Buffalo Public Schools Yellow Bus Transportation Bid Report Dr. Kriner Cash, Superintendent James G. Weimer, Chief Operating Officer January 8, 2020 1
BPS Yellow Bus Transportation Program • BPS provides yellow bus transportation for 28,998 students daily • 92 % of City Elementary School students ride yellow buses to/from school • 618 yellow bus routes • Transportation to/from 122 school sites • These sites include BPS, Charter, Non-Public and Agency Schools • 10,439,280 student “rides” each school year According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), yellow school buses are the safest form of transportation to and from school. School buses are the first class of each day. Academic programs rely on students being transported to and from school each and every day safely and in a timely manner. 2
Bid Process for Yellow Bus Transportation Services • In March, 2019, the District hired an independent consultant firm, Transportation Advisory Services, to assist in the development and issuance of Transportation Bid specifications • Request for Bid (RFB) Specifications were placed on the District’s website on August 28, 2019 – Email notifications were sent to 30 + regional and national busing contractors – Transportation Bid Specifications were advertised per District Policy • Pre-Bid meeting was held on September 19, 2019 – Representatives from 7 busing companies attended the pre-bid meeting • Bid Submission date was October 10, 2019 – 4 bids were submitted on time • First Student was the lowest bidder for all 10 Yellow Bus Transportation Contracts after a 7.0% discount was applied – The District was able to negotiate an additional 0.5% percent discount on all contracts in the first year Over 5 years, First Student’s discounted bid was $ 21 Million less than the next lowest contractors’ bids, and $12 Million less than if the District awarded each individual contract to the lowest bid and didn’t take advantage of First Student’s 7.0% discount offer 3
5 Year Estimated Cost of 10 New Recommended Yellow Bus Contracts Net fiscal Projected Change from impact after annual spend prior year Trans. Aid estimated year 1 cost (2020-21) * 46,949,498 6,186,741 6,186,741 Original bid less 7.5% discount estimated year 2 cost (2021-22) 48,029,337 1,079,838 944,655 2.3% escalation estimated year 3 cost (2022-23) 48,893,865 864,528 1,057,044 1.8% escalation estimated year 4 cost (2023-24) 49,773,954 880,090 1,171,456 1.8% escalation estimated year 5 cost (2024-25) 50,669,885 895,931 1,287,927 1.8% escalation 244,316,539 9,907,129 10,647,823 *Note: the year 1 cost is an approximate 15% increase from the current expiring bid NB - Approximately 87% of student transportation expenses are reimbursed by New York State in the year following the expenditure. 4
Benefits in the Proposed Contracts • Increase in driver wages – Starting wage for inexperienced drivers will rise to $20.50 over the course of the contract – Experienced drivers will rise to $24.19 in the first year of the contract – Improve hiring and retention • Driver tablets installed on buses – Provides turn-by-turn directions and real-time traffic information • Strong managements rights – Enhanced reporting mandates • Improved staffing mandates – Increase telephone coverage requirements per terminal location – Increase Dispatcher requirements per terminal location – Dedicated training team to improve driver retention • Improved camera system – New Wi-Fi accessibilities for expedited video download • First Feedback – Provides parents, community members and school personnel the opportunity to submit feedback about a driver, bus or experience via a simple, easy-to-use online tool. • Maintain benefits from previous contracts – Integrated child safety seats – 3 point lap/shoulder seat belts – GPS tracking via Firstview – Student conduct reporting via FirstActs • Discussion 5
BOARD OF EDUCATION Sharon M. Belton-Cottman , President and West Ferry District Board Member Dr. Ann R. Rivera, Vice President of Student Achievement and Board Member-at-Large Jennifer L. Mecozzi , Vice President of Executive Affairs and West District Board Member Dr. Kathy Evans - Brown, East District Board Member Terrance L. Heard , Board Member-at-Large Hope R. Jay , North District Board Member Louis J. Petrucci , Park District Board Member Lawrence L. Scott , Board Member-at-Large Paulette Woods , Central District Board Member Danny Dac Minh Tran, Student Representative Dr. Kriner Cash, Superintendent James G. Weimer, Chief Operating Officer Albert Diamico, Director of Transportation Cheryl Kennedy, Assistant Director of Transportation 6
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