(1) Vendor needs to provide cashless fare collection system– The Agency is soliciting proposals from qualified companies for its urban transit system, Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST), to design, install, and maintain a next generation fare collection system. The system will include software and hardware that allows for electronic payment of transit fares, including reloadable smart cards and a mobile application. The system will be account–based, using an open architecture that is flexible, scalable, and secure. • Increase transit system usage, market penetration, and fare revenue • Lower the total cost of system ownership • Reduce the use of cash as a form of payment • Improve access to data and analytics for planning • Allow easy scalability for service expansion (including ADA Paratransit services) • Implement a scalable open architecture system that can adapt and evolve – Technical Requirements and System Components – Farebox Requirements: • Electronic validation of all fare payments using onboard validators • Contactless smart card/fob reader capability • Mobile device NFC payment acceptance • Cash acceptance with secure storage and counting • ADA–compliant design with audio/visual feedback • Integration with vehicle GPS and automatic passenger counting systems • Real–time communication with central system