Post by title1parent on Dec 8, 2009 6:26:42 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=342542&src=76
Dist. 204 to rebid on transportation contract
By Justin Kmitch | Daily Herald 12/08/09
Indian Prairie Unit District 204, in an attempt to ensure the district is getting the cheapest bussing rate possible, is rebidding the contract to begin on July 31.
The district has also hired transportation consultant TransPar Group to ensure they "capture all of the good transportation ideas out there and allow for best practices" throughout the bidding process.
Director of Support Services Karla Zozulia told board members the bid will allow for the vendors to bid on regular and special education transportation separately or as a whole, to allow for more competitive bids, provide for
smaller vendors to participate, and give the district more flexibility to package the transportation system.
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dave Holm said breaking out the contracts like that may allow smaller bus companies to bid on either package, further driving down prices.
"It forces competition," he said.
Zozulia said the winning bidder, to be announced Feb. 8, will have to agree to several concessions including a fuel price cap and escalator, give the district final say on whether a bus is safe to be on the road, provide protection against work stoppages and keeping consistent drivers on the same routes.
"Driver consistency is an issue for us so we're making sure there is language in (the bids) to prevent the contractor from reassigning drivers more than twice a year unless they have the district's approval," she said. "And then we also have the right to request the removal of a driver," she said.
A new feature the district is looking for is a full-time road supervisor dedicated to the district's thousand routes.
The contractor will be subject to an annual audit completed by the district to ensure service quality and contract compliance including maintenance records and hiring procedures.
"Bussing has been kind of a bumpy road for us this year," said Board President Curt Bradshaw. "The way you designed this bid, it appears that it was probably designed a lot more intelligently than had we not had the opportunity to go through those learnings because we've since learned the way to right things."
With the help of TransPar, the district is also conducting a study of the current routes to help determine which routes are running efficiently and which ones can do better. Upon completion, TransPar Group will provide a report that will offer solutions to increase vehicle utilization, including specific opportunities to eliminate routes or
buses.
Zozulia said bids will be opened Jan. 21 and a recommendation will be made to the board on Feb. 8.
Dist. 204 to rebid on transportation contract
By Justin Kmitch | Daily Herald 12/08/09
Indian Prairie Unit District 204, in an attempt to ensure the district is getting the cheapest bussing rate possible, is rebidding the contract to begin on July 31.
The district has also hired transportation consultant TransPar Group to ensure they "capture all of the good transportation ideas out there and allow for best practices" throughout the bidding process.
Director of Support Services Karla Zozulia told board members the bid will allow for the vendors to bid on regular and special education transportation separately or as a whole, to allow for more competitive bids, provide for
smaller vendors to participate, and give the district more flexibility to package the transportation system.
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dave Holm said breaking out the contracts like that may allow smaller bus companies to bid on either package, further driving down prices.
"It forces competition," he said.
Zozulia said the winning bidder, to be announced Feb. 8, will have to agree to several concessions including a fuel price cap and escalator, give the district final say on whether a bus is safe to be on the road, provide protection against work stoppages and keeping consistent drivers on the same routes.
"Driver consistency is an issue for us so we're making sure there is language in (the bids) to prevent the contractor from reassigning drivers more than twice a year unless they have the district's approval," she said. "And then we also have the right to request the removal of a driver," she said.
A new feature the district is looking for is a full-time road supervisor dedicated to the district's thousand routes.
The contractor will be subject to an annual audit completed by the district to ensure service quality and contract compliance including maintenance records and hiring procedures.
"Bussing has been kind of a bumpy road for us this year," said Board President Curt Bradshaw. "The way you designed this bid, it appears that it was probably designed a lot more intelligently than had we not had the opportunity to go through those learnings because we've since learned the way to right things."
With the help of TransPar, the district is also conducting a study of the current routes to help determine which routes are running efficiently and which ones can do better. Upon completion, TransPar Group will provide a report that will offer solutions to increase vehicle utilization, including specific opportunities to eliminate routes or
buses.
Zozulia said bids will be opened Jan. 21 and a recommendation will be made to the board on Feb. 8.