To:

Members, Board of Education

From:

Maurice O. Green, Superintendent

Date:

September 19, 2008

RE:

Transportation Report – Update on the North Carolina Retread Tire Contract

1. Session Law 2008-201, enacted on August 8, 2008 by the North Carolina General Assembly, directed the North Carolina Department of Administration, Division of Purchase and Contract, to make changes to its Request for Proposal criteria for a statewide tire retread contract.  This law was established in accordance with the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee study of the tire retread process. 
2. The current statewide retread tire contract expires on November 30, 2008.  The Division of Purchase and Contract (P&C) was contacted regarding the new contract timeline.  According to P&C staff, the new contract is expected to be awarded on or about December 1, 2008. 
3. GCS and a majority of the school districts continue to follow the practice of the State by using the state-contracted provider.  The state-contracted provider’s testing practices meet the state’s requirements and many other providers do not utilize the state-specified testing.  In addition, the state-contracted provider has an excellent safety record in North Carolina over the last 17 years.

RECOMMENDATION:  Staff recommends a review of changes made to the state’s tire contract(s) once awarded on or about December 1st of this year with a recommendation to the board.  Until such time as this award and review is completed, we recommend that the district continue to utilize the current state contract provider for the purchase of retread tires.

Attachment - Session Law