26-021 Bus Air Conditioning Services

The Muscogee County School District is seeking a vendor through an Invitation to Bid (ITB) to provide comprehensive air conditioning repair and maintenance services for its school bus fleet of 269 buses manufactured between 2006 and 2024, including multiple chassis makes (Freightliner, Blue Bird, Thomas, Chevrolet, and IC International) equipped with various air conditioning unit brands (Rifled, Carrier, MCC, Yancy Air, Bus Climate Control, and IC Air). All work shall be performed at the Muscogee County School District Bus Yard located at 5908 Whitesville Road, Columbus, Georgia, during standard business hours (Monday through Friday), with scheduled maintenance requiring 48-hour response times and emergency services requiring 24-hour response times. The contract will run from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with optional renewal in one-year increments not to exceed three years total. Pricing must be firm and fixed throughout the contract period and include all charges for parts, tools, diagnostic services, and labor. The solicitation was released March 24, 2026, with a written questions deadline of April 3, 2026, answers posted April 8, 2026, and bids due April 30, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST, with contract award anticipated at the Board meeting on June 29, 2026, and contractor commencement July 1, 2026. Award will not be based on price alone; the district reserves the right to select the vendor deemed most responsive and responsible, and bids must remain valid for at least 60 days after opening.

The solicitation includes no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organization types. The contractor must demonstrate compliance with state requirements, including E-Verify registration, the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act, and non-debarment certification. Insurance requirements are substantial and mandatory: comprehensive general liability of $2,000,000 combined single limit, automobile liability of $1,000,000 per accident, workers' compensation coverage meeting Georgia statutory requirements with employer's liability of $500,000, and an umbrella/excess policy of $2,000,000, with the Muscogee County School District named as an additional insured on the Certificate of Insurance. No surety bond is required. The Muscogee County School District is exempt from state sales tax and will not pay federal or state taxes that can be eliminated for public school system purchases in Georgia. Payment terms are Net 30 upon receipt, inspection, and acceptance of services, with electronic fund transfer as the preferred payment method. No incumbent vendor, budget range, or award value is specified in the solicitation documents.