Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Bus Procurement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves purchase of MicroBird school bus on GM chassis; delivery estimated March–April
Summary
The board approved the low bid for a 2025 MicroBird on a GM chassis to replace a high‑mileage bus. The vendor highlighted features including a rear lift, air conditioning and camera coverage for the lift; estimated delivery is March–April and tariffs could affect future pricing.
The North Polk Community School District Board approved the purchase of a 2025 MicroBird bus built on a GM chassis at its May meeting to replace an older bus with more than 230,000 miles.
Marcy (Transportation Director) introduced the item and said the new vehicle would have a wheelchair lift and capacity for roughly 13–14 students. A vendor representative, Dwight, reviewed manufacturing and delivery issues that have affected the market since COVID and said chassis availability has improved but that tariff surcharges on vehicle components are an emerging risk. “So far on this product, we have not seen any tariffs, but we cannot predict the future,” Dwight said.
Vendor remarks noted the bus will include body‑installed air conditioning and a rear lift with camera coverage of the lift door; administrators said the district expects a relatively quick prep turnaround once units arrive from Canada. The vendor estimated delivery in March or April of the build year and cautioned that transportation scheduling and shop prep can affect final delivery timing.
Board members expressed appreciation for the vendor’s experience and acknowledged recent difficulties with other suppliers in the marketplace. The motion to approve the MicroBird on a GM chassis carried on an affirmative vote.
No purchase price was stated on the public transcript; administrators said the bid submitted was the low bid and that procurement documentation will be managed through the district’s purchasing process. Staff did not indicate any special grant or external funding source tied to this purchase during the discussion.
