Hobart/Aeroworks Waste System Pulper/Accumulator

Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS) Board of Education is receiving sealed proposals for transportation services to drive a student from Hendersonville, NC to Charlotte, NC, approximately 220 days a year.

The mileage is approximately 115 miles each way for a total of 230 miles per day. Arrival time in Charlotte, NC is 8:30 AM and departure time from Charlotte, NC is 2:30 PM most days.

Henderson County Public Schools currently has 1 student that requires transportation services.

Fleet Specifications & Technology

• Identify the make, model, and year of vehicles to be used.
• Detail standard and specialized safety equipment (e.g., impact ratings, side-curtain airbags, first aid kits, fire extinguishers).
• Specify if vehicles are equipped with internal/external cameras. Note any additional costs for video monitoring and your data retention/privacy policy.
• Provide details on GPS/Telematics software used for route monitoring and arrival notifications.

Operational Procedures & Emergency Response

• Provide specific procedures for handling driver absences in a timely manner.
• Provide a step-by-step breakdown of the "on the road" failure policy. What is the maximum guaranteed time for a backup vehicle to arrive to minimize student distress?
• Outline the specific "in-transit" intervention policy for students experiencing a crisis.
• Describe what additional measures can be taken if a specific student's safety remains a concern (e.g., 1-on-1 monitors, specialized harnesses). Explicitly list any associated surcharges for these interventions.

Personnel & Driver Standards

• Describe the recruitment process, including background check depth, driving record frequency checks, and drug testing.
• Detail certifications for handling students with special needs.

Financials & Risk Management

• Provide a definitive "Per Mile Rate." Confirm if billing is "Deadhead" (total miles) or "Loaded" (only when a student is present). List all inclusions (fuel, insurance, tolls).
• Provide a summary of coverage, including Commercial General Liability, Auto Liability, and Professional/Sexual Abuse & Molestation (SAM) coverage.

Corporate Accountability

- Disclose any instances where a contract was terminated-by either party-due to safety concerns. If applicable, provide a detailed "Corrective Action Plan" used during that period.

**Sealed proposals required.** Proposals must be delivered by US Postal Service or hand delivery to the Henderson County Public Schools Administration Building, 414 Fourth Avenue West, Hendersonville, NC 28739, Attention: Joni Huchzermeier/Purchasing Dept. Indicate firm name and RFP number on the front of each proposal envelope or package. Bids submitted via telegraph, facsimile (FAX) machine, telephone, and electronic means, including but not limited to e-mail, will not be accepted.

The original shall be signed and dated by an official authorized to bind the firm. Unsigned proposals will not be considered.

The award will not be based solely on price. Proposals will be evaluated on:

• Approach to implementing the total program and required services
• Prices offered
• Ability to meet the required specifications and requirements listed in this Request for Proposals
• Qualifications / experience
• References

**Contract term:** initial term of one year, ending June 30, 2027, renewable by mutual consent for a maximum of two (2) additional one-year terms.

**Insurance:** Worker's Compensation with employer's liability minimum limits of $150,000.00; Commercial General Liability minimum of $1,000,000.00 Combined Single Limit; Automobile Liability minimum combined single limit of $150,000.00 bodily injury and property damage.

This is a federal funded solicitation subject to the Uniform Guidance (2 C.F.R. Part 200).