The following information is for Transportation Vendors.
For information relevant to all vendors, visit General Information for Vendors.
The Contractor's Manual
Contractors are responsible for understanding and carrying out all of the duties and responsibilities set forth in the Standard Operating Procedures for School Bus Contractors Providing Service under Contracts with the NYCDOE (herein expressed as "Contractor's Manual") and in the applicable contract(s). In the event of a conflict between the Contractor’s Manual and the applicable Contract(s), the applicable Contract(s) shall govern.
- Vehicle Specifications
- Driver and Attendant Certification Process & Responsibilities
- Violations, Procedures & Assessment of Liquidated Damages
- Vehicle Inspection Standards, Maintenance & Safety
- Investigations Procedures
- Accidents, Emergencies & Other Delays
- Routing & Scheduling System
- Field Trip Procedures
- Picking of Runs
Standard Operating Procedures
Visit the Standard Operating Procedures Modernization Plan page to learn more about the installation and use of equipment/devices and training for the recording, reporting, or transmitting information regarding the location of vehicles and/or students.
Electric Bus Seminar
OPT, in conjunction with the EPA, Con-Ed, Mayor’s Office and NYSERDA, recently held a virtual electric bus seminar to inform vendors of all the great opportunities available to them to assist in electrifying their fleet!
Vendor Documents
- Driver/Attendant Approval Form
- Information Form Bus Attendant
- Attendant Medical Form
- Information Form Bus Driver
- Student Emergency Contact Form
- School Bus Incident Reporting Procedures
- School Bus Incident Form
- Contractor System Guide
- Section 11 Attachments
- Car Seat Retraining Certificate Template
- Wheelchair Retraining Certificate Template
- Sleeping Children Sign
- Parent Not Home Policy
Tools & Resources
- Information for Bus Companies (Requires login)
- NYC Public Schools Calendar
- Non-Public Schools Calendar
- Vendor Information System (Requires login)
- Vendor Integration (Requires login)
- OPT Contracts (Requires login)
- Accidents (Requires login)
Maps & Routes
- Map Portal (Requires login)
- Summer Map Portal (Requires login)
- Bus Route Status (Requires login)
- Special Education Routing System (Requires login)
- Route Integration System (Requires login)
- MyGeotab User Access Form
Call Recording & Attendance
- OPT Call Recording System (Requires login)
- Pre-K Call Recording System (Requires login)
- Drivers & Attendants System (Requires login)
Other Applications
- School Bus Violations (Requires login)
- Field Trips (Requires login)
- Pre-K/Early Intervention Site and Rider System (Requires login)
- Vehicle System (Requires login)
- Pre-K/El Site Calendar System (Requires login)
- Summer Pre-K/El Rider System (Requires login)
NYC Bus Lane Use
Per NYC Traffic Rules, school buses are authorized to use New York City bus lanes when transporting passengers.
- For the definition of a school bus, see section 4-01(b)
- For specific bus lane restrictions, see section 4-12(m)
We share this information so that your drivers have every option to reduce traffic delays and ride duration for NYC Students.
How to Support Bus Lane Use
Remind your drivers that school buses with passengers are allowed to use NYC bus lanes, and make sure they are familiar with the rules and definitions above.
- Verbally communicate to drivers the legal use of NYC bus lanes by vehicles transporting students
- Encourage drivers to use NYC bus lanes to reduce traffic delays and ride duration when possible
- Add the bus lane rules to the training materials you give to new drivers
- Add the bus lane rules to the training refresh materials you give to employed drivers
Working with NYCDOT & NYPD for Success
We engaged the NYPD and NYCDOT to ensure all relevant city agencies share a common understanding about this policy, and to provide school bus vehicle information recorded in our Vehicle System (log-in required) to the NYPD.
Questions About NYC Bus Lane Use
If you have any questions regarding this policy/information you may contact Darren Johnson at OPT.
Health & Cleanliness
NYC Vaccine Mandate
NYC has discontinued the Key to NYC vaccination requirement.
Cleaning & Disinfection
The interior of each vehicle must be cleaned and either swept or vacuumed thoroughly after each route AM/PM run and/or at least once each day. The Contractor shall be responsible for cleaning and disinfecting seats and all safety equipment and accessories as often as necessary for sanitary reasons and to maintain the comfort of passengers. Additionally, the exterior of each vehicle must be washed at least weekly and must be maintained in as clean a condition as possible, weather and other conditions permitting.