Capital Corridor Community Bike Share

The Capital Valley Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC) is requesting proposals for a scoping study to assess the feasibility and design of a community-operated micromobility service, specifically bikeshare and potential scooter share programs, in the Capital Corridor region serving Barre City and Montpelier. This procurement is funded in part by the Federal Highway Administration and the municipalities themselves, administered through the Vermont Agency of Transportation's Municipal Assistance Section. The primary deliverables include identification of alternatives and issues related to micromobility service design and planning, estimation of startup costs for a community bike-share program, cost analysis, strategic recommendations for implementation, and identification of potential sponsors and institutional partners to support the initiative. The study must prioritize community-led design that reflects local ownership, affordability, and responsiveness to the specific travel and mobility needs of the region, requiring close collaboration between the selected consultant, a steering group, and community representatives from various stakeholder groups throughout the engagement process. Key objectives include providing technical assistance to enable community participation in design decisions and developing an implementation strategy informed by realistic cost projections and potential funding sources. The contract explicitly excludes development of operational structure, business model, partnership building, and program sponsorship activities, which will require separate complementary funding. Proposals are due on April 24, 2026, with the posted date of March 31, 2026 serving as the project announcement.

The RFP documentation does not specify set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or preferences for particular organization types, though the emphasis on community-led design and local engagement suggests preference for consultants with experience in participatory planning processes. No incumbent vendors or existing contractors are identified in the materials provided, nor are there references to required integration with existing infrastructure or technology systems. The budget ceiling for this contract is $60,000, establishing the maximum allowable project cost for the scoping study and associated deliverables. Given the federal funding component through the Federal Highway Administration, prospective bidders should ensure their firms and methodologies comply with applicable federal procurement requirements and Davis-Bacon wage requirements if applicable to the project scope.