Upper peninsula intercity bus routes/

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is seeking a contractor to operate Upper Peninsula intercity bus routes through a comprehensive transportation services contract. The procurement focuses on five specific routes: Sleeping Bear (Grand Rapids to St. Ignace), Straits (East Lansing to St. Ignace), Huron (Bay City to St. Ignace), Hiawatha (St. Ignace to Ironwood), and Superior (Hancock to Escanaba). Key deliverables include providing daily bus service, maintaining state-funded vehicles, securing ticketing agents, developing online ticketing systems, and ensuring ADA compliance. The contractor must operate lift-equipped buses, coordinate schedules with other transportation carriers, and connect to the national bus system. The solicitation was posted on January 14, 2019, with proposals due by February 25, 2019. Evaluation will likely focus on the contractor's ability to meet comprehensive service requirements, including route coverage, vehicle maintenance, ticketing infrastructure, and compliance with federal and state transportation regulations. Historical performance data indicates that the five routes collectively operated 962,662 miles and served 51,385 riders in 2018.

The contract will be funded through Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5311(f) funds and Michigan Comprehensive Transportation funds, with monthly payments made at a fixed price regardless of actual ridership or operational costs. While no specific set-aside designations were explicitly mentioned, the contract requires detailed compliance with federal and state transportation regulations. The successful contractor must maintain lease agreements for bus stations, with the carrier operating the most routes holding primary responsibility for station leasing if multiple carriers are awarded routes. The contract term is initially from October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2021, with options for up to three additional one-year renewals at the state's discretion. Insurance requirements are substantial, including Commercial General Liability ($1M per occurrence), Umbrella/Excess Liability ($5M aggregate), Automobile Liability ($1M per occurrence), and Workers' Compensation coverage. While specific budget ranges were not detailed, contractors are required to submit annual cost proposals for each route, suggesting flexibility in pricing and potential variation in contract value.