Bid Notice.pdf

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Rev. 11/12/25 Page 1

SANTA CLARA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

August 28, 2026

SUBJECT: Palo Alto RFI

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Request for Information ("RFI") is to gather information regarding capability and interest from organizations (each an "Organization") to exploring the revitalization of the Depot through a public-facing commercial venture. VTA may use the information gathered as a result of this RFI to plan the acquisition strategy. A subsequent Request for Qualifications, Request for Proposal, Invitation for Bid, or other similar solicitation may rely on information obtained as a result of this RFI.

NOTE TO ORGANIZATIONS: This is an RFI only and is issued solely for market research purposes. It does not constitute a formal solicitation, nor does it guarantee that a formal solicitation may follow. This RFI should not be construed as a means to pre-qualify vendors. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. Time and resources spent by Organizations in the development of a response to this RFI are voluntary and solely at that Organization's cost. Any future contract related to the subject of this RFI that may be awarded will comply with VTA's procurement policies/procedures as well as any other relevant

VTA policies/procedures.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Section 1 - Introduction

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SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

ABOUT VTA:

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, also known as VTA, is the result of a 1995 merger between two previously separate entities: the Santa Clara County Transit District and the

Congestion Management Agency for Santa Clara County. VTA is an independent special district responsible for bus and light rail operations, congestion management, specific highway improvement projects and countywide transportation planning. As such, VTA is both an accessible transit provider and multi-modal transportation planning organization involved with transit, highways, roadways, bikeways, and pedestrian facilities. Working under the direction of an 18 member (12 voting members and six alternatives) Board of Directors ("Board"), VTA's annual operating budget is approximately $550 million, and its currently approved capital program is approximately $2.6 billion. VTA's bus fleet of 435 buses serves a 346 square mile urbanized service area and operates approximately 18 million miles annually. The 42.2-mile light rail system is served by 99 rail cars and 5 historic trolley cars and operates approximately 2.2 million miles annually. VTA employs approximately 2,050 people, of whom approximately 650 are administrative, clerical and professional positions and 1,400 are operators and maintenance positions. There are four operating/maintenance facilities located within Santa Clara County. The administrative headquarters is located separately from these four facilities.

For more information about VTA visit www.VTA.org.

OPPORTUNITY:

The Palo Alto Train Depot (Depot), located at 95 University Ave, Palo Alto, California 94301, is a historically significant site listed on the National and California Registers of Historic Places and designated as a Category 1 historic building by the City of Palo Alto. VTA is exploring the revitalization of the Depot through a public-facing commercial venture. The envisioned project may include community activations, (historic or art exhibitions, or public demonstration exhibitions), food service operations, small-front retail, pop-up events and flexible coworking space. VTA considers minimum activation to be simple food and beverage service, which may be fulfilled via coffee cart. The intent is to activate and enliven this historic transit structure with a food service operator serving VTA, Caltrain, SamTrans, and Margurite transit riders.

VTA is willing to provide future vendors with up to $325,000 in vendor improvements towards the space. Vendor improvement funds are expected to be used towards facilities upgrades which may include kitchen/or other Depot facility improvements. Vendor’s responsibilities will include both food and beverage service as well as cleaning and maintenance of the interior space of the

Depot. VTA has not established a rental fee for this space and is interested in understanding the best pricing model for the opportunity.

The project is currently in an exploratory phase and issuance of this RFI should not be interpreted as a commitment to initiate an RFP or move forward with any future procurement. At this time

VTA seeks information from qualified food service vendors, including café operators, food-service mailto:#@ http://www.vta.org/

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Section 1 - Introduction

Rev. 11/12/25 Page 3 business owners, retail operators, and related professionals to better understand interest from the market and challenges of the space. Feedback received will help determine the building’s operational viability, identify potential constraints, and inform next steps regarding adaptive reuse of the site. The site tour, located at 95 University Ave, Palo Alto, California 94301, is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. which takes place prior to the final due date for questions. Interested attendees should email Gina Cole @ gina.cole@vta.org and Angelica Bonifacio @ angelica.bonifacio@vta.org to receive additional details.

mailto:gina.cole@vta.org mailto:angelica.bonifacio@vta.or

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Section 2 - Instructions & Information for Organizations

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SECTION 2: INSTRUCTIONS & INFORMATION FOR ORGANIZATIONS

QUESTIONS:

Please submit questions about this RFI in OpenGov. Questions must be submitted by September

15, 2026, by 2:00 p.m. Responses to questions received are not guaranteed.

ORGANIZATION RESPONSES:

Please submit your organization’s response to this RFI, along with relevant supplemental material if desired, to VTA using the contact information and subject line description below. In addition, you may submit additional comments along with your organization’s response using Appendix A

(optional).

Please submit RFI responses in OpenGov:

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/vta/projects/29748

RFI OWNERSHIP:

All responses, inquiries, and correspondence related to this RFI and all reports, charts, displays, schedules, exhibits, and other documentation submitted by Organization as part of this RFI will become the property of VTA when received by VTA and will not be returned.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

All submissions and all other information submitted to VTA may be considered public information subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act set forth at California Government

Code Section 7920.000 et seq. ("CPRA"), or any other similar and applicable disclosure legislation. Any proprietary information submitted by Organization in response to this RFI should be clearly and explicitly marked as “Confidential.” VTA does not typically disclose proprietary information to the public, unless required by law (including the CPRA), however, VTA cannot guarantee that such information will be held confidential.

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/vta/projects/29748

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Section 3 – Information Requested

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SECTION 3: INFORMATION REQUESTED

QUESTIONNAIRE:

As part of your response, please address the following questions. VTA extends its gratitude to all organizations who submit a response to the following questions:

1. What are your suggested days and hours of operation? Please share by day of the week.

2. Please share concerns about cleaning and maintenance of the space as bathrooms will be open to the public.

3. Please describe what you think would be the best compensation model for use of the Depot.

4. What do you think the biggest challenges are of opening and operating a food service within the Depot?

5. Please describe the menu or the food and beverage options you would provide if you were to operate in the Depot.

6. If you intend to use vendor improvement funds, please note improvements you would make, and the estimated cost associated with each improvement.

7. Have you done any work in a similar space before? If so, what were the lessons learned that could be utilized in the Depot?

8. Describe your experience operating or managing a successful food service or retail business in the last two years. Success can be described by gross proceeds after expenses and demonstrable business development.

9. How would you propose staffing food service operation at the Depot? Breakdown the staff members needed to run the service and provide title information and type of services this person would perform.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Section 4 – Requested Characteristics and Functionality

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SECTION 4: REQUESTED CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONALITY

1. Respondents will be required to have knowledge of regulations and codes regarding food service retail opportunities, pop-up events, and flexible coworking and be familiar with all local conditions and requirements related services stated above and historical facilities.

2. Respondents must demonstrate experience in launching and operating community or retail centers whose services include but are not limited to food service, pop-up, events, or hosting flexible office and coworking spaces.

3. Respondents must have relevant or current experience for businesses in California.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Appendix A – Additional Questions and Comments

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APPENDIX A

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Organization's Name:

No. Comment