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The Lakewood Board of Education is soliciting a single‑year, per‑diem contract to provide student transportation services for the 2026‑2027 school year. The contractor must supply a fleet of compliant school buses (or lift‑vans), qualified drivers, and aides where required, and must meet extensive safety, insurance, background‑check, and equipment standards. Service must follow the district’s school calendar, include daily attendance reporting, accident reporting, and regular driver/aide training, and the contractor will be paid monthly based on per‑diem rates for each route. • Provide one bus (or lift‑van) per route with a qualified driver; routes marked with an asterisk also require a bus aide. • Vehicles must be National School Bus Glossy Yellow, ≥ 2017 model year (wheelchair‑lift ≥ 2015) and equipped with radios, GPS, video/audio recorders, child‑alert and sensor systems. • Drivers and aides must pass NJ background checks, drug/alcohol testing, TB testing, and hold proper CDL with passenger and school‑bus endorsements; certification and medical exams due by 31 Aug 2026 each year. • Contractor must furnish $5 M automobile liability insurance, workers’ compensation, a 5 % bid guarantee (max $50 k), and a performance bond equal to the full annual contract amount. • Penalties apply for late reporting, equipment failures, driver/license issues, and other non‑compliance items, potentially reducing payments or leading to contract termination.