Prison Transport Buses

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Statewide Procurement Division issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) No. 304T-26-071A2 on January 26, 2026, for the procurement of 33 prison transport buses with gasoline engines to support the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). The solicitation seeks completely assembled, adjusted, and ready-for-operation buses referencing the Bluebird Bus BBCV 3507 model or an equivalent alternative, with delivery on a FOB Destination basis to statewide locations. The specifications require buses featuring a 7.3-liter Ford Godzilla gasoline engine with minimum 430 horsepower, a gross vehicle weight rating of 33,000 pounds, a minimum body length of 35 feet 5 inches with an interior passenger compartment of at least 31 feet 8 inches accommodating 44 passenger seats, a 45,000 BTU minimum air conditioning unit, comprehensive LED lighting, phone intercom systems, heated and remote-controlled mirrors, cargo boxes on both sides, emergency safety equipment including fire extinguishers and backup alarms, and bright white exterior finish with black chassis and wheels and non-skid flooring. Respondents must provide firm, all-inclusive, fixed unit pricing including the 1.5% Texas SmartBuy administrative fee and statewide delivery, submit current certificates of insurance demonstrating minimum coverage of $1,000,000 for commercial general liability, $500,000 for automobile liability, and statutory workers' compensation limits, and provide delivery schedules in calendar days. A pre-bid conference is scheduled for March 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. CST via Microsoft Teams (attendance encouraged but not mandatory), with questions due by March 30, 2026, and responses provided by April 1, 2026; responses are due by April 9, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Central Time in Austin, Texas. Evaluation will be based on best value to the state, considering compliance with specifications, purchase price, vendor performance history, and delivery timeframes. The initial contract term commences on the effective date of the Notice of Award and expires August 31, 2027, with four renewal options extending through August 31, 2030, and an additional one-year renewal option thereafter, with potential annual price adjustments permitted after the initial term using the Producer Price Index for Transportation Equipment (WPU1413) with a maximum allowable adjustment formula.

The solicitation permits respondents to claim applicable state preferences for Texas-manufactured goods, service-disabled veteran ownership, and environmentally sensitive products through Attachment C, though specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to disadvantaged enterprises are not explicitly detailed in the provided documentation. Respondents must complete standardized execution forms and certifications covering 37 distinct compliance areas including antitrust compliance, equal employment opportunity, tax certifications, debarment status, prohibitions on human trafficking and felony criminal convictions, and disclose any use of artificial intelligence systems and ownership structures. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation materials, and no existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements are specified beyond TDCJ's post-delivery installation of passenger seats and mounting hardware and mandatory compliance with security requirements including 48-hour advance notice and facility access procedures. The specific unit price or total contract value is not provided in the solicitation materials, though pricing should be submitted on a per-unit basis in U.S. dollars with no alternative currencies permitted. Responses will remain valid for 120 calendar days after the due date, and the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts reserves the right to reject all responses at its discretion.