Waupaca County Shared Ride Transit Service RFP

Waupaca County is seeking a qualified contractor to provide an entirely outsourced coordinated shared-ride transit service through a Request for Proposals (RFP) numbered CSRT 2026-2. The procurement aims to establish a comprehensive transportation solution covering intercity rides within Waupaca County and intracity rides in the City of New London's Waupaca County portion, with future expansion planned for the City of Waupaca in January 2026. The selected vendor must provide a complete service package including a technology platform, ride provision, revenue collection, community engagement, and service promotion, offering curb-to-curb and door-to-door transportation through demand-responsive advanced reservation and on-demand shared-ride transit. Proposers must demonstrate minimum qualifications, including a fleet of at least eight vehicles (model year 2017 or newer), three years of ground transportation experience, and an automated dispatch system. The RFP was posted on October 16, 2025, with vendor questions due by October 24, 2025, and proposals closing on November 6, 2025, at 4:00 PM Central Time. Evaluation will be based on professional competence (30 points), technology platform capabilities (25 points), capacity (15 points), and price (30 points), with the contract covering a base period from December 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026, and three potential one-year renewal options.

The contract is partially funded by a $1,637,500 Federal Transit Administration Section 5311 grant, which mandates compliance with federal regulations. Waupaca County will potentially lease four vehicles from the Waupaca County Economic Development Corporation at $1 per vehicle annually, which may reduce the contractor's required fleet. Contractors must maintain automobile liability insurance with minimum combined single limits of $1,000,000 and physical damage coverage on leased vehicles. The service anticipates integrating with potential partners like Wisconsin Veterans Home - King, ThedaCare, and local pharmacies for additional service capabilities such as package and prescription delivery. All drivers must be W-2 employees, and the service must comply with ADA standards, maintain a 15-minute pickup window, and support various payment methods including cash, card, vouchers, and third-party payers. The pricing structure is firm-fixed per revenue service hour, with anticipated weekly service levels of 680 vehicle-driver hours, and option year pricing will be adjusted using the Consumer Price Index-U (CPI-U). The total estimated annual operating costs for the microtransit zones are approximately $793,440, with potential expansion opportunities in future contract periods.