2026 transit asset management plan update

The Orange County Transportation Authority is requesting proposals from qualified consultants to update its Transit Asset Management Plan in accordance with Federal Transit Administration requirements, with proposals due September 30, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. and mandatory interviews scheduled for October 22, 2025 — attendance is required or proposals will be eliminated. The project carries a fixed budget of $250,000 over a thirteen-month term through December 31, 2026.

The scope requires a comprehensive TAM Plan update covering four asset classes (rolling stock, equipment, infrastructure, and facilities) across OCTA's 798-square-mile service area spanning 34 cities and serving 3 million residents. OCTA operates 52 fixed bus routes with 601 fixed-route vehicles and 268 paratransit vehicles, maintains five bus bases, one park and ride, and six transportation centers comprising 67 buildings totaling over 400,000 square feet. Four primary tasks comprise the engagement: administration and management (ten monthly coordination meetings, two management workshops, project schedule, and monthly invoices and progress reports); initial assessment of OCTA asset management practices through review of prior plans and staff interviews; comprehensive TAM Plan update including asset inventory, condition and useful life assessment, decision support tools, investment prioritization using OCTA's Comprehensive Business Plan and FTA Transit Economics Requirements Model (TERM-Lite), and SGR policy updates; and optional Task 4 to onboard OC Streetcar assets if authorized by OCTA pending the streetcar's anticipated 2026 opening. Facility condition assessments will be conducted under a separate RFP and provided to the consultant for incorporation. The final TAM Plan is due October 2026.

Proposals must not exceed fifty pages, excluding appendices, cover letters, resumes, and forms. Evaluation will use four weighted criteria: qualifications of the firm (20 points), staffing and project organization (25 points), work plan (30 points), and cost and price (25 points). The contract is firm-fixed-price with individual task pricing. Proposals must remain firm for 120 days. The consultant must maintain professional liability insurance of $1,000,000, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, automobile liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, workers' compensation, and employers' liability of $1,000,000 per accident. OCTA will retain ten percent of each monthly invoice, with release within sixty days of final payment unless an audit extends payment to thirty days post-audit. Award is contingent upon adequate state and/or local funding. Questions were due September 16, 2025.