School Bus Transportation

The Tewksbury Public Schools in Massachusetts is procuring school pupil transportation services through a sealed bid process with a bid opening scheduled for Monday, April 13, 2026. The procurement encompasses regular scheduled transportation for school children including twenty-two regular public school buses with a minimum capacity of 71 elementary students each, ten specialized vans for students with special needs (two of which must accommodate wheelchairs) with a minimum capacity of 5 elementary students each, and extra-curricular, athletic, and field trip transportation services. The contract period runs for three school years from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, with service required for approximately 180 school days per year across five school facilities: Wynn Center, Dewing School, Heath Brook School, Center/Ryan School, and Tewksbury Memorial High School. The bid specifications require contractors to provide all equipment, drivers, supervision, inspection, registration, licensing, insurance, and compliance with Massachusetts state and local regulations, with drivers compensated at prevailing wage rates as determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development. Pricing is structured on a per diem basis with bidders submitting daily rates for each vehicle category across the three contract years, with payment made in ten monthly installments in arrears and no payment for routes not operated due to school closures or inclement weather. Award criteria include total contract cost, financial stability, years in business, ability to furnish a performance bond, favorable references, and completeness of bid submission. Sealed bids are due by 11:00 AM on Monday, April 13, 2026 at the Office of the Business Manager at Center School, 139 Pleasant Street, Tewksbury, Massachusetts 01876, with bid specifications and forms available after 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, and submissions accepted in sealed envelopes or electronically via COMMBUYS.

The procurement documents do not identify any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to specific types of organizations or disadvantaged enterprises. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the bid materials, and no existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements are specified beyond compliance with applicable state and local regulations. Insurance requirements are substantial, including workers' compensation coverage, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate, and automobile liability of $5,000,000 combined single limit with $5,000,000 excess. The contract is contingent upon receipt of local appropriation funding, with the awarded buses subject to cancellation if such funding is not received. The detailed route appendices provided indicate the geographic scope and operational complexity of the transportation network, with routes distributed across multiple school facilities and serving the greater Tewksbury area with approximately 22 regular bus routes, 6-12 routes per individual school facility, 10 van routes, and 276 high school athletic trips to 44 destinations throughout the region. No specific budget or award value range is disclosed in the publicly available contract documents.