Overview

The Fresno Council of Governments (Fresno COG), the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Fresno County, is requesting proposals from qualified consulting teams to prepare a Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Plan supported by an updated Regional Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture.

Fresno COG seeks a multidisciplinary team with expertise in transportation systems operations, ITS architecture development, systems engineering, regional planning, stakeholder engagement, and data governance. The selected consultant will support the region in modernizing its ITS framework while advancing a more integrated, operations-focused approach to managing the transportation system.
The anticipated project duration is approximately 20 months, with a total budget of $485,000.

Project Background

Fresno County encompasses a diverse transportation environment, including urban, suburban, and rural areas, with a wide range of operational challenges.

The region's current ITS Strategic Deployment Plan and Regional ITS Architecture were adopted in 2015. While the existing plan established a strong foundation for regional coordination and federal compliance, transportation technologies, data practices, and operational priorities have evolved significantly over the past decade.

Key developments since the adoption of the 2015 plan include:

• Transition from legacy ITS architecture tools to the ARC-IT framework
• Emergence of connected and automated vehicle (CV/AV) technologies
• Growth in cloud-based systems, real-time data sharing, and third-party mobility data
• Increased emphasis on system reliability, performance-based planning, and operations
• Expanded need for interagency coordination during incidents, emergencies, and major events
• Greater importance of data governance, cybersecurity, and interoperability

In addition, under 23 CFR 940, federally funded ITS projects must conform to a regional ITS architecture. As the MPO, Fresno COG plays a key role in maintaining a current and compliant architecture to support project development and federal funding eligibility.

Given these changes, Fresno COG is undertaking a comprehensive update to both the Regional ITS Architecture and the Strategic Deployment Plan, with a shift toward a TSMO-focused framework that emphasizes how people, processes, technology, and policy work together to improve system performance.

Project Purpose and Objectives

The primary purpose of this effort is to:

1. Update and modernize the Regional ITS Architecture using the current ARC-IT framework
2. Develop a comprehensive TSMO Plan that translates operational needs into actionable strategies
3. Strengthen regional coordination among transportation agencies, emergency responders, and partner organizations
4. Improve integration between ITS/TSMO investments and regional planning and programming processes
5. Establish a framework for ongoing architecture maintenance and data governance

While the architecture update is a core requirement, the project also places additional emphasis on:

• Emergency response coordination
• Non-recurring congestion management
• Planned event operations
• Multimodal coordination, including transit operations
• Data sharing and regional interoperability

The resulting plan will be designed to support real-world implementation, and will serve as a practical guide for future investment and decision-making.

Scope of Work Summary

The selected consultant will complete a series of coordinated tasks to deliver both the updated ITS Architecture and the TSMO Plan.

Project Management and Coordination

The consultant will provide overall project management, including development of a work plan and schedule, coordination with Fresno COG staff, and regular progress reporting. The consultant will also coordinate with participating partner agencies throughout the project.

Existing Conditions Review

The consultant will review the 2015 ITS Strategic Deployment Plan and Regional ITS Architecture, as well as relevant regional, state, and federal documents. A planning-level inventory of existing ITS assets and operational practices will be conducted to identify gaps and opportunities.

Stakeholder Engagement and Needs Assessment

A robust stakeholder engagement process will be conducted, including interviews, workshops, and coordination with key partners such as local jurisdictions, transit operators, Caltrans, and emergency response agencies. The consultant will identify operational challenges and regional needs related to incident management, emergency response, planned events, and weather-related disruptions.

The scope also includes a half-day workshop providing an overview of FHWA systems engineering requirements and relevant Caltrans Local Assistance Program Guidelines (LAPG Chapter 13) to support local agency understanding of federal and state ITS requirements.

Regional ITS Architecture Update

The consultant will develop an updated Regional ITS Architecture using the ARC-IT framework. This will include defining service packages, subsystems, and information flows, and addressing emerging technologies such as CV/AV and Mobility as a Service (MaaS).

The architecture must be developed consistent with 23 CFR 940, applicable FHWA and Caltrans guidance, and aligned with the Caltrans Statewide ITS Architecture. Deliverables must support future project-level systems engineering and ongoing maintenance.

TSMO Plan Development

The consultant will prepare a comprehensive TSMO Plan that establishes a regional vision, goals, and objectives. The plan will identify operational strategies supported by technology, institutional coordination, and policy improvements.

A key component of this task is the development of a transparent and repeatable prioritization framework to evaluate and rank proposed TSMO and ITS strategies and projects based on regional goals, operational benefits, cost considerations, and implementation readiness.

Emergency Response and Non-Recurring Congestion

The consultant will evaluate regional practices related to emergency response and non-recurring congestion and develop planning-level strategies to improve coordination, information sharing, and traveler information. This includes consideration of wildfire response, fog conditions, major incidents, and special events.

Data Governance and Data Sharing

The project includes development of a regional framework for data governance and data sharing. The consultant will assess current practices, identify barriers, and recommend best practices for interoperability, cybersecurity, and data management.

Integration with Regional Planning

The consultant will ensure that TSMO strategies are aligned with the Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), Congestion Management Process (CMP), and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The plan will provide guidance on how recommended projects may inform future funding and prioritization decisions.

ITS Architecture Maintenance Plan

A maintenance plan will be developed to define roles, responsibilities, and procedures for ongoing updates to the Regional ITS Architecture, ensuring continued compliance and usability.

Final Documentation and Adoption Support

The consultant will prepare draft and final documents, including the TSMO Plan, ITS Architecture, executive summary, and presentation materials, and will support presentations to Fresno COG committees and board for adoption.

Deliverables

Key deliverables for this project include:

• Project Work Plan and Schedule
• Regular Progress Reports
• Existing Conditions Technical Memorandum and ITS Inventory
• Stakeholder Engagement Summary and Needs Assessment
• Updated Regional ITS Architecture documentation and database
• ITS Architecture Maintenance Plan
• Data Governance and Data Sharing Framework Recommendations
• Project Sequencing and Strategic Deployment Guide
• Draft and Final TSMO Plan
• Executive Summary for policymakers
• Presentation materials

Proposal Information

The full Request for Proposals (RFP), including detailed scope, requirements, and submission instructions, is available at:

https://www.fresnocog.org/doing-business-with-fresno-cog/

Proposals are due by:

April 24, 2026 at 5:00 PM PT

Fresno COG encourages interested firms to review the full RFP and submit proposals in accordance with the provided instructions.