RFP for 2026 511 and Express Lanes Operational Services

Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) invites your firm to submit a proposal for the 511 and Express Lanes Operational Services contract. As a result of this RFP, MTC intends to contract with an Operational Services Contractor (“OS Contractor”) to provide staffing, management, and related operational services for MTC’s 511 Operations Center and the Regional Operations Center (“ROC”).

The OS Contractor will be responsible for ensuring that staffing coverage is provided during normal operating hours as well as during emergency conditions affecting the transportation network. Additionally, the OS Contractor will be required to coordinate with Caltrans District 4, California Highway Patrol (CHP), local transit agencies, CAL FIRE, applicable regional and local fire protection agencies, and other MTC contractors. The staff in the 511 Operations Center and the Express Lane Operations Center are not currently unionized.

Any contract entered into as a result of this RFP will be funded, in whole or in part, with federal funds from FHWA.

The scope of work for the project is provided in *Appendix A, Scope of Work*. The firm selected to enter into a contract (“Consultant”) will be expected to perform all work and analysis necessary to complete the scope of work.

Through the ROC, the OS Contractor shall support: (1) BAIFA and partner-agency express lane operations; and (2) selected BATA-managed toll-bridge programs and facilities identified in *Appendix A, Scope of Work*, including existing toll operations, phased Open Road Tolling (“ORT”) monitoring, and Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Bike Shuttle and related operational coordination activities.

The OS Contractor will be required to provide staff to support operations for the 511 and Express Lanes programs at separate primary operating facilities. [...] For 511 Operations, the OS Contractor shall maintain onsite staffing coverage at the Caltrans District 4 Transportation Management Center Monday through Thursday. [...] ROC staff may operate primarily remotely; however, periodic onsite presence is required, including attendance at the ROC at least once per calendar quarter and additional onsite operational support or coordination activities as directed by MTC.

All OS Contractor and subcontractor personnel performing services, accessing MTC, BAIFA, or BATA systems, or handling toll system data or personally identifiable information (PII) shall be physically located within the United States while performing such work. Performance of Contract work and system access from outside the United States are prohibited.

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum of three (3) years of combined experience with one or more of the following: staffing and operating a 511 operations center, traveler information center; and/or staffing and operating an Express Lanes operations center, or other types of toll facilities or highway operations; and/or staffing, and operating a transportation management center, transit operations center, or other similar operations center
• Provided staffing and operations services for similar projects within the last 5 years.
• Project Manager who has a minimum of 3 years of experience relative to the scope of work described in *Appendix A, Scope of Work*.

**Submission method:** Interested firms must submit one electronic proposal, uploaded to https://mtc.bonfirehub.com by the closing date and time for receipt of proposals. Hard copy proposals, proposals submitted solely by email and faxed proposals will not be considered.

Interested firms must submit their Proposal by **4:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 3, 2026**. Online Vendor Registration is **required** to be eligible for contract award. Firms submitting proposals for contracts with federal funds must register on the SAM website at https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM prior to proposal submission.

Period of Performance

MTC expects the work to commence on or about April 01, 2027, and to be completed no later than June 30, 2030. At MTC’s sole option, the contract may be extended for up to four (4) additional one-year terms for work contemplated by *Appendix A, Scope of Work*.

Budget

MTC has budgeted approximately Thirteen Million Six Hundred Seventy-Seven Thousand Five Hundred dollars (**$13,677,500**) for this effort.

Proposals are evaluated by an evaluation panel against evaluation criteria, with interviews/discussions (if held) the week of December 14, 2026 and a possible request for Best and Final Offer. Insurance and bonds are addressed in *Appendix D-1, Insurance Requirements* and *Appendix D-2, Bonds to Accompany Contract*.