BACKGROUND

Transit agencies are shifting from predominantly fossil fuel–powered vehicles to zero-emission vehicles. TCRP Research Report 219: Guidebook for Deploying Zero-Emission Transit Buses (2021) provides public transit agencies with best practices, case studies, and lessons learned from previous deployments of battery electric buses, fuel cell electric buses, and related fueling infrastructure. TCRP Research Report 219 is organized into nine key deployment phases: providing information and suggestions for assessing needs and requirements, selecting and specifying technology, determining capital costs and funding opportunities, developing fueling infrastructure, deploying fueling infrastructure, accepting and validating buses to ensure they meet specifications, evaluating training program considerations, establishing operations and maintenance practices, and monitoring and evaluating deployment performance.

Many transit operators are introducing zero-emission vehicles into their fleets and are concerned about meeting agency service commitments during the transition period. This transition involves new challenges, including overhauling and potentially expanding maintenance and operations facilities, recruiting and retraining employees, and managing an evolving mix of zero-emissions and conventional vehicles operating in parallel. This research should build on but not replicate TCRP Research Report 219 and should provide transit agencies with the context and knowledge needed to understand and appropriately prepare for and respond to the complexity of transitioning to zero-emission vehicles.

 OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to produce a guide to help agencies prepare for and manage the transition to zero-emission transit vehicle fleets (limited to battery electric buses and hydrogen fuel cell buses).  

RESEARCH PLAN

The TCRP is seeking proposals on how best to achieve the research objective. Proposers are expected to present a research plan that can realistically be accomplished within the constraints of available funds and contract time. Proposals must present the proposers' current thinking in sufficient detail to demonstrate their understanding of the issues and the soundness of their approach to meeting the research objective.

This research will supplement TCRP Research Report 219 and include summaries of and references to other recent reports published on zero-emission vehicles. Proposers shall identify innovative ways to conduct research (focus groups, stakeholder interviews, etc.) and present the information (case studies, creation of evaluation frameworks, model procurement documents, online resources, fact sheets, etc.), and consider that the target audience will include transit systems of all sizes. The guide should assist policymakers (including transit board members, elected officials, and state agencies) and transit agency managers to develop a transition plan that includes the following key components: 

• Planning and public impacts
  • Decarbonization impacts
  • Improvement of transportation system, network, and operational resilience
  • Considerations in the deployment of buses related to exposure of populations to ground-level air pollution
  • Reduction of inequities and improving environmental justice
• Regulatory requirements (e.g., Buy America, Title VI, Equity)
• Technology and fuel options
  • Comparing, contrasting, and selecting between battery electric buses and fuel cell electric buses based on: 
    • Total cost of ownership
    • Range
    • Other considerations
  • Expectations for a long-term, reliable, affordable supply of green hydrogen and long-term availability of sufficient and green electricity at fleet garages
• Procurement options
• Fleets
  • Identify buses to be replaced by zero-emission transit buses (ZEBs)
  • Timing of bus purchases and of what types 
  • Resilience and redundancy assessment, including emergency operations
  • Managing simultaneous use of different fueling/propulsion types at one agency
• Power and fuel supply infrastructure
  • Ensure charging and fueling infrastructure support ZEBs as their quantity incrementally increases
  • Determine approach to optimize and manage charging load profile for peak demand, electricity costs, and ability to meet service requirements
  • Other power supply needs, such as for onsite hydrogen production/storage/dispensing
  • Other options that could influence the grid power needed and electricity costs such as onsite generation and storage
  • Phasing in electrical grid connection enhancements needed from utility providers to support the onsite infrastructure as this incrementally increases
  • Benefits of early collaboration with utilities
• Facilities
  • Identify new garages, en route charging, or modifications/upgrades to existing garages needed to support the transition, and collaborate with all necessary permitting authorities
  • Identify the phasing/sequencing of facility changes as the number of ZEBs incrementally increases
• Workforce
  • Benefits of early and ongoing collaboration with workforce
  • Changes in workforce knowledge and skills related to safety, bus maintenance, charging/fueling infrastructure maintenance, facility maintenance, and dispatch operations
  • Training needs
  • Changes that may affect labor agreements
  • Impact to salaries
  • Strategies for retention and recruitment
• Capital and operating costs
• Managing fleets during transition     
• Reviewing and updating the plan periodically
• Emerging technology

The guide shall identify key deployment and operational challenges transit agencies may face during their transition efforts and strategies to minimize them, including lessons learned to date. A primary focus of the research shall be to identify transit agency experiences dealing with ongoing operations while using an evolving mix of zero-emission and diesel technologies in their fleets during their transitions. Innovative approaches to address challenging issues (e.g., disposal of batteries, fire hazards, resiliency during power outages) shall also be identified.

The research plan shall be divided into tasks that present, in detail, the work proposed in each task. The research plan shall describe appropriate deliverables that include, but are not limited to, the following (which also represent key project milestones):

• An interim report (i.e., a technical memorandum or report) and panel teleconference, which occurs after the expenditure of no more than 40 percent of the project budget,
• Draft guide, 
• Final guide, and
• Technical memorandum, titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products” (see special Note K).

The research plan may include additional deliverables as well as additional panel meetings via teleconference. The research plan shall have a schedule for the project that includes 3 weeks for panel review of the interim report, 3 weeks for panel review of the draft final report, and 3 weeks for contractor revision of the draft final report. 

SPECIAL NOTES

A. Proposals should demonstrate knowledge relevant to this project and experience in the United States and with international transit agencies, the deployment of zero-emission transit buses, infrastructure and facilities, and operations through the transitional period.

B. Some transit agencies whose fleet includes electric trolleybuses are adopting newer generation models with larger batteries and thus more extended off-wire operation distance capabilities. In this context, en route charging via the overhead wires can in effect become en route charging for these trolleybuses.

C. Proposals must be submitted as a single PDF file with a maximum file size of 10 MB. The PDF must be formatted for standard 8 ½” X 11” paper, and the entire proposal must not exceed 60 pages (according to the page count displayed in the PDF). Proposals that do not meet these requirements will be rejected. For other requirements, refer to chapter V of the instructions.

D. The Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals for the Transportation Research Board’s Cooperative Research Programs have been modified to include a revised policy and instructions for disclosing Investigator Conflict of Interest. For more information, refer to chapter IV of the instructions. A detailed definition and examples can be found in the CRP Conflict of Interest Policy for Contractors. The proposer recommended by the project panel will be required to submit an Investigator Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Form as a prerequisite for contract negotiations.

E. Proposals will be rejected if any of the proposed research team members work for organizations represented on the project panel. The panel roster for this project can be found here. Proposers may not contact panel members directly; this roster is provided solely for the purpose of avoiding potential conflicts of interest.

F. Proprietary Products - If any proprietary products are to be used or tested in the project, please refer to Item 6 in the Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals.

G. Proposals are evaluated by the TCRP staff and project panels consisting of individuals collectively knowledgeable in the problem area. The project panel will recommend their first choice proposal considering the following factors: (1) the proposer's demonstrated understanding of the problem; (2) the merit of the proposed research approach and experiment design; (3) the experience, qualifications, and objectivity of the research team in the same or closely related problem area; (4) the plan for ensuring application of results; (5) how the proposer approaches inclusion and diversity in the composition of their team and research approach, including participation by certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises; and, if relevant, (6) the adequacy of the facilities. A recommendation by the project panel is not a guarantee of a contract. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS - the contracting authority for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) will conduct an internal due diligence review and risk assessment of the panel’s recommended proposal before contract negotiations continue.

Note: The proposer's approach to inclusion and diversity as well as participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises should be incorporated in Item 11 of the proposal.

H. Copyrights - All data, written materials, computer software, graphic and photographic images, and other information prepared under the contract and the copyrights therein shall be owned by the National Academy of Sciences. The contractor and subcontractors will be able to publish this material for non-commercial purposes, for internal use, or to further academic research or studies with permission from TRB Cooperative Research Programs. The contractor and subcontractors will not be allowed to sell the project material without prior approval by the National Academy of Sciences. By signing a contract with the National Academy of Sciences, contractors accept legal responsibility for any copyright infringement that may exist in work done for TRB. Contractors are therefore responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions for use of copyrighted material in TRB's Cooperative Research Programs publications. For guidance on TRB's policies on using copyrighted material please consult Section 5.4, "Use of Copyrighted Material," in the Procedural Manual for Contractors.

I. The text of the final deliverable is expected to be publication ready when it is submitted. It is strongly recommended that the research team include the expertise of a technical editor as early in the project timeline as possible. See Appendix F of the Procedural Manual for Contractors Conducting Research in the Transportation Research Board’s Cooperative Research Program for technical editing standards expected in final deliverables.

J. Proposals should include a task-by-task breakdown of labor hours for each staff member as shown in Figure 4 in the Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals. Proposals also should include a breakdown of all costs (e.g., wages, indirect costs, travel, materials, and total) for each task using Figures 5 and 6 in the brochure. Please note that TRB Cooperative Research Program subawards (selected proposers are considered subawards to the National Academy of Sciences, the parent organization of TRB) must comply with 2 CFR 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. These requirements include a provision that proposers without a "federally" Negotiated Indirect Costs Rate Agreement (NICRA) shall be subject to a maximum allowable indirect rate of 10% of Modified Total Direct Costs. Modified Total Direct Costs include all salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each lower tier subaward and subcontract. Modified Total Direct Costs exclude equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each lower tier subaward and subcontract in excess of $25,000.

K. The required technical memorandum titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products” should (a) provide recommendations on how to best put the research findings/products into practice; (b) identify possible institutions that might take leadership in applying the research findings/products; (c) identify issues affecting potential implementation of the findings/products and recommend possible actions to address these issues; and (d) recommend methods of identifying and measuring the impacts associated with implementation of the findings/products. Implementation of these recommendations is not part of the research project and, if warranted, details of these actions will be developed and implemented in future efforts.

L. If the team proposes a Principal Investigator who is not an employee of the Prime Contractor, or if the Prime Contractor is proposed to conduct less than 50% of the total effort (by time or budget), then section five of the proposal should include: (1) a justification of why this approach is appropriate, and (2) a description of how the Prime Contractor will ensure adequate communication and coordination with their Subcontractors throughout the project.

M. All budget information should be suitable for printing on 8½″ x 11″ paper. If a budget page cannot fit on a single 8½″ x 11″ page, it should be split over multiple pages. Proposers must use the Excel templates provided in the Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals for the Transportation Research Board’s Cooperative Research Programs