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Board approves after-school activity bus contracts amid questions about limited competition
Summary
The board approved after-school activity bus bids but members raised concerns that many routes received only a single incumbent bid, which could limit competition and affect pricing or service levels.
Appoquinimink School District staff presented after-school activity bus bids at the Aug. 12 board meeting and the board approved the recommended awards. Staff said all schools received bid documents and that five companies were invited to bid, but several routes attracted only one bid from an incumbent contractor.
Mister Higgins raised concerns about supplier concentration and the potential for price or service vulnerability when only a single bidder responds to a route: “It it seems that every one of these but two only receive one bid,” he said, adding that limited responses could leave districts “at the whim of whatever number they throw.”
Miss McIntosh, the staff presenter for transportation, explained contractors often stick with routes they have run historically and noted last year’s single-bid increases were modest (an example of about $2 per bus). She said staff awards follow either the lowest responsive bid or prior-year service when appropriate.
The board asked staff to follow up on competitive dynamics as a point of interest going forward; the motion to approve the activity bus bids passed by voice vote.
