Comprehensive_Charter_Transportation_Services_(Addendum_#2_Revision).pdf

For more information, please visit our online supplier portal, located at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd

Stockton Unified School District, CA

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION

RFQ 26-20

COMPREHENSIVE CHARTER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

RELEASE DATE: May 29, 2026

RESPONSE DEADLINE: June 25, 2026, 2:00 pm

Please refer to the project timeline in this document for all important deadlines.

Request For Qualification #RFQ 26-20 Title: Comprehensive Charter Transportation Services

Table Of Contents

1 Requests for Qualifications

SECTION 1 NOTICE INVITING STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

SECTION 2 INTRODUCTION

SECTION 3 INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS

SECTION 4 STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATION SUBMISSION

SECTION 5 SCOPE OF SERVICES

SECTION 6 EVALUATION PHASES

SECTION 7 VENDOR QUESTIONNAIRE

SECTION 9 GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Attachments:

A - RATE SCHEDULE

1 Requests for Qualifications

SECTION 1 NOTICE INVITING STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Stockton Unified School District, San Joaquin County, California, acting by and through its Governing Board (“District”), will receive sealed Statements of Qualifications

(“SOQs”) for the following:

RFQ 26-20;Comprehensive Charter Transportation Services

All SOQ's shall be submitted electronically through the District's e-Procurement Portal, unless otherwise indicated in the RFQ documents. Respondents interested in obtaining the RFQ documents for the purpose of preparing and submitting an SOQ may do so by visiting the District's e-Procurement Portal at: Districts e-

Procurement site.

SOQ's must conform to and be fully responsive to the RFQ documents. Electronic submissions shall be received through the District's e-Procurement Portal, where responses will remain digitally locked and encrypted until the submission deadline has passed.

No respondent may withdraw their bid for a period of ninety (90) calendar days following the deadline for submission of SOQs.

The District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all SOQs, to waive any irregularities or informalities in the RFQ process, to cancel or revise the RFQ in whole or in part, and to make awards in the manner determined to be in the best interest of the District. The District reserves the right to establish a qualified pool of firms and is not obligated to make a contract award pursuant to this RFQ.

Any contract award or issuance of future work is contingent upon availability of funds and approval by the

District's Governing Board, as applicable.

This RFQ is subject to the provisions of California Education Code section 45125.1. Employees of awarded firms who may have contact with District students shall comply with all applicable fingerprinting and criminal background check requirements through the California Department of Justice.

All questions and requests for clarification regarding this RFQ shall be submitted through the Question &

Answer tab within the District's e-Procurement Portal. If a respondent discovers any ambiguity, conflict, discrepancy, omission, or other error in the RFQ documents, the respondent shall immediately notify the

District in writing through the e-Procurement Portal.

All Statements of Qualifications are due on Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 2:00 pm.

By: Sheikia Wilson, Director of Purchasing

SECTION 2 INTRODUCTION

1. Summary The purpose of this RFQ is to establish a qualified pool of transportation providers capable of providing comprehensive charter transportation services to the District on an as-needed basis. Placement in the qualified pool does not guarantee any minimum amount of work or compensation. The District reserves the right to obtain pricing, issue requests for quotes or proposals, negotiate rates, or directly assign work among qualified providers based on District needs.

2. Background The Stockton Unified School District is located in Stockton, in the heart of California’s Central Valley. The

District serves a diverse urban community and surrounding areas within San Joaquin County.

Stockton Unified School District is one of the largest school districts in California and provides TK-12 educational services to approximately 39,000 students. The District also operates Preschool and Adult

Education programs and serves as the chartering authority for multiple charter schools within its boundaries.

In addition to its school sites, the District operates various administrative, maintenance, and support facilities to ensure high quality educational programs and student services. Additional information about the District, its schools, and programs is available on the Stockton Unified School District website.

3. Contact Information Project Contact:

Rudy Valderrama

Transportation Manager

2963 Sanguinetti Lane, Stockton, CA

Stockton, CA 95205

Email: rvalderrama@stocktonusd.net

Phone: (209) 938-5183

Procurement Contact:

Sheikia Wilson

Director of Purchasing

2141 Robindale Ave

Stockton, CA 95202

Email: sheikiawilson@stocktonusd.net

Phone: (209) 933-7095

Department:

Transportation Services

Department Head:

Katherine Baggese

Director, Transportation

4. Timeline

1ST PUBLICATION May 29, 2026

2ND PUBLICATION June 5, 2026

REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION June 10, 2026, 4:00pm https://www.stocktonusd.net/ mailto:rvalderrama@stocktonusd.net tel:(209)938-5183 mailto:sheikiawilson@stocktonusd.net tel:(209)933-7095

ADDENDUM ISSUED June 17, 2026, 4:00pm

DUE DATE June 25, 2026, 2:00pm

SECTION 3 INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS

3.1 RFQ DUE DATE & OPENING

All interested respondents are invited to submit a Statement of Qualification (SOQ) in accordance with the terms and conditions stated in the RFQ documents. SOQs can be submitted up to, but not later than Thursday, June 25, 2026 at

2:00 pm to the District's e-Procurement website.

A copy of the RFQ documents can be downloaded by accessing the District’s OpenGov website accessible through via the District's e-Procurement Portal. Respondents are advised that the District reserves the right to amend the RFQ documents at any time. Addenda providing clarification or corrections will be done formally through posting on the District’s website. It is the sole responsibility of each respondent to periodically check the District’s website OpenGov portal for all addenda.

3.2 REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION

Respondents shall submit all inquiries regarding this bid via the District's e-Procurement Portal.

Please note the deadline for submitting inquiries. Questions are due Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 4:00 pm. All answers to inquiries will be posted on the District's e-Procurement Portal.

Respondents may also click “Follow” on this bid to receive an email notification when answers are posted. It is the responsibility of the bidder to check the website for answers to inquiries.

3.3 ADDENDA NOTIFICATION

Respondents are required to register for an account via the District's e-Procurement Portal hosted by OpenGov.

Once respondent has completed registration, you will receive addenda notifications to your email by clicking

“Follow” on this project. Ultimately, it is sole responsibility of each respondent to periodically check the site for any addenda at via the District's e-Procurement Portal. Acknowledgement of all addenda must be submitted with bid response. Failure to acknowledge in writing the receipt of any addendum may result in rejection of proposal.

Contact with any other individual, i.e., District Departments, District Agents, Board Members, etc., regarding this solicitation during the RFP process other than the Buyer identified above or other than a member of the

District’s Purchasing Department may be grounds for rejection.

Any RFQ may be withdrawn by the respondent by directly emailing the Purchasing Department at purchasing@stocktonusd.net any time prior to the scheduled closing time for receipt of statements of qualifications.

If a responder discovers any ambiguity or error such as a conflict, discrepancy, omission, or other errors in the

RFQ documents, responder shall immediately notify the District via the Question and Answer tab of the solicitation. Please note the deadline for submitting clarification questions.

3.4 TERM OF AGREEMENT

The District intends to establish a qualified pool of transportation providers for an initial term of five (5) years.

The District reserves the right to extend the qualified pool for additional periods upon mutual agreement of the parties and approval by the Governing Board, if required.

Inclusion in the qualified pool does not guarantee any minimum amount of work, compensation, or assignment of services.

The District reserves the right to add, remove, or re-solicit qualified transportation providers during the term of the qualified pool if determined to be in the best interest of the District.

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/stocktonusd mailto:purchasinginfo@psusd.us

SECTION 4 STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATION SUBMISSION

4.1 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Experience: The Respondent must have a minimum of five (5) years' experience providing charter transportation services of similar scope and complexity to public agencies, preferably to K-12 school districts, within the State of California. Experience shall include transporting students for field trips, extracurricular activities, and other school-related functions. Respondents shall demonstrate this experience in the appropriate section of the Statement of Qualification and include examples of comparable contracts, including client name, service description, and duration.

Knowledge: The Respondent must demonstrate knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and safety requirements governing student transportation services in California, including but not limited to:

• California Highway Patrol (CHP) regulations

• School Pupil Activity Bus (SPAB) requirements

• Driver certification and training requirements

• Safety and inspection standards

Respondents shall describe their knowledge and compliance practices in the appropriate section of the

Statement of Qualification.

RESPONDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO RESPOND PER THE SCOPE OF WORK OF THE RFQ.

4.2 RFQ DUE DATE & OPENING

Please submit electronic responses via the District's e-Procurement Portal.

By way of the e-Procurement Portal, responses will be locked and digitally encrypted until the due date and time Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 2:00 pm.

Statements of Qualifications walked in or delivered by carrier will be rejected and considered non-responsive.

4.3 ORGANIZATION OF STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

In order to be considered for selection as a Comprehensive Charter Transportation Services provider, the respondent firm or firms or team will submit the following items in the specified order. Interested firms or respondents are requested to respond in accordance with the direction provided below. The RFQ shall not exceed fifteen (20) pages, excluding front and back covers, tabs and appendices. Please provide only one (1) statement of qualification and one (1) rate sheet, uploaded separately.

The District is seeking a full scope of service offerings that will provide the best services to the District. Each of these section headers shall be listed in the submitted proposal with pertinent information provided under the specific header:

A. PART 0 – Table of Contents (Please include page numbers)

B. PART 1 – Cover Letter: Include original signature of person authorized to submit the proposal on behalf of the firm; submitting organization’s name, telephone number and the contact name and email address of person whom the District is to contact regarding any clarification on submittal or notifications; and who is authorized to negotiate the contract.

C. PART 2 – Firm Introduction

A. Provide brief background information with regards to the firm, including information about the office location from which your work for the District will be accomplished.

B. Indicate whether your organization has been known by any other names within the last five years.

C. Provide the name and qualifications of key personnel who would be assigned to manage and/or work directly with this project.

D. PART 3 – Experience

A. Experience with the District: Provide brief background information and description of any previous work performed for Stockton Unified School District, including but not limited to nature, length and status of the project(s).

OR

Experience with K-12: Outline of services along with a brief summary of your firms experience with K-

12 Districts of similar size including:

A. Name of District, contact names, contact number, and email.

B. Industry Experience: Provide a brief background with your firm's experience in the industry. Include information regarding your team's knowledge, Particularly in K-12 educational settings, including program delivery, compliance, and invoicing practices.

E. PART 4 – Exceptions taken to Terms and Conditions: Respondents are required to review

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS and list any exceptions. Exclusion of this section in a proposal will be taken as a proof the Respondent has no exceptions. Include any contract language and forms/documents the vendor wishes the District to consider.

PART 5 – Questionnaire and Supplemental Documentation: In addition, to the proposal vendor is required to respond and upload all pertinent documents requested in VENDOR QUESTIONNAIRE section of the e-

Procurement Portal.

4.4 SOQ EVALUATION CRITERIA

Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) will be evaluated by a District evaluation committee using the criteria listed below. The criteria are intended to evaluate each Respondent's qualifications, experience, resources, and ability to successfully provide comprehensive charter transportation services to the District. The order of the criteria does not indicate relative importance.

Firm Qualifications and Experience – 30 Points

Evaluation of the Respondent's overall qualifications, organizational experience, and demonstrated ability to provide comprehensive charter transportation services. Consideration may include:

• Years in business providing charter transportation services

• Experience serving California K-12 school districts and public agencies

• Experience providing transportation for field trips, athletic events, educational excursions, and other student activities

• Required licenses, permits, certifications, and regulatory compliance

• Organizational stability and demonstrated expertise in providing similar services

Fleet Capacity and Operational Resources – 25 Points

Evaluation of the Respondent's ability to meet the District's transportation needs, including:

• Fleet size, vehicle types, and availability

• Availability of SPABs, ADA-accessible vehicles, and other specialized equipment

• Driver staffing levels and dispatch capabilities

• Vehicle maintenance programs

• Ability to accommodate routine, large-scale, and emergency transportation requests

Safety Program and Regulatory Compliance – 20 Points

Evaluation of the Respondent's commitment to safety and compliance, including:

• Safety record and accident history

• CHP terminal inspection ratings

• Driver qualification and training programs

• Drug and alcohol testing programs

• Compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations

References and Past Performance – 15 Points

Evaluation of the Respondent's past performance and customer satisfaction, including:

• References from California school districts and public agencies

• Reliability, responsiveness, and quality of service

• Demonstrated ability to successfully perform similar services

SOQ Format, Organization, and Clarity – 10 Points

Evaluation of the overall quality of the submitted SOQ, including:

• Adherence to RFQ requirements

• Completion of all required forms and certifications

• Organization, clarity, and responsiveness of the submission

• Completeness and quality of information provided

Total Possible Points: 100

4.5 SELECTION PROCESS

Stockton Unified School District (District) will evaluate Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) based on the extent to which each Respondent demonstrates the qualifications, experience, resources, and capability to provide the services described in this RFQ.

The District reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine which Respondents are qualified and best meet the needs of the District. The District may establish a qualified pool of one or more Respondents, enter into agreements with one or more qualified Respondents, or reject any or all SOQs if deemed to be in the best interest of the District.

SOQs will be evaluated using the criteria identified in Section 4.4, Evaluation Criteria. The District's evaluation is not limited solely to the listed criteria and may include consideration of references, past performance, financial stability, regulatory compliance, responsiveness, and any other information the District determines to be relevant.

Nothing contained in this RFQ shall obligate the District to enter into an agreement, award any work, or guarantee any minimum amount of services or compensation to any Respondent.

SECTION 5 SCOPE OF SERVICES

5.01 SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

The Firm shall provide transportation services, including but not limited to:

• Round Trip School to Destination: Student transportation services shall be provided as needed to meet the district’s field trip and activity transportation needs during the regular school year. Transportation services would be required to transport students from their designated school to the field trip and activity location and back to their school.

• Guaranteed Minimum Base Trip: District guarantees that each trip will consist of a minimum of five hours of service and 150 miles.

• The Firm shall provide timely operation of trips pursuant to the agreed upon schedule.

• The Firm shall arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time of each trip.

• Children are not to be transferred to another vehicle going to or coming from school, except in case of emergency or breakdown, or unless the schedule calls for such transfer on school property.

• The Firm will provide a direct phone line and email capability to their dispatch/scheduling office to be used by the district for the purpose of communicating with the dispatcher/scheduler concerning scheduling changes, emergencies, resolving complaints, problems, etc.

• Unsatisfactory Service: The district may provide Firm with a written notice of unsatisfactory service on any trip. The Firm shall investigate and reply to the district within 24 hours. Depending on the severity of issue, adjustment to staffing and/or equipment will occur within a District approved time.

• All trips must be booked and authorized by the District Transportation Department only. Requests should specify necessary departure and arrival times, addresses for pick-up location(s) and destination(s), the total number of students and adults that will be transported, and the age range of the students being transported.

5.02 EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

• If the Firm maintains a school bus fleet for regular home-to-school transportation, Firm may also use these buses for school activity trips within 150 aerial miles and shall be offered at a discounted rate.

• Inspection and Maintenance of Vehicles, Terminals, and Driver In-Service: The Firm shall keep and maintain all vehicles in good operating and running condition, and in a clean and satisfactory condition, and in order to ensure the same, the Firm will make the vehicles available in the Firm’s garage for inspection by the district. The district may inspect vehicles, terminals, and attend a driver in-service prior to award of contract and at any time after award of contract to ensure that all are maintained in a satisfactory condition.

• Buses: All passenger buses utilized under this Agreement shall be less than ten years old at the start of the contractual service. Age of the buses during the term of the Agreement shall be determined by the length of the Agreement. However, at no time during the contract can a bus be older than ten model years old. All buses shall at all times be properly certified by the California Highway Patrol and meet all requirements of the California Code of Regulations, Titles 5 and 13, and the California Vehicle Code.

Firm shall provide District a list of buses used to provide the services.

• Required Modification of Equipment: Any installation or modification of equipment required by a change in law or regulation shall be made by the Firm at Firm's expense and certified by the California

Highway Patrol.

• Two-Way Radios: Firm will provide two-way radio equipment ensuring communication with a base station dispatch terminal for each vehicle serving the Agreement. In addition, Firm will maintain sufficient spare mobile two-way radio units to ensure communication capability at all times. Citizen

Band radios are not acceptable. Failure to maintain each radio in good working order at all times when such vehicles are being assigned to transport students shall be a material breach of this Agreement.

• Air Conditioning: Vehicles with air conditioning must be used during inclement weather.

• Cameras: All vehicles must be equipped with cameras, with interior view of all seated riders.

• GPS. All vehicles must be equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking technology.

• Replacement Availability: The Firm shall have a plan to provide vehicle replacement within twenty (20) minutes if a vehicle becomes disabled.

• CHP Rating: Prior to commencement of Services, the Firm must provide District its Annual California

Highway Patrol Terminal Inspection with a satisfactory rating. If there is any change to terminal rating during the contract year, Firm must notify District immediately and provide the most current inspection report.

5.03 PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES

The Firm shall have the qualifications and ability to perform the Services in a professional manner, without the advice, control or supervision of the District.

The Firm's services will be performed in accordance with generally and currently accepted principles and practices of his/her profession for services to California school Districts.

The Firm shall be responsible for performing the services under this Agreement in a safe, skillful, professional manner. All services shall be performed at Firm's risk.

The Firm and the District agree to participate in regular meetings on at least a monthly basis to discuss strategies, timetables, implementations of Services, and any other issues deemed relevant to the operation of

Firms performance of Services.

5.04 SERVICE AUTHORIZATION AND BOOKING

The District’s Transportation Department shall serve as the sole authorized booking agent for all transportation services under this Agreement, unless otherwise approved in advance in writing by the Transportation

Department.

The Firm shall accept and perform services only when requested and authorized by the District’s Transportation

Department.

The Firm shall not accept trip requests directly from individual school sites, departments, or District personnel without prior written authorization from the Transportation Department.

Trips arranged or performed without proper authorization from the Transportation Department shall be considered unauthorized and shall not be eligible for payment or reimbursement by the District.

5.05 ATHLETIC PLAYOFFS

The District shall be authorized to book and cancel athletic teams involved in “playoff” games on short term notice. This privilege will be limited and should not amount to more than five bookings annually.

The District shall provide notice of the potential for “playoff” game trips when possible. The definition of

“short term notice” shall mean within 24 hours of the event for booking and within 24 hours of the event for cancellation.

5.06 DISTRICT/FIRM COOPERATION

The Firm shall schedule all trips in keeping with the safety of the students. The Firm shall cooperate with the district in maintaining a good public relations program.

The District and Firm will establish the following guidelines for contact and cooperation:

• Establish a directory of personnel in each organization to contact for every type of communication.

• Establish procedures for all communications to be confirmed in writing by both parties.

• Establish a specific program for handling field work in order to most effectively prevent problems and, if they arise, to settle them as quickly and as close to the source of the problem as possible.

• Establish procedures for dealing with disputes involving schedules, student conduct, public relations, and other operational problems that may arise.

• Establish a direct telephone line between the District and Firm.

• Establish such other written guidelines which may be required to ensure effective communication and cooperation between the office of the District and Firm at all times.

• If requested, the Firm will provide the District with a two-way radio for monitoring purposes only of assigned vehicle trips to the District.

• The District and Contractor agree to respond with the corrected action taken within five working days or as soon as practical as determined by the situation.

5.07 EMERGENCY PLAN

The Firm and the District shall collaborate in the development of a written plan that addresses transportation emergencies.

The Firm shall implement protocols outlined in the plan when emergencies arise. The costs associated with such emergencies may be submitted by the District with documentation as an additional expense.

Drivers shall provide emergency procedure instructions at the receiving school sites before every trip in accordance with Title 13 of the California Code or Regulations.

5.08 FIRST AID KITS

Each vehicle shall be equipped with an approved first aid kit and a blood borne pathogen kit.

Kits are to be inspected, and supplies replenished on a systematic basis by the Firm.

The Firm shall provide First Aid and CPR subject to Contractor’s guidelines, a copy of which will be provided to the District.

The Firm will not provide other medical services, including, but not limited to: DiaStat; Versa Magnet; or

Tracts and tube medical procedures unless such services are required of a private student transportation contractor by state or federal law.

5.09 MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING

The Firm, its, employees, intern, volunteers, subcontractors, agents and representatives who will or may have access to students through this Agreement shall complete mandated reporter training provided by California

Department of Social Services (CDSS), complete an CDSS mandated reporter acknowledgement form and

CDSS mandated reporter training prior to providing services, and must annually undergo such training within the first six weeks of each new school year.

5.10 PERSONAL ITEMS

Use of personal electronic devices for personal use is prohibited during "on duty" time. Transportation service is never to be interrupted or delayed by drivers handling personal business.

5.11 REQUESTS FOR SERVICES

The District may request Services through written emails or orally over the phone. Requests for Services must be confirmed by the Contractor within five calendar days from the date of the district’s request.

Only authorized personnel from the District’s Transportation Department may request or book field trips. Field trips requested or booked by school-site personnel, including but not limited to teachers, coaches, or other

District staff outside of the Transportation Department, are not authorized and will not be funded by the

District.

5.12 REPORTS AND DISTRICT FORMS

The Firm agrees to provide the district and law enforcement with reports when requested. These reports shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Student Transportation Incident/Accident Reports: This report describes all incidents, accidents or injuries occurring on District trips, including segments to and from the terminal, whether or not students are in the vehicle. Written follow-up reports stating corrective action taken shall be submitted within 24 hours after the occurrence. Verbal notice must be given to the district immediately. Police reports, where applicable, are to accompany each accident report.

• Constituent Services: The district shall create and provide an electronic form meant to inform the Firm in writing of an incident or complaint about the services provided or about a specific driver by the district or the public. The Firm shall investigate these reports and provide a written reply within five days. If the investigation determines that corrective action is warranted, all written replies shall state the corrective action taken to prevent a recurrence of the condition that caused the incident or complaint.

The Firm shall provide the district with periodic reports as requested by the district including, but not limited to the following:

• Monthly report on all late (over 15 minutes) or missed trips, with cause of problem and corrective action taken.

• Copies of all additional trip records showing schedules, number, type of trip, number of students carried, time of trip and miles traveled.

• Copies of all California Highway Patrol, California Motor Carrier and Federal Department of

Transportation Vehicle Inspection reports on Contractor’s vehicles. Copy of the Terminal Inspection

Report from CHP

• Access to vehicle operational and maintenance cost records. Contractor agrees that any and all routing information, whether developed by Contractor or District, is the property of the district. Contractor has no proprietary right to any such information.

• Copies of the drivers’ evacuation reports.

The Firm shall provide a copy of its Transportation Safety Plan upon request. The Transportation Safety Plan must address all relevant laws and regulations including, without limitation, boarding and exiting, and procedures to ensure a student is not left unattended on a vehicle.

5.13 SAFETY AND SECURITY

The Firm shall observe all requirements of California laws governing the safe operation of school vehicle equipment and training of personnel as it relates to the safety of students transported for the district.

The Firm shall not employ any individuals who are registered on a sex offender list.

The District must be informed of any drivers with criminal convictions and reserves the right to reject the services of said drivers.

Drivers with any child abuse/molestation convictions at misdemeanor or felony level will not be allowed to transport students.

The Firm is responsible for maintaining safety in the performance of this Agreement.

The Firm shall be responsible to ascertain from the District the rules and regulations pertaining to safety, security, and driving on school grounds, particularly when children are present.

5.14 SCHOOL BUSES

If the Firm maintains a school bus fleet for regular home-to-school transportation, Firm may also use these buses for school activity trips within 150 aerial miles, offered at a discounted rate.

5.15 STUDENT DISCIPLINE

The Firm shall recognize its responsibility to the district for the maintenance of proper student discipline as an inherent factor to the safety of all persons aboard a vehicle. The driver is to report to the Firm and is not to perform any acts of discipline.

• In general, the driver is not authorized to remove students from the vehicle. In serious circumstances when a student is endangering the safety of other riders, an offender may be ejected at the school site immediately into the custody of an administrator. If such action is taken, the driver must notify the dispatcher by radio, who will notify the district immediately.

5.16 SUBCONTRACTING

The Firm may not use subcontractors and/or third-party partners (“subcontractors”) for the performance of this

Agreement. The Firm shall remain responsible for the performance of this Agreement.

No Party on the basis of this Agreement shall in any way contract on behalf of or in the name of the other Party to this Agreement, and violation of this provision shall confer no rights on any Party and shall be void.

Unauthorized use of subcontractors by the Firm shall authorize the District to terminate the Agreement.

In certain situations, the District may allow for subcontractors only if the Firm seeks prior written approval from the District. Once the approval has been granted, the subcontractor must submit all of the required documentation and vehicle information stated in this agreement.

5.17 TERMINAL/OFFICE STAFFING

The Fim's terminal must be open and operated by office staff from 6:00 AM or by the start time of the first trip out in the morning.

The terminal must be open until the last driver has called into the terminal that the trip is over for the day.

The Firm will designate one person for 24/7 contact by cell phone for emergencies.

5.18 VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, CLEANLINESS, AND CONDITION

All vehicles shall be cleaned inside and out in a systematic manner.

It shall be the Firm’s responsibility to develop and maintain a program to accomplish this task.

The district reserves the right to inspect vehicles for cleanliness at any time. Vehicles that are found to be out of compliance shall be removed from service until clean and re-inspected by the district.

All vehicles must be thoroughly sanitized and disinfected in accordance with the applicable public health standards, at a minimum, before each trip.

Broken window glass shall be repaired or replaced by the Contractor in a timely manner.

• Vehicles with damaged glass shall be placed out of service until the defect is corrected.

5.19 DRIVER'S QUALIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

The Firm shall provide drivers who are trained and licensed in accordance with the California laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of school transportation vehicles, federal laws governing Class A or B

License holders and maintain in force such certifications, permits and licenses .

All drivers shall have had CPR Training and First Aid Training and shall hold valid First Aid Certificates and

CPR Certificates issued by the American Red Cross.

• The Firm shall follow mandated drug testing requirements for employees.

• Each driver shall have knowledge of the operation of the mobile two-way radio and all federal regulations covering its use.

• Pursuant to Education Code section 49406, the Firm’s responsibility for tuberculosis clearance extends to all of its employees, agents, and volunteers coming into contact with District students regardless of whether they are designated as employees or acting as independent contractors of the Firm. The Firm shall ensure that any person providing any portion of the Services under the Agreement, within the past

60 days, has submitted to a tuberculosis risk assessment, and if tuberculosis risk factors were identified, has been examined to determine that he or she is free of infectious tuberculosis by a licensed health care provider (i.e., physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse). The Firm shall ensure that any person providing any portion of the Services with no identified risk factors or who tests negative for the tuberculosis infection shall undergo the tuberculosis risk assessment and, if risk factors are identified, the examination, at least once every four years or more often if directed by the Board of

Education of the District upon recommendation of the local health officer.

• The responsibility for hiring and discharging personnel shall rest entirely upon the Firm. The Firm further agrees that the district shall have the right to require removal from service any person or driver who, in the opinion of the district, is not qualified to operate a vehicle for service to the operating and safety standards required by the district.

• The Firm agrees that it shall enter into no agreement or arrangement with any employee, person, group, organization, district or agency which will in any way interfere with the Firm’s ability to comply to the full extent of the contract with the district and the requirements contained therein.

• The Firm shall not assign for service under the Agreement any person who has been released, reassigned, transferred or otherwise removed from another assignment for any reason related to inappropriate conduct, verbal, physical, or otherwise, toward students or other persons.

• Pursuant to Government Code Section 8350 et seq., the Contractor shall certify to the district, in writing and under penalty of perjury that the Firm shall comply with the requirements of the Drug-Free

Workplace Act. The Firm shall use the form Contractor’s Certificate Regarding Drug-Free Workplace attached hereto.

• Drivers are not to use cell phones while the vehicle is in motion or at such times when the use of such devices would interfere with work duties or the needs of the students.

• The use of tobacco and/or tobacco-like products of any kind is forbidden in and around the student transportation vehicles or on property owned or leased by the district, whether passengers are in the vehicle or not. The restriction applies to students, aides, drivers, the Firm's management staff and maintenance staff.

• Drivers must hold current School Pupil Activity Buses (SPAB) certifications or School Bus certifications. The Firm must provide a list of their drivers with current certifications and licenses, with their respective expiration dates, prior to performing Services. The addition of a new driver to this list shall require the approval of the district.

• Drivers shall wear a clearly visible identification badge with their photograph, name, and employee number while performing transportation services.

• Drivers shall not offer food or drink to students.

Senate Bill 88 (2023), operative on July 1, 2025, enacted Education Code section 39879 which requires that

Firm attest in writing that it has no applicable law violations at the time of entering into this Agreement with the

District and will maintain compliance with applicable laws for the duration of the Agreement. Education Code section 39879 further requires that all of Firm’s drivers shall:

• Hold a valid California driver’s license for the appropriate class of vehicle.

• Be at least 18 years of age.

• Pass the requisite criminal background check and complete the requisite fingerprint clearance.

• Have a satisfactory driving record, including:

o Not have committed any violation that results in a conviction assigned a violation point count of two or more, as defined in Sections 12810 and 12810.5 of the Vehicle Code within the last three years.

o Not have had their driving privilege suspended, revoked, or on probation for any reason involving the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle within the last three years.

o Not have been determined by the Department of Motor Vehicles to be a negligent or incompetent operator.

• Not have demonstrated irrational behavior to the extent that a reasonable and prudent person would have reasonable cause to believe that the driver’s ability to perform the duties of a driver may be impaired.

• Not have been convicted of an offense listed in Section 13370 of the Vehicle Code.

• Provide their Firm a report showing the driver’s current public record as recorded by the Department of

Motor Vehicles and participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles’ pull-notice system.

• Be subjected to and comply with drug and alcohol testing.

• Complete a medical examination not more than two years prior to the driver performing student transportation. Driver shall complete a medical examination every two years after the initial examination.

• Submit and clear a tuberculosis risk assessment.

• Not drive for more than ten hours within a work period, or after the end of the 16th hour after coming on duty following eight consecutive hours off duty.

• Complete initial and subsequent required training sufficient to gain proficiency in all of the following:

o Pre-trip vehicle inspections.

o Safe loading and unloading of passengers.

o Proper use of seatbelts and child safety restraints.

o Handling accidents, incidents, and emergency situations.

o Providing proper accommodations for students with disabilities.

o Defensive driving.

o Operations in inclement weather; and o Operations at night or under impaired visibility conditions.

• Maintain a daily log sheet and complete the daily pre-trip inspection of the vehicle being driven that day.

o Inspection shall cover:

▪ a check of the operability of all lights, initialed by the driver before the vehicle is first driven in service that day.

▪ a check for fluid leaks, initialed by the driver before the vehicle is first driven in service that day.

▪ a check for the operability of the brakes, initialed by the driver before the vehicle is first driven in service that day.

• The Firm shall complete, or hold a valid certificate of completion for, a first aid training program at least equivalent to the American Red Cross first aid training program.

SECTION 6 EVALUATION PHASES

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Qualifications & Experience Evaluation of the Respondent's overall qualifications, organizational experience, and demonstrated ability to provide comprehensive charter transportation services. Consideration may include:

• Years in business providing charter transportation services

• Experience serving California K-12 school districts and public agencies

• Experience providing transportation for field trips, athletic events, educational excursions, and other student activities

• Required licenses, permits, certifications, and regulatory compliance

• Organizational stability and demonstrated expertise in providing similar services

Points Based 30 (30% of Total)

2. Fleet Capacity & Operational Resources Evaluation of the Respondent's ability to meet the District's transportation needs, including:

• Fleet size, vehicle types, and availability

• Availability of SPABs, ADA-accessible vehicles, and other specialized equipment

• Driver staffing levels and dispatch capabilities

• Vehicle maintenance programs

• Ability to accommodate routine, large-scale, and emergency transportation requests

Points Based 25 (25% of Total)

3. Safety Program & Regulatory Compliance Evaluation of the Respondent's commitment to safety and compliance, including:

• Safety record and accident history

• CHP terminal inspection ratings

• Driver qualification and training programs

• Drug and alcohol testing programs

• Compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations

Points Based 20 (20% of Total)

4. References & Past Performance Evaluation of the Respondent's past performance and customer satisfaction, including:

• References from California school districts and public agencies

• Reliability, responsiveness, and quality of service

• Demonstrated ability to successfully perform similar services

Points Based 15 (15% of Total)

5. SOQ Format, Organization, and Clarity Evaluation of the overall quality of the submitted SOQ, including:

• Adherence to RFQ requirements

• Completion of all required forms and certifications

• Organization, clarity, and responsiveness of the submission

• Completeness and quality of information provided

Points Based 10 (10% of Total)

SECTION 7 VENDOR QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Rate Sheet Certification and Acknowledgement* By selecting "Yes," the Respondent certifies that:

• The individual submitting the Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is authorized to bind the firm.

• The Respondent has read, understands, and agrees to comply with all requirements, specifications, instructions, terms, conditions, and addenda associated with this RFQ.

• The SOQ submitted is complete, accurate, and responsive to the requirements of the RFQ.

• The Respondent possesses the qualifications, experience, resources, licenses, and capability necessary to provide the services described in this RFQ.

• No unauthorized contact, discussion, or negotiation regarding this RFQ has occurred with any District employee, representative, or Board member other than the designated District contact identified in the

RFQ documents.

• The Respondent understands that the District reserves the right to determine, at its sole discretion, whether the Respondent is qualified to provide the requested services.

• The Respondent acknowledges that all requirements, terms, conditions, and addenda associated with this

RFQ may be incorporated into any resulting agreement with the District.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

2. Statement of Qualification Submission* Please upload your Statement of Qualification here. This document should include your firm's qualifications, project approach, and proposed timeline.

*Response required

3. Rate Sheet* Please upload your complete Rate Sheet here. This should include a detailed breakdown of all fees, hourly rates, and any other costs associated with the project as outlined in the Scope of Services.

*Response required

4. Certificate Regarding Worker’s Compensation* Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Certificate_Regarding_Worke...

*Response required

5. W-9* Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Form_W-9_(Rev.pdf

*Response required

6. Vendor Application* Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Vendor_Application.pdf

*Response required

7. Required Driver Forms* Vehicle Insurance, Registration, 292, DOT Physical, License, First Aid and Special School Bus Certification

*Response required

8. Fingerprint and Criminal Background Check* Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• susdfingerprinting_and_back...

*Response required https://government-project.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/270400/bbb18d0b-0068-430c-89f0-27b5b1867732_Certificate_Regarding_Workers%27_Compensation_Form.pdf https://government-project.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/34512/23fdd224-254e-421f-bf98-f0d6d4cdfa86_Form_W-9_%28Rev.pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=ASIA47RIURE4GE2SITBD%2F20260617%2Fus-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260617T225005Z&X-Amz-Expires=72000&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEM7%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLXdlc3QtMiJHMEUCIC6SfqfGfNmz%2BH56rcflSuEVAZEEQmvPkJ8KisTmsTi4AiEAggktE8SY4TBixOBSrJX0%2FzGuPGA3naZm4svcvGQZE9IqlQUIl%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARACGgw4OTIzNjQ2ODc2NzIiDNhrEfcgvBMvq6wOsyrpBDfAIXYQLPBV%2BqcJGJj2SmdOydIfl25gyZQaqlJkOWBoiiIJas5gFiDRGE1SIRtPIDxhaJjBt%2BcixijjEQ44Qkhjsg72V9ytfU36ekRn31kJnSqomw4Lz7pL3xhdBbiYf3WdV9zq%2BXiuQRyi0G6JQGumXrDy3mQR29r9%2BTNE9HoJDKj2OETTXcCq7RFtWZONQDUQ4urg8k%2FjLka9IbPEkQBIFZR%2BZV%2FPQ9nUNx4Bcn8gvMvflXqF75ZLAuOPl9R2jv35FTEVOwNyesjuAIS2zGwoTIrutmNBXWMRr3T3Tj94maRMi7dVaQ3mc34KPQ%2BogTGOxwGFpk%2By8MuUeWKMhUJZ6eeewTNZMEgknqDVa1WEwLBu%2BqR%2FBnBTYZ5AfZMyo7XM%2BJXRCteyAT7jxm%2BjGocqGqSNm21UR0TFLqnQJL23dji5HLu75kMwnhmgEVzIwB8VqyskjjsiFADZhA72fKsKvBW8yXSppmF0K2OCWicFRBKWdrU8Ij%2FmG2qLH%2BdqPtflqh1dQU05J7ywV4oyPUiLBg%2FOn4MQ0VXgUlPl7i%2FEw38Wz%2Bv%2Fg%2FosO8u5nVWHT%2FOfDC9NWiYE%2BzQUngP5095DTihd9QNyVOxctoeOsmQA46zgWqvSf5%2F9IEgnUnAG43Cy7SbsPjtrOhF3QS9KT8gDwOdkCjlwWvzyTRgIp%2BtRDODmbgWdLzMCBpUas0OSyHizO49LmynW9o1YCs2pHrDxlujUtFa13Yt4zFBV6eUSvykNowslVGJAdANuqOPm6QT%2F62bpmN%2Bdi4RliKyT2hvCZ20CrllWCZEppekaKSwWuYDqWnhl8y3JMJm0zNEGOpkBM8NVQK3zmCBh4rtaNs1%2BmOVTbfsFKwdJpgA2T3%2BG01gjRnGZ4LUaMXiISYaDJJ38KGXTOvu1pCQG4mB%2Bg0l8Hmm%2BnNXld9roauacpUgiks55tWG9F5t2KQsUoTzGH3ZRT1JojwGvezuIT5InVvatbuIW8hgMC%2FlFYNWj59nsFH6Ay7wdx9rI0Ysc4iP%2BonrSgXCrIe1dbYA7&X-Amz-Signature=4b69c2b032e430b7e124b057e3754b8c008de131d9488f861b00044239a44e7c&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=attachment%3B%20filename%3D%22Form_W-9_%28Rev.pdf%22&x-id=GetObject https://government-project.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/270400/c5058ee9-5489-428b-9b6a-a6acf7195da2_Vendor_Application.pdf https://government-project.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/240796/3cd00d85-c4f4-4c63-9990-0c93019609dd_susdfingerprinting_and_background_check_certification.pdf

9. Certification Regarding Debarment* Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Certification_Regarding_Deb...

*Response required

10. Debarment Verification* Please enter your company's legal name or dba company name.

The company name must match what is listed on the submitted W9.

*Response required

11. Equal Opportunity Certification* Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Equal_Opportunity_Form.pdf

*Response required

12. 2022 Executive Orders Compliance Statement* On February 21, 2022, President Biden issued Executive Order 140651 imposing economic sanctions and prohibiting many activities including, but not limited to, investing, importing, exporting, and contracting, in areas of Ukraine and in Russia. On March 4, 2022, California Governor Newsom issued Order N-6-222 requiring state agencies to take steps to ensure any agency and entity under contract with state agencies comply with the Federal Order.

If awarded a contract with the District, your Firm must comply with the economic sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, including the orders and sanctions identified on the U.S. Department of the Treasury website.

As part of this procurement, please select all that apply:

Select all that apply

☐ Your Firm is in compliance with the required economic sanctions of the Federal and State Orders.

☐ Your Firm has taken steps in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine, including, but not limited to, desisting from making new investments in, or engaging in financial transactions with, Russian entities, not transferring technology to Russia or Russian entities, and directly providing support to the government and people of

Ukraine.

*Response required

13. Executive Order Compliance Certification PCC 2202-2208* Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Iran_Contracting_Act_Certif...

*Response required

14. Throughout the life of the Contract, Vendor shall pay for and maintain in full force and affect the policies of insurance identified in the District’s General Conditions as specified in Section

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS.*

Please acknowledge.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

15. Addenda Acknowledgement* Respondent acknowledges receipt of all addenda issued by the District and confirms that all…