LCRTA_s RFP May 2025 Final.pdf

INTRODUCTION

Lower Chattahoochee Regional Transit Authority (LCRTA) has chosen to initiate an RFP for the operation of rural public transit service, to begin operation on July 1, 2025 The purpose of this

Request for Proposal (RFP) is to secure the services of a transportation service provider to provide all operations of this service as generally described in this RFP including service enhancement planning, in accordance with all Federal, State and LCRTA policies, standards, and procedures. The proposed transit service will be designed to operate as a Demand Response

Service for Chattahoochee, Clay, Marion, Webster, Harris, Quitman, Randolph, and Stewart

Counties and the surrounding areas. The RFP is for one year of service, with four potential one-year extension options.

SCOPE OF WORK

General. LCRTA is seeking an outside Third Party Operator (TPO), hereinafter known as

Contractor, to provide the operation of its public transportation service, Pataula Transit System, under the direction of LCRTA Manager. The scope of this project includes:

All administrative services for the operation of a complete Section 5311 Rural Public

Transportation System of LCRTA. Program must be operated 12 hours per day for at least 260 days per year (5 days/wk., 52 wks./yr.), which will exclude holidays in accordance with policies and procedures set by the LCRTA and GDOT.

Day-to-day supervision of the Transit Drivers. In addition, provide required training as prescribed by GDOT and/or other service agencies which LCRTA elects to enter into a Purchase of Services agreement.

Supervise the overall upkeep of the transit vehicles which includes preventative maintenance, cleaning, repair and component replacement as necessary.

Implementation of such service expansions or improvements as may be recommended by the

Contractor and approved by LCRTA, or as may otherwise be agreed upon between the parties from time to time.

A. Service Description.

Services will be demand response transportation for all residents of Chattahoochee, Clay, Marion, Webster, Harris Quitman, Randolph, and Stewart Counties and the surrounding areas.

B. Service Area.

Chattahoochee, Clay, Marion, Webster, Harris, Quitman, Randolph, and Stewart Counties and the surrounding areas.

C. Service Days and Hours.

Program must be operated from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. 12 hours per day for at least 260 days per year

(5 days/wk., 52 wks./yr.), which will exclude holidays in accordance with policies and procedures set by LCRTA and GDOT;

D. Vehicles.

The following vehicles will be provided to the successful Contractor by LCRTA:

DOT # Mfr. Vin # Model Year Seating W/C 3923 Ford 1FDEE3FS6HDC78970 Ford Startrans SV/L 2017 8 2 3925 Ford 1FDEE3FS9HDC78980 Ford Startrans SV/L 2017 8 2 3959 Ford 1FDEE3FS0HDC78964 Ford Startrans SV/L 2017 8 2 4013 Ford 1FDEE3FS6JDC32464 Ford Startrans SV/L 2018 8 2 4014 Ford 1FDEE3FSXJDC32466 Ford Startrans SV/L 2018 8 2 4047 Ford 1FDEE3FS1KDC65471 Ford Startrans SV/L 2019 8 2 4048 Ford 1FDEE3FS5KDC65473 Ford Startrans SV/L 2019 8 2 4049 Ford 1FDEE3FS7KDC65569 Ford Startrans SV/L 2019 8 2 4050 Ford 1FDEE3FS9KDC65573 Ford Startrans SV/L 2019 8 2 4051 Ford 1FDEE3FSXKDC65582 Ford Startrans SV/L 2019 8 2 4052 Ford 1FMZK1CMXKKB69290 Ford Startrans SV/L 2019 8 2 4264 Ford 1FDES6PG9NKA20809 Ford Startrans SV/L 2020 8 1 4265 Ford 1FDES6PG8NKA20820 Commute 2020 8 1 4287 Ford 1FDEU6PG1PKB70166 Transit E350w/lift 2023 8 1 4288 Ford 1FDEU6PG5PKB73278 Transit E350w/lift 2023 8 1 4289 Ford 1FDEU6PG9PKB64664 Transit E350w/lift 2023 8 1

4405 Ford 1FDEU6PG8PKB59620 Ford Starlite SV/L 2024 8 2

4297 Ford 1FDEU6PGXPKB71445 Ford Starlite SV/L 2023 8 2

4144 Ford 1FDEE3FN7NDC08187 Ford Goshen SV/L 2022 8 1

3807 Ford 1FDFE4FS0HDC43111 Ford Senator II SV/L 2017 12 2

E. Customer Service and Communication Information.

The Contractor shall provide for all telephone communications and radio communications between in-vehicle and the office. Contractor shall ensure that adequate staff is assigned to answering these phone lines in a professional and courteous manner and are able to give accurate information to the public about the service and to take, record, and transmit requests to accommodate people with disabilities. Translation service into Spanish and other languages must also be provided on request.

A separate (TDD) or other accommodation for hearing impaired persons shall also be provided by the Contractor.

Scheduling Software. LCRTA shall provide for scheduling and dispatch software as mandated by Georgia Department of Transportation. LCRTA will maintain a service agreement for maintenance of the scheduling and dispatching software. LCRTA is responsible for providing hosting and for all services necessary to maintain the software and for mobile data tablets. The

Contractor will be responsible for securing and maintaining Contractor staff computers.

F. Current Fares.

One Way Trip

0—10 Miles (in LCRTA) …………. $3.00

Over 10 Miles (in LCRTA) ………. $5.00

Outside LCRTA…………. $5.00+ $.50 per mile over 10 miles

Discounts

Senior Citizens—50% off

(Any person 60 yrs. of age and over)

Frequent Rider—50% off

G. Ridership and Operational Data

Table 1: Ridership and Operational Data

These numbers are for planning purposes only and not a guarantee of any kind by LCRTA of the number of hours or miles of service to be delivered by the TPO.

FY2024 Rides Service Hours Miles

Demand Response 35,586 33,214 920,674

Contractor Responsibilities.

The Contractor shall adhere to the following mandatory service delivery requirements:

The drivers must accept all trip requests related to him/her by the dispatcher so long as they are within his/her specified service area and within the specified service time. There shall be no right of refusal based on vehicle’s availability (except the passenger maximum load factor) or any consideration other than verifiable catastrophic mechanical failure of the vehicles in the fleet;

The vehicles must be on time, unless there are extenuating circumstances beyond the

Contractor's or driver's control. A 95% on-time performance rate is required. Notification must be given by the Contractor to the passenger in the event of unavoidable delays;

For social service clients, drivers must wait five (5) minutes after the appointed pick-up time before a passenger can be considered a no-show. (A no-show is a passenger who is not at the appointed pick-up location at the scheduled time and who has not informed the Contractor in advance that he/ she would be absent)

Drivers shall offer assistance to all passengers as needed to board and depart from the vehicles; secure all wheelchairs according to ADA requirements, and request that all passengers buckle their seatbelts;

Drivers shall not smoke, eat or drink while passengers are in the vehicles, Drivers shall enforce with the passengers the policy of no smoking, eating, and drinking in the vehicles; the driver shall notify the supervisor if a passenger refuses to observe the policy.

Drivers shall maintain daily records of mileage, time, type and number of trips, and passenger types as required by GDOT and LCRTA. These records shall be turned in to Contractor on a weekly basis.

Drivers shall inform supervisors of any passenger complaints. Thereafter, the supervisors shall complete passenger complaint forms and send copies to LCRTA for record purposes or for any appropriate action if necessary. The complaint shall be filed with LCRTA within one

(1) week from the date of the occurrence.

LCRTA, through the Contractor, shall inform the appropriate social services agency representative regarding any difficulties experienced in transporting an agency client, whether related to safety, behavior, or other reason;

Drivers and Contractor are prohibited from soliciting or accepting any tips or other forms of gratuity other than the approved fare from system riders.

The Contractor shall, under specific terms and conditions, provide services as directed by LCRTA.

The Contractor shall be responsible for the following:

A. Day-to-day supervision of Transit Drivers. In addition, provide required training as prescribed by GDOT and/or other service agencies which LCRTA elects to enter into a Purchase of Services

B. Implementation of such service expansions or improvements as may be recommended by

Contractor and approved by LCRTA, or as may otherwise be agreed upon between the parties from time to time.

C. Fleet Maintenance

Vehicle maintenance will be performed in accordance with LCRTA maintenance policy. Any lift repairs shall be made within (5) business days. Vehicles shall be subject to inspections by GDOT representatives. DOT inspections will occur on an annual basis and in accordance with the Vehicle

Monitoring Form. The Contractor shall submit the invoices of any work to LCRTA for subsequent submission to the GDOT expenses in the Format provided in Exhibit I. These invoices shall be part of the Monthly Reports. The payment for these repairs and component replacements shall be made by the Contractor and charged to the current Section 5311 per unit rate. Vehicles utilized for the Section 5311 Program shall be parked overnight and on weekends at places to be designated by LCRTA. Mechanics must meet all requirements for a safety-sensitive employee described in

LCRTA’s Zero Tolerance Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy

D. Staffing and Supervision.

The Contractor shall be responsible for hiring and properly training all personnel necessary to successfully complete the project including drivers, maintenance personnel, dispatchers, and supervisors. Costs for all personnel, including drivers, supervision and management, and other necessary staff, shall be included in the Contractor’s proposed cost per unit. To ensure the highest quality of service LCRTA requires that the Contractor meets the minimum staffing requirement included in Table 2. The Contractor shall hire and properly train an On-site Office Manager located in the LCRTA’s facility, who has overall responsibility for managing the transit service program efficiently and effectively. The Contractor’s Office Manager shall be regularly accessible to

LCRTA’s Transit Administrator to deal with daily operational issues and to resolve policy issues.

The On-site Office Manager shall be the point of contact for communication between LCRTA’s

Transit Administrator and the Contractor regarding aspects of the service and its management. The

Contractor shall maintain a Supervisor on-duty and accessible during all hours that transit service is in operation. The Contractor shall also provide an emergency contact person to LCRTA for unforeseen circumstances outside normal service operating hours. Telephone information lines shall also be staffed by knowledgeable and courteous customer information personnel The

Contractor shall be responsible for provision of service in a safe, efficient, and effective manner.

Dispatching shall be carried out in a manner which maximizes the productivity of service, while meeting the standards for service quality established by LCRTA. In assigning drivers to transit service, the Contractor shall ensure that all transit service drivers meet the minimum requirements to comply with GDOT and FTA.

LCRTA shall have no liability or obligation to the Contractor or the Contractor’s employee who by reason of his/her motor vehicle record or any other reason is removed from LCRTA’s transit service program.

Table 2: Minimum Staffing Requirements

Minimum Staffing Requirements

Position Responsibility Minimum

Required

Management

General Manager Primary contact for LCRTA, Responsible for management of

Operations and Maintenance managers

Operations Manager Responsible for day-to-day management of Dispatchers and drivers

Non-management Staff

Mechanic

Dispatcher/Scheduler 1

Driver Needs of the Business

E. Contractor Driver Responsibilities, The primary responsibility of the Contractor’s drivers shall be the safe operation of vehicles and safe transport of transit service customers. The Contractor shall take all necessary steps to ensure that drivers and other Contractor employees are properly trained and proficient with respect to all elements of safety in the operation of vehicles and transport of passengers. Driver responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Conducting a proper pre-trip inspection of the vehicle prior to leaving the Contractor’s facility and documenting the inspection.

• Wearing seat belts at all times while vehicles are in operation.

• Ensuring that passengers are encouraged to wear seat belts where available at all times while vehicles are in operation.

• Using the highest degree of care in loading, unloading, and securing all wheelchairs, scooters and other passenger accessibility devices.

• Properly assisting all passengers with safe entry and exit from the vehicle.

• Driving safely and displaying proper respect and courtesy to other motorists, bicyclists or pedestrians.

• Obeying and following all traffic laws and regulations at all times.

• Not driving any transit service vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Reporting all vehicle or passenger accidents immediately to the Contractor’s dispatcher.

• Not leaving the scene of any vehicle or passenger accident without the permission of proper authorities and/or the Contractor’s dispatcher.

• Utilizing all safety and emergency equipment properly and at appropriate times.

• Having valid driver’s license and Department of Transportation (DOT) medical exam in possession at all times while operating Contractor’s vehicle.

• Reporting road calls to the Contractor’s dispatcher promptly.

• Treating all passengers and the general public with courtesy and respect at all times.

• Respect all of the transit system and use best efforts to keep tensions low and ensure safety at all times when dealing with difficult users or situations.

• Having good knowledge of the service area to ensure efficient and effective service.

• Collecting proper fares from all passengers.

• Notifying the Contractor’s dispatcher prior to leaving a scheduled pickup if the customer is a no-show.

• Legibly recording actual pickup and drop-off times on the daily driver manifest as well as actual mileage, no shows, cancellations, and any other pertinent data.

• Wearing official uniforms in a neat and appropriate manner.

• Properly identifying themselves to customers upon request.

• No eating, drinking, smoking or playing loud music while operating a vehicle.

• Providing for customer comfort by keeping the vehicle interior at comfortable temperatures at all times.

• Not entering any customer’s home or other private residence at any time.

• Turning the vehicle engine off and removing the keys from the ignition and carrying them on the driver’s person in the event the driver has to leave the vehicle.

• Allowing ambulatory passengers to use the wheelchair lift upon request of the passenger.

F. Marking of Transit Vehicles.

Vehicle marking is normally the responsibility of GA DOT. However, in the event LCRTA was to receive a vehicle by a transfer from another 5311 Program, it would be the responsibility of the

Contractor to ensure the vehicle was properly marked.

G. Fare Collection.

The Contractor is responsible for the collection, accounting, and safeguarding of proper fare revenues from all passengers.

H. Billing.

The Contractor shall invoice the LCRTA monthly. All invoices shall be timely and correct.

Contractor shall use Exhibit H for billing purposes. The trip numbers are to be documented for each route/ service. Fare revenue collected by the Contractor for the month will then be deducted from the base reimbursement. Maintenance and technology costs shall be included in the billing unit rate.

I. Documentation of Service Provided and Maintenance of Financial and Operating Records.

The Contractor shall be responsible for completing and submitting to LCRTA certain forms as designated by LCRTA including, but not limited to: monthly operating data, and any other reasonable data as requested by LCRTA according to requirements of the Federal Transit

Administration’s (FTA’s) National Transit Database. Such data shall be submitted to LCRTA as follows:

Monthly Operating and Financial Data.

No later than ten (10) days following the end of a calendar month, the Contractor shall deliver to

LCRTA, monthly operating & financial data including the following for each service mode: total passenger trips carried, total miles, total hours, total road calls, total collision accidents, missed trips, revenue hours operated along with an invoice, and a profit and loss statement for services provided under the resulting contract.

National Transit Database Data.

The Contractor shall collect passenger mile data in designated sampling years per the Federal

Transit Administration National Transit Database (NTD) requirements and submit it to LCRTA within 60 days following the end of the calendar year. The Contractor shall collect any other financial or operating data as required by the NTD.

Vehicle Maintenance Records.

The Contractor shall fully document in a timely manner all vehicle preventative maintenance activities, vehicle corrective repairs, vehicle accessibility equipment repairs and preventative maintenance, and vehicle cleaning. The Contractor shall allow LCRTA to review such records immediately upon request.

Drug and Alcohol Testing Records and Data.

The Contractor shall fully document all testing records in full compliance with the current Federal

Transit Administration (FTA) regulations for drug and alcohol testing. This shall include records for pre-employment, random, post-accident, self-reporting, reasonable suspicion, and follow-up testing. Such records shall be maintained in accordance with FTA regulations and the Contractor shall allow LCRTA to review such records immediately upon request. The Contractor shall report drug and alcohol testing data to LCRTA, monthly, quarterly, or annual basis as may be required by the U.S. DOT or FTA.

Training Records.

The Contractor shall maintain records of all employee training and allow LCRTA to review such records immediately upon request. The Contractor shall preserve and make available all such records listed above during the term of the agreement and for a period of three (3) years from the date of final payment. Administrative costs relating to recordkeeping and data collection shall be at the Contractor’s expense.

Records which relate to litigation or the settlement of claims arising out of the performance of the resulting agreement, or costs under the resulting agreement as to which exception has been taken by the auditors, shall be retained by the Contractor until such litigation, claims, or exceptions have reached final disposition.

J. Right of Entrance on Contractor Occupied Property. The Contractor shall permit and allow any and all duly authorized LCRTA employees or representatives to enter upon any part of the

Contractor’s occupied property or facilities for the purpose of inspecting facilities and equipment, inspecting and/or auditing financial or operating records, and for other matters relevant to the project upon from LCRTA of its intent to make such entry. No notice shall be required for on-road vehicle inspections to be conducted by LCRTA. The Contractor shall instruct its drivers to allow

LCRTA personnel and official representatives to have right of entry on vehicles upon showing proper identification.

K. Training. The Contractor shall be responsible for properly training all personnel necessary to successfully complete the project including drivers, dispatchers, and supervisors. The required training will include; HIPPA training for all personnel that meets or exceeds HIPPA privacy regulations. All training costs shall be at the expense of the Contractor. At a minimum, all

Contractor employees shall be trained as follows:

Prior to operating any vehicles for LCRTA’s transit service, each Contractor driver shall complete the following training: basic class in first aid; driver sensitivity training with respect to meeting the needs of persons with disabilities; passenger assistance techniques or comparable training; drug and alcohol awareness training, blood-borne pathogens training; National Safety Council defensive driving course or comparable class as approved by LCRTA in advance.

Upon hiring, provide reasonable suspicion for drugs and alcohol training for all Dispatchers and supervisors.

L. Insurance Requirements.

The Contractor shall be required to maintain at its expense at all times during the duration of the resulting contract the following insurance coverage:

• Workers Compensation and Employer’s Liability. Workers Compensation and

Employer’s Liability Insurance shall be maintained at the minimum levels required by the

State of Georgia.

• Comprehensive General Liability. The Contractor shall provide and maintain comprehensive general liability coverage for bodily injury (including but not limited to sexual abuse or molestation) and property damage of $3,000,000 combined single limit for any one occurrence.

• Automobile Liability. The Contractor shall provide and maintain automobile liability coverage for all revenue and non-revenue vehicles used in the project for bodily injury and property damage to a combined single limit of $1,000,000 for any one occurrence.

• Collision and Comprehensive. The Contractor shall provide and maintain collision and comprehensive physical damage coverage on all revenue and non-revenue vehicles used by Contractor or under Contractor’s care, custody or control. Coverage shall be in an amount acceptable to LCRTA but in no event less than replacement cost coverage that would be sufficient to replace damaged or totaled vehicles with vehicles of the same or similar functionality.

• All insurance coverage required to be maintained or provided by the Contractor must be with Insurance companies licensed and admitted by the State of Georgia. All comprehensive general liability, automobile liability, collision and comprehensive policies must name GDOT and LCRTA as additional insureds. Certificates of insurance for all the above-listed coverages shall be submitted to LCRTA on an annual basis and when carriers or coverage limits change.

• All insurance costs shall be at the expense of the Contractor. Failure to maintain all insurance coverages for the duration of the project as listed above may result in immediate termination of contract.

M. Accident/Incident Reporting.

All accidents involving a transit service vehicle or that result in any personal injury to passengers, drivers or the general public or that result in damage to transit service or other vehicles and/or other property, regardless of severity, shall be reported verbally or by phone or fax or electronic mail to LCRTA’s Transit Director immediately. A complete written report in compliance with applicable state and federal requirements shall be forwarded to LCRTA’s Transit Administrator providing details within forty-eight (48) hours of the accident. The Contractor shall make its employees available to LCRTA for interview as part of LCRTA’s effort to determine if the accident was preventable. All requests for information from the media concerning accidents or incidents shall be the responsibility of LCRTA. Contractor shall cooperate with LCRTA for participation in media releases and information as directed by LCRTA.

All other incidents or occurrences which happen in the course of service operations involving passengers, altercation, odd behavior, threats, or disputes must be reported verbally by phone, fax or electronic mail to LCRTA’s Transit Administrator immediately.

N. Performance Monitoring.

LCRTA shall periodically monitor Contractor’s performance relative to on-time performance, preventative maintenance adherence, missed passenger trips, availability of safety and accessibility equipment on vehicles, adherence to recordkeeping requirements, customer complaints, vehicle appearance, driver appearance, completion of daily manifests by drivers, functionality of vehicle heating and air conditioning, availability of vehicle communications equipment, and other performance categories. Such monitoring shall be used by LCRTA to determine if the Contractor is meeting performance standards included in this RFP and resulting contract. Upon mutual agreement, at any point during the term of the contract, incentives may be offered for exceeding the performance standards and penalties may be assessed for poor performance. The terms and conditions of the performance incentives and penalties shall be mutually agreed upon and implemented with a contract addendum.

O. Safety and Security.

The Contractor shall establish and manage all aspects of a safety and security program including, policies, administration and procedures, personnel and training, safety reporting, and safety training. The Contractor shall document and report security expenditures, manage and account for identifying security problems, employee selection, training, public awareness, audits and drills, document control, access control and homeland security as it pertains to 49 USC Chapter 53, Federal Transit Act, Section 5311(D)(1), Security Expenditures; 49 CFR Part 630. “Uniform

System of Accounts and Records and Reporting”; 49 CFR Part 659, and “Rail Fixed Guideway

Systems, State Safety Oversight”, as appropriate.

P. Drug and Alcohol Testing.

The Contractor shall establish and maintain effective procedures for pre-employment, random, self-reporting, post-accident, reasonable suspicion and follow-up drug and alcohol testing of all safety sensitive employees in full accordance with regulations as promulgated by the U.S.

Department of Transportation, FTA, and/or GDOT, as amended. This shall also include regulations relative to the Drug Free Workplace Act.

As an employer, the Contractor is responsible for meeting all applicable requirements and procedures of the U.S. DOT and FTA and for all actions of its officials, representatives, and agents.

The Contractor’s good faith use of a service agent is not a defense in an enforcement action initiated by a DOT agency in which Contractor non-compliance may have resulted from a service agent’s conduct. All costs associated with compliance with all aspects of drug and alcohol testing regulations and the Drug Free Workplace Act are the full responsibility of the Contractor.

Q. Driver Uniforms.

The Contractor shall ensure that all its drivers are required to wear a neat and clean uniform, the design of which shall be approved by LCRTA. Costs for all uniform items shall be at the expense of the Contractor.

R. Customer Complaints.

The Contractor shall report customer complaints to LCRTA’s Transit Administrator within forty-eight (48) hours of receipt, including the date and time of complaint, name of person lodging the complaint and their contact information, and the nature of the complaint. The Contractor shall thoroughly investigate each complaint and provide a written response to LCRTA no later than seventy-two (72) hours from receipt of complaint. The Contractor shall endeavor to resolve substantiated complaints so as to avoid repeat complaints of a similar nature. In the event of complaints of an especially serious or grievous nature, LCRTA may require written documentation of complaint resolution from the Contractor including investigation findings, and steps taken to correct any problems resulting from actions of the Contractor’s employees. The Contractor shall forward in writing to LCRTA within forty-eight (48) hours any complaints it may directly receive from a transit service customer along with a description of its action(s) to resolve the complaint.

Failure to resolve substantiated complaints to the reasonable satisfaction of LCRTA may subject

Contractor to liquidated damages.

The Contractor is responsible for receiving customer complaints regarding the provision of transit service and responding back to the customer upon investigation by the Contractor. In unusual cases, LCRTA may assume responsibility for complaint resolution. The Contractor is required to report all complaints to LCRTA’s Transit Administrator within 24 hours of receipt of the complaint. All Title VI and ADA complaints must be forwarded to LCRTA’s Title VI and ADA

Officer for investigation.

S. Missed Service.

The Contractor is responsible for successfully completing and carrying out all scheduled service in a timely manner. The Contractor shall report to LCRTA’s Transit Administrator scheduled service missed for any reason. Decisions about suspension of service in bad weather or for other emergency reasons shall be done in consultation with LCRTA’s Transit Administrator and confirmed in writing. Excessive missed service may subject Contractor to poor performance penalties.

T. Incidental Use and Storage of Transit Service Vehicles.

The Contractor is prohibited from using transit service vehicles for any purpose other than transit service. Transit service vehicles shall only be stored at LCRTA approved facility or at a maintenance subcontractors’ facility in the event of subcontracted maintenance to be performed.

U. Liquidated Damages.

The Operator’s performance of the services described in this contract is very important. To encourage compliance with the conditions of this contract, LCRTA has established liquidated damages, when appropriate, for non-compliance with this contract.

Liquidated damages shall be deducted from any financial amounts due, or which may thereafter become due, from LCRTA to the Operator under this contract. Liquidated damages will not be assessed for circumstances beyond the control of the Operator, as determined by

LCRTA. These contract violations include:

• Vehicle operator failing to have valid license ($200)

• Dirty or damaged vehicle used in revenue service ($50)

• Late reports ($25)

• Late notification of accident/incident, weather/emergency shutdown, or denial/refusal of service ($25).

V. Performance Standards.

It is the intention of LCRTA to provide a high-quality transit service within the transit service area.

Performance standards have been established that will be monitored by LCRTA during the duration of the project. For performance not delivered in accordance with standards as specified in the following tables, LCRTA will incur additional expense, loss of confidence by system users, negative public image for the program, and other damages. For this reason, compliance with the performance standards shall be monitored. LCRTA shall have sole discretion in determining whether performance standards have been met or not met. Failure to meet and/or maintain performance standards shall be considered prior to executing any of the contract renewal options.

Continued poor performance by the Contractor may result in early termination of the contract.

Table 3: Categories of Performance Standards

Category

Number

Category

Type Performance Standard Penalty/Incentives

Preventative

Maintenance

Preventative maintenance inspections and repair must be completed on time with the manufacturer’s recommended minimum scheduled service. On time maintenance shall be completed on time 90% of time

Failure to maintain at least a 90% on time performance may result in termination of equipment lease agreement and excessive failure to maintain equipment safety after given notice of necessary corrective action may result in contract termination

Accessibility and Safety

Equipment

Contractor shall maintain all vehicles with all Americans with Disabilities

Act (ADA) required accessibility equipment including wheelchair lifts, adequate numbers of securement devices, and all standard safety equipment. Such equipment shall be well maintained and functional at all times.

Failure to maintain at least a 90% on time maintenance and repair may result in termination of equipment lease agreement, and excessive failure to maintain equipment safety after given notice of necessary corrective action may result in contract termination

Repeat

Substantiated

Complaints

No repeat substantiated customer complaints on the same service issue.

Repeat substantiated complaints may result in

LCRTA requesting staff associated with the complaint be terminated or reassigned.

Reporting

Requirement

Contractor must promptly report all incidents of vehicle or passenger accidents, road calls, and service interruptions.

Failure to report may result in LCRTA requesting staff associated with the incident be terminated or reassigned. Repeat offenses may result in termination of contract.

Contractor

Contacts

Inability by LCRTA staff to reach

Contractor’s dispatcher or supervisor within fifteen (15) minutes during times when service is scheduled or operating.

Contractor shall submit a corrective action plan identifying the issue that caused the delay in response and how the issue will be resolved.

Data

Requirements

Contractor must submit monthly operating data as outlined in RFP to

LCRTA staff not later than 12 calendar days following end of month

Failure to submit date by the 12th without prior

LCRTA approval will result in delay of payment of the monthly invoice until the data is submitted.

Customer

Service/ADA

Paratransit

Eligibility

Contractor must have knowledgeable staff available to the public by telephone or in person at all times of service operation.

Failure to have staff available and meet ADA eligibility determination deadlines may result in financial penalties equal to the number of service hours staff was not available during hours of operation. Delays in processing of ADA eligibility applications will result in a $20.00 per day penalty for each day beyond the processing deadline date.

Inappropriate

Use of

Vehicles

Contractor shall not use vehicle marked or signed with transit service markings for purposes other than transit service without the approval of

LCRTA.

Unauthorized use of LCRTA’s vehicles shall result in request for termination of Contractor staff involved in the unauthorized use up to and including termination of contract if it is substantiated the unauthorized use was directed by Contractor management staff.

Demand

Response

Productivity

Contractor shall be accountable for productivity below 2.0 passengers per service hour.

Failure to meet productivity Standards for 3 consecutive months shall require submission of a corrective action report. Continued poor performance may result in non-renewal of the contract. The Contractor is eligible for a bonus of

1% of Demand Response portion of the Monthly invoice if Demand Response performance

Exceeds 3.5 trips per hour.

14 Staffing levels Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining proper staffing levels

Failure to provide adequate Quantity and Quality of staff as identified in this proposal may result in contract termination.

Facility

Maintenance

Contractor shall be responsible for facility janitorial maintenance to include general office janitorial and janitorial maintenance of bus shelters.

Failure to provide adequate janitorial maintenance as identified in this proposal may result in a penalty of 2% of the Fixed Route portion of the monthly invoice.

W. Fuel.

The Contractor is responsible for all fuel purchases. Fueling stations shall be located within the service area to limit unnecessary travel that could impact on time performance.

X. Local Matching Funds

The subrecipient will secure the required local match and provide a list of sources and amounts that will be used to match the FTA operating grant. Farebox revenues must be collected and reported to the subrecipient and the subrecipient must deduct farebox proceeds from the monthly expenses invoiced in order to arrive at the Net Operating Deficit. When/if the TPO is the entity receiving purchase of service revenues directly from DHS or DCH contracts, all revenues must be turned into the subrecipient (agency passing through the federal dollars to the TPO) since the revenues were derived from the use of federal assets, or the drivers were paid with federal funds, and/or a combination of either of these instances.

LCRTA RESPONSIBILITIES

LCRTA shall be responsible, with the cooperation of the Contractor, for developing and establishing all policies related to the provision and operation of transit service. Additional responsibilities of LCRTA include the following:

A. Transit Administrator. Office Manager

LCRTA shall appoint an Office Manager who shall serve as the Contractor’s point of contact and the person responsible for overseeing the Contractor’s performance. The Office Manager shall be responsible for addressing all media inquiries, etc. pertaining to the service.

B. Marketing.

LCRTA shall provide a continually updated website with general information about the transit service complete with information on routes, fares, and policies.

C. Citizen Participation.

LCRTA is responsible for planning and conducting all citizen participation meetings and/or public hearings associated with the evaluation of service quality and the development of service improvements. The Contractor’s On-Site Manager shall attend these meetings and/or public hearings and participate in them as appropriate.

D. Payment of Invoices.

LCRTA will review monthly invoices submitted by the Contractor to ensure accuracy of requested reimbursement. Adjustments may be made by LCRTA based on monthly audits of data included in daily manifests and service reports. LCRTA shall pay approved Contractor invoices, as adjusted, within thirty (30) days of receipt from the Contractor.

F. Performance Monitoring.

LCRTA is responsible for monitoring the performance of the Contractor and the Contractor’s employees in the provision of transit service. Such performance monitoring shall be used to determine compliance with performance standards and performance norms as well as the assessment of continued contracting opportunities.

RFP SCHEDULE - Table 4 shows the estimated schedule for procurement, award, and implementation of transit services.

Table 4: RFP Schedule

Table 4: RFP Schedule

Estimated Date RFP Milestone

May 1,2025 Request for Proposals (RFP) issued

May 8, 2025

Deadline for all Questions pertaining to the

Request for Proposal 4:00 PM, local time

May 8, 2025

Request for Exceptions, Deviations, or Approved

Equals Due to Lower Chattahoochee Regional

Transit Authority by 4:00PM, local time

May 14, 2025

Responses Issued to Prospective Contractors on

Requests for Exceptions, Deviations, or

Approved Equals at 4:00 PM, local time

May 30, 2025

Proposals Due to:

Lower Chattahoochee Regional Transit Authority 228 West Lamar Street

Americus, GA 31709 by 4:00 PM, local time

June 4, 2025

Open Proposals

Lower Chattahoochee Regional Transit Authority 228 West Lamar Street

2:00 PM, local time

June 11, 2025

Interviews may be held at LOCATION -

Appointment times to be determined by LCRTA.

June 18, 2025 Selection of Contractor (contract award)

July 1, 2025 Contractor commences operations

DEVIATIONS, APPROVED EQUALS, AND EXCEPTIONS

Requests for deviations, approved equals or exceptions to the Request for Proposals and/or Scope of Work must be received by, LCRTA in writing, using the attached "Deviation, Approved Equal, Exceptions Request Form" (see Exhibit C) by May 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM, local time. Any such request must be fully supported with technical data or other pertinent information as evidence to support that such exception is equal or superior to the specification requirement. LCRTA shall notify in writing those firms submitting such requests of their specific acceptance or rejection, item by item, by May 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM. If formal requests for deviations, approved equals, or exceptions are not received in writing by the due date, submitted proposals will be interpreted to comply with and meet exactly LCRTA RFP and Scope of Work.

INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSERS

Proposals shall contain information that is relevant and demonstrates the Proposer’s capabilities to successfully provide transit service and undertake the project.

Proposers are responsible for meeting all terms and conditions described in the Scope of Work and in this Request for Proposals (RFP). Proposals shall contain font sizes not less than 11 font and may contain; cover letter, tabs, resumes, and forms. Proposers should provide this information in the order described below. For a proposal to be accepted as responsive, it must fully describe how the Proposer proposes to meet all of the terms and conditions described in the Scope of Work as well as include the following specific items:

A. Description of Firm Qualifications.

Proposals shall include a description of the organization or firm including its legal status, authority and or licenses to operate. The description shall include the major business functions, history, and organizational structure including location of firm’s headquarters and major offices, management organization with names and locations of managing director(s) for this project. The description shall include a list of current and past clients for which similar transit services have been provided.

Such client list shall include references, including the client organization name, address, contact person, telephone number, number of vehicles operated for client, etc. The Proposer’s responsibilities for the client (i.e., vehicle operations, vehicle maintenance, scheduling/dispatching, etc.) and years that service was provided should also be identified.

B. Experience with Transit Operations.

The Proposer shall describe its experience in bus transit systems and its capabilities to undertake a similar project with LCRTA. Reference information from a minimum of three (3) current contracts should be provided as well.

C. Description of Personnel to be Assigned, Proposals shall include a description of experience and qualifications of the supervisory personnel assigned to manage the project successfully detailing the positions and the number of employees in each position. In addition, the proposal shall identify by name and describe the experience and qualifications for the individual assigned locally to manage and assist in managing the project.

D. Description of the Proposed Financial, Management, and Technical Resources.

Proposals shall include a description of the firm or organization’s financial resources and history of financial stability. Proposer shall demonstrate financial stability by providing financial statements and/or audits including an income statement and balance sheet, supplemented, if necessary, by evidence of credit line or other resources to demonstrate financial capacity to successfully undertake the project. In addition, the proposal shall include a description of its management plan indicating how it proposes to successfully manage the project, including technical resources. Proposals shall also include a description of the required insurance coverages to be provided, as described elsewhere in this request for proposal. Such description shall include the name of the insurer, A.M. Best rating, and limits of insurance.

E. Description of the Proposed Staffing, Training, Start-up, and Implementation Plan.

The Proposer shall submit a staffing plan detailing how it proposes to locate and hire vehicle drivers, mechanics, and other non-supervisory personnel to carry out the project successfully. The staffing plan shall identify and describe the number of vehicle operators, mechanics, dispatchers and any other personnel necessary to carry out the project. The Proposer shall submit a training plan to be used to ensure that the employees in each of the positions are properly trained in the performance of their duties with emphasis on safety, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, and good customer service. A brief description of the proposed training content and schedule shall be included. In addition, the Proposer shall address refresher training including frequency and content. The proposal shall also include an overall project schedule including milestones and proposed completion dates. This project schedule shall identify and describe the key milestones and activities required to assure progress toward successful start-up and on-going implementation of the project.

F. Description of the Proposed Vehicle Maintenance Plan.

The Proposer shall describe its approach to vehicle maintenance that adheres to a detailed Vehicle

Maintenance Plan that meets or exceeds the manufacturer’s recommended service plan for vehicles being used as a part of the project. The Vehicle Maintenance Plan shall include how and where the maintenance/repair work is to be successfully completed (i.e. in-house vs. subcontracted) and details regarding the steps in the preventative maintenance program, including scheduled inspection intervals, maintenance program for preventative maintenance, and repair of vehicle accessories, such as wheelchair lifts and communications equipment, as well as a back-up vehicle and tow plan in the event of vehicle breakdown or failure to return to service.

G. Management, Operating and Equipment Costs.

The Proposer shall submit a complete Cost Proposal Form (Exhibit D included within this RFP) that includes cost per trip based on LCRTA initial estimates of trips identified in this RFP. A trip is defined as any one-way passenger trip by either a public rider or as part of a Purchase of Service

(POS) contract. Proposer must fully complete, sign, and date the attached Cost Proposal Form.

Proposers shall include all project costs as part of their completed Cost Proposal Form, including management and supervisory costs. Any deviations or exceptions made by a Proposer to the Cost

Proposal Form not approved by LCRTA in advance may render the Proposer’s cost proposal as non-responsive.

H. FTA Certifications (Exhibit E).

The Proposer shall certify and sign Exhibit E and include them in his/her proposal.

IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PROPOSALS

PROPOSALS SHALL BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 4:00 PM, LOCAL TIME, May 30, 2025 AT:

River Valley Regional Commission, LCRTA 228 West Lamar Street

The one original and four copies of the technical proposal and cost proposal must be submitted in separate sealed envelopes clearly marked to identify the contents. Each package or envelope containing proposals shall be properly identified as follows with the following information placed on the outside of the package or envelope:

Grant Richardson Assistant Director of Government Services

228 West Lamar Street

Americus, GA 31709

Office: 706-660-5372 grichardson@rivervalleyrc.org

One packet marked -Proposal for Transit Service Technical Proposal

One packet marked -Proposal for Transit Service Cost Proposal

It shall be the Proposer’s responsibility to submit his/her proposal by the stated deadline. Proposals received after this date and time will not be accepted. Failure of express mail or package delivery services to deliver Proposer’s information by the designated date and time will not be the responsibility of LCRTA.

ADDENDUM

Any change in the conditions or terms of this RFP will be accomplished by written addendum sent to prospective Proposers and posted to the website. All such addenda shall become part of the proposal and resulting contract.

RIGHTS OF REJECTION

LCRTA Board reserves the right to postpone the proposal opening date for its own convenience and to reject any or all proposals for any reason.

RESPONSIVE PROPOSALS

LCRTA Board or its designee shall solely determine if each proposal is responsive. The responsiveness of each proposal shall be determined by its conformance to the scope of work, instructions to Proposers, legal requirements of the RFP, and the best interests of LCRTA. Any proposal that fails to conform to the essential requirements of the RFP shall be deemed nonresponsive, and accordingly rejected.

RESPONSIBLE PROPOSERS

LCRTA shall award a contract only to the responsible and responsive Proposer who possesses the highest potential to perform successfully under the terms and conditions of this RFP. Consideration shall be given to such matters as Proposer’s integrity, qualifications of Proposer’s staff, experience with similar projects, record of past performance, and accessibility to financial and technical resources. The Proposer shall affirmatively demonstrate its responsibility and, when necessary, the responsibility of any proposed subcontractors. If information obtained by LCRTA clearly indicates that the Proposer is not responsible and LCRTA has doubts about the productive capacity, financial strength, or past performance of a Proposer which cannot be resolved affirmatively, a determination that the Proposer is non-responsible shall be rendered.

WITHDRAWING PROPOSALS

After proposals are opened by LCRTA, the Proposer may not withdraw proposals for 30 calendar days. However, prior to the date/time set for the proposal opening, proposals may be modified or withdrawn by the Proposer’s authorized representative in person, or by written notice. If proposals are modified or withdrawn in person, the authorized representative shall make his/her identity known and shall sign a receipt for the proposal. Written notices shall be received by LCRTA no later than the exact date and time for proposal opening.

BASIS OF EVALUATION AND CONTRACT AWARD

Proposals shall be scored by an evaluation committee consisting of LCRTA staff and/or their designee(s). The evaluation criteria for the proposals and associated point values are shown in

Table 5.

Table 5: Proposal Evaluation Criteria and Points

Evaluation Criteria Maximum

Points Capability and experience of supervisory personnel to be assigned to the project

Capability and prior experience in transit systems, including the provision of flexible route deviation services, including services for disabled riders, in various sized communities

The adequacy and quality of the Proposer’s vehicle maintenance program 15

Adequacy of financial, managerial, and technical resources to successfully carry out the required services and meet required service standards

Adequacy of Proposer’s response to all other requirements, terms, and conditions of this Request for Proposals

Proposed Cost per Revenue Trip 10

TOTAL POINTS 100

The Quality Level will be based on the following scoring method:

Quality…