Metro Mobility South Zone, Contract 25P270

title Metro Mobility South Zone, Contract 25P270 memo District(s), member(s): All Policy/legal reference: FM 14-2 - Expenditures for the Procurement of Goods, Services, and Real Estate Policy Staff prepared/presented: Charles Carlson, Executive Director MTS; Andy Streasick, Assistant Director, MTS- Metro Mobility Division/department: Metropolitan Transportation Services (MTS) body Proposed Action That the Metropolitan Council authorize the Regional Administrator to negotiate and execute a contract with Transit Team to provide Metro Mobility Demand South Zone service in an amount not to exceed $368,000,000. Background Metro Mobility is a shared ride, demand response public transportation service for certified riders who are unable to use regular fixed-route buses due to a disability or health condition. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) every public entity operating a regular-route system must provide complementary paratransit service to individuals with disabilities who are unable to use regular-route. This federally mandated service must be provided within three-quarters of a mile on both sides of any all-day, local bus or rail route in the Twin Cities with comparable service levels. In addition, Minn. Stat. 473.386 requires the Metropolitan Council to provide greater access and door-through-door transportation for the elderly, people with disabilities, and others with special transportation needs. The Metro Mobility service area has three geographic zones (Metro West, Metro East and Metro South) that are served by three trip providers under separate contracts. Annually, over 1.9 million rides are delivered under these contracts. This contract will continue services for the entirety of Zone 3- Metro South beginning August 1, 2026. A Request for Proposal was issued on December 10, 2025. A pre-proposal was hosted by Council staff that outlined the requirements, discussed project specifications and responded to plan-holder inquiries. There were twenty-two plan holders, including four subcontractors, three plan rooms and three of the plan holders identified as minority, woman, small, veteran, or disadvantaged business enterprises. On December 10, 2025, the Council received two proposals to be evaluated for consideration of award. The evaluation panel reached consensus that the proposal submitted by Transit Team is the most advantageous to the Council and recommend for award. Rationale The execution of a professional service contract exceeding $2,000,000 requires Council approval. Thrive Lens On February 12, 2025, the Council adopted Imagine 2050, which builds on policy direction in Thrive MSP 2040. Through the Thrive lens, this item advances several key outcomes. This contract supports the Thrive outcome of Stewardship by providing paratransit service in areas of the region that would otherwise be unserved, increasing the average number of jobs accessible by transit. It also advances the outcome of Equity by connecting residents with disabilities to opportunities. Funding Funding for this service is included in the annual operating budget. Small Business Inclusion The Office of Civil Rights and Small Business Programs (OCRSB) assigned a Metropolitan Council Underutilized Business (MCUB) goal of 1.0% for this solicitation. OCRSB determined that the firm being recommended for award has met the MCUB requirements of this contract.