Schools
Cost of School Bus Contract Rises
The Attleboro School Committee approves a contract with H&L Bloom Inc., which raised its bid amount on a second offer.
Legal and "due diligence" reasons might have been behind the Attleboro School Committee's decision to put the school bus contract out for bid a second time. However, it will cost the district more money.
The committee voted 8-0 Monday to approve a three-year, $7.1 million contract with H&L Bloom Inc. The contract includes an option for two one-year extensions.
Bloom, the district's current bus provider, offered a $6.5 million bid earlier this year. The committee rejected it because Bloom was the lone bidder and there were possible issues with the request for proposals document that led to the offer.
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In the second bidding round, the district also received an offer from for $7.8 million.
Bloom's relationship with the school district has not been without controversy. Massachusetts Inspector General Gregory W. Sullivan stating the awarding of Bloom's contract in 2009 violated at least one state law.
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