REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR CONTACTLESS FARE COLLECTION PLATFORM AND SUPPORTING SERVICES

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

FOR CONTACTLESS FARE COLLECTION PLATFORM AND SUPPORTING SERVICES

The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (“CTDOT”) is seeking proposals for a contractor to provide a Contactless Fare Collection Platform for bus services in the state of Connecticut. The Contactless Fare Collection Platform, at a minimum, shall consist of validators capable of accepting contactless EMV payments, fare calculation software, and mobile ticketing and supporting services.

The services provided shall be in accordance with the policies, standards, and procedures established by CTDOT, the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, and the State of Connecticut General Statutes and Regulations.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) documents, including instructions to submit your proposal, will be available on Thursday, January 22, 2026 on the CTSource Bid Board web site at https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/CTSource/BidBoard and search for solicitation #33365.

A Mandatory Pre-proposal Conference is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) virtual via Microsoft Teams. Attendance is mandatory for prospective proposers.

Prospective Proposers must register for the meeting via email to [email protected] by 3:00 p.m. EDT Wednesday, February 4, 2026. At least one (1) person or designated representative from a prospective Proposer shall be in attendance for the duration of this meeting. Failure to attend the mandatory meeting shall disqualify the prospective Proposer from further participation in the RFP process.

An electronic copy of the proposal is required and must be submitted to [email protected] and received by 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Six (6) mailed copies, which must be postmarked by Tuesday, April 7, 2026, are also required to be sent to State of Connecticut Department of Transportation, Attention: Daniel Baker, Office of Transit & Ridesharing, P.O. Box 317546, Newington, CT 06131-7546. Proposals postmarked after this date will be returned unopened. Hand-delivered copies are to be delivered to the Security Desk at CTDOT Headquarters, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, Connecticut.

CTDOT will execute an Agreement with the successful proposer for state-owned CTtransit services. The initial Agreement period will be for five (5) years, with the possibility of two (2) five (5) year extension exercisable by CTDOT solely in its discretion, for a potential maximum term of fifteen (15) years. Other regional transit agencies and services in the state of Connecticut listed in the RFP may enter into separate agreements with the successful proposer to join the Contactless Fare Collection Platform.

All firms/entities are advised that one copy of OPM Form 1, State of Connecticut “Campaign Contribution Certification”, is to be completed (at the time of Contract execution) for those contracts having an anticipated total value to the State of more than fifty thousand ($50,000) in a calendar or fiscal year. CTDOT will not shortlist or select a prospective firm/entity without this affidavit(s). The affidavit form can be found at the Office of Policy and Management web site at: https://portal.ct.gov/OPM/Fin-PSA/Forms/Ethics-Forms

Please do not staple or bind the affidavit in your submittal package.

CTDOT reserves the right to accept and/or reject any and all proposals.