Electronic Fareboxes

Bay Area Rural Transit (BART) in Ashland County, Wisconsin, is conducting a procurement for electronic fareboxes through RFP Number 20250624. The solicitation seeks the purchase of 21 electronic fareboxes to be delivered over a five-year period, with a specific delivery schedule of 6 units in year 1, 0 in year 2, 5 in year 3, 5 in year 4, and 5 in year 5. The procurement includes not only the fareboxes but also a data collection system and a dedicated customer interface, with a comprehensive request for both hardware and associated licensing fees. Proposals will be evaluated across four key areas: professional competence (20 points), capacity (25 points), experience (25 points), and price (30 points). The RFP was issued on July 21, 2025, with proposals due by August 22, 2025, at 2:00 PM CT, and an anticipated contract award date of September 19, 2025. Vendors must submit one hard copy and one digital copy on a USB drive, with pricing submitted in a separate sealed envelope, and the contract will be a firm-fixed price arrangement running for five years with no renewal options.

The procurement is supported by $210,000 in state and federal transit operating funds (Section 5311) and includes a national Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal of 10%, with a specific transit DBE goal of 1.61% for Federal Fiscal Years 2023-2025. Potential bidders must complete the Bidders List form, which requires detailed information about their firm, including annual gross receipts, DBE status, firm age, and ownership demographics. The procurement is subject to extensive federal clauses covering areas such as lobbying, debarment, tax liability, telecommunications equipment, and non-discrimination requirements. Many of these clauses apply to contracts exceeding specific monetary thresholds and include flow-down requirements for subcontractors. Vendors must be prepared to comply with comprehensive federal regulations, including provisions on equal employment opportunity, drug and alcohol testing, and prohibitions on human trafficking. While no incumbent vendor is specified, the procurement suggests an expansion of BART's existing electronic fare collection infrastructure.