How to bid on On-Call Charter Bus Transportation Services with LA County Public Works

What LA County Public Works is buying

Los Angeles County Public Works is seeking qualified companies to provide on-call charter bus transportation services. This is a program that could last up to five years, with an estimated annual value of $2 million. This is an opportunity for transportation companies to secure a long-term contract with a major county agency.

Key dates and deadlines

This solicitation is continuously open, meaning the County accepts responses on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline. Proposals will be reviewed in the order they are submitted. However, for initial consideration, it was imperative that proposals were returned by Tuesday, December 21, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The deadline to submit written questions for a response was Tuesday, December 7, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

The RFSQ process may take several months to process before agreements can be fully executed by the Board of Supervisors for commencement.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for experienced charter bus transportation service providers. To qualify, your firm must have at least three years of experience providing charter bus transportation services within the last four years. You must also hold a valid and active charter license or certificate issued by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Additionally, your company must have passed all California Highway Patrol Safety Compliance Inspections (or passed all reinspections) of your maintenance facilities or terminals for the prior three 13-month inspections. Subcontracting is not allowed for this service; any reference to subcontractors will lead to immediate disqualification of the Statement of Qualifications.

How to respond

To access the full details and documents, click “View original source” on the LA County bid portal. This will take you directly to the bid’s card. Then, click on the solicitation number on that card to find all public details and document downloads.

Proposals must be submitted electronically. You can submit your proposal through BidExpress, a secure online bidding service. Alternatively, you can submit electronic proposals via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive or compact disk (CD) to the Cashiers Office in Public Works Headquarters, located on the Mezzanine Floor, 900 South Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, California 91803. Hard copy proposals will not be accepted.

It is strongly encouraged to register on the Public Works website for this RFSQ to receive automatic notifications of any updates. The County does not have an obligation to notify proposers other than through this system.

Tips for preparing a competitive response

Carefully review all sections of the Request for Statement of Qualifications (RFSQ) to ensure full compliance with all requirements. Pay close attention to the mandatory requirements regarding experience, licensing, and safety inspections, and ensure all necessary forms, such as Form PW 20, are accurately completed and submitted.

Since subcontracting is not allowed, ensure your proposal clearly demonstrates your firm's sole capability to perform all aspects of the required services. Highlight your company's direct experience and resources.

If submitting through BidExpress, be aware of the file size limitations (10 MB per file, up to 50 files, total 500 MB) and plan your document uploads accordingly. Allow sufficient time before the submission deadline to complete the process. If you submit via BidExpress, do not send physical copies to the County.