Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 15, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: REGIONAL RAIL STRATEGIC FINANCIAL ADVISORY ON-CALL SERVICES BENCH
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to execute Modification No. 3 to the Regional Rail Strategic Financial Advisory On-Call Services Bench Contract Nos. PS66571-2000 through PS66571-2005 to exercise the second, one-year option term in the amount of $2 million, increasing the total Not-To-Exceed (NTE) cumulative contract amount from $7.4 million to $9.4 million and extending the period of performance from December 7, 2026, to December 6, 2027.
Issue
ISSUE
The Regional Rail Strategic Financial Advisory On-Call Services (SFAOCS) Bench period of performance expires December 6, 2026, and its remaining capacity is insufficient to meet anticipated needs. Board authority to exercise the second option term is required to continue issuing task orders for financial and strategic advisory services that support regional rail capital projects, competitive grant pursuits, and executive leadership decision-making. Although Countywide Planning & Development (CP&D) manages the bench, multiple departments rely on it for high-priority and mission-critical work.
Background
BACKGROUND
At its October 2020 meeting, the Board approved the award of the SFAOCS Bench contracts for a five-year base term in the funding amount of $6 million, and two, one-year options in the funding amount of $1 million for each option year, for an NTE cumulative total funding amount of $8 million. The Board authorized the CEO to award and execute task orders within the total approved NTE funding limit of $6 million. In May 2025, Modification No. 1 was approved for $400,000, increasing the overall NTE funding limit to $6.4 million. At its July 2025 meeting, the Board approved Modification No. 2 to exercise the first, one-year option term in the amount of $1 million, increasing the NTE funding limit to $7.4 million and extending the period of performance to December 6, 2026.
The SFAOCS Bench supports the funding and delivery of capital projects under the Metro Regional Rail Program. Contracts were awarded under two disciplines:
1. Financial Advisory Support Services
2. Strategic Advisory/Advocacy Services
The Bench provides financial and strategic support for projects not funded under Measure M, such as Link Union Station Phase B and various grade separation and double-track projects. Task orders are funded through existing project budgets previously approved by the Board. The on-call structure allows Metro to secure these services quickly, helping close funding gaps and accelerate project delivery in collaboration with passenger and freight rail stakeholders.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Metro has used the SFAOCS Bench for a range of financial and strategic advisory work supporting planning, operations, and executive leadership including:
• High Desert Intercity Rail Corridor Service Development Plan;
• Cost comparison of in-house and contracted services;
• Strategic roadmap to stakeholder engagement;
• Support for Station Activation Models
• Climate and Sustainability efforts
• Strategic advisory services and thought leadership for the CEO; and
• Strategic financial advisory support for Strategic Financial Planning.
The remaining capacity is insufficient to support anticipated financial and strategic advisory needs in the coming fiscal year.
Staff anticipates a need for grant evaluation support as Metro pursues competitive funding opportunities to close capital project funding gaps (Attachment E). SFAOCS consultants also provide financial and strategic advice to inform decision-making on complex funding and delivery strategies, supporting executive leadership in aligning regional rail investments with long-term strategic objectives and navigating a shifting funding landscape. The contracts further support legislative coordination, policy analysis, and interagency engagement in partnership with Metro’s Government Relations team, ensuring a consistent and informed approach to external advocacy.
Exercising the option term secures continued access to these specialized advisory services, prevents disruption to active and planned work, and preserves Metro’s ability to respond quickly to new funding opportunities and Board directives.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Approval of the staff recommendation will not impact the safety of Metro customers or employees.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the staff recommendation will have no impact on the FY27 budget. Task orders are funded through existing project budgets previously approved by the Board, and each new task order will have an approved funding source before it is initiated. The Chief Planning Officer will be responsible for budgeting costs in FY27 and FY28.
Impact to Budget
Funding for each task order will vary based on its specific scope of work and the project it supports. Because the Bench serves projects outside the Measure M Expenditure Plan, funding is drawn from individual project budgets the Board has already approved.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The proposed contract modification will support the continued availability of strategic and financial advisory services to assist in evaluating financial strategies and funding approaches that advance the planning and delivery of transportation investments throughout the region. These services will help inform financial planning and decision-making that supports the effective and sustainable implementation of regional transportation priorities. By supporting the development and delivery of transportation investments, the proposed action contributes to Metro’s broader goals of improving mobility, enhancing access to transportation options, and addressing the diverse transportation needs of communities it serves.
For this Regional Rail Strategic Financial Advisory On-call Services bench, the Diversity & Economic Opportunity Department (DEOD) established an overall 17% Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and an overall 3% Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) goal. Each bench participant made individual overall SBE and DVBE commitments on this contract. The bench includes five (5) prime consultants; one (1) SBE certified. Progress towards meeting the overall commitments is measured based on the cumulative participation achieved through all task orders awarded to each prime. To date eight (8) task orders have been awarded to four (4) different prime contractors.
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 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 carbon neutrality by 2045. All Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
This item is expected to contribute to further VMT reductions. Continued access to financial and strategic advisory services will help secure funding for and advance regional rail capital projects, expanding transit options and encouraging ridership across Los Angeles County.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001 and 2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The staff recommendation is consistent with the following Strategic Plan goals:
• Goal 1.1: Expand the transportation network and increase mobility for all users;
• Goal 4.1: Work with partners to build trust and make decisions that support the goals of the Strategic Plan;
• Goal 5.1: Leverage funding and staff resources to accelerate the achievement of goals and initiatives prioritized in the Strategic Plan; and
• Goal 5.2: Exercise good public policy judgment and sound fiscal stewardship.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could choose not to approve the recommendation. Staff does not recommend this alternative. The SFAOCS Bench expires December 6, 2026. Without the option term, Metro would lose the ability to issue on-call task orders for mission-critical financial and strategic advisory work, and each need would require a separate procurement that could take many months to complete.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will execute Modification No. 3 to the SFAOCS Bench Contract Nos. PS66571-2000 through PS66571-2005.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - Contract Modification/Change Order Log
Attachment C - DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Elba Higueros, Deputy Chief of Staff, (213) 922-6820
Carolina Coppolo, Deputy Chief, Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 922-4471
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Nicole Englund, Chief of Staff, (213) 922-7950
Mat Antonelli, Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 893-7114
