RFP793 - Community Engagement Platform

The Transportation Planning Department of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is requesting proposals for an online public engagement platform to gather community input on regional and local planning projects, with proposals due October 14, 2026 and questions due September 23, 2026. Site registration and application approval on the ARC procurement website are required before proposal submission.

The platform must provide outward-facing community tools including surveys and polls, map-based geographic marking, online meetings, virtual forums, data aggregation with charting and graphing, live polling, formal public comment periods, and newsletter communications. Internal capabilities must enable staff to track citizen participation, host online meetings, manage data ownership, communicate with participants, conduct preliminary AI analysis of public input, export data to other platforms, and assemble participant panels sorted by geography and demographics. The project comprises three primary tasks: implementation and onboarding (kickoff meeting, administrative training, contact list import, template construction, data management training); platform licensing and dashboard provision for up to eight platform licenses; and annual service and support for up to eight users with technical support and on-demand training.

Available project funds do not exceed $76,000. The contract term includes implementation, ongoing licensing, and annual support services. The project is funded through federal sources via the U.S. Department of Transportation and is subject to federal compliance requirements including prevailing wage standards, DBE utilization, and immigration verification per Georgia law.

Proposals will be evaluated on experience (40%), technical capabilities and ease of use (40%), and cost (20%). Respondents must complete ARC's two-step website registration, provide at least two references from the past five years, describe relevant project experience, include a proposed schedule and work plan, and disclose potential conflicts of interest. Contractors must maintain insurance coverage, maintain cost records for three years following final payment, and ensure compliance with ARC requirements and federal funding agency standards. Official responses to questions will be posted by 5:00 PM EST on October 5, 2026.