RFQ for Paratransit Services

Chatham County, Georgia is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ 26_0041_5) to procure ADA complementary paratransit services. The County seeks to identify qualified firms capable of providing demand-response transportation services to eligible riders within its paratransit program, which currently operates approximately 40 buses serving roughly 234 passenger trips per day across 855 customer accounts. Prospective vendors must demonstrate a minimum of three to five years of direct experience providing ADA paratransit or demand-response transportation services, with demonstrated management of systems encompassing more than 50,000 annual trips and proven compliance with both ADA regulations and FTA requirements. The procurement process will occur in three phases: evaluation of qualification proposals to establish a shortlist of qualified firms, submission of technical proposals from shortlisted vendors, and interviews with selected firms at the County's discretion. Qualification proposals will be evaluated on firm stability and local resources (10 points), experience and qualifications (40 points), ability to provide services (35 points), and interviews or presentations if required (30 points). A pre-qualification conference is scheduled for 10:00 A.M. on May 5, 2026, at the Purchasing and Contracting Office in Savannah, Georgia. Qualification statements must be submitted online through the County's procurement portal at https://chathamcountyga.bonfirehub.com/portal no later than 5:00 P.M. on May 21, 2026.

Respondents must provide a minimum of three years of audited financial statements and proof of operational capacity and insurance capabilities; however, no fee proposal should be submitted during the qualification phase, as contract awards will be based on Phase Two responses from shortlisted firms. Chatham County emphasizes its commitment to minority and women-owned business enterprise (MBE/WBE) participation and requests proposers to identify any MBE/WBE firms involved in their submissions, including their designated roles, percentages of work, and associated dollar amounts. The County reserves the right to reject any or all submissions and to waive technicalities and informalities at its discretion. While no specific budget or award value is disclosed in the RFQ, the current service baseline of approximately 234 daily trips and a fleet of 40 buses provides indication of the contract's operational scope. The County's primary objectives include maintaining current service volume while improving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.