APPENDIX B
How to Use the Document Templates

Accompanying this guide is a set of document and agreement templates to use in assisting SUM planning and implementation. The templates were developed based on examples gathered from SUM projects and industry examples. They can be accessed at nationalacademies.org/publications by searching for NCHRP Research Report 1171: Public Transit and Ride Sharing for Rural, Tribal, and Frontier Agencies: A Guide and looking for “Document Templates.” These templates are intended to be a starting point for staff at transit agencies in need of a specific document or agreement type that can then be tailored based on local needs for a given on-demand service type.

The types of document and agreement templates included within the package available for download are RFI, RFP, Service Agreement, and Intergovernmental agreement. Table B-1 shows the available document templates and their applicability to different SUM service types.

While these templates do not represent an exhaustive list of templates that can be used to procure SUM services and technology, they represent the most commonly used types of procurement documents. Other types of procurement documents, such as request for solution (RFS) used by the State of Michigan, can be used to procure SUM services as well. The RFS approach is similar to an RFP in that it describes the scope of work, instructions to the respondent regarding the documents that must be submitted in response to the RFS, evaluation criteria that will be used to evaluate the responses, and other requirements that must be met by the respondent.

The templates include instructional text in tan boxes that guides the user through each section and provides considerations for how to complete the section information based on their particular agency and service circumstances; these text boxes should be deleted before the document is formally published.

There are also blue-highlighted text fields throughout the templates that should be replaced with the specific names, dates, numbers, and other values that are appropriate for the roles and terms that are applicable to the service. The blue highlighting and bold lettering are meant to draw attention to the text the user is developing in the document for their own purposes; once the placeholder text is replaced this formatting should be discarded.

Some sections or subsections in the templates may not be applicable to the specific circumstances of the userʼs organization. There are several sections with default legal language that may not be appropriate for the specific city/county/tribal government/state and should be replaced or edited as needed.

The remainder of this appendix outlines the document templates that are available (organized by applicability to type of SUM service) along with an accompanying brief description for each template.

Long Description.

The following document types are available for For-Hire Ride Services: RFI, RFP, and service agreement. Additionally, the intergovernmental agreement document type is applicable as relevant to the service partnership.

The following document types are available for Micromobility: RFI, RFP, and service agreement. Additionally, the intergovernmental agreement document type is applicable as relevant to the service partnership.

The following document types are available for Volunteer Driver Programs: RFI and RFP. Additionally, the intergovernmental agreement document type is applicable as relevant to the service partnership.

The following document types are available for Microtransit: RFI, RFP, and service agreement. Additionally, the intergovernmental agreement document type is applicable as relevant to the service partnership.

For-Hire Ride Service Templates

• RFI—Transportation Network Company (TNC)/Taxi for On-Demand Services. A document requesting information from respondents on available TNC, taxicab, or other similar non-dedicated provider services for fulfilling on-demand trip requests.
  • File name: RFI_TNCTaxi.docx
• RFP—TNC/Taxi for On-Demand Services. Document requesting proposals from respondents on available TNC, taxicab, or other similar non-dedicated provider services for fulfilling on-demand trip requests.
  • File name: RFP_TNCTaxi.docx
• Service Agreement—TNC/Taxi for On-Demand Services. Template for a service agreement with a non-dedicated service provider for fulfilling on-demand trip requests.
  • File name: SA_TNCTaxi.docx

Micromobility Templates

• RFI—Micromobility Technology Platform. A document requesting information from respondents on available technology systems/platforms that enable people to rent micromobility vehicles (such as bicycles or scooters) for short-term use.
  • File name: RFI_MicromobilityTech.docx
• RFI—Turnkey Micromobility Service. A document requesting information from respondents on available turnkey micromobility services providing and maintaining micromobility vehicles for short-term rentals.
  • File name: RFI_MicromobilityTurnkey.docx
• RFP—Micromobility Technology Platform. A document requesting proposals from respondents on available technology systems/platforms that enable people to rent micromobility vehicles for short-term use.
  • File name: RFP_MicromobilityTech.docx
• RFP—Turnkey Micromobility Service. A document requesting proposals from respondents on available turnkey micromobility services that provide and maintain micromobility vehicles for short-term rentals.
  • File name: RFP_MicromobilityTurnkey.docx
• Service Agreement—Turnkey Micromobility Service. A template for a service agreement with a turnkey micromobility service provider to implement and maintain a micromobility system, including the technology, vehicles, and stations (if applicable) for short-term rentals.
  • File name: SA_MicromobilityTurnkey.docx

Volunteer Driver Program Templates

• RFI—Technology Platform for Ridematching. A document requesting information from respondents on available technology systems/platforms that pair trip requests with service providers and/or pools of available drivers.
  • File name: RFI_TechPlatformRidematch.docx
• RFP—Technology Platform for Ridematching. A document requesting proposals from respondents on available technology systems/platforms that pair trip requests with service providers and/or pools of available drivers.
  • File name: RFP_TechPlatformRidematch.docx

Microtransit Templates

• RFI—Microtransit Technology Only. A document requesting information from respondents on available technology systems/platforms that provide pooled on-demand transportation with dynamic routing.
  • File name: RFI_MicrotransitTech.docx
• RFI—Turnkey Microtransit Service. A document requesting information from respondents on available turnkey microtransit services for pooled on-demand transportation with dynamic routing.
  • File name: RFI_MicrotransitTurnkey.docx
• RFP—Microtransit Technology Only. A document requesting proposals from respondents on available technology systems/platforms that provide pooled on-demand transportation with dynamic routing.
  • File name: RFP_MicrotransitTech.docx
• RFP—Turnkey Microtransit Service. A document requesting proposals from respondents on available turnkey microtransit services for pooled on-demand transportation with dynamic routing.
  • File name: RFP_MicrotransitTurnkey.docx
• Service Agreement—Turnkey Microtransit Service. A template for a service agreement with a turnkey microtransit service provider for pooled, on-demand transportation with dynamic routing.
  • File name: SA_MicrotransitTurnkey.docx

Intergovernmental Agreement Template

• A template for an intergovernmental agreement between two or more public entities to cooperate in the administration and/or cost sharing of a SUM service (e.g., microtransit, rideshare, micromobility, and mobility as a service) in their region.
  • File name: IGA.docx