Bus Stop Shelters and Solar Lighting

METRO Regional Transit Authority in Akron, Ohio (Summit County) seeks qualified vendors to fabricate and deliver bus stop shelters and solar lighting systems designed to enhance rider safety, comfort, and sustainability across the transit network. The procurement requires two standardized shelter sizes—4 feet by 8 feet and 5 feet by 8 feet—both featuring barrel roof designs and constructed from corrosion-resistant materials such as powder-coated steel or aluminum with tempered, shatter-resistant glass panels. All shelters must comply with ADA accessibility requirements, feature modular and scalable designs for accommodating various site conditions, and be designed for assembly on concrete pads. Optional deliverables include solar-powered LED lighting systems with dusk-to-dawn sensors and integrated battery storage, as well as anti-vagrant bench seating, with replacement parts required to be available for a minimum of ten years from the initial delivery date. Contractors must demonstrate a minimum of three years of experience performing services and providing products of similar size and scope. The Request for Proposals was posted April 30, 2026, with proposals due June 11, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. through METRO's OpenGov portal; questions may be submitted through the OpenGov portal with a deadline of May 28, 2026, and responses will be provided by June 2, 2026. Evaluation of proposals will be based on four equally weighted criteria (25 points each): project team qualifications and roles, project management approach and scope adherence, demonstrated experience with similar projects, and pricing. The contract period is anticipated to be one year with options to renew for up to four additional one-year extensions, contingent on funding availability, operational need, and contractor performance. Liquidated damages are assessed at $200 per day for delays in deliverables, plus loss of revenue from delayed installation up to a maximum of $2,500 per day.

The RFP is subject to Federal Transit Administration requirements including compliance with prevailing wage standards, civil rights laws, debarment and suspension regulations, and domestic preference provisions favoring U.S.-produced goods; additionally, all proposals must include comprehensive documentation including Federal clauses for signature, federal tax liability certification, lobbying disclosure, delinquent personal property statements, DBE affidavits, and Buy America certification. No specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or other restrictions on organization types are detailed in the RFP documentation, though DBE affidavits are required as part of the submission package. The reference materials provided include product specifications and pricing from three existing vendors—Austin Mohawk (5 x 10 aluminum shelter with hip roof at $10,510.00 base price), GuardBooth Online (5x10 bus stop shelter at $5,925.00 base price with optional bench seating and accessories), and Tolar Manufacturing Company, Inc. (contract pricing ranging from $580.00 to $8,135.00 for various shelter and component types)—which offer context for market pricing and available product configurations. The Lexington Transit Authority contract documentation indicates annual pricing adjustments based on the Producer Price Index (PPI Series WPS107: Metals and Metal Products: Fabricated Structural Metal Products), though METRO's RFP does not explicitly state whether similar annual adjustment provisions will apply. Contract award will be made to the lowest and best overall bid meeting minimum requirements, with no down payments or prepayments permitted; payment will be made via ACH following approval by METRO's Board of Trustees and receipt of funds from the Federal Transit Administration or the State of Ohio. Specific award values or budget ranges are not disclosed in the RFP documentation.