OC ACCESS Paratransit Contract Assessment

The Orange County Transportation Authority is soliciting proposals for a comprehensive assessment of the OC ACCESS paratransit services contract through informal RFP 250231, with proposals due March 24, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and a pre-evaluation meeting scheduled for 4:00 p.m. the same day.

The scope requires qualified consultants to evaluate OC ACCESS performance metrics, penalty and incentive structures, and service delivery standards against Federal Transit Administration regulations and industry best practices over a three-month engagement. Deliverables include a metrics assessment report (due 30 days from kick-off), a penalties and incentives analysis (due 60 days), and a final presentation with written findings and recommendations (due 90 days). The consultant must benchmark against a minimum of five peer transit agencies (including at least three large urban regions as defined by the FTA, with no more than two mid-sized systems), conduct approximately eight bi-weekly meetings with OCTA staff, and demonstrate expertise in ADA paratransit performance management, transit service contracting, and industry benchmarking.

The estimated contract value is $53,556 for the three-month term, funded through Local Measure M and Federal CMAQ sources. The contract is structured as a firm-fixed-price agreement with a 10 percent retention provision. Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: Qualifications of the Firm (25%), Staffing and Project Organization (20%), Work Plan (35%), and Cost (20%).

Written questions are due March 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., with OCTA responses due March 5. The evaluation committee will conduct interviews if needed on April 7, 2026, with an expected executed agreement by May 5. Commercial General Liability coverage ($1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate), Automobile Liability ($1,000,000 combined single limits), Workers' Compensation with Waiver of Subrogation, Employers' Liability ($1,000,000), and Professional Liability ($1,000,000) insurance are required; proof of insurance must be submitted within ten calendar days of agreement execution. The procurement carries a Diversity Business Enterprise goal but specifies no prevailing wage, liquidated damages, or Form 700 conflict of interest requirements.