Management Improvement Consultant, Pupil Transportation

The Kentucky Department of Education is requesting proposals for a Management Improvement Consultant to conduct pupil transportation management reviews for school districts statewide, with proposals due September 29, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (RFP 540 2700000026, Version 2).

The consultant must hold certification as a Kentucky school bus inspector, Kentucky certified driver trainer, transportation director, or a combination thereof — the core capability filter. Required expertise spans Kentucky school bus safety, bus driver training requirements, garage operations, inspections and maintenance, and knowledge of Kentucky and Federal transportation laws and regulations. The consultant must maintain functional access to an online reporting system and be available for travel throughout Kentucky, including overnight assignments. Residency in far Western or far Northern Kentucky counties is preferred but not required; consultants may serve anywhere in the state as needed.

The contract term runs January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028, with the Commonwealth reserving the right to renew for up to two additional two-year periods, subject to approval by the Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Legislative Research Commission Government Contract Review Committee. The Commonwealth reserves the right to award multiple contracts.

Compensation is an hourly rate, billed per hour, with travel expenses reimbursed separately under state policy (200 KAR 2:006). Technical proposals are scored on 1,000 points: education qualifications and expertise (200 points), experience (300 points), certifications (250 points), location preference (150 points), and availability (100 points). Cost proposals are scored on 600 points, with the lowest-priced proposal receiving maximum points. Oral presentations for the top three vendors are optional and valued at up to 300 points. Proposals with combined technical scores below 50 percent of maximum technical points are ineligible for award.

Required insurance includes Commercial General Liability ($1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate), Automobile Liability ($1 million combined single limit if driving is required), and Professional Liability ($1 million per claim). Questions are due September 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service System in three separate parts: Technical Proposal, Cost Proposal, and Proprietary Information.