NOTICE TO BIDDERS:

NOTICE TO BIDDERS: Pearl River Union Free School District, with administrative offices located at 135 West Crooked Hill Road, Pearl River, New York 10965 (in accordance with Section 103 of Article 5-a of the General Municipal Law) hereby invites the submission of sealed bids. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES RFP-PR-2027-01 The Board of Education of the Pearl River School District hereby invites sealed proposals for providing transportation for the 2026-27 school year (and/summer) for the follow contracts: (1) home-to-school transportation for in-District and out-of-District transportation for public, private, parochial, and special education students; and (2) athletic and field trips. It is anticipated that approximately 16 buses, 19 vans, and 7 driver assistants will be required for approximately 45 daily home-to-school routes. Proposals should include pricing for supplying the necessary buses, drivers, and van attendants. In the best interest of the district, the Board of Education reserves the right to award the transportation contracts for a one (1) year, two (2) year, three (3) year, or five (5) year period from July 1, 2026 until June 30, 2027. Future one-year or multiple-year contract extensions may be awarded at the discretion of the Board of Education. The award of multi-year contracts is subject to and shall be conditioned upon the approval of the Pearl River School District voters. The Request for Proposal, including forms for proposal, certification, conditions, and specifications are available to be downloaded from the Empire State Purchasing Group website at www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york. At the top of the web page, click on "Participating Agencies" and select "Pearl River School District". Choose the above referenced proposal number/name from the "Open Solicitations" list to print the documents for your use. In all cases, it must be understood that the conditions set forth in the Request for Proposal issued by the District shall apply. Sealed proposals must be mailed or delivered to the attention of the Assistant Superintendent for Business at Pearl River School District, 135 West Crooked Hill Road, Pearl River, NY 10965, and must be clearly marked "RFP Proposal: Student Transportation Services." Such proposals will be received until 11:00am EST on Friday, April 24, 2026, at which time and place all proposals will be opened. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject all proposals, waive any informalities in proposals, and to negotiate any portion of proposals. Any aspects of the service not addressed by the specifications are left to the proposer to address. Alternatives to the specifications or additions to the specifications are to be clearly identified by the proposer. Proposals for each transportation contract will be evaluated according to the following weighted criteria established by the District in accordance with Education Law § 305(14) and Section 156.12 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education: (i) the previous experience of the proposer in school bus transportation = 15%; (ii) Safety programs implemented by the proposer, including supporting documents = 10%; (iii) a record of accidents in motor vehicles under the control of the contractor for the past five (5) years, if applicable. List insurance runs and ratio of injury vs physical damage = 5%; (iv) driving history of employees of the company and driving practices. Include abstracts and driving records = 10%; (v) condition and location of maintenance & dispatch facilities = 7%; (vi) inspection records and model year of the motor vehicles under the control of the proposer NYS DOT BUSNET score = 10%; (vii) maintenance schedules of the motor vehicles under the control of the proposer. List programs and preventative maintenance programs implements and followed = 8%; (viii) financial analysis of the proposer = 5%; (ix) compliance with state and local insurance requirements = 5%; and (x) overall cost of the proposal over the period of time requested = 25%. The maximum total score is 100%. A minimum score of 70 is required to be eligible for an award. The Commissioner of Education, in addition to her existing statutory authority to approve or disapprove transportation contracts, may reject any award of a transportation contract that is based on an evaluation of proposals submitted in response to a Request for Proposal if she finds that (1) the contractor is not responsive to the Request for Proposal; or (2) the proposal is not in the best interests of the District. Proposals will remain firm for a period of 45 days following the date of the opening, and shall therefore remain firm unless the proposer provides written notice to the Pearl River School District Assistant Superintendent for Business that the Proposal has been withdrawn. At the discretion of the District, security in the form of a bond or irrevocable letter of credit of not less than 100% of the total amount of the annual proposed cost, pledging that the proposer will enter into a contract with the District on the terms stated on his/her proposal, may be required to be submitted with a proposal. Board of Education Pearl River School District March 11 2026 LNYS0472301