Request for proposals (RFP) for downtown appleton trolley services

Valley Transit, a department of the City of Appleton in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, is seeking competitive proposals for fixed-route rubber-wheeled trolley services connecting downtown Appleton to the riverfront. The procurement involves providing trolley transportation on a prescribed route, operating Thursday and Friday from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM during a four-month period from June through late September. The Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on March 8, 2019, with written questions due by March 22, 2019, and proposals due by 10:00 AM on April 10, 2019. Proposers must submit one original and five copies of their proposal, along with a separate sealed cost proposal envelope and an electronic PDF version. Evaluation criteria will include comprehensive documentation of business information, experience with similar contracts, vehicle specifications, maintenance programs, employee training plans, and required insurance certificates with minimum liability limits of $1,000,000. The initial contract term is three years, commencing June 1, 2019, with potential automatic extensions into fourth and fifth one-year option periods.

The trolley service is a free-fare offering, with the contractor responsible for all vehicle supply, maintenance, insurance, operations, and personnel costs. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, proposers must comply with Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration regulations. The incumbent contractor is Lamers Bus Lines, Inc. Existing infrastructure includes vehicle communications equipment, onboard tracking tablets (approximately 6.5" X 8.5"), and signage, which will be provided by Valley Transit and Appleton Downtown, Inc. Contractors must ensure drivers log into the tracking tablet at the start of each shift to provide real-time vehicle location data to a public website and mobile application. Funding for the project will be sourced from City, County, State, and Federal taxpayer dollars, subject to availability. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the 2018 service data indicates 458 revenue hours and 5,578 revenue miles of service, which can serve as a reference point for potential bidders.