Project Information

Bid Title

Taxicab Student Transportation Services - Questions and Answers

Issuing Agency

Kirkwood School District

Location

Missouri

Published Date

Mar 26, 2026

Closing Date

Apr 3, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Inquiries

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Documents

Join to Access Full Details

Project Description

The Kirkwood School District uses this site to post its requests for proposals (RFPs) and its requests for qualifications (RFQs). Both will also be advertised in various newspapers if so required by Board of Education Policy.

Project: Taxicab Student Transportation Services
Details:  The Kirkwood School District is seeking vendors interested in providing taxicab student transportation services to students.
Due Date: 12:00 p.m. (noon) CDT on Friday, April 3, 2026
RFP for TAXICab Student Transportation Services

Questions and Answers for the TAXICab Student Transportation Services RFP

Attachment Preview

Questions & Answers for RFP for McKinney-Vento Transportation Services

STUDENT Related Questions related to WAV, SSD, McKinney-Vento, General Ed

Based on current student numbers, approximately how many students will require

transportation?

A: The exact number is to be determined; however, it is anticipated to be fewer than 100

students. During the 2024–2025 school year, approximately 48 students required

transportation services. Currently, the District has not identified any students requiring

wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) transportation under this program. There are

currently 48-50 McKinney-Vento students, zero (0) Special education students, and 6

general education students requiring individual transportation.

If available, please also indicate the average number of students transported daily

within each category.

A: While approximate annual counts are provided above for context, the District does not

track or report average daily transportation figures in this format for the purposes of this

RFP.

Of those students, how many typically require specialized equipment during

transport, such as booster seats, car seats, safety harnesses, or similar

accommodations?

A: The need for specialized equipment varies depending on the individual students

assigned for transportation. Vendors should be prepared to accommodate such needs on a

case-by-case basis and demonstrate the ability to safely transport students requiring age-

appropriate or situation-specific safety equipment.

Q: How many counties does the District serve? Please list them.

A: The District serves several counties within the region and surrounding areas.

Transportation routes typically do not exceed a 30-mile radius.

SUBMISSION of RFP Related Questions

Can bids be dropped off directly instead of being mailed? If so, what is the name and

address for delivery?

A: Yes, bids may be delivered in person. Please submit them to the district’s finance office

in care of Mr. Scott Cook at 1099 Milwaukee Street, Suite 260, Kirkwood, MO 63122.

Are three hard copies and a digital copy (flash drive) required?

A: The District requires three physical copies. A flash drive may be included as a backup;

however, it will not be returned. Electronic submission is not accepted.

Vendor Related Questions

Can the District share current vendor names and rates?

A: The District does not disclose current vendor information or contracted rates as part of

the RFP process.

How many vendors are currently used for this service?

A: The District currently utilizes approximately three to four vendors.

How would you rate current vendor performance (1–10)?

A: Vendor performance varies. The District conducts annual surveys of staff and families to

evaluate service quality and make informed, future decisions.

What have current vendors done particularly well?

A: Current vendors demonstrate strong performance in punctuality (approximately 99% on-

time), clear and consistent communication, high-quality customer service, and

accountability.

What areas need improvement?

A: Opportunities for improvement vary by vendor and are addressed through ongoing

performance monitoring and feedback processes.

Q: What is the anticipated annual contract value?

A: The annual contract value is currently undefined and will depend on actual service

needs and awarded proposals.

Q: Is this RFP intended to supplement or replace existing contracts?

A: This RFP will replace current contracts set to expire.

Q: What is the expected number of aides needed for the coming school year?

A: No transportation aides are currently anticipated. No aides were utilized during the

current school year.

Q: Can you share prior RFP documents (e.g., cost proposals or sample submissions)?

A: The District does not release prior RFP submissions or related documentation.

Q: What has been the average one-way trip mileage over the past 30 days?

A: The average one-way trip distance is approximately 15 miles.

Q: Where in the RFP are the Terms of the Agreement listed?

A: The terms of agreement will be centered around the bids received.

Q: Regarding communication expectations, would the notification capabilities

within Vendor’s parent app and staff portal be considered an acceptable method for

contacting both the District and parents?

A: The District is open to the use of a parent-facing application or portal, but provided it

ensures appropriate data privacy and security protections for both families and the vendor.

However, the use of a vendor-specific staff portal is not required. The District’s preferred

methods of communication remain direct channels such as phone and email to ensure

clarity, accessibility, and ease of use. Vendors should be mindful of minimizing overly

complex systems that require multiple user accounts or logins unless they offer a clear

operational benefit and simplicity for all users.

Q: Should respondents simply acknowledge and agree to the terms, or provide

detailed explanations?

A: Respondents should acknowledge and agree to the terms outlined in the RFP. Additional

clarification or description may be included where appropriate to demonstrate

understanding and capability.

Q: Where should the Letter of Engagement be included in the bid response?

A: A draft or sample Letter of Engagement may be included as part of the proposal

submission, preferably as an appendix or at the end of the response. Final terms will be

reviewed and finalized with the selected vendor(s).

Q: Could the District share the approximate annual contract value or historical annual

spend for taxicab student transportation services under the current or most recent

contract?

A: The District does not disclose historical spending or contract values as part of the RFP

process. Respondents are encouraged to submit competitive pricing based on the scope of

services outlined in this RFP.

Q: Could the District share the approximate number of transportation requests or trips

provided during the previous school year under this contract?

A: The District is not providing historical trip volume data at this time. Vendors should base

their proposals on the general service descriptions and estimated student counts included

in this RFP.

Q: Are transportation requests typically limited within District boundaries, or should

vendors anticipate service throughout the broader metropolitan area?

A: Transportation requests are primarily within the surrounding region, and vendors should

be prepared to provide service throughout the greater metropolitan area as needed. Most

trips are expected to fall within an approximate 30-mile radius.

Q: Does the District anticipate any long-distance transportation requests outside of

the immediate area, such as trips to specialized programs in neighboring districts?

A: See answer above. There are no known special programs.

Q: The RFP references behavioral safety training such as CPI or MANDT. Would the

District accept equivalent behavioral safety and student de-escalation training

programs that meet the same objectives if CPI or MANDT certification is not

specifically held by drivers?

A: Yes, the District will accept equivalent training programs, provided they cover

comparable content in student behavior management, de-escalation techniques, and

safety protocols. Vendors should clearly outline the training provided and how it aligns with

these objectives. These programs will be subject to review by our Director of Safety &

Security.

Q: The RFP indicates the District may inspect vehicles and driver records. Could the

District clarify whether these inspections are conducted on a scheduled basis or as

needed?

A: Inspections may be conducted on an as-needed basis, at the District’s discretion, to

ensure compliance with safety and contractual requirements.

Q: Can the District share how these transportation services are currently being

provided (e.g., contracted vendor, local taxi provider, or district-managed service)?

Additionally, what challenges or service gaps is the District hoping to address through

this RFP?

A: The District currently utilizes multiple contracted vendors to provide transportation

services. Through this RFP, the District seeks to establish partnerships with reliable, high-

quality vendors capable of delivering consistent service, to build long-term relationships

and improve overall service stability and coverage.

Q: Does the District anticipate awarding this contract to multiple vendors, and if so,

how are transportation requests typically allocated among awarded vendors?

A: Yes, the District anticipates awarding contracts to multiple vendors. Transportation

requests are generally assigned based on factors such as vendor availability, geographic

proximity, capacity, cost, and overall performance.

Q: If awarded, what timeframe does the District anticipate for onboarding and

initiating transportation services prior to the contract start in July 2026?

A: The anticipated contract start date is July 1, 2026. Vendors should be prepared to

complete onboarding requirements, including driver vetting, vehicle inspections, and

coordination with District staff, prior to this date, to ensure smooth transition and

uninterrupted service delivery at the start of the contract term.

Q: The RFP includes Form No. 1 – Cost for submitting pricing. In addition to completing

the required pricing form, would the District permit respondents to include an

additional pricing sheet to further explain their pricing structure (e.g., base trip fee

plus mileage model)?

A: Yes, respondents are encouraged to include supplemental pricing documentation if it

helps clarify their proposed rate structure, assumptions, or cost model. However, the

required pricing form must still be completed in full.

Q: This requirement appears twice on page 10. Can you confirm whether this is

intentional or if additional information was meant to be included? (Single-page

executive summary of vendor profile)

A: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. This requirement is only needed once. The

duplicate reference on page 10 may be disregarded.

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 484121General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload

* Disclaimer: Government BidHub provides information on bids, RFPs (Requests for Proposals), and RFQs (Requests for Qualifications) solely for convenience and informational purposes. This site is not an official public notice board. For official details, responses, or inquiries, please contact the relevant government agency directly.