Request for Proposals for Dispatch/Scheduling Software

The City of Stevens Point, in collaboration with Portage County, is seeking proposals for an integrated dispatch and scheduling software system for its transportation services. The procurement aims to replace the current fragmented system with a comprehensive solution that can manage fixed-route buses, paratransit vehicles, and county transportation services. The software must support customer registration, eligibility management, scheduling, dispatching, vehicle and driver management, financial tracking, and service performance evaluation. The system requirements include supporting seven dispatch/scheduling workstations with up to three concurrent users, Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) capabilities for eight vehicles, and Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) for 10 fixed-route buses and paratransit vehicles. Evaluation criteria will be based on 100 points for technical qualifications and 100 points for pricing, with key assessment areas including project understanding, system experience, implementation team, customer references, technical specifications, reporting capabilities, ease of use, and ongoing support. The RFP was posted on April 18, 2017, with proposals due by 3:00 PM Central Time on May 24, 2017, a pre-proposal conference scheduled for May 10, 2017, and an anticipated contract award notification on July 19, 2017.

No specific Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goals are included in the scoring evaluation, and the RFP indicates that the project is funded through Section 5311 Federal Transit Administration grants, which requires compliance with federal certifications. The system will serve approximately 3,600 certified clients with an anticipated 100 demand-response rides daily, operating across varying hours (6:45 a.m. to 10:15 p.m.). The current infrastructure includes one depot facility and a fleet of 10 fixed-route buses, 4 city paratransit vehicles, and 4 county vehicles. Vendors must provide quotes for tablets with mounting hardware and be responsible for data conversion, with the city's maintenance staff handling installation. The RFP requires transparent pricing breakdowns for all hardware, software, and professional services, with options for both US Cellular and Verizon communication platforms. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the system and the requirement for extensive reporting capabilities suggest a significant investment in technology infrastructure.