Description
The Lakewood Board of Education is seeking a qualified contractor to provide full‑service student transportation for the 2026‑2027 school year. The contractor must operate a fleet of yellow school buses that meet vehicle‑year and equipment standards, staff each route with certified drivers (and aides where required), maintain extensive insurance and bonding, and comply with numerous safety, health, and reporting regulations. The bid must be sealed and submitted by March 26 2026, include a 5 % bid guarantee (capped at $50,000), and the contractor must post a performance bond equal to the annual contract value. Payments are made monthly beginning in October 2026, and the contract carries strict penalties for non‑compliance.
• Provide one school‑bus per route, staffed with NJ‑licensed drivers (CDL P & S) and transportation aides where indicated.
• Buses must be 2017‑or‑newer (lift‑equipped buses 2015‑or‑newer), yellow, and equipped with two‑way radios, GPS, DVR, child‑alert system, route‑ID cards, and sensor systems for newer models.
• Submit a sealed bid by 11:00 a.m. on March 26 2026, accompanied by a 5 % bid guarantee (≤ $50,000) and proof of $5 M liability insurance; a performance bond equal to the annual contract amount is required after award.
• Meet NJ Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act requirements (background checks, TB testing, drug/alcohol testing, annual driver certification).
• Adhere to penalty schedule for accidents, late arrivals, equipment failures, unauthorized passengers, and other breaches; monthly payments start October 2026, with records retained for five years.