Wentzville R-IV School District Sealed Solicitation
Title: DESIGNATED STUDENT TRANSPORTATION (TAXI/VAN) SERVICES
Deadline: 1/23/2025 2:00 PM (UTC-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)
Status: In Review
Solicitation Number: RFB-T-401
Description: The purpose of this Request for Bid (RFB) is to select a vendor for Designated Student Transportation (Taxi/Cab) Services wherein the awarded vendor shall safely transport students, aides, and possibly parents to various districts or other locations throughout St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren, St. Louis counties and possibly other areas in a timely manner
Documents:
| Documents as of 1/8/2025 |
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Addition 1
Posted: 1/17/2025
Type of Addition: Addendum to Spec 3, 6b
Overview: Spec 3, 6b - Must have a Class E driver's license with a passenger endorsement
Addition 2
Posted: 1/17/2025
Type of Addition: Addendum - Spec 5, 3d
Overview: Spec 5, 3d Must have a Class E driver's license with a passenger endorsement.
Addition 3
Posted: 1/17/2025
Type of Addition: Additional Information
Overview: Please see the attached.
Solicitation #: RFP-T-401
Documents:
Addition 4
Posted: 1/27/2025
Type of Addition: In Review
Question 1
Posted: 1/9/2025
Question: Under Spec 1-Route Specifications, it states "It is the sole responsibility of the Transportation or Student Services Department and/or their designee to assign routes for students. It is never the responsibility of the vendor to arrange any student routes." In the past, our organization has performed routing services for Wentzville R-IV School District as part of our service package. If possible, we would like to continue with this arrangement. Is this specification negotiable?
Response: Only the WSD can provide a request to the vendor for an assigned route. Planning the route from point to point is a separate component.
Question 2
Posted: 1/13/2025
Question: Will Wentzville School District consider alternative transportation solutions in response to RFB-T-401, which specifically requests services from taxi and van companies, given that many of the requirements outlined in the RFB are tailored to taxi regulations?
Response: We always try to utilize our own buses if possible. We are not currently considering alternative transportation solutions other than taxi/van services.
Question 3
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Can the district please provide the estimated number of students who require transportation as part of the program? If the District’s needs are currently undefined, can the District provide the number of students that required similar transportation last year?
Response: The need for services fluctuates on a daily basis. For December 2024 we had 67 students who required cab services.
Question 4
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Can the district please confirm if they intend to award a single provider or more? We understand that the district reserves the right to make additional agreements if the vendor cannot meet their demand or expectations later on.
Response: The Wentzville School District plans to award a single provider. In the event the awarded provider can not provide services then we reserve the right to make additional agreements.
Question 5
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Can the district please provide historical and/or estimated information on the following: Monthly ridership Average number of riders per one-way trip Number of one-way trips per month Average mileage per one-way trip
Response: For December 2024 we had 67 students who required cab services.
Question 6
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: In the event of award, we will immediately hire drivers and source vehicles as we have done for hundreds of partners across the Country. In the past two years alone, we’ve onboarded over 10,000 drivers without a single delay. Would the district be open to a complete list of the drivers and vehicles following award and prior to start of service at a mutually agreed upon time?
Response: Yes. The Human Resources Department works with the driver/vehicle onboarding.
Question 7
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: For safe and efficient navigation as well as to ensure streamlined communication when necessary, our drivers use cell phones and our sophisticated driver app when transporting or picking up students. The app primarily serves to allow authorized district personnel and caregivers to track the vehicle when students are onboard, while also allowing for seamless communication with the driver (e.g. communicating pick-up and drop off notes). While the vehicle is in motion, this is a hands free process. Can the district please confirm if using this driver app is allowed for this service? We are referring to point 15 in the RFP.
Response: We must adhere to Missouri State Statute RSMo Section 304.820 and 304.822
Question 8
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Can the district please confirm the current provider and their rates?
Response: See contracts for Jaeger, EMT, and CST.
Question 9
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Can the district please confirm if the Missouri School Bus Permit is required for drivers that use smaller vehicles such as sedans, minivans or SUVs to transport students?
Response: See MOAPT Vehicle and Driver Licensing Requirements to Transport Students.
Question 10
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Can the district please confirm if the RFP is of binding nature, or if upon award there will be an opportunity to negotiate any potential contractual terms? If the RFP is of binding nature can the district please provide the contractual documents associated with this RFP?
Response: There will be an opportunity to negotiate any potential contractual terms not specified in the RFP
Question 11
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Would the District be interested in bids from cost-effective alternative transportation solutions utilizing sedans and SUVs as a supplement in cases where transportation needs are most efficiently met by smaller vehicles (e.g. special education, IEP, McKinney Vento, and/or other small group and individual rides) provided on an as-needed basis? If so, will the District adjust personnel requirements in cases where the requirements referenced in the RFP are explicitly non-applicable to non-commercial vehicles and personnel if vendors meet and exceed all pertinent criteria as well as all equivalent applicable standards? For example, sedan-based noncommercial transportation generally does not require Class E drivers license with a school bus and passenger endorsement.
Response: The RFB allows for the use of sedans and SUV’s. We amended the bid so a Class E drivers license with passenger endorsement is required
Question 12
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: In order to offer the most cost-effective transportation solution, our pricing is a base price fee + a per-mile fee. May we adjust the proposal to reflect our pricing structure to ensure that the cost is evaluated appropriately?
Response: Yes
Question 13
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Please provide historical and/or estimated information on the following: Monthly ridership Average number of riders per one-way trip Number of one-way trips per month Average mileage per one-way trip Total trip mileage per month How often will contractors be required to share safety and performance data with the District? What type of data will be required?
Response: The need for services fluctuates on a daily basis. For December 2024 we had 67 students who required cab services.
Question 14
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Will the District require real-time GPS oversight for each ride?
Response: The RFP allows for a bid to be submitted with and without GPS. We have not determined whether we will require GPS.
Question 15
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: In order to assist proposers in offering competitive pricing, please provide the following information: Current and/or previous contractor(s) Current contractor rates Sample invoice(s)
Response: See Jaeger, EMT, and CST contracts.
Question 16
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question:
Response: Question field left blank. No response required.
Question 17
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: If operating as a transportation broker, who is responsible for checking that vehicle and drivers meet expected standards outlined on this RFP? Is it the transportation broker or the subcontracted transportation provider?
Response: The transportation broker would be responsible for checking that vehicles and drivers meet expected standards in the RFP.
Question 18
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: What process or procedures do you require to ensure that subcontractors meet all regulatory insurance requirements?
Response: Proof of insurance provided annually to the district.
Question 19
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: As public funding often prohibits offshore outsourcing, does the District require customer support and dispatch staff to be located in the United States?
Response: No
Question 20
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Does the District require contractors to maintain their own primary insurance in addition to those of their drivers?
Response: Yes
Question 21
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: We provide and operate alternative student transportation services for multiple school districts across the country under a TNC license. Our services comply with state and local laws governing student transportation including driver background checks and vehicle standards. Can the district please confirm if they are open to reviewing proposals from TNC providers and if so, confirm if requirement 4, 5 and 6 under SPEC-2 still apply?
Response: Specs apply as written. We are not interested in TNC at this time.
Posted: 1/17/2025
Type of Addition: Addendum to Spec 3, 6b
Overview: Spec 3, 6b - Must have a Class E driver's license with a passenger endorsement
Posted: 1/17/2025
Type of Addition: Addendum - Spec 5, 3d
Overview: Spec 5, 3d Must have a Class E driver's license with a passenger endorsement.
Posted: 1/17/2025
Type of Addition: Additional Information
Overview: Please see the attached.
Solicitation #: RFP-T-401
Documents:
Posted: 1/27/2025
Type of Addition: In Review
Posted: 1/9/2025
Question: Under Spec 1-Route Specifications, it states "It is the sole responsibility of the Transportation or Student Services Department and/or their designee to assign routes for students. It is never the responsibility of the vendor to arrange any student routes." In the past, our organization has performed routing services for Wentzville R-IV School District as part of our service package. If possible, we would like to continue with this arrangement. Is this specification negotiable?
Response: Only the WSD can provide a request to the vendor for an assigned route. Planning the route from point to point is a separate component.
Posted: 1/13/2025
Question: Will Wentzville School District consider alternative transportation solutions in response to RFB-T-401, which specifically requests services from taxi and van companies, given that many of the requirements outlined in the RFB are tailored to taxi regulations?
Response: We always try to utilize our own buses if possible. We are not currently considering alternative transportation solutions other than taxi/van services.
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Can the district please provide the estimated number of students who require transportation as part of the program? If the District’s needs are currently undefined, can the District provide the number of students that required similar transportation last year?
Response: The need for services fluctuates on a daily basis. For December 2024 we had 67 students who required cab services.
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Can the district please confirm if they intend to award a single provider or more? We understand that the district reserves the right to make additional agreements if the vendor cannot meet their demand or expectations later on.
Response: The Wentzville School District plans to award a single provider. In the event the awarded provider can not provide services then we reserve the right to make additional agreements.
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Can the district please provide historical and/or estimated information on the following: Monthly ridership Average number of riders per one-way trip Number of one-way trips per month Average mileage per one-way trip
Response: For December 2024 we had 67 students who required cab services.
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: In the event of award, we will immediately hire drivers and source vehicles as we have done for hundreds of partners across the Country. In the past two years alone, we’ve onboarded over 10,000 drivers without a single delay. Would the district be open to a complete list of the drivers and vehicles following award and prior to start of service at a mutually agreed upon time?
Response: Yes. The Human Resources Department works with the driver/vehicle onboarding.
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: For safe and efficient navigation as well as to ensure streamlined communication when necessary, our drivers use cell phones and our sophisticated driver app when transporting or picking up students. The app primarily serves to allow authorized district personnel and caregivers to track the vehicle when students are onboard, while also allowing for seamless communication with the driver (e.g. communicating pick-up and drop off notes). While the vehicle is in motion, this is a hands free process. Can the district please confirm if using this driver app is allowed for this service? We are referring to point 15 in the RFP.
Response: We must adhere to Missouri State Statute RSMo Section 304.820 and 304.822
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Can the district please confirm the current provider and their rates?
Response: See contracts for Jaeger, EMT, and CST.
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Can the district please confirm if the Missouri School Bus Permit is required for drivers that use smaller vehicles such as sedans, minivans or SUVs to transport students?
Response: See MOAPT Vehicle and Driver Licensing Requirements to Transport Students.
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Can the district please confirm if the RFP is of binding nature, or if upon award there will be an opportunity to negotiate any potential contractual terms? If the RFP is of binding nature can the district please provide the contractual documents associated with this RFP?
Response: There will be an opportunity to negotiate any potential contractual terms not specified in the RFP
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Would the District be interested in bids from cost-effective alternative transportation solutions utilizing sedans and SUVs as a supplement in cases where transportation needs are most efficiently met by smaller vehicles (e.g. special education, IEP, McKinney Vento, and/or other small group and individual rides) provided on an as-needed basis? If so, will the District adjust personnel requirements in cases where the requirements referenced in the RFP are explicitly non-applicable to non-commercial vehicles and personnel if vendors meet and exceed all pertinent criteria as well as all equivalent applicable standards? For example, sedan-based noncommercial transportation generally does not require Class E drivers license with a school bus and passenger endorsement.
Response: The RFB allows for the use of sedans and SUV’s. We amended the bid so a Class E drivers license with passenger endorsement is required
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: In order to offer the most cost-effective transportation solution, our pricing is a base price fee + a per-mile fee. May we adjust the proposal to reflect our pricing structure to ensure that the cost is evaluated appropriately?
Response: Yes
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Please provide historical and/or estimated information on the following: Monthly ridership Average number of riders per one-way trip Number of one-way trips per month Average mileage per one-way trip Total trip mileage per month How often will contractors be required to share safety and performance data with the District? What type of data will be required?
Response: The need for services fluctuates on a daily basis. For December 2024 we had 67 students who required cab services.
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Will the District require real-time GPS oversight for each ride?
Response: The RFP allows for a bid to be submitted with and without GPS. We have not determined whether we will require GPS.
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: In order to assist proposers in offering competitive pricing, please provide the following information: Current and/or previous contractor(s) Current contractor rates Sample invoice(s)
Response: See Jaeger, EMT, and CST contracts.
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question:
Response: Question field left blank. No response required.
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: If operating as a transportation broker, who is responsible for checking that vehicle and drivers meet expected standards outlined on this RFP? Is it the transportation broker or the subcontracted transportation provider?
Response: The transportation broker would be responsible for checking that vehicles and drivers meet expected standards in the RFP.
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: What process or procedures do you require to ensure that subcontractors meet all regulatory insurance requirements?
Response: Proof of insurance provided annually to the district.
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: As public funding often prohibits offshore outsourcing, does the District require customer support and dispatch staff to be located in the United States?
Response: No
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: Does the District require contractors to maintain their own primary insurance in addition to those of their drivers?
Response: Yes
Posted: 1/14/2025
Question: We provide and operate alternative student transportation services for multiple school districts across the country under a TNC license. Our services comply with state and local laws governing student transportation including driver background checks and vehicle standards. Can the district please confirm if they are open to reviewing proposals from TNC providers and if so, confirm if requirement 4, 5 and 6 under SPEC-2 still apply?
Response: Specs apply as written. We are not interested in TNC at this time.