Data Feed & Customer Information Improvements

The Spokane Transit Authority (STA) is seeking a qualified vendor to provide a fully developed mobile transit trip planning application through Request for Proposal (RFP) #2024-11025, covering jurisdictions including Spokane County, Tacoma City, Spokane City, and Spokane Valley City. The procurement aims to enhance customer experience by implementing a mobile application that facilitates navigation and usage of STA's bus system for both existing and new riders. Key deliverables include a free mobile application with multi-language support, real-time trip planning capabilities, automatic detour detection and notification systems, and integration with Vontas On-Route (formerly Trapeze Transit Master). The RFP requires providers to offer data quality monitoring with 5-second AVL updates, various reporting and analytics tools, and integration with transit planning systems. Evaluation criteria will be weighted as follows: Project Plan and Approach (40%), Qualifications and Experience of Firm (25%), Qualification and Experience of Assigned Personnel (10%), References (15%), and Price Proposal (10%). The proposal submission deadline is February 28, 2025, at 4:00 PM Pacific Time, with a pre-proposal conference scheduled for February 6, 2025, at 9:30 AM Pacific Time via Microsoft Teams.

The solicitation does not explicitly mandate set-aside designations or restrict respondents based on enterprise type. STA currently utilizes Trapeze systems for route management and a Vontas CAD/AVL system producing GTFS-R files, with Cradlepoint routers for mobile data transmission. The agency prefers domestic support and recommends that bidder references predominantly stem from transportation projects, with a specific focus on GTFS feed implementation. There is no incumbent vendor for these services, and while no specific budget constraints are outlined, STA is prioritizing an existing solution over a custom build. The contract term is anticipated to be five years, with project kickoff expected in May/June 2025. Technical infrastructure requirements include integration with Sendgrid and Twilio for messaging, an AWS commercial tenant for hosting, SOC2 compliance for hosted solutions, and WCAG 2.1 accessibility compliance. The mobile application must support 174 fixed-route vehicles and provide translation services for six Safe Harbor languages.