Tranist Service Operations

The City of Nashua, New Hampshire is soliciting proposals for the operation and management of the Nashua Transit System (NTS) through Request for Proposals (RFP0153-031326). The procurement seeks qualified transportation providers to deliver both fixed route bus service and paratransit (ADA and senior) services across the regional transit system. The fixed route service encompasses eight weekday buses operating from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM, two evening buses, and eight Saturday buses, with estimated annual revenue hours of approximately 30,807-31,090 hours. Paratransit service must provide 60-80 daily trips to ADA-eligible and senior passengers, with estimated annual revenue hours of 8,977-9,100 hours. The successful proposer must demonstrate a minimum of five years' experience in transit operations, provide recent audited financial statements to prove financial stability, and submit comprehensive proposals addressing project approach, company profile, assigned personnel, references, safety and training programs, and detailed pricing. The evaluation criteria awards 100 points distributed across: proposer qualifications and past performance (30 points), dispatch/safety/training functions (25 points), operating methodology and staffing plans (25 points), cost effectiveness (10 points), and references (10 points). The contract term runs five years from July 1, 2026 (FY2027) through FY2031. Critical deadlines include an optional pre-proposal conference on February 26, 2026 via Zoom, a deadline for proposer questions on March 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM with answers posted by March 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM, and a final proposal submission deadline of March 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM at City Hall, Purchasing Department, Room 11, 229 Main Street, Nashua, NH.

The RFP does not indicate any specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular types of organizations, though insurance requirements are substantial and may effectively restrict participation to established providers. The selected contractor will assume operational responsibility for operator wages and fringe benefits, dispatch operations, ticket sales, safety and drug/alcohol testing per 49 CFR Part 655, ADA compliance, and facility operations at the Transit Center, while the City retains responsibility for system planning, vehicle maintenance, fueling, facility maintenance, and regulatory reporting. Insurance requirements include workers' compensation at statutory limits, commercial general liability of $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate, professional liability of $5 million, and business automobile liability of $1 million per occurrence. The City currently maintains a fleet of 22 vehicles that will be operated by the contractor, and the contract is federally funded through FTA grants under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the available documentation, though the contract's scope of service delivery across five years suggests a substantial multi-year commitment. The contract award is contingent upon Board of Aldermen approval, with the selected proposer potentially subject to best-and-final-offer negotiations.