IA-2022-024
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
The Ames Transit Agency (CyRide) will utilize its entire FFY2021 Section 5339 Bus and Bus Facilities award of $3,185,374 federal to purchase three new battery electric buses (replacing three 17-year old HD Orion V buses past their useful life of 12 years) and two articulated 60 HD buses (replacing an 17-year old Orion V and a 16-year old Orion VII).
The total project cost for this project is $4,310,000 ($3,185,374 federal; $562,126 local match). Sources of the $562,126 local match requirement for this grant will be derived from CyRide's Transit Board, which includes the City of Ames (property tax levy), Iowa State University (ISU administration budget), and the Iowa State Student Government (student fees).
CyRide anticipates a 3-year project timeline with delivery of the vehicles/facility modifications anticipated for completion no later than September 30, 2026. Ames is using innovative procurement authorized under the FAST Act 3019. To view CyRide's federal award, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/03/18/2022-05734/announcement-of-fiscal-year-2021-grants-for-buses-and-bus-facilities-program-project-selections
The anticipated useful life of the new replacement vehicles is 12 years or 500,000 miles. All buses within this request will meet ADA, therefore the project requires a 15% local match. All local funds have been formally approved through CyRide's annual capital budget process or are being held in a reserve account.
CyRide will also utilize the Ames Area MPO's STBG program funds to add funding to the articulated buses for additional funding through approved grant IA-2022-020-00 (FY2022 STBG funding) and future STBG grant that will be submitted by 10/1/2022 to FTA with FY2023 STBG funding. For more information, view the attached FY21-Grants-for-Buses-and-Bus-Facilities-Supplemental-Form also submitted in Grants.gov.
Activities to be performed: To meet the Ames community's sustainability goals, CyRide has committed to electric bus technology through the purchase of three electric buses replacing three diesel buses past their useful life and two articulated buses. The Ames Transit Agency's (CyRide's) project will be its third deployment of electric bus technology within the Ames, Iowa community.
In March 2019, CyRide completed a 100% locally funded feasibility analysis (see attached CyRide_BEB Fleet and Facility Transition Study.pdf) to determine the feasibility of operating battery electric bus technology in Ames, Iowa. This study analyzed CyRide's routes compared to electric bus range constraints, issues with housing electric vehicles within its 1980s facility, as well as overall benefits (including environmental impacts) and challenges CyRide might face in implementing this bus technology.
Additionally, the study determined, based on current technology and vehicle range, that 17 buses or approximately 18% of CyRide's fleet could be operated daily with depot charging and no substantial changes in how CyRide deploys its service. Further, it was determined that electric buses would provide a substantial cost and emissions savings over the 18-year life of the vehicles (CyRide's useful-life benchmark replacement age).
As a result, CyRide's Transit Board of Trustees (comprised of representative organizations and the general public throughout the community) committed to an initial electric bus project (2 battery electric buses under IA-2021-002-00) with the goal of moving toward the maximum number of electric buses that can be efficiently deployed in its operation. Then, with the FY2021 5307 apportionment, CyRide furthered this goal by requesting three more battery electric buses under that pending grant (IA-2021-022-00). This grant, once funded and procured, will bring CyRide's total electric fleet to eight (8) and CyRide's total articulated bus fleet to ten (10).
According to FTA, the buses to be replaced only need to meet the age of 12 years and/or a mileage requirement of 500,000 miles on these buses. All these vehicles have met FTA's defined useful life age of 12 years as they are all 16-17 years of age. While the buses haven't reached the 500,000 mileage requirement to be replaced, they only need to meet the age requirement to meet FTA's requirement. Mileage for these three vehicles average 289,894 miles each. There is moderate to high corrosion on all these vehicles within the ADA required wheelchair lifts on these low-floor vehicles. All CyRide purchases after 2006 have been all low-floor vehicles with wheelchair ramps that can be deployed manually if necessary to eliminate issues with constant breakage of hydraulic hoses on these wheelchair lifts operated in Midwestern climate. When a hose breaks, it is necessary to take the bus out of service until the wheelchair lift is fully repaired. New low-floor buses would allow passengers to board more easily with one step onto the bus as well as eliminate taking the bus out of service for required wheelchair lift repairs. Therefore, the replacement of the four 2005 vehicles below that were purchased with a wheelchair lift will provide enhancements for ADA passengers as the new vehicle will provide a ramp style for ADA passengers to easily board the buses and could be manually deployed if necessary.
Specifically, the vehicles are identified below with the TPMS# identified for the STIP:
- Replace Vehicle ID #949 - 2005 Orion V; 17 years of age; 273,619 miles; high priority to replace within CyRide's TAM plan; TPMS#5567. A battery electric bus will replace this vehicle.
- Replace Vehicle ID #950 - 2005 Orion V; 17 years of age; 287,655 miles; high priority to replace within CyRide's TAM plan; TPMS#5564. A battery electric bus will replace this vehicle.
- Replace Vehicle ID #952 - 2005 Orion V; 17 years of age; 276,409 miles; high priority to replace within CyRide's TAM plan; TPMS#5565. A battery electric bus will replace this vehicle.
- Replace Vehicle ID #951 - 2005 Orion V; 17 years of age; 276,046 miles; high priority to replace within CyRide's TAM plan; TPMS#5566. An articulated bus will replace this vehicle. STBG funding (FY2022) will complete this bus purchase via grant IA-2022-020-00.
- Replace Vehicle ID #502 - 2006 Orion VII; 16 years of age; 335,740 miles; high priority to replace within CyRide's TAM plan; TPMS#6015. An articulated bus will replace this vehicle. STBG funding (FY2023) will complete this bus purchase. (This grant will be submitted approximately 10/1/2022 in TRAMS when FHWA funding is fully transferred.)
For procurement, CyRide intends to utilize the Washington State Transit Bus Cooperative (Master Contract #06719-01) approved April 1, 2021, to purchase Nova buses for both its 40 electric buses and 60 diesel bus purchases under this grant. (See attached Nova Master Contract and Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit E, and PA documents). According to the FAST Act Section 3019, CyRide may participate in a cooperative procurement contract without regard to whether the other grantee is located in the same state as the parties to the contract. The Innovative Infrastructure Jobs Act (IIJA) now requires, to the extent possible, this innovative procurement tool for applicants. Initially, CyRide had cited the Commonwealth of Virginia contract within its FY21 Bus Bus Facilities Supplemental Form proposal, but the Virginia contract is now being rebid and is currently unavailable. The Washington State Contract 06719-01 for Nova has been vetted as well as has a two-year warranty on bus purchases. Furthermore, CyRide was instrumental in helping the State of Iowa to obtain a participating addendum to this contract between Nova Bus US Inc. and the State of Iowa. As a city within the State of Iowa, the Ames Transit Agency (CyRide) is an eligible purchaser and is authorized to purchase under this participating addendum in lieu of a separate competitive selection process. See all five Nova Master Contract 06719 referenced documents attached to the application for more information. CyRide will submit a purchasing authorization request to the Department of Enterprise Services in Olympia, Washington, specifically for this procurement once the federal/local funding is fully available to establish a formal cooperative purchasing agreement for this grant. The State of Washington's master contract was competitively bid, evaluated, and awarded under the procurement laws of the State of Washington and meets Federal Transit Administration requirements for a state cooperative purchasing contract under the FAST Act Sec. 3019. See RCW Chapter 39.26.050(1) and Pub.L. 114-94. There are no pending protests or lawsuits pertaining to procurement or award of the master contract.
Force account labor - Ames Transit Agency is not utilizing force account labor for any activities on the budget.
Vehicle purchase and ADA - This grant will fund the cost of three battery electric wheelchair accessible buses. These buses will meet ADA accessibility requirements. Therefore, this grant is being funded at 85% federal with a 15% local match.
Ames Transit Agency (CyRide) does not bill for indirect costs.
Expected outcomes: The Ames Transit Agency's (CyRide's) project will be its third deployment of electric bus technology within the Ames, Iowa community. In March 2019, CyRide completed a 100% locally funded feasibility analysis (see attached CyRide_BEB Fleet and Facility Transition Study.pdf) to determine the feasibility of operating battery electric bus technology in Ames, Iowa. This study analyzed CyRide's routes compared to electric bus range constraints, issues with housing electric vehicles within its 1980s facility, as well as overall benefits (including environmental impacts) and challenges CyRide might face in implementing this bus technology. Additionally, the study determined, based on current technology and vehicle range, that 17 buses or approximately 18% of CyRide's fleet could be operated daily with depot charging and no substantial changes in how CyRide deploys its service. Further, it was determined that electric buses would provide a substantial cost and emissions savings over the 18-year life of the vehicles (CyRide's useful-life benchmark replacement age). As a result, CyRide's Transit Board of Trustees (comprised of representative organizations and the general public throughout the community) committed to an initial electric bus project (see grant IA-2021-002-00) with the goal of moving toward the maximum number of electric buses that can be efficiently deployed in its operation. An additional grant is pending under IA-2021-022-00 for three more battery electric buses utilizing CyRide's FY2021 5307 apportionment funding. This grant submission will bring CyRide's total electric fleet to eight (8) buses. This grant submission will also bring CyRide's total articulated 60-foot bus fleet to ten (10) buses, allowing CyRide to operate its #23 Orange Route exclusively with articulated buses. This bus route is the largest route, transporting as many as 14,000 rides per day.
Intended beneficiaries: Ames, Iowa residents (66,427 population), university students at Iowa State University, and visitors to the community.
Subrecipient activities: CyRide does not have subrecipients.
The total project cost for this project is $4,310,000 ($3,185,374 federal; $562,126 local match). Sources of the $562,126 local match requirement for this grant will be derived from CyRide's Transit Board, which includes the City of Ames (property tax levy), Iowa State University (ISU administration budget), and the Iowa State Student Government (student fees).
CyRide anticipates a 3-year project timeline with delivery of the vehicles/facility modifications anticipated for completion no later than September 30, 2026. Ames is using innovative procurement authorized under the FAST Act 3019. To view CyRide's federal award, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/03/18/2022-05734/announcement-of-fiscal-year-2021-grants-for-buses-and-bus-facilities-program-project-selections
The anticipated useful life of the new replacement vehicles is 12 years or 500,000 miles. All buses within this request will meet ADA, therefore the project requires a 15% local match. All local funds have been formally approved through CyRide's annual capital budget process or are being held in a reserve account.
CyRide will also utilize the Ames Area MPO's STBG program funds to add funding to the articulated buses for additional funding through approved grant IA-2022-020-00 (FY2022 STBG funding) and future STBG grant that will be submitted by 10/1/2022 to FTA with FY2023 STBG funding. For more information, view the attached FY21-Grants-for-Buses-and-Bus-Facilities-Supplemental-Form also submitted in Grants.gov.
Activities to be performed: To meet the Ames community's sustainability goals, CyRide has committed to electric bus technology through the purchase of three electric buses replacing three diesel buses past their useful life and two articulated buses. The Ames Transit Agency's (CyRide's) project will be its third deployment of electric bus technology within the Ames, Iowa community.
In March 2019, CyRide completed a 100% locally funded feasibility analysis (see attached CyRide_BEB Fleet and Facility Transition Study.pdf) to determine the feasibility of operating battery electric bus technology in Ames, Iowa. This study analyzed CyRide's routes compared to electric bus range constraints, issues with housing electric vehicles within its 1980s facility, as well as overall benefits (including environmental impacts) and challenges CyRide might face in implementing this bus technology.
Additionally, the study determined, based on current technology and vehicle range, that 17 buses or approximately 18% of CyRide's fleet could be operated daily with depot charging and no substantial changes in how CyRide deploys its service. Further, it was determined that electric buses would provide a substantial cost and emissions savings over the 18-year life of the vehicles (CyRide's useful-life benchmark replacement age).
As a result, CyRide's Transit Board of Trustees (comprised of representative organizations and the general public throughout the community) committed to an initial electric bus project (2 battery electric buses under IA-2021-002-00) with the goal of moving toward the maximum number of electric buses that can be efficiently deployed in its operation. Then, with the FY2021 5307 apportionment, CyRide furthered this goal by requesting three more battery electric buses under that pending grant (IA-2021-022-00). This grant, once funded and procured, will bring CyRide's total electric fleet to eight (8) and CyRide's total articulated bus fleet to ten (10).
According to FTA, the buses to be replaced only need to meet the age of 12 years and/or a mileage requirement of 500,000 miles on these buses. All these vehicles have met FTA's defined useful life age of 12 years as they are all 16-17 years of age. While the buses haven't reached the 500,000 mileage requirement to be replaced, they only need to meet the age requirement to meet FTA's requirement. Mileage for these three vehicles average 289,894 miles each. There is moderate to high corrosion on all these vehicles within the ADA required wheelchair lifts on these low-floor vehicles. All CyRide purchases after 2006 have been all low-floor vehicles with wheelchair ramps that can be deployed manually if necessary to eliminate issues with constant breakage of hydraulic hoses on these wheelchair lifts operated in Midwestern climate. When a hose breaks, it is necessary to take the bus out of service until the wheelchair lift is fully repaired. New low-floor buses would allow passengers to board more easily with one step onto the bus as well as eliminate taking the bus out of service for required wheelchair lift repairs. Therefore, the replacement of the four 2005 vehicles below that were purchased with a wheelchair lift will provide enhancements for ADA passengers as the new vehicle will provide a ramp style for ADA passengers to easily board the buses and could be manually deployed if necessary.
Specifically, the vehicles are identified below with the TPMS# identified for the STIP:
- Replace Vehicle ID #949 - 2005 Orion V; 17 years of age; 273,619 miles; high priority to replace within CyRide's TAM plan; TPMS#5567. A battery electric bus will replace this vehicle.
- Replace Vehicle ID #950 - 2005 Orion V; 17 years of age; 287,655 miles; high priority to replace within CyRide's TAM plan; TPMS#5564. A battery electric bus will replace this vehicle.
- Replace Vehicle ID #952 - 2005 Orion V; 17 years of age; 276,409 miles; high priority to replace within CyRide's TAM plan; TPMS#5565. A battery electric bus will replace this vehicle.
- Replace Vehicle ID #951 - 2005 Orion V; 17 years of age; 276,046 miles; high priority to replace within CyRide's TAM plan; TPMS#5566. An articulated bus will replace this vehicle. STBG funding (FY2022) will complete this bus purchase via grant IA-2022-020-00.
- Replace Vehicle ID #502 - 2006 Orion VII; 16 years of age; 335,740 miles; high priority to replace within CyRide's TAM plan; TPMS#6015. An articulated bus will replace this vehicle. STBG funding (FY2023) will complete this bus purchase. (This grant will be submitted approximately 10/1/2022 in TRAMS when FHWA funding is fully transferred.)
For procurement, CyRide intends to utilize the Washington State Transit Bus Cooperative (Master Contract #06719-01) approved April 1, 2021, to purchase Nova buses for both its 40 electric buses and 60 diesel bus purchases under this grant. (See attached Nova Master Contract and Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit E, and PA documents). According to the FAST Act Section 3019, CyRide may participate in a cooperative procurement contract without regard to whether the other grantee is located in the same state as the parties to the contract. The Innovative Infrastructure Jobs Act (IIJA) now requires, to the extent possible, this innovative procurement tool for applicants. Initially, CyRide had cited the Commonwealth of Virginia contract within its FY21 Bus Bus Facilities Supplemental Form proposal, but the Virginia contract is now being rebid and is currently unavailable. The Washington State Contract 06719-01 for Nova has been vetted as well as has a two-year warranty on bus purchases. Furthermore, CyRide was instrumental in helping the State of Iowa to obtain a participating addendum to this contract between Nova Bus US Inc. and the State of Iowa. As a city within the State of Iowa, the Ames Transit Agency (CyRide) is an eligible purchaser and is authorized to purchase under this participating addendum in lieu of a separate competitive selection process. See all five Nova Master Contract 06719 referenced documents attached to the application for more information. CyRide will submit a purchasing authorization request to the Department of Enterprise Services in Olympia, Washington, specifically for this procurement once the federal/local funding is fully available to establish a formal cooperative purchasing agreement for this grant. The State of Washington's master contract was competitively bid, evaluated, and awarded under the procurement laws of the State of Washington and meets Federal Transit Administration requirements for a state cooperative purchasing contract under the FAST Act Sec. 3019. See RCW Chapter 39.26.050(1) and Pub.L. 114-94. There are no pending protests or lawsuits pertaining to procurement or award of the master contract.
Force account labor - Ames Transit Agency is not utilizing force account labor for any activities on the budget.
Vehicle purchase and ADA - This grant will fund the cost of three battery electric wheelchair accessible buses. These buses will meet ADA accessibility requirements. Therefore, this grant is being funded at 85% federal with a 15% local match.
Ames Transit Agency (CyRide) does not bill for indirect costs.
Expected outcomes: The Ames Transit Agency's (CyRide's) project will be its third deployment of electric bus technology within the Ames, Iowa community. In March 2019, CyRide completed a 100% locally funded feasibility analysis (see attached CyRide_BEB Fleet and Facility Transition Study.pdf) to determine the feasibility of operating battery electric bus technology in Ames, Iowa. This study analyzed CyRide's routes compared to electric bus range constraints, issues with housing electric vehicles within its 1980s facility, as well as overall benefits (including environmental impacts) and challenges CyRide might face in implementing this bus technology. Additionally, the study determined, based on current technology and vehicle range, that 17 buses or approximately 18% of CyRide's fleet could be operated daily with depot charging and no substantial changes in how CyRide deploys its service. Further, it was determined that electric buses would provide a substantial cost and emissions savings over the 18-year life of the vehicles (CyRide's useful-life benchmark replacement age). As a result, CyRide's Transit Board of Trustees (comprised of representative organizations and the general public throughout the community) committed to an initial electric bus project (see grant IA-2021-002-00) with the goal of moving toward the maximum number of electric buses that can be efficiently deployed in its operation. An additional grant is pending under IA-2021-022-00 for three more battery electric buses utilizing CyRide's FY2021 5307 apportionment funding. This grant submission will bring CyRide's total electric fleet to eight (8) buses. This grant submission will also bring CyRide's total articulated 60-foot bus fleet to ten (10) buses, allowing CyRide to operate its #23 Orange Route exclusively with articulated buses. This bus route is the largest route, transporting as many as 14,000 rides per day.
Intended beneficiaries: Ames, Iowa residents (66,427 population), university students at Iowa State University, and visitors to the community.
Subrecipient activities: CyRide does not have subrecipients.
Awardee
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding Agency
Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Iowa
United States
Geographic Scope
State-Wide
Related Opportunity
None
City Of Ames was awarded
Ames Transit Agency: Electric Bus Replacement Project
Project Grant IA-2022-024
worth $3,185,374
from the FTA Office of Budget and Policy in July 2022 with work to be completed primarily in Iowa United States.
The grant
has a duration of 4 years 5 months and
was awarded through assistance program 20.526 Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low or No Emissions Programs.
$562,126 (15.0%) of this Project Grant was funded by non-federal sources.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 7/25/22
Period of Performance
7/20/22
Start Date
12/30/26
End Date
Funding Split
$3.2M
Federal Obligation
$562.1K
Non-Federal Obligation
$3.7M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
IA-2022-024
SAI Number
IA-2022-024-00-20.526
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Special District Government
Awarding Office
696482 REGION 7 DOT FTA
Funding Office
693JJ8 OFFICE OF BUDGET AND POLICY(TBP)
Awardee UEI
V7BEZARBJ4Y8
Awardee CAGE
5DGB3
Performance District
90
Senators
Charles Grassley
Joni Ernst
Joni Ernst
Budget Funding
| Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula and Bus Grants, Liquidation of Contract Authorization, Federal Transit Administration, Transportation (069-8350) | Ground transportation | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $3,185,374 | 100% |
Modified: 7/25/22