title
Authorize the Town Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Sole Source Contract to Purchase Replacement Mobile Data Terminals for EZ Rider Transit Vehicles.
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Staff:
Department:
Brian Litchfield, Director
Transit
Overview: Transit needs to replace 21 mobile data terminals (on-board computers for its EZ Rider demand-response vehicles) that use 3G cellular technology which is scheduled to be discontinued in 2020. The new units will integrate with existing proprietary software that the Town has been using since 2008. The contract will include the equipment, installation support, on-site training, and equipment warranty.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council authorize the Town Manager to negotiate and execute a sole source contract to purchase replacement Mobile Data Terminals from Trapeze Software Group, Inc.
Decision Points:
* Sole source purchases must be approved by the governing board of a political subdivision of the State pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-129(e) (6)1.
Background
EZ Rider is a shared-ride, public transportation for individuals with a disability or health condition that prevents them from using Chapel Hill Transit's fixed-route bus services for some or all of their trips. This program was developed to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
To ensure program compliance, mobile data terminals were integrated into EZ Rider vehicles to improve on-time performance, streamline operations and reporting, improve customer service by eliminating paper reservation forms, and allow instant updates on pick-up and drop-off records.
Key Issues:
* Federal requirements stipulate that Chapel Hill Transit must accurately report its ADA service levels and performance.
* To continue meeting these requirements, the mobile data terminals must integrate with the proprietary supporting software. The software vendor (Trapeze) is the only source for these mobile data terminals. The current mobile data terminals in the fleet were in...
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