Purchasing &

Contracting Department

1117 Eisenhower Drive, Suite C, Savannah, Georgia 31406

(912) 790-1618

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

RFQ NO. 26-0041-5

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARATRANSIT

SERVICES FOR CHATHAM COUNTY

PRE-QUALIFICATION CONFERENCE: 10:00A.M., MAY 5, 2026

STATEMENTS RECEIVED BY: 5:00 P.M., MAY 21, 2026

CHATHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA

OFFICE OF THE PURCHASING DIRECTOR

1117 EISENHOWER DRIVE, SUITE C

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31406

(912) 790-1619

DATE: April 21, 2026 RFQ NO.: 26-0041-5

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR REQUEST STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

This is an invitation to submit a statement of qualification to provide Chatham County with services as indicated herein. Statements of Qualifications shall be submitted on-line on the

County’s procurement portal https://chathamcountyga.bonfirehub.com/portal up to 5:00 P.M., MAY 21, 2026. The Purchasing Director reserves the right to reject any and all submissions and to waive formalities.

Instructions for preparation and submission of a qualification proposal are contained in the Request for Qualification Statements package.

Any changes to the conditions and specifications must be in the form of a written addendum to be valid; therefore, the Purchasing Director will issue a written addendum to document approved changes.

Chatham County has an equal opportunity procurement policy. Chatham County seeks to ensure that all segments of the business community have access to providing services needed by County programs. The County affirmatively works to encourage utilization of disadvantaged and minority business enterprises in our procurement activities. The County provides equal opportunity for all businesses and does not discriminate against any persons or businesses regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin or handicap. The County expects its consultants to make maximum feasible use of minority businesses and qualified minority employees. The terms "disadvantaged business", "minority business enterprise", and "minority person" are more specifically defined and explained in the Chatham County Purchasing Ordinance.

SECTION I

INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSERS

1.1 PURPOSE: The purpose of this document is to provide general and specific information for use in submitting a qualification proposal to supply Chatham County with services as described herein. All qualification proposals are governed by the Code of Chatham

County, Chapter 4, Article IV, and the laws of the State of Georgia.

1.2 HOW TO PREPARE QUALIFICATION PROPOSALS: All qualification proposals shall be:

A. Proposers are encouraged to review carefully all provisions and attachments of this https://chathamcountyga.bonfirehub.com/portal document prior to submission. Each qualification proposal constitutes an offer and may not be withdrawn except as provided herein.

1.3 HOW TO SUBMIT QUALIFICATION PROPOSALS: All qualification proposals shall be:

A. Submitted on-line on the County’s procurement portal at:

https://chathamcountyga.bonfirehub.com/portal.

** In submitting their qualification proposal, the proposer certifies that he/she has carefully read all related

Request for Qualification proposal documents and agrees to comply with all provisions.

B. If a proposer is unable to submit their qualification proposal on-line, they should notify the procurement contact for the solicitation at least one week prior to qualification proposals being due to receive instructions. The County is seeking to conduct all solicitations on-line. The phone number for Purchasing and

Contracting is 912-790-1618.

1.4 ERRORS IN QUALIFICATION PROPOSALS: Proposers or their authorized representatives are expected to fully inform themselves as to the conditions, requirements, and specifications before submitting qualification proposals. Failure to do so will be at the

Proposer's own risk.

1.5 STANDARDS FOR ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSERS FOR CONTRACT AWARD:

The County reserves the right to reject any or all Qualification proposals and to waive any irregularities or technicalities in Qualification proposals received whenever such rejection or waiver is in the best interest of the County. The County reserves the right to reject the

Offer of a Proposer who has previously failed to perform properly or complete on time contracts of a similar nature, whom investigation shows is not in a position to perform the contract.

1.6 PROPOSER: Whenever the term "Proposer" is used, it shall encompass the "person", "business", "firm", or other party submitting a qualification proposal to Chatham County in such capacity before a contract has been entered into between such party and the County.

1.7 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS: The Proposer shall obtain and maintain all licenses, permits, liability insurance, workman's compensation insurance and comply with any and all other standards or regulations required by Federal, State or County statute, ordinances and rules during the performance of any contract between the Proposer and the County.

Any such requirement specifically set forth in any contract document between the Proposer and the County shall be supplementary to this section and not in substitution thereof.

1.8 CONSULTANT: Consultant or subconsultant means any person, firm, or business having a contract with Chatham County. The Consultant certifies that the firm will follow equal employment opportunity practices in connection with the awarded contract as more fully specified in the contract documents.

1.9 DEBARRED FIRMS AND PENDING LITIGATION: Any potential proposer/firm listed on the Federal or State of Georgia Excluded Parties Listing (Barred from doing business) will not be considered for contract award. It is the proposer’s responsibility to inform the County should the proposer/firm be placed on the Federal or State of Georgia

Excluded Parties Listing during the qualification proposal process. Proposers shall disclose any record of pending criminal violations (Indictment) and/or convictions, pending lawsuits, etc., and any actions that may be a conflict of interest occurring within the past five (5) years. Any proposer/firm previously defaulting or terminating a contract with the County will not be considered. Successful proposers with whom the County enters into a contract with for goods or services will notify the County if they become debarred during the course of the contract.

** All bidders or proposers are to read and complete the Disclosure of Responsibility

Statement. Failure to do so may result in your solicitation response being rejected as non-responsive.

Bidder acknowledges that in performing contract work for the Board, bidder shall not utilize any firms that have been a party to any of the above actions. If bidder has engaged any firm to work on this contract or project that is later debarred, Bidder shall sever its relationship with that firm with respect to Board contract.

SECTION II

QUALIFICATION PROPOSAL CONDITIONS

2.1 COMPLETENESS: All information required by the Request for Qualification proposals must be completed and submitted to constitute a proper qualification proposal.

2.2 INDEMNIFICATION: The PROPOSER agrees to protect, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Chatham County, Georgia, its commissioners, officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all liability, damages, claims, suits, liens, and judgments, of whatever nature, including claims for contribution and/or indemnification, for injuries to or death of any person or persons, or damage to the property or other rights of any person or persons caused by the PROPOSER or its subproposers. The PROPOSER’s obligation to protect, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless, as set forth herein above shall include, but not be limited to, any matter arising out of any actual or alleged infringement of any patent, trademark, copyright, or service mark, or any actual or alleged unfair competition, disparagement of product or service, or other business tort of any type whatsoever, or any actual or alleged violation of trade regulations. PROPOSER further agrees to investigate, handle, respond to, provide defense for, and to protect, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Chatham County, Georgia, at his sole expense, and agrees to bear all other costs and expenses related thereto, even if such claims, suits, etc., are groundless, false, or fraudulent, including any and all claims or liability for compensation under the Worker's

Compensation Act arising out of injuries sustained by any employee of the PROPOSER or his subconsultant or anyone directly or indirectly employed by any of them.

The PROPOSER’s obligation to indemnify Chatham County under this Section shall not be limited in any way by the agreed-upon contract price, or to the scope and amount of coverage provided by any insurance maintained by the PROPOSER.

2.3 COMPLIANCE WITH SPECIFICATION - TERMS AND CONDITIONS: The

Request for Qualification proposals, Legal Advertisement, General Conditions and

Instructions to Proposers, Specifications, Special Conditions, Proposers Offer, Addendum, and/or any other pertinent documents form a part of the Offeror's qualification proposal and by reference are made a part hereof.

2.4 MINORITY – WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PARTICIPATION: It is the desire of the County Board of Commissioners to increase the participation of minority (MBE) and women-owned (WBE) business in its contracting and procurement programs.

The County is committed to a policy of equitable participation for these firms by setting goals for each contract. Bidder/proposers are requested to include in their qualification proposals a narrative describing their past accomplishments and intended actions in this area. If bidder/proposers are considering minority or women owned enterprise participation in their qualification proposal, those firms, and their specific duties must be identified in their qualification proposal along with the percentage(s) and dollar amount awarded to the MBE/WBE firm. Proposers may also provide demographic information regarding their employees to show their commitment to equal opportunity. If a bidder/proposer is considered for award, he/she will be asked to meet with the County Staff so that the intended MBE/WBE participation goals can be formalized and included in the subsequent contact.

If the awarded consultant is claiming minority status, the consultant shall apply for certification by Chatham County, Georgia to the Office of Minority Business. The Minority Business office will provide documentation of application status once approved or disapproved by Chatham County. Certification by any other government entity is acceptable if current copy of the certification is provided with this solicitation. For additional information concerning Chatham County’s M/WBE office, please call (912) 652-7860.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION PROPOSALS

GENERAL CONDITIONS

SECTION III

3.1 DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES: Chatham County Board of Commissioners is soliciting qualification proposals from qualified companies to provide Paratransit

Services for Chatham County. This RFQ seeks to identify potential providers for the above-mentioned services. All respondents to this RFQ are subject to instructions communicated in this document and are cautioned to completely review the entire RFQ and follow instructions carefully. Chatham County reserves the right to reject any or all

RFQ responses and to waive technicalities and informalities at its discretion.

3.2 METHODOLOGY: The procurement described herein may be conducted in a three-step process.

STEP ONE- ACCEPTANCE AND EVALUATION OF QUALIFICATION

PROPOSALS: All technical requirements, unless otherwise specified, must be met by the proponent or such qualification proposal may be disqualified as being non-responsive.

Qualification proposals that are deemed incomplete as to substance and content may be returned without consideration. A shortlist of qualified firms will be developed and ranked by an evaluation committee appointed by the County Manager.

In the interest of a fair, objective and competitive process, Chatham County intends to accept all qualified qualification proposals and give them complete and impartial consideration.

Any qualification proposal which does not meet all technical requirements may be disqualified as being non-responsive.

Qualification proposals which are deemed to be incomplete as to substance and content may be returned without consideration. Proponents whose qualification proposals are not accepted will be promptly notified that they are not being further considered and why.

The evaluation committee will use established technical criteria as described herein to develop a shortlist of qualified proponents.

Do not submit a Fee Proposal.

STEP TWO-PROPOSAL SUBMISSION: The short list identified from this Request for Qualifications will be invited to submit technical proposals.

STEP THREE-INTERVIEWS: The evaluation committee may request an interview with short-listed firms. If interviews are conducted, they will be scored. It will be at the discretion of the evaluation committee on the number of firms that will interview/present.

3.3 PRE-QUALIFICATION PROPOSAL CONFERENCE: A Pre-Qualification

Conference will be scheduled for 10:00A.M., May 5, 2026 located at the Purchasing and

Contracting Office, 1117 Eisenhower Drive, Suite C, Savannah, GA.

3.4 QUALIFICATION PROPOSAL DEADLINE: The response to this ‘Request for

Qualifications” must be received on-line on the County’s procurement portal no later than

5:00 P.M., May 21, 2026. http://chathamcountyga.bonfirehub.com/portal

For good and sufficient reason, up to 24 hours before the advertised deadline, the County may extend the response schedule. An addendum will be issued setting forth the new date and time.

3.5 CONFIDENTIALITY OF DOCUMENTS: Upon receipt of a qualification proposal by the County, the qualification proposal shall become the property of the County without compensation to the proponent, for disposition or usage by the County at its discretion

(except for as provided by Georgia law for proprietary information). The details of the qualification proposal documents will remain confidential until final award or rejection of qualification proposals and/or protected under the restraints of law. Only final points and ranking of qualification proposals will be openly disclosed prior to approval by the Board of Commissioners. Proponent shall have no contact with any Department Representative or Evaluation Committee Member during and after the evaluation process. Any information contained in the qualification proposal that is considered by the Proponent as

“proprietary” to remain confidential shall be clearly identified and justified.

3.6 CONE OF SILENCE: Lobbying of Procurement Evaluation Committee members, County Government employees, and elected officials regarding this product or service solicitation, Invitation to Bid (ITB) or Request for Qualification proposal (RFQ) or contact by any member of a proposer’s staff, or those people employed by any legal entity affiliated with an organization that is responding to the solicitation is strictly prohibited. Negative campaigning through the mass media about the current service delivery is strictly prohibited. Such actions may cause your qualification proposal to be rejected.

3.7 REJECTING QUALIFICATION PROPOSALS: The County reserves the right to reject any or all qualification proposals and is not bound to accept any qualification proposal if that qualification proposal is contrary to the best interest of Chatham County.

Similarly, the County is not bound to accept the lowest dollar qualification proposal if the offer is not considered in the County's best interest.

3.8 COST TO PREPARE RESPONSES: The County assumes no responsibility or obligation to the respondents and will make no payment for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of the qualification proposal.

3.9 INQUIRIES: Direct any questions related to this RFQ to Ms. Jean Fleming, Purchasing

Director, and submit all questions through the County’s procurement portal https://chathamcountyga.bonfirehub.com/portal Q&A section. Include the RFP number, page, and paragraph number as a reference to each question. DEADLINE FOR ALL

QUESTIONS IS LISTED ON THE BONFIRE PORTAL.

THE ONLY OFFICIAL ANSWER OR POSITION OF CHATHAM COUNTY WILL BE

THE ONE STATED IN WRITING.

SECTION IV

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

4.1 FULL DISCLOSURE OF PENDING LITIGATION: Qualification proposals shall divulge any related company, firm, person, or party, parent subsidiary, against which

Chatham County has an outstanding claim, or a financial dispute relating to prior contract performance. If the County, at any time, discovers such a dispute has not been disclosed during any point of evaluation, the qualification proposal will not be considered further.

4.2 EVALUATION FACTORS: Factors such as proponents overall capability, specialized experience, reputation, past performance on similar projects, technical competence, financial stability, ability to meet program goals will be considered in the award recommendation. Commitment in the level of MBE/WBE firms, consultants and employees will also be considered in the evaluation of qualification proposals.

4.3 SELECTION PROCESS: Qualification proposals will be evaluated initially on the basis of the written document. Thus, the qualification proposal must be complete, concise and clear as to the intent of the respondent.

4.4 CONTRACT: The contract, if awarded, will be based on the responses received in Phase

2 which will be a Request for Proposal from qualified short-listed firms. The Board of

Commissioners will make the determination as to which proposal best serves the interest of Chatham County.

4.5 QUALIFICATION PROPOSALS MUST INCLUDE AND BE RESPONSIVE TO:

4.5.1 INTRODUCTION/COVER LETTER (SECTION A): You should provide no more than a two (2) page letter of introduction. The letter should highlight or summarize whatever information you deem appropriate as a cover letter, as a minimum, this section should include the name, address, email address, telephone number of one (1) contact to whom any correspondence should be directed. This section should include a clear statement of the Proposer’s understanding of this

RFQ and the contract requirements, and how the Proposer intends to meet the RFQ requirements.

4.5.2 STABILITY AND LOCAL RESOURCES: TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 10:

The proposer should provide:

A. Firm’s History and Growth

B. Financial Information

a. Provide a minimum of 3 years of audited financial statements

b. Provide proof of operational capacity at proposed contract scale

c. Provide proof of the ability to provide insurance at the requested limits

C. Litigation History

D. Overall Resources of the contractor including local resources

4.5.3 EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS – TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 40:

The proposer should provide evidence of the qualifications and experience of the contractor’s key staff and evidence of the ability of the firm in providing services in programs comparable in complexity, size, and function to clients such as government entities and similarly structured organizations.

A. Relevant Project Experience of the Firm

a. Provide evidence of a minimum 3-5 years of experience providing

ADA paratransit or demand-response transportation services

b. Demonstrate experience managing systems with >50,000 annual trips

c. Provide a summary of references of comparable government or transit agency references

d. Describe proven compliance with ADA regulations (49 CFR Part 37 and 38) and FTA requirements.

B. ADA Compliance

a. Describe knowledge of ADA eligibility, service requirements and trip denial prohibitions

b. Describe in detail any ADA violations within the past 5 years

c. Describe in detail your ability to maintain zero trip denials and equivalent service levels to fixed-route transit

C. Subcontracting & Broker Capabilities

a. Describe your ability to manage a network of transportation providers

b. Describe your experience coordinating taxi, NEMT, and subcontractors

4.5.4 ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES - TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 35:

THIS SECTION SHOULD INCLUDE:

A. The Firm’s apparent ability to provide services to Chatham County, including the firm’s apparent fit to the project type and /or needs of

Chatham County, any special or unique qualifications for the project, past and projected workloads (available resources), quality assurance procedures, expedited services in some cases, and any special or unexpected services offered by the firm which might be suitable for the program.

B. Evidence of Fleet

a. ADA-accessible vehicles (if providing direct service)

b. Ability to scale fleet based on demand

c. Describe if you have a documented preventative maintenance program

d. Specifics of vehicles such as age

C. Staffing & Training

a. Discuss procedures for drivers regarding background and driving record checks

b. Discuss requirements for drivers to complete ADA and passenger assistance training

c. Discuss requirements for drivers to complete sensitivity training, mobility device securement and safety procedures

d. Discuss how staffing and training requirements are monitored

D. Technology

a. Provide a brief description of your scheduling and dispatch software

E. Dispatch & Scheduling

a. Provide a brief description of your real-time scheduling and dispatch system

F. Reporting

a. Describe your ability to compile and share service reports (i.e., trips, on-time performance, missed trips, complaints)

G. Eligibility

a. Provide a description of your processes to determine eligibility of paratransit riders

4.5.5 INTERVIEWS/PRESENTATIONS (IF REQUIRED) – TOTAL POSSIBLE

POINTS: 30

4.6 ASSIGNMENT: The PROPOSER shall not assign or transfer any interest of the contract without prior written consent of the County.

SECTION V

BACKGROUND

5.0 PURPOSE: Chatham County is soliciting Request for Qualification proposals (RFQ) from qualified firms to provide ADA complementary paratransit services for Chatham

County. This RFQ seeks to identify potential providers for the below mentioned services. All respondents to this RFQ are subject to instructions communicated in this document and are cautioned to completely review the entire RFQ and follow instructions carefully. Chatham County reserves the right to reject any or all submissions and to waive technicalities and informalities at the discretion of Chatham County.

5.1 BACKGROUND: The current paratransit program provides an average of approximately 234 passenger trips per day. Top destinations in 2025 include residential locations, restaurants, hospitals, shopping areas (such as Goodwill and grocery stores), churches, theaters, and fitness centers. The system maintains a fleet of roughly 40 buses, though not all vehicles are deployed daily. The County intends to maintain this level of service volume while improving operational efficiency, timeliness, and overall customer service and satisfaction, ensuring that no eligible rider is left without the transportation they need or have scheduled. There are currently 855 different customer IDs.

The undersigned proposer certifies that he/she has carefully read the preceding list of instructions and all other data applicable hereto and made a part of this invitation; and, further certifies that the prices shown in his/her qualification proposal are in accordance with all documents contained in this Request for Qualification proposals package, and that any exception taken thereto may disqualify his/her qualification proposal.

This is to certify that I, the undersigned Proposer, have read the instructions to Proposer and agree to be bound by the provisions of the same.

This________________day of____________________20__.

BY: ______________________________________________

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