Customer Shuttle Routes and Standards
The PantherExpress location pick-up and drop-off points require special attention and planning. The selected supplier must be aware of the traffic patterns and must have a primary and secondary method for the restricted negotiation of traffic in keeping with the downtown location, and changes in routing, as deemed necessary (i.e., road closures, events, and accidents) as well as emergency routing.
The required PantherExpress Schedules (Exhibit I) represent the University's commitment to ensure a consistent and scheduled high level of customer service to the University community and depicts the PantherExpress Shuttle routes to be maintained by the selected supplier. All drivers will maintain, as closely and safely as possible, the prescribed route alignment and service headway. Deviations from the designated PantherExpress schedule and any change of operation must have the prior written approval of the University. Auxiliary and Support Services will advertise and post the PantherExpress schedule on its website at http://www.gsu.edu/parking/pantherexpress.html
The University has exceptionally high customer service standards for all of its departments. GSU PantherExpress customers have a right to expect courtesy, respect, honesty and professionalism from all selected supplier representatives including Managers, Bus Operators, Dispatchers, Supervisors, and Customer Service Agents. Whether they come in contact with a selected supplier representative by phone or in person, the representative is expected to listen to their request/question, ask for clarification if necessary, and provide complete, knowledgeable, accurate and precise information regarding their inquiry.
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The current PantherExpress routes presently include the following locations and parameters:
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Blue Route: The fixed-route to and from Turner Field, the Langdale Hall and Sparks Hall, hereinafter known as the "Blue Route", operates from 7:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. As of Spring Semester 2013, four (4) buses run the Blue Route from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.; and one (1) bus runs the blue route from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Also, on Monday-Thursday one (1) additional bus runs the Blue Route from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.; and one (1) additional bus runs the Blue Route from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The final departure from the Langdale Hall back to Turner Field via Sparks Hall occurs at 10:30 p.m. Throughout the day, buses are expected to operate at intervals of six (6) minutes or better between departures with more frequent departures during peak demand periods.
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Green Route: The fixed-route to and from the Student Center, University Commons and Piedmont North, hereinafter referred to as the "Green Route", operates from 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 midnight Monday-Friday. As of Spring Semester 2013, one (1) bus runs the Green Route from 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 midnight; and one (1) bus runs the Green Route from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. The final departure from the Student Center back to Piedmont North via University Commons occurs at 12:00 midnight. Throughout the day, buses are expected to operate at intervals of ten (10) minutes or better between departures, relaxing to fifteen (15) minutes during late evening hours when only one (1) bus is in operation.
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Red Route: The fixed-route to and from the Arts & Humanities Building and the Rialto Center, hereinafter referred to as the "Red Route", operates from 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 midnight Monday-Friday. As of Spring Semester 2013, one (1) bus runs the Red Route from 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 midnight. The final departure from the Rialto Center back to the Student Center occurs at 12:00 midnight. Throughout the day, buses are expected to operate at intervals of fifteen (15) minutes or better between departures.
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Purple Route: The fixed-route to and from the Student Center, University Commons, Piedmont North, Arts & Humanities Building and the Rialto Center, hereinafter referred to as the "Purple Route", operates from 5:00 p.m. until 12:00 midnight Saturday-Sunday. As of Spring Semester 2013, one (1) bus runs the Purple Route from 5:00 p.m. until 12:00 midnight. The final departure from the Student Center occurs at 12:00 midnight. Throughout the day, buses are expected to operate at intervals of thirty (30) minutes or better between departures.
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Welcome Tour: A special fixed-route to and from the Student Center, University Commons, Piedmont North, Arts & Humanities Building and the Rialto Center, hereinafter referred to as the "Welcome Tour", operates from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon and 2:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. As of Spring Semester 2013, one (1) bus runs the Welcome Tour. However, an additional bus may be requested in advance if ridership demand is expected to exceed the capacity of one bus. The purpose of the Welcome Tour is to provide visitors with an overview of the campus and its surrounding downtown attractions. The Welcome Tour is often a prospective student’s and his/her family’s first glimpse into Georgia State University’s campus life. Therefore, it is imperative that The Welcome Tour makes a positive and lasting first impression. For further clarification of the requested regularly scheduled fixed-route services, please refer to Exhibit I.
  
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The selected supplier will make available one (1) dedicated standby vehicle to be located at Turner Field for the sole purpose of substitution in the event of mechanical failure, accident or any other service disruption. The standby vehicle will be of the same type and age as the daily fleet vehicles and marked in the same manner as all others in the fleet.
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In the event of mechanical failure, accident or any other service disruption, a replacement vehicle(s) will be made available within thirty (30) minutes of the incident’s reporting, should additional vehicles be required beyond the dedicated standby vehicle. Auxiliary and Support Services personnel must be informed of any disruptions in service (planned or unplanned) in order to respond to inquiries from users. At the conclusion of the service disruption, a Loss of Service report will be provided to the Office of Auxiliary and Support Services as designated by the University outlining the Route and Block affected, the start and end time for the service disruption, the total time lost, the reason for the service disruption and description of how/when service was recovered. In the event multiple service disruptions are realized in the same day, a summary of the day’s Loss of Service will also be provided at the conclusion of the evening. Any lost time recorded in the Loss of Service report will be reflected as an adjustment in the applicable monthly invoice. Daily and month-to-date reports for Loss of Service are to be presented to the Office of Auxiliary and Support Services throughout all operating service periods to persons as designated by the University.
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All PantherExpress routing and pick-up points will be clearly designated with signage to be provided by the University. The selected supplier is welcome to offer suggestions that may improve safety or the overall efficiency of the PantherExpress service to the designated GSU contact. However, any changes in routing and/or pick-up points will be made at the discretion of the University.
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There will be no unilateral deviations from the designated routes once agreed upon, which includes neither extra undesignated stops nor pick-ups, without the prior written authorization from the University.
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Drivers will, at minimum:
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stop at stop signs within twelve (12) inches of the front bumper of the vehicle.
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bring the vehicle within twelve (12) inches of the curb or edge of the street.
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stop the vehicles in a location where obstructions will not hinder passenger boarding or egress.
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The assignment and rotation of PantherExpress vehicles will be maintained in an efficient manner to include ongoing radio contact and specific procedures tor rotation of vehicles as to their specific locations at any given time. The selected supplier must devise and present a detailed plan to eliminate any backlog of buses out-of-service or otherwise idle.
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The selected supplier should be aware that the Blue Route to and from Turner Field, as well as the actual use of the Turner Field parking facility, may be affected by Turner Field scheduling for events or construction/repairs. In some cases, the Blue Route will be required to temporarily adjust to provide services for an alternate lot. In other instances, no alternative lot may be available; thus, service on the Blue Route will be curtailed or suspended. If service is curtailed or suspended, the University will not be held liable for service costs on the Blue Route that would otherwise have been provided. A calendar outlining the known days in which service will be curtailed or suspended will be provided to the selected supplier prior to the start of each semester.
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The selected supplier will be required to notify the University’s designee immediately in the event of any of the following:
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Accidents involving any PantherExpress vehicle or passenger.
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Incidents that delay any route more than 10 minutes.
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Missed trips.
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Major bus failure and/or any disabled bus.
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Detour or deviation off normal routes.
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Any incident whereby police, fire or paramedics are contacted for assistance.
The selected supplier’s management and supervision program must ensure that a high quality level of service is being delivered to GSU passengers at all times. Supervisor staffing levels, in all departments, should be evaluated carefully by the selected supplier to meet the above goal. Each respondent should provide a proposed organizational chart that depicts the intended reporting structure for the service contract. The management plan should also clearly identify the level of supervision that will be provided to perform in-office administrative functions as well as direct supervision “on the street”, including hours of coverage. Suppliers shall submit résumés, including educational and experiential backgrounds of the management and supervisory staff members that would be assigned to the PantherExpress operations.
Supervisors must have and maintain a Commercial Driver’s License with a passenger endorsement. The selected supplier must document and report to the University all instances where supervisors and dispatchers are used as operators. The selected supplier must develop a plan for ensuring adequate supervision in these instances.
Additionally, every three months, or at the direction of the University, the selected supplier shall conduct spot checks of all supervisors in the field to evaluate the performance of each supervisor and provide the University a copy of the spot checks.
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Employee Breaks
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Under no circumstances shall an employee break create an interruption or delay in service delivery, nor should an employee degrade the prescribed level of service. If breaks are offered to employees, the following provisions will be strictly enforced:
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All buses are to remain in-service on their designated routes throughout the course of the day.
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A relief driver will meet the route at a designated location, assuming the continued operation of the assigned bus.
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At the conclusion of the break, the returning bus operator must resume duty before the next bus operator can be relieved. This can be achieved by either returning the driver to his/her original bus or placing the driver back into service via a “drop-back” operation, thus relieving the next driver in sequence.
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The University will provide one automobile parking space (non-bus) in a central location on campus convenient to restroom, dining and lounge facilities for the purpose of accommodating relief drivers. Suppliers are encouraged to pool multiple relief drivers together if necessary as only one parking space will be provided.
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PantherExpress buses are not to be left parked on-campus nor are they to be taken off-site for the purpose of breaking. Relief drivers shall be provided for breaks to avoid these circumstances.
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Schedules for driver breaks shall be provided to the University at the beginning of each week PantherExpress is in operation.
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This specification will be strictly enforced and subject to liquidated damages as specified in Section 4.1.9.
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Bus Fueling is to occur during off-service hours as not to interfere with the PantherExpress operation. Specifications for all vehicles should be drafted to support a full day’s operation without the need to refuel.
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PantherExpress Ridership Data
Panther Express ridership data includes 1,160,886 passengers in FY2102, 1,113,026 passengers in FY2011, and 1,145,524 passengers in FY 2010. As noted in the Vehicle Specifications sections of this RFP, all vehicles shall be equipped with an Automated Passenger Counting system (APC) that will continuously record boarding and alighting data for each bus. Standard reports will allow aggregation of data at the route, stop and individual block level. Data reporting will also be designed to allow the user to select a specific date and/or time range for each level of reports. The reporting functions of the APC system will be made available through a desktop application to be installed in the University’s Parking and Transportation offices.
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General Vehicle Specifications
The University requires that the selected supplier meet or exceed its provisions for the PantherExpress vehicles in the RFP with provisions that include, but are not limited to, the following specifications.
Supplier shall offer proposals for the following numbers of Vehicles by Type (includes peak requirement, estimated charters and spares)
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*15 Each: 35’ Heavy Duty Buses
OR
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*15 Each: Alternate 38” Heavy Medium Duty Buses
* Suppliers are requested to propose both options of full sized shuttle buses from which the University reserves the right to make selection.
AND
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4 Each: 20 Passenger Heavy Duty Cutaways (16 Passengers with 2 Wheel chair Positions Occupied)
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It is the intent of the University to have new shuttle buses and cutaway vehicles as described in Sections 4.1.4.1 and 4.1.4.2 delivered and available for operation upon service start-up of the selected Contractor’s effective date. However, the University does not desire to purchase the buses nor cutaway vehicles, nor any of the equipment required herein, but is interested in a Supplier to provide and maintain the fleet of buses and cutaway vehicles as specified, along with all other equipment specified, as well as provide all drivers and proposed personnel and management staff, fleet maintenance and storage, based upon service rates per hour to be proposed by Suppliers. In the event new vehicles as described in Sections 4.1.4.1 and 4.1.4.2 cannot be procured and delivered by the effective date of the contract, an Interim Vehicle Plan shall be employed. The Interim Vehicle Plan must contain a listing of the number of and types of vehicles to be used for the Shuttles with a brief summary of required equipment (i.e., air conditioning, heating, type of communications equipment, wheelchair access, seating arrangement, etc.). The Interim Vehicle Plan must also include each vehicle’s age, fuel type and seating capacity. To be considered responsive, proposers must submit an interim vehicle plan as part of their proposal if new buses as specified in Sections 4.1.4.1 and 4.1.4.2 will not be available upon the first day of the service contract.
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35’ Heavy Duty Vehicle Specifications: The final specification of new current year production vehicles will be subject to final approval by Georgia State. Specification is for 35’ vehicles. These technical specifications are intended to provide a general description to purchase mid-size, heavy-duty, low floor design, wheelchair accessible shuttle buses for use by Georgia State University, Eldorado National E-Z Rider II BRT 35’, or approved equivalent. Alternate specifications are also included for ElDorado National Bus Arrivo 38’, or approved equivalent. Suppliers are encouraged to offer alternate proposals for both types of full sized buses, from which the University reserves the right to make selection, as well as the Cutaway vehicles as specified herein. Buses shall be new, current year production units of heavy duty, transit vehicle design and construction. A 102" wide bus is specified for maximum passenger room and aisle width. The buses are to be rear engine propelled diesel fueled with an automatic transmission. Bus shall be a two (2) door design. The design of such shall reflect the highest standards of concern for the welfare and safety of the elderly and handicapped. Suppliers may submit vehicle(s) with alternative specifications if such specifications will meet the stated objectives of the University to the satisfaction and acceptance of the University. Suppliers are encouraged to submit alternate specifications during the question period to determine their acceptability to the University at the sole discretion of the University.
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Overall Requirements and Dimensions – 35’
Length, overall bumpers
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35’ 9” maximum
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Width, overall body
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102” minimum
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Height, overall @ GVWR
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138” maximum
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Wheelbase
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220” maximum
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Height, main floor @ GVWR
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17.4” maximum
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Height, first step @ GVWR
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14” maximum, (kneeled 11” max.)
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Height, interior
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95” minimum, (78.25” @ rear riser)
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Front/Center Door Width, measured @ door panels
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37.25” minimum
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Front/Center Door Height, (clear)
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78.5” minimum
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GVWR
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35,000 pounds, minimum
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Clearances
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Ground clearances: Buses shall have a minimum eight-inch (8”) ground clearance at any position under the bus excluding axle zones. The minimum ground clearance in any axle zone shall be 6.5 inches.
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Clearance Angles: Buses shall have a minimum angle of approach of nine (9°) degrees, a minimum angle of departure of nine (9°) degrees, and a minimum break over angle of fourteen (14°) degrees in order to safely negotiate varying pavement conditions in Georgia State University’s service area
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Turning radius: Buses shall have a curb to curb turning radius not exceeding 26 feet and 6 inches maximum.
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Weight
The GVWR of the bus shall be not less than 35,000 pounds.
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Service Life
Buses shall be designed and constructed to ensure a minimum service life of at least twelve (12) years/500,000 miles in revenue service. They shall be capable of operating at least 50,000 miles per year, including the last year.
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Maintainability
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Prime consideration shall be given to the ease of maintaining the buses. All bus components and systems both mechanical and electrical which will require periodic physical work or inspection processes shall be installed so that a minimum of time is consumed in gaining access to the critical areas. It shall not be necessary to disassemble portions of the bus structure and equipment such that seats and flooring under seats in order to gain access to these areas.
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Each bus shall be designed to facilitate the disassembly, reassembly, servicing or maintenance thereof by use of tools and items, which are normally available as commercial standard items. Requirement of any special tools must have the concurrence of the Georgia State University.
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The body and structure of all buses shall be designed for ease of maintenance and repair.
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Individual panels or other equipment, which may be damaged in normal service, shall be repairable or replaceable. Ease of repair shall be related to the vulnerability of the item to damage in service.
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Electronic Noise Control
Electrical and electronic subsystems and components on all buses shall not emit electromagnetic radiation that will interfere with on-board communications equipment.
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Exterior Noise
The exterior noise produced by any one bus shall not exceed 83 dB in any mode of operation.
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Interior Noise
The interior noise produced by any one of bus shall not exceed 82 dB in any mode of operation.
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Engine Emission
Buses shall conform to the air pollution control standards of the Environmental Protection Agency of the Federal Government, and all applicable State, regulations at the time of manufacturing.
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Operating Environment
The bus shall achieve normal operation in temperature ranges of -15° F to +115° F at relative humidity between five (5) percent and one hundred (100) percent. No special equipment or procedure shall be required to start a bus for up to twelve (12) hours of exposure to temperatures +20° F without the engine in operation.
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Body Design
The bus shall have a clean, smooth, sleek design, correctly proportioned and properly balanced. The exterior and body features, including grills and louvers, shall be shaped to allow complete and easy cleaning by automatic bus washers without snagging washer brushes. Water and dirt shall not be retained in or on any body feature to freeze or bleed out onto the bus after leaving the washer. Body and windows shall be sealed to prevent leaving of air, dust, or cleaning in automatic bus washers for the service life of the bus under normal use (wear excluded). Accumulation of spray and splash on any window of the bus, generated by the bus’ wheels on a wet road, shall be minimized.
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Body Materials
Exterior body materials shall be fabricated out of aluminum, reinforced fiberglass and/or other applicable composites to reduce maintenance, extend durability, and provide consistency of appearances throughout the life of the bus. Detailing shall be kept simple; add -on devices and trim shall be minimized, and where necessary, integrated into the basic design.
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Finish and Color
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All exterior surfaces shall be smooth and free as possible of visible fasteners, wrinkles and dents. A commercial, transit appearance is desired thus a riveted type body construction shall not be accepted. Exterior surfaces to be painted shall be properly cleaned and primed, as appropriate for the paint used, prior to application of paint to assume a proper bond between the base surface and successive coats of original paints. All body painting shall be performed without passenger windows and exterior compartment doors attached to the body. This will allow complete body paint coverage in those areas. No exceptions allowed.
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PPG – Delfleet polyurethane paint shall be applied smoothly and evenly with the finished surface free as possible of dirt, runs, orange peel, and other imperfections. All exterior finished surfaces shall be impervious to diesel fuel, gasoline, and commercial by controlled applications of commonly used graffiti removing chemicals. The overall paint scheme will be as provided by Georgia State University.
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Numbering and Signing
Monograms, numbers, and other special signing specified by Georgia State University shall be applied to the inside and outside of the bus as required. Bus numbers must be white, between 4-6 inches in height and must be displayed on the front, rear, left and right sides of the bus for easy identification from all sides. The bus number should also be applied to the roof of the bus in a contrasting color that can be easily seen from overhead. The bus numbers must be reflective and may be pressure sensitive appliqués. Signs shall be durable and fade, chip, and peel-resistant. A driver nameplate holder should be installed in a visible place on bulkhead.
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Pedestrian Safety
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Exterior protrusions greater than .50” and within 80 inches of the ground shall have a radius no less than the amount of the protrusion. The left side rear -view mirror and required lights and reflectors are exempt from the protrusion requirement.
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Grilles, doors, bumpers and other features on the sides and rear of the coach shall be designed to minimize the ability of unauthorized riders to secure toehold and handholds.
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Strength and Fatigue
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Under normal condition of transit service throughout the service life of the bus, the basic structure shall withstand fatigue damage that is sufficient to cause Class 1 or Class 2 failures. The structure shall also withstand impact and inertial loads due to normal street travel throughout the bus' service life without permanent deformation or damage. The basic design shall incorporate all severe service, medium to heavy-duty bus features.
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All failures involving basic body, structure, axles and suspension are considered structurally related failures for purposes of this specification. The bus sidewall design shall provide passenger protection from automobile side impact. The roof and sides shall be engineered to support the entire weight of a fully loaded vehicle on its top and side, if overturned.
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Crashworthiness
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The bus sidewall ability to provide passenger protection from automobile side impact is of critical importance to Georgia State University. As such, a copy of test data showing compliance with FMVSS 214D - Crash Worthiness is required with the submission of the Suppliers bid package. Physical side impact test must be in accordance with FMVSS 214D and performed by a third-party testing entity. The test report must be of the same low-floor bus design as is being proposed. Failure to include this test report will render the proposal informal and cause of its rejection.
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The roof and side shall be engineered to support the entire weight of a fully loaded vehicle on its top and side, if overturned. A copy of test data showing compliance with FMVSS 220 - Rollover Protection is required with the submission of the Suppliers proposal. The test report must be of the same low floor bus design as is being bid. Failure to include this test report will render the proposal informal and will be cause of its rejection.
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Distortion: The bus, at GVWR and under static conditions, shall not exhibit deformation or defection that impairs operation of doors, windows or other mechanical elements. Static conditions include the vehicle at rest with any one wheel or dual set of wheels on a six (6) inch deep hole or with any one tire or any dual set completely deflated.
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Service History
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It is the intent of Georgia State University to employ shuttle buses which have a proven performance history in a 35’ low-floor transit/shuttle operation. A listing of references for a minimum of three (3) universities and/or transit agencies in which the supplier currently operates the types of buses as specified, must be included in the Supplier’s bid package. For each reference listed, the supplier shall also provide a detailed description of the services provided for the reference, including the numbers and types of buses operated, as well as the annual transit service miles and hours provided. Failure to supply user references will render the bid informal, and cause its rejection.
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ISO 9001:2000 CERTIFICATION: Quality control during the manufacture of the buses as specified is of critical importance to the Agency. It is the intent for the selected supplier to procure transit buses from a manufacturer that has a proven and third party certified quality control system in place. As such, the bus manufacturer shall be certified ISO 9001:2000 to the latest available standard at the facility(s) which produce the university’s buses. Written certification of ISO 9001:2000 compliance for the buses offered by the suppliers in response to this eRFP is required with the bid submission documents. Failure to provide the certification as specified will render the bid non-responsive and cause the rejection of the selected supplier’s bid.
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Body Frame Assembly
The frame assembly shall be fabricated using Grade C, high-strength carbon steel and stainless steel rectangular tubing, plate and formed sheet welded into a single monocoque space frame. Gusseting and structural reinforcement shall be provided at strategic locations as determined by finite analysis. A body on bolted chassis construction is unacceptable.
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The structure shall be manufactured and assembled by a single O.E.M., so as to allow the selected supplier ease of parts/service assistance. The selected supplier shall also allow a sole warranty restitution center for structure, (provision allows the exclusion of the engine and transmission.)
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The steel cage structure and all related metals parts are to be welded into a complete frame assembly prior to corrosion protection. This assembly shall then be moved into a blast booth where it is blasted with 40/50 mix of steel grit medial. All steel parts must have a 1-mil physical profile for paint adhesion prior to priming. The cage shall be completely primed using PPG corrosion resistant epoxy primer #CRE 904. In critical corrosive areas, such as the floor framing, wheel wells, step wells and rear engine bulkheads, PPG Corashield shall be applied after the initial ensure proper curing. The corrosion protection finish shall have been successfully tested for 1,000 hour salt spray performance.
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The inside of all tubular frame structures in the floor, sidewalls and roof structures shall be sprayed with Ziebart Formula - Type A prior to applying exterior and/or interior panels.
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Exterior Body Panels
Various lightweight, durable materials may be used in providing the required sleek, streamlined appearance. These panels shall be installed using methods, which provide a smooth surface without exposed fasteners except at window line lap seam.
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Sidewalls below the window line shall be made of .080 aluminum. Panels are to be cleaned and applied to the side framing with double faced tape, rivets and moldings.
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Roof panels shall be roller leveled 5052 .063 minimum aluminum panels. Panels are to be installed as one continuous piece with structural caulking, rivets and moldings around the perimeter edge center seam.
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Front and rear caps shall be contoured and aesthetically molded, reinforced fiberglass, nominal 1/8" thick. Sections are to be installed with structure caulking, rivets and moldings.
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All panels are to be caulked with paintable sealants prior to prime treatment.
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Floor
Subfloor shall be 3/4", ACQ marine grade, pressure treated plywood flooring. The subfloor is to be pattern cut, edge sealed and installed with sealant caulking and fastened with floor-tight huck bolts.
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Insulation
The complete sides, roof and rear cap shall be insulated with a minimum of 2-1/2" thick R-7, fiberglass battery insulation. The insulation shall be applied to the inner surface of the exterior panels. Insulation shall provide maximum thermo-barrier and sound absorption.
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Wheel housing
Front and rear wheel housings shall be made from welded Grade C high-strength steel. Housings are to be installed as part of the frame structure and properly sealed with caulking and undercoating.
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Fender Trim and Mud Flaps
Shall be molded polyurethane, forming a smooth contoured wheel opening. Mud flaps are to be installed behind both front and rear tires extending to within three inches (3") of the ground.
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Rear Engine Bulkhead
The bus will be equipped with a welded steel rear engine bulkhead from the floor to the roof structure. Other non-steel materials will not be acceptable as alternatives.
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Bumpers
Shall be reinforced HELP"S" energy absorbing type. Rear bumper shall be anti-ride type. Bumpers shall be attached to the frame with a minimum of 2 “diameter, Grade 8 bolts.
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Towing Hooks/Eyes
Bus shall be towable at both front and rear using two (2) front and two (2) rear towing hooks or eyes, accessible under the front and rear bumpers.
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Interior Body Panels
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The interior body panels shall be made from Melamine graffiti resistant providing a color-coordinated interior, per customer preference.
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Sidewalls shall be reinforced 1/10" thick laminated melamine panels or approved equal installed sectional with double-faced tape and trim moldings without exposed fasteners.
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Rear wall shall be finished in 1/10” thick laminated melamine panels. This material is to be installed with adhesives and trim moldings without exposed fasteners.
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Front ceiling end closure shall be aluminum, melamine or approved equal. These panels shall provide accessibility for wiring harness connections and destination sign through the front panel.
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Coach headliner shall be reinforced 1/10" thick laminated melamine panels or approved equal installed sectional with double faced tape and trim moldings without exposed fasteners.
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Floor Covering
Transit rubber flooring, 3/16" ribbed in the aisle and 1/8" smooth under seats, and covered up the sidewalls to the side seat track shall be supplied. Driver's area shall be covered with 1/8" smooth rubber flooring and trimmed with anodized aluminum angle molding. The vestibule shall be covered with 3/16" ribbed rubber and mitered on a 90-degree angle toward the entrance steps. A three-inch (3") wide standee line shall be installed in line with the back edge of the step well of contrasting color.
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Glazing
All windows must meet State and Federal safety regulations. Windshield shall be AS-1, driver's side windows to be AS-2, and passenger windows to be AS-3 in quality.
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Windshield shall be domestically produced, and be of a body contoured two (2) piece 1/4" thick, 73% single density, laminated safety float type glass. Windshield shall have a dark tinted sunshade band across top. Windshields shall be glazed with two-piece black ozone treated extruded lock and key rubber.
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Driver's roadside window shall be painted black extruded aluminum sash with full height sliding section design. Window shall be glazed with 7/32” thick, 73% single density, laminated safety sheet glass.
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Passenger side windows shall feature painted black extruded aluminum sash and have an upper T-slide transom design. Windows shall be glazed with 7/32" thick, 28% gray density, and laminated safety sheet glass. Sufficient windows on each side shall be so designed as to meet FMVSS 217 for emergency egress.
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Door windows shall be glazed with 1/4" thick laminated safety sheet glass. Front door window shall be tinted to 73% light transmittance.
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Side destination sign window, the first curbside passenger window behind the front door shall be glazed with 3/16" thick clear tempered safety glass in the upper transom section for sign viewing.
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Paint
The entire exterior body surface shall be completely sealed, cleaned, sanded and primed prior to final finish. The final finish surface shall be coated with PPG Delfleet Evolution paint system or approved equal. The exterior paint shall be a polyurethane enamel finish meeting all State and Federal health and safety regulations. Georgia State University will provide the required paint colors and graphics design specifications/layout.
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Front/Center Passenger Doors
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A two (2) panel Vapor brand, Slide-Glide door panel design providing a minimum of 37.25" x 78.5" door panel opening and a minimum clear opening, measured at the door mounted hand rails of 33”. The door opening dimensions will be identical at the front and center door for parts commonality. The door shall be driver controlled by a five (5) position Vapor brand lever.
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Each door panel shall be actuated together by a single Vapor Corporation air differential motor mounted overhead. Actuator shall be equipped with an emergency air release valve.
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The top portion of the shaft is splined to prevent the door panels from rotating out of alignment. Shafts are to be pivoted on a top mounted sealed ball bearing and a lower stud mounted pivot roller.
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Perimeter door edges shall be sealed with edge seals. Center edge of doors shall be equipped with overlapping neoprene 2" leading edge seals. Seals shall overlap front to rear providing an air and watershed.
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The center door shall be equipped with sensitive edges for passenger safety.
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Doors shall be interlocked so as to preclude movement of the bus below 2 mph when the doors are open and shall not allow doors to open above 2 mph.
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Windshield Wipers and Washers
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Bosch or approved equal two (2) speed electric or air operated wipers shall be provided, one (1) on each side with a single control.
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Wiper arms shall be pantograph type, a minimum of 27.5" long. Wiper blades shall be a maximum of 23.5" long. Blades are to park at the center of the windshield.
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Washer shall be electric pump with a minimum 2-gallon washer reservoir supplying nozzles located on the wiper wet arms.
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Intermittent wiper system shall be variable speed control allowing timed intermittent windshield cleaning in light rain and/or foggy conditions.
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Electrical System
The electrical system shall be designed to provide and distribute 24-volt DC power to all electrical components in the bus, excluding the subsystems requiring 12-volt power.
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A V-belt driven, Niehoff brand, 300 amp, air-cooled, 24-volt alternator shall be supplied. This alternator supplies electrical power to all systems on the bus, including the roof mounted Thermo King HVAC system. Additionally, a Surepower, model 52206 battery equalizer rated at 60 amps must be provided to supply current for 12-volt requirements.
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All general purpose wiring shall be cross linked polyethylene insulated and number coded for positive identification, and shall meet the requirements of SAE recommended practice J878a, Type SXL. Precautions shall be taken to avoid damage from heat, water, solvents or chafing by proper routing, clamping and the use of grommets or suitable electrometric cushion materials.
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Harnesses shall be so designed to resist abrasion by the use of machine woven mesh plastic loom. Harnesses shall be sectional and shall terminate at insulated multi-pin quick disconnect plugs or junction blocks. All harnesses shall provide a minimum of one (1) spare conductor so marked in each separate harness.
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The electrical control and wiring system shall be the I/O Controls - DINEX #G2A Multiplex System. The system components must be capable of performing reliable operation in an environment between minus 30 degrees Celsius to plus 80 degrees Celsius while encountering mobile shock and vibrations. Each module is to be adequately shielded to prevent interference by EMI and RFI. The multiplex power source shall be isolated thereby avoiding any ground noise. The program for operating the bus is to be contained in the MBC (Master Bus Controller). A single downloading point is to be located in the exterior junction box for reprogramming.
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The components of the multiplex system are to be of a modular design, thereby providing for ease of replacement by field maintenance personnel. Furthermore, each module shall utilize LED’s to indicate input status, output status, circuit integrity and assist in rapid circuit diagnostics and verification of the load and wiring integrity. The internal control device is to be a solid-state device, which provides an extended life service cycle. Non-self-resetting circuit breakers or fuses are to be provided to protect each individual circuit. Programmable time delay functions and integrated flasher capabilities are to be contained in the control module. The junction panel shall be equipped with a complete “as built” circuit legend.
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All exterior lighting shall conform to all applicable State regulations, and FMVSS 108.
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Headlamps shall be dual round sealed beam of counter-sunk automotive type and shall have tilt-ray features controlled by a steering column mounted dimmer switch.
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Stop, tail, back-up and directional signal lights shall be L.E.D. type, 4" in diameter and vertically mounted.
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Front directional lights shall be LED type, and a minimum of 4", one (1) on each side, with an amber lens.
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Side directional lights shall be LED type, approximately 1.75" x 4" mounted horizontally at both front and rear axle locations on each side.
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Side marker and ICC marker lights shall be LED type, roof mounted, five (5) each amber front, and five (5) each red rear.
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Vehicle accident avoidance light shall be LED type, and a minimum of a 4” round lens. The light shall be located on the centerline of the bus immediately above the rear engine door.
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Exterior step well lights shall be mounted so that entire step well and a portion of the ground area outside the bus are sufficiently illuminated. The step lights shall be extinguished when the front and/or rear door has closed. The step well lights shall be Luminator - LED type.
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Front and rear side reflectors, amber front and red rear, shall be applied above the bumpers on each side.
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The rear license plate lamp shall be LED type.
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Interior dome lights shall be ceiling cove located LED type light fixtures mounted continuous front to rear on each side. Passenger compartment lighting shall be I/O Controls LED or approved equal. The first light fixture on each side behind the driver shall be extinguished when the front door is closed. Blue lenses will be provided on the forward light fixtures if available. A single driver's LED light fixture shall be provided with a separate driver control.
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The driver's area shall consist of an ergonomically designed molded fiberglass, plastic, or aluminum dash console complete with the following minimum controls and instrumentation.
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The control panel shall provide labeled and illuminated system control switches when equipped, such as, but not limited to: day/night run switch with key ignition, headlights, dome lights, air conditioning, high idle, door control - three position, kneeling etc.
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Instrument panel shall be equipped with, but not be limited to, speedometer, fuel gauge, voltmeter and dual air gauge.
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Telltale lights shall indicate, but not be limited to, check engine, transmission oil temperature, low coolant, ramp deployed, engine shut-down, park brake, high beam, air conditioning inoperative, and low air.
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A separate driver's dash mounted HVAC control panel shall be provided.
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Steering column mounted directional switches shall be installed.
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Automatic Passenger Counting (APC) System
An Automatic Passenger Counting system shall be installed on all vehicles assigned to Panther Express operations that will record ridership activity by time and location throughout the service day. The system will have the capability to transmit data wirelessly each evening upon return to the operations base with ridership data available for review the following day. The system will consist of the following components as outlined by Urban Transit Associates, Inc. (www.utatransit.net/hardware.html):
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Automatic Passenger Counter CPU
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Wifi/GPS/Cellular Antenna
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SmartSensor Module
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Infrared Sensor and Reflector Assembly (set for each door)
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Driver’s Seat
Driver's seat shall be a Recaro – Ergo Metro, air suspension driver seat, with push button actuated fore-aft sliding feature, and right hand arm rest, or approved equal.
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Passenger Seats
Freedman Seating model – Citiseat, transit seat with Repel level 4 seat covering, shall be supplied in the bus. Fabric upholstery with the University name and embossed University flame logo as designated and approved by the University shall be used. Seats adjacent to the aisle shall be equipped with grab rails. Vandal resistant seat inserts must be supplied. Citiseat flip seats may be accommodated on the front wheel wells to aid in aisle width. The seating capacity must be a minimum of 35 passengers, (30 passengers with two wheel chairs), plus driver. The seating configuration shall match the floor plan as attached
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