MARTINSVILLE, IN – Indiana University (IU) will solicit proposals next month to find out if it can save money by outsourcing its Bloomington-campus motor pool, according to the Reporter-Times newspaper. Terry Clapacs, IU vice president for administration, said the university will issue a request for proposals for motor pool operation in about three weeks. Clapacs also said he expects the campus to submit a proposal for continuing to operate the motor pool. Officials are expected to decide by the end of the year whether to outsource the operation, the report said.

The motor pool maintains and services a fleet of vehicles, including physical-plant trucks and vehicles used by IU departments. It also provides vehicles for employees who travel on university business. It operates a van service for students with disabilities and a student-run escort service for people who need campus transportation because of safety concerns. With 13 full-time employees, the service takes care of about 600 vehicles and has a budget of just over $3 million.