Student Transportation Services

The Bolton Board of Education is soliciting sealed bids from qualified bus transportation companies to provide comprehensive student transportation services for Bolton Public Schools under a five-year contract commencing July 1, 2026, and concluding June 30, 2031. This is an Invitation for Bids (IFB) procurement process with a bid submission period opening December 5, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. EST and closing January 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. EST, at which time all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Vendor questions are accepted through December 19, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. EST, with an addendum providing official responses to clarify contract requirements and specifications. The procurement encompasses the furnishing of student transportation services for both Bolton High School and Bolton Center School, with specific deliverables including vehicle operations, route management, driver staffing, and related transportation support. Required qualifications for bidders include demonstrated experience as a qualified bus transportation company with the capability to manage comprehensive fleet operations and school transportation logistics. Evaluation criteria include pricing structures, service delivery capabilities, insurance and bonding requirements, vehicle specifications, staffing qualifications, and performance standards as detailed in the complete bid documents and supporting exhibits.

The solicitation documents do not specify designated set-asides for disadvantaged or minority-owned enterprises; however, the opportunity is open to all qualified vendors meeting the specified requirements. The incumbent transportation provider is M&J Bus Inc., which currently operates the contract with documented pricing information indicating monthly costs of approximately $46,773.84 for seven Type I buses at a daily rate of $369.17 per bus for 181 days per year, plus an annual performance bond cost of $637.49 per month. Individual trip costs for various school activities and routes documented in the incumbent's invoices range from approximately $128 to $393, providing baseline pricing context for the competitive bidding process. The solicitation specifies Free On Board (FOB) Destination delivery terms but does not specify an estimated total contract value, with the exact award amount to be determined through the competitive bidding process. Interested prospective bidders should contact Kusal Huynh at the Bolton Board of Education, 72 Brandy Street, Bolton, CT 06043, by telephone at 860-643-1569, or by email at khuynh@boltonct.org for additional information and clarification regarding this opportunity.