JPMC Passenger Buses

The State of Illinois Department of Central Management Services is conducting a Joint Purchase Master Contract (JPMC) procurement for passenger buses, including 12, 20, 32, and 45 passenger wheelchair activity shuttle buses as well as people convicted of crimes transport buses. The procurement is open to all governmental units and qualified not-for-profit agencies in Illinois to purchase buses on an as-needed basis over the 6-year contract term. The detailed technical specifications cover requirements for the bus chassis, powertrain, accessibility features, safety equipment, and optional accessories. Pricing is to be submitted per unit with discounts from MSRP for options, repairs, and spare parts. Economic adjustments are allowed semi-annually based on the Producer Price Index. The State reserves the right to issue multiple awards to ensure availability of all specified bus models.

The procurement does not appear to have any set-aside requirements for minority-owned, women-owned, disabled-owned, or veteran-owned businesses. Two vendors, Southern Bus & Mobility and Central States Bus Sales Inc., were previously awarded $15,979,100 under the contract for 16 line items, while the remaining 32 line items were not awarded and may be re-bid. Interested vendors must register in the Illinois Procurement Gateway and BidBuy systems, and submit required certifications and disclosures. A pre-bid conference will be held on June 12, 2023 to provide information on the procurement process.