Guide for Procuring and Delivering Software as a Service projects for Transportation Operations
- Jun 5, 2025
- Focus Area
- Transportation Systems Management & Operations
- Submitting On Behalf Of
- TRB Committee on Freeway Operations
- Urgency
- Important - Medium Priority
- Cost
- $250,000 - 499,000
- Timeframe
- 1 - 2 years
- Type of Research
- Full Research Project
- Date Posted
- Jun 5, 2025
- Status
- Not Funded
Research Description
Software as a Service (SaaS) is gaining popularity as a preferred vendor software delivery model for transportation operations. Transportation agencies are finding that procurement documents for SaaS solutions require different considerations than traditional applications that are licensed and hosted on-premises. SaaS applications vary in several ways including roles, and responsibilities for acquiring vendor software including funding, licensing and ownership rights, service level agreements, hosting options, development oversight, compliance with agency standards, system verification and validation, operations, and maintenance. Transportation agencies have limited experience planning, deploying, customizing, and operating SaaS solutions. The need for this research is to inform and guide agencies in how to prepare for procuring and delivering SaaS solutions.
This research project intends to: • Identify and analyze the primary procurement challenges facing transportation agencies in procuring SaaS applications • Examine how SaaS solutions challenge conventional procurement practices and documentation • Offer practical solutions for improving agency knowledge and skills • Provide guidance on how to structure SaaS Agreements including real-world examples from with and outside transportation agencies
Additional Supporting Information
This research will provide guidance and best practice information to transportation agencies to support wider adoption of SaaS solutions and enhancements in how these systems are planned, procured, and implemented.
- Submitted By
- Jim Katsafanas
- Michael Baker International
- 412-269-4635
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