SY 27/28 Bus Services

International Community School (ICS), a public charter school in DeKalb County, Georgia, is requesting proposals for student transportation services for the 2027–2028 school year, with proposals due November 2, 2026 and a mandatory panel interview on November 13 for the top three candidates.

The scope covers daily bus service for approximately 200 K–5 students across three routes in the Clarkston and Stone Mountain areas, with morning arrivals at the ICS campus in Decatur by 7:45 AM and afternoon departures at approximately 3:15 PM. Routes operate 180 days per school year, August through May, and typically require 45 minutes to one hour per route. The vendor must provide vehicles with 70-passenger capacity, drivers, vehicle maintenance, and field-trip transportation on an as-needed basis. All vehicles must meet state and federal safety requirements, include two-way radio dispatch communication, provide live-tracking technology accessible to parents and ICS staff, and maintain functional heating and air-conditioning systems. Drivers must pass criminal background checks and pre-employment drug screens; prior experience with students ages 5–11 and non-native English speakers is preferred. The vendor must maintain liability insurance of at least one million dollars and possess a demonstrated history of providing quality student transportation in Georgia.

Pricing should clearly separate one-time from recurring costs, state assumptions and exclusions, and specify net 30 payment terms. No contract value or budget ceiling is stated. The top three proposing vendors will participate in 45-minute panel discussions with ICS operations and administrative staff on November 13, followed by reference checks and potential garage site visits; final Board selection is anticipated by November 30, 2026. Questions are due October 16, 2026. Evaluation weights cost competitiveness at 30 points (distributed among lowest-, second-lowest, and third-lowest bidders), service capability and plan quality at 20 points, reference checks at 15 points, experience at 20 points (with Georgia experience weighted favorably), panel interview at 10 points, and proposal format and content at 5 points. Proposals are limited to 15 pages and must include company introduction, scope summary, recent financial documentation, detailed pricing and service guarantees, and three professional references with direct contact information.