Trolley operations services

The City of Scottsdale is soliciting proposals through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process to establish a term contract for Trolley Operations Services covering the operation of the Scottsdale Trolley System's fixed-route circulator network. The primary deliverables include conducting, administrating, and managing all operations and related transit service activities across three existing routes (Camelback, Miller/Hayden, and Mustang) that currently serve approximately 27,149 passengers monthly, along with responsibility for interior and exterior vehicle cleaning and graffiti removal. The contractor will operate approximately 163.67 daily revenue hours and 2,282.98 daily revenue miles of weekday service, totaling an estimated 41,139 annual revenue hours, utilizing a fleet of approximately 17 trolleys (six diesel-hybrid and eleven CNG vehicles) provided by the City. Key qualifications required include demonstrated expertise in transit operations management, compliance with Federal Transit Administration requirements including prevailing wage standards and drug and alcohol testing protocols for safety-sensitive positions, and maintenance of commercial general liability insurance of $5,000,000 per occurrence, auto liability of $5,000,000, and garage liability of $5,000,000. Proposal evaluation will be based on operations plans and key performance indicators (35%), firm and staff qualifications (30%), pricing (20%), and local and industry knowledge (15%), with performance targets requiring on-time performance of at least 89.99% per route, maximum missed revenue hours of 4.0%, and limits on preventable accidents and customer complaints. Critical deadlines include a mandatory pre-bid conference on March 4, 2026, at 8:00 a.m., questions due by March 26, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., and proposal submissions due by April 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., with service commencement scheduled for August 13, 2026, and contract term extending through June 30, 2028, with options for three additional one-year renewal periods.

The solicitation includes Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE-N) participation goals as mandated under Federal Transit Administration requirements, and all respondents must comply with E-Verify Program requirements, Arizona contractor licensing if applicable, and demonstrate lawful presence in the United States. The City of Scottsdale will provide the existing fleet of vehicles, all refueling, vehicle licensing and registration, and preventive maintenance; the contractor must provide all non-revenue transit support vehicles and maintain required insurance coverage. No incumbent contractor or previous service provider information is specified in the solicitation documents. The contractor must operate from the North Corp Yard facility designated as the service location and comply with all access to city facilities requirements outlined in the procurement documents. Award will be based on firm fixed pricing for revenue hours and monthly fixed costs across five contract years, with pricing proposals requiring detailed itemized breakdowns covering labor, benefits, equipment, insurance, and all operational costs; however, specific budget ranges or award values are not disclosed in the solicitation materials. The contract is subject to Arizona law with venue in Maricopa County, and the City reserves the right to terminate for convenience with 30 days' notice or for cause with seven days' notice.