Northeast Florida Regional Planning Council
Request for Letters of Interest and Qualifications
The Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC) is seeking qualifications of entities interested in coordinating transportation services for the transportation disadvantaged in each of the following Counties in Florida: Baker, Clay, Putnam and St. Johns. The selected entities will be recommended by the NEFRC to be the designated Community Transportation Coordinator for the Transportation Disadvantaged Program, as authorized by Chapter 427, Florida Statutes (F.S.) and more fully described in Rule 41-2 of the Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). Potential respondents are advised to familiarize themselves with the program requirements of Community Transportation Coordinators before responding to this solicitation.
The Community Transportation Coordinator is defined by Chapter 427, F.S. as a transportation entity recommended by the appropriate designated official planning agency to ensure that coordinated transportation services are provided to the transportation disadvantaged population in a designated service area. The Community Transportation Coordinator has full responsibility for the delivery of transportation services for the transportation disadvantaged as outlined in s. 427.015(2), F.S.
The transportation disadvantaged are defined by Chapter 427, F.S. as “those persons who because of physical or mental disability, income status, or age are unable to transport themselves or purchase transportation and are, therefore, dependent upon others to obtain access to health care, employment, education, shopping, social activities or other life sustaining activities or children who are handicapped or high-risk or at-risk as defined in s. 411.202, F.S.”
Respondents are required to provide the following as proof of qualifications, and to provide this information in a separate response for each County: 1) a summary of the respondent’s transportation coordination experience; 2) a list of scheduling and routing software used by the organization; 3) a list of vehicles to be used or a method to be used to provide vehicles; 4) a current financial statement of the responding entity; and 5) an organizational chart for the responding entity. In addition, respondents are required to provide a detailed letter that discusses their expertise, overall capabilities, recent experience with similar programs, and proposed method of providing cost-effective and sustainable services.
Respondents will be deemed to be qualified if they respond fully to all requirements noted above and if their approach is deemed by NEFRC to describe a method of providing cost effective and sustainable services meeting program requirements. Potential providers should submit one response per County. Each response must include three (3) copies of their expression of interest and qualifications in a sealed envelope, to the Northeast Florida Regional Council, Attention: Ms. Donna Starling, Chief Financial Officer, 6850 Belfort Oaks Place, Jacksonville, Florida, 32216. Letters must be marked, “LETTER OF INTEREST AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR ________________ COUNTY COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR.” Letters of interest and qualifications must be received by 5:00 p.m., on November 30, 2015.
Questions should be submitted via email addressed to: Ms. Margo Moehring at design@nefrc.org. All questions received by 5:00 p.m. on November 20, 2015 will be answered and posted on the webpage at http://www.nefrc.org/Transporation_Planning.htm. No question received after that date and time will be answered. Respondents may not contact Ms. Moehring in any other format or any other NEFRC staff person or Board Member in any format regarding this request from the date of advertisement until after the announcement of award. Violation of this requirement may be grounds for rejecting a response.
Faxed and emailed responses to this request WILL NOT be accepted. Responses received after the deadline will be returned unopened with the notation, “This letter of interest was received after the delivery time designated for receipt and opening in the legal notice.” If more than one responsive and qualified provider is identified, a request for proposals may be issued. Only responsive and qualified respondents to this request for letters of interest and qualifications will be eligible to participant in the request for proposals, if issued.
The Northeast Florida Regional Council reserves the right to accept or reject any and all responses in the best interest of the State.
