Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP)

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) are seeking proposals for the Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) through a Request for Proposal (RFP605CO23000074) posted on July 21, 2022. This procurement will provide comprehensive training and technical assistance support for transit providers in rural Missouri, with specific service requirements including on-site transit driver training, administration of reimbursement scholarships for rural transit supervisors and managers, coordination of a mobile driver training simulator, and development of new training courses. The RFP requires offerors to submit detailed proposals demonstrating their capabilities in delivering these services, with key deliverables including course completion certificates, compliance training on Federal Transit Administration (FTA) rules, and hosting of National Transit Institute and Transportation Safety Institute courses. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the MissouriBUYS website by August 18, 2022, at 2:00 PM Central Time. The evaluation criteria will assess proposals based on four main components: experience/expertise/reliability (20 points), qualifications of key personnel (20 points), proposed method of performance (20 points), and proposed fee (40 points).

The contract period will span three years from the date of execution, with two optional one-year renewals, and has an estimated budget of approximately $320,000, dependent on federal apportionment through FTA Section 5311b funds. While the RFP encourages Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation, there is no specific DBE goal set for this solicitation. Offerors must be prepared to maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including general liability ($500,000 per person/$4,000,000 per occurrence), business automobile liability ($500,000 per person/$4,000,000 per occurrence), and workers' compensation coverage with $1,000,000 employer's liability insurance. Successful contractors must comply with various state and federal requirements, including registering with the Missouri Secretary of State, participating in the E-Verify program, and providing proof of lawful employment practices. The contract will be awarded to the highest-scoring responsive and responsible offeror, with pricing to be submitted as a firm, fixed-price proposal and no advance payments permitted.