School Buses for City Schools

The City of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, acting on behalf of Murfreesboro City Schools in Rutherford County, is issuing Invitation to Bid (ITB-24-2026) for the procurement of school buses. The solicitation seeks bids for a total of six buses: three Type D Front Engine Transit Buses with 90-passenger capacity (plus driver) and three Special Education School Buses with 54-passenger capacity featuring track-mounted, flexible wheelchair seating configurations. All buses must be new, unused 2025 or 2026 model year vehicles complying with State of Tennessee and Federal school bus standards, with delivery required within 60 days of contract award to 910 Ridgely Road. Bidders must be authorized vehicle dealers with valid state licensing and must submit sealed bids electronically via the OpenGov procurement portal by Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. CST, with bids opened via Zoom immediately following the deadline. Prospective bidders may submit questions through the Question/Answer tab in OpenGov until February 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. CST. The Type D Transit Buses require comprehensive specifications including a minimum of 12 hours of service training, 12-24 month/24,000+ mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, 5-year/100,000-mile engine warranty, and 5-year unlimited-mile transmission warranty with 24-hour mobile repair response. Special Education Buses must include a Cummins ISB diesel engine with minimum 250 HP and 600 ft-lbs torque, Allison PTS 3000 Series 6-speed automatic transmission, air ride rear suspension, Braun wheelchair lift with 1000 lbs capacity, 36-month/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, and comprehensive service training and documentation. All pricing must be quoted F.O.B. Murfreesboro, Tennessee, include all costs such as parts, labor, accessories, freight, and standard equipment, and reflect the City's sales tax exemption. Bids must remain binding for ninety calendar days from the submission deadline, and contract award requires City Council approval.

The solicitation documents do not identify any set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, minority-owned businesses, or other restricted vendor classifications. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement materials. There is no mention of existing infrastructure or technology requiring integration beyond compliance with state and federal school bus standards. The City of Murfreesboro requires successful bidders to maintain comprehensive general liability insurance with limits of not less than $1,000,000, as well as automotive and workers' compensation insurance. The contract may be terminated by the City for cause, including failure to perform, bankruptcy, unauthorized product substitution, or unsatisfactory performance. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the available procurement documents, and no award or obligation exists until a signed contract is approved by authorized City officials.