Freeway Bus Rapid Transit/Express Bus Study

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is requesting proposals for a Freeway Bus Rapid Transit/Express Bus Study to develop a conceptual plan for freeway BRT and express route networks, with proposals due March 30, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and a pre-proposal conference on March 10, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. (in-person at OCTA's Administrative Office in Orange, California, or via teleconference). The contract is firm-fixed-price with a two-year term and a total project budget of $350,000. No DBE participation goal has been established, and DBE participation is not required as a condition of award.

The scope encompasses four primary task areas: project management with weekly coordination between consultant and OCTA project managers; purpose and need analysis including review of prior studies and mobility assessments; alternatives development encompassing up to four freeway BRT alternatives and ten express route alternatives with constraints analysis; and alternatives evaluation with final recommendations. The study focuses on I-5 and SR 55 corridors for primary BRT assessment and evaluates feasibility of express bus service on SR 57, SR 91, SR 405 freeways and toll roads 73, 133, 241, and 261. Deliverables include multiple technical memoranda, reports, meeting materials, and monthly progress reports. The project builds on the 2021 Freeway BRT Concept Study and responds to the 2024 OC Transit Vision master plan.

Consultant personnel are explicitly prohibited from making governmental decisions, authorizing actions, or committing OCTA without substantive review by OCTA personnel, counsel, and management. Key personnel must be designated and approved by OCTA, with replacements requiring qualification submission at least seven calendar days prior to departure.

Proposals are limited to 50 pages (excluding appendices, cover letters, resumes, and forms) and must remain firm for 120 days from submission. Evaluation criteria are qualifications of firm (25 points), staffing and project organization (25 points), work plan (35 points), and cost and price (15 points). Interviews are scheduled for April 23, 2026, and all prospective offerors must keep this date available. The contract is federally funded through the Federal Transit Administration and includes standard federal compliance requirements including civil rights assurances, debarment certifications, and prohibition on certain telecommunications equipment. Questions are due March 11, 2026.