MassDOT Weather Forecasting & Analysis Services

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is soliciting proposals for a comprehensive Weather Forecasting & Analysis Services contract, targeting a single vendor to provide advanced meteorological support across its six districts and 21 sub-districts. The procurement focuses on delivering a fully staffed weather center utilizing the agency's Roadway Weather Information Systems (RWIS), with the contractor responsible for managing data from 45 RWIS stations and providing sophisticated weather analysis and forecasting services. Key deliverables include a 24/7 staffed weather center with meteorologists having an average of 10 years of experience, a comprehensive website, mobile smartphone application, phone consultation services, an online communication forum, email reports, weather warnings, monthly presentations, and yearly training services. Vendor qualifications include demonstrating at least three consecutive years of industry experience, providing qualified meteorological staff, offering website and mobile app capabilities, and maintaining 24/7/365 customer support with a toll-free line to a dedicated meteorologist. The contract has an initial term of five years and eight months, with a potential four-year renewal, and the bid was released on August 13, 2025, with proposals due by September 18, 2025, and an anticipated contract start date of November 1, 2025.

While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly mentioned, the procurement documents emphasize compliance with Massachusetts state laws regarding supplier diversity, equal opportunity, and anti-discrimination regulations. The vendor must integrate complex weather data systems, including future radar, pavement and flooding forecasts, and demonstrate compatibility with existing Road Weather Information Systems, Weather, AVL/GPS, and traffic systems. Bidders are required to disclose any bankruptcies, litigation, or contract defaults from the past five years and provide detailed attachments demonstrating technical capabilities. The estimated annual contract value is $150,000, with the system expected to be cyber-security hardened and support multi-protocol integration. The procurement will utilize the COMMBUYS online platform, and vendors must be registered users capable of submitting comprehensive bid packages that include a Bidder Response Form, Price File, Certificate of Insurance, Certificate of Good Standing, Reference Letters, and Prompt Pay Discount information. Successful vendors will need to offer early payment discounts and meet stringent state compliance standards across multiple operational and legal dimensions.