The transit
agency will either follow a
standard procurement process
(Request for Proposals, etc) or
work with existing Vendor to
verify that their existing or
proposed system complies with
the agency’s system requirements
by following our VRV
process.
The VRV
document is to provide the
vendor with the transit agency’s
system requirements, identified
and documented in the System
Requirement Specification (SRS). Together with us, the transit agency will use the
VRV process and this document to
validate that Vendor addresses
all requirements.
Vendor Requirement
Verification (VRV) Process
During the
VRV process, the Agency will ask
the vendor(s) to meet on site
and be prepared to demonstrate
their product(s) that are being
proposed for implementation
including any “on-vehicle”
hardware components such as
MDD’s. The vendor will
have the opportunity to review
the Agency System Requirement
Specifications (SRS) document
and evaluate each requirement to
be demonstrated.
Request for Proposal
(RFP) Development Process
Development of an RFP
for an Intelligent
Transportation System is a
complex and “usually” a one-time
event. The RFP must be capable
of soliciting proposals that
may include the following:
• Installation and
implementation of Transit
Management Software.
• Installation and
implementation of “Onboard
Vehicle” hardware and software
components.
• Development of any interfaces
between dispatch center, vehicle
and passenger.
• Provide the ability to upload
Medicaid customer and trips to Transit
Management Software, if required
• Identify implementation
timeline and associated costs
We will
prepare an initial RFP, which
would include the Agency’s
requirements and any
Federal/State clauses or
documents. The
requirements are based on ITS
Needs Assessment Study
originally performed by us.
(See Needs Assessment Consulting
by EPV.) While ITS systems
are very robust, they all very
similar somewhat in the features
they offer. We have developed a
process for helping the Agency
prioritize their requirements. The resultant requirements
priority list is an invaluable
tool for the Agency and the
Vendor during the procurement
process.
We then use
our system integration
background to assist the agency
in selecting top vendors and
solutions by reviewing all
proposed Vendor solutions, including their costs. We would then help the Agency
compare the Vendor’s “features,
functions and benefits”
statements to their own
requirement priority list and
how they measured against the
Agency’s budget.
Once the Vendor list is set,
we
will develop a schedule for
Vendor On-site demonstrations
and work with Vendors to
develop a demonstration flow
that uses the Agency’s own data
integrated with the Vendor’s solution.
Our role at this stage is to
make sure all items are surfaced
and addressed. While it is
easy to overlook important
features or services when
comparing similar ITS systems,
we will assist the Agency with
their final selection.