Student Transportation Services

LEAD Public Schools in Nashville, Tennessee is seeking proposals for comprehensive student transportation services through Request for Proposal #LEAD/OPS-TRANS/RFP002/2025/26. The procurement covers home-to-school and school-to-home transportation, mid-day shuttle, activity/field trip, and summer school services for six schools serving approximately 2,200 students in grades K-12. Proposers must provide transportation services with strict performance metrics, including 95% on-time arrivals/departures, maximum student ride times of 60 minutes, and comprehensive reporting capabilities. The RFP offers two potential contract structures: a three-year term with a two-year renewal option or a five-year term, both commencing no later than July 1st, 2026. Evaluation criteria will likely include pricing, fleet capabilities, safety standards, technology infrastructure, and past performance, with proposals required to detail costs for labor, supervision, equipment, software, and technology. The proposal submission deadline is November 10th, 2025, at 3:00 PM CDT, to be submitted via the Bonfire online portal.

The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types. Potential vendors must demonstrate comprehensive insurance coverage, including $1,000,000 in General Liability, $2,000,000 in Automobile Liability, and statutory Workers' Compensation insurance. The selected vendor may have an opportunity to expand services to eight additional charter schools, indicating potential for contract growth. Historical transportation spending data suggests an annual budget range between $2.9 million and $3.5 million, with route transportation consistently representing the largest expense category. The RFP requires vendors to maintain a fleet meeting specific age and equipment standards, including air-conditioned exceptional education buses, digital two-way radios, GPS tracking, and video camera systems. Vendors must also complete detailed reference forms, supplier responsibility questionnaires, and non-collusion certifications to be considered for the contract.