MILFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

31 West Fountain Street, Milford, Massachusetts 01757

(508) 478-1100 | www.milfordpublicschools.com

Invitation for Bids

School Transportation Services MPS-26-Transp01

Milford Public Schools | School Transportation Services IFB | MPS-26-Transp01

Invitation for Bids

Sealed bids for furnishing School Day Student Transportation Services for pupils and other persons, including transportation for regular school routes, athletics, extracurricular activities, and ϐield trips, will be accepted by the Superintendent of Schools, Milford Public Schools, 31 West Fountain Street, Milford, MA 01757 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

All bids must be received in the Ofϐice of the Superintendent of Schools not later than 10:00 AM, Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at which time they will be opened and read publicly. No bid received after the time and date established herein for the opening of bids will be considered, regardless of the cause of delay in the receipt of any such bids. Bids received after the date and time for receipt of bids will be returned unopened. The envelope must be marked with the bidder's name and address. Bids will be accepted only if sealed and clearly marked.

BID: School Transportation Services MPS-26-Transp01 DUE: 10:00 AM, January 28, 2026

Bid speciϐications and forms may be obtained by emailing wcobb@milfordma.com.

The School Committee reserves the right to reject any or all transportation bids in whole or in part and reserves the right to waive minor technicalities and irregularities in the bids received, if in the sole judgment of the Committee, such action serves the best interest of Milford Public Schools. The School Committee herein declares its express purpose not to award any bidder unable to furnish evidence, satisfactory to the School Committee, that it has sufϐicient ability, experience, and capital to execute and complete the work in accordance with the contract. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

All prospective contractors are advised that the contract shall be awarded based on prevailing wage rates in accordance with M.G.L. c. 71, section 7A. The prevailing wage schedule applicable to this contract will be included in the bid speciϐications.

Very truly yours, Milford School Committee

Bid Timetable

Event Date Time Location / Method

Public Notice Monday, December 1, 2025 - Bid documents are available on COMMBUYS, MPS website, or via email.

Voluntary Pre-Bid Meeting Wednesday, December 17, 2025 10:00 AM TRC, Milford High School

Deadline for Written Questions Wednesday, January 7, 2026 11:00 AM Superintendent’s Ofϐice

Answers Released Wednesday, January 14, 2026 11:00 PM Superintendent’s Ofϐice

Bid Due Date/Public Opening Wednesday, January 28, 2026 10:00 AM Superintendent’s Ofϐice

Anticipated Award Thursday, February 5, 2026 7:00 PM Milford School Committee

Contract Start Date July 1, 2026 - Milford Public Schools

NOTICE TO BIDDERS FOR SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

MILFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

31 West Fountain Street Milford, Massachusetts 01757

The Milford Public Schools will receive sealed bids for furnishing school bus transportation of pupils and other persons authorized by the Milford School Committee to and from school, and athletics, extracurricular activities and ϐield trips in a separate bid as required by the Milford Public Schools and set forth in these speciϐications.

Bid speciϐications and forms may be obtained on or after December 1, 2025 by emailing wcobb@milfordma.com.

A voluntary pre-bid conference will be held at 10:00 AM on December 17, 2025. Attendance is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged.

All bids must be received in the Ofϐice of the Superintendent of Schools not later than 10:00 AM, Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at which time they will be opened and read publicly.

1.0 GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.1 The person, ϐirm, or corporation submitting a bid shall do so in a sealed envelope delivered to the Ofϐice of the Superintendent, Milford Public Schools, 31 West Fountain Street, Milford, MA 01757. All bids must be sealed and clearly marked:

BID: School Transportation Services MPS-26-Transp01 DUE: 10:00 AM, January 28, 2026

1.2 All bids must be received in the Ofϐice of the Superintendent of Schools not later than

10:00 AM, Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at which time they will be publicly opened and read. No bid received after that time will be considered, regardless of the cause of delay. Late bids will be returned unopened.

1.3 The envelope must be marked with the bidder’s name and address. Bids will be accepted only if sealed and clearly marked.

1.4 Questions regarding the bid speciϐications must be submitted in writing to the School Business Administrator Wen Cobb at wcobb@milfordma.com. Questions must be submitted no later than 11:00 AM on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Written responses will be issued to all bidders who have obtained bid documents and posted as an addendum on the district website by 11:00 AM on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

1.5 The School Committee reserves the right to reject any or all bids, in whole or in part, and to waive minor informalities when doing so serves the best interests of the Milford Public Schools. The School Committee herein declares its express intent is not to award to any bidder unable to demonstrate sufϐicient ability, experience, and ϐinancial capacity to complete the work in accordance with the contract. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

1.6 Continuation of transportation services each year is subject to the appropriation of funds by the Town of Milford and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The School Committee expressly reserves the right to terminate or modify this Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Contractor in the event sufϐicient funds are not available in subsequent ϐiscal years.

1.7 The initial contract term shall be three (3) years, commencing July 1, 2026, through

June 30, 2029, subject to annual appropriation. The Milford School Committee shall have the sole option to renew the contract for additional two (2) years, July 1, 2029, through June 30, 2031, subject to annual appropriation. The Contractor will be notiϐied at least thirty (30) days prior to expiration, if the Committee elects not to renew.

1.8 Bidders must use the prescribed bid forms provided with the speciϐications.

1.9 Bids submitted prior to the date and time set for the opening may; upon written requests signed by the bidder, be withdrawn, and if resubmitted, they shall fully comply with all other conditions and requirements.

1.10 Bids must be signed by an authorized ofϐicer of the corporation or company, with written veriϐication of such authorization.

1.11 A bidder ϐiling a bid thereby certiϐies that no ofϐicer, agent or employee of the Town of Milford has a pecuniary interest in the bid; that the bid is made in good faith without fraud, collusion or connection of any kind with any other bidder for the same work;

and that the bidder is competing solely on his behalf without connection with, or obligation to, any undisclosed person or ϐirm, with the exception of those who have been exempted from the provisions of Chapter 268A of the Massachusetts General Laws.

1.12 The Superintendent of Schools or Agents will have complete authority over the Contractor and drivers in the matters pertaining to school transportation; as speciϐied by the terms of this contract.

1.13 Each bid shall include a detailed description, on the forms provided, of each bus to be furnished. The description must include year of manufacture, make of bus, make of body, present mileage, present condition, seating capacity, and vehicle identiϐication number. The School Committee reserves the right to reject any vehicle that does not conϐirm to the speciϐications as deϐined herein. Bidder must submit annual updated documentation identifying and detailing the composition of the bus ϐleet to be used annually by August 1 of each contract year.

1.14 Each bidder must prove that it has been in business providing school transportation for at least ϐive (5) years. The references should demonstrate that during the past ϐive

(5) years the Contractor has provided safe and efϐicient school bus transportation.

Bidder should hold acceptable experience transporting in a similar size district.

1.15 Bidders must also certify that they are not currently in litigation with any community in which they provide business or, if in litigation, bidders must provide a summary of the nature of the litigation, the court of jurisdiction, case name and number(s) and other identifying information necessary in order to obtain access to court documents.

No bid submittal shall be accepted from any contractor, company, company principal or subsidiary holding company that within the past ten (10) years had defaulted on a contract, or had a contract terminated for just cause or has had a contract under suspension. No bid submittal shall be accepted from any contractor, company, company principal or subsidiary holding company that in the past ten (10) years have ϐiled for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

1.16 Should the Contractor fail to comply with any of the terms and conditions as set forth in the agreement, or should the Contractor fail to provide all of the transportation needs of the School Department under the contract, then in that event with thirty (30) days written notice to the Contractor, the agreement may be terminated.

1.17 The Contractor shall provide transportation at no additional cost for deviations from normal starting and dismissal times which may occur at various times during the school year on the Elementary and Secondary levels as well as emergency situations determined by the Superintendent of Schools.

1.18 In the interpretation of this agreement and the relations between the Contractor and the Milford Public Schools, the same shall be construed as being an independent agreement with the Contractor for furnishing of transportation only, and the Contractor shall not be held or deemed in any way to be an agent, employee or ofϐicial of the Milford Public Schools.

1.19 The Milford Public Schools reserves the right to use other vendors or vehicles for transportation purposes when deemed in the best interest of the district.

1.20 To ensure the faithful fulϐillment of its terms, each bid shall be accompanied by a bid deposit in the following form: A CERTIFIED CHECK PAYABLE TO THE TOWN OF

MILFORD IN THE AMOUNT OF TWENTY THOUSAND ($20,000) DOLLARS.

Should any bidder to whom an award is made fail to enter into a written contract within ten (10) days, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays excepted, after receiving written notiϐication of such an award or fail to furnish a Performance Bond within the time prescribed in Section 1.25, the amount so received from the bidder as a bid deposit through certiϐied check shall become the property of the Town of Milford, as liquidated damages for such failure.

Within ϐifteen (15) business days of the award of the contract, bid deposits will be returned to the unsuccessful bidders. The bid deposit of the successful bidder shall be returned upon receipt of both a signed contract and a Performance Bond or a Bid Bond in the amount of ϐive percent (5%) of the regular route cost, for one year, must accompany bids. Bonds will be returned concurrently with the bid award selection.

1.21 No bidder may withdraw a bid for thirty (30) business days following bid opening.

Award will be made within thirty (30) days after opening of bids. Notiϐication by the School Committee to the successful bidder is deemed to constitute a legal and binding contract. The successful bidder will be required to enter written contracts for the items awarded commencing July 1, 2026, within ten (10) business days of written notiϐication of the award, such contract to be signed by the School Committee of the Town and by the Bidder. Any known or intentional violation of this contract by the bidder of any provision of this contract, or of the speciϐications forming a part thereof, shall constitute cause for termination of said contract by the School Committee.

1.22 The School Committee reserves the right to revoke any contract for cause and to have any driver(s) removed from service.

1.23 Partial bids will not be accepted. Each bidder must bid on all regular routes and athletics, activities, and ϐield trips as designated.

1.24 Each bidder must provide a Certiϐicate of Insurance or signed statement from a surety agency licensed by the State Division of Insurance to post bonds in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts stating that it will award a Performance Bond in the full amount of the contract and the cost of such a bond. The Contractor must agree in writing and submit such written agreement with its bid that it will provide a Performance bond in the amount of the award prior to execution of the contract.

1.25 A Performance Bond equal to 100% of the annual contract value shall be furnished by the successful bidder in a form acceptable to the Awarding Authority and issued by a surety company licensed to do business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For the ϐirst contract year, the bond shall be submitted within ten (10) business days of the contract award. For each subsequent contract year, the bond shall be submitted no later than August 1 of that year. Failure to provide the required bond may result in withheld payments or termination of the contract.

1.26 The Contractor shall comply with all reasonable requests of the School Committee or its representatives.

1.27 The Contractor must understand and agree that this Contract exists to serve the citizenry, especially the school students, of the Town of Milford. Parents, students, and school department personnel must be treated courteously and with respect. Vulgar and disrespectful behavior on the part of the Contractor or any of its employees will not be tolerated. Such behavior on a continuing basis will result in termination of the contract and forfeiture of the Contractor's Performance Bond. The School Committee or the Superintendent of Schools has the authority to terminate the contract because of such behavior.

1.28 The Contractor shall use buses engaged in this contract exclusively for transporting students designated by the Milford Public Schools during regular school sessions. The Contractor acknowledges and agrees to ensure that its drivers understand that only Milford Public Schools students may be transported in these school buses.

1.29 Drivers shall not be permitted to carry any person other than a school ofϐicial, teacher, bus monitor or chaperone without the express permission of the Superintendent of Schools. Buses used for ϐield trips may transport teachers and chaperones assigned by the schools as well as students. Exceptions to this are bus company employees such as supervisors, student drivers, and trainees. Violation of this procedure is cause for immediate dismissal of the driver.

1.30 The Contractor shall maintain an accurate master clock and ensure each driver uses a reliable, synchronized timepiece that is to be veriϐied at regular intervals.

1.31 If the School Committee deems it necessary, it may, at its discretion, require the Contractor to prove sufϐicient ϐinancial strength to perform such a contract before making an award of bid.

1.32 The Contractor shall be responsible for making recommendations to improve any routes relative to safety or efϐiciency issues to the Milford Public Schools.

1.33 These speciϐications and attached proposals are binding and form part of the contract.

1.34 THERE WILL BE NO STANDEES PERMITTED ON ANY BUS.

1.35 No bids shall be accepted, nor contract awarded, to any person, corporate entity or business of any kind that, in the past ten (10) years, has defaulted on a contract to perform services or has had such a contract terminated for cause with this or any other school system or who has withdrawn a bid after the bid opening or whose performance has been determined to be unsatisfactory. This applies to contracts within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The School Committee reserves the right to be the sole judge in this decision.

1.36 Should the Contractor fail to adhere to and comply with any of the conditions and speciϐications of this bid, the contract will be subject to cancellation forthwith upon written notice of the School Committee. In the event of cancellation of the contract and the necessity to bid or otherwise negotiate a new contract for transportation service with another transportation contractor, the original contractor will be responsible for indemnifying the Town of Milford contract including service for the duration of the term of the original contract.

1.37 In the event of a strike or any other reason causing the interruption of services or operations, the School Committee has the right to secure alternative transportation as may be necessary and charge the cost to the Contractor. If replacement transportation is not secured, deduction will be made based on an 180-day school year for each day of service not provided from the monthly payment to the Contractor.

1.38 If any provision of this agreement is nulliϐied or otherwise affected by any Federal law, State law, or municipal by-law, or should any provision of this contract is found to be in violation of Federal, State or local law by a court of competent jurisdiction, all other provisions of this contract shall remain in full force and effect for the duration of the contract.

1.39 The Contractor agrees that all laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts relating to bonds, insurance, inspections by regulatory authorities, and that all requirements of Chapter 90 and/or Chapter 159A and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts concerning the safe transportation of children shall be rigidly adhered

to. The Contractor agrees to furnish the School Committee with all reports of inspection made by the Department of Public Utilities and the Registry of Motor Vehicles as the School Committee shall order and/or in accordance with statutory requirements.

1.40 There shall be no smoking, vaping, use of e-cigarettes, or possession or use of controlled substances on or within 100 feet of any school bus at any time.

1.41 The School Committee, the Superintendent, or their authorized representatives may add, change, or remove bus stops at their discretion. The Contractor must implement changes within two (2) business days of written notice.

1.42 Surveys or measurements, estimates and statements as to the mileage and number of vehicles under which the work is to be performed are believed to be correct, but the Contractor must examine for itself, as no allowance will be made for any errors or inaccuracies that may be found herein, and further, the School Committee does not guarantee that they are even approximately correct. The Contractor shall not take any advantage or make any claim for damages on account of any discrepancy or error.

1.43 The Transportation Director must be promptly notiϐied of any route and bus stop changes, emergencies, or driver changes. In addition, the Transportation Director should be consulted prior to changing routes or bus stops.

1.44 The bid price shall include all costs incurred by the Contractor to perform services under this contract.

1.45 By August 1 of each contract year, the Contractor shall submit the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all bus drivers, along with copies of their licenses, for approval by the Superintendent prior to August 15. All drivers must have a cleared CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) check on ϐile before operating any bus.

New hires after August 15 must also be approved by the Superintendent and have a cleared CORI check prior to driving.

1.46 The Contractor shall not assign or sublet the contract in cases which are prohibited by law. In cases which may not be prohibited by law, the Contractor shall not assign or subcontract, or in any way transfer any interest in this contract without prior written consent of the School Committee. The School Committee must give formal written permission for the Contractor to transfer the contract because of change of ownership.

Such approval must be requested at least forty-ϐive (45) days in advance of such change and must provide, in detail, the abilities of the new ownership to carry out the remaining terms of the contract. It must also contain a signed statement by the prospective that he/she agrees to the terms of the contract and further agrees to abide by the terms of the existing contract.

1.47 The School Committee and the Contractor each bind itself, and its successors, and assigns to the other party of this Agreement, in respect to all covenants of this Contract, except as above, neither the School Committee nor the Contractor will assign, sublet or transfer interest in these contracts without the written consent of the other. Nothing herein shall be construed as creating any personal liability on the part of any Ofϐicer, Agent or Employee of the Town, nor shall it be construed as giving any right or beneϐits hereunder to anyone other than the School Committee and the Contractor.

1.48 The Contractor agrees to save, defend, indemnify and hold harmless the School Committee and the Town of Milford against any and all suits, claims or liabilities of every name, nature or description arising out of or in consequence of the acts of its agents, servants or employees, in the performance of its obligations under this contract or by reason of its failure to fully comply with the terms of this contract, such indemnity to run to the Town, its Ofϐicers, Agents and Employees.

1.49 Extracurricular and Athletic trips shall be based on live mileage distance (rate per mile) and waiting time (rate per hour) as deϐined below. Live mileage shall reϐlect the actual bus odometer reading while passengers are on board the bus. Waiting shall begin when the bus arrives at a destination and drops off all passengers and ends when the bus leaves the destination with passengers on board.

1.50 It is estimated that the School Department shall require trips the distance of which shall not exceed ϐive (5) miles one way and waiting time shall not exceed two (2) hours. Said trips to be bid as minimum trip charge.

1.51 Mileage shall be computed from the school of origination (pick up) to the destination and back to the school of origination. Mileage should not be computed to and from the bus yard.

1.52 The successful bidder shall provide the most recent balance sheet and two (2) years of ϐinancial statements.

1.53 All trips transporting school children, regardless of funding source, shall be billed at the bid price.

1.54 The schedule shall be based on 180 school days. School start and dismissal times are established annually by the Superintendent and may be revised. Route redesigns due to population or facility changes may occur at the Superintendent’s discretion.

Current school schedules are as follows:

a) Milford High School 7:50 AM - 2:25 PM

b) Stacy Middle School 7:45 AM-2:17 PM

c) Woodland Elementary School 8:35 AM - 2:50 PM

d) Brookside Elementary School 8:55 AM - 3:05 PM

e) Memorial Elementary School 8:55 AM - 3:05 PM

f) Shining Star Preschool AM 8:45 AM-11:15 AM Shining Star Preschool PM 11:45 AM- 2:00 PM

1.55 Any school property damaged by the Contractor in carrying out the provisions of this contract shall be restored to its original condition by the Contractor at his/her expense, and the materials and workmanship used must be ϐirst class in every respect.

In the event of the failure of the Contractor to make such repairs promptly to the satisfaction of the Superintendent of Schools, the Milford School Committee may at its discretion direct that such repairs be made, that the cost of such repairs be charged against the Contractor, and that any sum of money due the Contractor be applied to meet the cost of such repairs.

1.56 In the event the District remains in session but service is canceled for one or more speciϐic schools due to an emergency, the District shall only be responsible for payment of the routes that were actually performed. The Contractor shall not be entitled to the full daily rate, and payment shall be reduced by the equivalent cost of the speciϐic scheduled runs (AM, Mid-Day, and PM, Elementary Tier, Secondary Tier) that were not performed. Any subsequent Make-Up Day required for only a single tier or speciϐic scheduled runs (AM, Mid-Day, and PM, Elementary Tier, Secondary Tier) shall be considered a separate billable service, and payment shall be made by the equivalent cost of the speciϐic scheduled tier or runs that were performed.

1.57 The Contractor shall provide transportation services in full compliance with the Milford School Committee policies EEA (Student Transportation Services), EEAA (Walkers and Riders), EEAE (School Bus Safety Program), EEAEA (Bus Driver Exam & Training) and EEAEC (Student Conduct on School Buses). In the event of any inconsistency between this Contract and the District’s policies, the district’s policies shall prevail, and the Contractor shall take all steps necessary to conform to them.

2.0 BUSES

2.1 The Contractor shall keep all equipment used in the transportation of students in strict accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The Contractor shall make necessary modiϐications to buses to meet any newly enacted regulations during the life of this contract.

2.2 Equipment should be always maintained in good mechanical condition and shall pass all State School Bus Inspections. Said buses shall be kept clean inside and out, comfortable, well-ventilated, and adequately heated. All vehicles shall be subject to inspection by the School Department and its ofϐicers at any time.

2.3 All buses must be standard yellow, equipped with standard eight-way ϐlashing lights and stop arms as deϐined in M.G.L. Chapter 90, Section 7B.

2.4 All buses shall carry all required equipment necessary to comply with state and federal regulations and Milford School Committee Policy, including ϐire extinguishers and ϐirst aid kits.

2.5 The School Committee may elect to include video monitoring devices on all vehicles (including spares). Bidders must provide two prices in Form A and Form B:

MILFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS YEAR 1-3 BID FORM A With Cameras MILFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS YEAR 1-3 BID FORM A Without Cameras MILFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS YEAR 4 AND YEAR 5 BID FORM B With Cameras MILFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS YEAR 4 AND YEAR 5 BID FORM B Without Cameras

If the School Department selects the camera option, all vehicles will be equipped with video monitoring devices with at least three camera angles on the bus. The location of the camera(s) will be determined between the School Department and the Contractor.

Video cameras must be “digital” recorders with capacity to store video digitally. The School Department will be allowed to view the recordings upon request. If the School Department elects the camera option, it is expected that the Contractor will actively use the cameras each day while students are aboard. Videotapes will be archived for at least two-week periods. The Superintendent may require tape to be kept for a longer period if a particular issue concerning a bus, student, or driver occurs. The Contractor understands that all recordings may be subject to federal and state student record privacy laws and is prohibited from distribution or release of any video or video printed pictures to any part other than School Department Transportation

Coordinator or School Department administrators without the express permission of the Superintendent or his designee.

2.6 Buses shall arrive at school no later than two (2) minutes before the opening of school and no earlier than ϐifteen (15) minutes before the opening of school. Afternoon buses shall not arrive earlier than ten (10) minutes before dismissal. Buses shall not idle on school property for more than two (2) consecutive minutes.

2.7 Copies of school bus registrations must be provided to the Superintendent of Schools by August 15 of each year as proof that excise taxes for buses are paid to the Town of Milford. All vehicles used in this contract shall be parked within the Town of Milford.

2.8 Seat belts are required for all special needs buses. A minimum of sixteen (16) ϐive-point harnesses shall be provided and maintained by the Contractor. The School Department reserves the right to add or delete to the ϐleet with no additional cost per year.

2.9 In the event service is interrupted on any route for any reason, the Contractor must immediately dispatch a comparable substitute vehicle. The Contractor shall maintain at least three (3) seventy-seven (77) passenger and one (1) forty-seven (47) passenger spare buses, not more than eight (8) years old at the beginning of the contract, available on site to replace any bus that breaks down. The Contractor shall provide suitable insured transportation at no additional charge in the event of equipment failure.

2.10 In the event of a breakdown, a substitute bus must arrive at the breakdown site within twenty (20) minutes of notiϐication. In the event the substitute bus does not arrive within twenty (20) minutes, a penalty of $100 per incident shall be assessed at the discretion of the Superintendent. Any delay causing the Milford Public Schools to incur overtime costs shall be reimbursed by the Contractor.

2.11 No bus substitution shall occur without prior approval of the Superintendent of Schools, except in the case of an emergency breakdown, and then only for a period not to exceed ϐive (5) consecutive school days. All substitute buses must meet all contract requirements.

2.12 Each bus shall prominently display “MILFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS” in black lettering, at least eight (8) inches high, on both sides. Each bus shall display an identiϐication number assigned by the Transportation Director, said number to be painted black, six

(6) inches high, immediately to the left of the entrance door. Substitute buses must be identiϐied with appropriate temporary numbers.

2.13 The Contractor shall furnish all necessary fuel, oil, grease, tires, maintenance, and repairs, and shall provide a suitable garaging facility for the duration of the contract.

2.14 Each bus shall carry all required equipment necessary to comply with all appropriate laws and regulations throughout the contract period.

2.15 The speed and method of operation of all school buses shall ensure the highest degree of safety for passengers and shall be in compliance with all state and local laws regarding this aspect.

2.16 The Contractor must maintain a fully equipped maintenance facility within ten (10) miles of the center of Milford, Massachusetts.

2.17 All buses must be equipped with two-way radios permanently mounted with external rooftop antennas in working order, capable of interfacing with base stations located in the School Department Transportation Ofϐice and the Contractor’s Dispatch Ofϐice.

2.18 Buses rejected by the School Committee or Superintendent of Schools shall not be used to transport students. The Contractor shall promptly replace any bus so rejected and shall not be allowed extra time or compensation for time or cost to complete work affected by such rejection.

2.19 No bus more than eight (8) years old shall be used for student transportation. The average ϐleet age during any contract year shall not exceed ϐive (5) years. Replacement vehicles must meet all contract speciϐications and be subject to approval by the Superintendent or Transportation Director.

2.20 If the Contractor is temporarily unable to furnish transportation, the Superintendent may hire other transportation services as necessary. The Committee shall deduct from payments due the Contractor an amount equal to the cost incurred by the School Department for such substitute transportation.

3.0 DRIVERS AND OTHER CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL

3.1 The Contractor shall provide professional drivers fully licensed and trained in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including, but not limited to, the certiϐication requirements set forth by the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), as applicable. In particular, the Contractor shall ensure that each driver holds a current School Bus Driver Certiϐicate as required by Massachusetts law and RMV regulations, and that each driver meets applicable physical, medical, training, background (including CORI) and licensing standards. Drivers over the age of seventy (70) shall meet all applicable RMV renewal requirements, which may include six-month certiϐicate renewal intervals for individuals age 70 or older. Required training shall occur throughout the year rather than solely at the start of the school year. The Contractor must provide evidence of compliance with the drug/alcohol testing required by the Federal Highway Administration regulations regarding the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). The Contractor will maintain accurate up-to-date training records of all employees for review at any time.

3.2 The Contractor shall coordinate with the Milford Public Schools to ensure that each driver completes initial and annual refresher training on safe bus operation, student behavior management, emergency response, and the administration of EpiPens and Basic First Aid. Training documentation must be submitted to the District each August.

3.3 Only persons of high character shall be permitted to operate school buses. Upon request, the Contractor shall furnish the School Committee with a list of all drivers and their accident records for the past three (3) years. The School Committee reserves the right to disapprove any driver for reasonable cause. The Contractor shall notify the Superintendent within two (2) working days of any driver change.

3.4 The School Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any and all drivers if it is deemed in the best interest of the Town of Milford, and to require a CORI report and a background check (Chapter 459 of the Acts of 2012) for any and all drivers or prospective drivers. Failure of any driver or prospective driver to sign a CORI authorization form or a background check will result in not being allowed to drive any bus.

3.5 Prior to August 15 of each year, the Contractor shall provide medical examination certiϐicates for all drivers, including the evidence that the driver is free from tuberculosis in a communicable form.

3.6 All drivers shall be physically qualiϐied to operate a school bus as determined by a physical examination conducted by a Massachusetts-licensed physician. The Contractor must maintain a copy of current physical exams on ϐile and provide any or all of them to the School Committee or Superintendent upon request. The Superintendent of Schools may request a driver to submit to a physical by a doctor picked by the Superintendent. In such case, the Contractor will pay for the physical examination.

3.7 The School Committee shall be authorized to require drug/alcohol testing within the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Contractor shall certify to the School Committee that all drivers have complied with the provisions of Chapter 90, Sections 8A and 8A-l/2, M.G.L. The School Committee is authorized upon reasonable suspicion to order the driver removed from a bus during a run. The Contractor shall provide an alternate driver within thirty (30) minutes of notiϐication of such removal.

In the event of the failure of the Contractor to provide alternate transportation, the Contractor shall be responsible for any ϐinancial expense incurred by the School Committee for arranging alternate transportation.

3.8 Drivers are responsible for maintaining good order and discipline on their buses in accordance with school department policies. No roughness, bad or vulgar language is to be tolerated by any party. Student behavior is expected to be consistent with the student handbook. Instances of incidents of misconduct, vandalism, or safety concerns will be reported to the school Principal or his/her designated representative as soon as possible. In no case will a driver eject a student from a bus for misbehavior.

3.9 Drivers may not deny transportation to any student assigned to their buses for any reason unless speciϐically authorized to do so by the school Principal or designated representative. Drivers will drop off students only at their bus stop unless authorized by the school Principal to do otherwise.

3.10 No drivers who, in the opinion of the School Committee or the Superintendent of Schools are unsuitable for such duty shall be employed. The School Committee or the Superintendent of Schools reserves the right to require the dismissal of such drivers.

The Contractor shall promptly replace any driver so rejected and shall not be allowed additional time or compensation for completion of work affected by such rejection.

3.11 Liability for Contractor personnel shall rest solely with the Contractor. The School Committee shall bear no liability for the Contractor’s employees.

3.12 To the maximum extent possible, the same driver will be scheduled to drive both the morning, and afternoon runs of a particular route. That is, a route should not have one driver in the morning and a different driver in the afternoon. This results in inconsistent bus discipline and procedures and can be confusing and disruptive to the students.

3.13 The Contractor and its drivers will uniformly require children, when leaving the bus and crossing the road to the opposite side, to pass in front of the bus, taking due caution with the trafϐic; and the driver will keep the bus standing with the door open so that the ϐlashing lights will continue to operate until the children have reached the other side of the road safely and all possibility of accident has passed. The driver shall caution the children of any approaching trafϐic from either direction.

3.14 A company principal or a person with authority to make decisions must be on call at all times in case special transportation arrangements must be made due to unforeseen circumstances. This person must provide the Superintendent of Schools with a telephone number where they can be reached as of 5 AM on school days.

3.15 Drivers must remain on their respective buses at all times when passengers are onboard and while picking up or discharging students on school property except in case of emergency.

3.16 The Contractor shall assist the School Department during normal working hours, or on request, in the scheduling of all routes and will make changes as requested by the School Department.

3.17 The Contractor agrees to let school administration speak/present at their discretion to the drivers regarding safety.

3.18 Drivers, including substitutes, may be required to attend periodic School Department conducted meetings.

3.19 At least two (2) times each school year; or in accordance with current State and Federal laws, all Milford public and private school students shall participate in emergency bus evacuation drills on location at each school. Drills shall be scheduled through the Transportation Director. The Contractor agrees to make available, at his expense and at no cost to the School Department, one (1) bus and driver to be brought to each school for use in school bus evacuation drills. The Dispatcher shall be available, upon request, during each required school bus evacuation drill.

3.20 The Contractor agrees to perform a dry run on all routes at least one (1) week prior to the beginning of school so that all drivers may become familiar with their assigned routes. Drivers assigned to similar routes from prior years may be excluded from performing a dry run at the sole discretion of the School Committee.

3.21 The responsibility for hiring and discharging personnel with respect to all of the foregoing shall rest entirely upon the Contractor, and the Contractor agrees that it shall enter into no agreement or arrangement with any employee, person, or group or organization which will in any way interfere with the Contractor's ability to comply with the agreement. The Contractor further agrees that the Superintendent of Schools shall have the right to require dismissal from the Contractor's employ any person or driver who in his opinion is not qualiϐied to operate a school bus under this Agreement.

3.22 The Contractor should provide an on-site Dispatcher in the Town of Milford who shall be present whenever buses are operating including the Shining Star mid-day routes.

The Contractor must have an ofϐice or a telephone connection through which the School Department Ofϐice may make immediate contact with the Owner or their Agent during the hours in which the schools are in operation beginning no later than 7:00 AM and ending no earlier than 4:00 PM. The Contractor shall provide an answering machine for this telephone connection at all times when the Dispatcher is not available. The Owner or their Agent must be willing to appear for conference with the School Committee as necessary and requested.

3.23 The bidder shall designate the Dispatcher by name and position; a particular staff member, who shall be assigned to coordinate transportation arrangements under the contract and to carry out instructions submitted by the Superintendent of Schools, or his designee from time to time. Said person must be approved by the Superintendent or Schools, or his designee, prior to August 1 of each year of the contract. A resume of dispatcher should be attached to bid proposal.

3.24 All accidents or breakdowns shall be verbally reported to the Transportation Director or the School Business Administrator immediately. The Contractor or his representative shall agree to make detailed written reports within twenty-four (24) hours to his insurance company and to the Superintendent of Schools of all accidents involving a school bus while operating for the School Department.

3.25 An updated accurate route schedule is to be kept on each bus to facilitate runs when the need for a spare driver arises.

4.0 MINIMUM EVALUATION CRITERIA The minimum evaluation criteria are the standards that will be used to evaluate whether the bid is "responsive" and to identify "responsible" bidders. The minimum standards for this bid are:

4.1 The bidder must enclose the required certiϐied check in the amount of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) made payable to the Town of Milford,

4.2 The bidder must use the prescribed bid forms,

4.3 The bidder must complete and return the Certiϐicate of Non-Collusion,

4.4 The bid document must be complete with an authorized bidder signature,

4.5 The bid responses must provide sufϐicient information to allow the evaluator to make a reasonable awarding decision,

4.6 The bidder returns the completed equipment questionnaire, and the equipment must complete the requirements of the bid speciϐications,

4.7 The veriϐied references must conclude that the bidder would provide safe and reliable transportation to meet the needs of the Milford Public Schools,

4.8 The bidder must provide a Certiϐicate of Insurance or signed statement from a surety agency licensed by the State Division of Insurance to post bonds in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts stating that it will award a Performance Bond in the full amount of the contract and the cost of such a bond,

4.9 The bidder must provide the necessary references as requested in the bid speciϐications.

4.10 The bidder must submit either the Certiϐicate of Insurance for the required insurance amounts or a statement from its insurance company that it qualiϐies for and will be issued insurance sufϐicient to meet the requirements of this bid.

4.11 The bidder must submit the resume of assigned Dispatcher

5.0 ALTERNATE BID FOR ATHLETIC, ACTIVITY, AND FIELD TRIPS

5.1 Athletic, activity, and ϐield trips shall be priced on a cost-per-mile, waiting-charge-per-hour, and minimum-cost basis, on an alternate bid form.

5.2 Trips generally require the driver to remain at the site for the duration of the event.

However, when deemed ϐiscally beneϐicial to pay increased mileage but reduced waiting charges for the bus to return and come back later, the Contractor shall comply with such direction. Furthermore, it may be determined that a bus come back and perform multiple routes (i.e. varsity, junior varsity and freshmen teams all play in a neighboring town, but at different times) rather than remaining on site, and having the Contractor dispatch several buses could be required.

a. The authority to determine driver return vs. wait shall be as follows:

I. Athletics: Superintendent, Transportation Director, or Athletic Director II. Activity or Field Trip: Superintendent, Transportation Director, or Principal/School Administrator

b. Should the driver/Contractor decide to stay at the site rather than return to town even though they have been directed to return by one of the appropriate authorities, the School Department shall still only be charged for the lower cost.

5.3 Nothing in this bid shall preclude the School Department from making alternate arrangements for transportation when it is deemed that the ϐleet school buses are not appropriate for the travel required. For instance, if the length of the trip or student special needs requires the bus to be equipped with a restroom on board, the School Department may procure this service outside of this contract.

5.4 The Contractor shall invoice all athletics, activity or ϐield trips separately from the standard contract invoices.

5.5 The Contractor shall charge applicable mileage and waiting fees, or the minimum trip cost if greater. Each invoice must show the mileage and waiting calculations used.

5.6 The same price escalation/de-escalation formula referenced under 9.1 of the Fuel Adjustment Clause section of this bid shall also apply to these trips.

ALTERNATE BID FOR ATHLETIC, ACTIVITY, AND FIELD TRIPS BID FORM C

FY26–27 Alternate bid pricing for Athletic, Activity and Field Trips

Charge per mile of transportation for athletics, activity, or ϐield trips: $__________ Waiting charge per hour (may be charged in 15-minute increments): $__________ *Minimum cost per athletics, activity, or ϐield trip: $__________

FY27–28 Alternate bid pricing for Athletic, Activity and Field Trips

FY28–29 Alternate bid pricing for Athletic, Activity and Field Trips

FY29–30 Alternate bid pricing for Athletic, Activity and Field Trips

FY30–31 Alternate bid pricing for Athletic, Activity and Field Trips

*Minimum Trip Charge: For athletics, activity, and ϐield trips, the distance of which should not exceed 5 miles one way and waiting time shall not exceed 2 hours

6.0 PAYMENT

6.1 Payment to the Contractor will be made upon presentation of company invoices, on a monthly basis during the term of the contract. Payments will coincide with the schedule of warrants used by the School Department. All payments will be for services rendered.

6.2 If some unforeseen circumstances, such as weather, cause cancellation of school and/or the need for transportation services, and if the Contractor is notiϐied of such cancellation before 6:00 AM, there shall not be payment to the Contractor for such day.

The School Department shall make every attempt to notify the Contractor by 6:00 AM of any cancellations of delays in school opening not normally scheduled. Contractors should also monitor local radio station broadcasts for weather-related cancellations as telephone communication may in such circumstances be interrupted. In the event of non-emergency early release, the School Department shall make every attempt to give the Contractor a two (2) hour advance notice. In emergency situations it is expected that the Contractor will facilitate transportation as directed by the School Department.

6.3 The Contractor will not charge any extra fee for any early release trips. Pupil return home trips will be in the afternoon except as follows:

-On certain stormy weather days because of road conditions -On certain other days when deemed necessary due to emergency conditions -On Early Release Days

7.0 INSURANCE

7.1 The successful bidder will have in force for each year of the contract such Public

Liability and Property Damage Insurance as shall protect him from claims for damages for personal injury, including accidental death, as well as from claims for property damage, which may arise from operations under this contract, whether such operations be by himself or by anyone directly or indirectly employed by him and the amount of such insurance shall be as follows:

7.1.1 PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE: The successful bidder to supply the Milford

School Department with Certiϐicates of Insurance covering public liability in an amount not less than $1,000,000 to any 1 person, and not less than $10,000,000 on account of any one accident.

7.1.2 PROPERTY DAMAGE INSURANCE: The successful bidder to supply the Milford School Department with Certiϐicates of Insurance covering property damage in an amount not less than $1,000,000 for each vehicle used.

7.1.3 MEDICAL PAYMENT INSURANCE: Not less than $10,000 per occupant on the bus.

7.1.4 WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION INSURANCE: Not less than statutory limitations shall be carried by the successful bidder on all employees working under the provisions of this contract.

7.2 The Certiϐicate of Insurance must be delivered to the Superintendent of Schools not later than twenty-one (21) days after the award is made, evidencing the existence of the insurance required and shall contain the following language:

"No cancellation of or change or revision in the insurance by the insurer or insured, the existence of which insurance is evidenced by this certiϐicate, shall be valid unless written notice thereof is given to the Milford School Committee at least thirty (30) days prior to the intended date of cancellation,…