DCR 991 Digital Parking Payment & Enforcement Services

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is issuing a Request for Response (RFR) for Digital Parking Payment & Enforcement Services (DCR 991), seeking a single qualified vendor to provide a comprehensive, fully hosted digital payment solution for parking operations across 48 fee-collecting state facilities statewide. The procured solution must enable patrons to purchase multiple pass types (Annual, Daily, Senior, Library, and Youth Group Bus Passes) through mobile applications, online portals, and other digital channels, with support for flexible rate structures by facility and residency status, real-time revenue reporting, integrated license plate scanning for violation enforcement, and enhanced user experience to improve revenue collection efficiency. Key system requirements include cross-platform compatibility with iOS, Android, and desktop operating systems; multi-language support; ADA and WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA compliance; open API integration capabilities; configurable reporting tools; secure, PCI-compliant data processing and storage; and seamless integration with existing and future parking management systems. Deliverables encompass system implementation, ongoing maintenance, regular upgrades, comprehensive 24/7 technical support with response times under 30 minutes for critical issues, and achievement of 99.9% system uptime with service credits for downtime. The evaluation criteria encompass six primary categories: vendor experience, digital payment solution design, maintenance and customer support capabilities, capacity to fulfill requirements, pricing, and continuity of operations planning, with additional consideration for environmentally preferable practices. Written questions must be submitted by April 15, 2026, with bid responses due April 28, 2026, at 11:00 AM Eastern Time; the estimated contract start date is June 1, 2026, with an initial three-year term and one optional two-year renewal, for a maximum total of five years.

This limited-use contract is restricted exclusively to DCR, with the Strategic Sourcing Services Team reserving the right to award additional contractors if deemed in the Commonwealth's best interest, though the target number of awards is one. All potential bidders must be registered with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and meet all requirements to conduct business in the Commonwealth, including registration with the Massachusetts Secretary of State's Corporations department. Bidders must submit formal technical proposals, cost proposals, a completed Bidder Response Form, evidence of valid general liability insurance, a Prompt Payment Discount Form, an Environmentally Preferable Products/Practices Form, and business references demonstrating comparable experience within the past five years. The vendor will be responsible for integrating with DCR's existing parking management systems and 52 collection locations across multiple geographic regions (North, Central, South, West, and Boston) operating on varying seasonal schedules from May through October, with some year-round operations; parking fees currently range from $3.00 to $40.00 per day depending on vehicle registration status and facility type. Based on estimated 2024-2025 transaction data, the contract involves approximately $3.36 million in annual revenue and 118,252 transactions across all pass categories, with the vendor compensated either through per-transaction or fixed-fee models, and all parking revenue to be deposited daily in the Agency's bank account with monthly invoices detailing costs by transaction category.