REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JOE VARGAS, Director
Department of Transportation
BY: CAROLINA ILIC, Planning Manager
Department of Transportation/Planning Division
SUBJECT
Title
Reject all bids for a Professional Services Contract for On-Call Title VI and Environmental Justice Consulting Services (Bid File #10089)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council reject all bids for the Department of Transportation, FAX Planning Division Title VI Service and Fare Equity Analysis and Environmental Justice Consulting Services.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Transportation (FAX) solicited Professional Services Contract bids to provide on-call consulting services for Title VI Service and Fare Equity Analysis and Environmental Justice. On January 18, 2022, a single bid was received in response to the City's Notice Inviting Bids. The department was seeking a bidder who would be able to provide a set of comprehensive and coordinated consultant services to assist with plans, programs, and activities related to Title VI, Equity, Environmental Justice, and new and evolving federal initiatives, such as Justice40.
The department determined that one single bid resulted in insufficient competition. The department contacted prospective bidders to determine why they forewent bidding on this solicitation. Based on feedback, the department will reorganize the work and re-bid the contract as a series of informal and formal solicitations, providing opportunities for more competition.
BACKGROUND
Large transit operators that receive federal assistance are required to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. These operators are required to update their Title VI Program every three years to ensure that no individual or organization is excluded from participation in; denied the benefits of its programs, activities, or services; or subject to discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin, in accordance with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Circular 4702.1B, dated October 1, 2012. The department sought consultant assistance to help FAX prepare and submit documents that meet current and evolving FTA requirements to develop updated 2022 and 2025 Title VI Programs, including a Language Assistance Plan (LAP) to ensure that FAX provides meaningful access to benefits, services, information, programs, and activities to persons with limited English proficiency, a robust COVID-safe public engagement program, data analyses, and mapping, as well as Title VI service and fare equity analyses on proposed service and fare changes.
The department also sought consultant assistance to conduct a comprehensive system-wide racial and social equity analysis of its current transit network, as well as its policies, regulations, and internal structures, with the goal of identifying meaningful improvements and changes that could be incorporated into updates of FAX plans, policies, and programs. In addition, FAX was in need of consultant support for incorporating evolving federal “Justice40 Initiative” guidelines into its plans and policies, and to implement environmental justice principles in public transit that spur economic opportunity and increase resilience to climate change in local disadvantaged communities.
Bids were solicited for professional services on December 13, 2021. The Request for Qualifications/ Proposals was posted online at Planet Bids, advertised in the Fresno Business Journal, advertised in Mass Transit Magazine, and posted on the American Planning Association web site. A single bid was received on January 18, 2022.
The department determined that one single bid resulted in insufficient competition. The department contacted eleven prospective bidders that opened the RFQ/P on Planet Bids to determine why they forewent bidding on this solicitation. Based on feedback from five prospective bidders, the department determined that the solicitation language was too restrictive, and the competition was inadequate. Therefore, the department will reorganize the work into smaller components and re-bid the contract as a series of informal and formal solicitations, providing opportunities for more competition.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 the award of this contract does not qualify as a project; therefore, it is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act requirements.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference not applicable as this is a rejection of all bids.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund from this request because it is a rejection of all bids.
Attachment: Single Bid Analysis 10089