City of Appleton (Valley Transit) Transit Development Plan

East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC) is soliciting proposals for a Transit Development Plan for Valley Transit in the City of Appleton, located in Outagamie County, Wisconsin. The procurement seeks a consultant to comprehensively analyze the current transit system, review operational challenges, identify key trip generators, and develop strategic improvements for the next five years. Primary deliverables include a detailed Transit Development Plan that will guide transit system development through March 31, 2026, with required components such as analyzing boarding/alighting data, conducting public stakeholder engagement, and producing operational improvement strategies. Proposals are due February 24, 2025, by 4:00 PM CST, with an anticipated contract award on March 27, 2025. The evaluation process will assess proposals across five key criteria: project understanding and work plan (30 points), project team experience (30 points), project schedule (10 points), value-added capabilities (5 points), and pricing (25 points). The contract will be a fixed-price agreement for one year, from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, with no renewal options.

The procurement includes Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation requirements, with WisDOT establishing a 1.61% transit DBE goal for federal fiscal years 2023-2025. The project is substantially funded through an 80% Federal Transit Administration grant under 49 U.S. Code 5304 (CFDA 20.505), with a total grant amount of $160,000. No specific set-asides are indicated for small businesses or other organizational types beyond the DBE goal. The current transit operations involve in-house fixed-route services and contracted paratransit services with 5-8 year terms. Proposing consultants must submit an all-inclusive pricing proposal covering all expenses, including travel, mileage, airfare, lodging, and meals. Consultants are required to have at least one team member physically attend Steering Committee meetings, with options for remote participation for other team members. The RFP specifies that payment will be based on time spent on deliverables rather than percentage completion, and pricing must be submitted in a separate, clearly marked document.