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:
This document contains 4 sections that you should complete simultaneously.
SECTION 1 - DOT- ADMINISTRATION - DRIVER(S) INFORMATION
A. School bus drivers submitted for authorization must have proof of 5 years of licensed driving experience and a review of their entire Drivers License history to ensure their record meets M-DCPS standards. A legible copy of the entire driving history 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. In addition, all drivers must obtain a Class A or B CDL with a Passenger and School Bus endorsement with no air brake restriction. All Approved School Bus Contractors must have at least two approved school bus drivers.
B. 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
C. 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 to be documented for a total of 40 hours. In addition, the documentation must be submitted to M-DCPS – DOT. The Florida Department of Education publishes a Curriculum Manual (CD) for that training. To obtain a copy of that manual, contact Ms. Ursule Fontin at 305-234-3365. After your driver(s) have been trained according to the manual, contact Ms. Fontin to schedule the driver(s) for the test at DOE/Administration. There are 14 tests with a total of 151 questions. The bus driver must have at least a seventy percent (70%) passing rate on each written test. Once the driver(s) have successfully passed all of the tests, a letter certifying completion of that training will be forwarded to the company.
D. 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. Proof that the driver is in a federally approved Random Drug Testing Pool must also be submitted.
E. 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
F. 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 Ms. Ursule Fontin at 305-234- 3365. 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 G below.
G. 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.
SECTION 2 - OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT - VENDOR #
A. 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.
SECTION 3- RISK MANAGEMENT - INSURANCE
A. 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.
SECTION 4 - DOT - VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
10. 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 # 11 below. Each bus is subject to an Inspection Fee.
11. 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.
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:
|
Contact Names and Telephone Numbers: |
|
Mr. Jerry Klein, Administrative Director (305) 234-3365 |
|
Ms. Patricia Snell, District Director (305) 234-3365 |
|
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
Coordinator: Ms. Gloria Weathersby
(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