City of Wausau Facilities Condition Assessment & Feasibility Study for the Wausau Area Transit System

The City of Wausau and Wausau Area Transit System (WATS/Metro Ride) are seeking proposals for a comprehensive facilities condition assessment and feasibility study for their existing transit garage located at 420 Plumer Street. The primary objective is to evaluate whether the current facility can support future operational needs and be modernized to accommodate a battery-electric fleet, which currently services 25 full-sized buses and 5 paratransit buses. The project requires a firm-fixed price proposal based on an estimated 550 work hours, with deliverables including technical memoranda, draft and final PDF reports, computer-generated files, and presentations to the Transit Commission, Wausau City Council, and Metropolitan Planning Organization. Proposals will be evaluated on professional competence (20 points), capacity (25 points), experience (25 points), and price competitiveness (30 points), with the contract awarded to the highest-scoring responsive bidder. Key dates include a December 19, 2025 deadline for questions, a January 5, 2026 proposal submission deadline at 4:00 PM CT, an evaluation period from January 6-14, 2026, and a planned contract start date of February 1, 2026.

The procurement is federally funded with $100,000 in Section 5304 transit operating funds, which requires compliance with federal clauses, certifications, and procurement rules. Contractors must meet minimum qualifications, including at least three years of professional service history by a licensed, registered, or certified individual, with demonstrated experience in transportation and facility design. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, the project requires strict adherence to federal regulations including Buy America Act requirements, civil rights provisions, equal employment opportunity standards, and Davis-Bacon prevailing wage standards. The contract term is 11 months, running through December 31, 2026, with no optional renewal periods. Bidders must provide a comprehensive pricing proposal inclusive of labor, travel, administrative, and overhead costs, with the understanding that the government does not guarantee a minimum purchase quantity. The project scope includes analyzing the existing facility's condition, comparing retrofit versus new construction costs, and identifying up to four potential alternative sites within Wausau city limits.