Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 160-1-4-.306 - Alternative Fuel Incentive Funding for School Buses Grant

1. Purpose of Grant. The purpose of this grant is to incentivize Local Educational Agencies ("LEAs") to purchase new school buses that are powered by certain alternative fuels, i.e., electric, compressed natural gas, or propane.

2. Term and Conditions. Recipients must submit a completed application. A recipient may receive up to the set amounts per bus based on the type of bus purchased. The recipient must also agree to:

(i) Comply with all state and federal laws, as well as State Board of Education rules and guidelines, pertaining to the purchase, operation, and maintenance of the school bus(es).

(ii) Follow the policies, guidelines, and regulations of the Regulatory Compliance Commission of the Department of Public Safety and the State of Georgia concerning general obligation bonds, as outlined in the School Bus Commitment Letter provided for the current fiscal year.

(iii) Limit the use of these grant funds to the purchase of the bus(es). These funds cannot be used towards a lease, lease purchase plan, or lease payment.

(iv) Purchase bus(es) from the Georgia Department of Administrative Services' statewide contract or bid by the LEA's normal procurement practices.

(v) Provide a vehicle identification number for each bus when seeking reimbursement.

(vi) Use the bus(es) for a governmental purpose through February 1, 2031.

(vii) Not lease or otherwise permit the bus(es) to be used by private entities for non-governmental activities.

(viii) Submit invoices and necessary documentation within 90 days of the delivery of a purchased school bus. Reimbursement will not exceed the amounts allocated per bus.

(ix) Submit a Bus Commitment Letter that references critical spend down milestones established by the IRS Code generally at three months, three years, and five years.

(x) Submit all reimbursement requests to the Georgia Department of Education by the date identified in the application unless there is a mutual agreement to extend the spending period.

3. Eligible Recipient(s). All LEAs are eligible to apply for these grant funds.

4. Criteria for Award. Applications are reviewed by the Georgia Department of Education for adherence to the terms and conditions described in the application. Grant awards will be distributed on an application-by-application basis in the order they were received.

5. Directions and Deadlines for Applying. Information regarding the application process, including the deadline, will be communicated to LEA Transportation Directors or their designees. For additional information, please contact the Pupil Transportation Division, Georgia Department of Education, 1562 Twin Towers East, 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30334 or Sarah Morris at smorris@doe.k12.ga.us.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 160-1-4-.306

O.C.G.A. § 20-2-240.

Original grant description entitled "Alternative Fuel Incentive Funding for School Buses Grant" submitted Feb. 3, 2022.