Bus&MotorcoachNews

December1,2009

Consultantoffersideasforfindingmorebusiness

CARSBAD,Calif.—It’stimeformotorcoachoperatorsacrossthecountrytostepuptheireffortstofindnewbusinesssourcesandrevenuestreams.AndRyanKelly,chiefexecutiveofCommunitySpecInc.,atransportationconsultingandmarketingcompanyinAtlanta,hasafewtricksuphissleevetohelp.SpeakingtomembersoftheCaliforniaBusAssociationatthegroup’sannualconventionhere,Kellyurgedoperatorstolookintothenewopportunitiesthatareshowingupacrossthecountry.Highonhislististheformationofpartnershipswithcitiesandpublictransitagencies,whichhesaidwouldhelpmotorcoachcompaniesdiversifytheiroperationsandbringinaregularflowofnewincome.Kellysaidnumerouslocalgovernmentsdon’thavetheabilityorthefinancialresourcestomeetalloftheirtransitneedsandtheyarelookingtooutsourcesomeorallofthemtoprivatebusinesses.Theworkcoversavarietyofscenarios,includingprovidingparatransit,commuterornon‐emergencymedicalservices,leasingbuses,handlingstaffingandmanagingentireurbanbussystems.“ThisisarareopportunityinAmericanhistorytogetsomeofthosecontracts,”hesaid.

BeingPrepared

Kellysuggestedoperatorsinterestedinrespondingtoarequestforproposalcangetajumpontheprocessbypreparingatemplatethatwouldincludealloftheinformationabouttheircompanysowhenanopportunitycomesup,theyneedonlyaddthespecificsofthecontractanditisreadytogo.Additionally,heurgedoperatorstolearnasmuchabouttherequestaspossiblebeforebiddingforit,andhavetheRFPreviewedbyanattorneysoallofthedetailsinvolvedintheworkareclearlyunderstood.“It’simportantyouknowwhatyou’regettinginto,”heemphasized.KellysaidakeywebsitetolearnaboutRFPsnationallyishttp://www.fbo.gov

,whilehttp://www.pd.dg.ca.gov/default.htmandhttp://www.bart.gov/about/business/procurement/index.aspxofferRFPsinCalifornia.