SR 06-13-2023 5E 205-003 / 306-003 / 300-000
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: June 13, 2023
Agenda Item: 5.E
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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 Star-
Dust 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.
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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, ed ucational, 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 low-
income program participants, allowing them to participate in activities outside of the
City.
Excursions include day trips to amusement parks and sporting events as well a s
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
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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
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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.
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Prepared By: Jill Krueger, Senior Administrative Analyst
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. OAKS_INITIATIVE-STARDUST TOURS INC
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA OAKS INITIATIVE DISCLOSURE FORM
In orde r to facilitate compliance with the requirements of the Oaks Initiat ive, the City co mpiles and maintains
ce rt ain information . That information includes the name of any person or persons who is seeking a "p ublic •
benefit." If the "public benefit" is sought by an entity, rather than an individual person, the informat ion includes
the name of every person who is: (a) trustee , (b) director, (c) partner, (d) officer, or has (e ) more th an a ten
percent interest in the entity.
Publ ic benefi ts include:
1. Personal services contracts in excess of $25,000 over any 12 -month period;
2. Sa le of material , equipment or supplies to the City in excess of $25,000 over a 12 -mon t h period ;
3 . Purchase , sale or lease of real property to or from the City in excess of$25,000 ov er a 12-month
period;
4 . Non-co mpetit ive franchise awards with gross revenue of $50,000 or more in any 12-month pe r iod;
5. La nd use variance, special use perm it, or other exception to an establ ished land use plan, where the
decisi on has a value in excess of $25,000;
6. Tax "abatement, exception, or benefit" of a va lue in excess of $5,000 in any 12-m onth period; or
7. Pa ym ent of "cash or specie" of a net value to the recipient of $10,000 in any 12-month period.
Name (s) of persons or entities receiving public benefit:
5'-..-t-C, -~ V .:.. T Tb V (t, S,, \ '-J (._.
Nam e(s) of t rustees , directors, partners , and offic ers :
fr4'-r \-'Z-6-"'"''-"~'L.. =l'r•
Name (s) of persons with more than a 10 % equity , participation , or revenue interest:
fV""r L, t:=-G-ot, 1.--~\<..-a-T\1-r .
Prepared by:_~_~_4_<..._f'L __ &-_~_t.,_-_t.,._c.;_• ~_-_,.,__, __ :S_,_-_ Title: f)._,..~~ t Jl. ""'--t-
S ignat ure :--=/_-_· ..... k;="""/;__ _________ Date: '{ t~--==r -/ -i 0~ ""::)
Email: .Al\ q ~C;j ..S ~ vtll((... £2 Y~Lt e:.b . t~V'-\ Phone :· ~ b ·t.-"'l...S '-\-o~ 7 b
FOR CITY USE ONLY:
Bid/PO/Contract# _________ _ Perm it# _________ _
5.E.a
Packet Pg. 160 Attachment: OAKS_INITIATIVE-STARDUST TOURS INC [Revision 1] (5728 : Bid to Award Bus Transportation for Community Services Dept)