Student Big Bus Transportation Bid �¢���� Fiscal Years 2028�¢����2030

The Tantasqua Regional School Committee and School Committees for the towns of Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, and Wales, the awarding authority, operating under Mass G.L. Ch 30B will receive bids for furnishing School Bus Transportation for the period beginning July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2030.

School bus contracts are for three school years, renewable annually at the school committees' discretion. Each school year is considered to be 180 days.

Bids are for the transportation services of all Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland and Wales children to and from their homes to their respective elementary schools and/or Tantasqua Regional Junior and Senior High Schools.

Bidders should realize the number of children transported, routes and bus stops, may change during the school year and from year to year. All bids should be quoted with this in mind. No additional monies will be paid as a result of route updates of this nature.

In any given year during the contract term, the school may need to increase or decrease the number of regular route buses by a maximum of 2 buses. Any increase/decrease will be at the unit prices specified in the original bid form.

Routes will be prepared by the contractor (based on student lists provided to the successful bidder) and will be submitted to the Superintendent's Office by August l electronically of each year for final approval.

The contractor will provide a local telephone number to residents of Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, and Wales. This telephone must be answered whenever school buses are in operation under the contract.

Invoices will be submitted monthly for regular school bus transportation detailing the elementary portion and secondary portion with equal installments paid each month September through June.

Buses shall be on the premises of the school building to deliver children in the morning not later than five (5) minutes before the start of the school day and not earlier than ten (10) minutes before the start of the school day.

The Contractor must provide for a school bus transportation coordinator to be assigned to the school district.

The Contractor must arrange to have substitute bus service immediately available in the event of bus failure [...].

School buses assigned to primary home to school routing must be at least 2020 model year or newer. All buses must be at least 71 passengers (unless other passengers specified) Type I vehicles with stoparms, crossing arms and either gasoline or diesel powered engines.

All drivers will be CDL certified.

Extracurricular Trips Includes Athletic and Class Field Trips

Trip pricing will consist of a rate for driver time and a mileage rate, or a flat fee per run.

Sealed bids will be accepted until **Thursday, November 19th, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.** in the Superintendent's Office, 320A Brookfield Rd., Fiskdale, MA 01518 at which time and place they will be publicly opened and reviewed.

All bids must be submitted on the forms supplied by the school department.

One contract for all regular route and late buses will be awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder with lowest three year aggregated cost per town. Therefore, multiple contracts may result.

A current certificate of good standing from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue must be submitted along with a certificate of non collusion at the time of bid submission.

Each bidder shall submit a bid deposit in the amount of **$5,000.00**.

The School Committee reserves the right to require a Performance Bond in the amount of 50% of the total contract.

The Contractor shall carry public liability insurance covering each bus to at least $1,000,000/$5,000,000 limits and property damage coverage of not less than $2,000,000.

Bid prices and routes will remain firm for the first 6 months from bid opening.