RFP for Statewide Farebox Upgrade Project

The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation is soliciting proposals for a comprehensive statewide upgrade to its fixed-route bus fare collection system, requiring a fully integrated farebox solution capable of accepting, processing, and distributing electronic fare payments. The contractor is responsible for designing, manufacturing, installing, testing, and warranting all hardware and software components, including validating and non-registering fareboxes, garage computer systems, wireless access points, cloud and network infrastructure, test equipment, spare parts, and supporting documentation. Performance must comply with NEC, UL, SAE, and applicable state and local electrical codes, with all deliverables validated through Factory Acceptance Testing and Final System Acceptance conducted by CTDOT. Delivery and implementation must occur across all CTtransit and participating Transit Districts throughout Connecticut, with strict adherence to milestone-driven timelines tied to Notice to Proceed, training commencement, and installation schedules. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the CTSource portal and in eight hard copies by the September 16, 2026 deadline, structured into a 35-page technical volume excluding cover letter, key personnel resumes, and reference materials, alongside a separately submitted Excel-based pricing exhibit. Offerors must be registered to do business in Connecticut, submit detailed organizational charts and management plans within 60 days of notice to proceed, and provide security plans, test plans, and installation plans at specified intervals prior to key milestones. Critical deliverables include material safety data sheets, diagnostic tools, data schemas, and approved special tools, with all items requiring bar-code labeling for inventory tracking. The contract includes optional quantities for additional fareboxes, extended maintenance, extended warranty, and training services, though actual pricing has not been populated in the template. The only mandatory affirmation required is the Campaign Contribution Certification for contracts exceeding $50,000, with no small business set-aside, UEI/CAGE, or FAR clauses specified. All technical and administrative oversight is managed by Rahmane Camara, the designated project point of contact at CTDOT’s Office of Transit & Ridesharing.