The Interurban Transit Partnership (ITP), doing business as The Rapid, is seeking proposals from qualified law firms for general corporate legal services and labor and employment legal services. Proposals are due by August 19, 2026. Services will be provided under nonexclusive contracts with a five-year term. Firms must register on BidNet Direct's Michigan Intergovernmental Trade Network (MITN) to submit proposals. Evaluation criteria include firm qualifications, personnel experience, expertise, project approach, and fee schedule. The contract award will be made to the proposer offering the best overall value.
Proposals are due by Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT.
ITP will make payment within thirty 30 days after delivery and final acceptance of the project. The contractor may submit invoices to ITP prior to or upon delivery. Payment will not be made without an invoice.
The contractor warrants that no person or selling agency has been employed or retained to solicit or secure this contract upon an agreement or understanding for commission, percentage, brokerage, or contingent fee excepting bona fide employees of bona fide established commercial or selling agencies maintained by the seller for the purpose of securing business.
Proposals will be evaluated based on firm qualifications and relevant experience, qualifications and experience of assigned attorneys and key personnel, demonstrated expertise in the requested areas of legal practice, project approach and responsiveness, and fee schedule and overall value to ITP.
Firms must be qualified law firms with experience representing public agencies, municipalities, authorities, or other governmental entities, and experience providing legal services comparable to those described in the RFP. Specific experience with public transportation agencies or FTA funding is also considered.
The contractor shall be responsible for sanctions, penalties, interest, court-imposed costs, or other expenses resulting from the contractor's negligence, failure to meet filing deadlines, or other acts or omissions not directly attributable to ITP.
Protests of specifications must be received in writing not less than nine 9 working days before the date of the scheduled bid opening or closing date for receipt of proposals. Protests regarding restrictive specifications or alleged improprieties must be made in writing and received by the ITP Director of Procurement and Capital Planning two 2 working days before the date scheduled for bid opening or receipt of proposal.
Proposals that fail to comply with solicitation requirements or do not include required information may be determined nonresponsive and rejected. Failure to provide required documentation of good faith efforts for DBE participation may be reason for disqualification.