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Board splits on senior transport: WAVE funded now, two providers deferred pending documents after lively debate
Summary
The board approved a partial allocation for older‑adult transportation (WAVE) but postponed final approval for two other recommended providers after members said the RFP responses lacked requested financial and program detail. County staff will collect missing materials and return the two items to the board Sept. 17.
The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 3 approved a partial distribution of the board’s $1 million older‑adults transportation pot but deferred final action for two recommended vendors after a contentious debate about incomplete RFP responses and contracting standards.
What the board approved and deferred - Approved (immediate): $333,333 for WAVE (Western Washtenaw Area Value Express) to scale senior rides across parts of the county. - Deferred (two‑week delay): recommendation packages for People’s Express (a county‑area provider) and JFS (Jewish Family Service) were sent back to staff for follow‑up; commissioners asked vendors to submit specific financial documentation and clarified service metrics.
Why commissioners delayed the two awards Several commissioners and some board members who participated on the RFP review said they supported rapid funding for senior transportation but raised process concerns: two of the three lead applicants had not provided the full financial spreadsheets and prior‑year revenue detail requested by the review committee. Commissioners said the RFP required that material and asked why county staff or the review committee had advanced recommendations before receiving it. Several commissioners urged the vendors to provide the missing documents within days; staff said they would present the follow‑up materials at the board’s Sept. 17 meeting.
Program design and contracting questions Board members asked staff to ensure contracts are written to (a) require month‑by‑month invoicing tied to rides or units delivered, (b) specify a common set of performance measures and reporting metrics, (c) require vehicle ownership or reversion language for capital purchases funded with county dollars, and (d) permit contract reprogramming if performance metrics show the vendor is not expanding service as proposed.
Staff response and timing County administrative staff and the review panel said they could supply the scoring rubric used in the RFP and obtain missing budget/revenue materials from vendors. Staff said contracts would be drafted after final award, with the board’s direction that reimbursement be based on delivered units and clear monthly reporting. Commissioners said they expected administration to expedite contract execution so services can begin in October and offered to make awards retroactive to launch dates in the contract if needed.
Ending County staff will collect missing documentation from People’s Express and JFS and return those items to the board for a vote on Sept. 17. Commissioners reiterated the priority: get seniors rides to appointments and services as quickly as possible while preserving accountability for taxpayer dollars.
