Traction Power Monitoring & Load Intelligence Challenge

Anticipated Contract Term:
Pilot phase (“Pilot”) with potential expansion at the Port Authority’s or PATH’s discretion.

Solicitation Dates:
Launch: July 22nd, 2026
Submission Deadline: September 22nd, 2026

Please submit your Challenge Proposal to [email protected].

Should you have any questions, please submit them to [email protected]. All such correspondence must have your name, title, company, mailing address, telephone number, and state the subject Challenge in the subject line. The Authority must receive all questions no later than 4:00 P.M. ET, seven (7) working days before the Submission Deadline. If interpretation or additional information is required, it will be communicated by written addendum issued by the undersigned and such writing shall form a part of this Challenge, or the accompanying documents, as appropriate. At any time, in its sole discretion, the Port Authority may, by written addenda to this Challenge, modify, amend, cancel, and/or reissue this solicitation. For updates and addenda, if any, Challenge Proposers are encouraged to access, and monitor, this Challenged-Based Procurement page. If an addendum is issued after Challenge Proposals have been received, it may, at the Port Authority’s discretion, be provided only to those whose Challenge Proposals may be impacted by such change/addendum.

The Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH) system seeks Innovative Solutions to provide real-time visibility into traction power usage, improving system reliability, operational awareness (power demand and constraints), and enhancing operational decision-making.

Reliable traction power is critical to safe and efficient rail operations. However, feeder-level monitoring capabilities are currently limited, which can affect the ability to detect peak loads, identify anomalies, and proactively manage system performance. As a result, we believe there is an opportunity to deploy modern sensing and analytics technologies to enhance system intelligence, if available.

• Enable real-time monitoring of traction power.
• Detect and analyze peak load conditions.
• Provide predictive analytics and insights, such as comparison of actual load behavior against substation settings.
• Enhance visibility into traction power system performance and anomalies.

Consider the following technical questions and environmental constraints when submitting your Challenge Proposal. This is not an exhaustive list. Please include ANY and ALL relevant information in your Challenge Proposal that addresses the challenge the Port Authority has identified, considering the evaluation criteria.

• Is your product/solution compatible with high-voltage systems? Is it feasible to install your product on existing feeder cables?
• What are its integration capabilities? Can it integrate with SCADA and other operational systems?
• How accurate is your product/solution with current measurement capabilities?
• What are your product’s power source needs?
• What is your product’s data transmission and storage capacity?
• How are your products/solutions compliant with any state or federal requirements/regulations?

• Operation in tunnel environments (narrow, tight clearances).
• General environmental durability including heat, vibration, electrical interference, etc.).
• Withstand temperatures up to 200°F without degradation of product.
• Waterproof and vibration-resistant.

The Port Authority reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to review, evaluate, accept or reject any and all Challenge Proposals. Consideration of submissions remains within the discretion of the Port Authority.

The Port Authority reserves the unqualified right in its sole and absolute discretion to review, evaluate, accept or reject any and all Challenge Proposals on the basis of an evaluation. The Port Authority also reserves the unqualified right to request further information from any Challenge Proposer.

Submissions will be reviewed and evaluated in accordance with the criteria outlined below. The Port Authority reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to conduct interviews, request presentations or demonstrations, and take any other action it is permitted to take, or to perform none of the above.

1. Relevant Experience and Expertise

• Familiarity with traction power systems, rail operations, utilities, or other high-voltage environments.
•  Experience implementing solutions in complex or constrained environments (e.g., tunnels, transit systems, or industrial settings).
• Proven experience in the development, deployment, and operation of electrical monitoring systems, sensing technologies, or comparable infrastructure solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and deliver projects of similar scope and technical complexity.
• Existing relationships or prior work with public agencies including transportation authorities.  

2. Program Model and Projected Outcomes

a. Addresses the Challenge

• Enables real-time monitoring of traction power feeder cables.
• Measures and analyzes current flow, peak loads, and system behavior.
• Detects abnormal or unexpected load conditions.
• Generates actionable alerts and operational insights.

b. Feasibility & Sustainability

• Providing a detailed and realistic installation and deployment approach.
• Addressing compatibility with existing infrastructure, including feeder cables and high-voltage environments.
• Demonstrating the ability to operate reliably under environmental constraints (e.g., tunnels, heat, moisture, vibration).
• Presenting a plan for ongoing maintenance, support, and system reliability.
• Identifying potential risks and mitigation strategies

c. Integration & Operational Adoption

• Integrate with existing PATH systems (e.g., SCADA, Power Director, or other operational platforms).
• Deliver information to end users in a clear, accessible, and actionable format (e.g., dashboards, alerts, mobile notifications).
• Support adoption by operational staff through usability, training, and workflow alignment.

d. Scalability

• Providing a clear pathway from pilot implementation to broader deployment across the PATH system.
• Identifying how the solution can be replicated across multiple substations, feeder cables, or operational environments.
• Addressing any technical, operational, or cost-related constraints to scaling and proposing mitigation strategies.

e. Measurability

• Key performance indicators (e.g., improved visibility, detection accuracy, system reliability improvements).
• Methods for tracking, reporting, and analyzing performance during the pilot.

Ability to generate actionable insights from collected data, including predictive or preventative maintenance indicators.

A contract may be awarded to the Challenge Proposer(s) that are the highest evaluated at the Port Authority’s discretion. Any contract shall include Port Authority’s Standard Terms and Conditions (attached hereto as Exhibit 1), or other terms and conditions that may be applicable to this Challenge, with which the selected Challenge Proposer(s) shall be required to comply, including, but not limited to, insurance requirements, execution of Non-Disclosure and Confidentiality Agreements and Acknowledgements, and adherence to technology and cyber security requirements.  There are no guarantees made or implied by the Port Authority that this Challenge will result in an award.

Your submission should align with the evaluation criteria as provided herein, as well as the requirements set forth below.

• Executive Summary of product/solution to the proposed challenge
• Response to technical considerations and environmental constraints
• Deployment Plan
• Relevant Experience
• Optional Supporting Materials – i.e. video of product, presentations, etc.
• Cost Proposal
• Challenge Proposers should provide a high-level, non-binding cost estimate for their proposed solution. This should include:

i.         Estimated cost for an initial pilot deployment

ii.        Anticipated unit costs at scale (e.g., per site, per asset, or per deployment)

iii.       Key cost drivers (e.g., hardware, installation, integration, operations)

Note: Detailed pricing is not required at this stage. Cost estimates will be used to assess scalability and economic feasibility.

The Port Authority’s receipt or discussion of any information (including information contained in any submission, vendor qualification, ideas, models, drawings, or other material communicated or exhibited by the Challenge Proposer or on its behalf) shall not impose any obligations whatsoever on the Port Authority or entitle the Challenge Proposer to any compensation therefor (except to the extent specifically provided in such written agreement, if any, as may be entered into between the Port Authority and Challenge Proposer.  Any such information given by Challenge Proposers to the Port Authority before, with or after their submissions either orally or in writing, is not given in confidence.  Such information may be used, or disclosed to others, for any purpose at any time without obligation or compensation and without liability of any kind whatsoever.  Any statement which is inconsistent with this clause, whether made as part of or in connection with this clause, shall be void and of no effect.  This clause is not intended, however, to grant to the Port Authority rights to any matter, which is the subject of valid existing or potential letters patent.

No Challenge Proposer shall have any rights against the Port Authority arising from contents of this Challenge, the receipt of information, or the incorporation in or rejection of information contained in any Challenge Proposal or in any other document.

Neither the Commissioners of the Port Authority, the Board of Directors of PATH, nor any of them, nor any officer, agent or employee thereof shall be charged personally with any liability by a Challenge Proposer or another or held liable to a Challenge Proposer or another under any term or provision of this Challenge or any statements made herein or because of the submission or  attempted submission of information or other response hereto or otherwise.

The Port Authority’s receipt or discussion of any information (including information contained in any submission, vendor qualification, ideas, models, drawings, or other material communicated or exhibited by the Challenge Proposer or on its behalf) shall not impose any obligations whatsoever on the Port Authority or entitle the Challenge Proposer to any compensation therefor (except to the extent specifically provided in such written agreement, if any, as may be entered into between the Port Authority and Challenge Proposer).  Any such information given by Challenge Proposers to the Port Authority before, with or after their submissions either orally or in writing, is not given in confidence.  Such information may be used, or disclosed to others, for any purpose at any time without obligation or compensation and without liability of any kind whatsoever.  Any statement which is inconsistent with this clause, whether made as part of or in connection with this clause, shall be void and of no effect.  This clause is not intended, however, to grant to the Port Authority rights to any matter, which is the subject of valid existing or potential letters patent.

No Challenge Proposer shall have any rights against the Port Authority arising from contents of this Challenge, the receipt of information, or the incorporation in or rejection of information contained in any Challenge Proposal or in any other document.

Neither the Commissioners of the Port Authority, the Board of Directors of PATH, nor any of them, nor any officer, agent or employee thereof shall be charged personally with any liability by a Challenge Proposer or another or held liable to a Challenge Proposer or another under any term or provision of this Challenge or any statements made herein or because of the submission or  attempted submission of information or other response hereto or otherwise.

The success of any Pilot resulting from this Challenge will be measured upon certain factors, which may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

• Enabling real-time monitoring of traction power
• Detecting and analyzing peak load conditions
• Forecast conditions and comparing forecasts to actual loads
• Provision of enhanced visibility into anomalies
• Support and ease of operational use and integration
• Capability for long-term deployment

The Port Authority reserves the right to take any and all action in accordance with its guidelines, processes and procedures in its sole discretion.

Please see Attachments as below for your reference.