Eastern Wake Microtransit Operations

The Town of Wendell, in partnership with Wake County and the Towns of Knightdale and Zebulon, is soliciting proposals for a turnkey microtransit operational strategy in Eastern Wake County. The selected firm will be responsible for the design, implementation, and full operation of a dynamic on-demand service intended to replace the SmartRide Northeast system starting July 1, 2027. The scope of work requires the provider to supply all necessary labor, capital, technology, and administrative capacity, including a vehicle fleet that is leased, maintained, and insured. Key operational requirements include a mobile software application, multi-lingual call-in dispatch, and a maximum 30-minute wait time, with a specific mandate to ensure at least one wheelchair-accessible vehicle is in service at all times. Proposals are due by November 16, 2026, via the North Carolina Electronic Vendor Portal and must include a cover letter, qualifications, three references from the past five years, and a cost proposal submitted in Excel. The Town will rank proposals and negotiate with the top-ranked firm, with the possibility of awarding by individual task or total proposal. Evaluation will be based on a scoring system from 0 to 3 across weighted criteria. Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Wake Transit guidelines is mandatory. While a base budget is not specified, the RFP mentions an alternative case for service enhancements with an annual budget not to exceed 1.3 million dollars.