RTA Strategic Planning Consultant

The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) of Southeast Michigan is seeking a Strategic Planning Consultant through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on April 28, 2025, with proposals due by May 21, 2025, at 3:00 PM EST. The procurement aims to engage a qualified consulting firm to design a strategic planning process, facilitate a board of directors' retreat, and develop a comprehensive 3-year organizational Strategic Plan. Key deliverables include creating organizational building blocks, developing improvement metrics, exploring funding scenarios, and establishing a preferred organizational structure to optimize transit priorities. The RTA, which has rapidly expanded from 9 to over 65 employees and recently acquired the QLINE in October 2024, requires a consultant to support its strategic planning efforts aligned with the Regional Transit Master Plan (RTMP). Proposal evaluations will be conducted using three primary criteria: Capability, Capacity and Qualifications (45 points), Suitability and Quality of Approach/Methodology (35 points), and Cost Proposal (20 points). The contract will have a fixed price for the first year, with subsequent years (2 and 3) structured as negotiated rate tables for on-call assistance.

While specific set-aside designations are not explicitly mentioned in the provided documentation, the RFP appears open to consulting firms with demonstrated strategic planning expertise in public transit organizations. The contract's first-year fixed pricing suggests potential budget flexibility, though exact award values are not specified. The procurement covers Wayne County and is specifically targeted at supporting the RTA's strategic planning needs in Southeast Michigan. No incumbent vendors or existing technology integration requirements are detailed in the available documents. The contract's structure indicates an intent to establish a long-term consulting relationship, with the potential for continued engagement through the negotiated rate tables in years two and three of the contract. Interested consultants should carefully review the full RFP documentation to ensure complete understanding of the requirements and evaluation criteria before submission.