Compressed Natural Gas Fueling Station Operation & Maintenance

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is seeking qualified contractors to provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for three compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations located at its Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana bus bases, under a three-year initial term beginning December 1, 2026, with two optional one-year extensions through November 30, 2031. The total budget for the initial term is $2,181,165.00, funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the contract is structured as a time and expense agreement with pricing based on a per Therm rate of CNG dispensed across seven volume tiers. Contractors must deliver turn-key services covering all equipment including CNG compressors, gas dryers, buffer storage containers, high-flow transit dispensers, and Fleetwatch fueling terminals connected to OCTA’s fuel management system, with full responsibility for labor, consumables, repairs, rebuilds, replacements, and preventative maintenance aligned with manufacturer recommendations. Compliance with strict availability standards is required, including eleven hours of fueling availability between 5:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. seven days a week and continuous availability of at least one bus dispenser for fourteen hours daily between 4:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., with liquidated damages of $250 per bus per day for non-compliance. Fuel quality must be maintained and validated through OCTA-approved third-party testing, with costs borne by the contractor if violations are found. Contractors are subject to extensive regulatory and safety requirements, including full compliance with federal, state, and local environmental laws such as EPA, California Code of Regulations, SCAQMD Rule 1166, and 49 CFR Part 172 for hazardous waste handling and disposal, with all waste generated from operations requiring advanced approval for disposal sites, use of only registered transporters, and advance notice to OCTA. Additional obligations include adherence to Cal/OSHA standards, NFPA and NEC codes for lightning protection, and mandatory PPE for all personnel, especially during railway work. Insurance mandates require commercial general liability and automobile liability coverage of $5 million per occurrence with OCTA named as an additional insured and with waiver of subrogation. Contractors must also comply with Federal Transit Administration Circular 4220.1F, the Privacy Act, and equal employment opportunity regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color