Erie County - Rural Transportation Services in Erie County - RFP #2026-055VF (2026)
Erie CountyCounty · Buffalo, NY- Due
- Nov 20, 2026
- 23 days left
- Posted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Contract term
- 5 years
- Primary contact
- Paul D’Orlando
- (716) 858-2194
The 30-second brief
The County of Erie is seeking a qualified Not-For-Profit (NFP) organization to administer, operate, and maintain the Rural Transit Service (RTS) van program across multiple towns and villages. The scope involves volunteer recruitment and training, client intake and eligibility determination under HUD guidelines, van maintenance and equipment management, promotional presentations, dispatch logging, and general program administration. Proposals are due by November 20, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. The contract term is for a five-year period commencing April 1, 2027, with an optional one-year extension.
Administration, Operation and maintenance of the Rural Transportation Van Program, Volunteer recruitment and training, CDBG project description and budget application preparation, Van equipment and maintenance management, Rider donations deposit and recordkeeping, Brochures and flyers creation, Client intake and eligibility qualification, Community activities coordination, Public presentations, Publicity and photography, Emergency procedures, RSVP administration, Hire and work fare programs management, Driver and dispatch logs maintenance, Client complaints resolution, Office, Accounting and secretarial services, Budget breakdown preparation
Proposer's demonstrated capability to provide the services, Professional qualifications and personal background/resumes of individuals involved, Proposer's experience to perform the proposed services, Financial ability to provide the services, Evaluation of fee submission, Completeness and responsiveness of the proposal, Projected approach and plans to meet requirements, Interview results and presentation
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Summary
The County of Erie is seeking a qualified Not-For-Profit (NFP) organization to administer, operate, and maintain the Rural Transit Service (RTS) van program across multiple towns and villages.
The scope involves volunteer recruitment and training, client intake and eligibility determination under HUD guidelines, van maintenance and equipment management, promotional presentations, dispatch logging, and general program administration. Proposals are due by November 20, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. The contract term is for a five-year period commencing April 1, 2027, with an optional one-year extension.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
8- Proposer's demonstrated capability to provide the services
- Professional qualifications and personal background/resumes of individuals involved
- Proposer's experience to perform the proposed services
- Financial ability to provide the services
- Evaluation of fee submission
- Completeness and responsiveness of the proposal
- Projected approach and plans to meet requirements
- Interview results and presentation
REQUIRED DELIVERABLES
19- Administration
- Operation and maintenance of the Rural Transportation Van Program
- Volunteer recruitment and training
- CDBG project description and budget application preparation
- Van equipment and maintenance management
- Rider donations deposit and recordkeeping
- Brochures and flyers creation
- Client intake and eligibility qualification
- Community activities coordination
- Public presentations
- Publicity and photography
- Emergency procedures
- RSVP administration
- Hire and work fare programs management
- Driver and dispatch logs maintenance
- Client complaints resolution
- Office
- Accounting and secretarial services
- Budget breakdown preparation
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
5- Proposal Certification Schedule A
- Standard Insurance Certificate Schedule B
- Erie County certification letter for MBE/WBE
- Letter for Veteran Owned Business
- Cost proposal in a separate sealed envelope
REQUIRED STAFFING
4- Submit to
- Paul D’Orlando, Principal Contract Monitor, Erie County Department of Environment and Planning, Edward A. Rath County Office Building, 95 Franklin Street, Room 1014, Buffalo, New York 14202
- Duration
- 60 months
- Scope location
- Buffalo, NY
- Reported agency
- County of Erie
Questions about this RFP
How do I respond to this RFP from Erie County?
Review the full solicitation document for submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines. The submission deadline is November 20, 2026. The solicitation specifies required deliverables that must be addressed in your response. Be sure to include all required attachments as outlined in the solicitation. Submissions should be delivered to: Paul D’Orlando, Principal Contract Monitor, Erie County Department of Environment and Planning, Edward A. Rath County Office Building, 95 Franklin Street, Room 1014, Buffalo, New York 14202. For questions, contact Paul D’Orlando.
Can small businesses or minority-owned firms bid on this RFP?
Most government agencies, including Erie County in NY, encourage participation from small businesses, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MBE/WBE/DBE). Check the full solicitation for any small business participation goals.
What happens after the RFP submission deadline?
After the deadline, the issuing agency reviews all submissions against the stated evaluation criteria. This typically includes a compliance check, technical evaluation, cost analysis, and may involve oral presentations with shortlisted vendors.
Can I ask questions about this solicitation before submitting?
Yes, most solicitations allow vendors to submit questions during a designated period. The primary contact is Paul D’Orlando at (716) 858-2194. Questions and answers are typically shared with all prospective bidders.
What staffing is required for this project?
This solicitation outlines specific staffing requirements. The required roles include: project manager, secretary, account clerk, Van/Volunteer Coordinator. Proposers should demonstrate relevant qualifications and experience for each required role.
What are the key deliverables?
The solicitation specifies the following deliverables: Administration, Operation and maintenance of the Rural Transportation Van Program, Volunteer recruitment and training, CDBG project description and budget application preparation, Van equipment and maintenance management, Rider donations deposit and recordkeeping, Brochures and flyers creation, Clie. Proposals should clearly address how each deliverable will be met.
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What are the evaluation criteria for this solicitation?
This solicitation includes specific evaluation criteria that will be used to score proposals. The criteria include: "Proposer's demonstrated capability to provide the services, Professional qualifications and personal background/resumes of individuals involved, Proposer's experience to perform the proposed services,..." Vendors should carefully align their proposals with each criterion to maximize their score.
Where can I find more RFPs from Erie County?
All active and historical solicitations from Erie County are tracked and searchable. As a county agency, Erie County regularly publishes solicitations. Visit the agency profile to see current open bids, past contracts, vendor relationships, and decision-maker contacts.
What is the contract term for this solicitation?
The anticipated contract term is 5 years. Contract terms may include renewal options.
Is this solicitation still open for submissions?
Based on the posted deadline of November 20, 2026, this solicitation appears to still be accepting submissions. Deadlines may change through amendments or addenda, so always verify the current status directly with the issuing agency before preparing your response.
What documents are required to bid on this RFP?
Requirements vary by solicitation, but common documents include a technical proposal, cost/price proposal, proof of insurance, relevant certifications, past performance references, and any forms specified in the solicitation. This solicitation specifically requires the following attachments: Proposal Certification Schedule A, Standard Insurance Certificate Schedule B, Erie County certification letter for MBE/WBE, letter for Veteran Owned Business, cost proposal in a separate sealed envelo. Additionally, proposals should address staffing requirements as outlined in the solicitation. Review the full document from Erie County for the complete list.
What is the scope of this project?
This solicitation defines a specific project scope. The scope covers the following locations: Buffalo, NY. Review the full solicitation for detailed scope requirements.