New Orleans Ferry Services (RFP)

The RTA is seeking to engage a qualified firm, or a joint venture of qualified firms, to provide the day-to-day O&M services for the public Ferry Services crossing the Mississippi River in New Orleans and the vicinity.

Request for Proposals

On September 13, 2019, the RTA released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit submittals from qualified proposers for the provision of Ferry Service Operations and Maintenance (O&M).
 

Purpose

The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP), released September 13, 2019, is to solicit competitive sealed proposals from qualified proposers for the provision of Ferry Service Operations and Maintenance (O&M). The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is seeking to engage a qualified firm, or a joint venture of qualified firms, to provide the day-to-­day O&M services for the public Ferry Services crossing the Mississippi River in New Orleans and the vicinity.

 
Addendum I
Addendum 2
Addendum 3

The RTA is launching an RFP to select a proposer with a proven record of accomplishment, expertise, and experience in waterborne transportation management and operations. The selected proposer will be responsible for the operation of passenger and vehicular ferry services on the Mississippi River between Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard Parishes, as well as maintenance of associated movable and immovable assets.​

1. 1. Contracting entity: New Orleans Regional Transit Authority

2. 2. Entity responsible for the contracting decision: New Orleans Regional Transit Authority Board of Commissioners

3. 3. Objective of procurement: Operation and Maintenance of the Regional Transit Authority’s passenger and vehicular ferry services, including maintenance of associated movable and immovable assets.

4. 4. Place of implementation: New Orleans and Chalmette, Louisiana

5. 5. Period of implementation: three years plus two one-year optional extensions at the RTA’s sole discretion.

​Supplemental Documents and Information

• Full Cooperative Endeavor Agreement for Ferry Services (including asset inventory as of 2013)

• Certificates of Inspection (In Service Ferry Vessels)

• Maintenance Plans

• Transit Asset Management Plan

• Agency and Operating Information

• Archive of documents related to RFP 2019-005, issued on January 4, 2019 to solicit O&M contractor for all of the RTA’s transit modes.

Timeline

Conference and Facility Tour

• September 23, 2019: A non‐mandatory Pre‐proposal Conference will be held on September 23, 2019 at 1:00 PM CDT at RTA Headquarters, 2817 Canal St., New Orleans, LA.  Prospective proposers will also be offered a tour of the ferry assets on that day, following the Pre-proposal Conference.​

Request for Proposals

• September 13, 2019: Request for Proposals will be released

• October 16, 2019: Deadline to submit written questions to RTA (by 4:00 PM)

• October 30, 2019: Answers to questions and any additional information will be posted to www.RTAforward.org.

• November 7, 2019: Deadline for proposal submissions (Proposals must be submitted by 4:00 PM.)

Evaluation and Selection

• December 17, 2019: RTA will select the successful bidder.

Negotiation and Mobilization

• RTA and the selected proposer will negotiate final terms of the contract and ramp up for smooth transition.

Commencement of Service

• The new contract will commence on February 1, 2020.

RTA reserves the right to amend this schedule at its sole discretion.