REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
September 17, 2020
FROM: GREGORY A. BARFIELD, Director
Department of Transportation
BY: BELINDA MCMILLAN HAENER, Administrative Manager
Department of Transportation/Administration Division
SUBJECT
Title
Reject all bids for a Requirements Contract for FAX Monthly Passes and Tickets (Bid File 9536)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council reject all bids for the Department of Transportation, FAX Division monthly passes and ride tickets.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Transportation (FAX), solicited Product Requirements Contract bids to provide monthly passes and ride tickets. On May 26, 2020, a single bid was received in response to the City's Notice Inviting Bids. The contract sought a bidder able to furnish monthly passes and ride tickets to service FAX passengers, for use as bus fare payment compatible with existing fare collection equipment.
One bid was received; however, the required deposit was not submitted and was deemed non-responsive. The department will re-bid the contract as an informal solicitation, due to the bid coming in lower than the formal limit.
BACKGROUND
The FAX system has electronic fareboxes that accept with magnetic stripe fare cards capable of operating either passes or single rides. Transit agencies have traditionally used cash-based fare systems, but cash is expensive to transport, count, and guard. It can also be inconvenient for riders to have to pay an exact fare for each leg of a trip. For these reasons, many agencies have introduced automated fare media by expanding fare payment to electronic, magnetic-stripe contact cards and more recently to smartcards. Each of the 52 BRT stations is outfitted with a ticket vending machine, which dispenses fare cards and monthly passes. Riders may also purchase passes at the Manchester Transit Center, pass outlet locations throughout the city, and City Hall. The Product Requirements Contract will provide ticket stock that customers use to purchase various forms of ride cards.
Bids were solicited for the requirements contract on May 4, 2020, advertised in the Fresno Business Journal and posted online at Planet Bids. A single sealed bid was received and unsealed in a public opening on May 26, 2020.
The single bidder did not submit a deposit, as required; therefore, all bids are being rejected. This will be re-bid as an informal solicitation due to the bid amount being under the formal limit.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING
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:
Bid Eval 9536