40-Foot Low Floor Diesel Transit Busses

The City of Madison, Wisconsin, through Madison Metro Transit, is conducting a Request for Proposals (RFP 8700-0-2018-BP) for the procurement of up to 72 low-floor diesel heavy-duty transit buses. The initial order consists of 15 buses due by July 15, 2019, with optional purchases of up to 57 additional buses over a five-year contract term through July 15, 2023. The procurement requires comprehensive technical specifications covering engine systems, transmission, braking, suspension, electrical systems, HVAC, interior and exterior components, and integrated technology systems including automatic vehicle location (AVL), passenger counters, video surveillance, and public address systems. A pre-proposal and product demonstration meeting was held on March 22, 2018, with questions due by the same date. The proposal due date was May 18, 2018, at 2:00 PM CST, requiring proposers to submit five copies of technical proposals and one electronic copy, along with a single cost proposal. Technical evaluation criteria include compliance with detailed bus specifications, performance standards, and federal transit requirements. Pricing is structured on a firm-fixed price basis for the first year, with subsequent annual adjustments calculated using the U.S. Department of Labor's Producer Price Index, capped at 5 percent above previous year's prices.

The procurement is subject to federal funding through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), with up to 80 percent of costs financed by federal monies under the Federal Transit Act. As such, the contract requires compliance with Buy America provisions, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) requirements, and federal procurement standards. Proposers must submit various certifications, including Buy America compliance, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) compliance, debarment and suspension certifications, and non-collusion affidavits. The City of Madison is exempt from federal excise taxes and state sales taxes. The contract includes comprehensive warranty requirements, with a one-year or 50,000-mile warranty on the complete bus and extended warranties up to five years or 300,000 miles on propulsion system components. A resident inspector will be stationed at the contractor's manufacturing facility throughout production to monitor quality assurance, compliance, and acceptance testing. The procurement allows for approved equal manufacturers through multiple approved equals documents, expanding competitive bidding options while maintaining strict quality and performance standards. Optional purchases in subsequent years are contingent upon available local, state, and federal funding and City approval.