (44 Level 2 and 6
School District Level 3)
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Workplan:
Section 1- Project Summary
DeKalb County School District (DCSD) proposes to replace 50 of its oldest (20-year-old) Type C diesel buses with Type
C electric zero emission school buses and is taking a holistic approach focused on operational success, efficiency,
safety, and reliability. Studies have shown that older buses are significantly more polluting and this decision to
transition to electric school buses (ESBs) stems from the district’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and
improving air quality to benefit the health and well-being of our students and the community at large. DCSD is in
communication with and has the support of Georgia Power, our electric utility, to ensure this project will be
successful.
DCSD is the third largest school system in the state of Georgia, serving over 100,000 students (about the seating
capacity of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum) across 138 schools and centers. This ESB deployment, if funded,
would be the largest in the state and directly transport more than 6,700 students daily and serve a school district
where 80% of schools receive Title I funding and 87% of students (79,921 students) attend those schools. These ESBs
will provide a clean, tailpipe-emission-free transportation option for historically underserved students, increasing
transportation equity and inclusion.
DCSD also provides K-12 public education to an exceptionally diverse population where parents and students speak
166+ languages and represent 155+ nations due to a large refugee population. Clarkston, Georgia, considered to be
the most ethnically diverse square mile in America, is within DeKalb County. DCSD has comprehensive plans in place
to engage all members of our community including Town Halls, demonstration events with the ESBs, and regular
monthly educational campaigns. DCSD will create a webpage to provide project updates and include direct contact
information, establishing an avenue for the public to ask questions and share concerns that DCSD will address. Being
awarded 50 electric school buses in DeKalb would make an immediate, large-scale impact to improving the air quality
and health outcomes for an incredibly diverse population of students, staff, and community members and establish
one of the largest fleets of electric school buses at a school district in the Southeast. DCSD is committed to
meaningfully engaging and soliciting feedback from our diverse community.
Importantly, DCSD is well positioned to successfully manage this award, having executed federal and state grants as
detailed in Section 5, Past Performance. And by leveraging the strengths of local and national partners including
Mothers and Others for Clean Air, Moms Clean Air Force, the Lakeside Bus Drivers Association, Sequoyah Middle
PTSA, World Resources Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative, and Electrification Coalition, DCSD has the resources
and support to effectively implement this project and create a collaborative ecosystem to share experiences and
disseminate learnings. In this way, the project’s success will expand beyond its immediate scope to serve as a
blueprint for other districts across Georgia and the Southeast for successful large-scale implementation of electric
school buses.
Section 2 - Environmental Results—Outputs, Outcomes, and Performance Measures
The project will be executed through a multifaceted approach, integrating various components to achieve maximum
impact for outputs and outcomes:
1. Bus Replacement: 50 diesel buses will be retired and replaced with electric school buses. DCSD’s Clean School
Bus Initiative’s primary objective is to remove diesel exhaust emissions causing climate change and improve
healthy air quality for students in the district and community. DCSD is in the fourth (highest) quartile of PM2.5
and in the 3rd quartile of ozone out of all school districts in the country based on WRI’s analysis using
EJScreen data. By replacing the diesel buses with electric, DCSD will transport 6,708 school children daily in a
zero-tailpipe emissions environment where 100% of electric vehicle miles traveled are within non-attainment
areas.
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Specifically, this upgrade to electric school buses means tailpipe emissions will be reduced by 100% across a
series of pollutants. The expected annual baseline emissions reductions are 1.820 short tons of nitrogen
oxides, 0.141 short tons of particulate matter (2.5), 0.244 short tons of hydrocarbons, 0.935 short tons of
carbon monoxide, and 615 short tons of carbon dioxide. The model years of DCSD’s diesel buses (2003 and
2004) indicate that their engines are past their typical maximum life. DCSD used EPA’s Diesel Emissions
Quantifier (DEQ) to calculate emissions reductions that would result from this project. For the purposes of
emissions reductions estimates, the fleet of 50 diesel school buses set to be replaced were split into two
groups based on engine model year – 46 of the 2003 model year and four of the 2004 model year. The same
inputs were applied to each vehicle in a single group, with average values entered for usage fields. The model
year of DCSD’s diesel buses indicates that their engines are past their typical maximum life. As a result, DEQ
assigns a remaining life of one year, making annual and lifetime emission reductions the same.
2. Charging Infrastructure: Installing 50 EV charging stations, 44 L2 and 6 DCFC, that will support the electric
buses' operations while minimizing the reliance on fossil fuels (76,322 gallons of diesel fuel displaced each
year) and reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional fueling methods.
3. Training Programs: Comprehensive and ongoing training provided for drivers and technicians will ensure
smooth adoption and operation of electric buses. Equipped with the necessary skills, the workforce will
optimize the performance of the new fleet.
4. Transportation Equity: DCSD serves an incredibly large and diverse student body where 80% of the schools
are Title I funded with 87% of the students attending a Title I funded school. All routes where the ESBs will be
deployed operate in non-attainment areas. This project will eliminate 100% of tailpipe pollutants for
historically undeserved students in low-income and non-white communities that are disproportionately
impacted by diesel bus pollution.
5. Community Engagement: The project is committed to meaningful engagement with community members
and diverse stakeholders to communicate project plans and elicit feedback. There will be an open line of
communication between DCSD and the public to foster understanding and support for the project. The sense
of ownership and enthusiasm this creates will strengthen the project's long-term sustainability.
6. Knowledge Sharing: Lessons learned throughout the project's implementation will be shared at conferences
and with other school districts to support their fleet electrification efforts. This knowledge dissemination will
facilitate replication, accelerating the adoption of electric buses across Georgia and throughout the Southeast,
ultimately aligning with city, county, and state climate and resiliency plans.
By executing this holistic approach, DCSD’ Clean School Bus Initiative will realize its goals of cleaner air, reduced
emissions, reduction in fossil fuel use, strengthening workforce development for electrification, and broad-scale
adoption of electric school buses, thereby making a substantial contribution to both local and broader climate and
resiliency plans.
The Activities Table below outlines in detail the anticipated outputs and outcomes described in the narrative.
Activities Anticipated Outputs Anticipated Outcomes
Each zero-emission (ZE) bus will reduce
Removal of 46, 2003 diesel school buses, off tailpipe emissions and pollutants by 100%,
Replace 50 class 7 diesel school
the road preventing 1.82 short tons of NOx, .141
buses with class 7 zero-emission
Removal of 4, 2004 diesel school buses, off the short tons of PM2.5, and 615 short tons of
(ZE) buses
road CO2 annually, improving air quality in the
communities in which they operate
Deploy zero-emission buses on 6,708 children are transported on ZE or clean Low income and environmental justice
routes in communities through buses rather than diesel buses daily communities will benefit from improved air
which buses drive every day quality and a reduction in carbon
Serve a school district where 87% of the emissions, which will lead to a healthier
district’s students (79,921 students) attend environment and improved public health
schools receiving Title I funding outcomes
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Be a leader in electric school buses at a large
Increase transportation equity by ensuring
and extremely diverse district serving over
Bring 50 zero-emission buses to access to clean and healthy transportation
100,000 students with 111 Title I schools
the third largest and most options in non-white communities that are
where parents and students speak 166+
diverse school system in Georgia disproportionately impacted by diesel bus
languages and represent 155+ nations due to a
pollution
large refugee population
Chargers for the buses use electricity
Removing 76,322 gallons of diesel fuel from instead of diesel and therefore reduce
Install 44 Level 2 chargers and 6 use each year will result in 1,708,086.36 energy waste, reduce costs for fuel, and
DC chargers pounds of CO2 and 4,579,320 of nitrogen reduce dependence on fossil fuels
oxides (NOx) reduced contributing to a more sustainable energy
system
Increase knowledge and skills needed to
operate zero emission buses and their
Comprehensive training is Training will be provided by vendors ahead of charging infrastructure effectively and
provided to all staff who will be bus and charger delivery to key staff in the safely. Training programs will focus on
engaged with the zero emission transportation department in a train-the- building confidence and competency in
school buses, including, but not trainer model. Approximately, 75 bus drivers operating the zero emission buses,
limited to, bus drivers, and 27 technicians will be trained during the promoting safety, optimizing range through
technicians, and first responders process for the full 50 ESBs regenerative braking techniques and
energy efficiency and reducing
maintenance cost
During the Open House at the local school
level information about the zero emission
buses will be disseminated to parents Foster meaningful participation within the
A public Townhall meeting will be held at a community and increase the public’s
minimum yearly to educate community awareness of zero emission buses and their
Actively and regularly engage members about zero emission buses, ask infrastructure
the school community on zero questions, and provide input
emission school buses Provides multiple opportunities throughout
Demonstration Events will occur at least twice the year for the community to engage with
Provide avenues for feedback a year where community members can see DCSD on their zero emission school buses
from the community at large and experience the electric buses firsthand and enables transparent communication
Through regular monthly Educational between the community and DCSD to share
Campaigns, we will inform the community information on the zero emission school
about the zero emission buses by sending out buses and receive feedback
flyers, sharing videos, and providing updates
through virtual platforms
Create a page on a website with contact Establishes an avenue for DCSD to share
information to communicate project project status updates with the community,
implementation info and receive feedback provide data, showcase emissions
Share lessons learned and best from the community reductions and any cost savings, as well as
practices
Establish resources for other Districts a way for the community to communicate
considering school bus fleet electrification and concerns to DCSD and for DCSD to respond
be a leader in the space to any issues
Partner with local community- Partnership with the Moms Clean Air Force,
based organizations to support Mothers and Others for Clean Air, Lakeside Bus Ensure broad and meaningful engagement
outreach and engagement with Drivers, and the Sequoyah Middle School PTSA with community and local stakeholders and
the community around zero to disseminate information on ESBs to the understanding of new technologies
emission school buses community and solicit input
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Contribute and collaborate with
Contribute to the broader county and regional
cities that fall within DeKalb
emission mitigation plans including DeKalb Participate and contribute to public policy
County as well as the Atlanta
County’s resolution to transition to 100% clean development and implementation
Regional Commission on local
energy by 2035
AQ/regional mitigation plans.
a. Performance Measures and Plan
▪ Emissions reductions: Track, measure, and report by updating EPA’s fleet sheet for the 50 vehicles. Track and
report charging events and estimate amount of fuel use displaced.
▪ Impacted student populations: Track and measure student ridership on the new electric buses. Track and
measure student engagement with new technologies at demonstration and community engagement events.
▪ Charging infrastructure: Track number of charging stations and the charger downtime and any maintenance
required.
▪ Energy consumption: DCSD will utilize charge energy management software to track energy consumption per
charger per charging session for each vehicle, the vehicle miles per kWh of charge, and provide electricity pricing
from utility bills to report on energy usage and associated costs.
▪ Vehicle reliability and performance: DCSD uses Samsara as the telematics software to monitor its fleet of 950
buses and 430 support vehicles. Samara displays and captures vital vehicle operation activities. Some activities
include vehicle miles traveled per vehicle, number of routes per vehicle, average occupancy per route for each
vehicle, and vehicle downtime will all be tracked.
▪ Training programs: Collect feedback via surveys from training attendees. Collect staff information to track who
attended what training.
▪ Community engagement and perception: Collect feedback via surveys from event attendees and report general
perception and any changes in perception during duration of the grant.
▪ Educational knowledge sharing: Track and measure number of DCSD’s students, teachers and staff, and
community members reached through partner events.
▪ Broader county and regional partnerships: Scheduled regular meetings with documented agendas and notes for
reporting to EPA.
b. Timeline & Milestones
Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1
Milestone 23 23 24 24 24 24 25 25 25 25 26
EPA CSB application submitted
EPA Pre-Award Notification
EPA CSB Agreement executed
Project Start Date ‐ 4/1/2024
Community engagement efforts
Charger and Infrastructure planning/design begins
Purchase Order for 50 Type C ZE school buses issued
EPA Quarterly Status Report Submitted
Infrastructure construction and buildout
Employee ZESB Training
50 Type C ZE school buses received (may be two batches)
50 Type C diesel school buses scrapped
Final EPA Project Report Submitted
Quarters are based on calendar year (Jan-Mar=Q1, Apr-Jun=Q2, etc.)
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Section 3- Environmental Justice and Disadvantaged Communities
a. Prioritization for Disadvantaged Communities
NCES ID District Name # of Buses Serving the District Prioritization Status [Yes/No]
on Prioritized District List
1301740 DeKalb County School District 1,113 total (50 under this proposal) Yes
b. Community Engagement
DCSD is committed to creating an environment that encourages active engagement throughout the project and
ensures concerns are heard and addressed. To do this, from the initial planning stages of this project, DCSD will
conduct a stakeholder analysis and actively involve community members and stakeholders through a variety of
activities including:
▪ Quarterly public meetings
▪ Local school informational sessions that include updates on the electric school buses
▪ Dissemination of literature through a dedicated clean school bus initiative page on DCSD’s website,
newsletters, and calling post
▪ Creation of educational campaigns that include demonstration events, and
▪ Collaboration with local partners and community-based organizations including Mothers and Others for Clean
Air, Lakeside Bus Drivers, Sequoyah Middle School PTSA, and Mom’s Clean Air Force, as well as support
through national organizations, Electrification Coalition and WRI
DCSD will measure success in community engagement by the number of members and community-based
organizations (CBOs) contacted, and the reach from the informational events that are hosted or attended. Questions
and concerns brought up by stakeholders will be tracked so that they may be addressed.
Understanding the community’s needs is a critical step in helping create the best possible outcomes for the project.
The project team will seek to ensure participation is meaningful by providing accessible information, addressing
concerns, and incorporating community input into decision-making processes. The project is committed to
transparency, inclusivity, and ongoing communication to foster trust, increase awareness, and promote collaboration.
Section 4- Project Location – Nonattainment or Maintenance Area(s)
% of Time Non-
School
School # of Vehicles Attainment/
District County State Cities Zip codes
District Name Buses Spend in Maintenance
NCES ID
Area Area
DeKalb
Stone Mountain, 30083, 30084, 30032,
1301740 County
DeKalb GA Tucker, Redan, 30034, 30035, 30038, 50 100% Yes
School
Lithonia, Decatur 30058, 30087, 30074
District
Section 5- Programmatic Capability and Past Performance
a. Past Performance
Federally Funded Assistance Agreement 1
Federal Agency Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families
Project Title Not a Number: Building Human Trafficking Prevention Education Capacity in DeKalb County School
District
Assistance Listing # 93.327
Assistance Agreement # 90TV0042-01-00
Brief Description The Not a Number: Building Human Trafficking Prevention Education Capacity in DeKalb County
School District grant project is designed to provide human trafficking prevention education to
educators and equip them to identify and respond to students who are experiencing human
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trafficking or are at high risk and deliver human trafficking prevention education to students. The
district was awarded $600,000.
Discussion DCSD is successfully managing the grant project which is currently being implemented. A project
manager works collaboratively with the project investigator and community-based organizations to
manage and implement the grant.
Federally Funded Assistance Agreement 2
Federal Agency United States Department of Education
Project Title Innovative Approaches to Literacy: STEM is LIT(eracies)
Assistance Listing # 84.215G
Assistance Agreement # S215G18015
Brief Description DCSD was awarded approximately $750,000 during the 2018 –2022 grant period from the United
States Department of Education’s Innovative Approaches to Literacy Grant Program. The purpose of
the Stem is Literacies grant project was to provide high quality reading resources and books for
middle school students and provide literacy training across various content areas for middle school
teachers.
Discussion The project team, which included university and district staff, a finance team member, community-
based organizations, a project manager, and the grant’s director and coordinator, met monthly to
ensure the grant project was implemented successfully and with fidelity.
Federally Funded Assistance Agreement 3
Federal Agency U.S. Department of Education
Project Title DeKalb County School District’s School Based Mental Health Program
Assistance Listing # 84.184H
Assistance Agreement # S184H220135
Brief Description The purpose of the $677,673 grant is to increase mental health services and resources for PreK-12
grade students by increasing the number of school psychologists recruited, hired, and retained in the
school district to support students’ mental health needs.
Discussion DCSD’s lead psychologist works collaboratively with Georgia State University and the Human
Resources department to successfully implement and manage the five-year (2023-2028) grant
project.
Federally Funded Assistance Agreement 4
Federal Agency U.S. Department of Education
Project Title ESSER II-CRRSA Act - LEA
Assistance Agreement # CFDA #84.425D
Brief Description ESSER II-CRRSA Act – LEA funds were received to help mitigate challenges experienced during the
pandemic. The district was awarded $42,266,826.00 and utilized the funds to support student
academic achievement, hiring and retention of staff, create new positions to support schools, staff
professional development, supplies needed to disinfect the schools and keep the school clean, and
other key areas to support.
Discussion DCSD is successfully managing the grant funds which are monitored by the following: Chief Financial
Officer and finance team, Federal Programs, Audits and Compliance, and senior DCSD leadership.
Federally Funded Assistance Agreement 5
Federal Agency U.S. Department of Education
Project Title IDEA ARP 611
Assistance Agreement # CFDA #84.027X
Brief Description IDEA ARP 611 funds were received to help mitigate challenges experienced during the pandemic. The
district was awarded $3,250,392.00.
Discussion DCSD is successfully managing the grant funds which are monitored by the following: Chief Financial
Officer and finance team, Federal Programs, Audits and Compliance, and senior DCSD leadership.
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b. Reporting Requirements
Reporting 1. The project manager for the human trafficking grant collects data and works collaboratively with the
Submission community-based organization to submit mid-year and final reports to the Department of Health and Human
Quality Services Administration for Children and Families grant’s program manager in a timely manner.
2. Innovative Approaches to Literacy Grant: Final agreements and reports were submitted in September 2021
for the USDOE Innovative approaches to Literacy Stem is (LIT)eracies grant project. During the three-year
(2018-2021) grant implementation period, mid-year and final reports were provided to the USDOE each year
of the grant. All reporting requirements were completed, and the grant was successfully closed out according
to the USDOE guidelines.
3. The School Based Mental Health grant teams are working collaboratively with the community-based
organization and the school district’s finance department to ensure that they are collecting data and spending
funds to prepare for the first mid-year report, since this grant was awarded in January 2023.
4 and 5. For the ESSER II-CRRSA Act – LEA funding and the IDEA American Rescue Plan grant, the Chief
Financial Officer and the Executive Director of Federal Programs at DCSD ensure the funds are allocated and
distributed according to the federal guidelines. Reports regarding expenditure are updated and checked for
accuracy. The district has not encountered any challengers since the funds were received.
Timely Reporting DCSD adequately and timely reported on its progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes
on Progress under each of the agreements. The DCSD team met with program managers of each awarded federally funded
grant, submitted the reports on time, and ensured outcomes were met.
Reporting on There are no barriers to the progress of managing the funds for any of the five grant projects.
Progress Barriers
c. Staff Expertise
Position Title % FTE Resume Summary of knowledge, expertise, or qualifications to achieve project goals
Project Manager – 100% N A dedicated full-time ESB Project Manager will be hired to oversee the
Fleet Electrification implementation of the 50 electric school buses and EVSE installation.
Project Staff – 100% N A dedicated part-time ESB Project Staff member will be hired to support the Project
Fleet Electrification Manager – Fleet Electrification.
Director Student 25% Y Possess extensive expertise in logistics, fleet management, and transportation
Transportation/ systems. Has over 18 years of experience and has a comprehensive understanding of
Bernando Brown regulatory compliance and optimizing operations.
Director Fleet 25% Y The Director of Fleet Services possesses vast knowledge in managing and optimizing
Services/ Cedric large-scale vehicle fleets. Holds a strong background in maintenance and cost-
Burse efficiency strategies, while overseeing operations, implementing maintenance
protocols, and ensuring the seamless functioning of diverse transportation assets.
Senior Project 10% Y The Senior Project Manager handles the development and ongoing efforts for
Manager/ Lemuel completion of Capital Improvement projects throughout a specified region within the
Hawkins DeKalb County School District. Also, manage and assist with nonplus related Special
Projects requested by schools within a specified region of the DeKalb County School
District.
Director of 10% Y Oversee the drawdown of budget expenditures and ensure adherence to federal
Finance/ Daniel district and federal financial policies and procedures.
Denton Ensures contract compliance of all grant documents with Federal and State law as
well as internal policies.
Chief Operating 5% Y Directs and reviews the administration of financial activities pertaining to the budget
Officer/ Eric development and administration, including maintenance of financial and position
Hofstetter records and controls and functional supervision over financial management of all
schools.
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Partnerships 5% Y Successfully led major federal, state, and local grant projects for over 20 years; served
Manager/ Michael as the project manager of the projects.
Harris
Family -Community 5% Y Leads the district’s family engagement efforts to ensure parents have a voice and are
Empowerment informed on how to help their students and families be successful; Marcia Coward
Manager/ Marcia will support the community engagement activities and public awareness campaigns.
Coward
Grants and 5% Y Leads the district’s grant development projects; will ensure the grant is being
Partnerships implemented according to the established goals and timeline; previous experience
Director/ Marcia with leading federal grant projects and providing grants technical assistance to staff.
Oglesby
Grants and 5% Y Provides support to the Grants and Partnerships Director and identifies and secures
Partnerships funding opportunities through grants and strategic collaborations. Supports with
Coordinator/ grant implementation, application processes, and budget management.
Libritta Anderson-
Griffin
Communications 5% Y Ensure the public is aware of the campaigns and information is posted on the
Director/ Portia district’s website, provide photos and news articles from open house and other public
Kirkland awareness events.
Project Partners
WRI WRI is a non-profit research organization with an Electric School Bus Initiative working closely with school
districts, advocacy organizations, electric utilities, manufacturers, financing entities and policymakers across the
U.S to equitably electrify the U.S. school bus fleet.
WRI has developed approximately 200 free, publicly available guides, planning documents, tools, and resources
to help districts in their electrification journey while supporting individual school districts across the country with
technical assistance — with a focus on low-income communities, communities of color, Tribal/Indigenous
communities and those disproportionately impacted by diesel exhaust pollution.
Mothers and Mothers and Others for Clean Air (M&O) is working to reduce the impacts of air pollution and climate change
Others for throughout the Southeast. M&O works with caretakers, health professionals, scientists, and teachers to protect
Clean Air - children’s health by improving air quality.
GA The team is getting busy this summer while school is out of session, meeting with local school systems to discuss
EPA grant funding opportunities for electric buses.
Moms Clean Air Force is a nonprofit, grassroots environmental advocacy group with the mission is to protect
children from air pollution and climate change, and envision a safe, stable, and equitable future where all
Moms Clean children breathe clean air.
Air Force - Moms Clean Air Force is a community of over 1.5 million moms and dads united against air pollution including the
GA urgent crisis of our changing climate to protect our children’s health. They fight for Justice in Every Breath,
recognizing the importance of equitable solutions in addressing air pollution and climate change. It is politically
neutral or, in its own words, "mom-partisan.”
The Electrification Coalition is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that develops and implements a broad set of
strategies to facilitate the widespread adoption of electric vehicles to overcome the economic, public health, and
Electrification
national security challenges that stem from America’s dependence on oil. Our strategies include policy
Coalition
development, advocacy campaigns, consumer education, fleet electrification, cultivation of bipartisan support,
support for charging infrastructure planning, EV supply chain development, and coalition building.
Lakeside Bus Lakeside Bus Drivers has expertise in certifying bus drivers and experience working in Georgia/DeKalb/Atlanta
Drivers community. The mission is to protect children from air pollution and emissions control.
Sequoyah
PTSA's mission is to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities
Middle
to advocate for all children.
School PTSA
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Section 6- Project Sustainability
DCSD understands that robust coordination with our electric utility, Georgia Power, will be critical to the sustainability
of the results and benefits of this project, including future expansion of our electric fleet. As a result, we have already
begun discussions with Georgia Power regarding this project. As demonstrated in the attached and signed Utility
Partnership forms, these discussions have included consultation on 1) charging needs; 2) upgrades needed; 3) costs;
4) rates for future service; and 5) the timeframe for necessary upgrades for both depot locations (5855 Memorial
Drive and 3413 Memorial Drive) with 25 electric school buses planned for each site.
For charging stations, DCSD has engaged Georgia Power to provide guidance and solutions for electrifying our bus
fleet. Georgia Power has identified a variety of potential charging station and procurement solutions for DCSD,
including pricing options.
For infrastructure, DCSD and Georgia Power have discussed plans to install charging stations to power the electric
school buses. Georgia Power has indicated a scope that includes an electrical design for the installation of a 500kVa
pad mount transformer to support the chargers (22 19.2 kW L2 chargers and 3 60 kW DCFC at each site), upgrades to
the terminator pole, service lateral/conductor, installation of metering equipment, and primary line extensions for
both sites.
If awarded, DCSD has a strong relationship and an assigned accounts manager at Georgia Power. DCSD will continue
to consult with them on a regular basis throughout the project to ensure proper planning, including futureproofing for
upcoming needs based on our fleet electrification plans.
DCSD also has a close partnership with our Blue Bird bus dealer, Yancey Bus, as outlined in the attached partnership
letter. Headquartered in Georgia, Blue Bird is well positioned to support DCSD. Yancey Bus staff have been on-site to
meet with our engineers and Georgia Power, and they are committed to ensuring the Blue Bird ESBs procured are
fully operational including confirming charger interoperability and that the infrastructure system is built out and
functioning as it should. They will also assist with the required scrapping of the older diesel school buses within EPA
guidelines.
Furthermore, DCSD will ensure the results and benefits of this project are sustainable by proactively promoting our
experience with the DCSD community and seeking their input. We will document and share our experience as outlined
in Section 3.b (Community Engagement) to make sure all stakeholders and key decisionmakers are involved and have
a sense of ownership and enthusiasm that will strengthen the project's long-term sustainability.
Section 7 – Workforce Development
DCSD will collaborate with vendors to train drivers, technicians, and support staff in operating, training, and repairing
EV buses and associated equipment. The district will establish training programs and opportunities for drivers and
technicians in their transition to electric buses. The training for drivers will consist of both classroom and hands-on
training sessions conducted by expert trainers. The sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including electric bus
operations, safety protocols, battery management, and route optimization, and are scheduled during non-operational
hours. Simultaneously, training for technicians will encompass in-depth workshops that focus on the details of EV
buses, maintenance, and repair, battery systems, charging infrastructure, diagnostics, and software management. This
will be enhanced through online training programs in Blue Bird Academy offered by the selected manufacturer, Blue
Bird, that includes technician training with six courses and over 30 topics. In-person hands-on vehicle training will be
provided by the local dealer, Yancey Bus, at delivery of the electric models to ensure existing drivers can safely
operate the ESBs.
DCSD has determined that 30 drivers and 13 of technicians will receive initial training on the electric vehicles and
using a train-the-trainer model, training will be scaled to an additional 45 drivers (for a total 75) and 14 technicians
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EPA Clean School Bus Grant Project Narrative
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(for a total of 27) to be fully trained within 6 months of receiving the vehicles funded by this grant. It will be a mix of
online computer-based instruction, classroom lectures, and hands-on practical training. Topics covered will include
high voltage safety, pre- and post-trip inspections, vehicle operations and practice of bus controls, regenerative
braking, bus preventative maintenance, charger operations and troubleshooting, best practices for electric vehicles,
and roadside emergency protocols. Separate training for first responders will also be conducted.
DCSD recognizes the importance of continuing training to ensure that all current and future staff can participate in a
successful transition to clean buses. As such, DCSD will incorporate electric vehicle and electric charger training in our
on-going workforce training programs. Furthermore, these training programs on electric buses will be incorporated
into the regular driver and technician responsibilities meaning no personnel will be displaced due to electric school
bus implementation.
Section 8- Project Resilience to Climate Impacts
DCSD recognizes that Climate Change will increase the risk of extreme weather events like flooding and extreme heat
in DeKalb County that can disrupt and damage transportation infrastructure.
To protect the fleet and equipment from flooding and heavy rains, DCSD is carefully evaluating infrastructure siting.
Both locations have been reviewed relative to the 2020 FEMA Flood Maps and neither location is impacted by flood
hazards. Additionally, neither location has trees or vegetation capable of inflicting damage to equipment or the ESBs.
DCSD also recognizes that higher temperatures from climate change will increase the need for an emergency
response to extreme heat events and is actively planning for it. DeKalb is expanding its emergency heat plan to
address the escalating challenges posed by rising temperatures due to climate change. This comprehensive plan will
encompass several key elements to ensure the safety and well-being of students, staff, and the community during
extreme heat events, as well as consider the vehicles and charging stations. Currently, the plan consists of a multi-
tiered approach, involving coordination between school administration, transportation teams, and support staff.
The plan begins with advanced monitoring of weather forecasts to identify potential heatwave situations. In the event
of forecasted extreme heat, the plan initiates a series of actions, including (1) an Early Communication and Alert
System that allows for timely communication with schools, staff, and parents so they are aware of extreme heat
events and any adjustments to transportation schedules, (2) Flexible Scheduling and Activities to minimize exposure
of students, staff, and equipment to high temperatures, (3) Cooling Stations and Resources where DCSD identifies and
designates specific areas within schools as cooling stations equipped with air conditioning and hydration resources to
provide relief for students and staff during peak heat periods, (4) Transportation Safety Measures plan that includes
directives for the transportation department to ensure the safety and comfort of students during bus rides, including
implementing air conditioning on buses, adjusting routes to minimize time spent outdoors, and maintaining open
lines of communication between drivers, school officials, and parents, (5) Staff Training and Preparedness that
consists of training sessions to all staff to familiarize them with emergency heat plan protocols and how to coordinate
responses effectively, and (6) Collaboration with Local Authorities and management agencies, public health
departments, and community organizations to ensure a unified response to extreme heat events and access to
additional resources.
Plans are subject to regular review and refinement based on experiences learned from past events, emerging climate
trends, and technological advancements. This iterative approach ensures that DCSD remains agile in addressing
evolving challenges posed by climate-induced extreme heat.
DCSD will also utilize managed charging, benefiting both the district and the overall grid. Managed charging avoids
times of peak energy demand when costs are high, and energy may be pulled from peaker plants emitting twice as
much CO2 and 20 times as much NO2 as typical gas plants. DCSD will take all measures to reduce emissions that
contribute to climate change. DCSD is applying for the maximum 50 electric buses to replace our oldest and most
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EPA Clean School Bus Grant Project Narrative
EPA-OAR-OTAQ-23-06
polluting diesel buses. This action will immediately and significantly reduce GHG emissions and other polluting vehicle
emissions in our community, protecting community health and improving community resiliency to climate change.
Section 9- Leveraging of Additional External Funds
DCSD is eager to implement this project and has sought out leveraged additional external funds, detailed below, to
maximize the impact and reach of potential federal funds. The total value of these funds is $219,500.
World Resources Institute’s (WRI’s) Electric School Bus Initiative will commit to providing 200 hours of staff time for
free technical assistance and advisory services as an in-kind contribution to DCSD if awarded this grant, valued at
$19,500 over the proposed project period. As described in the attached Leveraged Resources Commitment Letter,
these leveraged resources are intended to support the following activities:
• Coordinating with the various stakeholders who will need to be involved in the project, including the
electric utility;
• Planning for vehicle procurement and deployment;
• Informing decisions regarding charging infrastructure;
• Evaluating proposals from potential vendors;
• Supporting community engagement activities; and
• Sharing lessons learned from this project with the community and general public.
Georgia Power has partnered with DCSD on fleet electrification as described in the completed Utility Partnership
Template letter that is included in this application. DCSD intends to access $200,000 of funding through Georgia Power’s
Make Ready program for costs associated with the infrastructure (engineering and construction) upgrades that will be
required for the project including the electrical designs for the project, the transformer, terminator pole, service
lateral/conductor, metering, primary line extension and additional equipment, as well as the installation for this
infrastructure.
Section 10- Budget
a. Budget Detail
DCSD’s budget management will be led by the Project Manager for Fleet Electrification with oversight provided by the
Director of Grants and Partnerships and support from the Grants and Partnerships Coordinator.
Personnel
Our budget includes personnel funding for two years for two key staff, a full-time Project Manager and a part-time
Project Staff, who will be dedicated to project activities in this proposal to ensure project success. While several other
critical staff including the Dir of Student Transportation and Dir of Fleet Services within the Transportation
Department will have significant time allocated to the project (25% each), these staff salaries are fully covered by
DCSD, and EPA funds are not requested. The project will also have staff time from the departments of Finance, Grants
and Partnerships, Communications, and Family and Community Empowerment, but staff costs associated with the
project will be borne by DCSD and fall under their normal work responsibilities.
Travel and Supplies
No travel expenses are anticipated during the life of the project. Travel costs which may materialize during the project
life for key staff to attend community events, speaking roles at conferences, or other activities will be borne by DCSD.
Supplies needed for community engagement and events associated with the project will also be borne by DCSD.
Equipment and Construction
Vehicles: DCSD plans to procure 50 Blue Bird electric school buses at $385,000 each (quote from dealer). DCSD is
requesting EPA funding for $345,000 per bus and will pursue the federal tax credits to support the remaining $40,000
per bus to fund the vehicles in this project. Under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Tax Credit for Qualified
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EPA Clean School Bus Grant Project Narrative
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Commercial Clean Vehicles (section 45W) provides a credit per electric school bus (weighing more than 14,000 lbs.) of
the lesser of the total incremental cost increase or 30% of the cost basis, up to $40,000. Under either calculation, our
procurement would result in $40,000 per bus, totaling $2,000,000 [50 x $40,000].
EVSE including installation: DCSD has been provided quotes from Georgia Power for turnkey charging solutions
including installation for 44 L2 19.2 kW chargers and 6 L3 60 kW DCFC chargers. DCSD will continue to seek additional
pricing options but has indicated these values in the budget. The L2 chargers with installation have been quoted
$19,200 per charging station, and the DCFC with installation have been quoted at $70,200. The turnkey charging
solution includes consultation, design, procurement, installation, and five years of networking capabilities and five
years of warranty coverage.
Construction: DCSD through consultation with Georgia Power has estimated the total engineering and construction
cost for utility owned infrastructure (in front of the meter) for the project based on 50 electric school buses, 44 19.2
kW L2 chargers, six 60 kW L3 DCFC for both depot locations to be $150,000 ($75,000 for each site). Additional fleet
side of the meter construction costs will be needed for both sites to install the charging stations, particularly at the
3414 Memorial Drive site that is currently an empty lot. DCSD is in the beginning stages of planning for this depot
construction and the total costs will exceed the amount that has been requested to EPA. DCSD is committed to
building out this site for the electric school buses and will cover all additional costs to complete the project.
Other:
EVSE Software and Data Connection: DCSD plans to utilize managed charging for all chargers. The software for each
charger, based on estimates, is $158 annually per charger for the software and $562 annually per charger for the data
connection. These are critical elements to project success as they will allow DCSD to use real-time information to
monitor and track the chargers and ensure charging of buses is optimized.
WRI Technical Assistance: World Resources Institute (WRI) will provide 200 hours of in-kind staff time for free
technical assistance to support DCSD in their electric school bus adoption, valued at $19,500. This will maximize the
impact and reach of the EPA federal funds.
Indirect Charges
The Federal Negotiated indirect cost rate for DCSD is 3.14% and the non-restrictive cost rate is 15%. The indirect cost
is calculated at the indirect rate x the total personnel costs.
Budget Table
Cost Leveraged Total Project
Line Item Qty EPA Funding Applicant Cost
[per unit] Costs Cost
Project Manager ($70/hr, 40 hrs/wk,
1 $285,600 $285,600 $0 $0 $ 285,600
102 weeks)
Project Staff ($30/hr, 30 hrs/wk, 102
1 $ 91,800 $ 91,800 $0 $0 $ 91,800
weeks)
TOTAL PERSONNEL $ 377,400 $0 $0 $377,400
Class 7 zero-emission/electric school
50 $385,000 $17,250,000 $2,000,000 $0 $19,250,000
bus
AC Level 2 charger (19.2 kW) (240 V)
including 5yr networking capabilities
44 $19,200 $844,800 $0 $0 $844,800
and turnkey EVSE installation through
Georgia Power
DC fast charger (DCFC, 60 kW) (480 V)
including 5yr networking capabilities
6 $70,200 $421,200 $0 $0 $421,200
and turnkey EVSE installation through
Georgia Power
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EPA Clean School Bus Grant Project Narrative
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Vehicles and Infrastructure $18,516,000 $2,000,000 $0 $20,516,000
Electrical service equipment upgrades
for two sites (distribution lines, 1 $0 $0 $0 $200,000 $200,000
transformers, etc.)
Additional EVSE installation for new
depot (trenching, re-paving, conduit,
1 $1,198,000 $1,198,000 $0 $0 $1,198,000
etc., engineering review and drawings,
permitting)
Construction Work and Equipment Upgrades $1,198,000 $ $200,000 $1,398,000
TOTAL EQUIPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION $19,714,000 $2,000,000 $200,000 $21,914,000
Fleet management software - RTA 1 $0 $0 $10,953.16 $0 $10,953.16
GPS/Telematics - Samsara 50 $0 $0 $16,350 $0 $16,350
EVSE Software (annual subscription) 50 $158 $7,900 $0 $0 $7,900
EVSE Data Connection (annual 50 $28,100
$562 $28,100 $0 $0
subscription)
WRI Technical Assistance 1 $0 $0 $0 $19,500 $19,500
TOTAL OTHER $36,000 $27,303.16 $19,500 $82,803.16
Federal Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate =
3.14% (Indirect Rate x Personnel = 1 $0 $11,850.36 $0 $0 $11,850.36
Indirect Costs)
TOTAL INDIRECT $11,850.36 $0 $0 $11,850.36
TOTAL FUNDING $20,139,250.36 $2,027,303.16 $219,500 $22,386,053.52
b. Expenditure of Awarded Funds
DCSD’s finance department has the responsibility to ensure timely recording, and accurate tracking of all contracts,
grants and donations received by the district. This includes implementing the budget, receiving and approving
disbursement requests timely and in accordance with applicable rules and regulations; tracking revenues and
expenditures and performing monthly reconciliations of all accounts. The district maintains pooled cash and
investments accounts and seeks to obtain market rates of return on its investments consistent with all policies. The
district maintains, at a minimum, fund balances in the general fund at fiscal year-end between 5% and 7% of budgeted
expenditures. Amounts that can be spent only for specific purposes are restricted in the fund balance. The general
fund disburses cash payments until reimbursement is received from external grantor agencies.
DCSD utilizes an automated accounting system. Accounting controls and maintenance of the system are the
responsibility of the Information Technology Division. The accounting system permits the classification of funds and all
necessary classifications including revenues, expenditures. The system allows for expenses in specific categories as
determined by state and federal regulations and utilizes terminology and classifications in accordance with the funds
maintained and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and reporting on all levels including subsidiary
accounts. Budgetary controls are established at the cost center, function, object, fund, program levels. The system
includes general accounting, accounts payable, payroll, HR and fin and finance. Accounting records are saved, and a
disaster recovery solution is in place.
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EPA Clean School Bus Grant Project Narrative
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c. Reasonableness of Costs
The proposed expenses for the project have been carefully considered, demonstrating prudence and ensuring no
undue excess. The selected equipment and services are based on estimates provided by vendors and Georgia Power
and align with the project’s scope. During the interim period from application submission to potential award, DCSD
will continue exploring optimal pricing for all equipment and software. The table below details how every cost
requested for funding relates to the project narrative and specific emission reduction activities.
Item Cost Narrative and Emission Reduction Activity
Personnel Salary $377,400 DCSD recognizes that a project of this scale necessitates
dedicated staff to oversee and manage for its success.
50 Class 7 Electric School Buses (Type C) $17,250,000 Zero tailpipe emissions ESBs eliminate NOx, PM2.5, CO, HC,
and CO2, immediately improving local air quality and reducing
noise pollution.
44 L2 (19.2 kW), 6 DC Fast Chargers (60 kW) $1,266,000 Reduces GHG emissions and dependence on fossil fuels by
eliminating 76,000+ gallons of diesel fuel every year.
EVSE Installation and construction $1,198,000 Supports the infrastructure buildout of two bus depots to be
equipped for the operation of ESBs that will reduce GHG
emissions, air pollutants, and noise pollution.
EVSE Software and Data Connection $36,000 Charge management software will allow ESB charging to take
place outside of peak demand periods, which often results in
lower rates and reducing strain on the grid. Managed charging
can be done remotely or at planned intervals so staff can
monitor charging off-site. Furthermore, automated load
management, a function of charge management, is particularly
useful allowing the system to strategically share charging
capacity across multiple charging ports at the same site,
helping safely connect multiple charging ports whose total
nameplate load would otherwise exceed the rated capacity of
the customer connection. By using ALM, combined with
optimization around vehicle duty cycles, customers can avoid
or defer the need to upgrade certain distribution system
infrastructure to accommodate the new EV charging load while
still respecting their fleet operations.
Indirect Cost Rate $11,850.36 The federal negotiated indirect cost rate for DCSD is 3.14%.
This value is the Indirect Rate x Personnel costs.
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