26P-128 Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for TPO

The Ocala Marion Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), acting as the Designated Official Planning Agency for Marion County, is requesting proposals to serve as the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for Marion County's Transportation Disadvantaged system under Chapter 427, Florida Statutes, with proposals due October 12, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. and questions due September 23, 2026. A pre-proposal conference was held September 16, 2026. Final designation requires approval by the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD) and execution of a Memorandum of Agreement.

The CTC will coordinate the administration and operation of comprehensive transportation services for eligible transportation-disadvantaged individuals throughout Marion County. The scope includes Community Transportation Services and transportation-disadvantage trips (excluding ADA complementary service) and deviated fixed-route service tied to Section 5310 and 5311 grant funding. The current system served 107,099 one-way passenger trips in fiscal year 2025–2026 using 68 vehicles with 69 drivers. The successor CTC must establish new contracts with coordination partners, assume responsibility for scheduling and dispatch software (currently Ecolane), and provide its own facility; no vehicles will transfer to the new contractor. The incumbent is Marion Senior Services, Inc., coordinating with Bridge to Hope, Inc., Florida Center for the Blind, Inc., and ARC Marion, Inc.

The contract term is four and one-half years, beginning January 1, 2027 and ending June 30, 2031, subject to annual review. Anticipated funding includes the CTD Trip and Equipment Grant ($916,577 plus 10% local match of $101,841 for FY2026–2027), Federal Transit Administration grants, and local government funding from Marion County. The contractor must maintain minimum liability insurance of $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident and provide audited financial statements demonstrating financial stability.

Evaluation uses a weighted 400-point scoring system across ten criteria: Organizational Qualifications (40 points), Experience and Past Performance (50 points), Technical Approach and Service Delivery (50 points), Safety and Risk Management (40 points), Financial Capacity (40 points), Transition Plan (40 points), Fleet and Facilities (30 points), Operations Plan (40 points), Local Knowledge and Partnerships (30 points), and Management and Key Personnel (40 points). The evaluation committee may request oral presentations from highest-ranked proposers. Addendum 2 confirmed no deadline extension beyond October 12, 2026. Proposers must acknowledge receipt of all addenda via the Proposer Requirements/Acknowledgements Form.