WASHINGTON, D.C. - The EPA has launched a request for proposals (RFP) for about $32 million in grants through the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program.

Replacing or retrofitting older school buses to reduce emissions are among the eligible uses of the funds. School districts can apply for the grants; school bus contractors would have to apply through a school district they serve or through a nonprofit organization, like the National School Transportation Association.

The program provides funding to reduce emissions from existing diesel engines through a variety of strategies, including add-on emission control retrofit technologies, idle-reduction technologies, cleaner fuel use, engine repowers or upgrades, and vehicle or equipment replacement.

The RFP closes Dec. 8. The EPA expects to notify applicants of the results in February. For more information, go to www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/prgnational.htm.

The new funding is in addition to the diesel emissions grants that the EPA gave out earlier this year with stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.