School Bus Contract Bid Could Have Issues

The Attleboro School Committee's subcommittee on finance will meet soon, possibly next week, regarding issues involving the lone bid for the school district's three-year bus contract.

Although five companies had attended a pre-bid hearing following the district's release of a request for proposals (RFP), current contract holder H&L Bloom Inc. was the only one to submit an offer. The School Committee deadlocked 4-4 (Teri Enegren was absent) on a vote Monday for a proposal to issue a new RFP in an effort to receive more bids.

"It's not in the best interest of the school system to have one bid," said Committee member Kenneth Parent, who chairs the finance subcommittee. He specified his opinion was not based on who the lone bidder was.

Others were skeptical whether a new RFP would lead to more bids.

"I don't know what variables would change to make a company more inclined to bid a second time," Committee member Dave Murphy said.

David King, the district's interim business manager, recommended against doing a new solicitation. He said it was his experience that second-round RFPs lead to higher bids amounts. King also said that he heard through sources that Bloom's bid was lower than the cost of contracts in nearby school districts because the company feared a competitor would be submitting an offer. Bloom would likely make a higher bid the second time, King said.

There are also potential legal issues with the RFP that could make the document invalid and require a new one be issued, committee members said. Lawyers are currently reviewing the document, Committee Chair Michael Tyler said.

The current contract with Bloom, which went into effect in 2009, has been controversial. Massachusetts Inspector General Gregory W. Sullivan recently sent a letter to the district and Mayor Kevin Dumas stating the contract .