A Transit Plan for the Madison Region

CITY OF MADISON
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
RFP #: 15048-0-2026-BG
Title: A Transit Plan for the Madison Region
City Agency: Metro Transit
Due Date: Monday, August 17th, 2026
2:00 PM Central Time

Our Madison - Inclusive, Innovative, & Thriving
1 OPPORTUNITY AND WELCOME
Thank you for your interest in bidding on a City of Madison contract opportunity. The City's mission is to
provide the highest quality service for the common good of our residents and visitors.
The City of Madison is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to support the development of a
transit plan for the Madison Region. The plan will be managed by the City's Department of
Transportation's transportation planning team in partnership with Metro Transit staff.
The Madison region is growing rapidly and so is Metro Transit. Over the past five years, the agency has
redesigned its network, implemented a bus rapid transit corridor, expanded service into surrounding
municipalities, began operating a large fleet of electric buses, opened a second bus garage, and
upgraded technology. As the city and surrounding communities continue to grow, demand for transit
service and supporting infrastructure is expected to increase.
This planning effort is intended to build on that momentum and address two key questions:
(1) What additional transit services and infrastructure are needed to effectively support the region's
growth and community goals?
(2) What is required to implement those improvements?
The questions have significant operational, financial, and policy implications.
The city expects a multidisciplinary team led by a prime consultant, with subconsultants that together
provide the capabilities required. The city will select one consultant team.
The City of Madison Department of Transportation includes three divisions: Metro Transit, Traffic
Engineering, and Parking and includes a transportation planning team that manages multimodal
transportation planning and supports a variety of policy and coordination efforts across divisions. The
Director of Transportation reports to the Mayor, while the Transportation Commission and Common
Council provide policy oversight.
Metro Transit is funded through federal and state sources, local vehicle registration fees, fare revenues,
and the City's General Fund. In addition to serving the City of Madison, Metro provides fixed-route bus
and paratransit services to the surrounding municipalities of Middleton, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, Verona,
Monona, Maple Bluff, Shorewood Hills as well as specialized service for the University of Wisconsin-
Madison and the Metropolitan School District-all of which are funded through partnership agreements.
Together, these investments, partnerships, and growth trends create an opportunity to define a shared
vision for the future of transit in the Madison region and identify the actions needed to achieve it.
The resulting plan will establish:
* A long-term vision for transit in the Madison region
* The service, infrastructure, land use, funding, and governance structure needed to realize that
vision
* A prioritized list of near-term improvements that will build towards that vision
Thank you for considering this opportunity to work with the City and further our mission!

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP 15048-0-2026-BG
2 IMPORTANT INFORMATION
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: Monday, August 17th, 2026 at 2:00 PM Central Time.
The City will not accept late proposals. Any changes to the deadlines will be posted as an addendum on
the bid distribution websites listed below. See Section 3.1 for instructions for using these websites.
RFP NAME: A Transit Plan for the Madison Region
DEADLINE FOR The deadline for questions is Monday, August 3rd at 2:00 PM Central Time.
QUESTIONS: Questions and/or inquiries must be submitted by email.
CITY'S ANSWERS The City's answers to your questions will be posted as an addendum by
POSTED BY: Wednesday, August 5th, 2026bid distribution websites for any addendums.
DUE DATE FOR Monday, August 17th, 2026
PROPOSALS: 2:00 PM Central Time
BID DISTRIBUTION https://vendornet.wi.gov/Bids.aspx
WEBSITES: https://www.demandstar.com/
Brittany Garcia
Purchasing Services
210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Room 407 City-County Building
CONTACT
Madison, WI 53703-3346
INFORMATION:
Phone: (608) 243-0529
Email: bids@cityofmadison.com
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP 15048-0-2026-BG
Table of Contents
1 OPPORTUNITY AND WELCOME ......................................................................................................... ii
2 IMPORTANT INFORMATION ................................................................................................................ ii
3 HOW TO FIND RFP DOCUMENTS AND CONTACT THE CITY OF MADISON .................................. 1
3.1 Official Bid Distribution Websites - IMPORTANT ............................................................... 1
3.2 Contact Information ............................................................................................................. 1
4 OUR PURCHASING VALUES ............................................................................................................... 2
4.1 Equity in Contracting ........................................................................................................... 2
4.2 Equitable Hiring & Affirmative Action Plan .......................................................................... 2
4.3 Limitations on Nuclear Weapons Producers ....................................................................... 2
4.4 Sweatfree Purchasing ......................................................................................................... 2
4.5 Federal Participation ........................................................................................................... 2
4.6 Appeals Process ................................................................................................................. 2
5 SCOPE OF WORK AND REQUIRED INFORMATION ......................................................................... 4
5.1 Scope of Work ..................................................................................................................... 4
5.2 Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 6
5.3 Contract Term ..................................................................................................................... 6
5.4 Required Information and Content of Proposals ................................................................. 6
5.5 Pricing Proposal .................................................................................................................. 7
5.6 Basis for Selection .............................................................................................................. 7
6 HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL ................................................................................................. 8
6.1 Proposal Checklist .............................................................................................................. 8
6.2 Submit your Proposal by the Deadline................................................................................ 8
6.3 Format ................................................................................................................................. 9
6.4 Questions ............................................................................................................................ 9
6.5 Addendum (Changes or Clarifications to this RFP) ............................................................ 9
6.6 Multiple Proposals ............................................................................................................... 9
6.7 Changing or Withdrawing your Proposal ............................................................................ 9
6.8 Correcting Errors in your Proposal after the Due Date ....................................................... 9
6.9 No Exceptions from Bidders ............................................................................................. 11
6.10 You are Responsible for all of your Costs in Making a Proposal ...................................... 11
6.11 Public Records and Trade Secrets ................................................................................... 11
7 RULES FOR THE SELECTION PROCESS ........................................................................................ 12
8 LEGAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................................. 13
8.1 Sample Contract ............................................................................................................... 13
8.2 Affirmative Action Requirements for Contractors .............................................................. 13
8.3 Insurance .......................................................................................................................... 13
8.4 USDOT/FTA Terms and Conditions ................................................................................. 13
Sample Contract
Form A: Price Proposal and Signature Affidavit
Form B: References
Form C: Vendor Profile
Form D: FTA and Local Certifications
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP 15048-0-2026-BG
Form E: Federal Clauses for Federal Contracts
Form F: FTA & Local Certifications
Attachment 1: Representations
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP 15048-0-2026-BG
3 HOW TO FIND RFP DOCUMENTS AND CONTACT THE CITY OF MADISON
Official Bid Distribution Websites - IMPORTANT
The City of Madison posts all requests for proposals (RFPs), addendums, updates, awards, and
announcements on two websites: VendorNet and DemandStar. Both sites are free to register for City of
Madison bids.
These two websites are the only places to get the official RFP and updates to the RFP.
Updates and addendums will only be posted on these websites. It is your responsibility to check the
websites for updates and "addendums." An addendum is a document that answers questions from
bidders. It could make important changes to the RFP. If the addendum requires a response, and you
fail to respond to it, you could be disqualified.
State of Wisconsin State of Wisconsin and local government bid network. Registration is
VendorNet System free. Search for City of Madison in the Agency search field.
VendorNet link https://vendornet.wi.gov/Bids.aspx
DemandStar by Onvia National bid network. Free subscription is available. Sign up for the
free "Basic Plan" and select Wisconsin Association for Public
Procurement (WAPP) as the agency to access City of Madison RFPs.
DemandStar link https://www.demandstar.com/app/agencies/wisconsin/city-of-madison-
purchasing-services/procurement-opportunities/573ff565-ce2b-4c75-
86ec-401cd5abf736/
Register on DemandStar www.demandstar.com/app/registration
Contact Information
City of Madison Purchasing Brittany Garcia
Contact (Buyer) Purchasing Services
210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Room 407 City-County Building
Madison, WI 53703-3346
PH: (608) 243-0529
bids@cityofmadison.com
Questions about Affirmative Contract Compliance, Department of Civil Rights
Action Plans 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Room 523 City-County Building
Madison, WI 53703
PH: (608) 266-4910
dcr@cityofmadison.com
Email note Some email to the City gets lost in "spam."
If you send the City an email and you do not hear back within 3 days,
please call the Buyer at (608) 243-0529.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP 15048-0-2026-BG
4 OUR PURCHASING VALUES
Equity in Contracting
The mission of the City of Madison is to provide the highest quality service for the common good of our
residents and visitors. The City's values include
* Equity - fairness, justice and equal outcomes for all, and
* Shared prosperity - where all are able to achieve economic success and social mobility.
It is our goal to spend money equitably, including among businesses owned by women, people of color,
and small businesses. Our contractors should reflect shared dedication to equity in their work and
employment practices, and we invite you to become part of this mission!
Equitable Hiring & Affirmative Action Plan
Affirmative Action Plan The City of Madison values diversity in hiring and contracting. We expect our
contractors to do the same. Contractors with 15 or more employees and more than $50,000 in annual
contracts with the City (each calendar year) must submit an Affirmative Action Plan.
Information about the Affirmative Action Plan and how to comply is found here:
https://www.cityofmadison.com/civil-rights/contract-compliance/affirmative-action-plan/vendors-suppliers
Or call the Affirmative Action Division at (608) 266-4910.
See Section 13. B. of the Sample Contract for Affirmative Action Plan requirements.
Job Openings in Dane County You must notify the City of openings for jobs in Dane County, Wisconsin
if you have 15 or more employees. You must agree to interview candidates that we refer to you through
our Referrals and Interviews for Sustainable Employment (RaISE) program. Information is here:
http://www.cityofmadison.com/civil-rights/programs/referrals-and-interviews-for-sustainable-employment-
raise-program
The job posting requirement is found in Section 13 A. of the Sample Contract.
Limitations on Nuclear Weapons Producers
It is the City's policy not to make purchases from companies that produce nuclear weapons, or their
subsidiaries. See Common Council Resolution 79719 for more information.
Sweatfree Purchasing
It is the City's policy not to purchase apparel (clothes made from textiles, shoes, footwear) from vendors
who source their materials from sweatshops, where labor practices are inconsistent with international
standards of human rights. See Madison General Ordinances Section 4.25
(https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOICH1--
10_CH4FI_4.25PRITAP) for more information.
Federal Participation
This procurement is subsidized with state and federal transit operating funds. Federal grant monies fund
this contract, in whole or in part. Applicable Federal clauses are set forth in Form E of this
solicitation.
Appeals Process

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP 15048-0-2026-BG
A. Notices of an "intent to protest" and "protests" must be submitted in writing to the Procurement
Administrator identified on the Cover Sheet of this solicitation. A copy of such documents must
simultaneously be sent to the Transit Procurement Manager, 4822 Madison Yards Way, Sixth
Floor South, Madison, WI 53705
B. Protesters must clearly identify the solicitation number and program title in all correspondence.
Protests must be as specific as possible and identify specific statutes and Wisconsin
Administrative Code Provisions that are alleged to have been violated.
C. Protests can be filed at any point through the solicitation process. However, a written notice of
"intent to protest" must be filed with and received by the Procurement Administrator no later than
five (5) working days after the Notice of Intent to Award is issued.
D. The complete written "protest" must be provided to the same addressees, (as provided above for
the written "intent to protest") within (10) working days after the Notice of Intent to Award is
issued.
E. The Procurement Administrator will issue a decision on the protest within 5 working days of
receiving the written protest. A copy of the decision will be provided to the WisDOT Transit
Procurement Manager.
F. If the protestor had alleged a violation of a statute and specific provision(s) of Wisconsin
Administrative Code and the decision of this formal process fails to resolve the complaint, the
complainant, within five (5) working days of the issuance of that decision, may refer the matter to
the Director, Bureau of Transit and Local Roads, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, P. O.
Box 7913, Madison, WI 53707-7913 with a copy of such appeal filed with the Procurement
Administrator.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP 15048-0-2026-BG
5 SCOPE OF WORK AND REQUIRED INFORMATION
Scope of Work
1. Project Administration
a. Project kickoff
b. Project management and coordination
c. Invoicing and monthly progress reports
d. Travel
e. Other direct expenses
f. Develop and maintain a project management plan, including schedule, key milestones,
communication protocols, and quality control procedures
g. Maintain the project schedule and identify any issues that could affect project scope,
budget, schedule, key milestones, or successful completion of the work
h. Track project deliverables and milestone completion dates
i. Provide information and summaries as reasonably requested to support grant
administration, reimbursement requests, and required progress reporting
2. Public outreach
a. Conduct three rounds of public outreach
i. Round 1 goals: Identify needs, goals, and priorities
ii. Round 2 goals: Present service scenarios for input
iii. Round 3 goals: Present implementation recommendations
b. Develop appropriate tools for each round (not all tools will be used in each round)
i. Public in person open houses
ii. Online meetings
iii. "Pop ups"
iv. Stakeholder workshops
v. Website
vi. Surveys
c. Document public and stakeholder engagement activities and summarize key findings
d. City staff will manage meeting logistics and will provide staff for meetings; Consultant will
work with city to create an outreach strategy, develop content and attend meetings to
present on an as-needed basis
3. Existing Conditions and Regional Plans Review
a. Prepare Existing Conditions Technical Memorandum, including the following:
i. Existing Metro service and BRT plans
ii. MPO regional plans
iii. Statewide transportation plans
iv. Dane County plans
v. Community plans for Madison, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Middleton, Verona,
Monona, Cottage Grove, McFarland, Stoughton, Oregon, Waunakee, Windsor,
Deforest, and Westport
vi. Identified opportunities for development that could support transit
vii. Regional growth projections
viii. Development trends
ix. Organization chart and governance
x. Funding sources
xi. Partnership agreements
4. Regional Service Plan and Development of Service Area
a. Assess the strengths and gaps in the current transit network
b. Prepare three draft future service areas for Metro:
i. One reflecting only Metro's existing service area, based on current operations
and contracted partners

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP 15048-0-2026-BG
ii. One representing a 10-year, demand-driven expansion based on population,
employment, travel patterns, and underserved areas
iii. One representing a longer-term, strategic regional expansion, including areas
where future service may be supported by land use changes, development
patterns, and/or new partnerships
c. Identify unmet transit needs based on population, employment, and travel patterns
d. Identify disadvantaged and underserved neighborhoods
e. Identify priority corridors and appropriate service types to address identified needs,
including enhancements to existing routes, new local bus routes, bus rapid transit, on-
demand service, paratransit, and park-and-ride connections
f. Estimate the infrastructure, facilities, and fleet needed for each scenario, at a planning
level
g. Identify key land use considerations, development patterns, and policy changes that
would support or be required for implementation of each scenario
h. Estimate order-of-magnitude costs and key benefits for each scenario, appropriate for
planning-level decision-making
i. Refine scenarios based on community and stakeholder feedback and develop final plan
documents and summary report
j. Conduct a high-level Title VI evaluation
k. Develop and apply evaluation criteria to compare service scenarios
l. Prepare a Technical Memorandum documenting the methodology, assumptions, findings,
and key tradeoffs associated with each scenario
5. Financial Modeling
a. Estimate funding needs for each scenario, including potential local, state, and federal
funding sources for each scenario
6. Implementation Recommendations and Organizational Model
a. Support the City in selecting a preferred service plan
b. Develop actionable recommendations to implement the preferred service plan, including
priority projects, policies, and programs.
c. Identify funding needs and strategies, organizational roles and responsibilities,
governance structures, regional partnerships, and key land use considerations that
support transit
d. Identify short-term (0-5 years) actions and service improvements that advance the
implementation of the preferred plan
e. Develop a phased implementation roadmap (near-, mid-, and long-term)
f. Prepare the final Regional Transit Plan and Implementation Strategy
g. Prepare executive summary, presentation materials, and public-facing communication
materials
6. Additional Support (Optional Task Order Services)
a. At the City's discretion, the consultant may be asked to perform additional work through
separately authorized task orders to support the planning effort or implementation of plan
recommendations. Such work may include:
i. Transit service planning, including both fixed-route and on-demand service
ii. Transit corridor planning, including corridor identification, analysis, and high-level
conceptual planning
iii. Analysis of transit demand
iv. Implementation plans
v. Analysis of and recommendations for governance structure and funding
strategies
vi. Grant funding strategy and funding application support
vii. Public outreach support