ENC secures place on Washington State cooperative transit bus contract covering diesel to electric models

ENC has been awarded a place on the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) statewide transit bus contract, enabling access to its heavy-duty bus portfolio for multiple U.S. transit agencies.

ENC has been awarded across eight categories covering four propulsion types and two vehicle lengths. The awarded configurations include clean diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), diesel-electric hybrid and battery-electric buses, each available in 35-foot and 40-foot versions.

ENC included in Washington State procurement framework

U.S.-based manufacturer ENC was formerly known as ElDorado National California and has been sold by former parent company REV Group to Rivaz in late 2024 for a purchase price of approximately $52 million. Bus production was restarted last year.

The company now announces it has been named to the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) Statewide Transit Bus Contract, a cooperative purchasing agreement compliant with the FAST Act. The contract allows transit agencies in Washington and participating states to procure buses directly through a centralized framework.

The agreement is administered by DES and is designed to streamline procurement processes by removing the need for individual competitive tendering. More than 30 transit agencies are eligible to access the contract, including Sound Transit, King County Metro, Community Transit, Pierce Transit and Spokane Transit Authority.

The contract structure provides participating agencies with immediate access to ENC’s heavy-duty transit bus portfolio under predefined terms and conditions.

The scope of the award positions ENC to supply vehicles for a range of operational requirements, including fixed-route, commuter and regional services. The inclusion of multiple propulsion technologies allows agencies to procure vehicles aligned with their respective fleet strategies and infrastructure conditions.

The contract provides a standardized procurement pathway for agencies seeking to acquire buses across different powertrains within a single framework.

ENC’s AXESS platform in the focus

The buses supplied under the contract are based on ENC’s AXESS platform, which has completed Altoona testing. The platform features a hand-welded carbon steel monocoque structure designed for heavy-duty transit applications.

The 35-foot and 40-foot configurations are intended to support operational flexibility across various service profiles.

“Being named to the Washington State DES contract is a significant milestone for ENC and a testament to the strength of our product portfolio,” said Jason Lee, Chief Executive Officer of ENC. “This contract gives transit agencies across the region a streamlined path to American-made, Altoona-tested heavy-duty buses in every major propulsion category, and we’re proud to be their partner as they build the fleets of the future.” 

“The Washington State contract opens the door for transit agencies to access the full range of what ENC offers – from clean diesel and CNG to hybrid and battery-electric – all through a single, simplified procurement vehicle,” said John Obert, Vice President of Transit Sales at ENC. “We look forward to working with agencies throughout Washington and the participating cooperative states to deliver the right bus for their communities.”