UDOT RFP- Intercity Bus Service (two routes)

The Utah Department of Transportation is soliciting proposals for intercity bus service on two rural corridors, with a mandatory pre-proposal conference on November 9, 2026 and proposals due November 25, 2026. Attendance at the conference is required for proposal submission eligibility.

UDOT anticipates a single award but reserves the right to award the corridors separately to different vendors or jointly to one vendor. Offerors may propose on either corridor or both. The Blanding corridor runs along U.S. Routes 191 and 6 from Blanding to Green River via Monticello and Moab, with connections to Provo and the Salt Lake City Intermodal Center. The Vernal corridor runs along U.S. Route 40 from Vernal to Heber City via Roosevelt and Myton, with a connection to the Salt Lake City Intermodal Center. Service requires at least one round-trip daily, seven days a week, year-round including holidays, on fixed routes and schedules.

Mandatory requirements include FMCSA compliance with a "Satisfactory" safety rating for interstate carriers, National Bus Traffic Association interline ticketing membership, 100% ADA-compliant vehicles with wheelchair lifts or ramps, operational camera surveillance, GTFS-Realtime data sharing, FTA-compliant drug and alcohol testing, and a Section 5333(b) Special Warranty for labor protection. Insurance must be $5 million for vehicles carrying 16 or more passengers or $1.5 million for vehicles carrying 9 to 15 passengers. Offerors must provide 50% in-kind match documentation from unsubsidized connecting intercity bus service. The FTA clauses reference Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participation requirements and Buy America preferences.

Funding comes from the FTA Section 5311(f) rural intercity bus apportionment, with no state contribution. The clauses file describes federally funded assistance totaling $5 million. Compensation is monthly reimbursement of actual gross miles multiplied by the awarded cost-per-mile rate, minus fares collected. The gross rate must include marketing, timetable printing, and GTFS maintenance. The scope and Appendix A specify a two-year term, while the RFP General Information file states five years with no renewal options.

Proposals are scored on a 250-point scale, with 50 points for cost. Only offerors scoring 175 of 200 technical points advance to cost evaluation. Experience/Past Performance and Management Plan categories are weighted twice as heavily as other sections. Cost is scored on the average proposed gross cost per mile across both contract years, with the lowest offer receiving maximum points. Performance benchmarks include a 10% minimum farebox recovery, a $250 maximum net subsidy per passenger boarding, 0.5 minimum boardings per revenue hour, and 90% minimum on-time performance within 15 minutes of schedule.

The pre-proposal conference runs from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. MST on November 9, 2026, in the Summit Conference Room at the Calvin Rampton Complex, 4501 South 2700 West, Taylorsville, Utah, with in-person or virtual attendance. Firms must RSVP to rebeccacollins@utah.gov, and attendance and questions will be recorded and posted to the bidding system. Proposals are submitted electronically through the state's online bidding system. Pricing must be guaranteed for the initial six months.