RFP 30B - FFY27 Model Support Final.pdf

Request for Proposals Boston Region MPO Model Support The Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS), serving as staff to the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization, is seeking a qualified consultant to provide expert model support for the development, enhancement, and strategic advancement of the Boston Region MPO's travel demand modeling capabilities.

The consultant's engagement is critical to supporting the timely delivery of the TDM28 model for the 2028 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) projections and the advancement of the nascent TDMx Exploratory Model platform:

• TDM28 Model Update: The consultant will collaborate with CTPS to develop a reliable predictive model that aligns with current practice and the statutory requirements of the Boston Region MPO and its stakeholders. The TDM28 will be re-estimated using recent Massachusetts household survey data, implemented in an accessible, high-performance, trip-based structure, and calibrated to post-pandemic highway volumes and transit boardings.

• TDMx Exploratory Model: The consultant will refine our new, disaggregate Activity-Based Model (ABM) platform, which utilizes the open-source ActivitySim software. This adaptable tool enables the testing of deep uncertainties, such as vehicle automation, while establishing a foundation for a potential future statutory ABM platform (TDM33). As the current version of TDMx is a proof-of-concept, the consultant will support the Boston Region MPO in defining a robust workflow to adapt, execute, and interpret model results.

Boston Reg ion MPO Mod e l Supp ort

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Table of Contents

Boston Region MPO Model Support Section 1. Legal Notice for Request for Proposals Section 2. General Information and Requirements

2.1 Project Timeline and Contact Details

2.2 General Submission Requirements

Section 3. Introduction

3.1 Client Information – Boston Region MPO/CTPS and MAPC

3.2 Project Background

Strategic Framework: Statutory Predictive vs. Exploratory Modeling Approaches Planned Evolution of the Statutory Base: From TDM23.2 to TDM23.3.0 and TDM28 Next-Generation Exploratory Platform: Initial Adaptation of TDMx from ActivitySim References

Section 4. Project Goals and Scope of Work

4.1 Project Tasks

Overall Project Management and Coordination TDM28 Development TDMx Support

4.2 Budget and Payment

4.3 Anticipated Schedule

Section 5. Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

5.1 Use of RFP Process and Proposal Selection Process

5.2 Review of Responses

5.3 Minimum Quality Requirements

5.4 Comparative Evaluation Criteria

5.5 Rule of Award and Selection Process

Section 6. Proposal Preparation and Submittal

6.1 Proposal Preparation General Requirements

6.2 Technical (Non-Price) Proposal

6.3 Price Proposal

6.4 Submittal

6.5 Questions & Addenda

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6.6 Corrections, Modifications & Withdrawal of Proposals

6.7 Disclosure of Information

Section 7. Terms and Conditions

7.1 Terms and Conditions

7.2 Payment and Services Rendered

7.3 Expenses

7.4 Acceptance

7.5 Indemnification

7.6 Insurance

7.7 Publicity and News Releases

7.8 False Representations

7.9 Ownership and Confidentiality of Work Product

7.10 Accountability

7.11 Miscellaneous

7.12 Federal Terms and Assurances

Section 8. Required Forms Proposal Signature Page Certificate of Non-Collusion Page Certificate of Tax Compliance Page Price Proposal Page

Section 9. Contract Section 10. Reference Forms

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Section 1. Legal Notice for Request for Proposals The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (“MAPC”), as the legal fiduciary for the Central Transportation Planning Staff (“CTPS”) of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (“MPO”), and pursuant to M.G.L. 30B and Title 2 C.F.R. 200. 317 - 327, is seeking proposals from qualified Proposers to provide expert model support for the development, enhancement, and strategic advancement of the Boston Region MPO's travel demand modeling capabilities. MAPC will be the awarding authority, and CTPS will oversee and manage the work of the consultant awarded the contract. Proposals will be evaluated against quality requirements and evaluation criteria set out in the Request for Proposals (“RFP”), and by considering the prices offered. The Proposer/Team identified as being responsible and responsive and offering the most advantageous proposals against these factors will be offered a contract.

The RFP may be obtained through CommBUYS at https://www.commbuys.com/bso/. A link to CommBUYS can also be found at the MAPC Meetings and Legal Notices webpage at https://www.mapc.org/about-mapc/legal-notices-meetings/.

Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on October 9, 2026, via electronic submission to model.support@ctps.org. Price proposals and technical proposals must be submitted in separate documents and clearly marked. Late proposals will not be accepted. MAPC/CTPS may invite all or none of the Proposers meeting the minimum requirements to interviews.

https://www.commbuys.com/bso/ https://www.mapc.org/about-mapc/legal-notices-meetings/ mailto:model.support@ctps.org

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Section 2. General Information and Requirements This is a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for a consultant to assist the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (“MAPC”) and the Central Transportation Planning Staff (“CTPS”) of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (“MPO”) across three key areas: travel demand model development, capacity building and training, and next-generation model design and initiation.

2.1 Project Timeline and Contact Details

Milestone

Dates

Proposals Due October 9, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET

Issue Date September 8, 2026, 9:00 a.m. ET

Award Date Anticipated November 2026

Bidder’s Conference

Video Conference on September 15, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. ET

Video call link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88139526969?pwd=wcbUt85YmwGa7OzbaaIy9V1JbVb HYg.1

Or dial:

+13126266799,,88139526969#,,,,*162875# US (Chicago)

+16469313860,,88139526969#,,,,*162875# US

RFP Title Boston Region MPO Model Support – FFY27

RFP Access Details to be posted later on CommBUYS (https://www.commbuys.com/bso/)

Questions Due Questions must be submitted by September 17, 5:00 p.m. ET to model.support@ctps.org.

Please include the email subject line “Questions for Boston Region MPO Model Support

RFP”

Responses Responses to all questions will be available on CommBUYS (link above) by September 22, 2026

Proposal Submissions

Electronic submission of proposals will be received by model.support@ctps.org.

Potential Interviews

MAPC/CTPS may offer all or none of the Proposers meeting the minimum requirements to attend an interview, on or after October 28, 2026

RFP Manager Martin Milkovits https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88139526969?pwd=wcbUt85YmwGa7OzbaaIy9V1JbVbHYg.1 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88139526969?pwd=wcbUt85YmwGa7OzbaaIy9V1JbVbHYg.1 https://www.commbuys.com/bso/ mailto:model.support@ctps.org

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2.2 General Submission Requirements

Competitive sealed proposals for the goods and services specified will be received by MAPC/CTPS, at the above specified location, until the time and date cited in Section 2.1. emailed submissions not to model.support@ctps.org will not be accepted. Proposals must be emailed as required on or prior to the exact time and date indicated above. Late proposals will not be considered.

Proposers must submit all materials requested in accordance with the requirements of this RFP and in the order and format requested to be considered complete and responsive. Proposers whose proposals are complete and meet Minimum Quality Requirements in Section 5.3 will have their proposals reviewed. Meeting Minimum Quality Requirements does not mean that a vendor will be selected for the project.

M.G.L. c. 30B §6(b)(3) requires the separate submission of price. Responses must submit separate Technical Proposals and Price Proposals. Do not make reference to price in the Technical Proposal.

Failure to adhere to this requirement may result in disqualification. See Section 6 for a complete list of materials required for proposal submission, and for details on the steps to submit the proposals.

Proposals must include the following:

● One original Price Proposal submitted to model.support@ctps.org as a PDF.

● One original Technical Proposal submitted to model.support@ctps.org as a PDF.

● Proposals must include the signed forms provided in this RFP. Electronic signatures are acceptable. Failure to comply may result in disqualification.

● Proposals must include the signed contract provided in this RFP. Electronic signatures are acceptable. Failure to comply may result in disqualification.

mailto:BostonRegionSTOPS@ctps.org mailto:BostonRegionSTOPS@ctps.org

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Section 3. Introduction

3.1 Client Information – Boston Region MPO/CTPS and MAPC

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is responsible for conducting the federally required metropolitan transportation planning process for the Boston metropolitan area. The Boston Region MPO encompasses 97 cities and towns. The work of the MPO is performed by the Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) under the direction of the MPO board. MAPC is a member of the MPO board. CTPS was created in 1974 to develop a permanent resource of expertise in comprehensive, multimodal transportation planning and analysis.

CTPS and the MPO are guided by three certification documents that the MPO is required to produce: the Long-Range Transportation Plan, Transportation Improvement Program, and Unified Planning Work Program. For further information on the MPO, CTPS, and the transportation planning process, please see https://www.ctps.org/mpo.

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is the regional planning agency (RPA) serving the people who live and work in the 101 cities and towns of Metropolitan Boston. Established in 1963, MAPC is a public entity created under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40B, Sections 24-29. MAPC is governed by representatives of the 101 cities and towns, by gubernatorial appointees, and by ex-officio and City of Boston appointees.

This solicitation is the result of a partnership between CTPS and MAPC. MAPC serves as Fiduciary for CTPS. As Fiduciary, MAPC administers the financial, legal, and human resource services for the 60+ CTPS staff members.

MAPC will be the awarding authority, and as the CTPS Fiduciary for a contract with the selected Proposer (also alternatively referenced as the “consultant”, or “consultant team” in this RFP). CTPS will have management oversight of the work by the consultant.

https://www.ctps.org/mpo

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3.2 Project Background

CTPS maintains a statewide travel demand model to support the modeling needs of the Boston Region MPO, MassDOT, and MPOs and RPAs across Massachusetts.

Modeling practice at CTPS prioritizes making models more useful. This is rooted in the understanding that useful models are as complex as they need to be, and no more. Useful models are easy to investigate, understand, debug, and run. Useful models are accessible to a variety of stakeholders and can be used in both predictive and exploratory ways.

The current travel demand model, TDM231, is the result of a redevelopment effort that produced new scripts, re-estimated every parameter, refactored the network structure, and restructured to leverage the newly available disaggregate socio-economic projections. Supporting tools were built in Python and JavaScript to summarize, visualize and post process model results, including a series of calibration reports. TDM23 was developed to be run through TMIP-EMAT and CTPS has conducted several experiments to test the capabilities and challenges of using TMIP-EMAT to support transportation planning.

Starting in early 2024, CTPS made TDM23 publicly available, and it has been accessed by over 30 organizations, including partner agencies, consultants, and researchers. Multiple updated versions have been released to include input improvements, bugfixes, and additional support tools including a Utility Platform providing a user-friendly interface to access pre/post processors and visualizations and to support future development and sharing of new utilities. CTPS is currently working on a 3.0 release of TDM23 that will include a recalibrated base year using the latest Massachusetts statewide household survey data.

The purpose of this effort is to build on and enhance the model development team and tools. Success in this project will be substantial advances in the model development toolkit and team capacity to carry on the work.

Strategic Framework: Statutory Predictive vs. Exploratory Modeling Approaches As part of this model update, CTPS is transitioning to a dual-platform Travel Demand Modeling Program.

This strategy bifurcates modeling activities into two complementary paradigms: a Statutory (Predictive) approach and an Exploratory decision-support approach.

This dual structure ensures that statutory mandates are fulfilled with high-performing, defensible predictive tools, while simultaneously equipping planners with flexible, next-generation disaggregate models to navigate deep uncertainties.

The statutory platform (TDM28) is planned and engineered to satisfy the MPO’s legal, regulatory, and certification requirements. These mandates include regional air quality conformity determinations, state environmental reviews under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), federal grant applications, and projections for the 2028 Long-Range

1 https://ctpsstaff.github.io/tdm23_users_guide/2.1/

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Transportation Plan (LRTP). Under this track, model stability, strict versioning, auditability, and computational throughput are prioritized. Statutory applications require a defensible platform for common planning that produces consistent, reproducible single-estimate projections across multiple project alternatives. To ensure operational viability across Regional Planning Agencies (RPAs), partner MPOs, and consulting partners, the statutory platform will maintain an aggregate, trip-based model structure implemented within TransCAD and Python, optimized to execute in under 8 hours on standard agency workstations.

Conversely, the exploratory track (TDMx) is designed for decision support under deep uncertainty.

Modern planning challenges—such as automated vehicle (AV) adoption, dynamic road pricing, continued shifts in hybrid telework, e-commerce growth, and climate change resilience—require a different application approach and flexible model platform. Rather than seeking a single point-estimate forecast relying on best-estimate parameters and inputs, the exploratory platform implements ranges of possible scenarios and relationships to best provide insight to how transportation systems respond to policy shifts and emerging market forces. Built using ActivitySim, an open-source disaggregate Activity- Based Model (ABM) software, this platform acts as an incubator for behavioral research, policy sensitivity analysis, and next-generation model specifications. This exploratory track bridges current practice with future modeling generations, establishing the technical foundation for a potential transition to a fully disaggregate statutory platform (TDM33).

Planned Evolution of the Statutory Base: From TDM23.2 to TDM23.3.0 and

TDM28

While TDM28 represents the next major long-term statutory development cycle for the 2028 LRTP, CTPS is executing an incremental versioning roadmap to bridge immediate baseline needs. The transition strategy includes an upcoming intermediate release—TDM23.3.0—which provides a vital post-pandemic foundation prior to full TDM28 implementation. TDM23.3.0 updates the regional model base year to 2024 and is calibrated using empirical data from the 2024–2025 Massachusetts Travel Survey (MTS) and contemporaneous estimates of highway volumes, transit boardings, and travel flows.

This intermediate release demonstrates the immediate operational utility of the newly collected survey data, establishing updated post-pandemic trip rates, modal shares, and spatial travel patterns within the existing trip-based framework. By anchoring statutory operations in a verified 2024 baseline, TDM23.3.0 eliminates reliance on pre-pandemic (2019) assumptions while CTPS and its consultant partners advance the broader structural scope of TDM28.

Building upon the TDM23.3.0 post-pandemic foundation, the planned scope of work for TDM28 encompasses comprehensive structural updates, parameter calibration and potential re-estimation, and usability enhancements to overcome known baseline deficiencies. TDM23 operated at the Census Block level through initial trip generation before aggregating to a system of 5,849 Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs).

The TDM28 work program includes operating at the TAZ level from the beginning as well as re-engineering regional TAZ boundary geometry to achieve better alignment with 2020 Census Block boundaries and rationalizing external zone extents across neighboring New Hampshire and Rhode Island regions.

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Data storage mechanics and user accessibility are also key targets for modernization. TDM23 utilized embedded SQLite spatial database structures to manage disaggregate model processing steps, which created operational barriers for external agency partners and consultants attempting to query raw outputs or build custom post-processors. The desired scope for TDM28 includes potential replacement of these embedded databases with accessible, standardized flat-file structures while preserving existing directory naming conventions to simplify data extraction and script-based post-processing.

The proposed work plan for TDM28 directly targets several empirical, sensitivity, and validation limitations identified in TDM23:

Scenario Simplification: The TDM28 work program will refine the model to aggregate population and employment inputs. This involves consolidating household and population data into simplified zonal-level inputs and grouping employment into standardized super-sectors to streamline scenario development and improve usability.

Usability Improvements: Fractionalized trips in TDM23 matrix cells created numerical noise that lengthens highway equilibrium assignment convergence runtimes. TDM28 aims to incorporate trip table integerization routines and refactored assignment parameters to accelerate overall execution speeds.

Sensitivity Enhancements: A common criticism of trip-based models is the lack of connection between home-based and non-home-based trips. This is a potential issue when modeling new developments, cordon-pricing strategies, and commute mode shift. Connection between non-home-based and home-based trips is not standard practice, however CTPS is interested in the potential enhancement while managing model complexity and ensuring reasonable sensitivity. Furthermore, TDM23 lacked representation for non-institutionalized group quarters, omitting university student travel dynamics—a critical gap for the Boston metropolitan region. The desired TDM28 build intends to incorporate an explicit university student travel component. Other important refinements include expanding temporal resolution by introducing an Evening (EV) time period and improving trip flow representation through a two-step destination choice model structure. Freight and commercial vehicle components are also slated for refinement to improve representation of light, medium, and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

Accuracy & Calibration Targets: Validation of TDM23 revealed systematic spatial errors, such as over-predicting highway traffic volumes in dense urban cores, under-predicting in outer suburban/rural rings, and exhibiting transit modal biases across commuter rail segments and evening-period TNC usage. The TDM28 scope of work focuses on parameter review and re-estimation using recent household survey data and comprehensive recalibration against post-pandemic (2024–2026) field counts and transit boardings.

An updated travel demand model, TDM28, is needed to support the 2028 Boston Region MPO LRTP and the LRTPs for MPOs and RPAs across Massachusetts. To allow sufficient time for implementation and evaluation of LRTP scenarios, the model design, development and calibration need to be complete by October 2027.

The anticipated schedule and major milestones are shown below.

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A Design completed

B Models estimated

C Base year inputs developed

D Calibrated

E Horizon year inputs developed

F Full Documentation / User Guide

G Public share

Next-Generation Exploratory Platform: Initial Adaptation of TDMx from ActivitySim To launch the exploratory modeling track, CTPS initiated an initial proof-of-concept build of a disaggregate Activity-Based Model (ABM) platform named TDMx. TDMx was adapted directly from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) 1-Zone example model maintained by the ActivitySim Consortium. The MTC 1-Zone architecture was chosen as the starting donor model because its single-zone structure provides a streamlined codebase that avoids the heavy computational overhead of multi-zone (MAZ/TAZ) systems, making it easier to adapt and run on agency workstations.

TDMx retains the core behavioral components of the donor MTC codebase, including School Location Choice, Workplace Location Choice, Auto Ownership, Mandatory Tour Frequency and Scheduling, Non- Mandatory Tour Destination and Scheduling, At-Work Subtours, and Trip-Level Decisions. The Coordinated Daily Activity Pattern (CDAP) structure is also maintained to ensure stability across downstream choices. However, to ensure TDMx remains flexible and capable of running efficiently on CTPS’s Intel i9 workstations, several complex modules were pruned. Fully-joint household travel models and explicit school escorting coordination models were removed because they introduced computational bottlenecks, heavy memory requirements, and run-time instability while offering marginal predictive benefit for policy exploration. Autonomous Vehicle (AV) ownership, vehicle type choice, transit pass subsidy models, toll transponder models, and free-parking choice decisions were likewise excluded from the initial build.

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A key innovation in TDMx is the potential to adopt a constraints-oriented modeling approach.

Traditional ABMs assume that all choice alternatives are universally available to all synthetic travelers, relying entirely on complex logit utility functions to penalize undesirable choices. An envisioned extension of TDMx is the application of explicit behavioral constraints prior to choice execution, restricting alternative sets based on traveler attributes to improve legibility and computational efficiency. The initial version incorporates three primary constraints: age-based probabilities for solo travel to govern tour generation and mode choice, fixed work schedule distributions derived from observed data to streamline work tour scheduling, and rule-based school bus availability formulations for students aged 5 to 16 based on spatial location.

To further simplify calibration and reduce memory footprints, TDMx collapses the donor model's expansive mode choice set into a streamlined core set. Drive-alone and shared-ride modes combine tolled and non-tolled alternatives. Transit alternatives are collapsed into primary walk-to-transit and drive-to-transit modes without sub-mode fragmentation, while ridehailing options aggregate taxi, single-rider TNC, and pooled TNC into a single mode. Work is ongoing to implement an explicit Telework Arrangement Model classifying workers into commuting, teleworking, hybrid working, or non-working states. A secondary Telework Duration Model predicts continuous hours worked at home, adjusting mandatory tour generation accordingly.

TDMx retains a conventional temporal structure using 60-minute time bins. While 30-minute bins offer finer detail, 60-minute intervals significantly reduce memory consumption and matrix processing demands. Congestion-induced peak spreading is represented using shift parameters that adjust tour departure and arrival probabilities across adjacent hourly bins as highway network skims reflect growing delay.

To operationalize the MTC donor codebase within the Boston region, CTPS’ consultants executed an initial data engineering pipeline:

• Zonal land use inputs from TDM23.2.1 were consolidated into a standardized file, grouping employment into ActivitySim categories, assigning placeholder ratios for full-time and part-time college enrollment, deriving parking costs from CTPS regional models, and attaching spatial density indicators.

• Multimodal level-of-service (LOS) skims are processed across four standard time periods: AM Peak (6:00–9:00 AM), Midday (9:00 AM–3:00 PM), PM Peak (3:00–7:00 PM), and Evening/Night (7:00 PM–6:00 AM)8. AM peak skims are transposed to represent return-home travel during the PM peak, while Midday skims are copied to represent Evening off-peak travel conditions.

References

• TDM23 User Guide : https://ctpsstaff.github.io/tdm23_users_guide/2.1/

• TDM23 Structures and Performance Report:

https://ctps.org/pub/tdm23_sc/tdm23.2.1/TDM23.2.1_Structures%20and%20Performance.pdf

• Initial repository for TDMx: https://github.com/CTPSSTAFF/lighthouse

• TDMx Design and Documentation: https://ctps.org/pub/tdm23_sc/tdmx/TDMx Design and

Documentation 08-21-2026.pdf https://ctpsstaff.github.io/tdm23_users_guide/2.1/ https://ctps.org/pub/tdm23_sc/tdm23.2.1/TDM23.2.1_Structures%20and%20Performance.pdf https://github.com/CTPSSTAFF/lighthouse https://ctps.org/pub/tdm23_sc/tdmx/TDMx%20Design%20and%20Documentation%2008-21-2026.pdf https://ctps.org/pub/tdm23_sc/tdmx/TDMx%20Design%20and%20Documentation%2008-21-2026.pdf

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Section 4. Project Goals and Scope of Work The Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) is seeking a qualified consultant to provide expert model support for the development, enhancement, and strategic advancement of the Boston Region MPO's travel demand modeling capabilities. This scope of work outlines the consultant's responsibilities across two prongs of effort: statutory model delivery and exploratory modeling practice development.

The consultant's engagement is critical to supporting the timely delivery of the TDM28 model for the 2028 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) projections, enhancing CTPS's internal modeling capacity, and laying the groundwork for a state-of-the-practice travel demand model that will serve as an example for peer agencies and provide future capabilities to study policies and projects with useful sensitivities and support for exploratory modeling applications.

The selected Consultant must have demonstrated experience in the development, application, and implementation of large-scale travel demand models. Familiarity with metropolitan planning practices and the ability to develop travel demand model systems that comply with all relevant federal, state, and local requirements is essential. The Consultant must also be proficient in TransCAD software and capable of developing in this environment.

A prime Consultant may assemble a team of qualified sub-consultants to complete the scope of work outlined in this RFP. The prime Consultant will be responsible for organizing, managing, and directing all sub-consultant activities. Only the prime Consultant needs to provide a signed copy of the contract and references.

4.1 Project Tasks

The project tasks are organized around three major areas:

• Overall project management and coordination

• TDM28 Development

• TDMx Support

Overall Project Management and Coordination Task 1 — Project Management & Coordination

This task ensures clear direction, effective communication, and coordinated project execution between CTPS staff and the Consultant.

Project Management

The Consultant will develop a Project Management Plan (PMP) that outlines the overall work plan and quality control procedures for each task. The PMP will clearly define team roles and responsibilities and establish communication protocols, including expectations for in person or virtual meetings, technical trainings, and other coordination activities. The Consultant will also prepare and submit monthly progress reports, task-based invoices, and billing documentation, as applicable.

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The project work plan must incorporate CTPS staff involvement in each major task to build internal capacity for future model updates. Workshops focused on model estimation, calibration, and application are essential to strengthening CTPS staff’s ability to reproduce analytical results independently and apply travel models effectively.

Schedule Coordination

CTPS is updating the input data to reflect a new zone system, a 2026 base year, and a changed model extent. While there is a pipeline to update roadway volume, OD flows, and transit boardings to a 2026 base year, some of this data will not be available until spring 2027. Consequently, calibration to 2024 targets can be used if schedule constraints arise. Should CTPS work be delayed, the Consultant will proceed with the 2024 base year for calibration and CTPS will assume responsibility for updating to the 2026 base year.

CTPS will begin travel forecast analysis for the 2028 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) in October 2027. To support this schedule, TDM28 must be ready by September 2027. The Consultant shall develop and maintain a detailed project schedule that ensures all work is completed within the required 12-month timeframe.

Task 1 Deliverables

• Draft/Final Project Work and Management Plan, including the project schedule and quality management procedures.

• Documentation of all project coordination activities, including weekly standing meetings, meeting agendas and minutes, presentation and training materials, record of significant events and decisions.

TDM28 Development The primary objective of this work area is to collaborate with CTPS staff to develop, estimate, implement, calibrate, and validate the TDM28 model, ensuring it meets the requirements for the 2028 LRTP and other high-priority applications. TDM28 will maintain a trip-based model structure similar to TDM23 with refinements to enhance model usability. The first task is to finalize a model development plan specifying the committed and provisional model updates with provision updates specified with the responsible party and subject to schedule and resource availability.

CTPS will be responsible for developing model input data, including TAZ boundaries, highway and transit networks, socio-economic data, and special generator trip inputs. CTPS will also share the calibration targets from the 2024-25 household survey and has developed a pipeline to produce validation data from Replica and MBTA ridership data. Proposals that describe model structures requiring additional data shall specify the expected effort, party responsible to prepare the data, and include as a separate line item in the price proposal.

Task 2 Model Design Review and Refinement

This task involves defining the scope of the model update, resolving roles and responsibilities, and confirming design decisions based on the experience developing TDM23.3.0 while utilizing the new

15 | Page household survey data. Furthermore, it seeks to leverage the consultant's expertise to provide additional value to CTPS, with the overarching goal of ensuring the model is ready for the LRTP.

The consultant shall:

• Review TDM23.3.0 performance, evaluate 2024–2025 Massachusetts Travel Survey (MTS) data, and define the technical baseline for TDM28.

• Evaluate prospective model enhancements (e.g., two-step destination choice, university student travel modules, flat-file outputs, and integerized trip tables) against schedule constraints and the FFY2027 budget.

• Propose and refine revisions and enhancements in close collaboration with the CTPS model development team. The design will balance model complexity with required sensitivities, preferring simpler structures over speculative enhancements and maintaining TDM23 structures where feasible to simplify scenario transferability.

Deliverables

The deliverables from this task are important to communicate and capture design decisions as well as provide CTPS with material to incorporate in the final model documentation.

• Draft/Final TDM28 Design Document: Documenting the TDM23 review findings and proposed revisions to TDM23 implementations, including proposed model structure, segmentation, refactoring, and sensitivities.

o CTPS written sign-off on the TDM28 Design Document is required to lock the final TDM28 technical scope prior to initiating parameter estimation in Task 3.

Task 3 Model Estimation and Calibration

In this task, the consultant will develop new parameters through estimation and calibration and realize model structures based on the design defined in Task 2, drawing upon their expertise with model implementations in other regions.

The consultant shall:

• Develop the necessary estimation datasets for TDM28.

• Review and update calibration targets and reports to align with new model structures.

• Conduct the estimation of new model parameters.

• Structure design reviews throughout the process to facilitate the estimation review and refinement process in close coordination with the CTPS model development team.

Deliverables

• Draft/Final Estimation Reports: Detailed reports for each estimated model component, including methodologies, results, and goodness-of-fit statistics suitable for inclusion into the TDM28 Structures and Performance report.

• Estimated Model Scripts and Parameters: Model estimation and data preparation scripts as well as ready-to-implement parameter sets for all re-estimated model components.

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Task 4 Model Implementation

This task focuses on implementing the designed and estimated model parameters and structures into the model code, while updating the model to the latest released version of TransCAD to ensure full compatibility and stability.

The consultant shall:

• Implement newly specified models and structures within the TDM28 platform while strictly adhering to TDM23 coding standards.

• Prioritize model usability, documentation, and automation in alignment with CTPS quality principles.

• Host a design review to facilitate CTPS staff feedback on implementation progress.

Deliverables

• Implemented TDM28 Model Components: Functional model components integrated into the TDM28 platform (e.g., Python scripts, TransCAD models, etc.).

• Refactored TDM scripts: Refactored Python, GISDK, and data structures consistent with latest software versions and best practices.

• Model Documentation: Documentation of the implemented model suitable for inclusion into the TDM28 Structures and Performance Report.

Task 5 Systemwide Validation and Sensitivity Testing

This task focuses on the final system level validation of the full regional model, including comprehensive sensitivity testing and scenario-based reasonableness checks. This task ensures that all model components—after their respective updates and calibrations—work together coherently and respond appropriately to a range of policy and landuse conditions. CTPS staff and the Consultant will jointly conduct these final system tests. The Consultant will prepare a sensitivity testing work plan, design test scenarios, develop diagnostic scripts, debug issues, and analyze outputs. CTPS staff may assist in preparing input, running scenarios and reviewing results. Evaluation criteria and performance expectations will be collaboratively established.

The consultant shall:

• Lead system validation and sensitivity testing including the development of the TDM28 validation plan, preparing required datasets, and designing test scenarios to evaluate policy and land-use impacts.

• Refactor and enhance the calibration report platform establishing robust data schemas and Python-based validation loaders, and implementing interactive, browser-based report visualizations using version control best practices.

• Guide the calibration process, providing expert identification of model improvement areas, establishing target-setting priorities, and engage CTPS in troubleshooting and refining model components.

Deliverables

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• Draft/Final comprehensive report documenting the final validation of the integrated regional model system including system-level performance across all major model components.

• Final code & data package, which also includes all scenario input files, standardized summary files, diagnostic charts/tables used to evaluate response.

TDMx Support Task 6 Next-Generation Model (TDMx) Advancement, TransCAD Software Integration, and Demonstration Application

To complement TDM28, CTPS established a proof-of-concept disaggregate Activity-Based Model (ABM) platform named TDMx, adapted from an ActivitySim 1-Zone architecture. TDMx is envisioned to serve as a flexible decision-support tool to analyze deep policy uncertainties—such as hybrid telework, dynamic road pricing, and vehicle automation—without risking statutory LRTP timelines.

The consultant shall support the advancement of the TDMx proof-of-concept into an operational decision-support tool:

• Codebase Refinement & Calibration: Support the calibration of core ActivitySim components using the 2024–2025 MTS, incorporating telework arrangements and behavioral constraints.

• TransCAD-ActivitySim Integration: Develop Python/GISDK scripts to integrate TDM28 network skimming and assignment with ActivitySim.

• Demonstration Application: Run a practical exploratory policy scenario (e.g., dynamic pricing or telework shifts) to illustrate TDMx capabilities and comparative insights

Deliverables

• TDM28-ActivitySim Integration: GISDK and Python scripts and data converters linking TDM28 skim generation, highway/transit assignment, and auxiliary models with TDMx.

• TDMx Analysis and Visualization Toolkit: Extensible analysis and visualization tools to facilitate developing insights from TDMx applications.

• Demonstration Scenario Technical Memo: Detailing the model application and use of the analysis and visualization toolkit to extract model insights.

4.2 Budget and Payment

Work under this solicitation will be performed on a Time and Materials (T&M) basis up to a contract total not to exceed $225,000.00. Invoices shall reflect actual hours worked based on the contracted loaded hourly rates, plus allowable direct expenses. Monthly payments are contingent upon MAPC/CTPS review and approval of itemized time logs and satisfactory progress toward task deliverables.

The total contract amount under this solicitation is funded through Federal/State funds available through September 30, 2027. Continued performance beyond this date is contingent upon the availability and securing of additional funding. Should supplemental funds be secured, Boston Region MPO retains the option to execute one or more contract amendments to extend the period of performance and/or increase contract capacity, subject to mutual agreement and vendor performance.

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4.3 Anticipated Schedule

Funding for this contract is currently available up to and including September 30, 2027, and all deliverables must be completed by this date. The agency reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to extend the contract duration and/or expand the scope of work beyond September 30, 2027, subject to satisfactory performance, project requirements, and the securing of additional funding.

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Section 5. Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

5.1 Use of RFP Process and Proposal Selection Process

MAPC/CTPS has determined that the selection of the most highly advantageous offer for the solicited services requires comparative evaluation of substantive factors in addition to cost. Such factors include but are not limited to the experience related to the work, level of knowledge and expertise, quality of previous work, and prior client satisfaction.

The Selection Committee assigned to review responses shall determine a composite rating of Highly Advantageous, Advantageous, Not Advantageous, or Unacceptable for each proposal reviewed by the selection committee. The Selection Committee will make a formal recommendation to MAPC and CTPS that a contract or contracts be awarded to the Proposer determined to have provided the most highly advantageous proposal.

MAPC/CTPS intends to award a contract within thirty (30) days after the date established for receiving the proposals. All proposals shall remain valid and acceptable for 90 days from the proposal due date, or if this RFP is amended, from any amended proposal due date. The 90-day time period may be extended by mutual consent of selected Proposer and CTPS.

5.2 Review of Responses

MAPC/CTPS reserves the right to reject any or all RFP responses or to waive any minor informality in responses that are received. MAPC/CTPS also reserves the right at any time before responses are due to cancel these RFP requirements, or, after receipt and evaluation, to modify these requirements or cancel them entirely, or to initiate a new RFP.

If clarification of the contents of any RFP response is required, MAPC/CTPS will request such clarification by the involved prospective Proposer in writing. Prospective Proposers must be prepared at any reasonable time to communicate with MAPC/CTPS to clarify their proposal.

5.3 Minimum Quality Requirements

A Proposer must meet the following Minimum Quality Requirements before being evaluated further:

● Proposer possesses and presents documented evidence that their team has led or been a primary entity on at least one (1) successfully completed regional or statewide travel demand model development project of comparable size and scope within the past five (5) years.

● Proposer affirms that they have sufficient staffing capacity to complete the tasks outlined in the proposed Scope of Work within the designated time frame.

● Proposer commits to having key team members available for semi-monthly meetings in addition to ad-hoc meetings through suitable video conferencing technology.

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● Proposer submits a proposal containing all required documentation as outlined in Section 6 of this RFP.

Proposals that do not meet these Minimum Quality Requirements will not be eligible for further consideration.

5.4 Comparative Evaluation Criteria

Proposals that meet the Minimum Quality Requirements listed above will be evaluated according to the following comparative evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria apply to the Technical Proposal submission requirements described in Section 6.2. A score of “not advantageous” or “unacceptable” on any of the following criterion will not necessarily disqualify a proposal.

1. Qualifications and experience of the proposing team.

a. A rating of highly advantageous will be given to a Proposer who demonstrates that their team has led or been a primary entity on more than five (5) successfully completed regional or statewide travel demand model development project of comparable size and scope within the past five (5) years.

b. A rating of advantageous will be given to a Proposer who demonstrates that their team has led or been a primary entity on more than three (3) successfully completed regional or statewide travel demand model development project of comparable size and scope within the past five (5) years.

c. A rating of not advantageous will be given to a Proposer who demonstrates that their team has led or been a primary entity on at least one (1) successfully completed regional or statewide travel demand model development project of comparable size and scope within the past five (5) years.

d. A rating of unacceptable will be given to a Proposer who does not provide sufficient information to determine if they have successfully completed a regional or statewide travel demand model development project of comparable size and scope within the past five (5) years.

2. Proposer’s understanding and approach methodology.

a. A rating of highly advantageous will be given to a Proposer who provides a well-detailed response that demonstrates strong comprehension of the project and tasks in the Scope of Work.

b. A rating of advantageous will be given to a Proposer who provides a sufficiently detailed response that demonstrates adequate comprehension of the project and tasks in the Scope of Work.

c. A rating of not advantageous will be given to a Proposer who provides a limited detailed response that demonstrates limited comprehension of the project and tasks in the Scope of Work.

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d. A rating of unacceptable will be given to a Proposer who provides an inadequately detailed response that demonstrates little comprehension of the project and tasks in the Scope of Work, or the Proposer failed to provide sufficient information that respond to the criteria.

3. Quality of Proposer’s approach to updating TDM28

a. A rating of highly advantageous will be given to a Proposer who describes a design, development, implementation and calibration approach that (1) ensures TDM28 will be ready for the 2028 LRTP; (2) provides CTPS with ample opportunity to collaborate, review, and learn throughout the process; and (3) produces a model and supporting utilities with substantial improvements over TDM23.

b. A rating of advantageous will be given to a Proposer who describes a design, development, implementation and calibration approach that achieves two of the three criteria of the Highly Advantageous rating.

c. A rating of not advantageous will be given to a Proposer who describes a design, development, implementation and calibration approach that achieves one of the three criteria of the Highly Advantageous rating.

d. A rating of unacceptable will be given to a Proposer who describes a design, development, implementation and calibration approach does not achieve any of the three criteria of the Highly Advantageous rating or does not provide an approach.

4. Value-Add and Model Enhancements Beyond Baseline TDM28

a. A rating of highly advantageous will be given to a Proposer who demonstrates exceptional technical depth by proposing concrete, feasible model enhancements beyond basic baseline re-estimation—such as two-step destination choice structures, explicit university student travel components, enhanced non-home-based trip sensitivity, or automated diagnostic dashboards—while providing a clear risk mitigation strategy ensuring zero impact to the September 2027 LRTP deadline.

b. A rating of advantageous will be given to a Proposer who outlines meaningful model enhancements in at least one area beyond minimum update requirements with a realistic execution plan within the 12-month contract schedule.

c. A rating of not advantageous will be given to a Proposer who limits the technical scope strictly to minimum baseline updates without offering distinct technical improvements or value-add features.

d. A rating of unacceptable will be given to a Proposer who fails to detail technical model updates or presents overly complex scope additions that jeopardize the LRTP delivery schedule.

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5. Proposer’s capability and approach for exploratory decision support (TDMx)

a. A rating of highly advantageous will be given to a Proposer who demonstrates deep technical expertise in open-source ActivitySim frameworks through prior work in areas of calibration, integration, and modular development and presents a robust approach to delivering these improvements.

b. A rating of advantageous will be given to a Proposer who presents a viable approach to calibrating core TDMx components, linking ActivitySim with TransCAD network procedures, and supporting basic policy scenario testing.

c. A rating of not advantageous will be given to a Proposer who describes a rigid or overly complex ActivitySim model transfer that risks runtime bottlenecks and fails to align with CTPS's adaptable model platform vision.

d. A rating of unacceptable will be given to a Proposer who fails to address TDMx refinement, ActivitySim calibration, or exploratory decision-support capabilities.

6. Satisfaction of previous clients.

a. A rating of highly advantageous will be given to a Proposer whose references indicate that they were very satisfied with the work of the Proposer and that projects were completed on time and within budget.

b. A rating of advantageous will be given to a Proposer whose references indicate that they were generally satisfied with the work of the Proposer and that projects were completed on time and within budget.

c. A rating of not advantageous will be given to a Proposer where one of the references indicates that they were dissatisfied with the work of the Proposer.

d. A rating of unacceptable will be given to a Proposer where more than one of the references indicate that they were dissatisfied with the work of the Proposer, or the Proposer failed to provide required references within their proposal.

5.5 Rule of Award and Selection Process

The MAPC/CTPS Chief Procurement Officer has determined that identification of the most advantageous proposals for the goods and services called for in this RFP requires comparative judgment of factors in addition to cost. An Evaluation Committee selected by MAPC/CTPS will evaluate proposals and recommend an award by MAPC/CTPS to the responsible and responsive Proposer whose proposal it determines to be the most highly advantageous of those received. MAPC/CTPS may request additional clarifying information from a Proposer during this evaluation process.

Proposers will be evaluated against to the quality requirements and evaluation criteria set out above, along with consideration of prices offered. The Proposer identified as offering the most advantageous proposal against these factors in their entirety will be offered a contract. In the event the Evaluation Committee selects a proposal(s) that is not the lowest in cost, MAPC/CTPS will explain in writing why the added benefits of the selected proposal(s) justify the higher price(s).

MAPC/CTPS will promptly notify the successful Proposer(s) upon conclusion of the evaluation process.

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Except as provided elsewhere in this RFP, there will be no change in the terms and conditions, proposal prices, or products/services offered during the contract periods.

MAPC/CTPS…