Transportation Vendors

The following information is for Transportation Vendors.

For information relevant to all vendors, visit General Information for Vendors.

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. 

  1. Vehicle Specifications
  2. Driver and Attendant Certification Process & Responsibilities
  3. Violations, Procedures & Assessment of Liquidated Damages
  4. Vehicle Inspection Standards, Maintenance & Safety
  5. Investigations Procedures
  6. Accidents, Emergencies & Other Delays
  7. Routing & Scheduling System
  8. Field Trip Procedures
  9. Picking of Runs

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.

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! 

Per NYC Traffic Rules, school buses are authorized to use New York City bus lanes when transporting passengers.

We share this information so that your drivers have every option to reduce traffic delays and ride duration for NYC Students.

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 

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. 

If you have any questions regarding this policy/information you may contact Darren Johnson at OPT.

NYC has discontinued the Key to NYC vaccination requirement.

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.