HCPS FL Logo Business
Action Item
DATE: Tuesday, June 10, 2014
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve and Accept the School Bus Brand and Options on the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) School Bus Bid #2013-01 for the Purchase of School Buses and Optional Equipment with Matthews Buses, Inc. (Business Division)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On May 7, 2014, Tom Platt from School Bus Consultants (SBC) shared the results of the delivered report on Bus Fleet Renewal Requirements Analysis and Planning in a Board workshop.  The presentation included decision support for the school bus purchase. 

SBC employed a collaborative facilitated process that utilized a quantitative decision-support tool to conjoin and objectify many different bus requirements and options to arrive at an optimal purchase decision. A key group of staff members was used in this process and 58 evaluation measures in three categories: safety, reliability, and utility were computed and assigned weights. 

Bus specifications and options were constructed and shared with the three manufacturer dealerships offering the 77-passenger, Type C, conventional school bus to verify pricing, warranties, and available options. We received verification regarding bus specification pricing from all three school bus vendors. 

Based on the information received from our transportation employees, the consultant, and the sole vendor meeting the majority of our specifications, it is recommended we purchase Thomas Built Buses sold via Matthews Buses, Inc. The purchase request prior to June 30, 2014, is for 80 buses without lifts and 20 buses with lifts for a total purchase of 100 school buses.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Align financial resources to support the district’s strategic goals • Demonstrate best financial practices
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Funding for the current year school bus purchase and beyond will be comprised of Capital Millage (1.50 Mills) dollars; Community Investment Tax (CIT) dollars; Capital Improvement dollars (Pari-Mutual Revenue); dollars generated from the sale of buses, and General Fund Non-Recurring dollars, if needed.
EVALUATION
SUBMITTED BY:  Jean Bowman, General Manager, Procurement Department
Christopher Farkas   Gretchen Saunders
Chief Facilities Officer
(813) 272-4004
  Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
    A 6.49
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20140610_634 (Board Meeting) * Section A Item# 6.49