Outplaced Student Transportation

The Westport Public Schools, through its Chief Financial Officer’s office, is soliciting proposals for outplaced student transportation services under RFP 27-002-RFP for the 2026–2027 school year, including the Extended School Year in summer 2027. Proposals must be submitted as sealed physical packages to 110 Myrtle Avenue, Westport, CT, no later than 11:00 AM on July 16, 2026, and will be publicly opened in Room 307. The RFP requires contractors to provide safe, reliable, and timely transportation for students including those with special educational needs, adhering to state and federal regulations. Services must encompass route planning, vehicle maintenance, staffing with qualified drivers and aides, compliance with individualized education programs, and adherence to cleanliness and safety standards. Vehicles must meet Connecticut DMV operating requirements, have valid certifications, and carry no unauthorized advertisements. Drivers must hold a valid Connecticut Commercial Driver’s License, pass required physicals at the contractor’s expense, and comply with federal drug and alcohol testing mandates. Aides must support student boarding and exiting without carrying them, as outlined in each student's IEP. Contractors must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage of at least $1,000,000 for auto liability, $1,000,000 for general liability, and $5,000,000 in umbrella coverage, with the District named as an additional insured, a waiver of subrogation clause, and thirty-day notice of cancellation. Indemnification provisions require the contractor to hold the District harmless from all claims related to service performance. The contract allows for partial award of routes, including the option to decline the St. Vincent’s route which requires a district-provided nurse. The District may cancel services with twenty-four hours’ notice without penalty. Evaluation will be based on a best value trade-off approach, giving weight to price, service quality, vendor experience, financial stability, reputation, and adherence to a drug-free workplace certification, which is a mandatory representation. No numerical weights or scoring system is provided, and award is at the sole discretion of the Westport Board of Education. The contract does not include option periods, renewal clauses, or federal acquisition regulation clauses, nor does it require unique entity identifiers, socioeconomic certifications, or electronic invoicing systems. All submissions must be delivered in hard copy via sealed envelope clearly labeled with the solicitation