ATTACHMENT A Scope of Work RFP No. VRE-020-015 Page 1 VRE Mobile Ticketing System Virginia Railway Express SCOPE OF WORK _______________________________________________________________ 01. TICKET INFORMATION A. The existing VRE fare policy is structured on a distance-based zone system. There are nine (9) fare zones on the Fredericksburg line (with no stations currently in zone 7) and six (6) fare zones on the Manassas line. B. The validation policy for each ticket type made available on the mobile application is as follows: 1. Single-Ride, Day Pass, and Ten-Ride tickets must be validated before boarding trains. 2. 7-Day and 31-Day Passes must be validated at the time of first use. 3. Note: Calendar monthly tickets are currently not available on VRE Mobile. C. VRE’s fare structure is available at https://www.vre.org/service/fares/. D. VRE has a cross-honor agreement with Amtrak that allows the Amtrak Step-Up ticket to be used in conjunction with a multi-ride VRE ticket. Additional information on the Amtrak Step-Up Ticket can be found in Section 07 below and also at https://www.vre.org/service/fares/stepup/. E. VRE also offers 50% discounted tickets termed Reduced Fare Tickets for persons with disabilities, senior citizens and youths between the ages of 11 and 18. Additional information on the eligibility requirements for discounted tickets is found at https://www.vre.org/service/fares/reduced-fare-chart/. F. At the time of writing of this Scope of Work, VRE Mobile has monthly total sales averaging $1,000,000 and a monthly average of 20,000 tickets sold by the current moovel mobile ticketing system. G. VRE enforces the law (Code of the Commonwealth of Virginia § 18.2-160.1) that mandates that no passenger shall board or ride a train without properly validating the train ticket prior to boarding. Failure to do so by the passenger will lead to a summons for fare evasion. H. The rail system operates in a proof-of-payment environment. Single, multi-ride and time period-specific tickets, as well as Amtrak Step-Up tickets, are available through the current VRE Mobile ticketing app, from Ticket Validating Machines (TVM) installed at every rail station, and at authorized local vendors. Tickets and passes are verified during periodic inspections by conductors. I. VRE operates an “open” fare system in that there is no single point of entry to control boarding and there are multiple doors on a single train through which a passenger can board or disembark. Fare inspection and verification is performed by RFP No. VRE-020-015 Page 2 VRE Mobile Ticketing System Virginia Railway Express conductors, who have other responsibilities onboard the train that limit their time to inspect tickets. J. VRE is tasked by Virginia Code and the local jurisdictions to ensure that customers board with a valid ticket. Since VRE operates an open fare system, at the request of the local jurisdictions, the Commonwealth of Virginia has mandated verification provisions to ensure that customers pay for their service and that VRE remains fiscally sound in collecting fares to reduce the burden on the Commonwealth and local funding. 02. SMARTBENEFITS PROGRAM A. Many employers within the VRE service region offer their employees a transit benefit to reduce the cost of commuting and to encourage the use of mass transportation. The Federal Transit Benefits Program allows qualified federal employees to recover the approximate cost of commuting to and from work up to prescribed limits when using certain area bus, rail, and vanpool commuter services such as VRE. Several other local jurisdictions, as well as private-sector employers, also offer their employees direct employer-paid benefits or allow employees the option to purchase transit fare with pre-tax income. B. SmartBenefits, the region's most common form of transit benefit, is a program managed and operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) on behalf of the employers and agencies offering these benefits. C. SmartBenefits can be downloaded directly onto a WMATA SmarTrip® card to be used on Metrorail or select bus systems. SmartBenefits can also exist as a virtual account which allows individuals to use the funds on systems that do not accept SmarTrip® cards, like VRE. D. The dollar value of this monthly benefit is determined by the employer and the latest federal government legislation. Employers can issue these transit benefits to their employees electronically through the SmartBenefits web-based program. E. The SmartBenefits program lets an employer digitally load the dollar value of an employee’s transit benefit directly into the employees SmartBenefits web-based account. The SmartBenefits program also allows employees to apply these funds to a reusable, rechargeable SmarTrip® card which can be used to purchase fares from transit agencies, such as WMATA, that accept SmarTrip® cards as a direct form of payment. F. Since VRE currently cannot accept SmarTrip® cards as a direct form of payment, passengers are required to establish a SmartBenefits personal account with WMATA and assign benefits to VRE Mobile or a VRE Electronic SmartBenefits vendor. G. Information about VRE’s SmartBenefits program can be accessed on VRE’s website at https://www.vre.org/service/fares/transit-benefits/. RFP No. VRE-020-015 Page 3 VRE Mobile Ticketing System Virginia Railway Express 03. PHASED APPROACH A. This Scope of Work is divided into the following three (3) phases: 1. Phase 1: VRE Mobile’s solution shall be based on a revenue service-proven mobile ticketing technology platform. Core requirements will focus on the phases for the mobile ticketing functionality as outlined in Diagram 1 below. Should the design meet VRE’s approval, the incorporation of the Alexandria Transit Company’s (DASH) mobile ticketing solution may be added to the timeline for Phase 1, and while leveraging the VRE contract, the Contractor would be contracted directly and solely by DASH to initially develop a standalone mobile application for DASH. In addition, any work being performed by the Contractor with a regional partner shall in no way negatively impact the Contractor’s ability to meet the agreed VRE Mobile timeline. 2. Phase 2: The optional trip tool functionality is described further herein the Scope of Work, Section 21. Task Orders will be issued on an as needed basis to support this work. 3. Phase 3: This phase refers to integrated ticketing options with any potential regional partners including WMATA, DASH, OmniRide, or others. It is a long-term objective to have a regional mobile ticketing system. The Contractor should propose a plan to integrate other regional partners in the future as others express interest in joining the platform by use of the Cooperative Rider Clause. Task Orders will be issued on an as needed basis to support this work. B. Diagram 1 below provides an overview of the overall phased approach for the three (3) phases envisioned for VRE Mobile. RFP No. VRE-020-015 Page 4 VRE Mobile Ticketing System Virginia Railway Express Diagram 1: Proposed Phased Approach Phase 1 Phase 2 (Optional) Phase 3 (Initial Rollout) (Dependant on TOs and/or (Regional Integration 2 months after NTP Outside Developer) Dependant on TOs) •Mobile ticketing •Trip Tool section added •Integrations with other component to launch to VRE Mobile, rolling regional public on the App Store and out tools as they are transportation fare Google Play, branded ready: offerings VRE Mobile with: •Trip planning •SmartBenefits •Parking counters integration •APC information •Step-Up functionality •Amtrak arrival •Reduced fare solution information •Customer-friendly •Incentrip reward transition from program moovel platform •Customer Web-Portal •Web-based services •Self-service site including: •Special event tickets •Financial Reporting •Customer Service C. Diagram 2 below provides an overview of the desired design for VRE Mobile. The “Best Solution” box below refers to the Contractor’s mobile fare purchasing platform. The trip tools are discussed in further detail in Section 21 below. Diagram 2: VRE Mobile Design 3rd Party Trip Planning apps VRE Mobile Everbridge Push Notifications #1 Fare #2 APC Purchasing Trip Tools Integration GTFS Parking Fare Ticket Retrieval: Purchasing Digital or Paper Trip Planning Web Portal RFP No. VRE-020-015 Page 5 VRE Mobile Ticketing System Virginia Railway Express 04. TASK ORDER TECHNICAL SERVICES A. For the entire term of the Contract, the Contractor shall provide Task Order technical services for VRE Mobile on an as needed basis. Refer to the Task Order Requirements included in the Special Provisions of the RFP. B. The tasks VRE may ask the Contractor to perform include those outlined in Phases 2 and 3 of this document. Other task assignments include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Provide requested training of VRE personnel. 2. Analyze or test and provide a written report for any hardware VRE proposes to add to VRE Mobile. 3. Extensions to functionality. 4. Software additions, deletions or modifications to accommodate station additions, increases in customer amenities, adding new device types or additions, removals or modifications to status, control or serial devices. 5. Assistance in the selection of alternative components or software to those originally provided for VRE Mobile. 6. Configuration of changes to the Contractor’s software provided to other clients or implemented as part of the standard system, to operate in VRE’s environment. 7. Modifications to the look and feel of the ticketing component. C. No changes shall be made to the implemented software applications without the written approval of VRE. All changes made to the Contractor’s software which are provided to the Contractor’s other customers shall be identified by the Contractor and reported to VRE. This shall include a short description of the software functionality and how it would affect the VRE Mobile.