SR 05-14-2019 3J
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 14, 2019
Agenda Item: 3.J
1 of 3
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Karen Ginsberg, Director, Community & Cultural Services
Subject: Award Bid to Star-Dust Tours, Inc. to Provide Bus Transportation Services
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Award Bid #4385 to Star-Dust Tours, Inc. (dba The Bus), a California- based
company, for the purchase of bus transportation services for the Community and
Cultural Services Department.
2. Authorize the Procurement Manager to issue a purchase order with Star-Dust
Tours, Inc. for bus services in the amount not to exceed $84,600 for one year,
with three additional one-year renewal options to extend on the same terms and
conditions for a total amount not to exceed $338,400, with future year funding
contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
The City conducts numerous community activities that require bus transportation. In
2012, with the ending of Big Blue Bus Charter services to programs for youth, seniors,
and people with disabilities, the Community and Cultural Services Department (CCS)
began to use a contractor for transportation to various recreational, educational, and
social activities. In 2019 a new formal bid was posted. Staff recommends the award of
bid #4385 to Star-Dust Tours, Inc. for bus transportation services in an amount not to
exceed $338,400 over a four-year period.
Discussion
CCS schedules up to 100 excursions per fiscal year for a variety of programs for youth,
seniors, and people with disabilities, including WISE & Healthy Aging, CREST, 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 City program participants and range in group size from 25 up to 75
participants per trip. These trips provide a vital resource to groups that consist of a
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majority of low-income program participants, allowing them to participate in enriching
excursions outside of the City.
Most excursions are day trips to amusement parks and sporting events as well as for
educational and cultural enrichment such as college tours and museum tours. Charter
buses are utilized 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 to destinations within Los
Angeles, Orange and Ventura Counties and parts of Kern, San Bernardino and
Riverside Counties.
Vendor Selection
Bid Data
Bid
Posting
Date
Bid Posted
On
Bid Advertised In
(City Charter &
Municipal Code)
# of Vendors
Downloaded # of Submittals
Received
Date Publicly
Opened
2/8/2019 City's Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica Daily
Press
28 5 2/27/2019
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
Best Limo
Transportation
(5hr min)
$178 $178 N/A $170 N/A $154 N/A $140
InterMex
(5hr min)
$160 $150 $150 $130 $150 $130 N/A N/A
SD Luxury
Limos
(No min)
$289 $289 $269 $269 $249 $249 $199 $199
Star Dust
Tours, Inc.
(5hr min)
$125
($110/hr
after
5hrs)
$125
($110/hr
after
5hrs)
$120
($110/hr
after
5hrs)
$120
($100/hr
after
5hrs)
N/A N/A $100
($85/hr
after
5hrs)
$100
($85/hr
after
5hrs)
TLC Luxury
(5hr min)
$120 $90 $120 $90 $100 $85 $100 $85
Selection Criteria
Municipal
Code
SMMC 2.24.072
Evaluation Price, types of buses available, quality of service, and compliance with City
3 of 3
Criteria specifications.
Best Bidder Star Dust Tours, Inc.
Best Bidder Justification
Star Dust Tours, Inc. is the best bidder and is recommended for award of transportation servic es. While
they are not the lowest bidder over all four years, their past performance has demonstrated a sound
knowledge and understanding of the programs and community needs. They offered the most flexible
cancellation policy, no annual increase to pricin g over the term of the agreement and was able to meet all
specifications.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to award a purchase order with Star Dust Tours, Inc. for bus
transportation services not to exceed $338,400 over four years. Prop A Recreational
Transit Program state funds will continue to be utilized for the contract.
Purchase Order Request
Request Amount
FY 2019-20 Budget
Account # Total Contract Amount
$30,000 27600001.555440 $120,000
$3,000 27600001.555450 $12,000
$51,600 27600001.555460 $206,400
Total $338,400
Prepared By: Jill Krueger, Senior Administrative Analyst
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Star Dust Tours- Oaks Initiative Form