Request for Letters of Interest - Water Transportation Services.docx

PROCUREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

10 PARK PLAZA

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02116

Public Announcement of Request for Letters of Interest for Water Transportation Services for Three Ferry Routes

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (the “MBTA”) hereby solicits Letters of Interest (LOI) from firms or teams (the “Teams”) interested in providing water transportation and associated services on one or more of the Authority’s three (3) ferry routes.

The Authority intends to enter into an agreement with Operator(s) to cover all routes listed below. Bidders will be able to bid on one or more routes. This procurement process will include only a Request for Response (RFR). The RFR will have two components, with a technical component and a commercial component proposal from prospective bidders. The Water Transportation Services Procurement Calendar is attached for your information (Attachment A). Please note, that all dates are subject to change and each prospective bidder must check the CommBuys website regularly in the event that the MBTA updates the calendar.

The MBTA retains full discretion to choose the Operator or Operators (hereinafter known as “Operator”), who present the best value option including but not limited to quality, risk, past experience, safety record, financial capability, key personnel, as well as any other criteria set forth in the RFR.

Project Description:

The Authority is soliciting bids for the maintenance and operations of its ferry services. With the exception of the Route F2H service, the Operator is required to provide all vessels and maintenance facilities. The Operator for each route is also responsible for ticket sales, fare collection, certain facility maintenance activities and other activities ancillary to the operation of the ferry service. Operator will also be required to implement the MBTA’s new Automated Fare Collection system (“AFC 2.0”), when the system become operational sometime during Calendar Year 2019. Operator will provide all crews and supplies – including fuel – for vessel operation, and all labor, materials, equipment and supplies necessary to maintain the vessels. The three routes are:

· Route F1 – Hewitt’s Cove, Hingham to Rowe’s Wharf, Boston:

Operator to provide all vessels, materials, supplies, insurance and crews for operation of the service, and all labor, materials, supplies, facilities and equipment for vessel maintenance. Operator shall also maintain a Boston business office during the duration of the contract.

· Route F2H – Hewitt’s Cove, Hingham and Pemberton Point, Hull to Long Wharf, Boston and Logan Airport:

Operator to provide all materials, supplies, insurance and crews for operation of the service, and all labor, materials, supplies and equipment for vessel maintenance. Operator shall also maintain a Boston business office during the duration of the contract.

The MBTA will provide three to four Authority-owned 149 passenger catamaran vessels for use on this service, as well as the ability to use an MBTA-leased vessel maintenance facility in Quincy, MA for minor, routine maintenance activities. Additional details will be provided in the RFP.

· Route F4 – Charlestown Navy Yard to Long Wharf, Boston:

Operator to provide all vessels, materials, supplies, insurance and crews for operation of the service, and all labor, materials, supplies, facilities and equipment for vessel maintenance. Operator shall also maintain a Boston business office during the duration of the contract.

Letter of Interest Submittal:

One electronic copy of an LOI from each company or team interested in receiving a notice of the RFP’s availability shall be received by the MBTA by 5:00 PM on Wednesday August 1, 2018. All responses must be submitted in CommBuys.

Introduction:

Please introduce your company and a brief overview of your company. Please do not include corporate marketing brochures.

Technical Information:

Please provide a brief summary of your experience with Water Transportation Services including the operation, maintenance, supplies and personnel (crews) and facilities of vessels.

Commercial Information:

Please list and briefly describe the contracts you hold with a maximum of three (3) current customers for which you perform similar water transportation services as described in this Letter. Also describe your safety record and current Coast Guard Certification.

As a reminder, please do not include any corporate brochures or standardized marketing materials in this, or any other, section of the LOI response.

The prospective bidders Letter of Interest must provide a mailing address, telephone number, and email address for each company or team’s designated primary contact in order to ensure that a notice of the RFP’s availability will be received by the interested entity. A second email address should be provided in case the primary contact is inaccessible.

This is not an RFQ or RFP. The MBTA reserves the right to reject any and all submissions, to waive informalities, to advertise more broadly for any related or new RFP’s or proceed with the operations otherwise, or to cancel this procurement, as may be deemed in the best interest of the MBTA.

In order to receive the most up-to-date information relating to this procurement, the MBTA encourages interested firms to periodically visit the CommBuys website: www.CommBuys.com/

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

Eric Welsh, Sourcing Manager Tel (617) 222-3343 | ewelsh@mbta.com

ATTACHMENT A – WATER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

PROCUREMENT CALENDAR

RFP Pre-Bid Conference 10 Park Plaza, Conference Room ## Boston, MA 02116, or, Call In #: (xxx)-xxx-xxxx, Access Code: xxxxxx (Wednesday)

TBD

Est. Date 08/08/2018

Est. Date 08/10/2018

Est. Date 08/14/2018

Evaluation & Clarifications (2 Weeks – Friday to Friday)

Negotiations with Selected Finalist (1 Week - Monday to Friday)