(a) Award. FRA will execute a contract with the winning bidder(s), consistent with the requirements of this section and as FRA may otherwise require, no later than 90 days after the bid deadline established by Sec. 269.9(b) of this part. FRA will provide timely notice of these selections to all petitioners and Amtrak.
(b) Contract requirements. Among other things, the contract between FRA and a winning bidder shall:
(1) Award to the winning bidder the right and obligation to provide passenger rail service over that route subject to such performance standards as FRA may require, consistent with the standards developed under section 207 of the Act, for a duration consistent with Sec. 269.3(c) of this part;
(2) Award to the winning bidder an operating subsidy for the first year at a level not in excess of the level in effect during the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which the petition was received, adjusted for inflation, and for any subsequent years at such level, adjusted for inflation;
(3) Condition the operating and subsidy rights upon the winning bidder continuing to provide passenger rail service on the route that is no less frequent, nor over a shorter distance, than Amtrak provided on that route before the award;
(4) Condition the operating and subsidy rights upon the winning bidder's compliance with the minimum standards established under section 207 of the Act and such additional performance standards as FRA may establish; and
(5) Subject the winning bidder to the grant conditions established by 49 U.S.C. 24405.
(c) Staffing Plan Publication. The winning bidder shall make their staffing plan required by Sec. 269.9(b)(4) of this part available to the public after the bid award.