CATS Blue Line Axle Counter System (ACS) Upgrade

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is soliciting bids for a comprehensive Blue Line Axle Counter System (ACS) Upgrade project, which will involve installing and integrating a new Axle Counter System into the existing Automatic Train Control System at eight specific interlocking locations across the transit network. These locations include South Yard South and North Interlockings, North Yard South and North Interlockings, UNCC Interlocking, I-485 Interlocking, CTC/6th Street Interlocking, and Old Concord Road Interlocking & Pumpernickle Crossing. The project requires detailed technical implementation, including installing wheel sensors, rail claws, connection boxes, cables, and software upgrades, with comprehensive testing and system integration components. The bid was released on September 8, 2025, with a pre-bid meeting scheduled for September 18, 2025, at 11:00 AM via Microsoft Teams, and final bids are due on October 2, 2025, at 2:00 PM through the electronic Procurement Portal. Bidders must be properly licensed under North Carolina state law and provide a 5% bid security for bids equaling or exceeding $300,000.

The procurement includes specific provisions for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation, with mandatory certifications and requirements for subcontractor and supplier disclosures. Contractors must comply with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations, including Buy America provisions and various federal contracting guidelines. The project is partially federally funded and will require detailed documentation of qualifications, product data, certifications, and test reports. The estimated project cost ranges from $1,000,000 to $1,200,000, with a contract time of 350 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed. Liquidated damages are set at $1,000 per calendar day for failure to complete the project within the specified timeframe. Contractors will be required to provide comprehensive training components and undergo extensive system integration testing. The project will utilize existing CATS Blue Line infrastructure, necessitating careful integration of the new Axle Counter System with the current Automatic Train Control System.