To enhance public transportation and improve mobility and quality of life in the Berkshires, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC), on behalf of the Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMPO), and in collaboration with the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA), is currently soliciting proposals from qualified consultants to conduct a comprehensive analysis of BRTA Routes and Integration of On-demand/ Microtransit service.
RFP Questions & Answers
- To support the line-by-line analysis mentioned on page 14, does BRTA have recent ridership counts available at the bus trip and bus stop level? If so, could you provide an example of the count data?
Currently, BRTA doesn’t have reliable ridership data at the bus stop level. They are in the process of acquiring new ITS software; they will soon have the vendor on board. With the new ITS system, BRTA will be able to access bus-stop-level ridership data, which will be made available for analysis in February.
- Has BRTA or BRPC conducted an on-board passenger survey within the past two years? If so, can you provide the survey report or the survey questionnaire?
BRTA conducts an on-board passenger survey for its reporting. I don’t know when BRTA last conducted a passenger survey in 2025/2026. This information will be made available to the consultant for analysis after the contract is awarded.
- What software platform does BRTA currently use for its existing microtransit service?
Currently, BRTA uses RouteMatch for Fixed Routes and Paratransit, but it will soon migrate to a new software platform. They are in the process of awarding the contract for a new ITS system/ Software. BRTA doesn’t currently operate a Microtransit service. The only Microtransit service in Berkshire County is the South County Connector. The Town of Great Barrington runs the South County Connector service in Southern Berkshire County in coordination with the other six Towns in South County. https://www.socoride.org/
You can find BRTA’s information at:
https://berkshirerta.gov/about/open-government/
- Are resumes required in the staffing section? If so, do those count towards the page limit?
Yes, a brief description of staff assigned to the project is needed. The staff resumes, previous work examples, and other supporting documents can be added as appendices/attachments, which will not count towards the page limit.
- Are we allowed a table of contents page? If so, does that count towards the page limit?
Yes, you can add a table of contents page; it will not count towards the page limit.
- Can the digital (.pdf) copy of the technical proposal and price proposal be provided on the same USB drive, provided they are clearly labeled?
Please provide the Technical Proposal and Price Proposal on two separate USB drives and label each drive.
- The link to download the BRPC’s Public Participation Plan (page 19) does not appear to be valid. Will you provide a new link or provide the document?
https://berkshireplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Berkshire-MPO-Public-Participation-Plan.pdf
- When does BRPC anticipate providing responses to questions?
As we receive the questions.
- Page 9 of the RFP states that the technical proposal may not exceed 18 pages. However, the page counts identified per section of the technical proposal identified on pages 7-9 on total 15 pages. Please clarify if additional pages are allowed for the technical proposal and, if so, in what section(s) they may be added.
Technical Proposals up to 15 pages (18 pages max). If required, the three additional pages in the technical proposal can be added to the Statement of Approach section.
- Are pages with no technical content (e.g., cover, table of contents) excluded from the page limit?
Yes, the cover and table of contents are excluded from the page limit.
- Has a date or date range for potential interviews been identified? Will interviews be in person or virtual?
No, we will not conduct interviews. The contract will be awarded to the most advantageous proposal, based on the evaluation of proposals and prices. The technical and price proposals will be evaluated based on the evaluation criteria identified on pages 18-21 of the RFP.
- Is a comprehensive operational analysis of the South County Connector service included in this project?
No, a comprehensive operational analysis of the South County Connector Service is not included in this project.
- Is an analysis of the BRTA ADA paratransit service and/or senior rural service included in this project?
No, BRTA’s ADA paratransit service and/or senior rural service are not included in this project—only the BRTA’s Fixed Routes.
- What level of performance data is available for the BRTA fixed-route service? What stop-level data is available?
Currently, BRTA doesn’t have reliable ridership data at the bus stop level. They are in the process of acquiring new ITS software; they will soon have the vendor on board. With the new ITS system, BRTA will be able to access bus-stop-level ridership data, which will be made available for analysis in February.
- The RFP indicates BRTA provides 15 fixed routes. However, the BRTA website only lists 13 fixed routes. Are there other routes operated by the BRTA that are not listed as fixed routes on its website?
There are currently 13 Fixed Routes. BRTA also provides Link 413 service and a limited Community Shuttle service.
- When was the most recent fixed-route customer survey conducted onboard BRTA?
BRTA conducts an onboard passenger survey for its reporting. I don’t know when BRTA last conducted a passenger survey in 2025/2026. This information will be made available to the consultant for analysis after the contract is awarded.
- When was the most recent community survey regarding transportation or transit conducted within Berkshire County?
BRTA conducts an onboard passenger survey for its reporting. I don’t know when BRTA last conducted a passenger survey in 2025/2026. This information will be made available to the consultant for analysis after the contract is awarded. BRPC conducted a transportation survey in 2024, which will be made available for analysis.
- Page 15 of the RFP indicates BRTA is currently integrating new technology and ITS software. What technology is currently being implemented?
Currently, BRTA uses RouteMatch for Fixed Routes and Paratransit, but it will soon migrate to a new software platform. They are in the process of awarding the contract for a new ITS system/ Software. BRTA doesn’t currently operate a Microtransit service.
You can find BRTA’s information at:
https://berkshirerta.gov/about/open-government/
- Please clarify if any presentations of the final report are required. If so, how many?
Pages 12 and 13 of the RFP identify presentations at the mid- and final recommendations of the study to Transportation Boards.
- Can you clarify expected content and functionality for the project website?
The consultant will create a Project website (ArcGIS Hub site) at the start of the project for public outreach, explain the project goals and outcomes, and post reports/ findings and other updates.
- Is the consultant providing content for an existing website or maintaining a separate project website?
The consultant will create a separate hub site, maintain it throughout the study period, and hand it over to BRPC at the end of the project.
- You stated that the “Non-Price/Technical Proposal may not exceed eighteen (18) total pages (excluding attachments)”, but these sections equal to 15 pages. Can you clarify the page limits?
Transmittal Letter – 2 pages
Background and Experience – 5 pages
Staffing Proposal – 3 pages
Statement of Approach – 5 pages
Technical Proposals up to 15 pages (18 pages max). If required, the three additional pages in the technical proposal can be added to the Statement of Approach section.
- Can we include a cover and a cover letter to the proposal and have it not count towards the page count?
Yes, you can add a cover and a cover letter; it will not count towards the page limit.
- We are committed to sustainable business practices that reduce the environmental impacts of our operations. To encourage waste reduction, would BRTA consider submittal of electronic copies instead of printed copies?
No, as stated in the RFP pages 9 and 10:
One (1) hard copy file and one (1) digital copy in read-only PDF format on a flash drive shall be included in the submission packages for both the price and non-price/technical proposals.
- The section for Staffing Proposal is limited to 3 pages. Can we attach full resumes in an appendix, separate from this section, and have it not count towards the page limit?
Yes, you can attach full resumes in an appendix, and they will not count towards the page limit.
- For both the schedule and the budget, can we use a larger 11×17 page, and count it as a single page?
Yes, you can use a larger 11×17 page for the schedule and the budget, and it will be counted as a single page.
- Can you provide a sample contract?
BRPC’s sample contract is attached.
- Can you describe the specific activities meant by “maintain” in the scope item pertaining to the study website?
The consultant will create a Project website (ArcGIS Hub site) at the start of the project for public outreach, explain the project goals and outcomes, and post reports/ findings and other updates. The consultant will maintain the site throughout the study period and hand it over to BRPC at the end of the project.
- Can you clarify how cost is scored? Is it a yes/no for not exceeding the maximum budget, or scaled based on lowest cost?
As stated on page # 20 of the RFP:
For Criterion G – Cost, the respondent’s total cost doesn’t exceed the budgeted amount of $155,000 for this BRTA Routes Analysis study effort—the lowest responsive price proposal. (Price proposals above $155,000 will be considered nonresponsive). The contract will be awarded to the most advantageous proposal, based on the evaluation of proposals and prices.
- Task 3 includes activities such as vetting software solutions and assessing their integration with BRTA’s new ITS system. Would BRTA consider a potential conflict of interest if a consultant is affiliated with a microtransit software developer? If so, would BRTA be comfortable with a subcontractor with no such affiliation performing this task?
Yes, BRTA will consider a potential conflict of interest if a consultant is affiliated with a microtransit software developer. BRTA recently procured a new ITS system/software. They conducted the RFP process and awarded the contract to Spare Lab. Currently, BRTA runs Fixed Routes and Paratransit service. In the future, BRTA will utilize the Spare Lab platform to integrate Microtransit Service. BRTA’s service provider is Keolis, and BRTA plans to provide the Microtransit service in-house using its vehicles and Keolis’s service.
- Are electronic signatures acceptable for the RFP submission, or are original ink signatures required?
Yes, electronic signatures are acceptable for the RFP submission.
- What was the focus of the transportation survey conducted in 2024?
BRPC conducted a transportation survey for the 2024 Regional Transportation Plan. Chapter 2 of the 2024 RTP document contains the transportation survey findings.
- Is the report of the 2024 transportation survey available online?
- Will the presentations to the Transportation Boards be in person or virtual?
Currently, the Transportation Board meetings are virtual, so yes, the presentations will be virtual.
- Will results of BRPC’s 2026 Berkshire Transportation Access Survey be made available to the successful consultant? What was the primary focus of this survey?
Yes, the survey is being conducted as part of the Berkshire Transportation Access Project (BUILD Initiative).