Specifications include, but are not limited to: a. Requirements for 35 to 40-foot buses: The University prefers buses that are the most recent model year available. b. In the first year, no buses shall have less than 5 years of useful life remaining on the vehicles. The useful life is determined by the Altoona Testing report for the make, model, and year of the vehicle. c. For the remainder of the contract, all vehicles must remain with useful life and meet aesthetic requirements in item h of this section. d. No vehicle will be accepted without a completed Altoona Testing Report. e. This requirement is to ensure all offerors are offering similar standard of equipment as part of their proposal. Your proposal must include a plan and appropriate costs to reflect this requirement to be deemed responsive. Low-floor design buses are preferred for transit use with a minimum service life of ten (10) years, 500,000 miles as defined by Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center. i. All buses will have front and mid body doors. ii. Vehicle Engine: The most fuel efficient diesel engine with a minimum of ten (10) years minimum service life. Cummins diesel engines are preferred. Other equivalents will be evaluated. Engines capable of operating a bio-diesel blend (B-20) are acceptable. iii. Capacity: 1. 35 foot bus-minimum 34 seated passengers 2. 40-foot bus-minimum 36 seated passengers 3. Note some routes require a higher seating capacity (see Table 6). iv. Integrated body and chassis design. To assure a consistent design, body and chassis must be built by the same manufacturer. v. Interior Headroom Minimum 74”. vi. Engine: Must meet current emission EPA regulations for Urban Bus. vii. Fuel: Ultra-low sulfur diesel – 80 gallon minimum viii. Transmission: Must be automatic type. ix. Brakes: Full air with ABS meeting all DOT requirements. x. Alternator: Alternator capable of delivering electrical output for bus specified. xi. Cooling Service: Radiator must have sufficient capacity to properly cool the engine in heavy service. xii. Body Structure: Body construction shall meet or exceed all requirements and provide one piece continuous roof bows (roll bars), starting at the floor on one side of the body and ending at the floor on the other side to ensure maximum strength in the event of a vehicle roll-over.
