Request for proposals for Electric School Bus Aggregated Procurement Project The selected vendor will support WRI in: Conducting a procurement landscape and market analysis Engaging relevant key stakeholders Structuring prototype aggregated procurement pathway designs Developing a procurement template and blueprint Designing models and approaches that reduce participation barriers and ensure price reductions and related market benefits are accessible to smaller and underserved school districts The work will focus on detailing school bus procurement constraints and opportunities, stakeholder engagement, prototyping aggregated procurement models, and detailing real-world approaches in an aggregated procurement blueprint. The consultant shall ensure that the aggregated procurement structure reduces participation barriers and enables smaller and under-resourced school districts to access the resulting cost savings and procurement opportunities. Work is expected to begin in April 2026 and conclude within approximately 6 months. SCOPE OF WORK AND OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES WRI seeks a vendor to develop an aggregated procurement approach for electric school buses that advances market transformation while intentionally expanding access for under-resourced school districts. This proposal does not aim to deploy an aggregated procurement but rather seeks to outline the conditions to establish an aggregated procurement that is informed by relevant stakeholders. Because procurement design influences who can participate and benefit, equity considerations must be embedded throughout the methodology and resulting product. Vendors are encouraged to propose innovative approaches; however, the following functional areas represent WRIs anticipated needs. Across all areas, proposal must demonstrate knowledge on how participation barriers, access conditions, and governance design requirements will be incorporated into a future aggregated procurement. Proposals should address how the vendor will: Identify and suggest mitigations to be incorporated into the aggregated procurement model that will address participation barriers within public-sector procurement models Design aggregated procurement models that are accessible to smaller or lower-capacity school districts and small private operators Consider fragmented vehicle specifications in the U.S. school bus market and how an aggregated procurement will work within these constraints Implement structured stakeholder engagement processes to inform procurement design Integrate access and eligibility criteria into procurement templates and governance frameworks Task 1: Procurement Landscape & Market Analysis (20%) - Month 1 The consultant will build on WRIs existing research and other public information to synthesize existing aggregated procurement models in relevant sectors (clean energy, fleet electrification, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, public fleet procurement, and cooperative purchasing) and assess insights that can transfer to the ESB context. WRI estimates this task to be about 20% level of effort across the four task categories in the contract and will occur during Month 1. The analysis will use and expand on WRIs existing research and evaluate how aggregation can drive down ESB prices, use WRIs total cost of ownership calculator, enable multi-year commitments and long-term demand, integrate financing solutions, consider charging infrastructure availability and costs, and reduce transaction costs. It shall include an assessment of participation barriers and accessibility conditions, identify design features that expand or constrain access, and evaluate how cost savings and procurement benefits are distributed among participants. The scale of an aggregated ESB deployment should be at least 5,000 ESBs. WRI will: · Share findings from qualitative interviews · Circulate internal notes, takeaways, and presentations · Communicate top priorities and aggregated procurement design questions The consultant will: Identify legal and regulatory pathways for aggregation across states and/or districts · Evaluate cooperative purchasing structures and governance models · Consider ESB market dynamics including existing players · Integrate services beyond the vehicle including charging infrastructure, maintenance, and similar options · Examine whether and how current aggregation models address the needs of smaller, underserved public entities · Explore ways of expanding access to ESBs in under-resourced districts and increased accessibility · Assess barriers to multi-year contracting · Identify risks and mitigation strategies Deliverable: Market and Procurement Landscape Memo including pricing leverage analysis, procurement and market dynamics, risk assessment, potential pathways forward, and strategic recommendations. The deliverable may be published on the Electric School Bus Initiative website with co-authorship credit to consultant(s). Task 2: Stakeholder Engagement & Navigation (10%) - Months 1-2 The consultant will join WRI in engaging key stakeholders - school districts, state agencies, cooperative purchasing entities, OEMs, utilities, public and private finance partners, and green or social impact financial institutions. WRI estimates this task to be about 10% level of effort across the four task categories in the contract and occur in Months 1-2. WRI will: Suggest and co-select stakeholders for potential interviews Co-create interview questions Administer honoraria for eligible organizations and entities Share existing summary information from previously conducted stakeholder interviews The consultant will: Define key objectives for stakeholder outreach Suggest and co-select stakeholders for potential interviews Co-create interview questions Plan and schedule virtual interview calls Integrate interview insights and findings into Task 3 Assess manufacturer appetite for large multi-year aggregated deals Identify potential procurement champions Identify and document participation barriers, capacity constraints, financing constraints, and access conditions that must inform aggregated procurement design Ensure that perspectives from under-resourced communities are heard and reflected in the Task 1-4 deliverables. Tender Link : https://www.wri.org/about/procurement-opportunities
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