Special Education Transportation RFP

Bi-County Collaborative (BICO) invites qualified vendors to submit proposals to provide special education transportation services for approximately 300-500 students across its Special Education Transportation Network member districts. BICO Special Education Transportation Network Massachusetts public school districts include: Attleboro, Blackstone-Millville Regional, Dedham, Hopedale, Foxborough, King Philip Regional, Mansfield, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Walpole, and Wrentham.

**Contract Term:** September 1, 2027 through August 31, 2030 with 2, one-year renewal options.

Service start: Start of the 2027 - 2028 Transportation Network school year.

ESY Services: Summer 2027 ESY services are excluded. ESY services for Summer 2028, 2029 and 2030 are included.

An example of services to be provided are detailed in the attached excel ridership sheets. This reflects student distribution based on September 2026 ridership and includes:

• Transportation Network Districts
• Destination schools
• Student needs

BICO reserves the right to:

• Award the contract to a single vendor or multiple vendors
• Designate primary and secondary (backup) vendors
• Adjust routes and vehicle assignments as needed based on student enrollment
• Make partial awards or no award

Pricing

Vendors must provide daily rates for:

• Vehicles
• Monitor
• Any additional charges clearly defined

Vehicle Pricing: Flat daily rate per vehicle for regular roundtrip transportation regardless of sending districts and school location(s).

Equipment

All vehicles must:

• Meet all federal, state, and local regulations
• Be appropriately licensed and inspected
• Be equipped with GPS tracking, video surveillance, two-way communication, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, appropriate child safety equipment

Wheelchair vehicles must include:

• ADA-compliant lifts/ramps
• Securement systems

Staffing

• All drivers must be properly licensed and certified.
• CORI and National background checks processed by Vendor and approved by BICO Transportation Network member districts on an individual basis
• Drug and alcohol testing compliance required.
• Monitors as required by student specific needs.

Service Requirements

Contractor shall:

• Provide safe, reliable and timely transportation
• Maintain consistent routes and drivers where possible
• Ensure communication with BICO Transportation Network members
• Maintain compliance with all applicable laws

Submission

Five (5) copies of each sealed Proposal, contained in separately sealed envelopes marked “RFP: Special Education Transportation – Price Proposal” and “RFP: Special Education Transportation – Non-Price Proposal” will be received until **1:00 P.M. (local time) on December 2, 2026**. No faxed or conditional Proposals will be accepted. All Proposals shall be binding for sixty (60) days.

Rule for Award: BICO shall award to the most advantageous proposal or proposals from responsible and responsive offerors taking into consideration price and the criteria set forth in this RFP.

Scoring

• Experience & Historical Performance: 15%
• Operational Capacity: 15%
• Safety & Compliance: 20%
• Staffing & Training: 20%
• Technology, Communication & Routing Systems: 20%
• Transition & Implementation Plan: 10%

Bond and Insurance

• The awarded contractor must provide a performance bond equal to **80%** of the annual contract value.
• Automobile Liability: $5,000,000 combined single limit
• General Liability: $2,000,000 aggregate / $1,000,000 per occurrence
• Workers’ Compensation: Statutory limits
• Employer’s Liability: $1,000,000
• Umbrella/Excess Liability: $5,000,000

Failure to provide sufficient documentation may result in disqualification.