A financial analysis of external proposals and internal options shows Indiana's Purdue University will spend less money by continuing to offer transportation services to campus customers even with the cost of relocating the operation.

A request for proposals, developed with assistance from the committee, asked vendors to address some or all of four major activities: rental fleet, charter coach and bus, vehicle maintenance and shop service, and fuel. Cost was a key factor, but safety, access to services, availability and flexibility also were important criteria, according to university officials.

Nine proposals were received: one response for all four components, two responses for the fleet rental component, three responses for the coach/bus component, and three responses for the service component of the proposal said.

The financial analysis concluded that providing transportation services in-house is less expensive, even with the cost of a new building or the remodeling of existing buildings, than if one firm or a combination of outside firms were to perform the four service components, according to the university.

The relocation of transportation services is made necessary by the coming U.S. Highway 231 project, which will cut through the current Transportation Service compound, and the expansion of Harrison Street, which will require the facility's demolition.

The committee recommended a permanent replacement facility for the long term and developed a transition plan for facility needs for the short term.

The transition plan, which will be finalized and begin implementation this fall for expected completion in 2011, calls for relocation of transportation operations to existing campus facilities.