Minnesota Bids > Bid Detail

Dispatch Software

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Agency: Mankato
Level of Government: State & Local
Category:
  • 58 - Communications, Detection and Coherent Radiation Equipment
  • D - Automatic Data Processing and Telecommunication Services
Opps ID: NBD11880049742311446
Posted Date: Dec 12, 2023
Due Date: Dec 18, 2023
Source: https://www.mankatomn.gov/Home...
Dispatch Software
  • Service area: Community Development, Public Works
  • Category: Transit
  • Start Date: 11/28/2023 11:25 AM
  • Close Date: 12/18/2023 4:00 PM

Dispatch Software Final RFQ - 11-27-23

Publish: November 28, 2023

Notice is hereby given that the City of Mankato has released a Request for Quote (RFQ) to solicit responses from qualified firms interested in providing computer-aided scheduling and dispatching software for demand response public transit services.

Each quote will be reviewed to determine the preferred vendor that provides the best value for meeting our project needs. All vendors who adequately complete the attached Request for Quote form will be considered for this project.

To access the complete RFQ online, or to acquire additional information about the City of Mankato - Mankato Transit System visit our website at www.mankatomn.gov/about-mankato/business/bids-and-request-for-proposals . Interested parties may request paper copy delivered via U.S. mail at the below email.

Any inquiries regarding this notice should be directed to Dani Theis, Transit Administrative Specialist, by email at danitheis@mankatomn.gov by 4:00PM on December 8, 2023.

Responders are requested to submit hard copies of quotes by 4:00 p.m. C.S.T. on December 18, 2023. Hard copies shall be sent via U.S. mail to:

City of Mankato Intergovernmental Center

Attn: Dani Theis

10 Civic Center Plaza

P.O. Box 3368

Mankato, MN 56002-3368

Shawn Schloesser

Associate Director – Transportation Planning Services

City of Mankato

Question and Answer

    1. Will the City of Mankato accept electronic submissions of RFQs via email?
      1. We will only be accepting hard copy submissions.
    2. If hard copy submissions are required, how many copies should proposers provide?
      1. We ask that proposers provide two hard copy submissions.
    3. What is the City of Mankato’s anticipated duration for this contract?
      1. Anticipated contract duration is three to five years.
    4. Are City of Mankato drivers unionized?
      1. City of Mankato drivers are unionized.
    5. What is the current ridership Mankato is anticipating for this service?
      1. As of November 2023, current ridership numbers for our services is approximately 2,800 passengers monthly.
    6. Does the City of Mankato only use dedicated supply of vehicles (eg. in house or third party operator), or do you use non-dedicated supply (eg. TNCs, taxis) for overflow trips?
      1. The City of Mankato only uses our dedicated supply of buses.
    7. Is the City of Mankato planning to use all 12 buses (8 paratransit, 4 flex) for this service?
        1. We would like 17 vehicles equipped with this service. This would ensure that our entire fleet of buses would have the capacity to be used for either paratransit or flex.
    8. Are there any eligibility requirements for the four flex route buses, or are these open to the general public?
      1. Our Flex buses are not open to the general public. The flex bus is designed for individuals residing in areas where there is no fixed route service connecting neighborhoods to the Mankato Transit System network. Eligibility is determined based on where the rider resides.
    9. Is there a DBE goal for this project?
      1. The Office of Civil Rights have completed their DBE Goal Setting process and the project has received a Race/Gender Neutral (RGN) DBE Goal Setting for the Mankato Transit System Dispatching Software Project.
    10. Can vendors provide pricing in their own format?
      1. Vendors can provide pricing in their own format.
    11. Will the City of Mankato be open to extending the deadline for submission?
      1. The City of Mankato will not be extending the submission deadline.
    12. What is the existing paratransit dispatch software currently being used by the City of Mankato?
      1. There is currently no dispatching/scheduling software being utilized by the City of Mankato.
    13. Can Agency provide the service hours and days for all of the services mentioned in the RFP and any other significant details?
      1. Service hours for our mobility buses runs on a seasonal schedule. Please see the charts below:
      2. Service hours for our flex buses are Monday through Friday 6:00am-6:00pm.
      3. Mankato Transit does not provide service on New Year’s Day, Easter Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day.
    14. Can the Agency kindly confirm if the total fleet size going to be used under this project is 32 buses, or 8 paratransit + 4 flex vehicles?
      1. We would like 17 vehicles equipped with this service. This would ensure that our entire fleet of buses would have the capacity to be used for either paratransit or flex.
    15. Please confirm if there would be any increase in the fleet size in future?
      1. It is undetermined if fleet size would increase in the future.
    16. Are the vendors required to provide vehicles or drivers for this project in any case?
      1. No.
    17. Can the agency provide the list of integrations with any existing or 3rd party systems, including the ones required by the partnering agencies, if any?
      1. There is currently no dispatching/scheduling software being utilized by the City of Mankato.
    18. Also, confirm if the Agencies will provide the APIs for the same.
      1. Not applicable.
    19. Would it be possible for the agency to provide the budget and total contract term of this project?
      1. The City of Mankato will not be disclosing project budget. Anticipated contract duration is three to five years.
    20. Can the Agency provide the details of the incumbent software provider?
      1. There is currently no dispatching/scheduling software being utilized by the City of Mankato.
    21. Can the Agency also mention the challenges they faced with the last software, if possible?
      1. There is currently no dispatching/scheduling software being utilized by the City of Mankato.
    22. Please confirm whether the vendors have to provide the hardware- MDT’s, for this project?
      1. We are not mandating MDT’s be supplied by the vendor.
    23. If not, kindly confirm which tablets the agency are currently using in their vehicles and its operating system information.
      1. There is currently no dispatching/scheduling software being utilized by the City of Mankato.
    24. Please confirm whether the bidder has to be a DBE in the state and also confirm if there is any DBE goal for this project?
      1. The Office of Civil Rights have completed their DBE Goal Setting process and the project has received a Race/Gender Neutral (RGN) DBE Goal Setting for the Mankato Transit System Dispatching Software Project.
    25. Kindly confirm if the Agency will accept proposals electronically?
      1. No. We will only be accepting hard copy submissions.
    26. Also confirm if the agency also accepts electronic signatures on the technical and cost proposal (excel included), forms and any other document which requires signature?
      1. Electronic signatures will be accepted on documents subsequent to the initial proposals.
    27. Please confirm if there is any page limit for the proposal.
      1. There is no page limit for the proposal.
    28. Does the agency want SaaS monthly pricing or one-time fee with annual maintenance fee. Please confirm.
      1. We are open to either billing frequency.
    29. Would it be possible for the agency to kindly extend the response submission deadline by few weeks to allow bidders to submit more responsive and solid proposals?
      1. The City of Mankato will not be extending the submission deadline.

    30. Of the 32 buses in the Mankato Transit Systems fleet, it reads as if 12 vehicles (8 paratransit and 4 flex) are designated for this project. Will the Mankato Transit System please confirm this assessment and address how many are in use daily, on average, for this project?

      1. We would like 17 vehicles equipped with this service. This would ensure that our entire fleet of buses would have the capacity to be used for either paratransit or flex.
    31. Will the Mankato Transit System please address the type of support desired for the four (4) flex routes?
      1. The four flex buses will need the same support as the paratransit buses.
    32. Will the Mankato Transit System please address the number of office staff that will need access to the software?
      1. At this time we estimate that 13 office staff will need access to the software.
    33. Will the Mankato Transit System please address the number of monthly paratransit trips scheduled, on average?
      1. For 2023, we have averaged 2,280 paratransit trips monthly.
    34. Would the Mankato Transit System like each proposal to include a copy or sample MSA (contract) to review as part of the evaluation?
      1. Yes.
    35. Does the Mankato Transit System intend on procuring tablets that are compatible with the selected software if commercial tablets are acceptable?
      1. We are not mandating tablets be supplied by the vendor.
    36. Will the Mankato Transit System accept the vendors detailed quote along with the Request for Quotation form?
      1. Yes.
    37. Does the Mankato Transit System wish to have quotes submitted electronically via email or printed and shipped?
      1. Printed and shipped.
    38. If printed and shipped how many copies are desired?
      1. We ask that proposers provide two hard copy submissions.
    39. Does the Mankato Transit System desire to have their fixed route service supported by the vendor selected for this project?
      1. No.
    40. Does the city of Mankato have tablets they are planning to use for this project? What type?
      1. We do not currently have any tablets.
    41. If not does Mankato want vendors to include the price of tablets in the proposal?
      1. We are not mandating tablets be supplied by the vendor.
    42. We respectfully request that the City allow for digital submission (e.g. by email, portal upload, or similar).
      1. We will only be accepting hard copy submissions.
    43. Can the City please allow the use of verified e-signatures for this submission?
      1. Electronic signatures will be accepted on documents subsequent to the initial proposals.
    44. In order to compile a thorough and thoughtful response to the City's RFQ, we respectfully request an extension of the submission deadline to December 22, 2023.
      1. The City of Mankato will not be extending the submission deadline.
    45. What paratransit software is the City currently using for dispatching/scheduling demand response service? Is the same software being used for the Flex bus service? If not, what software is being used for Flex?
      1. There is currently no dispatching/scheduling software being utilized by the City of Mankato.
    46. Does the City currently have Mobile Data Terminals available on its vehicles? If not, does the City expect that the selected vendor would provide MDTs?
      1. We do not currently have any Mobile Data Terminals.
      2. We are not mandating MDT’s be supplied by the vendor.

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