ROMO Shuttle Bus Service Acquisition This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to solicit industry feedback regarding the development of the acquisition strategy and request for proposal for a new shuttle service being proposed to service Rocky Mountain National Park. The purpose of the acquisition is to link the gateway community of Estes Park with the existing shuttle system in Rocky Mountain National Park. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: An experimental shuttle service is being proposed to link the gateway community of Estes Park, Colorado with the existing shuttle system in Rocky Mountain National Park (ROMO). ROMO has contracted for a Visitor Shuttle Transportation System within the park boundaries since 1978. The current system is very popular with visitors and is a critical tool in meeting the park's visitor management goals. Transportation Studies in 2000-2002 strongly recommend a seamless transportation system between the park and the gateway community of Estes Park. This type of system will encourage visitors to leave their vehicles outside the park and serve as a means to help manage congestion. This proposed experimental service will operate approximately 12 hours per day from approx. July 4th weekend through Labor Day weekend. The route will be from Estes Park's new visitor center to the park's existing shuttle staging area on the Bear Lake Road, with one stop at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. The distance is 8 miles one way. The timed round trip route is 1 hour, thus there is proposed 12 daily trips between the park and the town on an hourly basis. Approx. 69 days x 13 hours = 897 service hours. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION: Visitor Safety - minimum criteria for the one shuttle bus on this route to maximize visitor safety and convenience. At a minimum, the bus on this route must: - be no older than 10 years, - be a maximum of 35 feet in length and seat 28 adult passengers, - meet USDOT, OSHA and CDOT safety standards, - meet current state and federal emissions standards and be tested regularly, - meet ADA requirements, such that they are able to accommodate physically challenged riders, Lift U or Ricon wheelchair lift or equivalent, - have large viewing windows, heating and air conditioning to maintain the passenger compartment at temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees F., - have entry/exit locations at both front and back of the bus and must offload on the right side, - include interior railings for standees to hold onto, - be free of advertising, unless provided by the NPS. - be of a neutral color, such as white or light beige, to ensure a measure of conformity with the existing shuttle system in the park. - The internal seating area and windows must be cleaned daily. The bus must be washed a minimum of twice weekly. All cleaning, maintenance and fueling must be arranged for in the community of Estes Park. There are no facilities within Rocky Mountain National Park. ACQUISITION OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this RFI is to gain market research in order to determine the level of interest from potential contractors, in order to formulate the proper acquisition strategy. PERFORMANCE-BASED: Proposals will be solicited using performance-based service contracting principles including use of a Performance Work Statement approach to define the requirements. TERM: The contract term is anticipated to include a base period of one year, with four one-year options to extend the contract at the Governments discretion. SUBMITTAL: If interested, please submit a summary business plan, including estimated cost, that addresses the proposed projected identified above. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Responses to this RFI should be in a Word.doc, not to exceed ten (10) pages. Responses should be submitted, via e-mail, to Katie Hoover at the following address
[email protected] or via fax at 303-969-2992. Responses must be submitted no later than November 30, 2005.