On-base bus contract ending

Published April 10, 2009
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Children who take the bus to on-base schools will need to make alternate arrangements beginning April 16.

The contract with Northland Bus Services, Inc., has provided bus service during the colder months of November through April for the past five years. This contract will end April 15.

The funding for this contract is first offered for consideration at the Air Combat Command level, but local funds are sometimes used if available.

Securing annual funding is important, as the bus service "takes some of the pressure off parents in the harsh winter months," said Greg Thomas, Deputy of the 5th Mission Support Group.

The price of one year's contract is approximately $229,000.

Due to the fact that this is the last year of the existing contract, solicitations for a new contract are underway.

The winner will be announced after the contract is formally awarded.

High school and middle school students who take the bus to school downtown are unaffected by this annual change. The funding for this separate contract is from the Department of Defense, and directly supports Minot public schools.