RFP - Transit Planning Consultant for Harris County Housing and Community and Development (FTA)

Harris County, Texas is requesting proposals for on-call transit planning consulting services to support Harris County Transit and Harris County Housing and Community Development, with proposals due August 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM and a questions deadline of July 15, 2026.

The scope encompasses comprehensive transit planning services including technical analyses, scenario planning tools, policy research, technology assessments, surveys, performance benchmarking, community engagement, financial analysis, and geospatial services. Work covers short and long-range transit studies, scheduling and service planning, operational assessments, financial analyses, fare policy evaluations, feasibility studies for new services and capital projects, and assessments of human service agency sponsorship agreements. Harris County Transit currently operates eleven fixed routes, a microtransit service called Transit Plus, and three demand-responsive services (ADA paratransit, Harris County RIDES, and non-emergency medical transportation) across 1,700 square miles serving nearly 2.5 million residents.

Offerors must demonstrate a minimum of one year of experience providing similar services. Those proposing design work must carry errors and omissions insurance. All offerors must provide proof of non-debarred status through the System for Award Management, submit references and key personnel qualifications, and maintain minimum insurance coverage as specified. Section 3 and HUB/MWBE utilization requirements apply if applicable.

The initial contract term is one year, with Harris County retaining renewal options for up to four additional one-year periods based on the same terms and conditions, subject to Commissioners Court approval. Pricing must be firm for the contract duration and submitted on the provided Pricing Form; no price changes or additions are permitted. Contracts are anticipated to be funded in whole or in part with federal grant monies and are subject to compliance with 2 CFR 200 and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

Evaluation criteria are firm experience and qualifications (30%), firm capacity and resources (25%), firm organization and project methodology (25%), and pricing (20%). Proposals must be submitted electronically through Bonfire or as hard copies with one original and three copies and remain valid for at least 120 days from submission.