Student Transportation Task Force – Operator Survey :Summary of Themes:

1. Process condemned by entire industry – large and small; winners and losers.2. Failure to Follow the “Rules”:- changes to work after awarded (in order to match bundles with winners);- changes to RFP wording and quotas;- avoided answering questions during process3. Onerousness of documents and process:- Favours large operations with dedicated staff;- Creative writing experience more important than operational experience;

Student Transportation Task Force – Operator Survey :Summary of Themes:

4. One-sidedness of Document and Terms:- Not allowed to qualify rate based on a minimum award;- Disqualifications for unnecessary reasons;- Definition of fairness was entirely skewed to the perspective of the consortia (no recognition of valid position of existing businesses.)-Smaller operators barred from finding efficiencies, like providing collaborative services through their Operators Association.  This would have been deemed collusion, yet they had collaborative programs in place that should have been allowed by the process.- Power of consortia pushing rates below competitive market rates (unsustainable)

Student Transportation Task Force – Operator Survey :Summary of Themes (Cont):5. Secrecy and heavy-handedness:- Fairness Commissioner’s reports never shared with the proponents.- No trustee involvement in decision to go to RFP, in spite of significant policy implications.  Threats and intimidation if trustee involvement sought (fear of reprisals).- No disclosure of results;- Refusal to meet and debrief in person;-On front end, opportunities to develop document with industry, particularly with respect to bundles, were avoided;- Negotiated process more transparent than the RFP process.

Student Transportation Task Force – Operator Survey :Summary of Themes (Cont):

6. Lack of objective criteria in evaluations:- inconsistencies between RFPs;- inability to articulate what was required and not provided;-unknowability of entire exercise.  No connection between actually ability and scores.

 7. Failure to approach “value for money” in a more comprehensive way.- process amounted to “price only” tenders;-Shortsightedness borders on incompetence.

Student Transportation Task Force – Operator Survey :Summary of Themes (Cont):

8. Unrealistic business assumptions long-term:- Average age of fleet will be an issue within the term of these RFPs;- True costs, such as loss of collaboration amongst “competitors” will not be seen immediately, but will affect service;-Companies that were wiped out were told to hang in there and bid again in the next round – 5 years from now;-Shortages of qualified drivers will become a real problem as RFP is rolled out across the province;- Implications of wiping out competition in rural areas, especially where a business is interdependent, will have economic repercussions.