New School Bus

The Beaver County School District is seeking to procure a new 78-passenger school bus through an Invitation to Bid (ITB) process, with the procurement targeting a 2024 model year Type "D" chassis and a 2025 model year body, both manufactured in the USA. The bus must be delivered completely assembled, serviced, and ready for operation, with a proposed delivery timeline between July 1, 2026 and November 30, 2026. Bidders are required to submit detailed proposals digitally through the Bonfire system or via hand-delivered sealed envelopes by February 3, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. (MST), with a public bid opening scheduled for 2:30 P.M. (MST) via Zoom. The evaluation criteria for this procurement will be weighted as follows: total proposed cost (60%), proposed timeline (10%), references (10%), and quality (20%). Bidders must provide a minimum of three professional references, preferably with experience in K-12 school district bus purchases, and must possess appropriate state and local licenses and required insurance.

The solicitation does not explicitly indicate any specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Bidders must submit a comprehensive cost proposal that includes a detailed breakdown on the provided cost sheet, with options to propose additional features like air conditioning for students and drivers as separate line items. While no incumbent vendor is mentioned, the specifications document contains 43 detailed sections covering extensive technical requirements for chassis components, engine specifications, transmission, axles, suspension, brakes, wheels and tires, fuel tank, instrumentation, body specifications, seating, interior finishes, safety features, lighting, communication and camera systems. The procurement requires a minimum 2-year unlimited-mileage warranty with extended Allison Transmission coverage of 5 years/unlimited miles. Bidders must also certify that their costs and fees will remain firm for 120 calendar days following bid receipt or until the purchase is completed. While a specific budget range is not disclosed, the comprehensive technical specifications suggest a significant investment in a high-quality school transportation vehicle.