25-125 Transit Operation and Maintenance Services

Augusta Transit, located in Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia, is seeking a comprehensive transit operations and maintenance services contractor through a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on April 17, 2025. The procurement encompasses management of nine fixed routes, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit services, rural transit, and emerging microtransit services, with a focus on operating a mixed fleet including diesel and battery electric buses. Proposers must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience in strategic, operational, and management services for transit systems of similar scale. The RFP requires submission of one original and seven proposal copies, accompanied by a 10% bid bond, with proposals due on June 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. A mandatory pre-proposal conference is scheduled for May 14, 2025, with a vehicle and facility inspection on May 12, 2025. Evaluation criteria will consider both technical qualifications and cost proposals, with fixed and variable rates for different transit service types. The initial contract term is three years, commencing August 1, 2025, with potential two one-year renewal options subject to Augusta, Georgia Commission approval.

The project is federally funded, with 80% of capital improvement project costs and 50% of operational costs sourced from the Federal Transit Administration (CFDA number 20.526). Proposing firms must not appear on the System for Award Management (SAM) list of ineligible firms, effectively restricting participation for certain organizations. The current contractor is RATP Dev USA Inc., and the new contract will involve a transition to a mixed fleet infrastructure. The contractor will be responsible for comprehensive operational aspects, including driver management, maintenance, training, customer service, and reporting. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the federal funding and multi-year contract structure suggest a significant procurement value. The solicitation emphasizes the need for technical expertise in transit operations, with a particular focus on integrating emerging transportation technologies such as battery electric buses and microtransit services.