Prison Transport Buses

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Statewide Procurement Division issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) No. 304T-26-071A2.1 for the procurement of 33 prison transport buses, with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) identified as the major customer serving Travis County and multiple Austin City jurisdictions. The solicitation seeks gasoline-engine prison transport buses with a reference model of Bluebird Bus BBCV 3507 or CPA-approved equivalent, featuring detailed technical specifications including a minimum 33,000-pound GVWR, 7.3 Liter Ford Godzilla engine with minimum 335 horsepower, seating capacity for 44 passengers plus one driver, factory-installed air conditioning with minimum 45,000 BTU capacity, dual phone intercom systems, LED lighting, and comprehensive safety equipment. The buses must be finished in bright white with black chassis and wheels, delivered on an FOB Destination basis to statewide locations within 84 days after receipt of order, with all pricing submitted on a per-unit basis in US dollars and must include a 1.5% Texas SmartBuy administrative fee. The schedule of events includes a questions submission deadline of April 23, 2026, responses to questions by April 28, 2026, and a sealed bid response due date of May 11, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Central Time in Austin, Texas. Respondents must submit electronically to SPD.ebids@cpa.texas.gov or by hard copy, including Attachments A through D and F, a Mandatory Price Sheet, product descriptive literature, warranty service provider information, and signed addenda acknowledgments. The initial contract term commences upon the Notice of Award and expires August 31, 2027, with four renewal options available through August 31, 2030, plus one additional year, and pricing must be firm and all-inclusive with fixed prices subject to annual adjustment requests based on the Producer Price Index for Transportation Equipment.

While the solicitation documents do not explicitly identify set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, bidders must address state preference qualifications related to Texas-manufactured goods, service-disabled veteran ownership, recycled materials, and energy efficiency as outlined in Attachment C. Respondents must maintain minimum commercial general liability insurance of $500,000 and provide warranty coverage of at least one year from product acceptance or the manufacturer's standard warranty, whichever is longer, with proof of insurance required within five business days of CPA request. The solicitation documents do not identify incumbent vendors, current contractors, or existing infrastructure requiring integration, nor do they provide specific award values or budget ranges, though the procurement is structured as a single-line item with no reserve price established. All responses are subject to extensive legal and regulatory certifications covering antitrust compliance, equal employment opportunity, child support obligations, conflicts of interest, environmental protection, immigration compliance, debarment status, and human trafficking prohibitions, with failure to complete all required forms and signatures resulting in disqualification. Responses remain effective for 120 days following the bid due date, and any contract payments may be applied toward outstanding debts owed to the State of Texas.