The initial school system list came from the Arizona Department of Education’s most current list of Title 1 school systems for the FY17/18 school year. While there is not a formal appeal process, a school system who believes that they qualified and were left off the list should go ahead and submit an application and provide documentation of them meeting the 60% Free and Reduced Lunch requirement.

GFR is not publishing a list of eligible schools or number of buses. GFR encourages any school system that believes it meets the eligibility criteria to submit an application. They should know if they were Title 1 for last school year and how many buses in their fleets that are eligible

NO! The Trust agreement requires that the buses being replaced are scrapped and the process documented. This Trust is supporting an effort to reduce NOx pollutants, so the old buses must be rendered inoperable. If a school system auctions, sells or disposes of the vehicle other than the method required by the GFR and documented in the grant agreement, the replacement vehicle will not be eligible for reimbursement under this program.

The Trust defines this process: “Scrapped” shall mean to render inoperable and available for recycle, and, at a minimum, to specifically cut a 3-inch hole in the engine block for all engines. If any Eligible Vehicle will be replaced as part of an eligible project, Scrapped shall also include the disabling of the chassis by cutting the vehicle’s frame rails completely in half.” The Office of Grants and Federal Resources (GFR), which is administering the grant funding for this program, is recommending that school systems include scrapping in the transaction to replace the bus. The schoolbus vendors will develop a method to scrap the bus and properly document the process for the school systems. If a school system decides to handle the scrapping process themselves, they will be required to provide the VIN and photographic documentation to the GFR as outlined in the grant agreement.

The bus does not need to be delivered by 6/30/2020, but through purchase order or other mechanism the money must be obligated.

Unlike other similar programs, there is no annual mileage requirement or length-of-time ownership requirement for the bus to be replaced.

The 15-year time frame is based on the bus manufacture year.

School systems may apply for up to 10% of their total fleet. As fleet data changes rapidly, GFR does not want to use a static list or outdated information. School systems that believe they meet the eligibility should provide data to support their request up to 10% of their total bus fleet.

Any modifications that have been made to the bus do not alter the eligibility requirement of 15 years or older and 100,000+ miles.

School systems are free to order any configuration of bus they wish but the amount eligible for reimbursement does not change. The school system will be required to pay for any cost above and beyond the $110K (new diesel) or $135K (alt fuel) allocations.

The only leeway on mileage is when it has to meet this criteria, which is by 6/30/2020. The bus manufacture year must be 2003 or older (see the manufacture body/ID tag examples below to locate the manufacture year). The criteria is not either/or.

All bus types except gasoline are eligible.

The maximum number of buses replaced will be limited to 10% of each school systems’ bus fleet; the first bus will be rounded up to ensure each school system receives at least one bus.

No, scrapping of the vehicle is non-negotiable and must be implemented according to the guidelines outlined in the Trust.

Initial eligibility for this program was based on data sets provided by Arizona Department of Education (ADE). Therefore, we strongly encourage school systems to submit updated data in their application that validates their eligibility.

Funding in the first waves is reserved for those school systems that met the 60% criteria during the 2017/2018 school year. GFR anticipates that there could be some funding remaining after the first four waves and the Governor's Office has engaged the County School Superintendents to develop additional funding criteria in order to award any remaining funds. GFR is advising school systems who are still interested in replacing a bus or buses to contact their County School Superintendent for more information.

If buses 15 years or older have odometers that have been replaced, the school system must submit documentation of the mileage prior to the replacement (i.e., fleet reports from previous fiscal years that indicate the original mileage prior to the odometer being replaced).

This can be discussed during the application process specifically if the vehicle supports the overall goal of reducing NOx emissions, such as purchasing a used alternative fuel bus. However, recipients must remember that the allocation is for a single bus and any additional funds will be re-distributed.

There is no appeal process at this time because no funding has actually been allocated yet. We have taken down the eligibility list and have opened up the application for those school systems that feel they meet the eligibility requirements (or have a compelling argument as to why they should be eligible) to apply for funding. We also anticipate that there could be a second or even third wave of funding allocated; therefore, GFR would encourage school systems to submit an application and let the internal review process work through the selection criteria and available funding and see where things end up. We fully understand the impact this funding could have on each school system, as does the Governor's Policy Adviser Dawn Wallace, which is why GFR has opened up the application process beyond just the preliminary list to make sure we don't inadvertently exclude someone from funding.

GFR has scheduled four trainings in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson and Yuma; please see the list for dates, times and location.

The application opened on Monday, Aug. 13 at 8:00 a.m., and each school systems’ school facilities board liaison notified each school system of the application opening.

No need to register for the trainings; just pick out the most convenient one and show up. As far as eCivis, there are no fees for the applicant portal portion. Just click on the "apply” button on the following link and you are good to go: https://gn.ecivis.com/GO/gn_redir/T/jpxk2q2ult5p

Yes, it is posted with the other program information on the website.

The Office of Grants and Federal resources (GFR) began accepting applications on 8/13/2018. GFR anticipated making awards beginning Nov. 1, but the date was pushed back a month to expand the list of first-wave recipients. Staff hopes to make additional awards throughout the month of December 2018.

The application was released prior to our initial trainings in order to give applicants the opportunity to form questions based on their review of the application. It’s recommended that applicants begin the application process as soon as possible to help prepare them for upcoming trainings and to provide them with ample time to get their questions answered if they are unable to attend.

No, the program is structured to ensure each of the eligible school systems the opportunity to apply with all applications being reviewed at one time. Each school system will receive at least one bus if it meets the eligibility requirements with additional funds allocated until either every applicant receives funding to replace up to 10% of their fleet or all the funding is exhausted, whichever happens first.

The applications are such that school systems will not need outside assistance with completing and the applications will only be accepted by the Office of Grants and federal Resources (GFR) directly from the school systems.

The school system does not need to have an actual quote before submitting the application. The only information needed concerning the bus to be purchased is will it be diesel or alt-fuel.

Please contact Program Manager Sarah Sanchez to add team members to your eCivis account: [email protected]. Please send the first and last name, email address, and title of the new contact; please be sure to include the name of your school system. Please contact Sarah for any other issues you may be having with eCivis.

The school system contact listed on the grant application will receive an email via eCivis that will provide follow-up information. School systems will receive a grant agreement with detailed information and requirements. Please carefully read the email, instructions and the grant agreement, then contact GFR if there are any outstanding concerns.

GFR has recorded a brief eCivis training video for post-award grant management; the password is pPzNmHA2.

Yes. GFR will record a training video and post it to the VW Settlement website no later than December 14, 2018.

The grant review team determined the school systems’ eligibility, including the number of buses each system was entitled to receive, based upon the criteria listed above in this document. If you believe there is an error with your award allocation, please send an email to [email protected].

The grant review team has reached out to school systems that did not provide all of the required information and documentation with their respective grant applications. We have asked school systems to revise their applications and provide the missing information. If you have provided the requested information, your application is pending. If you have not provided the information, please reach out to GFR staff at [email protected].

Yes. The Wave 1 awards were made to those school systems that provided the required documentation of eligibility and properly completed the grant application, providing the requested information. A second wave was released on January 4, 2019, which included school systems that successfully updated their applications. GFR staff is working with the remaining applicants to ensure they provide the information required to demonstrate eligibility and complete the grant application.