RFI 131-22.pdf

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

Request for Information

RFI Number: 131-22

Transit Bus Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Responses Due: Friday, September 16, 2022

CommBuys Bid #: BD-22-1206-40000-40000-78719

Request for Information

Issue Date:

Department Procurement & Logistics Department Address MBTA, 10 Park Plaza, Room #2810 City, State, Zip Code Boston, MA 02116 Procurement Contact Person Aidan Flynn Telephone Number 978-697-9125_ E-Mail Address aflynn@mbta.com RFI Name/Title Specification Development for Transit Bus Acoustic Vehicle

Alerting System (AVAS) RFI Number #131-22 CommBuys Bid Number

Introduction:

The MBTA is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and providing safe and reliable transportation.

New bus technology allows hybrid buses to operate in electric vehicle (EV) mode for extended periods thereby reducing emissions. Battery Electric Buses (BEB) and hybrid buses operating in EV mode reduces noise pollution, however, the reduced noise levels does not provide sufficient audible alert to nearby general public, assistance animals, domesticated animals and wildlife.

Purpose of Request for Information (RFI) The purpose of the RFI is to obtain information and samples from Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) manufacturers about the capabilities of their sound generation systems and applicability to MBTA hybrid and battery electric buses.

Transit bus AVAS system manufactures are requested to provide detailed product information and response to the questions below.

FORMAT OF RESPONSE TO THIS RFI:

Please include answers to the following questions in your response to this RFI, and format your response in the order of the questions below

1) Introduction/Cover Letter: Please introduce your company and an overview of its experience with the design and manufacture of transit bus sound generators (AVAS).

2) Technical Questions & Information Sought: Please respond to the following questions:

a) Components

i) What does your AVAS system consist of (products/accessories)?

ii) Do they require any additional hardware/software for installation and/or integration?

iii) Where will the hardware be located on the vehicle? (speakers, modules, controllers, etc.; and quantities of each)

(1) Can existing vehicle public address speakers be utilized with your system?

iv) What is the IP rating of speakers, modules, and controllers

v) Please provide compliance to electronic noise (EMI) standards such as CISPR, SAE, and ISO

b) Door and Announcement Tones

i) Does your AVAS system include door tones?

ii) Provide description of functionality and sound

c) Functions

i) What can your AVAS do when it’s fully installed? Provide description of sound and sample sound clips.

ii) What are your Inputs/Outputs (e.g. OCPP 2.0, API, hardware, cellular, dispatching)?

iii) How will your system integrate with MBTA vehicles?

iv) Can the MBTA choose the sound generated and adjust the volume?

(1) Can the MBTA adjust volume levels for specific speakers? (speakers individually)

v) Is your system bus OEM agnostic (different bus manufacturers and bus types )?

vi) Does your system raise and or lower the broadcast volume with respect to the ambient sound levels?

vii) Does your system provide an Assistive Listening System wireless output for use by hearing impaired listeners?

(1) Is your Assistive Listening System compliant with ADA Standards Section 706?

d) Data

i) What vehicle systems input does your AVAS require?

ii) What data (if any) does your AVAS output to the end user?

iii) Are there visualizations, notifications etc. associated with your AVAS? Are these able to be customizable to MBTA?

e) Users

i) What other agencies are currently utilizing your AVAS sound generation?

ii) What type of transit buses are your systems currently installed on?

(1) How many of each bus type (e.g.; BEB, hybrid, other zero emission)?

iii) Is there agency staff interaction with the AVAS?

iv) What are the levels of controls available?

v) Where do staff use the sound attenuation system (on board the vehicle)?

f) Reliability

i) What are your reliability metrics for the AVAS system? What happens when it fails?

ii) How are software updates performed?

iii) How does your company support end users in troubleshooting issues with usability and equipment?

iv) What is the standard warranty coverage for your system?

v) What is the software support time period?

vi) What post warranty technical support is available?

g) FMVSS 141

i) Does the system comply with the intent of FMVSS 141?

ii) Is testing performed to FMVSS 141?

iii) If the answer is no, what standard and method of testing is used to define your AVAS performance and deliverables?

h) What FTA and other Regulations does your current system meet?

i) What is the price of your AVAS system?

(1) Please provide a breakdown separating components, software, and labor.

3) Commercial Questions & Information Sought: Please respond to the following questions:

1. If there are specific commercial terms that would deter or encourage your firm from pursuing this contract, please describe what they are.

4) Other (Optional): Please include any other information that you have not discussed at this time.

Estimated RFI Calendar:

Please note, respondents are required to monitor CommBuys for changes to the Procurement calendar.

PROCUREMENT ACTIVITY DATE TIME

RFI Release Date 8/23/2022 3:00pm

RFI Response Date 9/16/22 4:00pm

Instructions for Submission of Responses:

All vendor responses shall be submitted electronically via COMMBUYS. Responses shall be sent via the “Create Quote” functionality contained in COMMBUYS. For instructions concerning how to submit a Quote, please see Appendix D.

RFI Response Organization & Format:

RFI Response Organization - Please organize your RFI response as follows:

• Introduction/Cover Letter – See Section 1. above. Introduction of your company and an overview of your AVAS sound generation system.

• RFI Response – RFI Response from the remaining Sections above. This would respond to the remaining sections and questions of the RFI.

RFI Response Document Format – To facilitate the review of each Respondents RFI, all RFI responses are requested to address each item in the RFI in the order in which it appears. The RFI responses must be submitted in one of the following formats:

• Microsoft® or Adobe® Formats – The RFI Response must be submitted in MS Word, MS Excel or Adobe PDF formats. (MS Word or MS Excel versions must be Microsoft Office 2010 or greater and Adobe formats must be version 10.0 or greater). Please do not use embedded or nested documents within other documents.

RFI Response Submission – Responses are due by Friday, September 16, at 4:00pm They should be posted on CommBuys as a response to this RFI:

RFI Response Contact – Organizations responding to this RFI shall designate a single contact within that organization for the receipt of all subsequent information regarding this RFI.

Reimbursement – The MBTA will not reimburse organizations responding to this RFI for any costs in conjunction with their responses to this RFI.

RFI Response Review Period:

RFI Review Process – The RFI has several purposes: (1) RFI is to assist the MBTA with best-practice information for procurement of an AVAS sound generation system, (2) Determine whether existing AVAS designs are available that could be readily usable for MBTA service, (3) Identify potentially interested bidders, (4) Identify key criteria that should be considered to avoid eliminating interested bidders.

RFI Respondent Follow-Up – The RFI Evaluation Committee may, at its discretion, elect to invite one or more RFI Respondent to meet with the Team to discuss the Respondent’s RFI Response in greater detail.

The Respondent will be given adequate notice to respond to this request.