Plan your trip as far in advance possible, and begin this checklist early so as to leave time for any necessary changes. Last minute plans can make completing this list frustrating and possibly resulting in cancelling the trip.

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PLEASE NOTE: Do not assume that the contract or inflatable will be approved simply because you know of a parish who used them or the vendor states another diocesan entity used their company or a particular inflatable. Sometimes the vendor's policies change, or perhaps the diocesan entity did not follow proper procedures. But always each rental approved separately and on its own merits. 

Select a bus company (perhaps using "Gregory's List below) and contact them to receive a quote. Besides the basic trip information, please ask for three things:

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1. A contract to sign.

2. Regarding the company's Certificate of Insurance (COI), ask them to list the following as additional insured and then give you a copy: 

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"Gregory L. Parkes, as Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, a corporation sole and the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Inc., and affiliated entities as their interests may appear are listed as additional insured."

    3. Ask that they sign our diocesan "Universal Addendum" -  download that form here. 

FYI, the following coverage must be listed and current on the COI for the duration of the agreement/lease/MOU:

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• General Liability insurance ($1 million dollars)

• Workers Compensation or State Waiver thereof

• BUSES ONLY: Automobile Liability. 

Valerie will review all and send you an approval email. This could take a few days, so please send it to her a minimum of 10 days in advance if not much further in advance, in case Catholic Mutual needs more time to review them or if there is a problem with any of the documents. 

Before your pastor or business manager signs anything, you will first send the following three documents to Valerie Burns in the Diocesan Insurance Office - vcb@dosp.org:

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1. The bus contract (Valerie will have it reviewed and approved by Catholic Mutual).

2. A copy of bus company's COI (with the additional listing [named above in #2 in red] listed on the COI.

3. A copy of the Universal Addendum signed by the bus company.

Once those three documents have been approved, your pastor, business manager, or other authorized person may sign the bus contract. Be sure to receive a final copy of the contract. 

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PLEASE NOTE: Youth Ministers do not normally have permission to sign contracts on behalf of the parish/diocese. Pastors have that authority, and typically give that authority to their Business Managers. If a Youth Minister signs a contract, she/he must do so with the permission and authority of the pastor or business manager. The point here: make sure your pastor is "in the loop" and knows and approves your plans before anything is signed.

Not all bounce houses or inflatables are equally safe. By design some are more safe than others. Prior to selection/rental, send a picture and description to Valerie Burns in the Office of Insurance and Risk Management (vcb@dosp.org) so that CMG can review and approve your selection PRIOR TO finalizing a contract.