IFP For Bus Transportation 26-27

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (BFCCPS) in Franklin, Massachusetts has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for pupil transportation services covering the 2026-2027 school year, with pricing requested for two optional additional years (2027-2028 and 2028-2029). The procurement seeks to contract for regular transportation of approximately 900 students with estimated daily ridership of 450 to 650 students across grades K-8, serving 14 communities including Bellingham, Blackstone, Holliston, Hopedale, Mendon, Medway, Milford, Millis, Millville, Norfolk, Plainville, Upton, Walpole, and Wrentham. The contract encompasses approximately 8 buses for regular routes, field trips, and extracurricular transportation. Bidders must submit sealed bids by 1:00 PM on April 6, 2026, at BFCCPS, 500 Financial Park, Franklin, Massachusetts 02038, with public opening and reading at 1:30 PM the same day. Contract documents are available for pickup beginning March 16, 2026, with a final pickup date of April 5, 2026. Bids must include daily rates per bus for regular routes, field trip pricing based on mileage to specific destinations, hourly rates for services exceeding six hours daily, evidence of insurability, three references with at least one from a similarly-sized school district (within 20% of 600 students) where the bidder operated at least seven buses daily within the past three years, accident records for the past three years, a detailed safety training program description, and a fuel adjustment clause. A performance bond equal to 100 percent of one year's regular transportation contract price is required within ten days of award.

Contractors must comply with prevailing wage requirements under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 71, Section 7A, maintain general liability insurance of $5,000,000 combined single limit and workers' compensation insurance, and provide vehicles no more than six years old with no more than 150,000 original miles. The solicitation contains no specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular organizational types or disadvantaged enterprises, nor are any incumbent vendors or current contractors identified in the available documentation. No incumbent contractor information or existing technology infrastructure integration requirements are specified. BFCCPS reserves the right to reject any or all bids and award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The contract period runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The specific award value and budget range are not disclosed in the procurement documents, though the contract encompasses eight buses with daily ridership between 450 and 650 students, which would typically represent a substantial annual contract value. The contract is subject to continuation of the school's charter and appropriation of funds.