Project Information

Bid Title

RFP-DV-2026-021 - Micro-Transit-Service

Issuing Agency

City of New Rochelle

Location

New York

Published Date

May 22, 2026

Closing Date

Jul 1, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

RFP-DV-2026-021

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Bid Number:	RFP-DV-2026-021
Bid Title:	RFP-DV-2026-021 - Micro-Transit-Service
Category:	*Current Bids & RFPs
Status:	Open

Description: The City of New Rochelle invites qualified firms to submit proposals for the operation of a zero- and low-emission micro-transit service serving the downtown area. This service will be provided at no cost to the public. While the City does not require a specific percentage of ADA-compliant vehicles, proposals that include wheelchair-accessible vehicles are strongly encouraged and will be evaluated favorably. The City seeks to expand accessible mobility options for residents and visitors, ensuring convenient travel throughout New Rochelle regardless of personal vehicle ownership. The City anticipates awarding a five-year contract, with optional renewals contingent upon available funding, to the proposer whose submission best aligns with the requirements of this RFP and advances the City’s goal of improving transportation accessibility. Questions due: 5/29/2026 Answers will be posted: 6/04/2026 Publication Date/Time: 5/22/2026 4:45 PM Closing Date/Time: 7/1/2026 3:00 PM Related Documents: RFP-DV-2026-021 - Micro-transit Service

Attachment Preview

Department of

Finance

515 North Avenue

New Rochelle, NY

10801 (914) 654-2072

Adam F. Ross

Deputy Commissioner

Ivonne Droese-Solomon

Purchasing Specialist

City of New Rochelle

New York

Specification No.

RFP-DV-2026-021

Request for Proposal:

Micro-transit Service

1) INTENT/BACKGROUND

The City of New Rochelle invites qualified firms to submit proposals for the operation of a zero‑ and

low‑emission micro-transit service serving the downtown area. This service will be provided at no

cost to the public. While the City does not require a specific percentage of ADA‑compliant vehicles,

proposals that include wheelchair‑accessible vehicles are strongly encouraged and will be evaluated

favorably.

The City seeks to expand accessible mobility options for residents and visitors, ensuring convenient

travel throughout New Rochelle regardless of personal vehicle ownership. The City anticipates

awarding a five‑year contract, with optional renewals contingent upon available funding, to the

proposer whose submission best aligns with the requirements of this RFP and advances the City’s

goal of improving transportation accessibility.

2) PROPOSAL DUE DATE

Sealed proposals will be accepted up until 3:00 p.m. on July 1, 2026 in the Purchasing Office, City of

New Rochelle, City Hall, 515 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801 and mailed to the attention of

Ivonne Droese-Solomon, Purchasing. Please note Spec # “RFP-DV-2026-021” on your outside mail

package.

The City of New Rochelle is a sponsor of the Westchester Affirmative Action Equal Employment

Agreement and strongly encourages all firms qualified and certified as Women/Minority Business

Enterprises (W/MBE) to submit proposals.

3) PRE-PROPOSAL QUESTIONS

All questions must be submitted in writing via e-mail, no later than noon, May 29, 2026 to

aross@newrochelleny.gov and idroese@newrochelleny.gov. The City will post the answers to the

questions received on the City’s website no later than 4:30 p.m., June 4, 2026.

The City reserves the right to amend the RFP based on questions and issues raised at any time prior to

the RFP submission deadline.

4) ADDENDUMS

A Respondent, prior to submitting its Response, shall check the City’s website to see if any Addendum

RFP-DV-2026-021-1

or Addenda has/have been issued for the RFP and, if so, the Respondent must establish in writing that

they have received any and all Addendum or Addenda issued for the RFP. See attached Exhibit D.

5) CONE OF SILENCE

Cone of Silence, means a prohibition on any communication regarding a particular Request for

Proposal (“RFP”), Request for Qualification (“RFQ”) or Request for Bid ("RFB").

Pursuant to State Finance Law §139-j and §139-k, this solicitation includes and imposes certain

restrictions on communications between the City and a Bidder during the procurement process. A

Bidder is restricted from contacting, other than designated staff, from the earliest notice of intent

to solicit offers through final award and approval of the Procurement Contract by the Designated

Contracting Officer ("Restricted Period") unless it is a contact that is included among certain statutory

exceptions set forth in State Finance Law §139-j(3)(a). City employees are required to obtain certain

information when contacted during the Restricted Period. The designated staff contact is the Deputy

Finance Commissioner or his/her representative, telephone (914) 654-2072. Bidders responding to

this RFP must familiarize themselves with these State Finance Law requirements and will be

expected to affirm that they understand and agree to comply in their Proposal.

6) SCOPE OF WORK

The City aims to provide a no‑cost, zero‑ or low‑emission electric micro-transit service that offers

a convenient alternative to personal vehicle trips, supports individuals who need additional

mobility options, and contributes to reducing vehicle miles traveled, dependence on private

automobiles, and the City’s overall carbon footprint.

Responses should demonstrate the respondent’s ability to perform the following core functions

related to program operation:

1. Ability to provide on-demand micro-transit service to a defined service area, to be

approved by City Staff, within the City of New Rochelle, available to users via a smart

phone app, hail or both.

a. Service must be operational during weekday peak commuting hours and on

weekends (7 AM - 9 AM and 4 PM - 6 PM). Ideal hours of operation are at minimum

7AM to 7PM Monday through Thursday, 7AM to 10PM Fridays, 12PM to 10PM on

Saturdays, and 12PM to 7PM on Sundays. Hours of operation should be scalable based

on demand and coordination with the City.

b. Disclaimer: Service area subject to change at the request of the City of New Rochelle

as needed.

2. Demonstrated ability to procure and operate an appropriate number of vehicles to be

used within the service area when service is operating. Electric or hybrid vehicles are

preferred across all passenger vehicle models and sizes that may be proposed. Please

provide full details on the proposed vehicle type.

3. Demonstrated relevant experience operating a service similar in size is preferred.

4. Implementation plan which details steps for initiating micro-transit service, and

strategy for potential expansion.

RFP-DV-2026-021-2

The vendor must supply an adequate number of vehicles at all times to ensure reliable service

within the designated zones. The vendor must also maintain sufficient backup vehicles to replace

any primary vehicles that become unavailable due to mechanical or operational issues. The total

number of required vehicles will be mutually determined and is subject to final approval by the

City.

A minimum number of vehicles must be in operation whenever the service is running, with this

minimum to be agreed upon by both parties to ensure that service standards are consistently met.

The City does not have a preference regarding vehicle size (e.g., six‑passenger vans versus larger

shuttles). Vendors are encouraged to propose vehicle types and capacities that best support their

service model.

The vendor must demonstrate access to adequate charging infrastructure and outline a charging

strategy capable of supporting the minimum service levels required under this RFP. The vendor will

be responsible for all costs associated with establishing charging stations, as needed, as well as

ongoing electricity expenses for vehicle charging.

As part of the implementation plan, the vendor shall identify proposed charging station locations

within the City of New Rochelle, subject to City review and approval. Vendors may utilize either

public or private facilities for vehicle parking and charging. Any use of City‑owned infrastructure

will require prior City approval.

The vendor is solely responsible for securing independent utility arrangements and for all costs

related to electricity usage and charging infrastructure.

The vendor may request that the City of New Rochelle evaluate potential opportunities to use

City‑owned property—including municipal parking facilities and existing or planned electric‑vehicle

charging infrastructure—to support service operations. Any such use of City facilities for vehicle

parking or charging will be subject to City approval, availability, and the execution of any required

agreements.

Nothing in this RFP obligates the City to provide parking or charging facilities. The vendor remains

fully responsible for securing sufficient parking and charging capacity to meet all operational

requirements, including any necessary infrastructure investments or improvements, which shall be

at the vendor’s sole cost and expense unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the City. The vendor

must adhere to all applicable local building codes, comply with National Electrical Code (NEC)

requirements, and use equipment that meets relevant safety certifications, such as UL‑listed

charging hardware.

The vendor may establish overnight parking locations for micro-transit vehicles, subject to approval

by the City.

During peak commuting periods—defined as 7:00–9:00 a.m. and 4:00–6:00 p.m.—the selected

vendor must deploy the maximum number of vehicles, as mutually determined with the City,

excluding backup vehicles. The vendor may reduce the number of vehicles in service during

non‑peak hours. The vendor must provide reports verifying vehicle deployment and operations,

along with supporting documentation. Billing will be adjusted as appropriate to reflect any vehicle

outages.

The vendor is responsible for hiring and training all drivers. Proposals must describe the vendor’s

driver recruitment process, training policies, and vetting procedures. All driver qualifications,

RFP-DV-2026-021-3

training protocols, and background‑check procedures will be subject to approval by the City and

the New Rochelle Police Department. Crowd‑sourced drivers are not permitted for this micro-

transit program. The vendor is fully responsible for ensuring that all drivers meet required

licensing, safety, and operational standards.

The vendor must purchase and maintain all vehicles, including completing New York State

registration, emissions inspections, and all required maintenance. The vendor must maintain

detailed maintenance records for each vehicle and submit these records to the City on a quarterly

basis. The City will not be responsible for any costs related to vehicle procurement, maintenance,

or damage. The vendor is also responsible for designing and funding vehicle wraps and marketing

materials. All branding and public‑facing materials must be developed in coordination with, and

approved by, the City.

While historical ridership data is available upon request, the City encourages innovative

approaches to fleet sizing and service design rather than reliance solely on past figures. Proposals

may incorporate advanced tracking technologies, such as GPS‑based monitoring, to support

operational reporting requirements.

7) PROPOSAL FORMAT/REQUIREMENTS

Proposal shall include your completed Exhibit A, and a completed Vendor Responsibility Form as

provided.

Your proposal must include the following in the same order as herein:

a) Company name, address, telephone number, fax number and email of the firm, as well as

the primary contact individual.

b) Narrative about the history of the firm, including the date of inception, and experience with

relevant transit services provided in the United States.

c) State the size of the firm, the location of any main offices and the number and nature of the

professional staff to be employed in this engagement.

d) Organizational chart for this project and one-page resumes for key team members to be

assigned to this effort.

e) Identify any professional affiliations, licenses and other relevant qualifications.

f)

Detail experience in providing transit services for locations similar in size to New Rochelle.

g) Identify the accessibility of the proposed designated lead staff member, and the response

time that individual offers to the City.

h) Narrative about the resources of the firm/individual, to include clerical and support staff,

research capabilities, and other relevant information.

i)

Has the firm been in bankruptcy, reorganization or receivership in the last 5 years? If so,

please explain current status.

j)

Has the firm/individual been disqualified or terminated from any public agency? If so, please

explain under what circumstances this disqualification or termination occurred.

k) The budget for completing all tasks and deliverables associated with this project should

include all costs associated with the operation of the micro-transit service, overhead, and

other expenses. Please include hourly rates for all employees likely to be assigned to this

project. Please itemize (in table format) all costs for tasks and/or deliverables outlined in the

RFP. Please identify any other direct project costs. Photocopies, faxing, postage, office

supplies, and all administrative tasks should be included in the overhead. Travel expenses,

including, but not limited to, airfare, lodging, transportation, mileage, tolls, and parking, will

not be reimbursed by the City. Meals, entertainment, and incidental expenses such as cell

RFP-DV-2026-021-4

phones are also non-reimbursable. Proposers shall also include a year-by-year billing

projection for the full term of the contract, including any optional renewal periods, clearly

identifying anticipated annual costs.

l)

Acknowledgment that the proposed service area is subject to modification at the request of

the City of New Rochelle. Proposers shall describe their ability to adjust service boundaries,

vehicle deployment, and operational plans in response to such changes. Proposers are also

encouraged to present alternative service area configurations or scenarios; proposals that

demonstrate thoughtful consideration of multiple service area options will be viewed

favorably.

8) AWARD CRITERIA

The City’s RFP Evaluation Committee will award the contract based on the qualifications of each

respondent, including but not limited to cost of service, references, demonstrated understanding of the

City’s needs, and relevant experience. Firms may be invited to meet with the Evaluation Committee and

the City Council as part of the review process.

Proposals will be evaluated and scored according to the following criteria:

EVALUATION

CRITERIA

PROPOSED FEE SCHEDULE

Evaluators will assess the clarity, completeness, and competitiveness of the

vendor’s proposed pricing structure, including all operating, maintenance, and

administrative costs. Proposals should present a transparent fee schedule that

aligns with the service model and demonstrates cost‑effectiveness over the full

contract term.

MAXIMUM

POINTS

20 Points

RESPONSIVENESS TO THE SCOPE OF SERVICES REQUESTED

Evaluators will assess how thoroughly and accurately the proposal addresses the

full scope of services outlined in the RFP. Proposals should clearly demonstrate

an understanding of the City’s objectives, operational requirements, and

performance expectations, and present a service model that aligns with those

needs.

20 Points

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Evaluators will review the clarity, feasibility, and thoroughness of the proposed

implementation plan, including timelines, staffing, vehicle deployment, charging

strategy, and operational readiness. Proposals should demonstrate a realistic and

well‑structured approach to launching the service and meeting all requirements

outlined in the RFP.

30 Points

EXPERIENCE OPERATING HYBRID, ELECTRIC, ZERO-EMISSION MICRO-TRANSIT

SERVICE

Evaluators will consider the vendor’s demonstrated experience operating hybrid,

electric, or zero‑emission micro-transit or comparable fleet services. Proposals

should highlight past performance, and operational successes, with an emphasis

on safety, reliability, and effective fleet management in low‑ or zero‑emission

environments.

30 Points

RFP-DV-2026-021-5

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