Public Transit Technology Strategy and Innovation Consulting

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is soliciting proposals from qualified consulting firms to provide independent, strategic advisory services to the Agency’s Technology Department for an initial one-year term beginning on or around April 1, 2026, with an option to renew for an additional year. The consultant will serve in a strictly advisory capacity, providing objective insights, benchmarking, and strategic guidance to inform technology leadership and executive decision-making. No implementation, operational execution, or project delivery services are included in this engagement. The selected consultant will leverage deep experience in public transit and comparable asset-intensive, publicly funded, and safety-critical industries to assess COTA’s current technology practices, identify strengths and gaps, and recommend prioritized, actionable strategies. Areas of focus include technology governance, operating models, vendor and software management, data and analytics, cybersecurity, emerging transportation and digital technologies, and regulatory and policy considerations affecting technology in transit. Services will include industry best-practice benchmarking, a high-level review of COTA’s current technology environment, strategic recommendations, and executive advisory and facilitation support. Deliverables will consist of concise written findings, benchmarking insights, prioritized recommendations, strategic options, and executive-level presentation materials tailored to the public transit context. This engagement is intended to provide an informed external perspective and thought partnership to COTA Technology leadership, enabling informed decisions regarding technology strategy, governance, and future operating models, while maintaining a vendor-neutral and implementation-agnostic approach.