RFB 5827 - Busing Services for Field Trips

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) is seeking qualified vendors to provide yellow bus transportation services for school-sponsored field trips through Request for Bid (RFB) 5827. The procurement covers transportation to various destinations within and outside the metro-Milwaukee area, with potential requirements for orthopedically-equipped buses to accommodate student needs. The contract will be a three-year blanket agreement commencing September 1, 2025, and continuing through August 31, 2028, with the possibility of annual renewals. Vendors must submit flat-rate pricing for round-trip transportation to specific destinations, with estimated annual trip frequencies ranging from 10 to 198 trips depending on the location. The bid closing date is August 6, 2025, at 2:00 PM CST, with all submissions required to be completed digitally through the Bonfire platform. Evaluation criteria will focus on lowest responsive and responsible bidders meeting minimum specifications, including ability to provide appropriate bus types and compliance with operational requirements. MPS reserves the right to make partial awards, select multiple vendors, or make no award at all.

The procurement includes significant set-aside and diversity requirements, mandating 25% participation from Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) vendors, including businesses owned by minorities, women, disadvantaged, emerging, or small business owners. Contractors must also fulfill a student engagement component, providing 10 hours of career education activities per contract, with eight hours directly engaging MPS students and potential employment opportunities for high school students or recent graduates. Vendors must complete comprehensive documentation, including Appendix A (HUB Utilization Plan), Appendix B (Prime Vendor Information Sheet), and specific student engagement schedules. The contract requires detailed compliance with technology standards, including compatibility with Chromebooks and supporting up to 10,000 staff accounts and 68,500 student accounts. While specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the extensive documentation and multi-year structure suggest a significant procurement opportunity with potential for substantial financial impact for selected vendors.