Transportation Services

Location:	North Carolina
Posted:	Feb 16, 2026
Due:	Mar 9, 2026
Agency:	State Government of North Carolina
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	V - Transportation, Travel and Relocation Services
Solicitation No:	163-163-02012026TS-AS
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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RFP-163-02012026TS-AS

THE CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG BOARD OF EDUCATION

Request for Proposal #: 163-02012026TS-AS

Transportation Services

Date Issued: Monday, February 16, 2026

Proposal Opening Date: Monday, March 9, 2026

at 02:00 PM ET

Direct all inquiries concerning this RFP to:

Amy Shire

Senior Purchasing Agent

Email: amym.shire@cms.k12.nc.us

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RFP-163-02012026TS-AS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

PROJECT OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................................................................ 4

KEY OBJECTIVES: ................................................................................................................................................................................ 4

SCOPE OF WORK

PRICING STRUCTURE AND DEFINITIONS

BASE RATE CATEGORIES ................................................................................................................................................10

INSURANCE ............................................................................................................................................................... 11

TECHNICAL & OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

CONTRACT TERM & CONDITIONS

GENERAL INFORMATION

RFP SCHEDULE ..........................................................................................................................................................14

PROPOSAL QUESTIONS .................................................................................................................................................15

PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL..................................................................................................................................................15

PROPOSAL CONTENTS...................................................................................................................................................16

METHOD OF AWARD AND EVALUATION PROCESS

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

CONTRACT MANAGER AND CUSTOMER SERVICE ....................................................................................................................20

POST AWARD PROJECT REVIEW MEETINGS ..........................................................................................................................21

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT..........................................................................................................................................21

PERIODIC STATUS REPORTS ............................................................................................................................................21

ACCEPTANCE OF WORK.................................................................................................................................................21

DISPUTE RESOLUTION...................................................................................................................................................22

PRODUCT RECALL........................................................................................................................................................22

CONTRACT CHANGES ...................................................................................................................................................22

DATA CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT ...............................................................................................................22

ATTACHMENTS

ATTACHMENT A: PRICING (OR COST PROPOSAL)...................................................................................................................24

ATTACHMENT D: EVALUATION FORM ...............................................................................................................................26

ATTACHMENT E: CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE PROOF .............................................................................................................28

ATTACHMENT F: MINORITY, WOMEN’S, SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES ........................................................................................29

ATTACHMENT G: CUSTOMER REFERENCE TEMPLATE ..............................................................................................................31

ATTACHMENT H: NC LUNSFORD ACT N.C. GENERAL STATUTE 14-208.18 ...................................................................................32

ATTACHMENT I: LOBBYING ACTIVITY CERTIFICATION FOR FEDERAL GRANTS ...................................................................................33

ATTACHMENT G: LOBBYING ACTIVITY CERTIFICATION FOR FEDERAL GRANTS (CONTINUED)..................................................................34

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RFP-163-02012026TS-AS

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg BOE

4421 Stuart Andrew Blvd.

Charlotte NC 28217

Refer ALL Inquiries to: Amy Shire

Office: 980-343-6615

E-Mail: amym.shire@cms.k12.nc.us

Request For Proposal 163-02012026TS-AS

Proposals will be publicly opened:

Monday, March 9,2026 @ 2:00 pm EST

Commodity: Transportation Services

Contract Type: Agency Speciﬁc Term Contract

Using Agency Name: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education

(abbreviated as CMBOE or CMBE )

Website: www.cms.k12.nc.us

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

ONLY Electronic responses will be accepted for this solicitation. You must register to submit a bid. Register as

soon as possible! It may take 3 to 5 days for your account to become active. NO MAILED, COURIERED, FAXED, OR

EMAIL SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Bids are subject to rejection unless submitted on this form. Failure to

submit a bid in strict accordance with these instructions shall constitute suﬃcient cause to reject a Vendor’s bid(s).

Federal Uniform Guidance: “Contracts funded with federal grant or loan funds must be procured in a manner that

conforms with all applicable Federal laws, policies, and standards, including those under the Uniform Guidance (2

C.F.R. Part 200). Including the prohibitions outlined in (2 C.F.R. 200.216).” Additional information can be found at:

https://www.cmsk12.org/Page/8947

EXECUTION

In compliance with this Invitation for Bids (RFP), and subject to all the conditions herein, the undersigned Vendor oﬀers

and agrees to furnish and deliver any or all items upon which prices are bid, at the prices set opposite each item within

the time speciﬁed herein.

By executing this proposal, the undersigned Vendor understands that false certiﬁcation is a Class I felony and certiﬁes that this

proposal is submitted competitively and without collusion (G.S. 143-54), none of its oﬃcers, directors, or owners of an

unincorporated business entity has been convicted of any violations of Chapter 78A of the General Statutes, the Securities Act

of 1933, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (G.S. 143-59.2), and it is not an ineligible Vendor as set forth in G.S. 143-59.1.

Furthermore, by executing this proposal, the undersigned certiﬁes to the best of Vendor’s knowledge and belief, that it and its

principals are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible or voluntarily excluded from

covered transactions by any Federal or CMBE department or agency.

By executing this proposal, Vendor certiﬁes that it has read and agreed to the INSTRUCTION TO VENDORS and THE CHARLOTTE

MECKLENBURG BOARD OF EDUCATION GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS incorporated herein. These documents can be

accessed from the ATTACHMENTS page within this document.

Failure to execute/sign proposal prior to submittal may render proposal invalid and it MAY BE REJECTED. Late proposals

cannot be accepted.

COMPLETE/FORMAL NAME OF VENDOR:

STREET ADDRESS:

P.O. BOX:

ZIP:

CITY & CMBE & ZIP:

TELEPHONE NUMBER: TOLL FREE TEL. NO:

PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS ADDRESS IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE (SEE INSTRUCTIONS TO VENDORS ITEM #21):

PRINT NAME & TITLE OF PERSON SIGNING ON BEHALF OF VENDOR:

FAX NUMBER:

VENDOR’S AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE:

DATE:

E-MAIL:

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RFP-163-02012026TS-AS

VALIDITY PERIOD

Oﬀer shall be valid for at least 120 days from date of bid opening, unless otherwise stated here: days, or if

extended by mutual agreement of the parties in writing. Any withdrawal of this oﬀer shall be made in writing,

eﬀective upon receipt by the agency issuing this RFP.

ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSAL

If your proposal is accepted, all provisions of this RFP, along with the written results of any negotiations, shall

constitute the written agreement between the parties (“Contract”). The NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL TERMS

AND CONDITIONS are incorporated herein and shall apply. Depending upon the Goods or Services being

oﬀered, other terms and conditions may apply, as mutually agreed.

FOR STATE USE ONLY: Oﬀer accepted and Contract awarded this day of

, 20 , as indicated on the

attached certiﬁcation, by

(Authorized Representative of CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG BOARD OF EDUCATION)

Ver: 11/2023

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools currently transports over 2,000 students using contracted vendors. The primary

goal of this RFP is to identify, procure, and provide a rigorous commitment to operational safety, driver excellence,

technological modernization, regulatory compliance and cost eﬀectiveness. The selected vendor will play a critical

role in ensuring the secure movement of CMBE students.

The objective is to identify, procure, modernize and deploy transportation companies to better support CMBE staﬀ

and students. Vendors must integrate real-time GPS tracking hardware, driver, and ﬂeet management technology,

student assignment software, and a parent app that tracks student location.

The successful implementation of this comprehensive system is critical to signiﬁcantly enhancing student safety,

optimizing operational eﬃciency, and ensuring full compliance with all federal, state, and local regulatory

requirements.

CMBE may award the resulting Contract in the manner that best serves the interests of the district. While a single

award may be made to one Vendor for all items, CMBE also reserves the right to make multiple awards, including

awards for individual items or groups of items, if such awards are determined to be most advantageous to the

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Vendors shall provide unit pricing and are also requested to submit a lump-sum

price. CMBE further reserves the right to reject any or all bids at its sole discretion.

Project Overview

CMBE currently serves over 2,000 students in contracted services and is seeking proposals from qualiﬁed specialized

transport providers with the ability to demonstrate a rigorous commitment to operational safety, driver excellence,

and regulatory compliance. The selected vendor will play a critical role in protecting public safety and ensuring the

secure movement of CMBE students.

Key Objectives:

Real-time Visibility: Establish and maintain accurate, real-time GPS location tracking for all designated ﬂeet vehicles,

ensuring continuous data availability for operational oversight and incident response.

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RFP-163-02012026TS-AS

Driver Safety, Behavior, & Performance: Monitor and report driver behavior metrics, including but not limited to

harsh braking, rapid acceleration, speeding, and unauthorized route deviations, with the intent to promote safe

driving practices and reduce liability exposure.

Operational Eﬃciency: Enhance ﬂeet performance by improving on-time arrival rates, optimizing route adherence,

and reducing vehicle downtime through proactive diagnostics and maintenance.

Communication: Facilitate secure, timely, and bidirectional communication between drivers, dispatch personnel,

and administrative staﬀ through integrated messaging platforms and mobile applications, including real-time

updates to parents and guardians.

Student Safety: Strengthen student safety protocols by enabling visibility into vehicle location, driver conduct, and

trip completion status, while ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local transportation safety

regulations.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor hereby agrees to provide student transportation Services to CMBE on an as-needed basis as

requested by CMBE and as follows:

Contractor shall provide for the safe and eﬃcient transportation of exceptional children, McKinney-Vento Act

children, foster children, 504 Plan children, and other students with special needs. In limited circumstances,

transportation may also be required for students who live at a signiﬁcant distance from their peers and cannot be

accommodated by traditional school bus routes.

All Contractors are required to register their company, drivers and vehicles with Charlotte Mecklenburg Police

Department (CMPD) in accordance with the Passenger Vehicle for Hire Ordinance. Drivers will be hired by the

Contractor, and such drivers shall meet the requirements of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Passenger Vehicle for Hire

Ordinance. Vehicles will be owned by the Contractor and shall meet the requirements of the Charlotte Mecklenburg

Passenger Vehicle for Hire Ordinance.

Prior to operating any vehicle in performance of the Services hereunder, each driver shall be licensed in accordance

with Vehicle for Hire Ordinance (and shall undergo any ﬁngerprinting, drug testing and background checks required

by the CMPD and shall pass any and all other tests or inspections required by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Passenger

Vehicle for Hire Ordinance) and any other applicable laws, ordinances and regulations, and related requirements of

the CMBE .

Company must check the NC Sex Oﬀender and Public Protection Registration Program, the NC Sexually Violent

Predator Registration Program, and the National Sex Oﬀender Registry for all employees/drivers and must provide

an owner signed letter stating the company has done so for proposed drivers and will do so for any new drivers.

Contractor drivers and vehicles cannot be used to transport CMBE students unless they have valid credentials

including, but not limited to, valid driver’s licenses, valid PVH driver permits, valid PVH vehicle permits, current

insurance coverage and up-to-date inspections (Attachment D).

Contractors shall provide CMBE with monthly veriﬁcation of driver and vehicle registration, to include but not

limited to a list of all drivers that will serve CMBE students, a list of all vehicles operated to transport CMBE students,

and copies of driver’s licenses, PVH permits, and inspection information.

The Contractor shall be responsible for keeping abreast of all changes in laws and regulations and complying with

them. Any rules or regulations heretofore or hereafter adopted by the State Board of Education and all other

present or future state or federal statutes or regulations aﬀecting the transportation of students shall become a

part of the resulting contract entered into for the transportation of exceptional children, McKinney Vento Act

children, foster children and 504 Plan children and shall be fully complied with by the Contractor.

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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Solicitation Number:	163-163-02012026TS-AS
Project Title:	Transportation Services
Description:	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools currently transports over 2,000 students using contracted vendors. The primary goal of this RFP is to identify, procure, and provide a rigorous commitment to operational safety, driver excellence, technological modernization, regulatory compliance and cost effectiveness. The selected vendor will play a critical role in ensuring the secure movement of CMBE students.
Opening Date:	3/9/2026 2:00 PM
Posted Date:	2/17/2026
Status:	Open
Department:	CHARLOTTE/MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS


Solicitation Number * 163-163-02012026TS-AS	Department CHARLOTTE/MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS	Status Reason Open
Opening Date 2026-03-09T14:00:00.0000000	Posted Date * 2026-02-16T22:46:12.0000000Z	Commodity Code Transportation services equipment
Mandatory Conference/Site Visit — —	Special Instructions —	Solicitation Type * Select RFP IFB RFI
Owner Amy Shire
Description Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools currently transports over 2,000 students using contracted vendors. The primary goal of this RFP is to identify, procure, and provide a rigorous commitment to operational safety, driver excellence, technological modernization, regulatory compliance and cost effectiveness. The selected vendor will play a critical role in ensuring the secure movement of CMBE students.

Attachments RFP #163-02012026TS-AS.pdf (787.26 KB)