RFP_250180_SOW_Exhibit_A.pdf

RFP 250180

EXHIBIT A

Scope of Work

Transit Operator Assault Prevention Program Assessment

1. Purpose

The purpose of this project is to retain a qualified third-party contractor (CONTRACTOR) to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Orange Couty Transportation Authority’s (AUTHORITY) current policies, procedures, and practices aimed at preventing verbal and physical assaults on transit operators. This effort is intended as a proactive mitigation strategy designed to reduce operator assaults, promote a culture of safety, and ensure the safety of both employees and the public.

The CONTRACTOR shall also provide strategic recommendations that support continuous safety improvement, promote employee well-being, and align with the AUTHORITY’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) and Safety Management System (SMS) framework.

2. Background

Transit operator assaults, both verbal and physical, pose significant safety, operational, and morale risks for public transportation systems. As part of the AUTHORITY’s commitment to safety and regulatory compliance under 49 CFR Part 673 (PTASP Rule), this project supports the identification and implementation of safety risk mitigations and the strategic advancement of its SMS elements. The outcome of this assessment will inform decision-making and drive improvements that reduce the likelihood and severity of such incidents.

3. Tasks

The CONTRACTOR shall perform the following tasks:

Task 1: Project Kickoff and Work Plan Development (In person – Week 1)

• Conduct a kickoff meeting with AUTHORITY leadership and key stakeholders.

• Develop a detailed work plan and project timeline that incorporates PTASP and SMS principles, including Safety Risk Management and Safety Assurance components.

• Identify primary contacts and coordination requirements for Agency interviews and data requests.

Deliverables:

• Development of biweekly scheduled update meeting on progress and scope/task completion

Task 2: Current Program Assessment (In person – Week 1 Cont.)

• Review all existing policies, procedures, training materials, incident reports, and data related to operator assaults (past three [3]–five [5] years).

• Assess the effectiveness of current mitigation strategies aimed at reducing operator assaults.

• Evaluate AUTHORITY efforts through the lens of Safety Risk Management (SRM) to determine how risks are identified, assessed, and mitigated.

• Conduct interviews or focus groups with key stakeholders (e.g., transit operators, safety/security staff, union representatives, operations leadership, Transit Police Services). CONTRACTOR is expected to develop questions and lead discussions as necessary.

• Assess post-incident response protocols and mechanisms for operator support and reporting.

Deliverables:

• Provide Current Practices Summary.

Task 3: Peer and Industry Best Practices Review (Virtual)

• Identify at least five (5) peer transit agencies of similar size / scope or greater. Two (2) of the assessments to include Los Angeles Metro (LA Metro) and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS).

• Review published literature, guidance from Federal Transit Agency (FTA), American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP), and other safety-focused organizations.

• Benchmark AUTHORITY policies and mitigation strategies against industry best practices in the context of SMS.

• Evaluate innovative and emerging technologies and approaches used to reduce operator assaults.

Deliverables:

• Provide Peer Benchmarking Summary.

Task 4: Gap Analysis (Virtual)

• Perform a detailed Safety Performance Evaluation, identifying areas where current mitigations do not meet industry benchmarks or internal safety objectives.

• Compare the AUTHORITY’s practices against peer benchmarks and SMS-aligned best practices.

• Identify critical gaps and opportunities to enhance continuous improvement processes under the Safety Assurance component of SMS.

Deliverables:

• Provide Risk-Based Gap Analysis Summary.

Task 5: Recommendations and Action Plan (Virtual)

• Provide a prioritized set of strategic safety measures designed to strengthen the AUTHORITY’s approach to preventing operator assaults.

• Address recommendations in key domains such as:

o Operator training and de-escalation techniques o Infrastructure and environmental design (e.g., operator barriers) o Safety culture and communication strategies o Data collection and monitoring for incident trends o Safety risk mitigation tracking and effectiveness reviews

• Outline implementation priorities, timelines, and expected resources (i.e. cost and staffing allocations)

• Ensure all recommendations are compatible with PTASP goals and support long-term integration into the AUTHORITY’s SMS processes.

Deliverables:

• Draft final findings and summary report and Executive presentation (PowerPoint) – overview of final findings, recommendations, to include summary of task details (Task 1-5) o Intended for AUTHORITY comment, feedback, and edits o Include details of deliverables above o Provided in editable formats

Task 6: Final Report and Presentation (In person – one [1] day)

• Prepare a comprehensive Draft report that includes:

o Findings from the current state review o Peer comparison results o Risk-based gap analysis o Recommended mitigation strategies and continuous improvement initiatives

• Prepare a comprehensive final report that includes:

o Findings from the current state review o Peer comparison results o Risk-based gap analysis o Recommended mitigation strategies and continuous improvement initiatives

Deliverables:

• Deliver a formal presentation to Operations leadership with final findings, recommendations, and summary of task details (Task 1-5) in an Executive presentation (PowerPoint).

o Provided in editable formats

4. Deliverables

Note: CONTRACTOR must provide all deliverables for intended post project AUTHORITY rights, ownership, and use.

5. Timeline

The CONTRACTOR shall complete all elements of this scope within 90-120 calendar days from the kick-off meeting. Timeline and project schedule to be developed in Task 1.

6. Required Qualifications

• Familiarity and understanding of transit operator assaults, behavioral threat assessments, causal factors, and preventative measures.

• Demonstrated experience in public transportation safety, security, PTASP and SMS programs.

• Proven record of conducting safety assessments or audits in public transit.

• Ability to travel and perform on-site tasks as required (Site Locations: Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Irvine, Anaheim, and Orange, California).

LIMITATION ON GOVERNMENTAL DECISIONS

Nothing contained in this scope of work permits Consultant’s personnel to authorize or direct any actions, votes, appoint any person, obligate, or commit OCTA to any course of action or enter into any contractual agreement on behalf of OCTA. In addition, Consultant’s personnel shall not provide information, an opinion, or a recommendation for the purpose of affecting a decision without significant intervening substantive review by OCTA personnel, counsel, and management.