Submitted By: Tom Duncan
presenter
Presentation By: Tom Duncan
end
Department: Growth Management
FORMAL TITLE:
title
Award of contract with HDR Engineering, Inc., for the provision of comprehensive operational analysis services for the SunTran transit system in an amount not to exceed $215,998
end
OCALA'S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Fiscally Sustainable, Operational Excellence
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
Bid released to public: January 20, 2026
body
BACKGROUND:
A comprehensive operational analysis (COA) is a tool used in transit planning practice to assess system performance, including route productivity, financial and operational feasibility, service efficiency, and network coverage. SunTran's last COA was completed in early 2016. Since that time, the system has experienced changes in ridership patterns, service levels, and community growth, along with increased financial demands for operations, maintenance, and service delivery. As a result, the current service structure may no longer fully align with existing demand or available resources.
Conducting a COA supports performance-based planning principles established by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under 49 CFR Parts 613 and 450, which emphasize data-driven decision-making and the ongoing evaluation of transit services. The analysis will provide a framework for assessing current operations and developing recommendations to improve efficiency, service quality, financial planning, and long-term system performance.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
On January 20, 2026, the City issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) No. SUN/260384 for the procurement of professional services from a qualified firm to perform a COA. Six proposals were received and the City's Selection Committee convened on April 14, 2026, to review and evaluate the proposals in accordance with the established scope of work. HDR Engineering, Inc. was found to be the highest-ranked firm.
Staff recommends awarding the contract to HDR...
Click here for full text