Barrow County Board of Education in Georgia is requesting bids on up to 40 Type C passenger school buses—30 units with 72-passenger capacity and up to 10 units with 54-passenger capacity and wheelchair lift—with proposals due August 24, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. local time submitted via email to christina.obryant@barrow.k12.ga.us with subject line "BCSS-SCHOOLBUS-FY27."
Both bus types must meet current Georgia State Board of Education and Federal School Bus Specifications. The 54-passenger model requires a flat floor with four rows of continuous "L" track for three wheelchair spaces, a Ricon S5510 ADA rear-mounted wheelchair lift with Q-Straint tie-downs, and minimum 77-inch interior headroom. Both models mandate a minimum 220 HP inline six-cylinder diesel engine, Allison 2500 PTS Series automatic transmission, Bendix air brake system with ABS, acoustic noise reduction headliner, marine plywood flooring, tinted windows, air-operated stop arms, heated mirrors, dual heater systems, and Carrier 120,000 BTU air conditioning. Additional required equipment includes eight-way LED warning lights, emergency exits, two-way Kenwood radio systems, REI bus video systems, Synovia 7P tablets with LMU-4233, and Kidde fire suppression systems. The 54-passenger model specifies a 60-gallon fuel tank; the 72-passenger model specifies a 100-gallon tank. All buses must be numbered sequentially beginning with 21__ and lettered "BARROW COUNTY SCHOOLS."
Bidders must submit seat plan diagrams and provide written explanations of any deviations from specifications, or face bid rejection. Pricing is quoted per bus unit by lot with all delivery, receiving, and unloading costs included. The successful bidder must guarantee price stability throughout the model year and provide OEM training for four mechanics within three months of delivery, along with service manuals, parts manuals, electrical schematics, and diagnostic software or Jaltest CV kits. Chassis components carry four-year warranties with unlimited mileage on front and rear axles. The Board reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, adjust quantities, and award to the bidder deemed most advantageous based on servicing locations, parts availability, and parts costs. Proposals may be withdrawn within thirty-five days of receipt.