Transit Innovation Evaluation Program (TIEP)

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is seeking vendors to provide evaluation and research services for the Transit Innovation Evaluation Program (TIEP), a program designed to improve the timeliness, quality, and efficiency of evaluation and rapid-response research across the transit sector. This effort fulfills the statutory requirement under 49 U.S.C. 5312(e)(4) for independent evaluation of demonstration projects under the Public Transportation Innovation Program and supports evidence-based decision-making through ad hoc research on emerging transit challenges. Key contract objectives include delivering comprehensive evaluations of demonstration and deployment projects, providing rapid-response and ad hoc research, standardizing evaluation methods across FTA research programs, strengthening data management and performance measurement, and supporting FTA's Technology Transfer Program. Performance will be assessed based on timely submission of deliverables (95% on-schedule delivery requirement), quality standards (deliverables requiring no more than one revision at 90% quality level), responsiveness to rapid-response tasks (completion within 30 days with 100% compliance), and stakeholder engagement metrics. The Request for Information (RFI) and Sources Sought notice requires interested firms to submit a technical capability statement of no more than 15 pages by March 27, 2026, at 12:00 noon EST to address relevant past performance, corporate experience, labor categories, and specific firm capabilities aligned with the Statement of Objectives.

This opportunity is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside, restricting competition to small business entities. No incumbent contractor is identified in the available documentation. The anticipated contract is a labor-hour type with a one 12-month base period and four optional 12-month renewal periods, subject to fund availability, resulting in a potential five-year performance schedule. While specific budget figures are not disclosed in the pre-solicitation materials, the comprehensive scope of work spanning multiple evaluation objectives and rapid-response research requirements suggests a substantial contract value. Contractors must furnish all necessary facilities to undertake the scope of work and ensure all deliverables comply with DOT Plain Language standards, Section 508 accessibility requirements, and federal confidentiality and cybersecurity regulations. Responses to this RFI are for information and planning purposes only and will not directly result in contract awards.