-- INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FTA APTS MOBILE SHOWCASE PROGRAM Summary: The United States Department of Transportation announces its intention to develop and showcase a transit bus equipped with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) displays. The development and demonstration of the transit bus and associated ITS equipment is known as the Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS) Mobile Showcase Program (the Mobile Showcase or the Program). The Program is a partnership between the government and the transit industry. Transit vehicle and ITS/APTS equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and vendors interested in becoming partners in the Program, by providing vehicles, equipment, and technical assistance, are invited to submit letters of interest and proposals as described under Instructions to Potential Partners, below. The Program, which is pla nned to continue from two to five years, is explained in detail in the attached APTS Mobile Showcase Program Plan (Program Plan). The vehicle and technologies making up the Mobile Showcase will be exhibited at major transportation conferences, at transit agencies, and at other transportation venues around the country. -- - The Mobile Showcase will demonstrate equipment designed to improve transit safety, service, and cost effectiveness. ITS/APTS technology may be designed for use on a transit vehicle or at stops or other off-bus locations. Equipment that cannot be included in the display bus may be demonstrated in kiosks or by means of videotapes or computer displays. -- -Goals of the Program: -- -The overall goals of the Mobile Showcase Program are to promote research, development and depl oyment of APTS technologies and to support the continued development of transit industry integration standards. In furtherance of these goals, the Mobile Showcase will provide an opportunity to demonstrate to the transit community, particularly transit operators, elected officials, transit board members, senior management, and operation and maintenance management and staff, the applicability of advanced ITS technologies, how thetechnologies can work together, and what benefits can be derived once they have been installed and are fully operational -- -The Mobile Showcase Program will also create a collaborative research and development opportunity for the Government and transit vehicle, equipment and technology manufacturers, suppliers, and vendors to identify barriers to integration of equ ipment, and evaluate ways to overcome those barriers. -- -CRADA Partnership The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) of the Research and Special Programs Administration, in support of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), will enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with each entity selected for participation in the Mobile Showcase Program. The CRADA will define roles and responsibilities for both the Government and private sector partners. A sample CRADA is included in Appendix Three of the APTS Mobile Showcase Program Plan (Program Plan) found at Attachment A. Note that under a CRADA,the Government is prohibited from providing funds to a non-federal party participating in the project. -- -PRE-PROPOSAL INFORMATION MEETING -- - A Pre-P roposal Informational Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 17, 1999, at 1:00 PM, at: -- - Holiday Inn Capital, 550 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024 -- - 202-479-4000 -- -The purpose of the meeting is to allow potential participants to ask questions of the government regarding the APTS Mobile Showcase Program. The Government will accept written questions submitted by 5:00 PM EST, Friday, February 12, 1999, which will allow time for the Government to formulate its responses. Oral questions will be addressed at the meeting after responses to the written questions are provided. Written questions should be e-mailed or faxed to: -- -Matthew Rabkin, APTS Mobile Showcase Program Manager, rabkin@volpe.dot.gov-617-494-3260 (fax) -- -Relevant information from the meeting will be provided to all re cipients of the invitation to participate in the APTS Mobile Showcase Program. -- -INSTRUCTIONS TO POTENTIAL PARTNERS As CRADA partners in this project, transit vehicle and equipment manufacturers and vendors will provide equipment and technical assistance for the Mobile Showcase. Manufacturers and vendors interested in participating are asked to identify the vehicle or technology to be demonstrated, to provide complete technical specifications, as well as information regarding installation and maintenance of the equipment, and to state how Mobile Showcase staff will be trained in the operation and routine maintenance of the equipment. Interested manufacturers and vendors should also provide information on additional resources and support that may be available to the project. -- -Submissio n of proposals -- -Those persons interested in participating as partners in the Mobile Showcase Program should send six hard copies of their proposal and one electronic copy in IBM compatible/Windows versions of MS Word or WordPerfect format on a 3.5 diskette (technical specifications, and brochures need not be submitted in electronic format) to the following: -- -Matthew Rabkin, APTS Mobile Showcase Program Manager, US DOT/ Volpe Center, DTS-49, 55 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142-(617) 494-2151 -- - Any proprietary and confidential data submitted to the Government with your proposal should be clearly identified as such. Properly labeled proprietary and confidential data will be held in confidence and used only for the purposes for which it is provided. -- - To be considered for the initial round of CRADAs, letters of interest must be received by the above on or before 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday, March 12, 1999. However, the Government reserves the right to solicit and accept additional participants at later dates for purposes of enhancing or updating the Mobile Showcase. -- -General -- -The Evaluation Criteria which the Government will use in determining which equipment and technology are to be included in the Mobile Showcase are detailed in Attachment B. In preparing your proposal, you should provide sufficient information to enable the evaluators to make an informed decision based on these criteria. -- -Your letter of interest should provide the required detail, but legibility, conciseness, clarity and brevity are important since they will facilitate the Government s evaluation. -- -Sig natories and Points of Contact Letters of interest shall be signed on the first page by an individual with power to bind the offeror. -- -A Point of Contact (POC) with authority to answer questions and negotiate with the Government shall be identified on the first page, together with an address, telephone number and FAX number, and email address (where available), at which the POC can be reached. -- -Page Limits -- -Your response should be prepared on standard 8.5 x 11 inch paper, numbered and printed single-sided, with font no smaller than 12 point. The page limit for your proposal in response to this invitation is 11 pages total including a one page transmittal letter/summary of your proposal. The material addressing the evaluation criteria shall be clearly related to the specific criterion being addressed by using the evaluation criterion number (e.g., 3.1 for the Training criterion under 3.0, In-Kind Contribution to Program.). Technical specifications and descriptive brochures are not subject to the page limit. -- -EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGIES SOUGHT -- - The Mobile Showcase Platform -- -The Government is seeking proposals offering use of at least one 40-foot, low-floor diesel-electric hybrid transit bus as a platform for the Mobile Showcase. The bus will be converted to be an interactive, participatory learning environment. Buses using other fuels and configurations will also be considered. Provisions must be made to enable disabled persons to access the vehicle when in display mode. Because the vehicle may sometimes be driven from site to site, and will likely be driven in demonstration mode, the fuel it uses should be readily available across the country and should not impose serious restrictions on where it can be driven and displayed. The desired features of the vehicle and its proposed use are described in detail in Appendix One to the Program Plan. -- -Mobile Showcase Technology Displays -- - The Government is seeking proposals from equipment manufacturers and vendors for various APTS technologies, to be exhibited both in operation and in non-operational displays. Integrated equipment and exhibits will be changed on a regular basis to ensure that the latest technologies are being exhibited and to demonstrate offerings from a broad spectrum of participants. -- -A non-exclusive list of technologies that may be demonstrated and displayed in the Mobile Showcas e is included in Appendix Two of the Program Plan. The desired technologies cover service, safety and security, fare collection and passenger counting, operation and passenger information, and communications. One of the most important elements of the program is demonstrating how these different technologies, coming from different vendors, can be integrated into a single system. Since the Mobile Showcase will serve to both show the industry that technologies can be integrated and to identify barriers and issues related to integration and interoperability, proposals should describe what will be required to integrate the proposed equipment with that of other vendors. This is particularly important because the Government intends to rotate equipment on and off the bus to enable many manufac turers to participate. -- -Operation and Maintenance -- -Partners providing equipment for display on the Mobile Showcase will be expected to provide training to the Mobile Showcase staff in operation and general maintenance of their equipment. Manufacturers and vendors interested in participating are asked to provide technical information regarding installation and maintenance of the equipment, and state how Mobile Showcase staff will be trained in operation and routine maintenance. -- -CONTENTS OF THE PROPOSAL -- -A. Letter of Interest. At a minimum, the letter will identify the name of the company(ies) submitting the proposal and summarize the proposal contents. -- -B. Technical Information -- -Transit Bus Platform -- -Identify and describe each bus proposed as a platform for the Mobile Showcase op erational demonstrations and the extent to which it will meet the needs of the program. -- -Provide complete technical specifications for the proposed vehicle. Describe any modifications necessary to enable the bus to meet the goals of the program and indicate whether such modifications will be provided and how long they are anticipated to take. -- -State whether the bus conforms to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. ''12101 et seq.. -- - How soon will the bus be available? Will the bus remain available for the five-year maximum period of the program? -- -Equipment and Technology -- -Identify the equipment and technology proposed forinclusion in the Mobile Showcase. Explain how it will meet the goals of the program: to promote and demonstrate cuttin g-edge APTS technologies; to research and demonstrate technology integration issues; and to evaluate the need for transit industry integration standards. -- -Provide detailed technical specifications. Include descriptive brochures if available. -- -State whether or not the product meets national architecture standards. State whether the equipment meets the Buy America requirements of 49 C.F.R. Part 661 for equipment produced in the United States. -- -Discuss the probable ease of integration of the equipment or technology proposed with equipment from other manufacturers and vendors and estimate how much effort will be required to effect such integration. -- -State the current availability of the proposed products. If the proposed equipment is other than proven off-the-shelf technology, describ e what support will be available to ensure its reliability. -- -Describe any proposalfor technology refreshment or change-out during the term of the Mobile Showcase. -- -Describe any limitations such as type of use, or length of time, that may apply to any equipment or technology proposed for the program. -- -C. Other Terms -- - In-Kind Contributions -- -Describe the extent of your commitment to provide training, support, or staff assistance to the Mobile Showcase. -- -Describe any educational or descriptive materials or exhibits you will provide for use in the Mobile Showcase. -- - Describe any other in-kind contributions you are willing to provide. -- -Financial Contributions -- -Describe the extent of any financial contributions you are prepared to commit for the support of the Mobile Showcase over t he three to five year project life. -- - Background, Business History and Financial Capability -- -Please provide sufficient background and financial information to allow the Government to determine whether your firm has the capability to fulfill its proposed commitment to the program for three to five years. The amount of information necessary will depend on the nature of the equipment or technology proposed. -- -Acceptance of the CRADA -- -Are there any terms of the draft CRADA which you would be unwilling to accept? If so, please explain your objection. -- -The Volpe Center is using electronic commerce to issue this Invitation and amendments to this Invitation. These documents will be available on a WWW server which may be accessed using Web browsers. The WWW address, or URL, of the Volpe Ce nter Acquisition Division home page is: http://www.volpe.dot.gov/procure/current.html. Potential Partners desiring to receive electronic notification of the solicitation's posting and availability for downloading may register at the Volpe Center site. Potential Partners are warned that when they register to receive solicitations, amendments and other notices, the responsibility for providing the Government with an accurate and complete e-mail address lies with the contractor. The Government will make no additional efforts to deliver information when the system indicates that transmissions cannot be delivered to the e-mail address provided. -- - The contents of the two attachments to this invitation will be posted on the Volpe Center s acquisition Web page at http://www.volpe.dot.gov/procur e/current.html as well as FTA s Web page http://www.fta.dot.gov/new. If you do not have access to the Web, please submit to Matthew Rabkin a written request via fax ((617) 494-3260) or letter at: Matthew Rabkin, US DOT/ Volpe Center, DTS-49, 55 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142 -- -Attachment A APTS Mobile Showcase Program Plan -- -Attachment B APTS Mobile Showcase Program Evaluation Criteria WEB: Volpe Center Acquisition Division home page, http://www.volpe.dot.gov/procure/index.html. E-MAIL: APTS Mobile Showcase Program Manager, rabkin@volpe.dot.gov. Posted 02/03/99 (D-SN294199).

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