Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
JULY 16, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: ZERO EMISSION BUS (ZEB) PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNICAL CONSULTANT SERVICES
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:
A. AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to award a four-year cost-plus fixed fee Contract No. PS140440000, to WSP USA Inc. for as-needed professional consultant support services for zero-emission bus engineering and acquisition, program management, and technical support services, in the total Not-To-Exceed (NTE) amount of $15,520,898.51, subject to the resolution of any properly submitted protest(s), if any;
B. APPROVE Contract Modification Authority specific to Contract No. PS140440000 in the amount of $1,552,089.85 or 10% of the total contract value, to cover the costs of any unforeseen services needed to support the transition to a zero-emission bus fleet, and
C. NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE future contract modifications to the Contract up to $1,000,000.
Issue
ISSUE
The current contract for managing the zero-emission bus (ZEB) program, including work, engineering, and technical consulting, will expire in August 2026. Professional consulting support services supplement internal resources by drawing on a wide range of subject-matter experts specializing in ZEB technology, engineering, and implementation. Therefore, professional consulting services are needed to sustain support for implementation and execution activities, including acquisition, onboarding, deployment, testing, acceptance, and operational readiness for zero-emission buses and related infrastructure.
Background
BACKGROUND
In 2018, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) proposed the Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation, which required all transit agencies in the state to transition to zero-emission fleets by 2040. In addition, ICT ZEB purchase requirements for large transit agencies mandate that 25% of bus purchases be zero-emission by 2023, 50% by 2026, and 100% by 2029. Metro has met all state-mandated program requirements a decade earlier than the ICT mandate of 2029. Metro has worked to comply with CARB’s ICT regulation, but challenges remain in performance, system integration of evolving technology, grid capacity, supply chain, and utility coordination.
In April 2022, WSP USA Inc. was awarded a contract covering both ZEB planning and technical implementation support, including the development and updating of Metro’s ZEB Master Plan. As Metro onboards more ZEBs and breaks ground on additional charging infrastructure projects, the need for technical support for their delivery and implementation has increased significantly. In August 2024, AECOM Technical Services, Inc. was awarded a contract to specialize in and assist with ZEB planning. The AECOM planning advisory scope of work consists of program management support services, design and engineering support services, and other tasks as necessary to support the continued development of the ZEB Master Plan and other ZEB program activities. Consultant services under the AECOM contract advise on implementation strategies that will ensure a seamless and successful transition to zero-emission operations. AECOM prepares programmatic cost estimates, transition schedules, technical studies, conceptual designs, and strategic plans for specific program elements. The WSP technical advisory scope of work will support the development, coordination, and implementation of bus acquisition procurements and projects, acceptance and reliability of Metro’s existing and future ZEB fleet and charging infrastructure, Buy America compliance audits, 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games contingency fleet implementation, and other tasks as required to support Metro’s ZEB transition. Over the past four years, transitioning a fleet of nearly 2,200 buses with a still-developing propulsion system has posed significant challenges and complexities. This will require increased effort from the consultants supporting the ZEB program, necessitating the replacement of the contract that concludes in August 2026.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Consultant services are required to support ZEB and charger acquisition/implementation activities for a four-year period, including but not limited to:
• Warranty administration of the 40 NF BEBs & charger contracts.
• Delivery (onboarding) and warranty administration of the one hundred five (105) BYD BEBs and charger contracts.
• Delivery of BEBs under the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services contract, with delivery scheduled before the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Delivery of 220 BEBs, with options for up to 1,600 additional BEBs, which is pending Board approval.
• A Request for Proposal (RFP) for 20 BEBs to provide an opportunity for emerging bus manufacturers (in process).
• Solicitation of opportunity and mobile chargers.
• Demo of alternative bus types.
• Planning for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games Enhanced Transit Services (GETS) fleet.
On an as-needed basis, Statements of Work (SOWs) will be developed to define the type and level of support required for each specific task or project. The work will then be released to the Consultant through Task Orders (TOs).
Subject to Metro’s direction, the Consultant shall apply appropriate engineering and technical resources, including but not limited to developing vehicle and equipment specifications, assisting with Metro inspection activities, conducting engineering studies of fleet and charging/fueling infrastructure performance, performing root cause analyses of vehicle and equipment failures, developing and maintaining document control systems for large-scale capital projects, as well as creating reports or dashboards to track progress and deficiencies for project delivery and warranty support.
Awarding this contract is critical to support the analysis and trajectory needed to help Metro meet its zero-emission requirements. Using qualified consultants through WSP will enable the agency to access highly specialized technical expertise without increasing Metro’s long-term labor costs.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Engaging experts in the transition to ZEBs, vehicles, and associated infrastructure has a positive safety impact, ensuring that new technology meets the highest safety standards. Technical consulting services will also be instrumental in evaluating and accepting new safety measures included in current bus specifications, such as integrated operator compartments, self-leveling ADA boarding ramps, improved vehicle monitoring, pedestrian warning systems, real-time video security system accessibility, and improved passenger door sensors.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Upon approval, the contract will allow the distribution of project-related task orders and the use of the approved/available LOP budget(s) for funded projects. The assigned project manager will then request and review task orders and use the available project funds within the authorized LOP. Since this is a multi-year contract, the Cost Center Manager, Project Manager(s), and Senior Executive Officer of Vehicle Engineering and Acquisition will be responsible for budgeting costs in future years.
Impact to Budget
The anticipated task orders will be funded by the respective planning or Capital Projects, including project 201061 Infrastructure J Line, project 202815 Division 8 Charging Infrastructure, project 202816 Resilience Charging System, project 202817 Division Infrastructure Transition, project 201077 Bus 40'ZE w/ BYD, project 201078 BEB in cost centers 3048 and 3320.
Since project task orders are funded from existing LOP budgets and annual funds, funding sources will vary according to the established funding plans for each project. No task order(s) shall be issued that increase the LOP of a capital project without Board approval. Staff continually reassess project funding sources and will apply other available funding sources to the respective projects as they become available.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The contract approval for professional consultant support services directly supports Metro’s programmatic transition to a ZEB fleet and the addition of charging infrastructure, ensuring that Equity Focus Communities (EFCs) see the benefits of reduced noise and greenhouse gas emissions in their communities as all divisions are transitioned. Metro’s ZEBs will operate on routes restructured through the NextGen transit service plan. Five of the ten Metro-directly operated bus Divisions are within an EFC. Division 9, the first bus division to be electrified, is located within an EFC in El Monte, and 59% of the communities served are designated EFCs. Prioritizing support of the electrification of the J Line will also bring environmental benefits to some of the region’s most densely populated, congested, and polluted communities, many of which are EFCs. Divisions 18 in Carson and 7 in West Hollywood, the next two divisions to be electrified, have EFCs of 70% and 52%, respectively.
The Diversity and Economic Opportunity Department did not establish a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal for this procurement. The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued an Interim Final Rule that makes changes to the DBE Program, including the suspension of goals, the counting of DBE participation, and enforcement, effective October 3, 2025. While the DBE commitment is not a factor in the staff recommendation, three certified small businesses are participating in this contract.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy by promoting operational activities that sustain and encourage transit ridership, ridesharing, and active transportation. Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
This recommendation will support Strategic Goal #1 by providing high-quality mobility options that reduce travel time. Additional funding will help Metro maintain the State of Good Repair (SGR) for the existing bus fleet while ensuring that our customers arrive at their destinations with fewer disruptions. It will also support Goals #3, Enhance communities and lives through mobility and access to opportunity, and #4, Transform LA County through regional collaboration and national leadership, by achieving CARB’s goal of a 100% zero-emission bus fleet.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board may choose not to authorize the contract award for this project; however, this alternative is not recommended, as this professional consultant support services contract is critical to facilitating the timely execution and associated deliverables for Metro’s ZEB fleet goals and operating projects. Metro does not have sufficient resources or Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to perform this work, especially as zero-emission bus and charging technologies continue to evolve.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will execute the Contract with WSP USA Inc. and issue a Notice to Proceed (NTP). Staff will continue to manage and issue individual task orders as needed for engineering, technical, and program management support services.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Amy Romero, Deputy Executive Officer, Project Management, ZEB Acquisition and Implementation, (213) 922-5709
Jesus Montes, Senior Executive Officer, Vehicle Engineering & Acquisition, (213) 418-3277
Debra Avila, Deputy Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 418-3051
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Conan Cheung, Chief Operations Officer, (213) 418-3034
