2027-2032 Transportation Services for OPWDD Day Habilitation Programs in Bronx, New York, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties

The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), through its Contract Management Unit for Long Island and Metro DDSOOs, is soliciting sealed bids for route-based round-trip transportation for participants in OPWDD state-operated Day Habilitation Programs, with questions due November 10, 2026 and proposals due December 15, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. The only stated goal is a 0.00% Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business goal. Bidders must hold New York State Department of Transportation passenger operating authority, and drivers must hold valid 19A CDL certification.

Work covers transporting people with developmental disabilities under OPWDD care and OPWDD staff between residences and Day Habilitation sites and back, Monday through Friday, excluding recognized holidays and emergency closure days. Bidders may bid on one or multiple service clusters. Required items include DOT inspection certificates for vehicles, automobile liability insurance of at least $1,000,000, workers' compensation and protective liability insurance, HIPAA Business Associate Agreements, registration with OPWDD's Incident Management Unit, criminal background checks and Staff Exclusion List reviews, and annual training certifications for drivers and attendants. Bidders must submit at least three work references verifying at least three years of relevant experience, along with references, financial resources, insurance evidence, and Vendor Responsibility Questionnaires.

Place of performance is Bronx, New York, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties. The anticipated term is five years, with a contract start date of September 1, 2027, subject to approval by the Office of State Comptroller. Bid prices must include all labor, materials, equipment, overhead, profit, permits, licenses, and insurance, and contractors are paid only for routes actually provided. Prices must remain constant for the initial contract year, with annual adjustments permitted 30 to 60 days before each anniversary, not to exceed 3.0% per annum based on CPI-U. Prevailing wage does not apply. Multiple contracts may be awarded to responsible and responsive bidders offering the lowest Estimated Annual Total Cost. Business enterprises awarded identical or substantially similar contracts within the past five years include Birnie Bus Inc., First Student, Inc., and Suffolk Transportation Service, Inc., among others. The IFB was released October 27, 2026, official responses are due November 24, 2026, and bid evaluation and award notification are anticipated for March 1, 2027.