In a request for qualifications released July 11, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) calls for statements of qualifications (SOQs) from qualified firms that may lead to a contract for roadway and broadband telecommunications construction services in District 9. Situated along the state’s border with Nevada, District 9 encompasses Inyo, Mono and eastern Kern counties. Caltrans, the focus of a “Profiles in Government” feature in March, has been at work on broadband for many months and has issued several similar procurements over the past year. Among the takeaways:
- The work includes a wide range of tasks associated with roadway and broadband telecommunications construction services, including inspection and office engineering, electrical construction inspection, landscape architectural construction inspection, construction claims support, scheduling, materials sampling and testing, and construction stormwater implementation. Locations could include areas in or around Mammoth Lakes, Lone Pine, Bishop, Mojave and Lee Vining. Work will be on an as-needed basis and may extend into an adjoining county or Caltrans district if necessary.
- Projects may vary in scope and size, and include any type of improvement to the state transportation system or communication or information services. Services could include roadway rehabilitation, widening or realignment of existing facilities, relocation of facilities, broadband telecommunications installation (including conduit/fiber, vaults, hubs), and construction of new facilities. Project locations, limits, purpose, results expected, deliverables, period and scope will be set out in individual task orders. Potential duties include the work of assistant resident engineer, such as roadway construction inspection, quantity calculations, checking grade and alignment, and assuring compliance with project plans and specifications. There’s also identifying actual and possible problems with the project and recommending sound engineering solutions; being aware of health and safety requirements and ensuring compliance with regulations and provision, to protect personnel and the public; doing quantity calculations; helping prepare final As-Built plans and reports; doing minor construction surveying; and doing office construction engineering work.
- Job classifications specified in the RFQ include consultant registered roadway construction inspector, construction assistant roadway construction inspector, consultant construction office engineer, and consultant assistant construction office engineers. All will work under either a Caltrans contract manager or a Caltrans task order manager. Specific experience required includes, for the inspector, six years’ demonstrated experience in roadway with at least two years as lead. For the assistant inspector, experience includes two years education beyond 12th grade in either engineering, with specified courses, or in surveying, with specified courses; and at least four years’ experience in roadway construction inspection on highways or major public works projects. For engineers, experience includes graduation from a four-year accredited civil engineering curriculum and at least two years’ demonstrated experience or valid certification as an engineer-in-training and two years’ demonstrated experience. For assistant engineers, experience includes two years’ education equivalent to finishing a curriculum beyond 12th grade in either engineering, with specified courses, or in surveying, with specified courses; and at least four years’ experience in highway construction office engineering, or major public works projects inspection.
- The estimated contract value is $14.4 million to $23.4 million, with rounding. Estimated contract term is three years. Responses to the RFQ are due by 10 a.m. Aug. 11. Interviews will be done via WebEx on Aug. 24 with confirmation letters sent to short-listed firms. Negotiations with top-ranked firms will happen during the week of Aug. 30. Oct. 11 is the scheduled date to finish cost negotiations and turn in final cost proposals.
