1-26-105 RFI.docx

Questionnaire

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

RFI# 26-105

ZERO-EMISSION TRANSIT SOLUTIONS

RFI ISSUE DATE:

APRIL 1, 2026

DEADLINE FOR INQUIRIES/QUESTIONS:

MAY 1, 2026, AT 5:00 P.M. LOCAL ARIZONA TIME

RFI DUE DATE AND TIME:

MAY 18, 2026, 3:00 P.M. LOCAL ARIZONA TIME

ALL INQUIRIES MUST BE DIRECTED TO:

John Snow, CPPO, NIGP-CPP EMAIL: john_snow@tempe.gov

PHONE: 480-350-8885

Submit Electronic Proposal and Documents To:

https://tempe-gov.bonfirehub.com

Background Overview:

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to assist the City in acquiring information and options that can help inform future planning related to the City’s transition to zero-emission transit solutions. The City seeks to obtain information on available 30’ zero-emission transit buses, information on future or proposed 30’ zero-emission transit bus models, and information on infrastructure requirements necessary to support the transition from low-emission to zero-emission transit buses.

This is not a sourcing event, and no award decisions will be made as a result of this RFI process. The City reserves the right to retain all responses submitted and to use any information gathered from this RFI process in a subsequent RFP, if needed. However, any firm who participates in this RFI will be able to participate in any subsequent RFP if the City elects to purse a solicitation process. The City reserves the right to investigate any cooperative procurement organizations that might offer the proposed solutions and award a contract through an existing cooperative contract.

Introduction:

The City of Tempe is committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as part of its Climate Action Plan, with a target of achieving carbon neutrality in municipal operations and 100% renewable energy by 2035. Transportation represents approximately 43% of community-wide GHG emissions, making low-carbon mobility a critical component of this effort. Tempe supports sustainable, accessible travel through investment in a robust multimodal public transportation network.

To advance Tempe's sustainability and carbon neutrality goals, Tempe is evaluating a transition to zero-emission fleet technologies.

In early 2025, Tempe partnered with Arizona Public Service (local utility provider) and National Renewable Energy Laboratory to develop a fleet electrification assessment for operations city transit facilities and a citywide zero-emission transition plan for the Orbit system, Tempe’s neighborhood circulator transit service. These studies outline actionable steps to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and guide the transition toward a fully zero-emission transit fleet.

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather insights and data that can help inform future planning related to Tempe’s transition to zero-emission transit solutions. This RFI seeks to:

· Obtain information on available 30’ zero-emission transit buses.

· Obtain information on future or proposed 30’ zero-emission transit bus models.

· Understand opportunities for partnerships that could accelerate development of zero-emission transit solutions.

· Obtain information regarding infrastructure requirements necessary to support the transition from low-emission to zero-emission transit buses.

Background:

The City of Tempe provides a high-frequency, fare-free, neighborhood circulator service (“Orbit”) as a key component of the multi-modal, regional transit network. The goal of the Orbit system is to connect Tempe’s residential neighborhoods to major activity centers, including Arizona State University’s Tempe campus, and other transit modes within the City.

The Orbit system operates on a combination of residential neighborhood and arterial streets. On neighborhood and collector streets, the routes use “flag stops”, which means that the driver will pick up and drop off passengers anywhere along the route provided it is safe to do so. On major arterial streets, designated bus stops are used. The specific routes and operating parameters are determined through a rigorous community engagement process, which helps to build support and instill a sense of local pride and ownership in the service. The system is heavily utilized by Tempe residents, students, and visitors to the City and the routes exhibit some of the highest transit ridership volumes in the Phoenix metropolitan region.

The high passenger loading conditions and frequent stops, complex routing through narrow residential streets and traffic calming measures and the area’s harsh southwest desert climate present a challenging duty cycle. Currently, a fleet of 30’ low emission, compressed natural gas heavy-duty transit vehicles are utilized. In alignment with the City of Tempe’s sustainability initiatives, the city endeavors to transition the Orbit fleet to zero-emission technology. The goal of this RFI is to identify zero-emission vehicles and associated technology for consideration as the City develops plans to transition from low-emission technology to zero-emission technology.

Service Overview:

The Orbit system comprises six routes: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Five of the six routes operate to and from the Tempe Transportation Center (TTC), the City’s main transit hub, with scheduled layover time at that facility. Routes are shown on the attached map, and the tables below include information on the vehicle schedules, including distance traveled, duration and duration of layover time currently scheduled at the TTC.

Weekday Vehicle Schedule:

*These blocks operate Monday - Thursday when ASU is in session, 125 days/year.

Saturday Vehicle Schedule:

Sunday/Holiday Vehicle Schedule:

Fleet and Facilities Overview:

To address overcrowding and capacity constraints, the City transitioned from cutaway-style vehicles to heavy-duty transit buses for Orbit service beginning in 2017. Currently, a fleet of 42 30’ low emissions, compressed natural gas heavy-duty transit vehicles are utilized. On a typical weekday, 35 buses are required for service; the City maintains a 20% spare ratio. Specifications for the City’s 42-vehicle Orbit bus fleet are summarized below.

The table below includes a draft fleet replacement matrix. While the majority of fleet replacements are expected to occur between 2029 – 2033, the City is interested in procuring a pilot vehicle within the next two years for further evaluation, testing, familiarization and workforce development efforts.

The City of Tempe owns and maintains two transit facilities for the provision of transit service. The East Valley Bus Operations and Maintenance (EVBOM) facility provides storage, fueling and maintenance infrastructure for up to 250 buses. Fueling infrastructure is currently provided for LNG, CNG, diesel and unleaded gasoline fuels. The Tempe Transportation Center (TTC) facility serves as the City’s major transit center in Downtown Tempe, with 13 dedicated berthing areas for passenger loading and vehicle staging. The City has engaged with local utility providers to explore the existing and potential capacity for electric vehicle charging infrastructure to be deployed at both facilities.

Preliminary fleet transition planning efforts reveal that the transition towards battery electric buses will necessitate overnight charging infrastructure at the EVBOM facility, with specific blocks requiring opportunity charging at the TTC. As such, the City is interested in understanding all compatible charging technologies.

Vehicle Guidelines:

Physical Size:

· Preferred Maximum Body Length: 32 Ft

· Minimum Passenger Capacity (seated and standing): 30 people

· Turning Radius: Outside body corner turning radius for a neighborhood circulator bus shall not exceed 30 feet. 360” maximum outside at bumper.

Weight Capacity:

· The vehicle shall be structurally designed to operate safely while under crush loading conditions in which all seated positions are occupied by passengers and all open floor space is occupied by standing passengers. When fueled to capacity, a crush loading condition will not cause the vehicle to exceed the manufacturer-specified GVWR.

Tempe Operating Environment:

Neighborhood circulator buses operate in temperatures from 28°F to 123°F, relative humidity 8%–45%, and altitudes up to 1,100 ft. Performance degradation should be minimized outside this range. The steepest grade is 7% for 320 ft.

We seek zero-emission bus technologies with climate control systems that maintain operator and passenger comfort in Tempe’s desert conditions. Insulation and HVAC must support interior temperatures of 65°F – 80°F and relative humidity ≤ 45%, even with frequent door openings, idle periods, and passenger loads up to 150% of seated capacity.

Given high temperatures for 5+ months annually and heavy A/C use, manufacturers are encouraged to provide air conditioning pull-down testing data and battery range testing data, if available. In 2025 the Phoenix metro area experienced over 150 days with high temperatures at or above 90°F, over 100 days with high temperatures at or above 100°F, and 37 days with high temperatures at or above 110°F.

Overview and Project Scope

The City has developed the following questions and information requests to better understand the current market, assess the feasibility of this potential project, and evaluate the level of interest and capabilities of firms active in the zero-emission transit bus market. Respondents may provide responses using the table format provided or through a narrative submission, provided that all questions and requests are addressed in the same order and each question is clearly identified to facilitate review by the evaluation team. Respondents are encouraged to include any additional information that would assist the City in understanding their firm’s capabilities and experience, as well as any considerations the City should be aware of to support a successful outcome, mitigate risks, and maximize potential benefits. The space provided below each question is formatted to allow long answers due to support for multiple paragraphs and formatting. The space will also automatically expand to fit the text of your response.

Firm Information

1. Provide a narrative on your firm’s background including number of years, and experience. Please be sure to include any experience with the Desert Southwest of the United States.

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2. Provide the name and contact information for the key contact person for this submittal.

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Vehicle

3. What is the make and model of the vehicle?

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4. What is the maximum speed (in mph)?

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5. What is the noise level generated during operation?

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6. What are the vehicle dimensions (body length, width, height, and turn radius)?

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7. Provide vehicle acceleration data.

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8. Does your vehicle support the installation of a bike rack?

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9. What is the passenger seating capacity (number seated and total capacity)? What accessibility provisions are included (e.g., mobility device loading system, ADA-compliant positions, and interior circulation)?

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10. What is the cost of the vehicle (estimated price range, MSRP, etc.)?

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11. Is the vehicle available now? If not, does your company intend to manufacture a 30’ zero-emission bus in the future?

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12. Is the vehicle Buy America compliant (as defined by statute 49 U.S.C. § 5323(j))?

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13. Has the vehicle completed the FTA Bus Testing Program, or do you plan to submit your vehicle for testing?

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14. Provide details on the vehicle warranty?

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15. How long does it take for one of your vehicles to be manufactured and delivered?

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Battery

16. What is the battery chemistry?

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17. What is the OEM battery size (in kWh)?

18. What percentage of the battery is usable for usage?

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19. Is your battery warranted to a certain capacity? Please explain your battery warranty in detail.

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20. What is the actual usable capacity (in kWh and as a percentage of nameplate capacity)?

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Infrastructure and Charging

21. What charging options are compatible with the vehicle (Example: plug-in, inductive, overhead)?

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22. Are chargers provided by the manufacturer or purchased separately?

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23. What is the estimated cost of charging infrastructure?

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24. What is the charging capacity (in kW)?

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25. How long does it take to charge the battery to full capacity (in hours)?

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26. What other infrastructure is required?

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27. For other zero-emission technologies (i.e. hydrogen fuel cell, if applicable), outline required infrastructure considerations.

Monitoring

28. What type of data communication system or telematics is provided to enable remote monitoring of vehicle performance or state of charge?

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Workforce Development

29. What training programs are offered for operators and maintenance staff? (Examples: technical, safety, operational). Is there a recommended curriculum?

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Vehicle Components

30. What is the expected lifetime of major vehicle components, and what are the recommended replacement and service intervals for these components?

Example: Battery replacement – Provide # of years, mileage, and cost. Feel free to provide part of your response as a table.

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Additional Information

Please feel free to provide any additional info or data that will help the City as it gathers this information.

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