How to bid on VA Central California Health Care System shuttle services

What the VA is buying

The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking shuttle bus services for the VA Central California Health Care System. This is an RFP in the transportation category.

The VA will compare conforming offers for best value, considering technical submissions, past performance, and price. It is not accepting alternate quotations.

Deadline and what happens next

The solicitation was published October 28, 2026. Offers are due November 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM ET.

The deadline is the cutoff for submitting an offer. Plan to complete and submit your response before then; the provided information does not state what happens to late offers.

Who this opportunity suits

Offers are limited to small businesses designated in SAM as SBA-certified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Offers from businesses without that designation will not be considered.

The opportunity suits a shuttle service provider that can document its fleet or its capability to purchase shuttles, provide relevant shuttle-service references, and prepare a detailed startup plan. A joint venture may qualify if it meets the stated SDVOSB criteria; the SDVOSB party or parties must perform at least 40 percent of the work, beyond administrative functions.

How to access the solicitation

Click “View the original posting” to open the opportunity on the portal. If the first click takes you to the portal homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid.

A free account may be needed to view documents, though some bids can be viewed without one.

Prepare a complete, specific response

Organize the response into Volume 1, Technical Submission, and Volume 2, Past Performance. For the technical volume, provide shuttle fleet details, how you will replace shuttles, and how you will ensure climate controls work daily. Include evidence that you own the shuttles or can purchase them.

Make the mobilization plan specific about how you will be fully operational by the contract start date. Include a quality-control program addressing all requirements in Section 13 of the PWS, and check the solicitation documents for those requirements.

For past performance, provide references for relevant, successful, and recent work, especially shuttle bus services similar in size and performed within the past three years. Include competitive pricing and verify that every minimum solicitation requirement is addressed before submitting.