Charter Bus Services

Coastal Carolina University, through the State Fiscal Accountability Authority's Department of Procurement Services, is seeking charter bus services for university transportation needs. The solicitation requests bids for three bus classifications: Type A Motor Coaches (55+ passengers), Type B Large Buses (29+ passengers), and Type C Medium Buses (19+ passengers), all manufactured no earlier than 2015. Anticipated bus type usage is 80% Type A, 15% Type B, and 5% Type C, with pricing required for half-day and full-day rates, relay driver days, and mileage rates. Mandatory vendor qualifications include a "satisfactory" Federal safety compliance rating and a minimum of three years of experience providing charter bus services to intercollegiate athletic programs. The procurement requires detailed pricing submissions with unit prices and estimated quantities, with a pre-bid conference scheduled for June 22, 2022, via Microsoft Teams. Key deadlines include June 21, 2022, for conference access credentials, June 23, 2022, for questions, and June 30, 2022, at 11:00 AM EST for offer submissions, with award notification expected on July 15, 2022.

The contract will have an initial one-year term beginning August 1, 2022, with four optional one-year renewal periods, potentially extending to five years. Vendors must be registered South Carolina vendors and comply with state and federal laws, including civil rights requirements and immigration compliance. Insurance requirements include $1,000,000 per occurrence for commercial general liability and auto liability. Bus specifications mandate specific passenger comfort standards, including seat configurations, climate control, Wi-Fi, charging ports, and television monitors. Award will be made to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder based on total extended price calculations across all three bus types. While no specific set-aside designations were mentioned, the solicitation emphasizes comprehensive compliance with regulatory standards. The procurement does not specify a precise budget range, but the contract's structure suggests flexibility in service utilization, with the university noting uncertainty around exact charter day requirements due to ongoing pandemic considerations.