Vanpool Subsidy Request for Information

The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) is seeking input from vanpool service providers, mobility operators, fleet vendors, and technology partners regarding the feasibility of implementing a fixedfare vanpool subsidy model within a publicagency–sponsored commuter program. SBCAG is evaluating a shift away from traditional vendorcostbased vanpool structures toward a predictable, zonebased fare system in which riders pay a consistent monthly fare and the agency absorbs backend variability. Because this model differs significantly from the prevailing public vanpool leaseplussubsidy approach used across most U.S. vanpool programs, SBCAG is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to understand how vendors could support, adapt to, or integrate with a fixedfare framework. The information collected will help SBCAG assess operational, contractual, and technological implications of a fixedfare model, including how vendors structure pricing, manage mileage variability, support National Transit Database (NTD) reporting, and handle fleet, billing, and customer service functions under a predictablefare environment. Feedback from industry participants will inform future procurement and ensure that SBCAG’s vanpool program aligns with market capabilities, commuter needs, and regional mobility goals.