Notice_of_Meeting.pdf

This Notice of Public Meeting documents a Phase 1 meeting for Hillsborough County Public Schools' School Bus A/C Maintenance and Repair solicitation (Solicitation #26286). The meeting is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 9:00 AM and will be conducted via Microsoft Teams with dial-in phone options provided. The meeting will address proposals for air-conditioning maintenance and repair services on diesel, electric, propane, and gasoline-powered Type A and Type C school buses. Proposals are due August 5, 2026, and the contractor must provide timely repair services, vehicle status updates via telephone and email, timely invoicing, and warranty documentation in compliance with EPA regulations, MACS standards, and nationally recognized air-conditioning industry requirements. Technicians must be trained and qualified to service both R-134a and R-1234yf refrigerant systems, with certification in refrigerant handling and applicable safety training preferred.

The solicitation includes a Small Business Encouragement Program (SBEP) participation requirement, mandating that bidders submit SBEP registration certificates and demonstrate incorporation of certified small businesses located in the Tampa Bay area with a minimum reinvestment goal of 20 percent of eligible expenditures directed to SBEP-certified vendors as subcontractors where feasible. Eligible SBEP participants must be certified by one of seven designated agencies: City of Tampa, City of St. Petersburg, Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, The Florida Business Council, State of Florida, or the U.S. Small Business Administration. Prime contractors are solely responsible for subcontractor actions and must obtain HCPS pre-approval for each subcontractor. All proposers must execute an affidavit certifying compliance with Florida Statutes Section 287.138 regarding foreign ownership. The Office of Supplier Development can be contacted at (813) 635-1240 or OSD@hcps.net for vendor verification and program information.