Bus Charter Services

Louisville Parks and Recreation is soliciting competitive sealed bids (Bid #260083) for bus charter services to support various municipal programs including Spring Break Camp, Summer Camp, Holiday Camp, Senior Programs, Youth Programs, Sports Tournaments, and Natural Areas activities. The procurement seeks a price contract for bus transportation services using vehicles with 39-66 passenger capacity, specifically requiring a 54-passenger motor coach and a 14-passenger van that meet all Kentucky State bus requirements. Bidders must maintain a minimum fleet of 10 buses, provide professional and state-certified drivers, and operate with a common carrier charter. The evaluation process will award points based on in-town trip cost (70 points), out-of-town trip cost (5 points), multiple stop fees (15 points), and fleet size (10 points). Interested vendors must submit comprehensive digital documentation through the Bonfire platform by October 2, 2025 at 3:00 PM EDT, with a question period open from September 18-25, 2025. Proposals must include multiple forms such as Vendor Information, W-9, Good Faith Efforts documentation, and Bus Capacity and Rates information.

The procurement emphasizes diversity and inclusion, with specific goals for minority, female, and handicapped-owned business participation, including 15% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), 5% Female Business Enterprise (FBE), and 0.5% Handicapped-Owned Enterprise (HBE) targets. Vendors must comply with Louisville Metro's "Ban the Box" ordinance, which restricts criminal history inquiries on initial employment applications, with certain exceptions. The contract includes local vendor and minimum wage preferences, potentially offering a 5% reduction for local businesses paying at least $10.10 per hour. While no specific contract value is explicitly stated, the opportunity allows for price considerations only under extreme market condition changes, and there is no minimum annual requirement for bus charters. Vendors must demonstrate good faith efforts in engaging diverse subcontractors and provide comprehensive documentation of their outreach and engagement strategies to qualify for the contract.