Wisconsin Automated Shuttle Research and Demonstration Project (UW-MAD) [20-6007]

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) for the Wisconsin Automated Shuttle Research and Demonstration Project, seeking detailed information from automated vehicle manufacturers and aftermarket system designers. The primary objective is to procure an automated shuttle vehicle with a passenger capacity of 10 or more, which will be operated by the Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory (TOPS Lab) within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The RFI focuses on gathering comprehensive information across seven key categories, including operational specifications, sensor data collection capabilities, vehicle maintenance, safety procedures, traffic operations capabilities, procurement timeline, and ADA compliance. Responses were due by August 1, 2019, at 2:00 PM CDT, with potential for invited respondents to present to the project team in Madison, Wisconsin. The university explicitly states that this RFI is for information and planning purposes only, and does not constitute a solicitation for bids or an obligation to award a contract. Specific information requested includes details on public road operability, deployment history, charging requirements, route creation processes, intersection navigation, licensing experience, and potential legal or technical implications.

The RFI does not specify any specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. No incumbent vendors are mentioned, and the document does not provide specific budget ranges or award values for the potential future procurement. The university plans to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) following the conclusion of this RFI process, and respondents are informed that their participation in this RFI will not impact future RFP considerations. No pricing information is requested during this initial information-gathering phase. The procurement is focused on the Dane County jurisdiction in Wisconsin, with the primary contact being Brad Bauman from UW-Madison Purchasing Services, who can be reached at brad.bauman@wisc.edu or (608) 262-4467. Responses were to be submitted via mail or email to the university's Purchasing Services office, located at 21 N Park Street, Suite 6101, Madison, Wisconsin 53715-1218.