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

NIGP 07116 Buses Complete, School (Small Vehicle Type) is an Item code under which state and local governments procure new school buses and activity buses configured for student and passenger transportation, typically with seating capacities ranging from 26 to 81 passengers and equipped with safety features such as wheelchair lifts, backup cameras, electronic stability control, and telematics systems. Recent solicitations show issuing bodies spanning state departments, counties, cities, school districts, and special-purpose transit authorities, with activity concentrated among Texas state agencies, Florida transit authorities, and county purchasing departments in Georgia and Florida. Work solicited under this code includes new-build school buses with Type C construction and specialized accessibility equipment; activity buses configured as transit-style vehicles for passenger and recreational use; and related transportation services procurement by colleges and municipal recreation departments. The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired issued an IFB for a new 31-seat school bus with wheelchair lift and nine-channel camera system in February 2026, and the State of Texas subsequently posted solicitations for both an Activity Bus (Solicitation 771TRANS26B0002, May 2026) and a Transportation Bus new build (Solicitation 771TRANS26B0001). The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners in Florida conducted an ITB for Ford Transit 350 vans and Saf-T-Liner C2 passenger buses totaling approximately $460,000 in May 2026, establishing specifications for both 15-passenger recreation vans and 81-passenger activity buses with engine, transmission, safety, and telematics requirements.

Geographic activity concentrates in Texas and Florida, with secondary activity in Georgia, California, Michigan, and Minnesota. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority, operating as lead agency for the State of Florida, is conducting an IDIQ procurement for Automated Transit Vehicles (P26009) with SAE Level 4 automated driving systems and a March 23, 2026 response deadline, structured to serve transit agencies across Florida and the continental United States with federal FTA funding. The City of Detroit issued an RFQ for charter or school bus transportation services in April 2026 with Detroit-based vendor preferences offering one to five percent pricing credits, and Mt. San Antonio College in California solicited school bus transportation providers through an RFP with a mandatory pre-proposal meeting on March 23, 2026 and proposals due April 14, 2026. The City of Rome, Georgia posted a competitive bid for a Ford Transit XL Passenger Van in April 2026. Recent activity shows demand for both new vehicle acquisition and transportation services contracting, with emphasis on safety compliance, accessibility features, and multi-year service agreements offering renewal options.