Washington, D.C.'s District Department of Transportation (DDOT) issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Monday, Feb, 3, 2014 "to firms interested in submitting Statements of Qualification (SOQs) to design, build, operate, and maintain [DBOM] an integrated premium transit system."
DDOT seeks a DBOM approach to implement an "integrated premium transit (IPT) system" including streetcars, buses, and "both existing and new transit facilities." It envisoned the IPT to be "developed in phases and is comprised of 22-miles of dual/single track fixed guideway, related equipment and facilities, and potentially up to 15 additional miles of fixed guided track," as well as "all local bus services within the District."
"This design-build-operate-maintain procurement is an innovative way to deliver the integrated premium transit vision we have for the District in an affordable and efficient manner," said DDOT Director Terry Bellamy. "This delivery method allows us to continue providing innovative, safe and high quality and integrated transportation solutions to the District."
The procurement will be conducted as a two-step process, with an RFQ followed by an Request for Proposals (RFP). Prospective proposers will be short-listed based upon their SOQ submissions evaluated against the extensive qualification criteria in the SOQ. The specific limits of the IPT will be further specified in RFP, which will be issued to the short-listed responding teams.
DDOT will host a pre-SOQ workshop for interested proposers on Feb. 18, though attendance is optional. It adds that any questions regarding the RFQ may be submitted as indicated in the RFQ itself, which can be found here: http://ocp.dc.gov/. SOQs are due by 2 p.m. on March 21, 2014.