10.07.26 Exceptions Hearing

The School District of Palm Beach County’s exceptions hearing on October 8, 2026, concerned First Student, Inc.’s challenge to the finding that its proposal for specialized transportation of students—including students with disabilities—was nonresponsive under RFP 26C-018R. First Student argued that its response and those of competitors EverDriven and Buckled In were all incomplete regarding the required 10-year disclosure of discrimination complaints, yet only First Student was excluded. It asked the Board to treat its proposal as responsive and send it for evaluation, or alternatively reject all proposals and restart the procurement. No contract amounts were stated.

District counsel urged the Board to deny First Student’s three exceptions and adopt the administrative law judge’s recommendation, arguing that district policy and the RFP required a complaint list that First Student did not provide, despite requests to do so. Board members questioned whether the competitors’ responses met the same requirements and discussed the limits of their review. The transcript ends during deliberation; it does not capture a final vote or decision.