Transit operations and maintenance services

The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA), a Los Angeles County public agency created under a Joint Powers Agreement between the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale and the County of Los Angeles, is requesting proposals for transit operations and maintenance services under RFP 2027-03, with proposals due December 4, 2026, by 3:00 PM PST and a mandatory pre-proposal conference and site visit on October 21, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the AVTA facility in Lancaster.

The scope covers fixed-route transit (twelve local routes, three supplemental routes, four commuter express routes), complementary paratransit, and non-emergency medical transportation across a 1,200-square-mile service area with approximately 2.6 million annual passengers. AVTA owns 142 vehicles: 78 local fixed-route buses, 24 commuter coaches, 19 paratransit vehicles, and 21 support vehicles. Annual operations include 104,338.58 local revenue hours, 23,918.65 commuter revenue hours, and 5,600 paratransit revenue hours; estimated annual revenue miles are 1,752,568.47 for local service, 653,498.44 for commuter service, and 100,000 for paratransit.

The contract term is five base years with two one-year options for a total of seven years, with a commencement date of July 1, 2027. The project is partially funded by grants from the Federal Transit Administration and Caltrans; successful contractors must comply with all applicable federal third-party contract clauses, rolling stock regulations, and DBE program guidelines under 49 CFR Part 26, though AVTA has not established a DBE-conscious contract goal for this procurement. Existing system non-management employees are entitled to hiring preference and maintenance of existing wages and benefits for specified periods under California Labor Code Section 1072.

Evaluation uses a best-value selection method with technical qualifications weighted at 60 percent and price at 40 percent. Proposers must submit a $25,000 proposal bond, provide audited financial statements, and demonstrate capacity to obtain required performance bonds and insurance. The RFP requests separate price proposals for combined operations and maintenance services and for operations services only, with rates based on a per-revenue-hour model. The incumbents are MV Transportation, Inc. (fixed route) and AV Transportation Services (paratransit). AVTA expects to award by February 23, 2027. Full RFP documents are available through the AVTA Planet Bids Vendor Portal at AVTA.com; electronic bids are not accepted.