Traditionally, state and local transportation agencies in Maricopa County procured signal system software individually. In 2000, Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) began conceptual planning for implementing the Traffic Management System (TMS) that includes field infrastructure and central traffic signal system software designed to monitor and control MCDOT's 120 traffic signals. But early in the conceptual planning process, MCDOT staff realized that neighboring cities and towns were going through similar efforts and, hence, saw potential in creating a regional contract for procuring a signal system. In conjunction with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), the cities, and the towns within the Maricopa County region, MCDOT established a regional traffic signal procurement coalition (regional procurement group). After six months of meetings involving up to thirteen different agencies, the regional procurement group developed a request for proposals (RFP) to provide traffic signal system software to any agency in Arizona. This paper provides others with a stimulus to engage in similar procurements. The paper gives an overview of the RFP development process for such projects, and identifies the keys to success along with the benefits realized by the participants.
Abstract