Summer Encampment Bus Service

The California Military Department, specifically for the California Cadet Corps, is seeking bus transportation services for a summer encampment at Camp San Luis Obispo from June 15-28, 2025. The procurement involves an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for sixteen buses: fifteen coach-style buses and one school-style bus capable of transporting up to 600 secondary school cadets. Coach buses must have specific requirements including lavatories, air conditioning, luggage space for an 18"x28" soft-side bag per passenger, and a capacity of at least 48 passengers. The school bus must accommodate a minimum of 50 students within a 15-mile radius of the camp. All bus drivers are required to be School Pupil Activity Bus (SPAB) certified. Key submission deadlines include a question submission deadline of February 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM, and bid opening on February 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive bid from a qualified, responsible bidder, with specific evaluation criteria focused on meeting technical specifications and pricing.

The procurement includes set-aside preferences for Small Businesses (SB) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE), offering a 5% bid preference for each category, with a potential combined 10% preference for firms certified in both designations. Non-small businesses can claim a 5% preference by subcontracting at least 25% to certified Small Businesses. The contract requires substantial insurance coverage, including $5,000,000 per occurrence for vehicle liability and $2,000,000 per occurrence/$5,000,000 aggregate for public liability. Three bidders participated in this solicitation: Fire Support Unlimited DBA Good Faith Charters, Nosebeard Enterprises LLC DBA SLO Safe Ride, and Lux Bus America. Ultimately, Lux Bus America was awarded the contract at $114,747.00, which was the lowest bid submitted. The contract number is 114636, and the awarded vendor is located at 851 East Cerritos Ave., Anaheim, CA 92805. Detailed bus routes and schedules for arrival (June 15), additional arrivals (June 18), and departure (June 28) were included in the solicitation documents.