Innovation Studio - Frequently asked questions
CTA’s Innovation Studio is an initiative centered around testing new and innovative solutions to help solve issues facing the CTA and its riders. We will release problem statements through Innovation Studio annually to solicit solutions. Successful proposals will be piloted on our system and successful pilots may be scaled into long term solutions. Multiple problem statements and pilots will be launched each year with the intent to improve the experience for our riders and increase operational efficiencies for staff.
We will release two or three problem statements each year at a cadence that depends on the scope and success of in-progress pilots.
We cannot guarantee funding for a pilot. Funding will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Project costs should be provided on the application. If a proposal would require funding, please also provide that information on the application. The need for funding will not disqualify a proposal but may result in additional discussions. The Innovation Studio program is more likely to be able to cover costs associated with hardware and software. We are not able to compensate innovators for staff time needed to launch a pilot program.
All innovators are encouraged to submit proposals for a problem statement. This includes private sector companies and start-ups, non-profits, external agencies, etc. However, the innovator should be equipped to actively participate in the pilot from development to implementation and ongoing operation and final evaluation.
An individual pilot should last no more than 12 months from start to finish. Pilots can be shorter than 12 months.
Proposals will be selected four to six months after problem statements are released.
A successful proposal will appropriately address all evaluation criteria (see below) and will demonstrate that the innovator has the means and knowledge to support the CTA throughout the pilot. The proposal should realistically be able to be piloted and evaluated during a 12-month period.
Proposals will be evaluated based on their feasibility, responsiveness, timeline, project management and team support. The clarity of proposals will also be taken into consideration. The proposal should appropriately respond to the problem statement and should be something that we could realistically launch and test over a 12-month period.
Innovators should submit their proposal via the application form on our website by the submission deadline. Submissions should include information about the technology or solution proposed, a proposed scope of work, any background knowledge necessary to understand the proposal, and details about the innovator and any staff that might support the pilot. Late submissions will not be accepted. For more information, refer to the evaluation documentation.
We aim to select at least one pilot per problem statement. Depending on the number and quality of submissions, we may choose to pilot multiple proposals for a single problem statement, but there will likely be no more than six pilots run each year.
As the end of the pilot nears, there will be a final meeting for the innovator to present its findings and outcomes from the pilot. Afterward, we will evaluate the pilot and inform the innovator and the public if further developments will take place. Successful pilots may have an opportunity to scale into a long-term project, however participation in a pilot or POC will in no way obligate us to purchase or otherwise acquire any item, product, technology, or service piloted. To scale a project, we will follow our standard purchasing processes such as a formal open bid process. We will not give any special consideration to any Innovator or any pilot participant on any future evaluations, bids, solicitations, or contracts.
We are willing to accept submissions from innovators of any kind who are legally able to work in the U.S., but the innovator should be ready to assist in the launch of the pilot which may require working on site in CTA’s service area. The second phase of evaluations will occur during a hybrid event and innovators will be allowed to present remotely.
Innovators should identify goals and KPIs for the pilot during the presentation to the panel of stakeholders and subject matter experts at CTA (Phase 2 Evalutation). These will depend on the nature of the specific innovation. However, during the scope and planning period, KPIs will be finalized with CTA. For customer facing projects, our survey team can assist with collecting rider feedback about the pilot.
The timeline will be outlined during the scope and planning period between CTA and the innovator. We will bake in milestone check-ins and scope renegotiation periods to allow for in-flight adjustments due to new findings. The pilot however should not exceed a year in total duration, so some degree of contingency should be accounted for.
These pilots are envisioned to be a collaboration between CTA and the innovator. We will work to support innovator needs throughout the pilot. We have a full-time project manager dedicated to this support and will acquire technical resources as needed and available. Data related to the pilot work will be provided upon request for selected innovators.
Innovators should follow guidelines for the NIST 800-53 framework as it relates to cybersecurity standards. Additionally, CTA will require some visibility into any hardware installed on our system including, but not limited to the ability to perform a security assessment. Depending on the specifics of the proposal more strict security requirements may apply.