School Bus Collision Repairs

Rockwood School District, a Missouri K-12 school district serving approximately 19,000 students across 150 square miles in western St. Louis and northern Jefferson counties, is soliciting sealed bids through an RFP for comprehensive school bus collision repair services for its fleet of 128 buses. The procurement seeks qualified contractors to provide body work, metal work, welding, fabrication, rust removal, part replacement, and painting services for buses manufactured by Blue Bird, Starcraft, and International, ranging from 2014 to 2026 model years with passenger capacities from 23 to 84 and various wheelchair lift accommodations. Proposers must submit detailed pricing for hourly labor rates across four service categories (body repair, paint preparation, painting, and mechanic/technician services), replacement parts costs, and pickup/delivery services per bus across a five-year contract period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, with multiyear proposals mandatory. Required qualifications include evidence of experience with Missouri K-12 school districts, a Certificate of Good Standing, five references including governmental entities, demonstration of financial stability, and comprehensive general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, automotive liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and workers' compensation insurance with the District listed as additional insured. The District will evaluate proposals based on hourly rates, parts pricing, service delivery capability, experience, financial stability, and references, while explicitly excluding federal excise tax, transportation tax, and state retail sales tax from cost evaluations. Questions from proposers are due by 2:00 p.m. CST on May 20, 2026, with sealed bids electronically submitted through the Rockwood School District Bonfire portal by 2:00 p.m. CST on May 27, 2026; no pre-proposal meeting is scheduled, and the Board of Education award recommendation is scheduled for June 1, 2026, with formal approval anticipated by June 16, 2026.

The RFP documentation does not identify any set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, minority-owned businesses, or other restricted categories; however, all bidders must comply with federal work authorization requirements by enrolling in and participating in the E-Verify program administered by the Department of Homeland Security and submitting appropriate E-Verify documentation and a notarized Affidavit of Work Authorization. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is specified in the procurement documents. The District reserves the right to split awards among multiple vendors, request additional information or interviews, reject any or all proposals, and waive irregularities in the bidding process. Payment terms are Net 45, with invoices submitted to the Finance Office, and no cost increases will be permitted during the five-year contract term. The RFP documentation does not disclose a specific award value or budget range for this procurement; however, the contract encompasses labor services and replacement parts for 128 school buses over a five-year period, indicating a substantial multi-year commitment.