NIGP 55685: Trolley, Transit, Rubber Tired (Compressed Natural Gas)

NIGP 55685 Trolley, Transit, Rubber Tired (Compressed Natural Gas), an Item code, encompasses low-floor minibuses and medium-duty demand-response transit vehicles with compressed natural gas or alternative-fuel powertrains that serve paratransit, fixed-route urban, and specialized transit applications. State and local transit authorities, school districts, and municipal solid-waste departments are the primary buyers under this code, soliciting vehicles equipped for ADA accessibility, high-mileage daily operations, and specialized cargo or passenger handling. Recent solicitations show demand for low-floor design with wheelchair ramp access, interior handrails and storage, driver compartments, and engines capable of 120-mile operating ranges, alongside emerging interest in battery-electric variants with fast-charging infrastructure.

Transit authorities in Texas and Florida dominate recent activity. The City of Arlington, Texas issued RFP 26-0185 in April 2026 (due May 28, 2026) seeking up to four low-floor transit minibuses and a portable DC fast-charging trailer for Handitran paratransit service, with a pre-proposal meeting on May 7, 2026, and award anticipated in August 2026; proposers must be listed on the Federal Transit Administration's Eligible Transit Vehicle Manufacturer list and comply with Buy America requirements under 49 CFR Part 661. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority, leading the State of Florida Automated Transit Vehicle Procurement on behalf of Florida and continental U.S. transit agencies, posted solicitation P-26-009 (due March 23, 2026) for SAE Level 4 automated transit vehicles with staged implementation from late 2026 through 2028, firm five-year contract terms, and federal funding through FTA programs; the procurement targets 30 percent small-business participation through neutral means. The City of Olathe, Kansas Infrastructure Department issued IFB 26-0016 in February 2026 (due February 27, 2026) for two compressed natural gas roll-off refuse trucks on minimum 66,000 GVWR chassis with on-site training and one-year warranty, subject to Johnson County local preference provisions permitting selection of local bids within two percent or $5,000 of the lowest responsive bid.