Charter Bus Services

The University of Wisconsin-Shared Services Procurement Department, acting on behalf of University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is seeking bids for comprehensive charter bus services across multiple transportation scenarios. The procurement encompasses coach bus transportation for athletic team travel, University Marching Band transportation, summer camp student transit, and class field trips. Bidders must submit detailed pricing for two service lots: local single-day service and multi-day service, with specific requirements for per-mile charges, hourly rates, and minimum charges across different bus sizes. Key bidder qualifications include being licensed in Wisconsin, maintaining current federal highway administration carrier profiles, complying with Department of Transportation requirements, and providing criminal background checks for drivers. Mandatory requirements also stipulate three years of prior charter busing experience, ICC tariff rate sheets for interstate travel, and current liability insurance with minimum one million dollars coverage. The bid was issued on May 25, 2022, with written questions due by June 1, 2022, and final bids due by June 8, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. CST/CDT. The initial contract term is three years, with options for two additional one-year renewals, potentially extending the contract to five years total.

The contract is open to all University of Wisconsin System campuses, State of Wisconsin agencies, and Wisconsin municipalities, with no specific set-aside designations mentioned. The University intends to award the contract to multiple contractors determined to be lowest cost and most competitive across specified lots, with a preference for contractors providing wrapped charter buses featuring UW-Platteville branding (with wrap costs covered by the bus company). While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the procurement suggests multiple awards across different service categories. The University reserves significant contract management flexibility, including the right to terminate the contract with 30 days' notice or immediately for performance failures such as vehicle breakdowns or scheduling cancellations. Notably, the contract's scope extends beyond UW-Platteville, potentially creating opportunities for bus service providers across the Wisconsin public sector. Successful vendors will need to demonstrate robust operational capabilities, competitive pricing, and consistent service reliability across various transportation requirements.