Paratransit (ADA & Ancillary) Services RFP

Valley Transit, owned and operated by the City of Appleton, Wisconsin, is seeking competitive proposals for comprehensive paratransit services through RFP VT23-004, covering ADA complementary demand responsive transportation and ancillary services. The procurement encompasses services for multiple jurisdictions including the Cities of Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, and Kaukauna, as well as several towns and villages in Outagamie County. Specific service types include Valley Transit II ADA Complementary Paratransit, Senior Transportation Service, The Connector (with extended service area and hours), and Outagamie County Human Services Transportation. Proposing contractors must meet stringent requirements including vehicle accessibility standards, employee training protocols, scheduling and dispatching procedures, and maintenance standards. Key performance metrics include a mandatory 90 percent on-time performance standard for VTII ADA services. The proposal submission deadline is 10:00 A.M. on Friday, January 26, 2024, with proposals to be delivered to Valley Transit's office in Appleton. The anticipated contract term is five years beginning July 1, 2024, with options for three additional one-year extensions, and an estimated contract award date of March 29, 2024.

The current paratransit services contractor is Running, Inc., which currently operates approximately 32 vans. The new contractor must provide all vehicles, equipment, facilities, and personnel, with vehicle fleets not exceeding seven years from original manufacture date. Funding for these services will be derived from City, County, State, and Federal sources, including the Federal Transit Administration and Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Contractors will be responsible for comprehensive operational requirements including insurance, drug and alcohol testing compliance, vehicle maintenance, communications systems, and staffing. Valley Transit will procure and install a new Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) prior to contract commencement and will manage scheduling software ownership. Pricing will be structured on fixed per-one-way-trip rates, with current rates ranging from $17.00 to $25.75 depending on service type. While no specific set-aside designations were mentioned, contractors will need to demonstrate substantial operational capabilities, financial stability, and compliance with transportation service regulations.