Battery Electric Small Passenger Ferry Vessel & Charging Infrastructure

Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLINK) is requesting proposals for design, shipyard RFP support, and commissioning of one battery-electric small passenger ferry vessel and charging infrastructure, with proposals due July 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM CDT. DBE participation is required following EPA's Six Good Faith Efforts requirement per 40 CFR Part 33.

The scope includes design and commissioning of a single battery-electric small passenger ferry; identification and specification of the make and model of one charging station to support the vessel; and coordination of electrical infrastructure installation required to support the charging system, with electrical infrastructure to be furnished and installed by others. Respondents must demonstrate experience and qualified personnel necessary to deliver these services.

Contract award will be made to the most qualified, responsive, and responsible proposer as determined by MetroLINK's Evaluation Committee, comprised of members from the Capital Project Department, Finance Department, Procurement Department, and Planning Department. MetroLINK may conduct interviews with top-ranked proposals as part of the evaluation process.

All pricing must remain valid for 180 calendar days following the due date. Proposals must be submitted electronically through MetroLINK's Ionwave e-procurement portal; email, fax, and hard copy submittals will be rejected. The project may be funded through financial assistance contracts between MetroLINK, the United States Department of Transportation, and/or the Illinois Department of Transportation. All bidders must certify compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations and with DBE participation requirements. Proposals lacking all required information will be rejected, and late submittals will not be accepted. No pre-bid conference is scheduled. By submitting a response, bidders certify they are authorized to represent their company and possess the technical, physical, and financial resources to complete the project.