Okaloosa County BOCC — February 3, 2015 — Request to Release Request for Proposals for Transit Services — agenda request

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: February 3, 2015 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Elliot Kampert SUBJECT: Request to Release Request for Proposals for Transit Services DEPARTMENT: Growth Management BCC DISTRICT: All STATEMENT OF ISSUE: In order to comply with federal regulations pertaining to the competitive procurement of federally-supported activities, it is necessary to issue a Request for Proposals for fixed-route and paratransit services. BACKGROUND: Since 2003, Okaloosa County has contracted with a private, not-for-profit corporation, Okaloosa County Transit, to provide both fixed-route as well as paratransit (non- emergency medical and transportation disadvantaged) services. One of the requirements of the grants which provide the majority of the funds with which these services are provided is that, if private companies are used, their services must be obtained through a competitive selection process. The triennial review of the County's implementation of its transit program conducted by the Federal Transit Administration in 2012 found that the County's 2010 renewal of OCT's contract for five additional years without competition was not consistent with federal procurement requirements. Therefore, as OCT's contract is set to expire in September 2015, it is necessary to issue a request for proposals to ensure that fixed-route and paratransit services are competitively procured consistent with federal regulations. A RFP has been developed with assistance from the West Florida Regional Planning Council as well as input from the County's municipalities that will result in the receipt of proposals from entities capable of providing the necessary services. Because the provision of transit affects the municipalities as well as the cities, staff recommends that representatives from Ft Walton Beach, Crestview, and Destin be included on the RFP selection committee. The committee should also include the County staff identified in the recommendations, below. OPTIONS: The Board may direct staff to issue the RFP, it may decide to re-award the contract to OCT without competition (not recommended), or it may direct staff along some other course of action as it deems appropriate upon consideration of this issue. RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners authorize the issuance of a Request for Proposals for fixed-route and paratransit services, and to establish a review committee consisting of representatives from the cities of Ft Walton Beach, Crestview, and Destin, as well as the County's Transit Coordinator and Grants Manager, Janet Willis, Growth Management Director, Elliot Kampert, and the County's Administrative Manager, Rick Owen. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator