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Application Information
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Wheels to Donate 9 Retired Paratransit Vans to
Tri-Valley Community-Based Organizations
- A Pre-application meeting will be held on April 22th 2008 at 2:00pm.
- Applications are due May 9th at 12:00 pm.
- Applicant notification end of May 2008.
- Vehicle delivery June 13, 2008.
Questions and Answers regarding the Wendy Lockhart Community Transportation Partnership Program
1. What is the purpose of the Wendy Lockhart Community Transportation Partnership Program?
The program is intended to provide surplus accessible vehicles that had previously been in use in the WHEELS Dial-A-Ride program to Community Based Organizations so that they can provide transportation to their ADA eligible clients and/or members while at the same time reducing the demand for WHEELS Dial-A-Ride service by providing transportation for people in their organization who would otherwise use WHEELS for their trips.
2. What is the definition of a Community Based Organization?
A “Community Based Organization” (CBO) is an organization operated by a non-profit agency, community coalition, local city, or other public organization which has as its mission services to people within the community. The organization can serve any client groups however; elderly and/or disabled clients must be a part of their focus. The organization must be based in and serve clients/ members in the cities of Dublin, Pleasanton, or Livermore or the unincorporated portions of Alameda county that is part of the WHEELS service area.
3. What will The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) provide?
LAVTA will provide one accessible vehicle, 27’ in length that is in good running order, complete maintenance records, free driver training and up to $5,000 per year (for two years) in reimbursed maintenance costs.
4. What must the Community Based Organization provide?
The community Based Organization must paint or wrap the vehicle so that it can no longer be mistaken for a WHEELS vehicle; provide insurance; drivers; registration; fuel; maintenance (reimbursed up to $5,000 per year for the first two years), new tires when needed, and all other operating costs. The organization must also provide at least 50 trips each month for two years to ADA eligible clients who would otherwise be using WHEELS Dial-A-Ride for their trips.
5. How will LAVTA monitor the program to ensure that the Community Based Organization is carrying eligible clients?
The organization receiving the van must submit monthly reports to LAVTA listing the names of the ADA eligible clients/ members carried during the past month. These names will be compared to the LAVTA’s database of certified ADA clients. If an organization is unsure whether the client is in the database, they can call LAVTA to verify eligibility. Some ADA clients have ADA Id cards showing that they have been certified by LAVTA’s paratransit department. If the organization has clients that they are transporting who they believe could be ADA eligible but have not been certified the organization can help them apply for eligibility, LAVTA will be on hand to help with this process.
6. What if the organization carries passengers who are not ADA eligible?
The organization may use the vehicles to transport whomever they choose as long as at least 50 of the trips per month are provided to those who are ADA eligible.
7. What if the organization cannot meet the 50 ADA trips per month requirement?
Organizations that cannot meet this requirement are not eligible to receive a vehicle. If an organization that has stated that it will meet this requirement receives a vehicle and later cannot comply with this requirement. LAVTA will discontinue subsidizing the maintenance of the vehicle. LAVTA is confident that that there are a sufficient number of organizations within its service area who can meet this requirement so that this will not be a problem.
8. What if costs to maintain the vehicle exceed $5,000 per year?
If costs to maintain the vehicle exceed $5,000 per year, the organization receiving the van is responsible for all additional costs. However; these vans have been thoroughly inspected and are in good running condition.
9. How long can my organization keep the vehicle?
The vehicle is the organization’s to keep for as long as it wants to. However, LAVTA will provide free driver training and pay for maintenance costs of up to $5,000 per year for the first two years only. Agreements with organizations receiving a vehicle will be for two consecutive one year terms with an evaluation done on the program at the end of the first year to determine if the second year is feasible.
At the end of the two year period the organization is released from any reporting requirements to LAVTA.
10. How will recipients be chosen?
Applications will be screened to ensure that the applicant has met the basic criteria, such as organization type and location. Applications will then be scored according to the following criteria:
A. description of the CBO, including: (20 points)
- Number of years in existence.
- Program/ Organization location and hours of operation.
- Mission or purpose.
- Number of clients/ members.
- Legal Status (non profit, government sponsored, etc.)
- Major funding sources.
- Governing body description and organization chart.
- A description of how the CBO coordinates with other agencies, if applicable.
B. A description of need for the vehicle, including: (20 points)
- Number of vehicles currently owned, how those vehicles were funded and how they will be replaced.
- Whether or not the organization uses fixed route services for those clients that can use fixed route.
- How clients currently access services.
- How having the vehicle will benefit the organizations clients/members.
C. A description of how the CBO will meet ADA rider criteria: (50 points)
- Provide information on how the organization will meet the minimum criteria of 50 trips per month to ADA eligible clients/ members.
- If CBO can exceed the 50 trips per month, please describe how many additional trips can be expected per month, and the basis for this assumption (extra points will be given for those who can exceed 50 trips per month).
D. Financial Capacity: (10 points)
- Description of funding capacity.
E. Certifications and Assurances: (pass or fail)
- CBO will repaint or rewrap the vehicle at its own cost.
- CBO will provide insurance and indemnify both LAVTA and MV Transportation.
- CBO will provide necessary reports monthly due by the 5th day of the following month.
- CBO agrees to cover all costs of operating the vehicle except as specified in the agreement with LAVTA..
- CBO accepts all other terms and conditions of receipt of vehicle.
Scoring the applications:
A. Program description:
Higher ratings will be given to established CBOs which have been active in the WHEELS service area for longer periods of time. Organizations that have as their sole mission service to seniors and individuals with disabilities will receive higher ratings. Organizations that demonstrate a high degree of coordination or innovation in service delivery will be given higher ratings. Examples of such innovation or coordination include vehicle sharing, use of volunteer drivers, partnerships with other organization or the business community, etc. Organizations and their clients must be located in the WHEELS service area.
A. Need:
Organizations that currently do not own vehicles will be rated higher. Organizations that rely primarily on WHEELS Dial-A-Ride to get their clients to their program will be score higher. Organizations that do not have other funding sources to provide vehicles will be scored higher.
B. Meeting the ADA Criteria:
If an organization can exceed the 50 trips per month criteria of the program, those organizations that can exceed it by up to ten additional trips per month will receive one extra point; by up to 20 trips per month 2 extra points, by up to 30 trips per month 3 extra points, by up to 49 trips per month 4 extra points, and anything over or including an additional 50 trips per month will receive 5 extra points.
C. Financial Capacity:
Those organizations that show a more stable funding history will be scored higher.
E. Certifications and Assurances:
An organization must certify all conditions. Organizations that cannot certify one or more conditions will be ineligible.
F. Certifications and Assurances:
An organization must certify all conditions. Organizations that cannot certify one or more conditions will be ineligible.
11. Who will score the applications?
A committee consisting of five people, two members of the WHEELS Accessibility Advisory Committee, two members of LAVTA staff and one member from Dial-A-Ride operations. All members of the committee will not have a conflict of interest or be an applicant for the program.
12. Where do I get an application?
Applications can be obtained by request by sending your e-mail address to: frontdesk@lavta.org.
13. How do I submit an application?
Submit six copies of your application to:
LAVTA
Attn: Tamara Edwards
1362 Rutan Drive Suite 100
Livermore, Ca 94551
You must include the Certification of Assurances at the link below with your application.
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