BACKGROUND, OVERVIEW, GOALS:
The State of Colorado, through the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), awards both federal and state grant funds for the purchase of ADA-accessible cutaway (otherwise known as body on chassis) buses used in public transit and paratransit service. Recipients of these awards include public transit agencies, units of local government (cities, towns, counties) and non-profit organizations throughout the state. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant funding is provided for the bulk of these vehicle purchases and the Contract is subject to financial reimbursement by the FTA. Accordingly, federal requirements apply to the Contract and if those requirements change, then the changed requirements shall apply as required.
The procurement is led by CDOT’s Division of Transit and Rail (DTR) and is intended to be the primary Price Agreement for cutaway purchases across the state for the next five years. CDOT has decided to establish a Master Price Agreement Contract for cutaways through an RFP process to ensure quality products are offered at a competitive price for all transit grant agencies, to include those in large urban, small urban and rural areas of the state.
CDOT is seeking qualified Proposers that have in operation a manufacturing plant adequate to assure delivery of all equipment within the time specified in the RFP; have adequate service personnel to satisfy any service problems that may arise during the warranty period; have adequate working capital to finance the manufacturer vehicles requested, and have the ability to comply with all federal, state, and local regulations including, but not limited to, Buy America, Altoona Bus Testing and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
1.30 STATEMENT OF WORK:
The purpose of this procurement is to establish contracts with a vendor(s) for four (4) groups of ADA-accessible cutaway buses. Each group includes multiple classes of vehicle arranged by size (length, GVWR, passenger capacity) that interested parties can provide proposals for. Vendors can select the groups and classes they wish to submit a proposal for, a proposal is not required for all groups and classes in order to be eligible for consideration. Separate contracts will be awarded to individual Proposers for each of the vehicle classes awarded to them under the groups or types of vehicles solicited. Contracts are for one year, with an option to renew for four (4) additional years.
Public and para-transit service providers in Colorado will use the price agreements to purchase the vehicles offered by this Contract. The vehicles are intended to provide public transportation or transportation for seniors and/or persons with disabilities. Following award, CDOT will be responsible for all contract administration activities with the assistance of an outside contractor, who has already been selected to work on this project. Each transit agency or non-profit organization that places an order for a vehicle from the contract will work directly with the selected vendor(s), but the order discussion and paperwork will include a review by CDOT’s contracted staff to ensure all contract requirements, including appropriate paperwork provisions, are met, prior to final purchase.
The groups and classes of vehicles sought under this procurement are listed in the table below. CDOT estimates a minimum quantity of 35 vehicles bought in year 1 and a maximum of 435 vehicles bought over a five-year period. CDOT cannot and does not represent or guarantee any minimum purchase.