Transit-Fully Accessible Vehicles Van and Minibuses

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Rail and Transit Division, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), are procuring six (6) types of fully accessible body-on-chassis vans and minibuses on an annual basis. MassDOT is the lead procuring agency, acquiring the vehicles for use in conjunction with the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Section 5310 program, while the MBTA intends to use the vehicles for the Ride program. The procurement covers an initial 3-year contract term with two 1-year option periods, with an estimated total quantity of 1,630 vehicles over the life of the contract. Bidders must comply with various requirements, including Buy America, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards certifications. The evaluation process will assess technical specifications and cost proposals to determine the best value award.

The procurement includes set-aside requirements for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) to participate. The current Request for Response (RFR) does not identify any incumbent vendors or provide specific award values, but states that funding will come from federal and state sources. The contract allows for annual price adjustments based on the lower of a 5% increase or the Department of Labor's Producer Price Index. MassDOT reserves the right to assign its purchasing rights to a third party and to request detailed cost information if only a single proposal is received.