Active SLED Opportunity · CALIFORNIA · SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS
AI Summary
SBCAG seeks industry input via an RFI on implementing a fixed-fare vanpool subsidy model to improve commuter program predictability and support. The project is funded by Measure A and aims to shift from cost-based to zone-based fares, requiring vendor feedback on operational and technological feasibility.
The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) is seeking input from vanpool service providers, mobility operators, fleet vendors, and technology partners regarding the feasibility of implementing a fixedfare vanpool subsidy model within a publicagency–sponsored commuter program. SBCAG is evaluating a shift away from traditional vendorcostbased vanpool structures toward a predictable, zonebased fare system in which riders pay a consistent monthly fare and the agency absorbs backend variability. Because this model differs significantly from the prevailing public vanpool leaseplussubsidy approach used across most U.S. vanpool programs, SBCAG is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to understand how vendors could support, adapt to, or integrate with a fixedfare framework.
The information collected will help SBCAG assess operational, contractual, and technological implications of a fixedfare model, including how vendors structure pricing, manage mileage variability, support National Transit Database (NTD) reporting, and handle fleet, billing, and customer service functions under a predictablefare environment. Feedback from industry participants will inform future procurement and ensure that SBCAG’s vanpool program aligns with market capabilities, commuter needs, and regional mobility goals.
This project is funded through Measure A, Santa Barbara County’s voterapproved, 30year transportation sales tax program. Measure A dedicates an estimated $7 million to commuterfocused Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies that reduce congestion, improve air quality, and expand travel choices for residents and workers traveling along the South Coast corridors.
Measure A funds support the formation of carpools and vanpools, increased use of transit, bicycle and pedestrian travel, and employersupported commute programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules. Where feasible, funds may be used in partnership with employers seeking to improve employee retention, reduce parking demand, and address the region’s jobshousing imbalance by expanding commute options for their workforce.
Eligible expenditures include planning, implementation, education, marketing, and incentives that increase the use of sustainable commute modes. As SBCAG evaluates how Measure A resources can best support longdistance commuters, the agency is exploring a vanpool program structure that may utilize both private fleet providers and publicly owned vanpool fleets. Because this hybrid approach may require new administrative processes, billing structures, and data reporting methods, SBCAG is issuing this RFI to gather industry input before developing a formal solicitation.
Participation in this RFI is strongly encouraged for all vendors interested in providing vanpool services to SBCAG. Because the fixed fare hybrid model under evaluation may require significant operational, administrative, and billing adjustments, SBCAG intends to use information gathered through this RFI to determine vendor readiness and to shape the structure of any future solicitation.
The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) is a regional transportation planning agency serving the residents, employers, and communities of Santa Barbara County. SBCAG administers multimodal transportation programs, including interregional transit services, commuter assistance programs, and transportation demand management initiatives that support regional mobility, economic vitality, and greenhouse gas reduction goals. SBCAG’s service area includes diverse urban, suburban, and rural communities connected by long distance commuter corridors.
SBCAG is evaluating the development of a fixed fare vanpool program that differs substantially from the traditional vendor cost-based vanpool models used by most U.S. transit agencies. Under the proposed structure, SBCAG would publish monthly fares based on geographic zones or mileage bands, and riders would pay fixed fares regardless of underlying vendor lease pricing. SBCAG and contracted vendors would absorb backend cost variability, including differences in vehicle lease rates, mileage fluctuations, and administrative overhead. This approach is intended to simplify the rider experience, improve cost predictability, support long distance commuters, and align with regional equity and sustainability objectives.
Through a future competitive procurement, SBCAG anticipates selecting one or more qualified vanpool vendors capable of supporting this fixed fare model. Potential services may include vehicle provision, fleet management, maintenance, insurance, customer service, marketing, billing, mileage tracking, and National Transit Database (NTD) reporting. SBCAG is issuing this RFI to understand how vendors currently structure vanpool programs, what operational or contractual adjustments would be required to support a fixed fare subsidy model, and what constraints, risks, or innovations may influence program design.
During the term of a future contract, the selected vendor(s) may be responsible for providing eligible vanpool vehicles, administering lease agreements with vanpool groups, managing maintenance and roadside assistance, supporting driver onboarding and compliance, collecting operational data, marketing to employer/employee audiences, and coordinating with SBCAG on billing, reporting, and subsidy administration. The selected vendor(s) would operate as an independent contractor to SBCAG and would be required to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. SBCAG intends to report to the National Transit Database (NTD). By reporting the vanpool service to NTD, SBCAG intent is to utilize future FTA formula funding generated by this SBCAG-supported vanpool operation to support the service. Any service operated by the provider must meet all Federal Transit Administration (FTA) rules and regulations for federally funded vanpool services. SBCAG is seeking feedback if the proposed service model poses a challenge for NTD eligibility.
SBCAG seeks industry feedback on the feasibility of implementing a fixed fare structure within existing vendor business models, including how vendors manage mileage variability, allocate costs across vehicle types, structure billing systems, and support agency-defined fare policies. Respondents are encouraged to provide insights into operational requirements, technology needs, data systems, fleet availability, pricing methodologies, and any alternative approaches that could support or enhance a fixed fare vanpool program. Information gathered through this RFI will inform SBCAG’s program design and guide the development of any future solicitation.
To support SBCAG’s review and ensure consistency across all submissions, Respondents must use download the Respondent Questionnaire provided with this RFI. The Questionnaire includes items related to company information, operational capabilities, pricing structures, technology systems, and program‑specific questions regarding the feasibility of supporting a fixed‑fare vanpool model.
Respondents may also include supplemental documentation in support of their RFI submission, including but not limited to:
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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