Active SLED Opportunity · ILLINOIS · CITY OF AURORA, IL
AI Summary
The City of Aurora seeks qualified transportation providers for the C.A.R.S. Program, offering standard and accessible rides to seniors and individuals with disabilities. The RFP emphasizes ADA compliance, safety, and high-quality service to enhance mobility and independence.
The City of Aurora is seeking proposals from qualified transportation providers (Proposer) to support the continued implementation of the City of Aurora Ride Solution (C.A.R.S.) Program.
Now entering its third year, C.A.R.S. is a vital service designed to enhance the quality of life for Aurora residents aged 60 and older, and individuals living with disabilities, by offering reliable and safe transportation.
Through this RFP, the City seeks to contract with one or more organizations capable of delivering:
Standard Transportation Services (ambulatory) – curb-to-curb transportation for seniors who do not require mobility assistance.
Accessible Transportation Services (mobility-assisted) – door-to-door transportation for individuals with disabilities who require vehicles equipped with ramps, lifts, and securement systems (e.g., wheelchair straps).
Service expectations include:
Demand-responsive or advanced reservation scheduling
Private rides with the option for caregiver accompaniment
Proposers may submit proposals to provide either or both transportation service types. Proposals from organizations offering both standard and accessible services are encouraged. Additionally, proposals from contractors who intend to subcontract for accessible transportation services—while providing standard transportation directly—will also be considered, provided coordination and quality control measures are clearly defined.
The City is committed to providing access to transportation, rider dignity, and contractor excellence. Respondents should demonstrate experience serving aging and disabled populations, and a capacity to uphold ADA compliance, safety protocols, and high standards of customer care.
The City of Aurora recognizes the vital role that dependable transportation plays in ensuring the independence, health, and overall well-being of its residents—particularly seniors and individuals living with disabilities. Over the past several years, both community members and service providers have consistently identified transportation as a critical barrier to essential services such as medical care, nutrition, employment, and social connection.
Despite existing transportation options, many seniors and individuals with mobility challenges continue to face limitations in availability, access, and affordability. These ongoing gaps have emphasized the City’s responsibility to respond with thoughtful solutions.
In response, the City of Aurora launched the City of Aurora Ride Solution (C.A.R.S.) Program as a strategic approach to fill this transportation void. Now entering its third year, the program remains committed to enhancing mobility, dignity, and quality of life for aging and disabled residents through supplemental transportation services that are safe, flexible, and person-centered.
This RFP continues that commitment by seeking qualified providers to expand and sustain transportation options that are responsive to resident needs, and aligned with the City’s broader goals of access and aging-in-place.
The extent to which the firm’s proposal demonstrates successful current and past experience in performing similar work, including the level of achieved client satisfaction. Organization’s experience and qualifications in delivering transportation services for older adults and individuals with disabilities
The extent to which the firm's proposal is complete and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the solicitation/contract requirements. This includes elements such as its personnel program (hiring/firing/retention), personnel (key personnel, dispatchers, drivers, etc.), drug and alcohol program, and handling of complaints.
The extent to which the firm’s proposal demonstrates that it has the financial resources, skilled personnel, equipment, software, and facilities to perform the scope of work. This includes elements such as its financial capability, any leasing or financing agreements, personnel (dispatchers, drivers, etc.), fleet size and description, and record-keeping ability, operations plan, and maintenance program.
Does the proposed price represents fair market value for the services requested
See Submittal Content Section for more information.
Pricing shall not be mentioned anywhere in the body of the Technical Proposal.
See Submittal Content Section for more information.
Bid Deposit MUST be uploaded electronically with submission through the City’s E Procurement System, OpenGov. Upon notification from the City, Bidder’s must deliver ORIGINAL Bid Deposit within three (3) business days.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Sufficient references of all like public and/or private agencies must be presented below. Listing must include company name, contact person, telephone number and date purchased. All Proposers, as a condition of and prior to entry into a contract, agree that a complete background investigation of the principals of the Proposer and all employees who will work on the project may be made. Proposers agree to cooperate with the appropriate City of Aurora personnel to supply all information necessary to complete these investigations. The City of Aurora in its complete discretion may disqualify any Proposer, including low Proposer, and may void any contract previously entered into based on its background investigation.
Please provide the following information for each subcontractor:
Company:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Phone Number:
Contact Person:
By signing this Proposal, the Proposer hereby certifies that they are not barred from bidding on this Proposal as a result of a violation of Article 33E, Public Bids of the Illinois Criminal Code of 1961, as amended (Illinois Compiled Statutes, 720 ILCS 5/33E-1).
I/We hereby certify that:
A. A complete set of proposal papers, as intended, has been received, and that I/We will abide by the contents and/or information received and/or contained herein.
B. I/We have not entered into any collusion or other unethical practices with any person, firm, or employee of the City which would in any way be construed as unethical business practice.
C. I/We have adopted a written sexual harassment policy which is in accordance with the requirements of Federal, State and local laws, regulations and policies and further certify that I/We are also in compliance with all equal employment practice requirements contained in Public Act 87-1257 (effective July 1, 1993) and 775 ILCS 5/2-105 (A).
D. I/We operate a drug free environment and drugs are not allowed in the workplace or satellite locations as well as City of Aurora sites in accordance with the Drug Free Workplace Act of January, 1992.
E. The Proposer is not barred from bidding on the Project, or entering into this contract as a result of a violation of either Section 33E-3 or 33E-4 of the Illinois Criminal Code, or any similar offense of “bid rigging” or “bid rotating” of any state or the United States.
F. I/We will abide by all other Federal, State and local codes, rules, regulations, ordinances and statutes.
The Proposer's Executing Officer, being first duly sworn on oath, deposes and states that all statements made herein are made on behalf of the Proposer, that this deponent is authorized to make them and that the statements contained herein are true and correct.
Proposer deposes, states and certifies that Proposer is not barred from contracting with any unit of local government in the State of Illinois as result of a delinquency in payment of any tax administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue unless Proposer is contesting, in accordance with the procedures established by the appropriate statute, its liability for the tax or the amount of the tax, all as provided for in accordance with 65 ILCS 5/11-42.1-1.
A prospective contractor shall submit a compliant Certificate of Insurance (COI) with its bid or proposal, evidencing the coverage required for the project in accordance with City of Aurora Policy No. 2026-2502-002. All required insurance policies must remain in full force and effect for the duration of the project.
Please provide the anticipated
This includes but not limited to: plumbing licenses, industry certifications, proof of safety training, IDOT Prequal., etc
This will be added by purchasing in the Vendor submissions in the next stage.
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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