24-59 HEAVY DUTY BUS BID.docx

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

INVITATION TO BID 24-59

HEAVY DUTY BUSES

June 6, 2024

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BIDDERS

Sealed bids will be received in the Office of Procurement & Contracts, Mississippi State University, for the purchase of the items listed herein. Bids shall be received no later than June 25, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. according to the directions below.

All bids must be received in the Office of Procurement & Contracts on or before the bid opening time and date listed herein. Delivery of bids must be during normal working hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST, except on weekends and holidays when no delivery is possible. No bids will be accepted after the designated time or date indicated in the bid specifications. It is recommended that proposals be submitted in advance, at least one day prior to the specified date and time to allow for a timely receipt. Delay in mail delivery is not an exception to the receipt of a bid.

Bidders may submit their bids electronically via https://portal.magic.ms.gov/irj/portal (use RFX 3160006638 as your reference number) or via a sealed envelope (the preferred method). Sealed bids should include the bid number on the face of the envelope as well as the bidders’ name and address. Bids should be mailed to 245 Barr Avenue, 610 McArthur Hall, Mississippi State, MS 39762. We also request a copy of the bid on a flash drive which can be included with the mailed hard copy. If you choose to submit your bid electronically, the flash drive is not necessary.

Any questions or clarification to the bid specifications or technical specifications must be submitted in writing prior to the bid opening. Such questions must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to the bid opening, unless otherwise stated. Verbal questions will not be entertained. All questions regarding this bid should be directed to Jennifer Mayfield, in the Office of Procurement & Contracts at 662-325-2550, or jmayfield@procurement.msstate.edu. Please include the bid number in all correspondence.

Should the bidder find discrepancies or omissions in the specifications, he/she shall notify MSU at once. MSU will not assume responsibility for any oral instructions, or interpretations of meaning of the specifications or other contract documents to any bidder by any person or persons.

Procurement & Contracts will make all official changes or alterations to anything contained in these specifications. Such changes shall be posted as an addendum that can be found on our webpage: https://www.procurement.msstate.edu/procurement/bids/index.php.

All bids shall be made out on the proposal forms attached hereto and all the attached certificates must be completed and signed in compliance with the provisions of MSU-SMART.

Deviations will be accepted, provided the bidder sends a list of any deviations for approval prior to the bid opening.

GENERAL TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND SPECIFICATIONS

Bidders must comply with all rules, regulations, and statutes relating to purchasing in the State of Mississippi, in addition to the requirements on this form. General Bid Terms and Conditions can be found here: https://www.procurement.msstate.edu/procurement/bids/Bid_General_Terms_May_2019_V2.pdf

Any contract with MSU resulting from this Invitation for Bid shall be in substantial compliance with Mississippi State University’s Standard Contract Addendum: https://www.procurement.msstate.edu/contracts/standardaddendum.pdf

By submission of this bid, each bidder and each person signing on behalf of any bidder certifies, and in the case of a joint bid each party thereto certifies as to its own organization, under penalty of perjury, that to the best of its knowledge and belief that each bidder is not on the list created pursuant to debarment within the State of Mississippi.

No bidder may withdraw a bid within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the actual date of the bid opening.

MSU-SMART reserves the right to reject all bids. For the items listed as Options, MSU-SMART reserves the right to award all, some or none of the items listed, whichever is in the best interest of MSU-SMART. A single award will be given.

Upon acceptance of any bid, the successful bidder shall execute a contract, in accordance with the specifications. The contract will be in place through December 31, 2029. It is anticipated that MSU will initially purchase three (3) buses. The contract will become effective as soon as all documentation has been completed & approved by all necessary parties.

MSU-SMART must be notified twenty-four (24) hours in advance of delivery. Delivery arrangements must be made by phone to Tom Perkins, Assistant Director of Transit, 662.325.5204.

· The Bidder agrees that by submitting a successful bid, any transportation agency within the State of Mississippi and Alabama will be permitted to participate in the awarded contract per the same terms and conditions set forth in the contract.

· The Bidder agrees that by submitting a successful bid, Political subdivisions of the State, quasi state agencies, and external procurement units shall be permitted to purchase from awarded contract per the same terms and conditions set forth in the contract.

· The Bidder agrees that by submitting a successful bid, any political subdivisions outside the State will be permitted to participate in the awarded contract per the same terms and conditions set forth in the contract.

· The Bidder agrees that by submitting a successful bid, any agencies of The United States Government will be permitted to participate in the awarded contract per the same terms and conditions set forth in the contract.

· The Bidder agrees that by submitting a successful bid, any other buying organizations (other than The United States Government), not located in The State of Mississippi would qualify to participate in the awarded contract per the same terms and conditions set forth in the contract.

· The Bidder agrees that by submitting a successful bid, any FTA recipient will be permitted to participate in the awarded contract per the same terms and conditions set forth in the contract.

EXTEND TERMS TO OTHER ENTITIES:

Mississippi State University is asking all responding vendors to indicate their willingness to extend the terms of this bid to other public entities in the United States. While this clause in no way commits any other entity to purchase from the awarded contractor, nor does it guarantee that any additional orders will result, it does allow other entities, at their discretion, to make use of MSU’s competitive process (provided said process satisfies their own procurement guidelines) and purchase directly from the awarded contractor. All purchases made by other entities shall be understood to be transactions between that entity and the awarded vendor and MSU shall not be responsible for any such purchases.

Sign here to acknowledge the above paragraph: ______________________________________

Any price escalations will follow Producer Price Index WPU1413: Truck and Bus Bodies. Please note in your bid when prices might change over the term of the contract.

REFERENCES

References should be provided from recent government contracts of similar transit needs. Provide contact names and phone numbers.

1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS – HEAVY DUTY TRANSIT BUSES

GENERAL

SCOPE

· These technical specifications are intended to provide a general description for 32 ft, 35 ft, and 40 ft heavy-duty, low floor design transit buses that will be purchased for use by Mississippi State and other agencies as allowed per these specifications.

DESCRIPTION

· We are seeking new, current year production, heavy-duty, 32ft, 35ft, & 40ft low floor transit vehicles. A two (2) door, 102" wide bus is specified for maximum passenger capacity and ease of passenger ingress and egress. The base buses provided shall be diesel operated, rear engine design, meeting all current EPA regulations for the year the bus will be delivered. All transit buses furnished shall meet the minimum functional requirements of this specification. All of the manufacturer’s standard components shall be included unless otherwise specified. Vehicle chassis shall include all Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) standard items required for bus service.

DIMENSIONS

40 FEET BUS DIMENSIONS

35 FEET BUS DIMENSIONS

32 FEET BUS DIMENSIONS

GROUND CLEARANCES

· Buses shall have a minimum eight-inch (8") ground clearance at any position under the bus excluding axle zones. The minimum ground clearance in any axle zone shall be 5 inches.

· Buses shall have a minimum angle of approach of (8.5) degrees, a minimum angle of departure of (8.5) degree, in order that they may safely negotiate varying pavement conditions in the Agency's service area.

WEIGHT

· It shall be a design goal to construct each bus as light in weight as possible without degrading of safety, appearance, comfort, or performance. The curb weight of the diesel 40’bus shall not exceed 30,000 pounds. The 35’ & 32’ diesel bus shall not exceed 26,000 pounds.

SERVICE LIFE

· Buses shall be designed and constructed to ensure a minimum service life of at least twelve (12) years/500,000 miles in revenue service. They shall be capable of operating at least 40,000 miles per year, including the last year.

FAILURES

· The following shall be the design requirements for maximum frequency of in-service failures of the types defined, provided that preventative maintenance procedures specified by the contractor and followed within the limits of practicability dictated by transit maintenance practice.

MAINTAINABILITY

· Prime consideration shall be given to the ease of maintaining the buses. All bus components and systems both mechanical and electrical which will require periodic physical work or inspection processes shall be installed so that a minimum of time is consumed in gaining access to the critical areas. It shall not be necessary to disassemble portions of the bus structure and equipment such as seats and flooring under seats in order to gain access to these areas.

· Each bus shall be designed to facilitate the disassembly, reassembly, servicing, or maintenance thereof by use of tools and items, which are normally available as commercial standard items.

· The body and structure of all buses shall be designed for ease of maintenance and repair. Individual panels or other equipment, which may be damaged in normal service, shall be repairable or replaceable. Ease of repair shall be related to the vulnerability of the item to damage in service.

ELECTRONIC NOISE CONTROL

· Electrical and electronic subsystems and components on all buses shall not emit electromagnetic radiation that will interfere with on-board communications equipment.

EXTERIOR NOISE

· The exterior noise produced by any one bus shall not exceed 83 dBA in any mode of operation.

INTERIOR NOISE

· The interior noise produced by any one bus shall not exceed 82 dBA in any mode of operation.

ENGINE EMISSION

· Buses shall conform to the air pollution control standards of the Environmental Protection Agency of the Federal Government, and all applicable State regulations at time of delivery for a Heavy-duty Urban Transit Bus.

OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

· The bus shall achieve normal operation in temperature ranges of -15 degrees F to +115 degrees F at relative humidity between five (5) and one hundred (100) percent. No special equipment or procedure shall be required to start a bus for up to twelve (12) hours of exposure to temperatures +20 degrees F without the engine in operation.

BODY DESIGN

· The bus shall have a clean, smooth, sleek design, correctly proportioned and properly balanced. The exterior and body features, including grills and louvers, shall be shaped to allow complete and easy cleaning by automatic bus washers without snagging washer brushes. Water and dirt shall not be retained in or on any bus feature to freeze or bleed out onto the bus after leaving the washer. Body and windows shall be sealed to prevent leaking of air, dust, or cleaning in automatic bus washers for the service life of the bus under normal use (wear excluded). Accumulation of spray and splash on any window of the bus, generated by the bus' wheels on a wet road, shall be minimized.

BODY MATERIAL

· Exterior body materials shall be fabricated out of aluminum, reinforced fiberglass and/or other applicable composites to reduce maintenance, extend durability, and provide consistency of appearance throughout the life of the bus. Detailing shall be kept simple; add-on devices and trim shall be minimized, and, where necessary, integrated into the basic design.

FINISH AND COLOR

· All exterior surfaces shall be smooth and free as possible of visible fasteners, wrinkles and dents. A commercial, transit appearance is desired thus a riveted type body construction shall not be accepted. Exterior surfaces to be painted shall be properly cleaned and primed, as appropriate for the paint used, prior to application of paint to assume a proper bond between the base surface and successive coats of original paints.

· Paint shall be applied smoothly and evenly with the finished surface free as possible of dirt, runs, orange peel, and other imperfections. All exterior finished surfaces shall be impervious to diesel fuel, gasoline, and controlled applications of commonly used graffiti removing chemicals. The bus shall be painted white with blacked out window area.

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

· Exterior protrusions greater than .50” and within 80 inches of the ground shall have a radius no less than the amount of the protrusion. The left side rear-view mirror and required lights and reflectors are exempt from this requirement.

· Grilles, doors, bumpers and other features on the sides and rear of the coach shall be designed to minimize the ability of unauthorized riders to secure toehold and handholds.

STRENGTH AND FATIGUE LIFE

· Under normal condition of transit service throughout the service life of the bus, the basic structure shall withstand fatigue damage that is sufficient to cause Class 1 or Class 2 failures. The structure shall also withstand impact and inertial loads due to normal street travel throughout the bus' service life without permanent deformation or damage. The basic design shall incorporate all severe service, heavy-duty bus features.

· All failures involving basic body, structure, axles, and suspension are considered structurally related failures for purposes of this specification. The bus sidewall design shall provide passenger protection from automobile side impact. The roof and sides shall be engineered to support the entire weight of a fully loaded vehicle on its top and side, if overturned.

CRASHWORTHINESS

· The bus sidewall ability to provide passenger protection from automobile side impact is of critical importance to MSU-SMART. As such, a copy of test data showing compliance with FMVSS 214D “Crash Worthiness” is required with the submission of the proposers bid package. Physical side impact test must be in accordance with FMVSS 214D and performed by a third-party testing entity. The test report must be of the same bus design as is being proposed. Failure to include this test report will render the proposal informal and cause of its rejection.

· The roof and side shall be engineered to support the entire weight of a fully loaded vehicle on its top and side, if. A copy of test data showing compliance with FMVSS 220 “Rollover Protection” is required with the submission of the Proposers bid. The test report must be of the same bus design as is being bid. Failure to include this test report will render the proposal incomplete and deemed unacceptable.

DISTORTION

· The bus, at GVWR and under static conditions, shall not exhibit deformation or distortion that impairs operation of doors, windows or other mechanical elements. Static conditions include the vehicle at rest with any one wheel or dual set of wheels on a six (6) inch deep hole or with any one tire or any dual set completely deflated.

ISO 9001:2000 CERTIFICATION

· Quality control during the manufacture of the buses as specified is of critical importance to MSU-SMART. It is the intent to procure transit buses from a manufacturer that has a proven and third party certified quality control system in place. As such, the bus manufacturer shall be certified ISO 9001:2000 at the facility(s) which produce the buses. Written certification of ISO 9001:2000 compliance is required with the bid submission documents. Failure to provide the certification as specified will render the bid incomplete and deemed unacceptable.

BODY SPECIFICATIONS

BODY FRAME ASSEMBLY

· The frame assembly shall be fabricated using Grade C, high- strength carbon steel. Square or rectangular tubing, plates and formed sheets shall be of welded design into a single monocoque space frame. Gusseting and structural reinforcement shall be provided at strategic locations as determined by finite analysis. Documents or Engineering drawings shall be provided to with the bid package to show structural reinforcement areas. A body on chassis or bolted construction is unacceptable.

· The structure shall be manufactured and assembled by a single O.E.M., so as to allow for ease of parts/service assistance. The bidder shall also allow a sole warranty restitution center for structure, (provision allows the exclusion of the engine, transmission and HVAC systems.)

· The steel cage structure and all related metals parts are to be welded into a complete frame assembly prior to corrosion protection. All steel parts must have a 1-mil physical profile for paint adhesion prior to priming. The cage shall be completely primed using corrosion resistant epoxy primer or approved equal.

· In critical corrosive areas, such as the floor framing, wheel wells, step wells and rear engine bulkheads, PPG Cora Shield or approved equal shall be applied after the initial primer coat. This primer and sealer shall be then baked on to ensure proper curing. Corrosion protection system shall have been successfully tested for a minimum of 1,000 hour salt spray test.

· The inside of all tubular frame structures in the floor, sidewalls and roof structures shall be sprayed with Ziebart Formula - Type A, or approved equal prior to applying exterior or interior panels.

· Welded joints of the monocoque construction shall be sealed with a polyurethane type adhesive sealant for additional corrosive resistance. Care shall be taken to prevent corrosion from dissimilar metals, such as adhesion tape/double sided bonding strips. Corrosion resistance process shall be provided with bid package.

EXTERIOR BODY PANELS

· Stainless Steel, Aluminum, or FRP composite durable materials may be used in providing the required sleek, streamlined appearance. These panels shall be installed using methods which provide a smooth surface without exposed fasteners except at window line lap seam.

· The bus sidewalls below the window line shall be made with removable sections. Panels are to be held by an aluminum or stainless extrusion just below the window line and fastened for quick removal. Panels are to be cleaned and applied to the side framing with double faced 3M tape, rivets and moldings.

· Roof panels shall be composite material and to be installed as one (1) continuous piece from drip rail to driprail.

· Front and rear caps shall be contoured and aesthetically molded, reinforced fiberglass, nominal 1/8" thick. Sections are to be installed with structure caulking, rivets and moldings.

· All panels are to be caulked with paintable sealants prior to prime treatment.

FLOOR

· Subfloor shall be 3/4", ACQ marine grade, pressure treated plywood flooring, or composite pattern cut, edge sealed and installed with sealant caulking and fastened with floor-tight huck bolts. The subfloor shall be sealed/undercoated before installation for maximum allowable protection against corrosion.

INSULATION

· The complete sides, roof and rear cap shall be insulated with a minimum of 2- 1/2" thick R-7, fiberglass batt insulation. The insulation shall be applied to the inner surface of the exterior panels. Insulation shall provide maximum thermo-barrier and sound absorption.

WHEELHOUSINGS

· Front and rear wheel housings shall be made from a minimum of 12 gauge. Housings will be installed as part of the frame structure, properly sealed with caulking and undercoating.

FENDER TRIM AND MUD FLAPS

· Fender trim shall be rubber, forming a smooth contoured wheel opening. Mud flaps are to be installed behind both front and rear tires extending to within three inches (3") of the ground. The rear mud flaps are to run the full width of the coach.

REAR ENGINE BULKHEAD

· The bus shall be equipped with a welded stainless steel rear engine bulkhead from the floor to the roof structure.

BUMPERS

· Front and rear bumpers shall be reinforced HELP energy absorbing type. Rear bumper shall be anti-ride type. Bumpers will attach to frame with a minimum of 2" diameter bolts.

TOWING HOOKS/EYES

· Bus shall be towable at both front and rear of the bus. The front of the bus will utilize two (2) screw in-place tow eyes. The rear will utilize two (2) rear towing hooks, accessible under the rear bumpers.

INTERIOR BODY PANELS

· The interior body panels shall be made from Melamine, graffiti resistant, providing a color-coordinated interior, per customer preference. Interior color coordination shall be determined at time of pre-construction meeting.

· Sidewalls shall be reinforced 1/10" thick laminated melamine panels or approved equal installed sectional with double-faced tape and trim moldings without exposed fasteners.

· Rear wall shall be finished in 1/10” thick laminated melamine panels. This material is to be installed with adhesives and trim moldings without exposed fasteners.

· Front ceiling end closure shall be aluminum, stainless steel, FRP, melamine or approved equal. Panels shall provide accessibility for wiring harness connections and front destination sign.

· Coach headliner shall be reinforced 1/10" thick laminated melamine panels or approved equal, installed sectional with double faced tape and trim moldings without exposed fasteners.

· The driver’s area shall incorporate black finished materials for glare reduction. This shall include all walls, ceiling, compartments, dash, left had driver’s console and door panels forward of the standee line.

FLOOR COVERING

· Transit flooring, coved up the sidewalls to the side seat track shall be supplied. Driver's area is to be covered with same flooring and trimmed with anodized aluminum or stainless-steel molding. A three inch (3") wide standee line shall be installed in line with the back edge of the step well of contrasting color.

GLAZING

· All windows must meet State and Federal safety regulations. Windshield shall be AS-1, driver's side windows to be AS-2, and passenger windows to be AS-3 in quality.

· Windshield and overall design of the front of the bus shall be of a sloped, BRT style. The windshield shall be two (2) piece 1/4" thick, 73% single density, laminated safety float type glass. Windshield shall have a dark tinted sunshade band across top. Windshields shall be glazed with two-piece black ozone treated extruded lock and key rubber. Driver's roadside window shall be a painted black extruded aluminum sash with full height sliding section design. Window shall be glazed with 7/32” thick, 73% single density, laminated safety sheet glass.

· Passenger side windows shall be a painted black extruded aluminum sash and have an solid pane design. Windows shall be glazed with 7/32" thick, 28% gray density, and laminated safety sheet glass. Emergency windows on each side shall be so designed as to meet FMVSS 217 for emergency egress.

· Door windows shall be glazed with 1/4" thick laminated safety sheet glass. Front door window shall be tinted to 73% light transmittance.

· Side destination sign window, the first curbside passenger window behind the front door, shall be glazed with 3/16" thick clear tempered safety glass in the upper transom section for sign viewing.

PAINT

· The entire exterior body surface shall be completely sealed, cleaned, sanded and primed prior to final finish. The final finish surface shall be coated with a AkzoNobel / Sikkens paint system or approved equal. The exterior paint shall be a polyurethane enamel finish meeting all State and Federal health and safety regulations. Paint preparation and application process shall be provided with bidder’s package.

FRONT/CENTER PASSENGER DOORS

· A two (2) panel, door panel design providing a minimum of 37" x 78" door panel opening and a minimum clear opening, measured at the door mounted hand rails of 33”. The door operation and controls will be identical at the front and center door for parts commonality. The door shall be driver controlled by a five (5) position handle type lever. Passenger doors shall comply with all FMVSS and ADA regulations. Front passenger door shall be located before the front axle and under direct observation of the driver. Curbside rear exit door shall be located in the low floor area between the front and rear axle.

· Each door panel shall be actuated together by a single air differential motor mounted overhead. Actuator shall be equipped with an emergency air release valve.

· The top portion of the shaft shall be splined to prevent the door panels from rotating out of alignment. Shafts are to be pivoted on a top mounted sealed ball bearing and a lower stud mounted pivot roller.

· Perimeter door edges shall be sealed with edge seals. Center edge of doors shall be equipped with overlapping neoprene 2" leading edge seals. Seals shall overlap front to rear providing an air and water tight seal.

· Center doors shall be interlocked so as to prevent movement of the bus below 2 mph when the doors are open and shall not allow doors to open above 2 mph.

· Provisions for an open/close switch shall be provided on exterior of coach to operate the front door.

SENSITIVE DOOR EDGES

· The rear doors shall be equipped with sensitive door edges.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS

· A two (2) speed electric or air operated wipers shall be provided, one (1) on each side with a single control.

· Wiper arms shall be pantograph type, a minimum of 27.5" long. Wiper blades shall be a maximum of 23.5" long. Blades are to park at the center of the windshield.

· Washer shall be electric pump with a minimum 2-gallon washer reservoir supplying nozzles located on the wiper wet arms.

· Intermittent wiper system shall be variable speed control allowing timed intermittent windshield cleaning in light rain and/or foggy conditions.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

· The electrical system shall be designed to provide and safely distribute 24-volt DC power to all electrical components in the bus, excluding selected ancillary items requiring 12-volt power.

· All general purpose wiring shall be cross linked polyethylene insulated, number coded for positive identification, and shall meet the requirements of SAE recommended practice J878a, Type SXL. Precautions shall be taken to avoid damage from heat, water, solvents or chafing by proper routing, clamping and the use of grommets or suitable electrometric cushion materials. Harnesses shall be designed to resist abrasion by the use of machine woven mesh plastic loom. Harnesses shall be sectional and shall terminate at insulated multi-pin quick disconnect plugs or junction blocks. All harnesses shall provide a minimum of one (1) spare conductor marked in each separate harness.

· For the 40’ bus design a heavy duty junction panel shall be provided located inside the bus accessible through an electrical compartment tower, located rear of the driver’s seat. The 35’ and 32’ bus design electrical panel location shall be located on exterior of vehicle, below the driver’s window. Junction board shall be equipped with heavy-duty 24-volt DC relays and 24-volt DC circuit breakers. Panel shall be equipped with a complete, (as-built) circuit legend.

· The electrical control and wiring system shall be a Multiplex System or approved equal. The system components shall be capable of performing reliable operation in an environment of between minus 30 C to plus 80 C while encountering mobile shock and vibrations. Each module shall be adequately shielded to prevent interference by EMI and RFI.

· The program for operating the bus shall be contained in a MBC (Master Bus Controller). A single downloading point shall be located on the bus for reprogramming. The components of the multiplex system shall be modular design, providing for ease of replacement by field maintenance personnel. Furthermore, each module shall utilizes LED’s to indicate input status, output status, circuit integrity and assist in rapid circuit diagnostics and verification of the load and wiring integrity. The internal control device shall be a solid-state device, providing an extended life service cycle. Non-self-resetting circuit breakers or fuses shall be provided to protect each individual circuit.

· All exterior lighting shall be of LED type (excluding headlamps) and conform to all applicable Mississippi State regulations, and FMVSS 108.

· Headlamps shall be dual round sealed beam automotive type and shall have high beam feature controlled by a foot operated switch mounted on the floor.

· Stop, tail, back-up and directional signal lights shall be LED type, 4" in diameter and vertically mounted.

· Front directional lights shall be LED type, and a minimum of 4", one (1) on each side, with an amber lens.

· Side directional lights shall be armored LED type, 1.75" x 4" min. mounted horizontally at both front and rear axle locations on each side.

· Side marker and ICC lights shall be LED type, and roof mounted. Five (5) amber front, and five (5) red rear. Side marker lights shall be two (2) amber located before the rear axle on each side of the bus, and one (1) red located behind the rear axle on each side of the bus.

· A red LED strip. center mounted brake light shall be installed on the rear of the bus. The light shall be located on the centerline of the bus immediately above the rear engine door.

· Exterior LED step well lights shall be mounted so that entire step well and a portion of the ground area outside the bus are sufficiently illuminated. The step lights shall be extinguished when the front and/or rear door has closed.

· Front and rear side reflectors, amber front and red rear, shall be applied above the bumpers on each side.

· Provisions to mount front and rear license plates are to be provided. A white LED license plate lamp shall be provided.

· Interior LED lighting shall be ceiling cove type mounted continuous front to rear on each side of the transit bus. The first light fixture on each side behind the driver shall be extinguished when the front door is closed in day and night time operation mode. A single driver's LED light fixture shall be provided with a separate driver control switch.

· The driver's area shall consist of an ergonomically designed molded fiberglass, plastic, or aluminum dash console complete with the following minimum controls and instrumentation.

· The control panel shall provide labeled and illuminated system control switches when equipped, such as, but not limited to: day/night run switch with ignition, headlights, interior lights, air conditioning, high idle, door control - three position, kneeling etc.

· Instrument panel shall be equipped with, but not be limited to, speedometer, fuel gauge, voltmeter and dual air gauge.

· Telltale lights shall indicate, but not be limited to, check engine, transmission oil temperature, low coolant, ramp deployed, engine shut-down, park brake, high beam, air conditioning inoperative, and low air.

· A separate driver's dash mounted HVAC control panel shall be provided.

· Foot controlled directional switches shall be installed in a tapered steel box, one each for left and right directional lights. Foot operated switches shall be provided for high beam, and 4-way flashers.

· Adjustable accelerator and brake pedals shall be provided.

DRIVER’S SEAT

DIMENSIONS

· The operator's seat shall be comfortable and adjustable so that persons ranging in size from the 95th-percentile male to the 5th-percentile female may operate the bus. While seated, the operator shall be able to make all of these adjustments by hand without excessive effort, or being pinched. Adjustment mechanisms shall hold the adjustments and shall not be subject to inadvertent changes. Graphical Symbols shall conform to SAE Recommended Practice (Proposed) J1458, Universal Symbols for Seat and Suspension Adjustments.

SEAT PAN CUSHION LENGTH

· Measurement is from the front edge of the seat pan to the rear at its intersection with the seat back. The seat pan length shall be no more than 16” at its minimum length and no less than 20” at its maximum length adjustment. 2” of seat cushion adjustment is required.

SEAT PAN CUSHION HEIGHT

· Measurement is from the cab floor to the top of the level seat at its center midpoint. The seat shall adjust in height from no more than a minimum of 13” and no less than a maximum of 19”, with at least a 6” range of adjustment.

SEAT BASE FORE/AFT ADJUSTMENT

· Measurement is the horizontal distance from the heel-point to the rear front edge of the seat. The minimum and maximum distances shall be measured from the front edge of the seat when it is adjusted to its minimum seat pan depth (around 16”). On all buses, the seat-base shall travel horizontally a minimum of 9.45”. It shall adjust no closer to the heel-point than 6”. Seat must have dual locking seat tracks with a manual release and an automatic release.

SEAT SUSPENSION

· The operator’s seat shall be appropriately dampened with dual shocks and one shock must be adjustable. The operator’s seat must be able to support a 100-450 lb. Driver.

SEAT BACK LUMBAR SUPPORT

· Measurement is from the bottom of the seat back at its intersection with the seat pan, to the top of the lumbar cushioning. The seat back shall provide adjustable depth lumbar back support in at least 3 air bags located between 3” – 10”, minimum.

SEAT BELT ADJUSTMENT

· The Type I seat belt shall attach at a point that moves with the assembly. Minimum length of 72”. Buckle to have a top release mechanism. Seats belts shall be extended length to a accommodate operators of all within the 5th-95th % male/female. The seat and seatbelt assemblies as installed in the bus shall withstand static horizontal forces as required in FMVSS 207 and 210. Seat belts shall be provided across the operator’s lap. The belt webbing shall be black in color. The seat shall be equipped with a single buckle on the left side of the seat cushion. The belts shall be fastened to the seat and/or the bus structure so that the operator may adjust the seat without resetting the seat belt. Seat belts shall be stored in automatic retractors. The seat and seatbelt assemblies as installed in the bus shall withstand static horizontal forces as required in FMVSS 207 and 210.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

· Seat must include a 2-year parts and labor warranty; Seat back must have dual recliner gears for added support; Seat back must include a stamped steel back to fully support the foam; Seat must include a 4-way adjustable headrest; Seat back must be protected with a full seat back protector; Seat must meet all applicable FMVSS standards; Seat belt shall be equipped with alarm.

PASSENGER SEATS

· Transit-style seat shall be supplied in the bus. Vandal resistant inserts must be supplied. The seating configuration shall match the floor plan as attached at the end of these technical specifications. Back and seat inserts shall be easily replaceable.

· Passenger seating capacity shall be the maximum allowable seating configuration. The 40’ bus shall have a minimum of 38 seated passengers and 34 passengers for the 35 ft bus. The 32’ bus shall have a minimum of 28 seated passengers. Passenger seating configuration shall be designed to provide Two (2) wheelchair positions, meeting all applicable ADA guidelines. Wheelchair positions shall be of forward and aft configuration. Bidders are required to submit floor plans with their proposals demonstrating seating count and configuration compliance at the time of request for approved equals’ process.

EXTERIOR MIRRORS

· Shall be fully adjustable 9" x 13" overall, two (2) section mirrors mounted to reinforced plated on each side of the windshield. Upper section shall be a minimum of 7" x 10" fixed flat glass. Lower section shall be a minimum of 6.25" x 3.75" convex adjustable diminishing glass. Mirror heads shall be mounted to rigid, adjustable support arms and shall be a black powder coated finish.

INTERIOR MIRROR

· For driver's viewing of the passenger compartment, a minimum 8" x 15" fully adjustable rearview mirror shall be furnished and mounted in easy reach of the driver. A 12” round convex mirror shall be installed above the passenger exit door to assist the driver with viewing passenger egress off of the bus.

PASSENGER ASSISTS

· All stanchions, overhead grab rails and modesty panels shall be so designed as to use 1-1/4" diameter, 304 stainless steel tubing with a polished finish. Stanchions shall be fitted floor to ceiling meeting ADA requirements. Overhead grab rails, shall be fitted horizontally from the roof supports. Modesty panel assemblies shall be fitted behind and forward of the door step wells as required. Modesty Panel shall also be mounted between the forward and aft wheelchair position.

MODESTY PANELS AND DRIVER'S BARRIER

· For the 35 & 32’ buses a modesty panel and driver's barrier shall be provided directly behind the driver’s area. Modesty panel shall be ¼” thick, gray melamine one piece fitted to 1-1/4" O.D. stainless steel tubing passenger assists. There shall be a driver’s barrier mounted above the modesty panel which shall be a minimum ½” of tinted lexan, or approved equal.

· Provisions are to be provided for prewire for a two-way radio system, fare collection device and fare box assist rail

· If and when seats are not utilized over curbside wheel well, provision for storage is to be provided.

DRIVER'S HVAC

· Driver's area shall be heated and/or cooled by a dash mounted, forced air heater/defroster and air conditioning system. Proposed buses, which are manufactured without an in- dash air conditioning evaporator, will not be accepted as equal. The need for conditioned air on the windshield is a necessity in our operating environment.

· The driver’s heater and defroster shall provide a minimum of 60,000 BTU with 475 CFM air flow.

· The driver's air conditioning shall provide a minimum of 24,000 BTU with 475 CFM air flow. Driver’s HVAC system shall have 4-speed fans with fresh air mode.

· Both heat and cooling shall be controlled by electric dash mounted controls. The driver must have total control of the dash mounted heating and air conditioning system, separate from the passenger compartment HVAC to allow for a comfortable driving environment.

· Windshield airflow shall be through molded dash air ducts, which shall provide constant and even air diffusion.

· An additional forced air ducting system shall be located overhead of the driver’s seated position utilizing a brushless booster motor. Two adjustable vents distribute heated or air conditioned air from the passenger compartment HVAC street side duct. A left hand console mounted two-speed switch shall be provided.

PASSENGER COMPARTMENT HVAC

· The passenger compartment shall be heated and cooled by a single integrated heavy-duty system. This system shall be a roof mounted system using R 134a refrigerant or approved equal. Air conditioning / heating systems shall meet the following capacity minimums as listed below.

· Heating shall be hot water, forced air, 100,000 BTU minimum system.

· Air conditioning shall be R-134A, 92,000 BTU minimum system.

· A heavy duty 4 cylinder, minimum of 30cu.in. displacement freon compressor shall be supplied. The compressor shall be designed for heavy duty transit use installed on the right side of the engine compartment in a location for ease of maintenance.

· The bus must be equipped with a base board radiant heating system located on both sides of the bus, installed in the low floor area of the bus.

· Pricing for an additional warranty for 3 years/unlimited miles shall be provided in the additional options section located in section 8.0 of this solicitation .

· Pricing for diagnostic hardware and software for A/C diagnostics shall be provided in the additional options section located in section 8.0 of this solicitation.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY SYSTEM

· Shall be so designed to meet Federal ADA regulations. This system shall provide safe and comfortable accessibility for disabled passengers.

· A wheelchair ramp, 1:6 ramp or approved equal will be supplied. The ramp shall be mounted at the front entrance door to accommodate all sizes of wheelchairs and scooters. The ramp shall be fabricated of stainless steel construction with non-skid covering and will deploy when the vehicle is at ride height, or in the kneeling position. Ramp measures 48” x 32” with 950 lb. rated load capacity. The ramp deployment shall interlock brakes and throttle, and provisions for a manual backup to be provided. The ramp design shall meet all applicable ADA requirements with a 6:1 ramp angle.

· Accommodations shall be made for two, (2) wheelchair tie-downs. The wheelchair securing locations shall be located per the attached provided floor plan.

SUN SHADES

· A scissor style driver’s sunshade shall be supplied on the windshield & parallel to the windshield and driver’s street side window. The rollers will allow easy deployment when pulled downward, remaining where placed.

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

· The bus shall be equipped with a minimum 5 lb. ABC rated fire extinguisher, 24-unit first aid kit, and triangular hazard kit. Emergency equipment shall be stowed in the driver area, or in a storage compartment mounted behind the driver on the street side wheel well.

ROOF HATCH

· Five (5) position roof ventilators and emergency escape hatch shall be installed in the roof over the rear axle. Roof ventilators and hatches will be flush to the roof or not higher than roof-mounted air conditioning units when fully open. An alarm shall sound alerting the driver that the escape hatch is open.

DRIVER’S STORAGE COMPARTMENT

· An overhead storage compartment is to be located within the electrical tower when utilized. When an electrical tower is not provided, drivers storage will be provided in compartment overhead of the driver. The driver’s storage compartment latch shall not be key locked.

PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM

· A public address system with gooseneck microphone shall be supplied. Eight (8) baffled speakers shall be provided. An exterior speaker must also be provided meeting applicable ADA requirements.

DRIVER’S COAT HOOK

· A coat hook for the driver shall be provided in the driver’s compartment.

DRIVER’S FAN

· For the driver’s comfort, a 6" heavy duty 12-volt, 2-speed fan is to be mounted in the dashboard and controlled by a 3 position switch left of driver.

TWO-WAY RADIO BOX AND PRE-WIRING

· The pre-wiring is to include a 12-volt DC supply, ground harness, antenna cable conduit and access plate shall be installed.

PASSENGER STOP REQUEST SIGN

· A back lighted, with white letters on red background stop request sign shall be mounted overhead on the front ceiling end closure. The sign shall be so designed as to remain illuminated when activated (by the passenger signal system) until it is extinguished by opening the front and/or center doors.

PASSENGER SIGNAL SYSTEM

· A chime is to be mounted overhead of the driver on the ceiling cove. The chime shall be activated by pull cord switches mounted on each side of the bus and at each window mullion, accessible to all passengers and must meet ADA Regulations. The cord is to be plastic coated, 1/8" diameter wire strain cable supported by chrome plated brass cable eyelets. The cable coating color shall be yellow. Wheelchair passengers will have access to the stop request system via push button or touch tape type signaling device located adjacent to the wheelchair position on the bottom of the folding seat.

FRONT, SIDE AND REAR DESTINATION SIGNS:

· L.E.D. “AMBER” electronic destination signs shall be provided. Destinations signs shall be provided and mounted in the upper windshield area, the first curbside window. The sign control console shall be mounted overhead in easy reach of the driver. Destinations will be provided by the owner during the pre-construction meeting after award.

· The front destination sign compartment shall have access for cleaning of the sign glass and the sign interior of the sign window glass without removing the destination sign. Front destination sign display shall be a minimum of 9.25 x 63.75. Side destination sign display shall be a minimum of 4.25x42.25.

DASH MOUNTED HANDRAIL

· A 1.25” OD polished stainless steel grab rail and fare box guard is to be attached to the dash of the bus to allow continuous support for boarding passengers.

ENGINE COMPARTMENT CONTROLS

· Rear engine controls shall consist of engine prevent start switch, light switch, oil pressure and water temperature gauges.

INTERIOR AD DISPLAY

· Shall be installed along the interior of the bus along each side for the full length of the passenger area excluding areas where it will interfere with any options. Displays shall be attached to the light bar w/ a 3/16” J Rail.

POWER GROUP SPECIFICATIONS

GENERAL

· The structure of the bus shall be designed to withstand the transit service conditions typical of an urban or intercity duty cycle throughout its service life. The vehicle structural frame shall be designed to operate with minimal maintenance throughout the 12-year design operating profile. Buses shall be constructed with welded, low floor monocoque construction with accessibility to major components a key feature. This construction is to be a rear engine forward control design and shall include the following minimum components and systems.

FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY

· 40ft buses shall utilize aa wide track, drop center, I-beam type providing a minimum design load rating of 16,000 lbs. capacity or North American produced approved equal.

· 32ft & 35ft buses shall utilize a wide track, drop center, I-beam type providing a minimum design load rating of 13,200 lbs. capacity or North American produced approved equal.

· King pin bushings shall be replaceable at all lateral joints. Top and bottom king pin bushings and tie rod end joints shall be equipped with zerk type grease fittings.

REAR DRIVE AXLE

· 40ft buses shall utilize a rear axle, or North American produced approved equal. The rear axle must be of a full floating type and providing in excess of 60 MPH road speed and a minimum design load rating of 28,660 lbs. capacity.

· 32ft & 35ft buses shall utilize a full floating type and providing in excess of 60 MPH road speed and a minimum design load rating of 23,000 lbs. capacity

· Carrier housing shall be separable construction with bolted ring gear and shall be equipped with magnetic internal hex head lubricant drain plug.

· Carrier and hubs are to be internally oil lubricated with multi-grade, multi-purpose gear oil.

FRONT SUSPENSION

· 40ft buses shall utilize an air ride suspension providing the driver and passengers with the highest level of ride quality and safety. The front suspension shall incorporate multi V-links with a minimum capacity of 12,000 lbs., or approved equal.

· The 32ft & 35ft front suspension shall utilize a trailing arm, taper leaf with two air bags and two shocks with a minimum capacity of 12,000 lbs., or approved equal

· Two (2) air bags per axle shall be provided. Air pressure shall be maintained by a single time delayed height control valve. Air springs shall be internally equipped with jounce rubber stops.

· Springs shall be dampened by two (2) air suspension valve shock absorbers.

· The front suspensions shall be designed to incorporate a kneeling feature. When activated, the bus shall lower by a minimum of three (3) inches from the standard ride height in 4+ .5 seconds and recover to full ride height in 6 + 1 seconds. Bus movement shall be inhibited when bus is kneeled and shall not release until at a safe height.

REAR SUSPENSION

· 40ft rear…