NIGP 07116: Buses Complete, School (Small Vehicle Type)

NIGP 07116 Buses Complete, School (Small Vehicle Type), an Item code, encompasses school buses and activity-transit buses that state and local education and transportation agencies procure for student and passenger service. Recent solicitations show two distinct procurement streams: traditional Type C school buses with wheelchair lifts and ADA compliance features for K–12 districts, and smaller-capacity activity or transit buses (30–31 seats) for specialized or on-demand mobility services. The work spans vehicle specification, delivery, warranty, and operator training, with issuing bodies including school districts, county boards of education, state transportation agencies, and municipal mobility offices. Scope includes compliance with state and federal school bus specifications, wheelchair accessibility equipment (Ricon lifts, tie-downs, flat floors), safety systems (electronic stability control, fire suppression, 360-degree cameras), drivetrain components (diesel engines, Allison transmissions, air brakes), and integrated telematics or dispatch integration for autonomous or hybrid-manual operations in emerging pilot programs.

Recent opportunities span Georgia, Texas, Florida, and Michigan. Barrow County Board of Education in Georgia posted an ITB on August 10, 2026 for up to 40 Type C buses (30 units at 72-passenger, up to 10 units at 54-passenger with wheelchair lift and flat floor) due August 24, 2026, specifying detailed OEM equipment (Ricon S5510 lifts, Allison 2500 PTS transmissions, Bendix air brakes, REI video systems) and four-year warranties with OEM training. Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners in Florida issued an ITB on May 5, 2026 for Saf-T-Liner C2 buses and Ford Transit 350 vans with an estimated value of $460,000, due May 28, 2026. The City of Detroit Office of Mobility Innovation posted an RFP on August 19, 2026 for Accessibili-D 2.0, a phased autonomous and accessible mobility service combining manually operated ADA-compliant vehicles (Phase 1) with hybrid and autonomous shuttle deployment (Phases 2–3), due September 30, 2026, with a pre-proposal conference on August 31, 2026. The State of Texas posted an activity-bus procurement in May 2026 specifying 30 walk-in passenger seats with two removable wheelchair-accessible benches. School district and county education agencies remain the dominant buyers; municipal and state mobility innovators are expanding demand for smaller, technology-integrated buses supporting accessibility and autonomous capabilities.