Salem School District Student Transportation Services

The Salem School District in New London County, Connecticut, is soliciting bids for comprehensive student transportation services through an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for a three-year contract from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027. The district requires transportation for approximately 500 students, including seven Type I buses with 71-passenger capacity, one spare Type I bus, and one Type II bus, serving students in grades K-8 at Salem School and high school students attending East Lyme High School. Bidders must demonstrate extensive experience, specifically having provided transportation services to at least three current Connecticut school districts for the past five years, and submit audited financial statements. Key deliverables include daily student transportation with specific routing requirements, equipped buses featuring GPS, video cameras, Child Check Mate systems, and crossing control arms. The procurement process includes a mandatory pre-bid meeting scheduled for November 15, 2023, at 1:00 PM at the Salem School District Office, with a bid submission deadline of December 5, 2023, at 11:00 AM EST. Evaluation criteria will likely include vendor experience, financial stability, safety record, and pricing structure.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Bidders are required to submit a $10,000 bid bond and provide a performance bond for 100% of the annual contract amount, with mandatory liability insurance coverage of $10 million. The Board will provide fuel for the buses and offer a town-owned parking area at 270 Hartford Road in Salem. The contract will be paid in ten equal annual installments, with the first payment due by September 15 and the last by June 15, and summer school transportation billed separately. While no incumbent vendor is specifically identified, the district reserves the right to add or delete buses annually and to utilize alternative transportation providers for specific trips. Although an exact budget is not disclosed, the comprehensive requirements suggest a significant annual contract value, with pricing based on per-bus daily rates for 180 school days, plus additional rates for athletic and field trips.