MPA 164 Bus Services

The State of Rhode Island is conducting an Open Enrollment Vendor Assessment (OEV) solicitation for Master Price Agreement (MPA) 164 Bus Services to establish a qualified list of suppliers providing school bus and coach bus transportation for in-state and out-of-state trips. Qualified vendors must be licensed and able to transport passengers as requested by various state agencies, political subdivisions, municipalities, higher education institutions, and quasi-public agencies. The solicitation seeks bus transportation services on an as-needed basis, with no guaranteed minimum purchase amounts. Key qualifications include maintaining $1,000,000 in liability coverage, $100,000 in workers compensation insurance, and $1,000,000 in automobile liability coverage. The vendor Q&A period runs from September 18, 2024, at 3:15 PM EDT through October 2, 2024, at 2:00 PM EDT, with initial proposals due by October 17, 2024, at 10:00 AM EDT. The initial contract term will run approximately three years from January 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027, with potential for two additional 12-month renewal periods based on vendor performance and funding availability.

The solicitation strongly encourages participation from Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Women Business Enterprises (WBE), and Veteran Business Enterprises (VBE), requiring that at least one of three quotes for specific projects come from certified vendors when available. Vendors must register in the Ocean State Procures system and complete an MBE Participation Acknowledgment Form. A 1% contract administrative fee will be assessed on all purchase orders, which will be withheld from vendor payments and deposited into a restricted receipt account for eProcurement system implementation and maintenance. The state reserves the right to make single or multiple awards and will evaluate proposals on a pass/fail basis. While no specific award value or budget range is explicitly stated, vendors will be selected through mini-bid processes for specific projects, with selection based on factors including pricing, expertise, and availability. The contract will be applicable to state agencies, quasi-governmental organizations, Rhode Island municipalities, and the Legislative and Judicial branches of Rhode Island government.