Alternative Student Transportation Services

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit competitive proposals from qualified Suppliers who can provide Alternative Student Transportation Services for students requiring non-traditional transportation solutions due to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), 504 Plans, McKinney-Vento elgibility, foster care placement, disciplinary action, or other qualifying circumstances. The selected vendor will deliver safe, efficient, and compliant transportation services that meet the unique needs of these students. It is anticipated that this RFP may result in a contract award to a qualified (Supplier) or multiple suppliers for services as needed and as defined further in the Scope of Work. This RFP is designed to provide interested Suppliers with sufficient basic information to submit proposals meeting minimum requirements, but is not intended to limit a proposal’s content or exclude any relevant or essential data. All proposal preparation costs and any associated activities related to this RFP are the sole responsibility of the Supplier. When using Utah State Contract pricing, please reference a contract number.
All solicitation responses must be submitted electronically through Ion Wave.   SCOPE OF WORK The selected contractor must provide door-to-door or curb-to-curb student transportation to and from designated schools and program sites as directed by the Transportation Department. Services must meet the highest of standards of safety, reliability, and responsiveness while complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.   TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES REQUIRED The contractor may be required to provide transportation for the following catagories: 1. Special Education students with transportaion as a related service on their IEP or 504 Plan 2. McKinney-Vento (Homeless) Youth under the federal McKinney-Vento Act 3. Foster Care Students, including cross-district placements 4. Out-of-District Placements (e.g., residential treatment, alternative schools) 5. Midday or Modified-Day Trips (e.g., therapy, work-study, partial day attendance) 6. Emergency or Short-Notice Trips, when applicable   ELGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS VEHICLE STANDARDS 1. Vehicles must be well-maintained, clearly identified, and compliant with all applicable vehicle codes 2. Acceptable vehicles may include sedans, SUVs, minivans, and wheelchair-accessible vans 3. Vehicles must be equipped with:     a. GPS tracking     b. Onboard video surveillance     c. Child safety seats/booster seats as required     d. Climate control     e. Two-way communication (driver-dispatch) DRIVER REQUIREMENTS     a. Driver must possess valid and appropriate driver's licenses     b. Driver must pass criminal background checks and drug screening     c. Driver must complete training in          1. Student behavior management         2. Emergency response         3. Disability awareness         4. CPR and first aid     d. Driver must maintain professional conduct and appearance at all times ROUTING AND SCHEDULING The contractor must:     1. Provide optimized routing to minimize ride time and costs     2. Accommodate recurring and one-time trips     3. Coordinate with Canyons School District (CSD) staff to manage schedule changes and cancellations TECHNOLOGY AND TRACKING The vendor must provide a secure online platform or app with:     1. Real-time ride tracking     2. Parent/guardian notifications     3. Secure student information management     4. Monthly reporting on ride metrics, safety, and service levels COMMUNICATION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE     1. A dedicated dispatch and customer support team must be available during service hours (minimum 6:00am - 6:00pm)     2. The vendor must ensure timely notification of any delays, incidents, or emergencies     3. A formal process for incident reporting and resolution is required REPORTING REQUIREMENTS The vendor must submit a monthly report to the District including:     1. Trip counts by catagory and student type     2. On-time performance metrics     3. Incident logs     4. Missed or late pickups/drop-offs     5. Complaints and resolutions COMPLIANCE & INSURANCE Vendor must maintain:     1. General liability insurance meeting the requirement as stated in our Terms and Conditions     2. Auto liability insurance meeting the requirement as stated in our Terms and Conditions     3. Workers' compensation: As required by state law     4. Must coply with FERPA, HIPAA, ADA, IDEA, and all state/local transportation laws PERFORMANCE METRICS The District expects:     1. On-time performance of 95% or greater     2. Incident response time within 24 hours     3. Zero tolerance for student endangerment     4. High customer service satisfaction based on parent/guardian feedback.