June 24, 2025
Library and Community Services
DATE: June 24, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
LaShonda White, Deputy City Manager – Community
Services
Ranjana Maharaj, Deputy Director for Community
Service-Recreation
Troy Porter, Recreation Supervisor
SUBJECT:
Contract with First Student, Inc. for Multi-Year Summer Camp Bus Transportation Services
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed $65,000 expenditure has been requested for Fiscal Years 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028
budget cycle in the following account strings:
ELEVATE PROGRAM SITES:
May Valley Community Center (CC) - 01253951-400223
Richmond Recreation Complex - 01253751-400223
ACHIEVE PROGRAM SITES:
Booker T. Anderson CC - 01253251-400223-40F01
Nevin CC – 01253451-400223-40F01
Parchester CC – 01253851-400223-40F01
Shields Reid CC – 01253551-400223-40F01
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
AGENDA
REPORT
June 24, 2025
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Community Services-Recreation is requesting approval
of a three year contract with First Student to provide bus transportation for 2025, 2026, and 2027 Summer camp
excursions. Due to the large number of participants, bus transportation services are needed to manage the
excursions effectively.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a three-year contract with First Student, Inc.
to provide bus transportation services for the Summer
camp excursions in an amount not to exceed $65,000,
and for a term beginning July 1, 2025, and ending
December 31, 2027 – Community Services (LaShonda
White 510-620-6828/Ranjana Maharaj 510-620-
6972/Troy Porter 510-620-6822).
DISCUSSION:
Beginning Monday, June 16, 2025, until Friday, August 13, 2027, the City of Richmond Community Services-Recreation will provide Elevate Summer Camps at the May Valley Community Center and the Richmond Recreation Complex; and Achieve Summer Camps at Booker T. Anderson, Nevin, Shields Reid, and Parchester Community Centers.
The Elevate Summer Camp is an at-cost summer camp opportunity where participants enjoy activities, games, sports, and special events. The Achieve Summer Camp is a no-cost summer camp provided in collaboration with the West Contra Costa Unified School District and the West Contra Costa Public Education Fund (Ed Fund). The camps incorporate an educational component designed to mitigate summer learning loss, while also providing a fun and interactive environment.
Both camps are designed to enrich the lives of youth ages 6 through 14. Each summer, to augment the camp curriculum, excursions are offered as a supplement to daily activities. These excursions are a traditional and integral part of each participant’s experience. Due to the large number of participants, bus transportation services are needed to manage the excursions effectively.
Therefore, City staff solicited proposals through Bids Online from numerous transportation providers to provide the transportation needed for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 summer camp excursions (Attachment 1). The City received six (6) responses to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ), which were evaluated using the following criteria (Attachment 2):
• Experience demonstrated in providing transportation services, i.e., references. • Experience demonstrated in managing the company, i.e., internal controls, management personnel, etc.
June 24, 2025
• Background and skills demonstrated in understanding the requirements of State Laws
• Proposed price
• Flexibility and Reliability
The proposals were reviewed by an evaluation committee, consisting of Recreation staff, to determine the most responsible bidders and to make a recommendation regarding the award of a contract. City Staff had the discretion not to recommend a firm if it was determined the proposals received did not adequately meet the criteria set forth in the RFQ.
Upon careful review of the quotes, City staff decided to recommend the bid be awarded to First Student, Inc. to provide transportation services for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 summer camp excursions (Attachment 3).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Solicitation
Attachment 2 – Bid Project Report
Attachment 3 – Original Contract
Vendor Name Pricing Notes
Rater
Team
Score
Final
Rank
First Student, Inc. $49,025.00 Competitive bid. Bus yard is in Richmond, CA
286 1
Epic Limousine $128,828.00 Higher bid 276 2 (Tie)
Zum $59,666.54 Higher bid 276 2 (Tie)
Mitchell's Tran $42,090.00 Lowest bid. Vendor plans to subcontract Service
267 3
True Elegance $140,419.59 Higher bid 258 4
Bay Area
Charters
$119,550.00 Higher bid 211 5