TO BECOME AN
APPROVED
M-DCPS SCHOOL BUS CONTRACTOR
Jerry Klein, Administrative Director
Administrative Office
15401 SW 117TH Avenue
Miami, FL 33177
(305) 234-3365
Thank you for your interest in becoming an Approved School Bus Contractor for Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS). In order to transport M-DCPS students on contracted home-to-school routes or school sponsored field trips, all vehicles and drivers must complete the authorization process as described below. Please follow the instructions in the order they appear to ensure a smooth transition to becoming an approved M-DCPS school bus contractor.
1. Buses that are intended to be used for the transportation of M-DCPS students on contracted home-to-school routes or school sponsored field trips shall have an initial inspection to verify they meet the State of Florida Department of Education School Bus Specifications. Vehicle maintenance should be contacted to schedule an initial inspection of each bus. If the bus was pre-owned, it is important to know what state or school district the bus was manufactured for. Please have that information available at the time of the initial inspection. Approved School Bus Contractors are required to maintain at least two school buses in their fleet, one of which must be a spare bus. For information regarding the state mandated thirty (30) day school bus inspection, see item # 10 below. Each bus is subject to an Inspection Fee of $45.00.
2. School bus drivers submitted for authorization must have a review of their Commercial Driver License (CDL) history to ensure their record meets M-DCPS standards. A legible copy of each CDL must be provided to Transportation Administration. Using the M-DCPS School Bus Driver Screening Criteria, staff will obtain and review the lifetime driving history for all drivers to ensure they meet the M-DCPS minimum standards. Drivers who meet those standards may continue this process. All Approved School Bus Contractors must have at least two approved school bus drivers, one of which must be substitute.
3. All school bus drivers submitted for authorization must be fingerprinted in order for the district to conduct a criminal background check. Fingerprinting may be accomplished at the School Board Administration Building located at 1500 Biscayne Blvd. The fee for this service is $71.00, and is subject to change. Each person who reports for fingerprinting must bring cash or a money order. Bus drivers must bring their driver license for identification purposes to complete the process. After completion of the fingerprinting, a copy of the fingerprinting receipt must be sent to Transportation Administration.
4. Florida State Board Rules require that all potential public school bus drivers complete a minimum of forty (40) hours of training, which would include the Florida School Bus Drivers Curriculum. That training must include at least eight (8) hours behind the wheel, and twenty (20) hours of classroom instruction. The Florida Department of Education publishes a Curriculum Manual for that training. To obtain a copy of that manual, contact the State of Florida, Department of Education, Transportation Management Section at (850) 245-9795. The manual includes written exams. The bus driver must have at least a seventy percent (70%) pass rate on written exams. Once the training has been completed, a letter certifying completion of that training, along with a copy of the answer sheets from the exams, must be sent to Transportation Administration.
5. Federal Law requires that CDL holders performing safety sensitive functions (including school bus drivers) participate in a Federally approved drug and alcohol-testing program. Written documentation that indicates your company is participating in such a program must be submitted to Transportation Administration. School bus drivers submitted for authorization must have completed a federally approved pre-employment drug test within thirty (30) days prior to their name being submitted. A written copy of those results signed by a Medical Review Officer must be sent to Transportation Administration.
6. School bus drivers submitted for authorization are required to complete a dexterity test. The test is intended to ensure the school bus driver is capable of operating the service door, vehicle control panel, and is able to exit the bus through the emergency door. This test is conducted at the Southwest Regional Transportation Center, located at 15401 S. W. 117 Avenue. Contact Transportation Administration Training Section to schedule this test. In order to complete this test, the school bus driver must bring one of your company’s school buses that have a current M-DCPS inspection sticker.
7. School bus drivers submitted for authorization are required to complete a physical examination. A School Board approved physician must complete this exam using the Florida Department of Education ESE Form “479” Medical Examiner’s Certificate. The list of approved physicians may be obtained by calling Transportation Administration. After successful completion of the physical exam, Department of Transportation Staff will place an expiration date on the driver’s medical certificate. Drivers are required to maintain and carry a valid medical examiner’s certificate with them at all times while operating a school bus under contract with M-DCPS. For Medical Certificate annual renewal information, see item # 11 below.
8. Florida Law and School Board policy require that all contractors maintain certain types of insurance. Prior to being placed on the Approved School Bus Contractor List, your company must comply with these requirements. Information concerning these requirements may be obtained from Mr. Michael Fox, Office of Risk Management at (305) 995-7182. Mr. Fox’s office maintains those records and notifies Vehicle Maintenance when the requirements have been met.
9. All private companies dealing with M-DCPS must have a vendor number. Information regarding vendor numbers may be obtained by calling the Division of Procurement at (305) 995-2350.
10. Upon notification that the insurance requirements have been met, Vehicle Maintenance will assign your bus/buses to a M-DCPS Transportation Vehicle Maintenance facility that will conduct the State mandated thirty (30) day inspection. The bus/buses must be brought to the assigned facility every thirty (30) school days for inspection. State certified inspectors will conduct the inspection. Upon the first successful completion of the inspection, a red M-DCPS sticker with an expiration date shall be affixed to the right windshield. The bus/buses must then be brought back to the assigned facility on the next expiration date. Buses that pass the inspection will be issued a new red inspection sticker that will indicate the next expiration date. Buses that fail the inspection will have their red sticker removed and may not be used for M-DCPS students on contracted home-to-school routes or school sponsored field trips until the bus is repaired, re-inspected and receives a valid red M-DCPS inspection sticker.
11. Bus drivers who are on the approved list are required to complete certain items for annual renewal. The annual renewal date is determined by the expiration date on the medical examiner’s certificate. Renewal items include an 8-hour in-service, drug test, dexterity test, physical examination, and a review of lifetime driving record using school bus driver screening criteria. Annual re-certification is handled through Transportation Administration.
Once the steps above have been completed, your company’s name will be added to the Approved School Bus Contractor list that is electronically mailed to all schools. Your company may then begin to solicit business for field trips. Home-to-School routes that are contracted out by M-DCPS are subject to bid as required. All companies on the Approved School Bus Contractor may request information about bids, as determined by the Division of Procurement.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this process, please feel free to contact one of the names on the following list:
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Contact Names and Telephone Numbers: |
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Mr. Jerry Klein, Administrative Director (305) 234-3365 |
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Ms. Patricia Snell, District Director (305) 234-3365 |
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Mr. Orlando Alonso, Director I, Vehicle Maintenance (305) 234-0849 |
Correspondence
Address: Department of Transportation
Administrative Office
15401 SW 117th Avenue
Miami, FL 33177
North
Transportation Center Northwest Transportation Center
16150 N.W. 42nd Avenue 9900 N.W. South River Drive
Director: Ms. Mary Sweeting Director: Ms. Aned Lamboglia
(305) 625-9086 (305) 887-2383
5901 N.W. 27th Avenue 13775 N.W. 6th Street
Director: Thaddeus Moss
Director: Mr. George Millar
(305) 638-1658 (305) 227-1995
Central-East
Transportation Center South
Transportation Center
7011 S.W. 4th Street 660
SW 3rd Avenue (Florida City)
Director: Mr. Alex Miller Director: Mr. Mr. John Cox
(786) 275-0700 (305)
248-3380
Southwest
Transportation Center John H. Schee
Transportation Center
15401 S.W. 117th Avenue 2755 N.W. 122nd Street
Director: Ms. Mary E. Murphy Director: Mr. Randy Mazie
(305) 234-0046 (305) 681-1576
Created: 08-16-00
Revised: 10-2-2007