Brownsville Metro Vending Concession

The City of Brownsville, Texas, through Brownsville Metro, is soliciting proposals for vending machine concession services at two designated transit terminal locations: La Plaza Terminal (755 International Blvd.) and the Maintenance Yard/Eastside Transfer Station (700 Jose Colunga Jr. St.). The selected vendor will be responsible for installing, operating, stocking, servicing, and maintaining modern, ADA-compliant, energy-efficient vending machines equipped with cashless payment systems (credit/debit cards and digital wallets) that provide passengers, employees, and visitors with convenient access to food, beverages, and travel-related products. Minimum qualifications require vendors to demonstrate one year of relevant vending machine experience, three completed similar projects within the past three years, and identified key personnel with demonstrated management experience. Evaluation criteria allocate 40 points to the proposed percentage of gross revenue (with higher percentages prioritized), 20 points to company experience and qualifications, 20 points to management and staffing plans, 15 points to proposed menu and pricing, and 5 points to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation. Performance standards mandate 4-hour maintenance response times, 95% product availability, 24-hour complaint resolution, and bi-weekly cleaning, with penalties of $50 per occurrence for non-compliance and potential contract termination after three documented violations within 12 months. The pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM CT via Microsoft Teams, with a mandatory site visit on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM at La Plaza Terminal. Questions must be submitted by Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM, with addenda issued by Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM. Proposals are due Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM CT, with the anticipated award date of May 5, 2026. The contract term is three years with one optional two-year renewal period, commencing upon City Commission approval.

This procurement includes a Federal Transit Administration Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) set-aside requirement under 49 CFR Part 26, mandating a minimum 1% DBE participation goal with annual reporting required by February 1. Brownsville Metro will support the selected vendor by providing floor space and electric and data utilities at both locations. The concession fee shall be expressed as a percentage of gross revenues, making this an entirely revenue-generating project with no federal or state grant funding. Respondents must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including Texas Ethics Commission filing requirements, non-collusion certifications, conflict of interest disclosures, and Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) subcontracting plan requirements if determined probable by the Procurement Department. Insurance requirements include Workers' Compensation (statutory), Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate), and Automobile Liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), with the City named as additional insured. No incumbent vendor or specific budget range is identified in the solicitation documents; the financial terms are primarily determined by the vendor's proposed percentage of gross revenue and will be negotiated as part of the award process.