Pennsylvania Opens Bidding for New Paratransit Service Contract by March 2026

South Central Transit Authority (SCTA) has opened bidding for a new paratransit service contract. The deal will cover shared ride operations in Lancaster and Berks counties, Pennsylvania. Sealed proposals must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, via the PennBid platform.

The procurement follows a two-step process: a technical proposal and a sealed bid. Contractors will be assessed on cost-effectiveness, ADA compliance, fleet reliability, safety records, and on-time performance—with a minimum 95% threshold. Local hiring and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation are encouraged, though no discrimination will be applied.

All submissions remain binding for 60 days after the deadline. Contractors must comply with Non-Discrimination, Non-Collusion, Lobbying, Debarment, and Integrity laws. SCTA reserves the right to reject bids from non-responsible proposers, including their affiliates.

Questions about the RFP must be submitted through PennBid's 'Messages/Vendor Discussions' feature at least seven days before the cutoff. This process mirrors similar contracts awarded by 15 transit authorities in Pennsylvania and neighbouring states over the past five years.

The selected contractor will operate shared ride services in two Pennsylvania counties. The winning bid must meet strict performance and legal standards. Final decisions will align with state and federal procurement regulations.