Title
Dept/ Agency: Engineering
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Authorizing use of Competitive Contracting
Purpose: Authorizing the use of Competitive Contracting to award a one (1) year contract for a Micro-Transit Pilot Program.
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
(X) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions (X) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale ( ) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
Additional Information:
This Resolution authorizes the use of Competitive Contracting for the procurement of Micro-Transit services to expand transit access to residents in “transit deserts” within the City of Newark.
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WHEREAS, the City of Newark (“the City”) desires to expand transit access to currently underserved “transit deserts” across the City, which are defined as areas that either have a limited supply of affordable transit options, inadequate transit service, or transit that is not within reasonable proximity for easy access. These areas include, but are not limited to, the South Ward, West Ward, and all neighborhoods in the City that are underserved; and
WHEREAS, this Micro-Transit service will connect passengers to essential transit services that provide links to Essex County and all of New Jersey, as well as to local businesses and other key locations within the City, using similar methods employed by private ride-hailing services. This service will be provided for a rider fee and a fixed per-ride subsidy provided by the City, to be established through the Request for Proposals (RFP) process; and
WHEREAS, the services to be provided are concessions under N.J.S.A. 40A:11-2(37), and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1(j), competitive contracting via RFP may be used for concessions. The contract award will be based upon the most advantageous price and other factors that will be identified in the RFP that the City will publicly advertise; and
WHEREAS, the City does not foresee any risk in awarding this concession because it expects the concession contractor to indemnify the City in connection with the establishment of the service; and
WHEREAS, the City expects to incur an annual cost for this service and plans to use funding from the 2024 operating budget for this project. The City will seek to cover any costs through alternative funding sources and/or in future operating and capital budgets; and
WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.3(a) requires the adoption of a resolution authorizing the use of competitive contracting when the City desires to contract for the types of goods or services described under N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1 et seq.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Municipal Council hereby authorizes the Mayor and/or his designee, the Acting Director of the Department of Engineering, to use competitive contracting, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1(j), to procure vendors to provide Micro-Transit services, to help provide and expand affordable transit access to currently underserved transit deserts within the City of Newark.
2. The competitive contracting process shall be administered by Qualified Purchasing Agent of the City of Newark, legal counsel, or the administrator of the contracting unit, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.3(b).
3. Any contract awarded under the competitive contracting process shall be made by resolution of the Municipal Council, subject to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.5.
STATEMENT
This Resolution authorizes the Mayor of the City of Newark and or his designee, the Acting Director of the Department of Engineering, to use competitive contracting for the procurement of vendors for the Micro-Transit Pilot program, to help provide and expand affordable transit access to currently underserved transit deserts within the City of Newark, for a one (1) year term.