After more than three decades in Warrensburg, Missouri, the National Congress on School Transportation (NCST) will move to a new location next year.

NCST, which was launched in 1939, meets every five years to deliberate on proposed updates to the industry manual National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures.

NCST has had a partnership association with the Missouri Safety Center and the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg since 1980. Last month, the Missouri Safety Center informed the NCST steering committee that it would not be able to meet the objectives for hosting the 16th congress. However, the center offered to assist with a transition for the 16th congress.

“The steering committee expresses appreciation for the long-term support of the Warrensburg site, and at the same time recognizes that significant changes have taken place in what government entities are able to provide to outside projects,” NCST officials said in a press release.

The NCST steering committee is now “looking to move progressively forward to new opportunities for NCST in the coming decades.” Committee members said that costs for the congress must be kept to a minimum for the school bus professionals from each state who serve as delegates.

The NCST steering committee will issue a request for proposals (RFP) for hosting a new location for the 16th congress. The RFP, which is expected to be available on the NCST website by Nov. 21, will focus on the following objectives:

1. Centralized national location
2. Minimized ground transportation expenses
3. Additional space to accommodate committees, delegates, other interested parties, foreign country representatives and media representatives
4. Reasonable centralized room accommodations
5. Availability between mid-May and mid-June 2015

“The steering committee believes this is an opportunity to celebrate 75 years of NCST, with special recognition of 35 years of association with the Missouri Safety Center and the University of Central Missouri, while bringing on new progressive opportunities for the next 75 years,” NCST officials said.

Details on the dates and location for the 16th NCST and the registration process are expected to be made available on the NCST website by mid-December.