26-CTRAIL-SIGNALS1_Aug_14_26_solicitation_doc.pdf

This is a Request for Proposals solicitation document issued by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) for Signal Equipment on Project 0301-0154, the New Haven Line Signal Upgrade. CTDOT is seeking a qualified contractor to design, fabricate, and deliver pre-wired signal equipment and systems for the New Haven Line corridor extending from Norwalk to Bridgeport, Connecticut. The scope includes design and delivery of pre-wired signal houses and cases for new interlockings at four control points (CP-244, CP-255, CP-256, and CP-257), upgrades to CP-248, and intermediate equipment across approximately 13.8 miles of four-track mainline. The system must incorporate a vital microprocessor-based wayside signal architecture with 100 Hz AC track circuits, redundant fiber optic communication networks, remote diagnostics, cab signaling for speeds up to 96 MPH, and local control panels. The contractor must submit design documents at multiple stages (60%, 90%, 100%, As-Shipped, and As-In-Service) and provide factory testing and field support during minimum thirty-five weekend and nighttime cutover operations. Proposals are due November 5, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST.

The solicitation is open to all vendors with no set-asides, preferences, or eligibility restrictions. The contractor must be certified in ASQ/ANSI/ISO 9001:2015 and demonstrate that all proposed products have been in reliable service for at least five years on similar North American railroads unless otherwise approved. Key personnel—a Project Manager, Signal Engineer, Application Engineer, and Network Engineer—must each have minimum ten years of relevant experience. The contract includes a minimum two-year warranty with liquidated damages of $800 per day per signal house or case for delivery delays and $1,000 per day for late documentation, test reports, or training deliverables. The contractor must provide performance, payment, and warranty bonds, with the payment bond set at $2.5 million and warranty bonds equal to 25% of signal houses and cases cost. Compliance with 49 CFR Part 236, AREMA Communications and Signals Manual, IEEE, EIA, NEC, and Metro-North Railroad Standards is required. The contractor bears full transportation costs and risk of loss until CTDOT provides conditional acceptance. No estimated contract value is disclosed in the solicitation.