STATEMENT OF ISSUE
The City Commission approved StarMetro as the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for Leon County in February, 2002. As the CTC, StarMetro is responsible for soliciting for transportation carriers to provide ambulatory and wheelchair transportation county-wide. An Invitation for Bid was recently opened with two carriers submitting proposals. These carriers are Big Bend Transit, Inc. (Big Bend) and Sessaly Rose Transit, Inc. (Sessaly Rose).
StarMetro has reviewed the submittals and determined Big Bend and Sessaly Rose are the carriers meeting the requirements and standards established to be a transportation carrier for Tallahassee and Leon County residents. The Invitation for Bid stated the service could be split between vendors. The workload associated with this service would support two carriers. Having two carriers would provide more flexibility in delivery of service.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Option 1 - Award of bid to Big Bend and Sessaly Rose, based on the proposals received, and authorization to develop and execute agreements.
FISCAL IMPACT
StarMetro receives annual funding in the amount of approximately $1,329,000 from various agencies (i.e., Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, Leon County, Florida Department of Transportation, etc.) to fund the cost of providing transportation services to the residents of Tallahassee and Leon County. The annual expenditures for this program should not exceed this estimated amount. StarMetro monitors each program to ensure the expenses do not exceed the yearly allocations. This item has been reviewed by the Budget Office and Procurement and it meets City budget guidelines.
Ronald Garrison, Executive Director, StarMetro
Anita Favors Thompson, City Manager
For information, please contact: Donna Peacock, Superintendent Paratransit Ops., ext. 5196
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL/ISSUE ANALYSIS
HISTORY/FACTS & ISSUES
Chapter 427.11, Florida Statutes and Rule 41-2, Florida Administrative Code require that all Florida counties provide services for the transportation disadvantaged. Florida residents are considered transportation disadvantaged if they are physically, mentally, or economically unable to provide their own transportation. The Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged oversees the disbursement of funds and operation of the Transportation Disadvantaged Program in each county. StarMetro was designated the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for Leon County.
Trips provided to the transportation disadvantaged population in Leon County fall into two categories; sponsored and non-sponsored. A sponsored trip is funded by other sources, usually a state agency or social service agency, such as Medicaid, Vocational Rehabilitation, or Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Non-sponsored trips are those trips paid for by funding directly from grant sources - the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, the Federal Transit Administration and Leon County. In Tallahassee and Leon County there are approximately 90,000 one-way paratransit trips made annually under the coordinated system. The total CTC Budget for 2008 was $1,711,188.
The Invitation for Bid was issued on January 18, 2009, with addendums issued to written questions and requests for clarifications that were received from interested vendors. This assured that all interested vendors would be able to participate in the bid process.
Based on the submittals, Big Bend and Sessaly Rose have met the requirements and standards established to be a transportation carrier for Tallahassee and Leon County residents. The portion of service to be provided will be negotiated with each carrier based on capabilities.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
The Charitable Contributions information was provided in the bid packet published. Unfortunately, neither of the two bidders chose to submit information indicating contributions in our community.
OPTIONS
1. Award of bid to Big Bend and Sessaly Rose, based on the proposals received, and authorization to develop and execute agreements.
Pros: Continued paratransit service to the citizens of our area through the Community Transportation program.
Cons: Current carrier contracts expire March 31, 2009. Without contracts in place, no service can be provided to riders under the CTC program.
2. Do not approve award of bid and provide additional information for provision of service.
Pros: The City of Tallahassee would not be able to provide transportation services and could no longer be the CTC.
Cons: Paratransit services for these program riders would be provided by a private entity.
ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES