Student Transportation Services

Chicago Public Schools is soliciting competitive bids under solicitation 26-1456 for qualified vendors to provide daily home-to-school and school-to-home student transportation services. The contract period is set to commence on August 1, 2027, and end on July 31, 2030, with two optional two-year renewal terms. The scope of work focuses on daily route operations developed by the Department of Student Transportation Services, including the potential for electric yellow bus leasing for specific Chicago zip codes. Field trip services are explicitly excluded from this solicitation and will be addressed in a separate upcoming opportunity. Award decisions will be based on the most qualified proposer, evaluated through criteria including professional experience, past performance, insurance compliance, and the quality of implementation plans and interrogatory responses. Selected vendors must adhere to strict on-time performance standards, maintaining a 10-minute arrival window. Financial requirements include a performance bond set at 50 percent of annual revenue for the first year and 25 percent for subsequent years. Billing is structured as a fixed fee plus calculated mileage, with invoices submitted electronically in PDF format. Compliance is mandatory across various legal and safety standards, including the Drug-Free Workplace Act, FERPA, and the Illinois School Code regarding communicable diseases. Vendors must also provide detailed resumes for key management personnel and ensure all staff undergo approved background checks. The solicitation encourages participation from certified Minority, Women, and Small Business Enterprises. All proposals must be submitted by November 16, 2026, and include an executive summary, notarized execution page, and completed disclosure and tax forms.