35646_May_25_26_solicitation_doc.pdf

This is an Invitation to Bid (ITB) solicitation document issued by Killingly Public Schools (KPS) in Killingly, Connecticut for special education transportation services. KPS seeks sealed bids for round-trip transportation of students with special needs and disabilities to and from their homes to various learning center locations, primarily within Connecticut with occasional service to Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The required fleet includes eight standard out-of-district buses, two wheelchair-accessible buses, two ten-passenger vans, and six ride-share vans, along with eight support staff members, though quantities are subject to change. The contract period runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, covering three full years and including summer school and Extended School Year (ESY) services. Sealed bids must be received by 9:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on May 20, 2026 at KPS Central Office, with public opening scheduled for 10:00 a.m. the same day. Written questions must be submitted no later than 12:00 p.m. on April 10, 2026, with responses provided by addendum by April 30, 2026. KPS intends to notify the selected bidder by June 10, 2026.

Pricing shall be submitted as flat daily rates per vehicle for out-of-district routes and hourly rates for extracurricular activities and additional services across five vehicle types. The contractor must assume full responsibility for all operational costs including fuel, maintenance, comprehensive insurance, and labor. Required qualifications include proof of financial responsibility through certified audited financial statements, a performance bond equal to 25 percent of each year's estimated contract cost, and comprehensive general liability and workers' compensation insurance with minimum policy limits of $10,000,000. All vehicles must not exceed eight years of age and be equipped with air conditioning, digital audio/video monitoring systems, GPS, and child check-mate systems for Type II buses. The contractor must employ a full-time dispatcher, at least one qualified mechanic, sufficient licensed drivers, and a full-time manager or supervisor, and must comply with all Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles requirements, background checks, drug testing protocols, and ongoing driver training and safety programs. KPS reserves the right to award to other than the lowest bidder based on evaluation criteria including financial responsibility, safety record, service quality, experience, vehicle maintenance programs, and equipment standards. No estimated contract value is provided in the solicitation documents, and no set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise requirements are specified.