Limousine company sues Columbia Public Schools after not getting contract

White Knight Limousine Company sued the Columbia Public School District after they were not awarded a bus contract.

According to the petition, the purchasing department for the district issued a request for quotes for four trips from Columbia to Wyoming that would begin in May and end in June.

The limousine company said they have provided transportation services for the district on previous Wyoming trips, and they were the lowest bidder for the 2018 trip by approximately $30,000.

The limousine company said they were in the process of getting a bus that would fit the new specifications but planned to defer the purchase until January. The company said it was ready and willing to get a bus as specified in the original bill specification But the suit claims the district was urged by a competitor, Huskey Bus and Transportation Services, to disallow the other company’s low bid after changing the bid specifications after the fact.

The purchasing agent later let the limousine company know they were going to disallow their bid and award it to a competitor for a higher bid.

According to the petition, rejection of the lowest bid by a school district must not be made capriciously or without reason.

The Columbia Public School District responded to the lawsuit and asked the court to dismiss the petition.