Bus Stop Shelter Expansion and Replacement Program

Palm Beach County, through the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners and Palm Tran (the county's public transit system operator), issued an RFP for a Bus Stop Shelter Expansion and Replacement Program on November 18, 2020, with a revised proposal submission deadline of January 6, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. The procurement seeks a qualified contractor to design, manufacture, deliver, install, maintain, and manage a comprehensive bus shelter program serving approximately 1.5 million residents across Palm Beach County's transit system over a 10-year contract term (120 months ending February 28, 2031). The program requires delivery of between 525 and 650 total bus shelters in three sizes (small, medium, and large), with a preferred installation schedule of approximately 70 shelters annually for years 1-3, declining to 10-15 shelters in years 9-10. Deliverables include design and manufacture of shelters, installation including civil work and permitting, ongoing maintenance and cleaning services, and aggressive advertising sales and management to generate revenue offsetting operational costs. Key requirements include ADA compliance, adherence to Florida Department of Transportation design standards, Buy America certification for contracts exceeding $100,000, performance bonds of $100,000 and payment bonds of 100 percent of contract value, comprehensive insurance coverage, and optional amenities such as solar lighting, bicycle racks, and smart shelter technology. The selection timeline includes selection committee meetings on January 25, 2021, oral presentations on February 1, 2021, Best and Final Offers due February 8, 2021, notice of intent to award on February 22, 2021, and county commission award on April 6, 2021, with contract commencement on the same date.

The procurement is subject to federal regulations including Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements and FTA financial assistance restrictions, and proposers must achieve or demonstrate good faith efforts to achieve a minimum 5 percent Small Business Enterprise (SBE)/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal, with detailed SBE/DBE participation documentation and utilization reports required throughout contract performance. The contract is partially funded by federal grant funds available to reimburse the contractor for shelter purchase costs only; the contractor bears responsibility for all installation, civil work, construction, permitting, maintenance, and operational costs, which must be offset through advertising revenue generation. Palm Tran currently operates approximately 300 advertising shelters and 10 non-advertising shelters, and the selected contractor will inherit management of existing advertising contracts while obligated to pay 20 percent of gross advertising revenue from pre-existing contracts to the previous contractor for up to 12 months. Approximately $2,000,000 in federal funding has been allocated for the shelter replacement project, though the county notes that available funding may change based on Palm Tran's capital needs. Proposers seeking historical revenue information, current shelter advertising contracts, and current vendor contract details must submit public records requests; municipalities within Palm Beach County may also access the resulting contract through partnership agreements and may transfer existing shelter assets to county jurisdiction. All proposals must include structural drawings and civil work documentation with notarized appendices, and the county will not accept electronic or email submissions.