CAT BUS EV CHARGER INSTALLATION

Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) will begin operating Battery Electric Buses (BEBs) in summer 2026, requiring the installation of fixed electric vehicle chargers at their transit parking lot located at 1545 Avon Street Extension, Charlottesville, VA. The project involves installing four ChargePoint Express Plus BEB chargers, equipment which CAT has already procured and received. Before charger installation can commence, the vendor must remove and demolish two specified light poles as detailed in the approved engineering plans created by Dewberry Engineering Inc. The project has secured all necessary permits from Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville, including commercial electrical (permit EC-25-0170) and building permits (permit ELCC-2025-00268), ensuring compliance with Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code through multiple inspection stages. Coordination with Dominion Energy is critical to connect the chargers to the power grid and ensure full operational readiness upon project completion. This solicitation (RFQ 26-87), issued by Charlottesville Area Transit with a response deadline in late March 2026, requires careful adherence to federal and local regulations. The contract incorporates Federal Transit Administration clauses governing civil rights, nondiscrimination, disadvantaged business enterprise participation, audit rights, and recordkeeping, reflecting the funding source and compliance needs. Vendors must maintain appropriate insurance coverage prior to performing services and provide certificates naming the City and its officials as additional insured. Site access instructions and loading zones for deliveries to City Hall are provided to facilitate logistics. Overall, the project is time-sensitive, demanding detailed coordination among contractors, the City, Dominion Energy, and CAT to ensure the installation of efficient, code-compliant charging infrastructure to support the transition to electric bus transit operations.