Obion County Board of Education
June 28, 2010

Background Information:

In addition to advertising, we solicited bids for the purchase of school buses (specifications attached), which will be budgeted in the General Purpose School Fund for the 2010 – 2011 fiscal year. The purchase of three (3) school buses is within the replacement schedule as established by the Transportation Department. Cumberland International submitted the only bid for this purchase. Mid-South Bus Center and Central States Bus Sales responded to our solicitation; however, the companies were unable to submit a bid. Cumberland International submitted a bid for a V-8 engine in the amount of $76,371.67 per unit and an alternative bid for an inline, 6-cylinder wet sleeve for $77,686.50 per unit. In addition, Cumberland International submitted a bid to equip its unit for a three (3) head camera system at a charge of $60 per unit. Mr. Parks prefers the 6-cylinder wet sleeve buses over the V-8 engines due to future maintenance costs and fuel mileage.

Staff Recommendation:

Based on the preference as stated above, I recommend approval of the bid submitted by Cumberland International for the 6-cylinder wet sleeve school bus for $77,686.50 each.  In addition, I recommend approval to equip each unit for a three (3) head camera system at a cost of $60 per unit. In the 2010 – 2011 fiscal year budget, a total of three (3) buses will budgeted at a total cost of $233,239.50. With this approval, it is the intent of the Board and management that no liability will be incurred, nor a purchase order issued, until the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010.