title
Authorize the Town Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Sole Source Contract for Critical Hardware Upgrade with Cubic Transportation Systems Inc.
body
Staff:
Department:
Brian Litchfield, Transit Director
Nicholas[LC1] Pittman, Transit Planning Manager
Transit
Kathryn McMillan, Procurement Specialist
Overview: A critical upgrade is needed to the Cubic/Next Stop Hardware to maintain Transit's real-time passenger information systems.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council authorize the Town Manger to negotiate and execute a sole source contract to purchase a hardware upgrade with Cubic Transportation Systems Inc.
Background
In 2005, Chapel Hill Transit contracted with NextBus Inc, now part of Cubic Information Systems, Inc., following an issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) (#P06-103). Since that time, Cubic has been the sole provider of real-time passenger information for Transit's fixed route bus services.
Transit's real-time passenger information system provides customers with live up-to-the minute arrival information that can be accessed for all bus stops throughout the system. Through customer surveys, customers have indicated that over 65% of our riders use the NextBus system.
Cubic recently notified staff that AT&T will be sunsetting 3G cellular services which will affect the Driver Control Unit (DCU) utilized to communicate predictive real-time route estimates and communication with NextBus signs at stop locations. The only recourse is to update the DCU to a later model that has upgraded cellular access for $3,000 per unit. Without the hardware upgrades, the real-time passenger information system will no longer operate.
Fiscal Impact/Resources: The estimated cost for this purchase is $300,000. The purchase will be funded using Transit's Operating Budget.
Attachments:
* Resolution
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT FOR CRITICAL HARDWARE UPGRADE WITH CUBIC TRANSPOR...
Click here for full text