City of Avondale Sealed Solicitation

Title: Avondale-Goodyear Microtransit Services

Deadline: 5/3/2022 5:00 PM   (UTC-07:00) Arizona

Status: Awarded

Solicitation Number: PW 22-039

Description: The City of Avondale is issuing this Request for Proposals (this “RFP”) seeking proposals from qualified, licensed firms interested in providing transit services for residents, improving mobility for communities within the City of Avondale and City of Goodyear, providing an enhanced customer experience, and meeting operational and economic requirements as more particularly described in the attached document RFP PW 22-039 Avondale-Goodyear Microtransit Services.


Pre-Bid Meeting Date: 3/29/2022 1:00 PM

Pre-Bid Meeting Details: Please sign up if you plan to attend the pre-submittal zoom meeting. https://avondaleaz.zoom.us/j/81076951330?pwd=SGZuY2pQOHJadkJsUitZUmQ4OTBVdz09&from=addon Meeting ID: 810 7695 1330 Passcode: 063578 One tap mobile +17207072699,,81076951330# US (Denver) +12532158782,,81076951330# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) Meeting ID: 810 7695 1330 Find your local number: https://avondaleaz.zoom.us/u/keiuxPx1ou


Documents:

Documents as of 3/15/2022
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PLANHOLDERS:

Date Company Name
3/16/2022 8:49:19 AM Transdev Services, Inc.
3/16/2022 9:51:39 AM COACH USA
3/17/2022 1:09:06 AM IMS
3/17/2022 4:17:28 AM Dodge Data & Analytics
3/18/2022 1:16:59 AM SevenOutsource
3/18/2022 6:11:04 AM DemandTrans Solutions
3/21/2022 8:36:30 AM Olsson
3/21/2022 8:56:53 AM Left Turn Right Turn (LTRT)
3/21/2022 3:12:15 PM Downtowner
3/22/2022 11:45:47 AM All Aboard America Holdings
3/23/2022 1:46:33 AM Zeelo Inc
3/23/2022 12:41:26 PM CivTech, Inc.
3/24/2022 12:32:27 PM North America Procurement Council, Inc. PBC
3/28/2022 3:02:01 PM Verve S Corp
3/30/2022 7:36:44 AM 9280-0366 Québec Inc.
4/1/2022 2:45:26 PM The Routing Company
4/5/2022 12:45:36 PM Via Mobility LLC
4/5/2022 12:46:58 PM The Routing Company
4/8/2022 8:04:54 AM TransLoc, Inc.
4/11/2022 5:21:50 AM Via Transportation, Inc.
4/11/2022 8:42:19 AM WeDriveU, Inc.
4/11/2022 9:05:28 AM Rasier LLC
4/14/2022 1:04:18 PM National Maintenance Group
4/18/2022 8:44:19 AM Downtowner Holdings, LLC
4/18/2022 10:51:06 PM Harbor Transportation L.L.C.
4/20/2022 10:08:15 AM Classic Logistics
4/20/2022 10:38:55 PM AG Ltd
5/3/2022 2:50:18 AM HBSS Connect Corp
5/3/2022 3:33:24 PM LAZ Parking Southwest, LLC
5/25/2022 1:31:01 PM RideCo
5/25/2022 2:06:45 PM National Express Transit
8/5/2022 7:31:05 AM First Transit, Inc.
8/5/2022 8:14:37 AM Ecolane USA, Inc.
8/5/2022 8:51:01 AM Lyft
12/22/2022 2:30:08 PM Canyon Taxi L.L.C.
9/14/2023 3:59:37 AM Deltek
11/27/2023 3:34:54 PM Spare Labs Inc.
2/28/2024 11:22:01 PM PWXPress
Addition 1

Posted: 3/29/2022

Type of Addition: Pre-Submittal Attendance List, Presentation PowerPoint and Recording

Overview: Due to a clerical error, the zoom meeting recording only captured the DBE and Scope of Work portions.  

Documents:

Addition 2

Posted: 4/5/2022

Type of Addition: Addendum No. 1

Overview: Q&A as of 04/04/2022 and revised City of Goodyear service area map

Documents:

Addition 3

Posted: 4/9/2022

Type of Addition: Addendum No. 2

Overview: The Addendum No. 2 consists of submittal deadline extension, Shapefiles for Avondale and Goodyear Boundaries, and Q&A as of April 6, 2022

Deadline: 5/3/2022 5:00 PM

Documents:

Addition 4

Posted: 5/4/2022

Type of Addition: Record of Submissions

Overview: City of Avondale has received submissions via Vendor Registry from Canyon Taxi L.L.C., Downtowner Holders, LLC, First Transit, Inc., HBSS Connect Corp, LAZ Parking Southwest, LLC, and Via Transportation, Inc.

Addition 5

Posted: 5/10/2022

Type of Addition: In Review

Addition 6

Posted: 5/25/2022

Type of Addition: Notice of Short-Listed Firms

Overview: Thank you to all respondents of the above referenced Request for Proposals. The following firms have been selected to the Short List and will be invited to participate in the interview process: First Transit, Inc. and Downtowner Holdings, LLC. If you have any questions regarding the selection process, you may contact the RFP Administrator. We appreciate your interest in doing business with the City of Avondale.

Documents:

Addition 7

Posted: 8/5/2022

Type of Addition: Notice of Intent to Award

Overview: Thank you to all respondents of the above referenced Request for Proposals. The City intends to enter into a contract for Avondale-Goodyear Microtransit Services. The Selection Committee has scored and ranked the submittals and recommends an award be made to the highest-ranked firm: First Transit, Inc. If you have any further questions regarding the selection process you may contact the Procurement Office. We appreciate your interest in doing business with the City of Avondale.

Documents:

Addition 8

Posted: 9/14/2022

Type of Addition: Notice of Award

Overview: Notice is hereby given that the City of Avondale has completed the evaluation and negotiation of proposals received for the above-mentioned Solicitation. The City Manager or designee has made a single award to First Transit, Inc.

Question 1

Posted: 3/24/2022

Question: To be more inclusive of the diverse range of vendors working on proven and innovative new models for delivering microtransit, is the City open to alternative proposals that would achieve similar program goals by leveraging non-dedicated fleets of vehicles/drivers? The RFP seems to be written with a very specific solution in mind, one that relies on a pool of vehicles and drivers specifically dedicated to a single program. A non-dedicated service model that takes advantage of available capacity within an existing network of transportation providers may be a more cost-effective solution in lower-density areas such as those in the proposed microtransit zones. Furthermore, because the service model leverages existing capacity, there are no upfront capital investments in fleet, labor, or technology. This lowers the barriers to experimentation, which is so critical to the success of innovative mobility pilots.

Response: Per subsection 3.15.3 The selected Vendor should have the ability to surge fleet if demand spikes, such as trip brokerage with TNC, or limited time frame services outside the zone for special events. The City encourages interested vendors to form a partnership. All interested vendors are encouraged to propose solutions that are within the confines of the current scope of work. The RFP requirements are created with City and its residents’ best interests in mind, and they are based on the Maricopa Association of Governments Avondale-Goodyear Transit Study. The study has been provided on City’s Procurement website, Vendor Registry and it’s also available on https://azmag.gov/Programs/Transportation/Transit/Avondale-Goodyear-Transit-Study

Question 2

Posted: 3/24/2022

Question: Exhibit F, Section IV, POST-AWARD RECOMMENDATION SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS (pg. 82) states: “The Agency has implemented outreach requirements for this Contract. Specifically, the Successful Submitter shall: (1) identify small-business-participation opportunities, including Commercially Useful Functions; (2) actively solicit proposals from small businesses; (3) evaluate small-business proposals; and (4) communicate selection decisions to small businesses, including each rejection of a small-business proposal.” So that offerers have sufficient time to complete these outreach tasks, and increase the likelihood of meaningful DBE inclusion in this RFP process, will the City please consider granting a 6 week extension for the submission of bids?

Response: No.

Question 3

Posted: 3/24/2022

Question: Exhibit F, Section IV, POST-AWARD RECOMMENDATION SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS (pg. 82) states: “The Agency has implemented outreach requirements for this Contract. Specifically, the Successful Submitter shall: (1) identify small-business-participation opportunities, including Commercially Useful Functions; (2) actively solicit proposals from small businesses; (3) evaluate small-business proposals; and (4) communicate selection decisions to small businesses, including each rejection of a small-business proposal.” If an offeror intends to include a qualified DBE in their proposal, are they still required to meet the aforementioned outreach requirements?

Response: Yes, Refer to Exhibit F, Section IV, A and B. The successful submitter is required to complete forms EO2 & EO3 documenting the Outreach Efforts.

Question 4

Posted: 4/1/2022

Question: The RFP says, “Proposal shall be a maximum of 50 pages…” Does this mean 50 pages double-sided or single-sided? (Double-sided 50 pages mean 100 pages in total.)

Response: 50 single-sided pages.

Question 5

Posted: 4/1/2022

Question: RFP Page 39, Item 3.9.3 - Payment to be verified/validated via smartphone or a physical ticket. What is the intent of a physical ticket?

Response: The intent of the physical ticket is to provide free transfers (day of) to the neighborhood circulator (ZOOM) which has a fare of 50 cents. However, a free fare is planned for implementation for the neighborhood circulator starting in October 2022 on a test basis. These physical tickets will not be used/transfers for any other transit service in the region outside of the ZOOM circulator.

Question 6

Posted: 4/1/2022

Question: How would the agency like the service to accommodate unbanked passengers with cash? Will paying by cash onboard the vehicles be a requirement? Could the regional provider create a single ride fare for the OnDemand service at kiosks in the zones?

Response: Please use industry best practices (secured drop box/farebox or cash bag) or approved company policy to accommodate unbanked passengers with cash. Paying cash onboard will be a requirement for vendors for those passengers that are unbanked or choose not to pay their fare on the mobile app. There is no regional provider fare kiosks in the service zone. If the service is successful, cities may look at fare kiosks in the future.

Question 7

Posted: 4/1/2022

Question: What are the estimated ridership levels across these two zones and over the years of the pilot?

Response: Please see page 16 of MAG Avondale Goodyear Transit Study Report. Goodyear does not have ridership history in the zone recommended by the contractor, but Bird scooters have been deployed in the zone since September 2021 and Bird has recently increased their fleet in the city from 25 scooters to 40 scooters.

Question 8

Posted: 4/1/2022

Question: Does the agency require the vehicles to be branded for each city or can there be a common brand on all vehicles so that there can be flexibility in the system to move vehicles between zones as needed?

Response: Each will work with the contractor to develop a branding scheme for the vehicles specific to each City. We are open to strategies for surge events that may require additional vehicles that are not branded (magnets).

Question 9

Posted: 4/1/2022

Question: Can the service be provided with a single branded app that represents both cities instead of two apps to reduce customer confusion and the need for two distinct marketing efforts to establish two similar brands in the area.

Response: We require one for City of Avondale and one for City of Goodyear

Question 10

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: 1. “Integration with future regional City of Phoenix/Valley Metro systems and third-party software providers.” Could the agency please provide total number of integrations needed and list of their names?

Response: Future software provider integration examples include the VIX Technologies software system currently being implemented/used by the region for their new fare collection system. Third-party software integration examples like the real-time public transit data app, “Transit App” or similar types of apps is another example of possible future integration.

Question 11

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: Does the agency own the existing facilities like storage areas? if yes, then please provide details

Response: In Goodyear, the facility would be the Goodyear Park and Ride located at 13183 W. Cornerstone Blvd. FTA has a majority stake in the facility, but Goodyear is responsible for ongoing O&M. In Avondale, the city owns the Avondale Civic Center Complex located at 11465 Civic Center Drive. This facility encompasses several surface parking lots and office space for municipal employees.

Question 12

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: “Fare is expected to be free for a promotional phase to be determined, after promotional phase fare being $2.00 per study recommendations subject to further evaluation.” Does $2.00 per study mean $2.00 per ride? Are the prices fixed for all the kind of passengers or can be changed by the proposer?

Response: Yes, the cost per trip will be $2.00 per ride after promotional phase has ended. The cities are open to alternative pricing fare structures for various passenger types using experience from other microtransit services that have been provided in a similar operating environment.

Question 13

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: Do you have any specific rider charges for ADA passengers?

Response: Please comply with ADA law by providing passengers using microtransit with safe, convenient, and comfortable service that is accessible to and usable by ADA passengers.

Question 14

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: Kindly mention the City of Avondale proposed micro transit area.

Response: Please see page 34 of RFP.

Question 15

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: “Vendors shall identify the percentage of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles necessary to meet service demands.” How many vehicles should be WAV compliant out of total fleet?

Response: Please use your experience in similar operating microtransit environments to identify the number of vehicles that should be WAV compliant.

Question 16

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: What is the ideal required capacity of vehicles (riders per vehicle) within the scope of this RFP?

Response: Microtransit services operate with a variety of vehicle capacity from smaller vehicles (4-6 passengers) to larger passenger vans (10-15 passengers). Please use best practices and experience to identify vehicle capacity needed for the project.

Question 17

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: What will be the estimated number vehicles used per zone, considering three mentioned in the Avondale Goodyear Transit Study Report?

Response: Please be prepared to adapt to greater usage than the study suggests.

Question 18

Posted: 4/5/2022

Question: Can you provide KML or Shapefile for each microtransit Zone?

Response: Yes, please find "Shapefile - Avondale Boundary" and "Shapefile - Goodyear Boundary" under Document.

Question 19

Posted: 4/5/2022

Question: Do you want dedicated vehicles for each zones?

Response: Yes.

Question 20

Posted: 4/5/2022

Question: Can you confirm whether interzonal trips between Avondale and Goodyear microtransit zones are allowed or not?

Response: There may be a few destinations in each city that may require cross over. Those few destinations will be authorized in advance to the service provider.

Question 21

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: Would the City consider extending the RFP due date?

Response: Yes, the submittal date extension is now Tuesday, May 3rd by 5:00 PM (AZ).

Question 22

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: Would the City consider bids for software only, or is turnkey required?

Response: Turnkey system is required.

Question 23

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: Can vendors also submit our own cost breakdown sheet as supplemental information?

Response: Yes.

Question 24

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: Will the City allow for additional follow-up questions based on any answers received after the deadline?

Response: The City may, at its sole discretion provide answers/clarifications to questions received after the Q&A deadline.

Question 25

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: We respectfully request a two-week extension of the proposal deadline to May 3rd, 2022. Given the short timeline between when the City will issue final addenda with answers and the submission deadline, providing all bidders with more time to incorporate the City’s answers will allow for fully-responsive proposals, in the interest of an open and competitive procurement.

Response: Yes, the submittal date extension is now Tuesday, May 3rd by 5:00 PM (AZ).

Question 26

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: For any required integration, is the City open to proposers suggesting alternative methods of achieving the same goal sought by the requested integrations?

Response: The cities would be open to alternative methods for integration that achieve the same goal as requested in the SOW.

Question 27

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: Can the City please confirm that verified e-signatures will be acceptable for this submission?

Response: We accept wet ink signature or electronic signature in compliance with Uniform Electronic Signature Act by a person authorized to bind the Vendor

Question 28

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: We strongly suggest Avondale and Goodyear allow for a service model with a single shared vehicle fleet, driver pool, and mobile application, with shared branding (which can incorporate elements of each city’s respective branding). The benefits of this model are numerous - this approach will maximize ridership across both cities, ensure that vehicles can be used most efficiently to provide high quality of service (lower wait times and trip times), and make sure that the cities achieve the highest overall ROI on their combined budgets. Recognizing the Cities have previously responded that they desire separate apps and fleets, the best and most cost-effective way to deliver the full scope is through a shared service. Can the City confirm it is open to this model in proposals?

Response: Contractors are highly encouraged to share drivers between the two separate zones along with supervision, management, and facilities. The cities understand that a single shared branded vehicle fleet and mobile application can enhance operations. However, each city desires to have uniquely branded vehicles and a mobile application for each community for the rollout of this new service model in the region.

Question 29

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: Given that there is no DBE goal identified for this procurement, can the City explain its rationale for requiring vendors to complete and submit form EO1 with their proposals ahead of the submission deadline, as well as forms EO2 and EO3 three days after award for the successful vendor? Would the City be open to waiving these requirements given the lack of a DBE goal? Alternatively, would the City be open to allowing the successful vendor to submit all relevant DBE documentation two weeks after award?

Response: While there is no formal DBE goal the submission of the E01 form with your bid is mandatory given that this is a federal requirement, and it is mandated by the City of Phoenix who is the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Designated Recipient of the region. Non-submittal of this form will deem the bid non-compliant. The successful vendor must submit forms E02 and E03 three business days after their award.

Posted: 3/29/2022

Type of Addition: Pre-Submittal Attendance List, Presentation PowerPoint and Recording

Overview: Due to a clerical error, the zoom meeting recording only captured the DBE and Scope of Work portions.  

Documents:

Posted: 4/5/2022

Type of Addition: Addendum No. 1

Overview: Q&A as of 04/04/2022 and revised City of Goodyear service area map

Documents:

Posted: 4/9/2022

Type of Addition: Addendum No. 2

Overview: The Addendum No. 2 consists of submittal deadline extension, Shapefiles for Avondale and Goodyear Boundaries, and Q&A as of April 6, 2022

Deadline: 5/3/2022 5:00 PM

Documents:

Posted: 5/4/2022

Type of Addition: Record of Submissions

Overview: City of Avondale has received submissions via Vendor Registry from Canyon Taxi L.L.C., Downtowner Holders, LLC, First Transit, Inc., HBSS Connect Corp, LAZ Parking Southwest, LLC, and Via Transportation, Inc.

Posted: 5/10/2022

Type of Addition: In Review

Posted: 5/25/2022

Type of Addition: Notice of Short-Listed Firms

Overview: Thank you to all respondents of the above referenced Request for Proposals. The following firms have been selected to the Short List and will be invited to participate in the interview process: First Transit, Inc. and Downtowner Holdings, LLC. If you have any questions regarding the selection process, you may contact the RFP Administrator. We appreciate your interest in doing business with the City of Avondale.

Documents:

Posted: 8/5/2022

Type of Addition: Notice of Intent to Award

Overview: Thank you to all respondents of the above referenced Request for Proposals. The City intends to enter into a contract for Avondale-Goodyear Microtransit Services. The Selection Committee has scored and ranked the submittals and recommends an award be made to the highest-ranked firm: First Transit, Inc. If you have any further questions regarding the selection process you may contact the Procurement Office. We appreciate your interest in doing business with the City of Avondale.

Documents:

Posted: 9/14/2022

Type of Addition: Notice of Award

Overview: Notice is hereby given that the City of Avondale has completed the evaluation and negotiation of proposals received for the above-mentioned Solicitation. The City Manager or designee has made a single award to First Transit, Inc.

Posted: 3/24/2022

Question: To be more inclusive of the diverse range of vendors working on proven and innovative new models for delivering microtransit, is the City open to alternative proposals that would achieve similar program goals by leveraging non-dedicated fleets of vehicles/drivers? The RFP seems to be written with a very specific solution in mind, one that relies on a pool of vehicles and drivers specifically dedicated to a single program. A non-dedicated service model that takes advantage of available capacity within an existing network of transportation providers may be a more cost-effective solution in lower-density areas such as those in the proposed microtransit zones. Furthermore, because the service model leverages existing capacity, there are no upfront capital investments in fleet, labor, or technology. This lowers the barriers to experimentation, which is so critical to the success of innovative mobility pilots.

Response: Per subsection 3.15.3 The selected Vendor should have the ability to surge fleet if demand spikes, such as trip brokerage with TNC, or limited time frame services outside the zone for special events. The City encourages interested vendors to form a partnership. All interested vendors are encouraged to propose solutions that are within the confines of the current scope of work. The RFP requirements are created with City and its residents’ best interests in mind, and they are based on the Maricopa Association of Governments Avondale-Goodyear Transit Study. The study has been provided on City’s Procurement website, Vendor Registry and it’s also available on https://azmag.gov/Programs/Transportation/Transit/Avondale-Goodyear-Transit-Study

Posted: 3/24/2022

Question: Exhibit F, Section IV, POST-AWARD RECOMMENDATION SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS (pg. 82) states: “The Agency has implemented outreach requirements for this Contract. Specifically, the Successful Submitter shall: (1) identify small-business-participation opportunities, including Commercially Useful Functions; (2) actively solicit proposals from small businesses; (3) evaluate small-business proposals; and (4) communicate selection decisions to small businesses, including each rejection of a small-business proposal.” So that offerers have sufficient time to complete these outreach tasks, and increase the likelihood of meaningful DBE inclusion in this RFP process, will the City please consider granting a 6 week extension for the submission of bids?

Response: No.

Posted: 3/24/2022

Question: Exhibit F, Section IV, POST-AWARD RECOMMENDATION SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS (pg. 82) states: “The Agency has implemented outreach requirements for this Contract. Specifically, the Successful Submitter shall: (1) identify small-business-participation opportunities, including Commercially Useful Functions; (2) actively solicit proposals from small businesses; (3) evaluate small-business proposals; and (4) communicate selection decisions to small businesses, including each rejection of a small-business proposal.” If an offeror intends to include a qualified DBE in their proposal, are they still required to meet the aforementioned outreach requirements?

Response: Yes, Refer to Exhibit F, Section IV, A and B. The successful submitter is required to complete forms EO2 & EO3 documenting the Outreach Efforts.

Posted: 4/1/2022

Question: The RFP says, “Proposal shall be a maximum of 50 pages…” Does this mean 50 pages double-sided or single-sided? (Double-sided 50 pages mean 100 pages in total.)

Response: 50 single-sided pages.

Posted: 4/1/2022

Question: RFP Page 39, Item 3.9.3 - Payment to be verified/validated via smartphone or a physical ticket. What is the intent of a physical ticket?

Response: The intent of the physical ticket is to provide free transfers (day of) to the neighborhood circulator (ZOOM) which has a fare of 50 cents. However, a free fare is planned for implementation for the neighborhood circulator starting in October 2022 on a test basis. These physical tickets will not be used/transfers for any other transit service in the region outside of the ZOOM circulator.

Posted: 4/1/2022

Question: How would the agency like the service to accommodate unbanked passengers with cash? Will paying by cash onboard the vehicles be a requirement? Could the regional provider create a single ride fare for the OnDemand service at kiosks in the zones?

Response: Please use industry best practices (secured drop box/farebox or cash bag) or approved company policy to accommodate unbanked passengers with cash. Paying cash onboard will be a requirement for vendors for those passengers that are unbanked or choose not to pay their fare on the mobile app. There is no regional provider fare kiosks in the service zone. If the service is successful, cities may look at fare kiosks in the future.

Posted: 4/1/2022

Question: What are the estimated ridership levels across these two zones and over the years of the pilot?

Response: Please see page 16 of MAG Avondale Goodyear Transit Study Report. Goodyear does not have ridership history in the zone recommended by the contractor, but Bird scooters have been deployed in the zone since September 2021 and Bird has recently increased their fleet in the city from 25 scooters to 40 scooters.

Posted: 4/1/2022

Question: Does the agency require the vehicles to be branded for each city or can there be a common brand on all vehicles so that there can be flexibility in the system to move vehicles between zones as needed?

Response: Each will work with the contractor to develop a branding scheme for the vehicles specific to each City. We are open to strategies for surge events that may require additional vehicles that are not branded (magnets).

Posted: 4/1/2022

Question: Can the service be provided with a single branded app that represents both cities instead of two apps to reduce customer confusion and the need for two distinct marketing efforts to establish two similar brands in the area.

Response: We require one for City of Avondale and one for City of Goodyear

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: 1. “Integration with future regional City of Phoenix/Valley Metro systems and third-party software providers.” Could the agency please provide total number of integrations needed and list of their names?

Response: Future software provider integration examples include the VIX Technologies software system currently being implemented/used by the region for their new fare collection system. Third-party software integration examples like the real-time public transit data app, “Transit App” or similar types of apps is another example of possible future integration.

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: Does the agency own the existing facilities like storage areas? if yes, then please provide details

Response: In Goodyear, the facility would be the Goodyear Park and Ride located at 13183 W. Cornerstone Blvd. FTA has a majority stake in the facility, but Goodyear is responsible for ongoing O&M. In Avondale, the city owns the Avondale Civic Center Complex located at 11465 Civic Center Drive. This facility encompasses several surface parking lots and office space for municipal employees.

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: “Fare is expected to be free for a promotional phase to be determined, after promotional phase fare being $2.00 per study recommendations subject to further evaluation.” Does $2.00 per study mean $2.00 per ride? Are the prices fixed for all the kind of passengers or can be changed by the proposer?

Response: Yes, the cost per trip will be $2.00 per ride after promotional phase has ended. The cities are open to alternative pricing fare structures for various passenger types using experience from other microtransit services that have been provided in a similar operating environment.

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: Do you have any specific rider charges for ADA passengers?

Response: Please comply with ADA law by providing passengers using microtransit with safe, convenient, and comfortable service that is accessible to and usable by ADA passengers.

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: Kindly mention the City of Avondale proposed micro transit area.

Response: Please see page 34 of RFP.

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: “Vendors shall identify the percentage of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles necessary to meet service demands.” How many vehicles should be WAV compliant out of total fleet?

Response: Please use your experience in similar operating microtransit environments to identify the number of vehicles that should be WAV compliant.

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: What is the ideal required capacity of vehicles (riders per vehicle) within the scope of this RFP?

Response: Microtransit services operate with a variety of vehicle capacity from smaller vehicles (4-6 passengers) to larger passenger vans (10-15 passengers). Please use best practices and experience to identify vehicle capacity needed for the project.

Posted: 4/4/2022

Question: What will be the estimated number vehicles used per zone, considering three mentioned in the Avondale Goodyear Transit Study Report?

Response: Please be prepared to adapt to greater usage than the study suggests.

Posted: 4/5/2022

Question: Can you provide KML or Shapefile for each microtransit Zone?

Response: Yes, please find "Shapefile - Avondale Boundary" and "Shapefile - Goodyear Boundary" under Document.

Posted: 4/5/2022

Question: Do you want dedicated vehicles for each zones?

Response: Yes.

Posted: 4/5/2022

Question: Can you confirm whether interzonal trips between Avondale and Goodyear microtransit zones are allowed or not?

Response: There may be a few destinations in each city that may require cross over. Those few destinations will be authorized in advance to the service provider.

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: Would the City consider extending the RFP due date?

Response: Yes, the submittal date extension is now Tuesday, May 3rd by 5:00 PM (AZ).

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: Would the City consider bids for software only, or is turnkey required?

Response: Turnkey system is required.

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: Can vendors also submit our own cost breakdown sheet as supplemental information?

Response: Yes.

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: Will the City allow for additional follow-up questions based on any answers received after the deadline?

Response: The City may, at its sole discretion provide answers/clarifications to questions received after the Q&A deadline.

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: We respectfully request a two-week extension of the proposal deadline to May 3rd, 2022. Given the short timeline between when the City will issue final addenda with answers and the submission deadline, providing all bidders with more time to incorporate the City’s answers will allow for fully-responsive proposals, in the interest of an open and competitive procurement.

Response: Yes, the submittal date extension is now Tuesday, May 3rd by 5:00 PM (AZ).

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: For any required integration, is the City open to proposers suggesting alternative methods of achieving the same goal sought by the requested integrations?

Response: The cities would be open to alternative methods for integration that achieve the same goal as requested in the SOW.

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: Can the City please confirm that verified e-signatures will be acceptable for this submission?

Response: We accept wet ink signature or electronic signature in compliance with Uniform Electronic Signature Act by a person authorized to bind the Vendor

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: We strongly suggest Avondale and Goodyear allow for a service model with a single shared vehicle fleet, driver pool, and mobile application, with shared branding (which can incorporate elements of each city’s respective branding). The benefits of this model are numerous - this approach will maximize ridership across both cities, ensure that vehicles can be used most efficiently to provide high quality of service (lower wait times and trip times), and make sure that the cities achieve the highest overall ROI on their combined budgets. Recognizing the Cities have previously responded that they desire separate apps and fleets, the best and most cost-effective way to deliver the full scope is through a shared service. Can the City confirm it is open to this model in proposals?

Response: Contractors are highly encouraged to share drivers between the two separate zones along with supervision, management, and facilities. The cities understand that a single shared branded vehicle fleet and mobile application can enhance operations. However, each city desires to have uniquely branded vehicles and a mobile application for each community for the rollout of this new service model in the region.

Posted: 4/6/2022

Question: Given that there is no DBE goal identified for this procurement, can the City explain its rationale for requiring vendors to complete and submit form EO1 with their proposals ahead of the submission deadline, as well as forms EO2 and EO3 three days after award for the successful vendor? Would the City be open to waiving these requirements given the lack of a DBE goal? Alternatively, would the City be open to allowing the successful vendor to submit all relevant DBE documentation two weeks after award?

Response: While there is no formal DBE goal the submission of the E01 form with your bid is mandatory given that this is a federal requirement, and it is mandated by the City of Phoenix who is the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Designated Recipient of the region. Non-submittal of this form will deem the bid non-compliant. The successful vendor must submit forms E02 and E03 three business days after their award.