City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: June 13, 2023
Agenda Item: 5.E
1 of 5
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Danielle Noble, Acting Director, Community Services Department Subject: Award Bid 4453 to Star-Dust Tours, Inc. to Provide Bus Transportation Services
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect on the environment pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Award Bid #4453 to Star-Dust Tours, Inc. for bus transportation services for the Community Services Department;
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with StarDust Tours, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $81,600 for one year, with four additional one-year renewal options, in the amount of $81,600, to extend on the same terms and conditions for a total amount not to exceed $408,000 over a five year period, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval. 2 of 5
Executive Summary
The City offers numerous community activities that require bus transportation.
Following the end of the Big Blue Bus Charter services to programs for youth, seniors, and people with disabilities in 2012, the Community Services Department (CSD) began to use a contractor for transportation to various recreational, educational, and social activities and has continued the practice since. A formal bid was posted in April 2023, in advance of the current contract’s expiration date. Staff recommends the award of bid #4453 to Star-Dust Tours, Inc. for bus transportation services in an amount not to exceed $408,000 over a five-year period.
Discussion
CSD schedules up to 100 excursions annually for a variety of programs for youth and people with disabilities, including those offered through CREST, the Santa Monica Police Activities League (PAL), Santa Monica Adaptive Recreation & Sports (SMARS), and Virginia Avenue Park. The passengers represent a mixture of fee paying and fully subsidized program participants and range in group size from 25 to 75 participants per trip. These trips offer enriching excursions to groups that consist of a majority of lowincome program participants, allowing them to participate in activities outside of the City.
Excursions include day trips to amusement parks and sporting events as well as educational and cultural enrichment activities such as college tours and museum visits to destinations within Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura Counties and parts of Kern, San Bernadino and Riverside Counties. Charter buses are used when the number of program participants exceeds City-owned passenger van capacity. Trips are funded through Proposition A Recreational Transit Program funding and follow Proposition A program guidelines.
Vendor/Consultant Selection
3 of 5
Bidder Recommendation
Best Bidder Star Dust Tours, Inc. DBA The Bus
Evaluation Criteria
(include all that
apply)
Price; the quality of the material or services offered; the ability, capacity and skill of the bidder to perform or provide the materials or services; the capacity of the bidder to perform the contract or provide the service promptly, within the time specified, and without delay or interference; the character, integrity, reputation, judgment, training, experience and efficiency of the bidder; value add; the ability of the bidder to provide such future maintenance or service as may be needed; any other factor that will further the intent set forth in Section 608 of the City Charter. The City shall have absolute discretion in determining the applicability and weight of the criteria listed above.
The City is not required to select the bid with the lowest price.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.180
Submittals
Received
51 to 60
pass w/
restroom
ADA
51 to 60
pass
w/o
restroom
41 to 50
pass w/
restroom
ADA
41 to 50
pass w/o
restroom
31 to 40
pass w/
restroom
ADA
31 to
40 pass
w/o
restroom
21 to 30
pass w/
restroom
ADA
21 to 30
pass w/o
restroom
American
Transportation
(6hr min)
$199 $149 $199 $149 $199 $149 $159 $129
Star Dust
Tours, Inc.
(5hr min)
$190
($130/hr
after
5hrs)
$190
($130/hr
after
5hrs)
$190
($130/hr
after
5hrs)
$190
($130/hr
after
5hrs)
$150
($125/hr
after
5hrs)
$150
($125/h
r after
5hrs)
$130
($120/hr
after
5hrs)
$130
($120/hr
after
5hrs)
Transportation
Connection,
Inc. (5hr min)
$200 $200 $175 $175 $175 $175 $125 $125
Bid Data
Date
Posted Posted On
Advertise In
(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date Publicly
Opened
04/13/2023 City's
Online
Bidding
Site
Santa Monica Daily
Press
15 05/01/2023
Submittals Received
4 of 5
Best Bidder Justification
Star-Dust Tours, Inc. is the best bidder and is recommended for award of transportation services. They are the lowest bidder over all five years and their past performance has demonstrated a sound knowledge and understanding of the programs and community needs. They offered the most flexible cancellation policy and were able to meet all specifications.
Environmental Review
The award contract is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines. The award contract is covered by the commonsense exemption which states that CEQA does not apply, “where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” The agreement will allow the City to continue to provide existing bus transportation services. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that the agreement would not result in adverse physical impacts on the environment, and as such, is categorically exempt from CEQA.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve funding from the Local Return Fund to award a contractual services agreement to Star-Dust Tours, Inc. for bus transportation services.
Prop A Recreational Transit Program state funds will continue to be utilized for the contract. Funds are included in the FY 2023-25 Proposed Biennial Budget.
Contract/Agreement/Purchase Order Request
FY 2023-24
Budget
Request
Amount
Future Years
Amount Department/CIP Account # Total Contract Amount
$25,000 $100,000 27600001.555440 $125,000
$56,600 $226,400 27600001.555460 $283,000
Total $408,000
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval. 5 of 5
Prepared By: Jill Krueger, Senior Administrative Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. OAKS_INITIATIVE-STARDUST TOURS INC