Request for Proposals No. RFI-2016-VM-004
Metrolinx is accepting Requests for Information (RFI) for Limited Use Media (LUM)
Metrolinx is an agency of the Government of Ontario and oversees the GO Transit, PRESTO, Regional Express Rail (“RER”) and the Union Pearson Express (“UPE”) divisions. Our goal is to create a transportation network that enhances the prosperity, sustainability and quality of life for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
PRESTO, a Division of Metrolinx, provides the PRESTO smart card fare payment system and services to GO Transit and eleven Municipal/Regional Transit Service Providers within the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area and Ottawa-Carleton.
PRESTO uses smart-card technology that stores funds in a secure account, replacing the need for tickets, tokens, passes or cash. When a transit rider taps their PRESTO card on a fare payment device, the electronic chip embedded in the card instantly calculates the fare and deducts it from their account or verifies your weekly/monthly pass.
Metrolinx is seeking information to understand the market for contactless NFC (“Near Field Communication”) LUMs (“Limited Use Media”) vendors that can meet the PRESTO division’s specific requirements. LUMs are designed to be a disposable, short term alternative to the PRESTO card that provides similar capabilities. LUMs are generally utilised by customers who require access to public transit but do not have a PRESTO card.
The purpose of this Request for Information (“RFI”) is to invite responses from vendors to provide the PRESTO division with information on both sourcing significant volumes of NFC enabled LUMS and to understand how the vendor can work with the PRESTO division to manage, distribute and support the media.
LUMs will be used to support multiple product types (i.e. single rides, short term pass products) and will be distributed through self-serve dispensers, resellers, related community agencies and through bulk sales to organizations who will be engaged in large volume purchases (e.g. conventions). In most cases, the PRESTO division expects product encoding of the LUM to occur when dispensed. In some cases, LUM media will require pre-encoding with a product and delivered to a bulk purchaser.
Metrolinx anticipates that approximately 500,000 pieces of media could be issued weekly through all channels.
Proposal Documents are available online at www.merx.com/metrolinx, Solicitation No RFI-2016-VM-004. Proponents are urged to select automatic notification of addenda issuance when registering on MERX.
It is the Proponent’s responsibility to ensure receipt of copies of all addenda issued. Information concerning the number of addenda issued and the date of issue of the most recent addendum can be found at www.merx.com.
Responses to the Request for Information will be accepted until 3:00 p.m. EST on November 15th, 2016 through Electronic Bid Submission (EBS) at MERX.
Metrolinx reserves the right to reject any or all Submissions at its sole discretion.
