Using COSTARS for CNG: TMA Bucks and , Inc. Case Study

In 2012 TMA Bucks, the transportation management association for Bucks County, PA, acquired six compressed natural gas (CNG) fueled Ford E‐450 Cutaways configured as small transit buses. Bucks County Transport, Inc. leases these six vehicles plus a previously purchased CNG‐powered vehicle from the TMA for a nominal fee and provides TMA Bucks rushbus public transit service along two routes. Bucks County Transport operates eight additional CNG‐fueled vehicles, providing shared ride, medical assistance transportation, and persons with disabilities transportation services throughout the county.

Background TMA Bucks is the transportation management association for Bucks County and as such is charged with coordinating travel demand management strategies to reduce peak‐hour traffic congestion. TMA Bucks rushbuses provide public transit services along two routes; one originating in Bristol and one originating in Warminster. Each route connects a Southeastern Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Regional Rail station to nearby employment, education, and social service centers. Bucks County Transport, Inc. leases and operates the TMA Bucks rushbuses. Bucks County Transport also provides shared ride, medical assistance transportation, and persons with disabilities transportation services. All rushbuses are fueled by CNG and along with eight of Bucks County Transport’s other vehicles. All CNG vehicles operated by Bucks County Transport are fueled at public fueling stations. Most maintenance is performed by Bucks County Transport staff, though maintenance covered under warranty or involving a vehicle’s natural gas fueling system is carried out by a local Ford dealer.

Procurement One of the primary reasons Stephen Noll, deputy executive director of TMA Bucks, cites for the use of CNG vehicles is a reduction in volatility in fueling costs. Diesel fuel prices, though relatively low today, and varied widely in the past. CNG has not experienced such wide swings in price. The availability of public CNG fueling facilities in Bucks County has also eliminated the need to invest in private fueling facilities, reducing total up‐front capital costs. Both TMA Bucks and Bucks County Transport, Inc. acquired CNG vehicles through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of General Service’s COSTARS Cooperative Purchasing Program. COSTARS allows local political subdivisions; public authorities; tax‐exempt, non‐profit education or public health

Rev. 1/29/2016 Regional Planning Commission institutions; nonprofit fire, rescue, or ambulance companies; or other similar entities to take advantage of contracts that the Department of General Services has pre‐negotiated with suppliers. The Commonwealth carries out a competitive bidding and selection process. Thus, purchasing supplies and equipment through COSTARS allows municipalities and others to meet requirements for competitive bidding and selection of suppliers, without the need to go through the process themselves. More information about COSTARS is available at: www.costars.state.pa.us. Bucks County Transport, Inc. fuels CNG vehicles at public CNG fueling stations in Bucks County and has a local dealer provide warranty and fueling system maintenance. Thus no additional fueling facilities or maintenance facility modifications at Bucks County Transport, Inc. sites were needed.

Lessons Learned Steve Noll, deputy director of TMA Bucks, stressed that acquiring the CNG rushbuses was not remarkably different than procuring conventionally‐fueled vehicles. In their case, in which federal funds were used to acquire the vehicles, a partnership with the SEPTA helped TMA Bucks to “navigate the [federal] process” and helped “make the entire experience go far more smoothly.” TMA Bucks and Bucks County Transport, Inc. did not identify any regulatory or procedural barriers to use of COSTARS to purchase natural gas vehicles.

Contacts Stephen J. Noll, Deputy Executive Director Ed Hackett, Director of Maintenance TMA Bucks Bucks County Transport, Inc. 215.244.9082 215.946.9357 [email protected]

This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy under Award Number DE‐EE0006089. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, and related nondiscrimination statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. DVRPC’s website, www.dvrpc.org, may be translated into multiple languages. Publications and other public documents can be made available in alternative languages and formats, if requested. DVRPC public meetings are always held in ADA‐accessible facilities and in transit‐accessible locations when possible. Auxiliary services can be provided to individuals who submit a request at least seven days prior to a meeting. Requests made within seven days will be accommodated to the greatest extent possible. Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice by DVRPC under Title VI has a right to file a formal complaint. Any such complaint may be in writing and filed with DVRPC’s Title VI Compliance Manager and/or the appropriate state or federal agency within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory occurrence. For more information on DVRPC’s Title VI program, or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, please see call (215) 238‐2871 or email [email protected].

Rev. 1/29/2016 Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission