Suspension Services and Parts

Background

Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) serves approximately 41,888 students in grades pre-K–12 across 31 elementary schools, 4 junior high schools, 2 middle schools, 3 secondary schools (grades 7-12), 4 high schools and 1 online school. The District encompasses approximately 80 square miles within the City of Chandler, Town of Queen Creek and Town of Gilbert. Chandler Unified School District is the second largest school district in Arizona and the second largest employer in Chandler with approximately 5,130 employees.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 09-27-31
• Department: Transportation
• Department Head: David Thiele (Director of Transportation)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-05-15T23:30:00.000Z

Meetings & Milestones

Evaluation Criteria

• Overall Cost (250 pts) —

  Cost of training and fee structure. If applicable, cost of necessary training materials, optional training materials, travel costs and/or other reimbursable costs. 

  Price or cost is a significant factor but not the most important factor.

• Qualifications of the Offeror (240 pts) —

  Qualifications of the Offeror, financial and otherwise, to provide the School District with these services for the required period of time, provide appropriate staffing, provide necessary resources and show a history of demonstrated competence.  Consideration of qualifications will include additional best value services, ability to address environmental needs or expertise offered that exceed the requirements, or the Offeror’s inability to meet some of the requirements of the specifications/scope of work.  Provide documentation of professional memberships, certifications, and licenses.

• Responsiveness (150 pts) —

  Responsiveness of the proposal in clearly stating and understanding the scope of work, and in meeting the requirements of the RFP.  District’s assessment of the Offeror’s abilities to meet and satisfy the needs of the District.  Plans submitted must be clear and detailed with dates or timelines (if necessary) and who will be managing the transfer, performing the maintenance, or providing the training.

• Past Performance & References (90 pts) —

  Past Performance in this District, along with any other information obtained by the School District from Offeror’s other clients, past or present, or from any other sources.

• Service Capability and Response Time (300 pts) —

  Section 10 - Proposal Submission Requirements

  • 1.6-1.7
  • 2.5
  • 3.1-3.6, 3.8
  • 5.9
• Technical Expertise and Quality Assurance (275 pts) —

  Section 10 - Proposal Submission Requirements

  • 1.1-1.5
  • 2.1-2.4, 2.6-2.9
  • 3.7
  • 5.10
• Cost (200 pts) —

  Section 8 - Pricing Proposal

  Section 10 - Proposal Submission Requirements

  • 6.1

   

• Fleet Coverage and Parts Availability (150 pts) —

  Section 10 - Proposal Submission Requirements

  • 4.1-4.4
• Performance Standards and Reporting (75 pts) —

  Section 10 - Proposal Submission Requirements

  • 5.1-5.8
  • 7.1

Submission Requirements

• Company Information
• Company Name and Year Founded (required) —

  List your company's name and the year it was founded.

• Company Contact Information (required) —

  Provide the following information for your company.

  • Main point of contact
  • Address
  • Telephone number
  • Email address
  • Website (if applicable)
• Local Representatives (required) —

  Does your company have local representatives and staff based within Arizona?

• Service Center Locations (required) —

  How many service centers does your company have in Arizona and where are they located?

• Service Center Distance (required) —

  What is the exact distance in miles from your company's primary facility to the Chandler Unified School District's Transportation Center (3750 S Centre Pointe Parkway Chandler, AZ 85249)?

• Response Time Standards (required) —

  Do your company's guaranteed response times match the service standards expected by Chandler Unified School District?

  Routine Service:

  • Schedule confirmation within 24-48 hours of request

  Emergency Service:

  • Response within 2 hours of emergency call
• Guaranteed Response Time (required) —

  If you answered no to the previous question, provide your company's guaranteed response time for both routine and emergency services to the Transportation Center.

• Experience of Personnel
• Technician Certifications (required) —

  Can your company guarantee that technicians are  Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified in suspension and steering systems?

• Technician Certification Tracking (required) —

  If you answered yes to the previous question, provide your company's method of approach in tracking technician certifications and ensuring technician certifications do not lapse.

• Commercial Vehicle Inspection (required) —

  Describe how your company verifies technicians' commercial vehicle inspection credentials. Provide detailed information on the specific credentials held by each technician who will be assigned to service Chandler Unified School District vehicles. 

• School Bus Inspection Authorizations (required) —

  Describe how your company verifies technicians' school bus inspection authorization credentials. Provide detailed information on the specific authorizations or qualifications held by each technician who will be assigned to service Chandler Unified School District vehicles. 

• Technician Services (required) —

  How many vehicles can your technicians service simultaneously?

• Technician Training (required) —

  What manufacturer-specific training have your technicians completed for suspension systems found on International, Thomas, Blue Bird, and other school bus brands commonly used by school districts?

• MacPherson Strut Replacement (required) —

  Describe your technicians' experience with MacPherson strut replacement on applicable fleet vehicles, including average monthly volume per technician and whether four-wheel alignment is performed as a standard follow-up.

• Independent Suspension System Repairs (required) —

  Explain how your technicians diagnose independent suspension issues (e.g. control arms, bushings, ball joints) and distinguish between component failure and alignment-related wear before recommending repairs. 

• Four-Wheel Computerized Alignment (required) —

  Describe your company's four-wheel computerized alignment process for fleet vehicles including:

  • Equipment calibration practices
  • Documentation provided upon completion 
• Service Specifications
• Service Capabilities (required) —
  Describe which of the following vehicle types your company can service for suspension repair and alignment and identify any limitations by vehicle type or configuration.
  • Type A buses (small capacity)
  • Type C conventional buses
  • Type D transit-style buses
  • Light-duty trucks and vans
  • Medium-duty service vehicles
  • Passenger vehicles
  • Utility trucks
  • Maintenance vehicles
• Service Experience (required) —

  Provide examples of your company's experience servicing the vehicles listed. 

  • Type A buses (small capacity)
  • Type C conventional buses
  • Type D transit-style buses
  • Light-duty trucks and vans
  • Medium-duty service vehicles
  • Passenger vehicles
  • Utility trucks
  • Maintenance vehicles

  For each example, identify the vehicle type(s) and the approximate number of similar vehicles serviced annually.

• Service Turnaround Times (required) —

  Describe your company's guaranteed turnaround times for suspension repair and alignment services by service complexity and vehicle category. Include any assumptions, exclusions, or conditions that may affect turnaround times. 

   

• Diagnostic Equipment (Yellow Fleet) (required) —
  Describe your company's diagnostic and scanning equipment for servicing current model yellow fleet school buses.  Include how this equipment is used to support:
  • Suspension
  • Steering
  • Alignment
  • Related diagnostic functions
• Diagnostic Equipment (White Fleet) (required) —
  Describe your company's diagnostic and scanning equipment for servicing current model year white fleet vehicles.  Include how this equipment is used to support:
  • Suspension
  • Steering
  • Alignment
  • Related diagnostic functions
• Air Suspension Diagnostics and Repairs (required) —
  Describe your company’s capability and experience performing air suspension system diagnostics and repairs for school bus applications. Include your company's experience in the following:
  • Work on air bags
  • Valves
  • Compressors
  • Related control components
• Emergency Roadside Assistance (required) —

  Does your company provide emergency roadside assistance?

  If yes, describe your company's emergency roadside assistance capabilities. Include the following information in your response.

  • Protocol for temporary repairs
  • Priority scheduling for safety-critical repairs
• Multi-Axle Alignment (required) —

  Describe your company's multi-axle alignment capabilities using computerized equipment for school buses operated by Chandler Unified School District.

• Parts Requirements
• Parts Stock (required) —
  Upload a parts inventory list demonstrating that your company maintains stock of required suspension and steering components (e.g., springs, shock absorbers/struts, control arms, and related parts).
• Parts Inventory Management (required) —
  Describe your company's parts inventory management system and turnaround time for back ordered parts. 
• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Aftermarket Suspension Sourcing (required) —
  Describe your company's ability to source OEM and aftermarket suspension components.
• Return Policies (required) —
  Describe your company's return policies for parts and components.
• Performance Standards
• Warranty Terms (required) —

  Describe your company's warranty terms for parts and labor, including the specific coverage period and mileage limits. 

• Extended Warranty (required) —

  Describe your company's extended warranty options for major component replacements.

• Warranty Documentation (required) —
  Provide a sample of your company's complete warranty documentation to clients. The documentation should include tracking systems, tools or software used to manage, monitor, and report on warranty coverage and claims.
• Detailed Service Record (required) —

  Provide a sample of your company's detailed service records regularly provided to clients.

• Pre- and Post-Alignment Specification Printouts (required) —

  Provide a sample of your company's pre- and post-alignment specification printouts.

• Routine Maintenance and Repair Reports (required) —

  Provide a sample of your company's routine maintenance and repair reports.

• Digital Inspection Reports (required) —

  Provide a sample of your company's digital inspection reports with photographic documentation.

• Detailed Technical Report (required) —
  Provide a sample of your company's detailed technical service reports for an alignment-related service that includes pre‑ and post‑alignment specification printouts that would be provided for a Chandler Unified School District mechanic. 
• Service Scheduling (required) —

  Describe your company's method of approach for coordination of service scheduling to accommodate Chandler Unified School District's operational requirements, particularly during the school year when vehicle availability is limited?

• Quality Control (required) —
  Describe your company's quality control and inspection procedures used to ensure suspension repairs and wheel alignments are performed in accordance with applicable federal, DOT/FMCSA (U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), and Arizona state regulations governing commercial motor vehicles. 
• Cost
• Additional Costs (required) —

  Provide any additional costs that were not included in the price sheet (if applicable).

• Performance Evaluation Survey
• Performance Evaluation Survey —

  As required by Proposal Requirements section 6.22, download the Performance Evaluation Survey below, complete the top section and send to at least three (3) current or previous clients who have used your company for like or similar services.

  The bottom portion is to be completed by clients and then returned directly to cappleman.rachel@cusd80.com prior to 4:30 pm on Thursday, May 21, 2026. 

• Cost Proposal (required) —

  Please upload your complete COST PROPOSAL here. Please make sure that this information is not included in the RFP Response section XX. 

• Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Terms and Conditions of the Solicitation
• Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Terms and Conditions of the Solicitation (required) —

  Offerors shall indicate any and all deviations and exceptions taken to the provisions or specifications in this solicitation document. Clearly identify the specific paragraph(s) of the solicitation where the deviations or exceptions occur, and describe in detail. Offeror’s preprinted or standard terms will not be considered as part of any resulting Contract. All deviations and exceptions that are contained in the Offer may negatively affect the evaluation criteria as stated in the solicitation and may result in rejection of the Offer.

• Exceptions or Deviations Requested —

  If you requested any exceptions or deviations under the Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Terms and Conditions of the Proposal, please clearly explain the requested exceptions and/or deviations. Reference the specific language, including section number and page number, that you are taking exceptions and/or deviations to. 

  The Undersigned hereby acknowledges that all deviations/exceptions to this solicitation are clearly listed on this form.

  All deviations and exceptions that are contained in the Offer may negatively affect the evaluation criteria as stated in the solicitation and may result in rejection of the Offer.

• Request for Confidentiality of Proprietary Information —

  Offerors should identify any portion of their proposal deemed confidential or proprietary (see Uniform Terms and Conditions).  Identification in this section does not guarantee that disclosure will be prevented but that the item will be subject to review by the Offeror and the School District prior to any public disclosure.  Requests to deem the entire bid or price as confidential will not be considered

  If the District Representative determines that the information shall be protected from disclosure, the District Representative shall inform the  Offeror in writing of such determination. 

• Confidential and/or Proprietary Information (required)
• Request for Confidential and/or Proprietary Information Upload —

  If you requested any confidential and/or proprietary information be treated as confidential and protected from disclosure to the public, please upload a copy of the Proposal with the confidential and/or proprietary material redacted. 

  Failure to upload a redacted copy may result in denial of request. Identification in this section does not guarantee that disclosure will be prevented but that the item will be subject to review by the Offeror and the School District prior to any public disclosure. Requests to deem the entire bid or price as confidential will not be considered.

• Non-Collusion Affidavit
• Non-Collusion Affidavit (required) —

  The persons, corporation, or company who makes the accompanying Proposal, having first been duly sworn, deposes confirms that such Proposal is genuine and not sham or collusive, nor made in the interest of, or behalf of, any persons not herein named, and that the Offeror has not directly or indirectly induced or solicited any other Offeror to put in a sham Proposal, or any other person, firm or corporation to refrain from submitting a Proposal, and that the Offeror has not in any manner sought by collusion to secure for itself an advantage over any other Offeror; and

  that Offeror has taken steps and exercised due diligence to ensure that Offeror has not offered, conferred, or agreed to confer any personal gift or benefit on a person who supervises or participates in contracts, purchases, payments, claims or other financial transactions, or on a person who supervises or participates in planning, recommending, selecting or contracting for materials, services, goods, construction or construction services of the School District, in accordance with A.R.S. § 15-213(O),  A.A.C. R7-2-1042(A.1.L), and A.A.C. R7-2-1003(J).

• Amendment Acknowledgement
• Amendment Acknowledgement (required) —

  By confirming below the Offeror acknowledges that any and all amendments that  have been issued have been reviewed. Acknowledgement indicates that the Offeror took the information provided in the amendment into consideration when providing their proposal response. 

• Other Required Forms —

  Please complete the following downloadable forms and upload them in their respective questions.

• W-9 (required) —

  Please upload your complete W-9 here

• Vendor Registration Form (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Certificate of Insurance (COI) —

  Please upload your complete COI here (If applicable)

• Offer and Acceptance (required) —

  The Undersigned hereby offers and agrees to furnish the material, service or construction in compliance with all terms, conditions, specifications, and amendments in the Solicitation and any written exceptions in the Proposal.

  Please download the below document, complete, and upload.

• Has the newspaper advertisement been completed? (required)
• Is this a GPPCS Solicitation (required)
• Is this a S.A.V.E solicitation (required)
• Electronic Pricing Table (required) —

  Do you need an Electronic Pricing Table for this solicitation?

• Separate Cost Proposal Upload (required) —

  Would you like to add an area for the vendor to upload a cost proposal?

• Is this project going to be federally funded? (required)
• Special Terms and Conditions Verbiage (required) —

  Please check all you will require in Special Terms and Conditions

• Do you need the Asbestos and Hazardous Materials Statement (required) —

  If you click yes this document will be added to attachments

• Do you need a subcontractor? (required) —

  If you click yes, Subcontractor verbiage will be added to Special Requirements and the subcontractors list will be added to attachments.

• Is there a potential for software? (required) —

  If you click yes, additional verbiage will be added to special requirements tab

• Insurance Requirements (required) —

  Please choose which insurance requirements you will need for this project

• Partial Bids (required) —

  Yes = Acceptable

  No = Unacceptable

   

   

• Multiple Award (required) —

  Will this solicitation be a multiple award?

• Market Basket (required) —

  Will this be a market basket solicitation?

• Fingerprinting (required) —

  Will fingerprinting be required for employees of the responding firm or firms?

• Demonstration (required) —

  Will a vendor demonstration be required? 

• Were any amendments issued? (required)

Questions & Answers