RFP for Electronic Fare Collection System

Janesville Transit System (JTS) in Wisconsin is seeking proposals for a comprehensive electronic fare collection system to replace its existing Genfare CENTSaBILL system across a fleet of seventeen 35-foot low-floor diesel buses. The Request for Proposals (RFP 2021-03) calls for a contact-less fare collection solution that includes hardware validators, bus operator cash transaction capabilities, wireless data transfer, secure cash vault systems, back-office software, online rider account registration, and transfer printers. Proposers must demonstrate at least two years of primary experience in electronic fare collection system supply and installation, with two or more existing U.S. bus transportation authority clients operating 17 or more buses. The RFP was issued on July 8, 2021, with proposals due by August 11, 2021, at 12:00 noon. The evaluation will be comprehensive, scoring proposers on qualifications (25 points), proposed solution (40 points), project management plan (20 points), pricing (10 points), and project manager experience (5 points), totaling 100 possible points. The anticipated contract award is scheduled for October 11, 2021, with a project kickoff in November 2021 and completion expected by June 2022.

The procurement is funded through Federal Transit Administration (FTA) sources and includes Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goals of 3 percent, with a breakdown of 0.66 percent race-conscious and 2.34 percent race-neutral components for federal fiscal years 2020-2022. Buy America requirements will apply to the procurement. The contract will be an initial three-year term with two optional one-year renewal periods. Proposers must meet stringent insurance requirements, including workers' compensation, commercial auto, and commercial general liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000. The system must integrate with existing Double Map/TransLoc AVL services and accommodate the jointly operated Beloit/Janesville Express route. While specific budget details are not explicitly stated, the system will support Janesville Transit's approximately 455,409 annual boardings (as of 2019) that generate $371,295.12 in fare revenue. The agency currently accepts multiple payment methods including cash, tokens, day passes, monthly passes, and paper transfers, and the new system must support these and additional modern payment technologies.