Q: How does BC Transit consult with local government about Requests for Proposals (RFPs)?

A: Local governments are consulted at every stage of the RFP process. Detailed information is provided to local governments at the beginning of the RFP process. They are also invited to provide input on local conditions in the RFP document by resolution from Council or Regional District Board for consideration by the Executive of BC Transit. Briefing meetings are held between BC Transit and local government staff to prepare the RFP documents. Local government is also required to participate on the RFP evaluation committee and provide input to the BC Transit Board of Directors on the decision to select a transit management company.

Q:Is there successorship of collective agreements under the RFP?

A: Successorship of a collective agreement does not apply when a transit management company changes because of a RFP. A business or part of it must be sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of in order for employees to retain the rights they may have gained under the Labour Relations Code. The Labour Relations Board has ruled the loss of a contract through a tendering process like a RFP is not a successorship because it is not a transfer of a business.

Q: Why doesn't the term of the transit management contract (RFP) match the incumbent company's collective agreement?

A: There is no requirement for the RFP term and the collective agreement term of the incumbent company and Union to coincide. In particular, the legal parties to these two processes are different. The collective agreement term may extend beyond the RFP term.

Q: How will an incumbent company be able to compete against other companies if employment compensation and fringe benefits for drivers are open?

A: The RFP to select a transit management company is not a low-bid process. Most of the RFP evaluation points are awarded for quality and not just cost. Currently, 80% of the scoring is for quality of service and 20% for costs.

Q: Can a company negotiate a change in the transit operating agreement if they miscalculate costs in their RFP submission?

A: No. A company’s costs for the first 2 years of a contract term are based on their RFP submission. Cost increases in the subsequent years of the contract term are governed by the funding guidelines listed in the RFP document and the approval by the funding parties.

Q: How does BC Transit and local government ensure that a new company has a transition plan that minimizes any potential disruptions?

A: The RFP document asks for a number of detailed plans from all proponents. These plans include:

• General management
• Cost management
• Labour relations management
• Operations management
• Vehicle maintenance & servicing management
• Employee recruitment and retention
• Staff training
• Fare collection & security management
• Operations centre management

The RFP procedures also allow for the viability of the labour relations plan to be evaluated relative to the cost proposal. Together, they provide the RFP evaluators with substantial information to assess a new company’s transition plans.

Q: Who approves the RFP?

A: Final approval on RFP terms and conditions, selection criteria and weighting and the selection of a management company rests with the Executive of BC Transit, in consultation with local government.

Last updated July 2008

This website provides general information on the RFP process. Users must consult the RFP document available from BC Transit for RFP terms and conditions relating to specific communities.