Metro - File #: 2025-0128

• File #: 2025-0128
• Type: Contract
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 2/13/2025
• In control: Finance, Budget and Audit Committee
• On agenda: 3/19/2026
• Title: AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to award a firm fixed unit rate Contract No. PS123711(2)000 with Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. to provide TAP third party vendor management and support services, in the not-to-exceed (NTE) amount of $584,937 for the two-year base term, $285,176 for the first one-year option, $293,063 for the second one-year option and $301,190 for the third one-year option for a total combined NTE amount of $1,464,366, effective May 1, 2026, subject to the resolution of any properly submitted protest(s), if any.
• Sponsors: Finance, Budget and Audit Committee
• Indexes: Bids, Budgeting, Contract administration, Contractors, Contracts, Equity Focus Communities, Fare Zone, Maintenance, Outreach, Payment, Periodicals, Procurement, Request For Proposal, Small Business Enterprise, Strategic planning, Surveys, Third-party Contract, Universal Fare System

Meeting_Body
FINANCE, BUDGET AND AUDIT COMMITTEE
MARCH 19, 2026

Subject
SUBJECT: TAP THIRD PARTY VENDOR MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Action
ACTION: AWARD CONTRACT

Heading
RECOMMENDATION

Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to award a firm fixed unit rate Contract No. PS123711(2)000 with Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. to provide TAP third party vendor management and support services, in the not-to-exceed (NTE) amount of $584,937 for the two-year base term, $285,176 for the first one-year option, $293,063 for the second one-year option and $301,190 for the third one-year option for a total combined NTE amount of $1,464,366, effective May 1, 2026, subject to the resolution of any properly submitted protest(s), if any.

Issue
ISSUE

The existing TAP Third Party Vendor Management and Support Services contract expires on April 30, 2026. A new contract is required to ensure uninterrupted in-field services and to support the TAP regional vendor network.

Background
BACKGROUND

Metro operates a Universal Fare System (UFS) to collect fares on behalf of 27 TAP transit agencies in Los Angeles County. One aspect of the UFS uses a smartcard with an electronic chip inside that is regionally branded as TAP. TAP regional transit agencies support nearly 10 million boardings a month via bus and rail across LA County. TAP's complex fare collection system works seamlessly for customers and consists of over 520 passes from 27 transit agencies.

The Regional TAP vendor network consists of over 500 vendors that sell approximately $1 million in fare media each month, serving transit-dependent customers, occasional and frequent riders and tourists. The network consists of various vendor types, such as small businesses, grocery chains, check cashing locations, and public libraries. TAP vendors utilize a Regional Point of Sale (RPOS) device, which contains a smart chip reader to load transit fare onto TAP cards, including LIFE products and reduced fares, rea...