RFP 114-26 Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) Upgrade

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is requesting proposals for the procurement and installation of Remote Terminal Unit upgrades across its power SCADA system under RFP 114-26, with proposals due October 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. via COMMBUYS and a pre-bid conference held September 15, 2026. This is a prevailing-wage public works contract conducted under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30, Section 39M, with Build America, Buy America compliance mandatory.

The scope encompasses modernizing 17 existing Remote Terminal Units at traction power substations and unit substations, furnishing and installing new RTUs at Dewey TPSS, and integrating with the MBTA Secure Wide Area Network and new Quincy Operations Control Center. The new RTUs must communicate with the existing SCADA master station via Telvent Series V protocol over copper wire and DNP 3.0 protocol over fiber optic cable. Equipment specifications require dual processors at or above 1 GHz, 4 GB expandable to 1 TB memory, sixteen communication interfaces including Ethernet, fiber, and serial ports, support for up to 16,384 inputs per station, 10,000-event local memory recording, IEC 61131 programmable logic control compliance, and operation across -10 to 40 degrees Celsius and 5 to 95 percent humidity. Hardware must meet IEEE C37.90.1 surge withstand and ANSI/IEEE Standard 80 grounding standards with a 20-year design life. The vendor must have supplied SCADA systems to electrical utilities or transit agencies for a minimum of five years, delivered at least twenty systems, and completed at least three prior RTU upgrade projects.

Deliverables include six RTU upgrade kits, spare parts (one CPU set per three substations minimum and ten percent of I/O modules), two laptop computers, user interface software, comprehensive training, and a 60-month warranty with technical support. System modifications must occur during non-revenue hours (12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.) with production rollouts on Sunday mornings.

Award will be made to the lowest priced responsive and responsible bidder. A 5% bid deposit (bid bond or certified check) is required, along with performance bonds (100%) and payment bonds (50%). Comprehensive insurance is mandatory: Commercial General Liability of $1 million per occurrence, Automobile Liability of $1 million combined single limits, Workers' Compensation with $1 million limits per accident and per employee, and Umbrella Liability of $5 million per occurrence and aggregate. All carriers must hold a Best's rating of A- or better and be licensed in Massachusetts. Questions are due September 24, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., with official answers by September 29. The contract execution and service start date is estimated at November 2, 2026.