Pre-Owned School Buses

The Rockwood School District in Missouri is conducting a Request for Bid (RFB) for the sale of approximately fifteen (15) pre-owned school buses. The procurement involves two distinct groups of Blue Bird Vision buses: seven 2017 models with diesel engines and 71-passenger capacity, and seven 2020 models with unleaded engines and 77-passenger capacity. These buses have been part of the District's fleet excellence award program and meet or exceed 2017 and 2020 Minimum Standards for School Buses, featuring hydraulic brakes, roof hatches, LED stop arms, and child check systems. Vendor questions are due by December 8, 2025, at 5:00 PM CST, with sealed bids required by December 18, 2025, at 2:00 PM CST, followed by a public bid opening at 2:15 PM. Buses will be available for inspection by contacting Mike Heyman at (636) 733-8501, with Board of Education approval anticipated by January 15, 2026, and pickup dates scheduled between May 26, 2026, and June 30, 2026. All bids must be submitted through the Rockwood School District Bonfire portal, with the District reserving the right to split awards, make multiple awards, or sell fewer buses as needed.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned in the procurement documents. The bid is open to all qualified vendors who can meet the specified requirements, including providing comprehensive general liability insurance with limits of $1,000,000 per person per occurrence and $1,000,000 property damage per occurrence. Successful bidders must pay via ACH deposit or check payable to Rockwood School District no later than one week prior to pickup, with no federal excise tax, transportation tax, or state retail sales tax to be included in the bid. While no specific budget range is provided, the bid allows for line-item pricing for individual buses, with prices varying based on the bus model, year, and mileage. The 2017 buses range from 68,645 to 83,869 miles, while the 2020 buses range from 73,204 to 81,367 miles. Specific items to be removed prior to ownership transfer include bus radios, cameras, hand sanitizers, and trash cans. The District emphasizes that any communication must occur through the Bonfire portal, with potential bid rejection for unauthorized contact with school board members, administrators, or staff.