Call Box Maintenance and Improvements:

1. APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Executive Director to execute a contract with CASE Emergency Systems for an amount not to exceed $878,025.00 to provide call box maintenance and improvements, for the period ending June 30, 2023;
2. APPROVE the use of $878,025.00 in Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways funds budgeted for this purpose; and
3. AUTHORIZE the Executive Director to take such other further actions as may be necessary to fulfill the intent of the contract, including approvals of future modifications or amendments that do not significantly alter the scope of work or change the approved contract term or amount.

The Transportation Agency for Monterey County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies owns and operates a system of 188 call boxes.  The Agency's current contract for call box maintenance and improvement services expires on June 30, 2020.  The Agency received one submittal in response to the Request for Proposals published in April 2020.

The Service Authority for Freeways and Expressway program provides free emergency telephone services to stranded motorist through call boxes.  The program is a joint effort between the California Department of Transportation, the California Highway Patrol and the Transportation Agency.

In Monterey County, a system of 188 call boxes allows motorists to request roadside assistance along the following routes: State Route 1, State Route 68, State Route 156, US Highway 101, Jolon Road (G14, G18), and Arroyo Seco Road / Carmel Valley Road (G16).  Since the program’s inception in 1999, many system improvements have been implemented, including improved accessibility for disabled motorists, enhanced system coverage, and faster response to call box calls.  The call box system has also completed upgrades for digital service conversion, and speech and hearing impaired capability.  In February of 2014, the Transportation Agency entered into a three-year maintenance and improvement contract. The contract was renewed for an additional three years in 2017 and expires on June 30, 2020. 

Call box maintenance, both preventative and corrective, includes items such as repairs due to knockdowns or vandalism, temporary removals due to construction, permanent removals and maintaining boxes in good working order.  Also included in this contract are ADA site improvements as well as special projects the contractor may be requested to perform.  Two special projects that have been identified are implementing a modernization plan to remove call boxes no longer necessary as well as installing call boxes in locations where there is limited cellular coverage, and upgrading cellular call boxes to 4G cellular service.

One April 22, 2020 the Transportation Agency Board of Directors approved the Request for Proposals for Call Box Maintenance and Improvements.  Staff distributed the Requests for Proposals to various consultants as well as posted online and noticed in the Monterey Herald.

TAMC received one proposal by the required due date of May 14, 2020 at 2:00 pm.  The proposal received is from the current maintenance provider.  Based on criteria specified in the Request for Proposals and the proposer's past performance in providing call box maintenance, staff recommends executing a contract with CASE Emergency Systems.  The proposed agreement is for a three (3) year period ending June 30, 2023 with the option to extend the agreement for up to two (2) additional periods of two (2) years.