1. Provide comfortable and safe transportation for student group travel. 2. All vehicles must meet the following specifications and standards: Coaches must include tour buses with capacities of 20+, 30+, 40+, or 50+ passengers, equipped with restrooms, heating, and air conditioning, or vans with a maximum capacity of 12 passengers. Charter buses must be in good condition and comply with all Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration rules, regulations, and guidelines. Upon request, providers must furnish maintenance records for buses. Additionally, charter buses must include under-bus storage or baggage compartments with locking mechanisms, and buses with overhead storage bins inside are preferred. For security, the entire vehicle must be locked and secured whenever the driver is away from the bus. 3. All drivers must possess a valid driver’s license and the necessary certifications, with copies available upon request. Drivers must demonstrate exceptional skill and safety, and proof of licensing, training, and safety records must be provided when requested. The proposer is responsible for conducting thorough background checks, including verification against the sex offender registry, for all employees who will have direct contact with students, and must complete and sign the attached certification. 4. Drivers shall be professional, courteous, and perform customer service. 5. Drivers must be capable of speaking and understanding English 6. Drivers must be available to contact at any point in time during the trip, and must either have a cell phone or two-way radio to contact home base in case of emergency. 7. Providers must ensure alternate transportation is arranged at no additional cost in the event of service disruptions, with replacement vehicles meeting the original trip specifications. Contingency plans for managing last-minute changes, equipment failures, or service interruptions must be submitted as part of the proposal. In the event of a mechanical malfunction, breakdown, or failure to accommodate last-minute schedule changes, the proposer is responsible for arranging replacement transportation to ensure the District group arrives as scheduled, fulfilling all services outlined in this proposal to the greatest extent possible. Any costs associated with replacement transportation, repairs, or towing will be borne by the proposer. Furthermore, if the provider fails to meet service expectations or schedule changes, the District reserves the right to adjust payment accordingly, including a reduction of up to 50% of the agreed-upon rate or cancelling the trip in its entirety without penalty or cancellation charges. . The District will only pay the originally agreed-upon price for the scheduled charter if all services are satisfactorily fulfilled. 8. In the event that a trip scheduled will require an overnight stay, the District will provide lodging for bus drivers but will not cover the cost for meals and or any entertainment, including but not limited to in-room movies. 9. Quoted pricing must include all equipment, drivers, services, insurance, fuel or fuel surcharges, tolls and any other expenses necessary to fulfill the requirements of each trip. The District will not incur any additional cost above the contractor’s stated quotation price. 10. The contractor must provide a primary and secondary contact point name and phone number for cases of emergency. 11. If more than one driver for buses is needed based on the trip itinerary, it is the contractor's responsibility to determine this need. 12. Contractors shall have emergency and critical incident procedures, arrangements, and personnel in place to protect passengers and minimize disruption for on the road incidents, vehicles or system failures. 13. No person other than the driver(s) or any individuals considered passengers of the scheduled District trip shall be allowed to access the bus during the charter. 14. Due to federal safety regulations, the District will not allow students to be transported in any van that carries more than 12 passengers. 15. The District will provide point of contact information for each location to the awardee.
