Management Improvement Consultant, Pupil Transportation

The Kentucky Department of Education is requesting proposals for a Management Improvement Consultant to conduct Pupil Transportation Management Reviews in school districts under RFP 540 2700000026, with proposals due September 29, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A geographic preference applies to offerors residing in far Western Kentucky (Fulton, Hickman, Graves, Carlisle, Ballard, McCracken, Marshall, Calloway, Trigg, Lyon, Caldwell, Crittenden, Hopkins, Christian, Todd, and Logan counties) or far Northern Kentucky (Kenton, Boone, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Pendleton, Bracken, Mason, Robertson, Harrison, Owen, Henry, Trimble, and Carroll counties).

Offerors must possess experience in Kentucky school districts and hold at least one of the following certifications: certified Kentucky school bus inspector, Kentucky certified driver trainer, or transportation director credentials. The consultant will conduct reviews covering school bus safety, driver training requirements, garage operations, inspections, and maintenance in accordance with KRS 158.780 and 158.785. Statewide travel to districts is required.

The anticipated contract term runs from January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028, with the Commonwealth reserving the right to renew for up to two additional two-year periods. The KDE reserves the right to award multiple contracts. Travel expenses will be reimbursed according to state policy (200 KAR 2:006). Offerors must carry professional liability insurance with a minimum limit of $1 million per claim.

Proposals are evaluated on 1,900 total points across technical proposal (1,000 points), cost proposal (600 points), and oral demonstrations if required (300 points). Technical scoring addresses education qualifications and expertise (200 points), experience (300 points), certifications (250 points), location and residency preference (150 points), and availability (100 points). Proposals scoring below 50% of maximum technical points do not advance to cost evaluation. Written questions are due September 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Pricing must be submitted on the provided Cost Proposal Form (Attachment A) using an hourly rate based on an eight-hour workday. All submissions must be registered with the Kentucky Secretary of State and filed electronically through Kentucky's Vendor Self Service System.