Smart Fare Cards

The City of Madison Metro Transit has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP 13010-0-2024-BG) for the procurement of 110,000 Smart Fare Cards designed for public transit use. The solicitation seeks qualified vendors to supply MiFare Desfire cards with specific technical requirements, including static UID, PVC material, and custom two-sided printing with unique identification numbers. The cards will be produced in four different print designs with varying quantities: 25,000, 25,000, 23,000, and 37,000 cards respectively. Vendors must provide ten sample cards of each type for approval before full production. The proposal evaluation will weight pricing at 60 points, delivery schedule at 30 points, and company qualifications at 10 points. Key dates include a question deadline of February 1, 2024, answers posted on February 8, 2024, and a final proposal submission deadline of March 6, 2024, at 2:00 PM CST. Proposers must submit comprehensive pricing for the entire card batch, including delivery and processing fees, and optional pricing for future orders and specialty NFC products.

The procurement will be substantially funded by federal monies from the Federal Transit Act of 1964, subjecting the contract to extensive USDOT/FTA compliance requirements. These requirements include Buy America provisions, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) compliance, civil rights protections, and environmental standards. Masabi has been identified as the back office system integrator, with Incomm serving as a subcontractor for reloadable card services under a separate contract. Vendors must provide technical compatibility with dual-technology (proximity and MiFare) options and offer flexibility in encryption and memory configurations. The delivery address for the cards is 1245 East Washington Avenue Suite 201, Madison, WI 53703. While specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the procurement involves 110,000 cards with potential for future smaller orders. Proposers must submit three references, company qualifications documentation, and required forms including signature affidavits, cost proposals, and vendor profile information.