Description
RIPTA is seeking a qualified towing provider to deliver 24‑hour, rapid‑response tow assistance for its fleet of transit buses, electric buses, paratransit vans, and other support vehicles across Rhode Island. The contractor must staff licensed drivers, maintain a fleet of tow trucks capable of handling heavy‑equipment vehicles, and meet strict response‑time requirements (within 1 hour for standard calls and 30 minutes for emergencies). The contract is a one‑year base period (Sept 1 2026 – Aug 31 2027) with up to four optional one‑year renewals, and the award will be made to the lowest overall cost compliant bidder.
• 24/7 availability with ≤ 1 hour response time (≤ 30 minutes for emergencies)
• Service coverage for ~250 tow calls per year, including 35‑ft, 40‑ft, electric, and paratransit vehicles
• Vendor must submit hourly rate worksheet, provide 5 % proposal guarantee, 100 % performance/payment bonds, and maintain $3 M CGL, $1 M automotive liability, and other insurance limits
• Funding split 80 % Federal (FTA) and 20 % RIPTA; no taxes applied
• DBE participation encouraged though goal is zero percent; all DBE paperwork required