Tioga County, New York

p4 II: Please confirm that Carrier is not responsible for children transported by parents or others.

No. Not legally possible to hold them liable when they’re not aboard their vehicles. Page 8 of the RFP (Appendix A – The Contract) “Parents may choose to transport their children themselves, and in such cases, these specifications do not apply.”

p6: If a transport were required beyond counties contiguous to Tioga and the distance of the transport substantially exceeded any distance that could be construed by reference to the current transport program data, would the County entertain a negotiation of cost for that transport?

Yes.

Has this situation ever occurred?

The only programs we have utilized in recent history are in Binghamton, Johnson City, Endicott, Cortland, Ithaca, and Elmira which are all in contiguous counties.

p6: Is the 7 day notice a notice to cure?

RFP clearly states TERMINATE, as does the contract. “Notice to Cure” doesn’t appear in either the RFP or the contract.

p8: Please generally describe the required coordination.

This is from the contract – “Carrier shall be responsible for the coordination of all transportation services with the exception of the designation of participants…” In layman’s terms, the contractor needs to figure out how to pick up the kids on the list provided and get them to their designated destinations. The contract itself lays out the required coordination.

p8: Please generally describe any anticipated training including requirements for attendance and duration.

“Due to rapid changes in requirements, CARRIER may need to be available for training if requested by the COUNTY.” There is no way to anticipate said training sessions and, therefore, their duration. It is also impossible to anticipate who would need to attend. If the requirements for or laws regarding HCT are updated or modified by either state or federal government, county reserves the right to schedule time with carrier to instruct on such changes.

p8 IVB: What is expected in a case where the driving time would exceed the given 60 minutes?

This would need to be reviewed on a case by case basis.

p8 IVD: Can other passengers (including adults) be transported in the same vehicle with the client children?

No. Transportation of children identified under this contract are only to be transported. It cannot be made part of a regular fixed route, nor shall passengers for hire be allowed.

p11 VIIB: Are any aides currently required?  How frequently have they been required in the past?

Currently there are three children with Aides and this is the same as the prior school year.

The $3.00/15 minute "reimbursement" rate has not changed for this contract in many years.  We understand it is paid only for the period of time an accompanied child is on the bus and not for the full time the aide is on the bus. $3 per 1/4hr is $12.00/hr.  Being paid one-way, that rate would leave $6.00/hour for labor.  This amount, less employer's payroll burden (not to mention training and call-in time), leaves the Carrier less than Minimum Wage.  Is it possible for the reimbursement rate to be increased to approximate actual cost to the Carrier?

Yes, this is a negotiable item.

p12 VII G: Would union agreements violate this clause?

This question is too vague to answer; if you can provide more detail or an “example scenario” we will attempt to provide some feedback.

What is a stream cleanup?

It involves volunteers walking along a stream or paddling a stream channel, collecting trash and recording information.

Why volunteer to do a stream cleanup?

Trash and debris carelessly discarded or dumped throughout the County often ends up along our waterways, impacting their scenic beauty and water quality. The Tioga County Stream Cleanup is your opportunity to help keep our waterways beautiful so that they can continue to be used for our recreational and scenic enjoyment.

Other benefits to a stream cleanup:

Information recorded such as types and quantities of trash, problems encountered, such as clogged channels, illegal dumping, or erosion can give us much need information about where the issues are. Stream Cleanups are an effective way to promote storm water awareness. They are applicable to all water bodies and teach citizens the connection between storm water and the local streams, through direct involvement. Cleanup efforts foster a sense of community ownership of the water body. They are an effective way to improve habitat, water quality, and aesthetics.

WHEN:

This year's event will be held:
May 13th through May 27th, 2013

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

• Pre-registration is required
• Please use this form to register. After completing the form you can mail, fax, or email it to the addresses / number below.

Mail:
Ellen Pratt
477 Route 96
Owego, NY 13827

FAX:
607-687-4453

eMail:
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Stream Cleanup Leaders must review the information below to ensure that you are aware of your responsibilities for the event. You will be contacted to confirm the details for your group shortly thereafter.

• Stream Cleanup Leader Instructions
• Liability Release (Required for all participants)
• Information Card - use this card to collect data in small groups during the cleanup