Automated and Prepaid Parking Amendment 2.pdf

AMENDMENT NO. 2

RFP NO. 226017-S

AUTOMATED AND PREPAID PARKING AT THE CRUISE TERMINAL

ISSUED: March 6, 2026

The Maryland Port Administration (MPA) is issuing this Amendment No. 2 to provide clarifications and answers to questions submitted by potential Offerors. Note that additional pending questions requiring further internal consultation will be answered in a subsequent Amendment No. 3. All information contained herein is binding on all Offerors who respond to this solicitation.

Questions/Answers

Advance and On-Site Reservations

1. Can you confirm whether MPA will provide API documentation for integration with the

MPA Cruise Website.

Answer 1: The MPA requires a link from our website for the customer to pay for their cruise. The MPA would prefer a seamless transfer that appears to still be our website.

No integration is required at this time.

2. Clarify whether refund workflows should be automated based on cruise line data or handled manually.

Answer 2: Automated.

3. Can you confirm whether MPA requires support for additional payment methods beyond those listed.

Answer 3: No, the MPA does not require additional payment methods other than the ones listed in the RFP; however, we are open to other payment methods.

4. Will Amex be considered as an approved payment method since payments will be collected by RFP winner?

Answer 4: Yes.

5. As the merchant processor, knowing the Port does not accept AmEx, can the processor collect AmEx Payments on behalf of the port.

Answer 5: Yes.

Parking Operations

6. Clarify whether any physical infrastructure (bollards, posts, signage mounts) is permitted since gates are prohibited.

Answer 6: Posts and signage mounts.

7. Confirm whether MPA has preferred mounting locations or existing infrastructure for

LPR cameras.

Answer 7: This information will be provided after award.

8. Request guidance on preferred fallback procedures when a license plate is misread.

Answer 8: Please provide the MPA with your company’s fallback procedure when a license plate is misread.

9. How many expected attendant hours per cruise day and whether peak-time staffing beyond one attendant is anticipated.

Answer 9: On a regular Royal day, the attendant should be there between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm and on a Carnival day, the attendant should be there between 10:30 am and 3:30 pm. Schedules will be provided on an annual basis, but due to the nature of ships having to adjust to conditions the Offeror shall have the ability to adjust the schedule on short notice.

10. Clarify expected volume of free-parking designations for staff, travel agents, or other authorized groups.

Answer 10: The MPA needs a solution for people that are authorized to park for free.

Other than staff who come on a regular basis, this would include wedding guests, travel agents and other ship guests. The MPA will ensure the awardee is provided with the information when we have a special event.

11. Does MPA anticipate multi-ship or special-event days requiring surge staffing or capacity adjustments.

Answer 11: No.

12. Clarify whether multilingual support beyond English and Spanish is required.

Answer 12: Not required.

13. Clarify whether MPA requires on-site spare equipment for rapid replacement.

Answer 13: Yes, that would be the best solution.

14. Ask for expected installation and go-live timeline following contract award.

Answer 14: Installation can be performed after contract award, expected to be September 1, 2026. Go Live is anticipated for January 1, 2027.

15. Can you confirm whether MPA will provide utility maps, lot drawings, or infrastructure details.

Answer 15: An overall map of the cruise terminal will be available after receiving a signed NDA from the vendor. The NDA is available with Amendment No. 1.

Utility maps and infrastructure details will be made available at Notice of Intent to Award or at time of Award.

16. Ask whether vendors may take measurements, photos, or drone footage during the site visit.

Answer 16: The site visit was already held. Upon contract award, arrangements can be made.

17. Request confirmation on whether MPA will provide traffic flow diagrams or historical parking data.

Answer 17: An overall map of the cruise terminal, that shows the traffic flow diagram, will be available after receiving a signed NDA from the vendor. The NDA is available with Amendment No. 1.

18. Clarify workflow for customers arriving without a reservation and without a credit card.

Answer 18: Customers will need to use the QR Code or app to pay for their reservation.

We are also open to suggestions from your firm’s experience in similar environments.

19. Request clarification on how MPA prefers to handle overstay charges when cruise ships return late.

Answer 19: The MPA does not charge the passengers for overstays.

20. Ask how MPA prefers to handle customers who exceed prepaid parking duration.

Answer 20: If they are back-to-back cruisers/parkers, they should be charged in the beginning of the first cruise to the end of the last cruise. If for some reason the cruiser/parker forgot to request additional cruise time, they should be charged at the end of the cruises. However, if the ship is delayed there should not be an additional charge.

If a passenger leaves the ship due to illness and the car remains after the ship returns, we do not charge them. That information will be sent to you to ensure there are no extra charges.

21. Are there any permitting, on-site safety, or union compliance that we would need to undertake to conduct requisite civil works/installation/operation at this port?

Answer 21: You will need to have a TWIC escort from the MPA when your staff is working on the terminal.

22. Will the client accept civil works to support the hardware? (e.g. islands for the hardware to mount and to delineate the traffic lanes)

Answer 22: The MPA can’t answer that question, until we see the plan to determine if that works for our facility.

23. What is the total number of parking spaces on site?

Answer 23:

Cruise Terminal Parking - Existing Existing Conditions

Lot A 491 Lot B 483

Lot C1 218 Lot C2 257

Lot A + C1 + C2 966 Lot D 0

Long Term Parking Total 1,449

Pickup / Dropoff Lot 64

VIP Lot 29 Crew/Staff 22 Bus/Limo 10

ILA 0

All Parking Total 1,574

Queue Length 1600 feet

24. How many FTE’s are currently operating the parking operation?

Answer 24: Currently, there are no full-time employees operating the parking operation.

However, other than security, we have 2 part-time employees that collect the payments and usually 1 full-time employee that has another job at the MPA that assists the cashiers. Please note, once this contract is awarded, there will no MPA staff working the parking operations other than the Security at the front gate.

25. On the day of cruise take off, what is security’s role at the entry point to the property?

Answer 25:

a. Do they verify each vehicle and what they are onsite for? Rideshare, taxi, bus, worker, cruise parker, etc.

Answer 25a: Yes.

b. Does security give cruise parkers any sort of identifiable placard or hang tag designating what type of vehicle they are?

Answer 25b: Yes, they give color coded placards for the rest of the guards to direct each car.

c. Is Security in charge of telling vehicles where to go once they are identified?

Answer 25c: Yes.

26. On the day of cruise take off, do cashier’s give any sort of identifiable placard or hang tag after payment is received?

Answer 26: Yes, that is the current set up, however once this contract is in place there will be no cashiers or hang tags issued for vehicles that have paid to park.

27. Does all A, B, and lot C traffic go through the 3-lane canopy after dropping off luggage?

Answer 27: Yes

a. Vehicle path of travel from canopy to lot A appears to be straightforward.

Vehicles will simply turn right into the lot after leaving from the canopy.

Answer 27a: Correct. An overall map of the cruise terminal, that shows the traffic flow diagram, will be available after receiving a signed NDA from the vendor. The NDA is available with Amendment No. 1.

b. What is the path of travel to lot B?

Answer 27b: Turn left in front of cruise terminal and follow arrows to Lot B as shown on the overall map of cruise terminal.

c. What is the path of travel to lot C?

Answer 27c: This is an overflow lot for crew, employee, bus staging and cruise line parking. Lot C is different in the fact that the cashiers and baggage trains must stage in Lot C to accommodate. In the occasion of overflow for the parkers, there person there to direct them.

28. Is the intended staffing model to have only 1 lot attendant on cruise take off days?

Answer 28: Yes

a. Is the intention that after a year, parkers have become familiar with prepaying, and the attendant is no longer needed?

Answer 28a: The MPA will need a parking attendant for the full term of this contract.

29. Is the current parking operation in house or contracted with a 3rd party vendor?

Answer 29: No 3rd party vendors, MPA employees

30. What is the typical staffing schedule for attendants/cashier now?

a. How many staffed during takeoff days?

Answer 30a: Currently, three cashiers for embark days.

b. How many hours?

Answer 30b: Royal embark staff works 9:00 am to 3:00 pm (6 hours) and Carnival embark days staff works 10:30am to 3:30 pm. (4 hours and 45 minutes)

Schedules will be provided on an annual basis, but due to the nature of ships having to adjust to conditions the Offeror shall have the ability to adjust the schedule on short notice.

31. Will booting/other vehicle deactivation methods be permitted for non-payment?

Answer 31: No, there will no consequences for non-payment at this time.

32. Is having real time occupancy metrics in each lot (based on camera/video feed) important to have as a feature?

Answer 32: Not at this time.

33. Is the MPA open to proposed solutions that do not include license plate reader cameras?

Or is this a requirement that the MPA is prioritizing as a must-have for this project?

Answer 33: The MPA requires license plate reader cameras for validation of payment from each vehicle that enters and exits the cruise terminal. However, we are open to other ideas that can accomplish our goal. There may be new technology of which MPA isn’t aware. As stated in the pre-proposal meeting, no gated entry or gated exit will be accepted.

34. Please provide more details regarding the expected scope of responsibilities of the on-site parking attendant referenced on page 3 of the RFP.

Answer 34: The vendor is expected to provide one on-site parking staff to manage the parking process; customer service needs; and address any technical issues that may arise with the parking system.

35. Does the MPA anticipate having your own on-site parking staff in addition to the attendant provided by the awarded vendor?

Answer 35: No.

36. Is an on-site parking staff attendant a critical/mandatory requirement for this project, or is the MPA open to proposed solutions that do not require on-site staffing?

Answer 36: Yes, this is a mandatory requirement.

37. Is a staff attendant only needed for cruise departure days, or would they be expected to be on-site for arrival days as well?

Answer 37: Not expected for arrivals, only for departures; however, this does occur on the same day.

38. Are cruise departure days and arrival days always on separate calendar dates with no overlap? Are there any scenarios where both a departure and an arrival could occur on the same day?

Answer 38: Departure and arrivals are on the same day.

39. Does MPA today have a contract with a third party for parking attendants at the Port? If yes, who is the contract with?

Answer 39: No, current MPA staff.

40. Page 3, Section 2.4 Responsibilities and Tasks, 2.4.1 Functions and Capabilities, Parking Operations, 2. The contractor shall provide an on-site parking attendant to assist parkers with transactions on days that a cruise ship is departing.

Would MPA provide a current parking staffing schedule to provide an idea of the number of parking attendants used today?

Answer 40: Currently, three cashiers for embark days.

Financial Management

41. Does the port have the total number of transactions processed in 2025?

Answer 41: Average annual transactions are 40,000 per year.

42. Can the port share the total revenue collected in 2025?

Answer 42: No, the MPA cannot share this information.

43. What are the current card processing rates paid by MPA under the current system?

Answer 43: The MPA cannot provide this information.

44. Does the MPA anticipate continuing to pay payment processing fees (e.g. credit card fees) for parking transactions? Or will the MPA consider passing these fees off to customers, in addition to any applicable per transaction fees associated with the proposed software system (per item number 5 in Attachment A-2)?

Answer 44: We do not know at this time.

45. Does the MPA have a preferred pricing model (e.g. annual software subscription fee, transaction-based fee paid by the customer, etc.)?

Answer 45: Transaction-based fee.

IT Management

46. Ask whether MPA requires API access for real-time reporting or if a dashboard is

Sufficient. I think a dashboard is sufficient.

Answer 46: A Dashboard is sufficient.

47. Confirm whether MPA requires contingency plans for network outages, power failures, or system downtime.

Answer 47: Yes, that is a requirement

Communications and Marketing

48. Confirm whether a dedicated support line is required or if a shared support queue is acceptable.

Answer 48: Dedicated line.

49. Does MPA expect the contractor to design full marketing creative assets or only provide messaging.

Answer 49: The MPA is open to both options.

50. Request expectations for customer complaint documentation and follow-up timelines.

Answer 50: Yes, that is an expectation.

Geofencing

51. Describe whether geofencing should integrate with the reservation system for operational triggers.

Answer 51: The MPA is interested in seeing what options the offeror proposes with this technology.

52. Request expected radius and number of geofenced zones.

Answer 52: The MPA is interested in seeing what options the offeror offers with this technology.

Sign and return the NDA (released with amendment 1 for more information about the cruise parking site.

53. Clarify whether real-time analytics on geofence activity are required.

Answer 53: The MPA is interested in seeing what options the offeror proposes with this technology.

54. Can you confirm whether MPA expects push notifications, SMS, or app-based messaging.

Answer 54: The MPA is interested in seeing what options the offeror proposes with this technology. The options should include the ability for customers to opt in or out.

Other

55. Does MPA anticipate exercising the two-year renewal option if performance is satisfactory.

Answer 55: There are other factors that determine if the renewal option will be exercised; however, at this time, the MPA anticipates exercising the unilateral renewal option if performance is satisfactory.

56. Request expectations for system performance during cruise delays, diversions, or extended stays.

Answer 56: The MPA expects the Offerors to tell us how you will handle these issues, keeping in mind that the MPA will not charge for extended stays unless it is a back-to-back booked cruise

57. Can the RFP Deadline be extended?

Answer 57: Yes, see Amendment No. 1 for the revised due date and time.

58. The Port is Requiring 5 years of management experience of a cruise terminal. Would the port be open to having 5 years experience with Airport reservations? As well, if a company has 5 years experience with multiple reservation partners that see volume into the hundreds of thousands seasonally, and can provide references, would that suffice?

Answer 58: See Amendment No. 1 for revised minimum and preferred requirements.

59. Does the Prime on the agreement need to have 5 years experience, or can a sub have the experience?

Answer 59: Prime experience.

60. Section 1.1.1 of the RFP says that the Offeror must have at least five years of experience providing parking services to a Cruise Terminal. Would the MPA be open to vendors who have implemented similar parking solutions for other government agencies similar in scope/function but not necessarily limited to Cruise Terminals?

Answer 60: See Amendment No. 1 for revised minimum and preferred requirements.

61. Does the MPA anticipate expanding the scope of this contract to other locations beyond the Cruise Terminal?

Answer 61: No.

62. To clarify the submission process, should passwords for Technical Proposals be provided in an email separate from the email containing the Technical Proposal documentation?

Answer 62: Yes.

63. When is the anticipated start date of the contract?

Answer 63: Anticipated for September 1, 2026, start date for development of website, installation of cameras, etc. and January 1, 2027, for go-live date.

64. As these bids are all open to FOIA, release of sensitive information is an issue. Are we able to simply include the exception request as part of our bid?

Answer 64: Note all exceptions on the cover letter. Also see Section 3.3 of the MPA’s Terms and Conditions for Service Contracts.

65. Financial Exhibit: The exhibit lists 465 hours for a parking attendant during the evaluation period, but there is no standalone Item Number to include the associated cost.

Could you clarify if this cost should include both the hourly employee and the device used on departure days?

Answer 65: The Offeror should use Line Item 1; Parking Management Equipment and Services/Support, including parking attendant for all cruise days. (Specify if equipment is for lease or purchase in the technical proposal) RFP Section 2.4.1 - Parking Operations.

End of Amendment No. 2

Michael Keegan, Procurement Officer