The voluntary Kansas Bus Purchasing Program is designed to assist Kansas Unified School Districts and Interlocal Cooperative Agreements in purchasing a quality bus at a competitive price. On an annual basis the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will issue an Invitation to Bid. Once the bids are received KDOT will forward them to the Kansas Department of Education for review and award recommendation. Once an award recommendation is received KDOT will award the contracts. Kansas Unified School Districts and Interlocal Cooperative Agreements will be able to electronically access and compare the contract pricing received from each vendor on available base bus specifications and their individualized bus configurations of choice.

Neither KDOT nor the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) can guarantee that the buses actually supplied will meet the base bus specifications. Dealers, by bidding in the program, have agreed to meet all base bus specifications as stipulated in the Invitation for Bid, and as detailed in the bus procurement software program, so please be sure to review all bus specification details with each vendor prior to placing an order. When comparing prices between dealers, please be cognizant of options marked with notes and/or comments. If you have questions contact the vendor for clarification.

While the Kansas Bus Purchasing Program strives to provide for all bus configurations, no program of this size, scope, and complexity can cover every possible eventuality. Therefore, the program requires you to VALIDATE your bus design with your selected dealer(s) BEFORE you go to your Board of Education for purchasing authorization. It is easier to verify first rather than having to go back to the Board with “adjustments.” We cannot stress this validation step strongly enough!

Please also remember that in order to meet statutory competitive bid requirements for the purchase of a bus exceeding $20,000; you will need to compare prices based on your individual bus configuration from each vendor. If not awarding to the low bid meeting your specifications you will need to document the justification for awarding your order to other than the low bid. While this contract establishes contract pricing, low bid for each individual bus configuration is established through the comparison of prices received from all vendors.

The bid calls for completed bus prices to be Freight On Board (FOB) your school district delivery site. The school district should understand that additional charges may be incurred if the ordered bus is not accepted on the agreed-upon delivery date. Requesting a later delivery date may cause delays in delivery time. The bid calls for all buses to meet current National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures, all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS's), and all applicable State and Federal Laws.

The annual Kansas Bus Purchasing Program contract pricing for use by Kansas Unified School Districts and Interlocal Cooperative Agreements is effective November 1, through October 31.

NOTE: Base Bid Pricing is for evaluation purposes ONLY. Due to volatility in the world markets, manufactures are unable to maintain pricing for an extended amount of time. The Base Bid listed on this RFP is solely for evaluating purposes ONLY.

NOTE: End users MUST be aware the Base Bid used for this RFP was for Fair and Competitive Bidding purposes. Pricing at the time of Delivery MAY be higher due to changes in world markets. It is the responsibility of the purchase award Contractor to keep the ordering entity aware of any cost changes PRIOR to acceptance of delivery. Should pricing increase from the date of order to the date of delivery this award may be re-negotiated. If either party can not come to an agreement the award could be canceled with no penalty to either party. 

It is the BUYER'S responsibility to contact the vendor prior to purchasing any bus through this program.

Click Here to Enter the Program
https://kansas.cooppurchase.com/

INVITATION FOR BID
http://www.ksdot.org/burFiscal/rfq/rfq.asp

Building a Bus Step by Step Instructions
Cloning a Bus for Vendor Review
Stock Buses
Vendor Contact Information

School bus specification differ from state to state. School buses used to transport Kansas students shall meet Kansas school bus specifications. Kansas law requries the school to obtain a verified statement for any school bus sold in the state of Kansas used to transport students. The verified statement signed by the seller attests the school bus:

• Meets all applicable National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures for Kansas.
• Meets all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSSS).
• Meets all applicable State and Federal Laws.
• Has not been altered, changed or otherwise modified in any way which would result in the failure to comply with any National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Federal Law and or State Law.

Kansas law prohibits a school from modifying, altering or changing a school bus which would nullify this statement. Please note school buses sold in the Kansas Bus Purchasing Program include the verified statement as part of the bid. Please follow this link for the KSDE Verified Statement
KAR 91-38-4

Kansas Law requires any purchase over $20,000 use an RFP (Request for Proposal) bid process. A Lease with an option to buy is considered a purchase. 
KSA 72-1151

The Kansas Department of Administration Office of Facilities and Procurement Management bids school passenger vehicles and other items which Kansas School Districts can purchase. More information can be found on their website: https://supplier.sok.ks.gov/psc/sokfsprdsup/SUPPLIER/ERP/c/NUI_FRAMEWORK.PT_LANDINGPAGE.GBL

KDOT (Kansas Department of Transportation) has vehicle contract from which political subdivisions/school districts can purchase from. Use the above link and enter 5600 in the Contract Number field (nothing else) and hit search contracts. You will see all of the KDOT contracts. Contact Jay Cooper with Shawnee Mission Ford for more information and pricing on these KDOT contracts.

Jay Cooper, Government Fleet Sales
jay.cooper@shawneemissionford.com  
913-248-2287

We realize 12 and 15 passenger rated vans may be listed on contracts, however these vans CANNOT be purchased for the purpose of student transportation per state and federal law.

If you are interested in a specific vehicle currently manufactured which is not listed on the contacts, the School Bus Safety Unit has a sample RFP (Request for Proposal) available. If you desire the RFP template contact the School Bus Safety Unit.

The Kansas State Department of Administration is responsible for bidding vehicles on state contract. For any questions or concerns regarding state vehicle contracts, please contact the contract administrator.

The Kansas Department of Administration, Office of Facilities and Procurement Management currently has a procurement contract for Auctioneer Services with Purple Wave to provide on-line auction services.  School Districts are eligible to use this contract service to sell their used school buses.  For more information contact:

PURPLE WAVE AUCTION 
825 Levee DR
Manhattan, KS 66502-5012
Contact Person: Amy Moore
866-608-9283
amy.moore@purplewave.com
cell 913-558-0276

More Information:

Purple Wave Government Services