Request for Qualifications No. 274-2026-Northern BRT.pdf

Request for Qualifications # 274-2026-Northern-BRT

Title: Wake BRT: Northern Corridors Design & NEPA Study

Issue Date: September 21, 2026

Due Date: November 6, 2026 not later than 5:00PM EST

*LATE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED*

Issuing Department: Transportation - Transit

Direct all inquiries concerning this RFQ to:

Logan Bealke Transportation Planner - BRT Email: Logan.Bealke@raleighnc.gov

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

1.1. Purpose

1.2. Background

1.3. RFQ Timeline

1.4. Pre-Submittal Conference

1.5. Questions

1.6. Submittal Requirements and Contact Information

1.7. Business Engagement and Opportunities

1.8. Rights to Submitted Material

1.9. Communications

1.10. Lobbying

1.11. Conflicts of Interest

1.12. Proposer Expenses

1.13. Proposer Acceptance

2. Qualifications Package

2.1. Request for Qualifications Required Document Format

2.2. Hourly Rates

2.3. Qualifications Package Documents

3. Submittal Evaluation

3.1. Evaluation Criteria

3.2. Final Selection

3.3. Notice to Proposers Regarding RFQ Terms & Conditions

3.4. Contract Term…………………………………………………………..10

3.5. Federal Funding Requirements

4. Scope of Services

Appendix I – Hourly Rate Schedule

Appendix II – Proposer Questionnaire

Appendix III – Reference Questionnaire (Instructions)

Appendix III – Reference Questionnaire Form

Appendix IV – Sample Contract

Appendix V – Federal Provisions and Requirements

Appendix VI – Federal and State Requirements……………………………

Attachment A………………………………………………………………...…73 Attachment B……………...……………………………………………………74 Attachment C……………………...……………………………………………75 Subcontractor Form A…………………………………………………....……76 Subcontractor Form B…………………………………………....……………80

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this solicitation is for the City of Raleigh Transportation Department to secure professional engineering consulting services for Wake Transit Plan Bus Rapid Transit design (30%) for two identified corridors — Midtown and Capital — and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study, with options for contract extension through final design (100%) or continuation into an alternative construction delivery method. Additional information is provided in Sections 2 and 3. The term “submittal” herein refers to the written response and supporting materials submitted in reply to this Request for Qualifications.

A detailed scope of services is provided in Section 4 of this document.

All information related to this solicitation, including any addenda, will be posted to the North Carolina electronic Vendor Portal (eVP) at https://evp.nc.gov/.

All questions related to this solicitation must be submitted in writing (via email) to the following individual – questions submitted via telephone will not be answered:

Contact Name Email Address

Logan Bealke Logan.Bealke@raleighnc.gov

1.2 Background

The City of Raleigh, the Capital City of North Carolina, remains one of the fastest growing areas in the country. A great economy, top educational institutions, and exceptional health care facilities are some of the characteristics that attract people to the triangle area. The mild climate, diverse work force and proximity to Research Triangle Park combine to make Raleigh a great place to live.

Raleigh is a 21st Century City of Innovation focusing on environmental, cultural, and economic sustainability. The City conserves and protects our environmental resources through best practice and cutting-edge conservation and stewardship, land use, infrastructure and building technologies. The City welcomes growth and diversity through policies and programs that will protect and enhance Raleigh’s existing neighborhoods, natural amenities, history, and cultural and human resources for future generations. The City leads to improve quality of life for neighborhoods and standard of living for all citizens. The City works with universities, colleges, citizens, and local partners to promote new technology, create new job opportunities, and encourage local businesses and entrepreneurs. The City enlists and prepares 21st Century staff with the skill sets to carry out the duties of the City through transparent civic engagement and by providing the very best customer service to our citizens.

The City of Raleigh is seeking a qualified consultant team to perform Design work and NEPA in conformance with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Project Development requirements and guidelines for the Wake Transit Plan Bus Rapid Transit (WTP BRT).

https://evp.nc.gov/

1.3 RFQ Timeline

Provided below is a list of the anticipated schedule of events related to this solicitation. The City of Raleigh reserves the right to modify and/or adjust the following schedule to meet the needs of the project. All times shown are Eastern Time (ET):

RFQ Process Date and time

RFQ Date September 21, 2026

Pre-Submittal Conference (if required)

October 5, 2026 – 1PM – Virtual

Deadline for written questions October 12, 2026 – 10 AM

City Response to Questions (anticipated)

October 19, 2026 – 4 PM

Submittal Due Date and Time November 6, 2026 – 5 PM

Evaluation Meeting (anticipated)

Mid November 2026

Interviews (if required)

Early December 2026

Selection Announcement (tentative)

December 2026

1.4 Pre-Submittal Conference

The City will host a virtual pre-submittal conference on October 5, 2026, at 1pm. Attendance by prospective proposers is strongly encouraged but is not mandatory. Prospective proposers are encouraged to submit written questions in advance.

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/286569868202243?p=m7zX94LJmETPo2qnp5 Meeting ID: 286 569 868 202 243 Passcode: oe9N9zB6 Dial in by phone: +1 919-561-6523

1.5 Questions

Requests for clarification and questions to this RFQ must be received by the City not later than the date shown above in Section 1.3 RFQ Timeline, for the submittal of written inquires.

The firm’s failure to request clarification and submit questions by the date in the RFQ Timeline above shall be considered to constitute the firm’s acceptance of all City’s terms and conditions and requirements.

The City shall issue addenda reflecting questions and answers to this RFQ, if any, and shall be posted to North Carolina electronic Vendor Portal (eVP). No information, instruction or https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/286569868202243?p=m7zX94LJmETPo2qnp5 advice provided orally or informally by any City personnel, whether made in response to a question or otherwise in connection with this RFQ, shall be considered authoritative or binding. Respondents shall be entitled to rely only on written material contained in an Addendum to this RFQ.

It is important that all Respondents submitting to this RFQ periodically check eVP for any Addenda. It is the Respondents responsibility to ensure that all addenda have been reviewed and, if required signed and returned.

All questions related to this solicitation must be submitted in writing (via email) to the following individual – questions submitted via telephone will not be answered:

Contact Name Email Address

Logan Bealke Logan.Bealke@raleighnc.gov

1.6 Submittal Requirements and Contact Information

Submittals must follow the format as defined in Section 2 Qualifications Package and be addressed and submitted as follows:

DELIVERED BY US POSTAL SERVICE

MAIL:

DELIVERED BY OTHER DEIVERY

SERVICES:

City of Raleigh City of Raleigh

ATTN: Logan Bealke ATTN: Logan Bealke

510 W Martin Street 510 W Martin Street

Suite 200 Suite 200

Raleigh, NC 27603 Raleigh, NC 27603

RFQ No. 274-2026-Northern-BRT RFQ No. 274-2026-Northern-BRT

Submittals must be enclosed in a sealed envelope or package and clearly marked with the name of the submitting company, the RFQ number and the RFQ Title, and must include:

A. one (1) signed hard-copy original submittal package;

B. one (1) electronic version of the signed submittal;

C. and five (5) hard-copy submittal packages

The electronic version of the Proposal must be submitted as a viewable and printable Adobe Portable Document File (PDF) on a flash drive. Both hard copy and electronic versions must be received by the City on or before the RFQ date and time provided in Section 1.3 RFQ Timeline. Proposals received after the RFQ deadline above will not be considered and will be returned unopened to the return address provided on the submission envelope.

Proposers must respond to the entire Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Any incomplete submittal may be eliminated from competition at the discretion of the City of Raleigh.

The City reserves the right to reject any or all submittals for any reason and to waive any informality it deems in its best interest.

Submittals that arrive after the due date and time will not be accepted or considered for any reason whatsoever. If the Firm elects to mail in its response, the Firm must allow sufficient time to ensure the City’s proper receipt of the package by the time specified in Section 1.3 RFQ Timeline. Regardless of the delivery method, it is the responsibility of the Firm to ensure that their response arrives at the designated location specified in this Section 1.6 by the due date and time specified in Section 1.3 RFQ Timeline.

1.7 Business Engagement and Opportunities

The City of Raleigh maintains processes to conduct business with all business enterprises, including small, emerging, growing, under-capitalized, and under-resourced firms or organizations.

1.8 Rights to Submitted Material

All qualification packages and supporting materials, as well as correspondences relating to this RFQ, shall become the property of the City. The content of all submittals will be held confidential until the selection of the firm is made. Qualifications will be reviewed by the Evaluation Team, as well as other City staff and members of the general public who submit public record requests. Any proprietary data must be clearly marked. In submitting qualifications, each submitting firm/company agrees that the City may reveal any trade secret materials contained in such submittal to all City staff and City officials involved in the selection process and to any outside consultant or other third party who serves on the Evaluation Team or who is hired by the City to assist in the selection process. Qualification submittals marked entirely as “confidential”, “proprietary”, or “trade secret” will be considered non-responsive and will be removed from the evaluation process.

1.9 Communications

All communications of any nature regarding this RFQ with any City staff, elected City officials, evaluation committee members are strictly forbidden from the time the solicitation is publicly posted until award. Questions must be submitted in writing to the individual designated in Section 1.1 Purpose, prior to the deadline provided in Section 1.3 RFQ Timeline. Violation of this provision may result in the firm’s proposal being removed from consideration.

1.10 Lobbying

By responding to this solicitation, the firm certifies that is has not and will not pay any person or firm to influence or attempt to influence an officer or employee of the City or the State of North Carolina, or any elected official in connection with obtaining a contract as a result of this RFQ.

1.11 Conflicts of Interest

City of Raleigh contracts are controlled by three conflict of interest provisions.

(1) First, federal procurement standards provided in 2 CFR 200.318 (c)(1) states:

No employee, officer, or agent may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a contract supported by a Federal award if he or she has a real or apparent conflict of interest. Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from a firm considered for a contract. The officers, employees, and agents of the non-Federal entity may neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors or parties to subcontracts.

(2) Similarly, the North Carolina General Statutes provide a criminal statute for conflicts of interest in public contracting, N.C.G.S. §14-234(a) states:

(1) No public officer or employee who is involved in making or administering a contract on behalf of a public agency may derive a direct benefit from the contract except as provided in this section, or as otherwise allowed by law.

(2) A public officer or employee who will derive a direct benefit from a contract with the public agency he or she serves, but who is not involved in making or administering the contract, shall not attempt to influence any other person who is involved in making or administering the contract.

(3) No public officer or employee may solicit or receive any gift, favor, reward, service, or promise of reward, including a promise of future employment, in exchange for recommending, influencing, or attempting to influence the award of a contract by the public agency he or she serves.

(3) City of Raleigh Charter Section 3.9 regulates private transactions between the City and its officials and employees, the charter states:

No member of the City Council, official, or employee of the City of Raleigh shall be financially interested, or have any personal beneficial interest, either directly or indirectly, as agent, representative, or otherwise, in the purchase of, or contract for, or in furnishing any materials, equipment or supplies to the City of Raleigh, nor shall any official or employee of the City of Raleigh accept or receive, or agree to accept or receive, directly or indirectly, from any person, firm or corporation to whom any contract may be awarded or from whom any materials, equipment or supplies may be purchased by the City of Raleigh, by rebate, gift, or otherwise, any money or anything of value whatsoever, or any promise, obligation or contract for future reward or compensation, for recommending or procuring the uses of any such materials, equipment or supplies by the City of Raleigh; no member of the City Council, official or employee of the City of Raleigh shall for his own personal benefit operate, directly or indirectly, any concession in any building or on any lands of the City of Raleigh, nor shall any official or employee of the City of Raleigh bid for or be awarded any contract granting concessionary rights of any nature or kind from the City of Raleigh; it shall be unlawful for any member of the City Council, official or employee of the City of Raleigh to bid for or to purchase or to contract to purchase from the City of Raleigh any real estate, equipment, materials, or supplies of any nature or kind whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, at either public or private sale, either singly, or through or jointly with any other person.

1.12 Proposer Expenses

The City of Raleigh will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any Firm in the development of a response to this Request for Qualifications or any other activities associated with this procurement including but not limited to any onsite (or otherwise) interviews and/or presentations, and/or supplemental information provided, submitted, or given to City of Raleigh and/or its representatives. Further, the City of Raleigh shall reserve the right to cancel the work described herein prior to issuance and acceptance of any contractual agreement/purchase order by the recommended Firm even if the awarding authority for each entity has formally accepted a recommendation.

1.13 Proposer Acceptance

Submission of any proposal indicates a Proposer’s acceptance of the conditions contained in this RFQ. The City of Raleigh has the sole discretion and reserves the right to cancel this RFQ, and to reject any and all submittals, to waive any and all informalities and/or irregularities, if it is deemed to be in the City’s best interests to do so.

The City of Raleigh reserves the right to accept or reject any or all of the items in any proposal, and to award the contract in whole or in part and/or negotiate any or all items with individual firms if it is deemed in the City’s best interest. Moreover, the City reserves the right to make no selection if the submittals are deemed to be outside the fiscal constraint or not in the best interest of the City.

2 QUALIFICATIONS PACKAGE

Submittal responses must follow the format outlined below. The City may reject as non-responsive at its sole discretion any submittal that does not provide complete and/or adequate responses or departs in any substantial way from the required format.

2.1 Request for Qualifications Required Document Format

Responses should be divided using tabs to separate each section, listed sequentially as follows:

Tab 1: Cover Letter Provide an introduction letter summarizing the unique qualifications of your firm to meet the needs of this project. This letter should be presented on the firm’s official letterhead and signed by an authorized representative who has the authority to enter into a contract with the City on behalf of the firm. Include the name, address, telephone and email address of the individual who serves as the point of contact for this solicitation.

Tab 2: Corporate Background and Experience

Include background information on the firm and provide detailed information regarding the firm’s experience with similar projects. Please include projects that have both gone into revenue service and projects that may still be in design or construction. Provide a list of five (5) similar contracts performed in the past fifteen (15) years, accompanied by at least three (3) references (contact persons, firm, telephone number and email address).

Include the total amount invoiced for each listed project, the date the project went into revenue service, the length of the project, and list of personnel involved in the project who are also proposed for the subject project named in this solicitation. Failure to provide a list of all similar contracts in the specified period may result in the rejection of the firm’s proposal. The evaluation team reserves the right to contact any or all listed references, and to contact other public entities regarding past performance on similar projects.

Tab 3: Financial Information Review and provide one of the following three (3) financial statement options:

1. Recent audited or reviewed financial statements prepared by an independent certified public accountant (CPA) that shall include, at a minimum, a balance sheet, income statement (i.e., profit/loss statement) and cash flow statement and, if the audited or reviewed financial statements were prepared more than six (6) months prior to the issuance of this RFQ, the Proposer shall submit its most recent internal financial statements (balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement or budget with entries reflecting revenues and expenditures from the date of the audited or reviewed financial statements to the end of the most recent financial reporting period (i.e., the quarter or month preceding the issuance date of this RFQ)).

OR

2. Recent compiled financial statements prepared by an independent CPA that shall include, at a minimum, a balance sheet, income statement (i.e., profit/loss statement) and cash flow statement and, if the compiled financial statements were prepared more than three (3) months prior to the issuance of this RFQ, the Proposer shall submit its most recent internal financial statements (balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement or budget with entries reflecting revenues and expenditures to date), and other evidence of financial stability such as most recently filed income tax return, evidence of a line of credit/loans/other type of financing with statement of amount in use/outstanding balance (e.g., a complete copy commitment letter, loan agreement, billing statement reflecting the line of credit or statement from lender acknowledging the commitment to fund the Proposer’s stated financing), personal guaranty with copies of personal income tax filing and statement of net worth or such other evidence that is accurate, reliable and trustworthy regarding the Proposer’s financial stability.

OR

3. Include a certified, signed statement from a licensed CPA regularly engaged in the review of the firm’s financial information verifying the financial viability of the firm.

All financial information, statements and/or documents provided in response to this solicitation shall be kept confidential provided that EACH PAGE is marked as follows:

“CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISCLOSE EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF

PROPOSAL EVALUATION.“

“Recent” shall be defined as financial statements that were prepared within the 12 months preceding the issuance date of this RFQ.

Consolidated financial statements of the Proposer’s parent or related corporation/business entity will not be considered, unless: (1) the Proposer’s actual financial performance for the designated period is separately identified in and/or attached to the consolidated statements; (2) the parent or related corporation/business entity provides the State with a document wherein the parent or related corporation/business entity will be financially responsible for the Proposer’s performance of the contract and the consolidated statement demonstrates the parent or related corporation’s/business entity’s financial ability to perform the contract, financial stability and/or such other financial considerations identified in the evaluation criteria;

and/or (3) Proposer provides its own internally prepared financial statements and such other evidence of its own financial stability identified above.

The firm’s failure to provide any of the above-referenced financial statements may result in the proposal being removed from consideration. Proposers are also encouraged to explain any negative financial information, and to provide documentation supporting those explanations and demonstrating the financial strength of the firm.

Tab 4: Project Understanding, Approach and Schedule Provide a comprehensive narrative, outline, and/or graph demonstrating the firm's understanding and approach to accomplishing the tasks outlined in the Scope of Work section of this RFQ. A description of each task and deliverable and the schedule for accomplishing each shall be included.

Tab 5: Team Firm, Experience and Certifications/Qualifications

This section must include the proposed staffing, deployment and personnel to be assigned to this project. The firm shall provide information as to the qualifications and experience of all executives, managerial, legal, and professional personnel to be assigned to this project, including resumes citing experience with similar projects and the responsibilities to be assigned to each person. A project-specific firm chart which clearly illustrates the roles, responsibilities, and the reporting relationships of each team member should be included.

2.2 Hourly Rates

This solicitation is being issued in accordance with NC G.S. Chapter 143 Article 3D (Procurement of Architectural, Engineering, and Surveying Services), otherwise known as the Mini-Brooks Act, and therefore price cannot and will not be a determining factor in the selection of the successful service provider. One copy of the Hourly Rate Schedule (see Appendix I) for all proposed project personnel should be enclosed in a separate, sealed envelope.

2.3 Qualifications Package Documents

This RFQ is comprised of the base RFQ document, any attachments, and any addenda released before Contract award. All attachments and addenda released for this RFQ in advance of any Contract award are incorporated herein by reference.

3 SUBMITTAL EVALUATION

3.1 Evaluation Criteria

This is not a bid. There will not be a public opening. The submittals received in response to this RFQ will be evaluated and ranked, by the evaluation committee in accordance with the process and evaluation criteria contained below. Submittals will be evaluated in light of the material and https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_143/Article_3D.html substantiating evidence presented in the response, and not on the basis of what is inferred.

After thoroughly reading and reviewing this RFQ, each evaluation committee member shall conduct his or her independent evaluation of the submittals received and grade the responses on their merit in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in the following table:

Criteria (a)

Weight (b)

Score (0-3)

(a) x (b) Weighted

Score

Corporate Background and Experience 10

Firm Financial Stability 10

Project Understanding 20

Schedule and Project Approach 25

Experience and Qualifications 25

Workload/Availability of Key Personnel 10

Final Score

Score Points 0 - Missing or Does Not Meet Expectation 2 - Meets Expectation 1 - Partially Meets Expectation 3 - Exceeds Expectation

3.2 Final Selection

Qualifications will be reviewed after opening and will be ranked in order of choice, at which point contract negotiations will begin with the most qualified firm. If negotiations are unsuccessful, the City will then pursue negotiations with the next most qualified firm. The City shall not be bound or in any way obligated until both parties have signed a contract. The City also reserves the right to delay the award of a contract or to not award a contract.

3.3 Notice to Submitting Firms Regarding RFQ Terms and Conditions It shall be the submitting firm’s responsibility to read the RFQ Instructions, the City’s contract terms and conditions (within the sample City Engineering Services Contract provided in Appendix IV), all relevant exhibits and attachments, and any other components made a part of this RFQ and comply with all requirements and specifications provided herein. Submitters are responsible for obtaining and complying with all Addenda and other changes that may be issued in connection with this RFQ.

3.4 Contract Term

The contract issued by the City to the selected firm will state and define a completion date by which the services are to be finished and completed.

3.5 Federal Funding Requirements

The services and materials to be provided under this contract will be financed in whole or in part with Federal funding. As such, Federal laws, regulations, policies, and related administrative practices apply to this contract. The most recent of such Federal requirements, including any amendments made after the execution of this contract shall govern this contract, unless the Federal Government determines otherwise. The Federal provisions and requirements identified in Appendix V may be applicable to this contract. The awarded contractor is responsible for complying with all applicable provisions and requirements.

4 SCOPE OF SERVICES

Awarded firm shall provide services, all as set forth in this RFQ and more particularly described in this Section 4.

The purpose of this solicitation is for the City of Raleigh Transportation Department to obtain professional engineering consulting services for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Design (30%) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Study, with the option for a contract amendment and extension allowing continuation through final design (100%) or progression into an alternative construction delivery method than Design-Bid-Build.

The scope includes Design and NEPA work on two corridors, Midtown and Capital. The City requests that submissions identify two separate teams, one for each corridor. Team members may overlap, including the project manager, but the proposal must clearly describe key team members’ workload and capacity to support both corridors. Design work for each corridor should progress independently and advance according to its own schedule. The Capital Corridor project team will complete the work outlined in the scope for the segment of shared alignment between Downtown and Atlantic Avenue.

The following Scope of Services is intended to be a general outline of the work and not an all-inclusive description of the professional and technical services that may be required to complete the project. Modifications to the tasks and task sequencing, which will improve the effectiveness of the effort while containing costs, are encouraged. The projects that will be advanced with the Consultant’s assistance procured through this RFQ are currently being defined in coordination with the FTA and key stakeholders. Immediate coordination with NCDOT will be expected to make determinations about location-specific design challenges within the identified corridors.

Numerous coordination efforts will be included in the process and the consultant selected for this project will need to show capacity to meet deadlines identified by the City of Raleigh.

Applicants must complete all federal and state documentation located in the appendices of this advertisement and attach the finalized forms to their submission. Additionally, all submissions must provide current System for Award Management (SAM) information.

The scope of services includes three (3) sections:

1. Preliminary Design (30%)

2. NEPA

3. Delivery Plan Proposal

4.1 Scope Section 1: Design (30%)

The City of Raleigh is seeking consultant services to provide professional engineering and architectural design services, including Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS&E) to develop up to 30% design for the Wake Bus Rapid Transit Northern Corridors project. The design work must be sufficient to conduct NEPA and develop a reliable capital cost estimate.

The objective is to select and award a contract to a qualified consultant or consultant team to provide these services and related Project Development activities in accordance with the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grant Program.

The consultant shall refer to and follow requirements outlined in the Final Interim Policy Guidance, Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment Grant Program, dated November 2025, in addition to and in response to the tasks listed below:

4.1.1 Design Task 1 – Project Definition

The Northern Corridor Major Investment Study (MIS) identified two Locally Preferred Alternatives (LPAs) — Midtown and Capital — both of which have been endorsed by the Raleigh City Council and approved by CAMPO. The consultant will build upon the work completed in the MIS. Additional elements will need to be further developed, including guideway improvements, the operating plan, circulation into and out of downtown, and confirmation of station locations and footprints.

4.1.2 Design Task 2 – BRT Transit Ways and Roadway Modifications (includes but not limited to civil, structural and/or geotechnical engineering; and utility placement/relocation)

This task at a minimum will include planning and engineering for dedicated bus lanes, bicycle facilities, roadway pavement rehabilitation and resurfacing, medians and curb bulb outs, drainage, utility relocations, traffic signals, on-street parking and street lighting along the BRT corridor. This shall include topographic surveys, utility baseline surveys, base mapping, site assessments, soils and pavement testing, right-of-way engineering and title research in support of property acquisition or creation of easements, GIS administration, development of construction staging plans, support for third party agreements, utility and permit coordination, support for public outreach, marketing, and cost estimating during design, construction and commissioning of the BRT Transit way and Roadway Modifications. Integration of bicycle and pedestrian amenities into the project wherever feasible and safety are very important to the community.

4.1.3 Design Task 3 – BRT Station Placement, Layout (with associated accessibility improvements) and Architecture (platform, canopy, landscape, amenities, etc.)

This task includes but is not limited to planning and engineering for BRT stations and platforms, and installation of amenities and associated improvements to pedestrian facilities including crossings, ramps and sidewalks. Modifications to existing drainage, traffic signals, on-street parking, street lighting as well as utility relocations are to be included, as necessary, to accommodate the stations, platforms and amenities. This shall include topographic surveys, utility baseline surveys, site assessments, soils and pavement testing, right-of-way engineering in support of property acquisition or creation of easements, GIS administration, development of construction staging plans, support for third party agreements, utility and permit coordination, support for public outreach, marketing and cost estimating during design, construction and commissioning of the BRT Stations and Platforms.

Standard detail station designs developed for other Wake BRT corridors may be provided by the city to expedite station design and engineering work. BRT stations will include a variety of components such as:

• Weather protection

• Lighting

• Security features

• ADA access

• Visibility and branding features

• Service information such as real time arrival signs and pylon element

• Local transit service integration

• Wayfinding information

• Building integration

• Community-specific design features and art

• Seating

• Landscape/hardscape

• Waste receptacles

• Fare collection equipment

• Bicycle storage

Understanding and experience in working in the State right-of-way, applicable community streetscape & corridor plans and incorporation of the design features of existing and planned developments is a vital component of the project to integrate the BRT stations and transit ways into the community.

The consultant shall perform a site analysis for each of the proposed generalized station areas identified in the Northern BRT MIS report (with possible location changes informed by public input and technical expertise from City staff) to establish the location of the facilities based on existing conditions and constraints.

Note: The City of Raleigh reserves the right to procure additional architectural and design services (outside of the contract resulting from this RFQ) to assist with vertical, artistic and branding elements of the stations.

4.1.4 Design Task 4 – Safety/Security, Fare Collection and Communications Systems

This task includes various aspects of systems engineering to fully support the planning, design, operation and maintenance of new BRT systems such as cameras, emergency phones, lighting, etc. The functioning of each of these systems should be monitored by the City of Raleigh. Electrical service to power each system shall be provided by the local electric utility, or an alternative system.

The consultant shall include expertise on the team to provide the City of Raleigh with an evaluation of the most cost-effective or flexible way to provide these system components and develop a System Operations and Maintenance Plan with input from the COR & GoRaleigh Operations and Maintenance staffs.

The consultant shall develop concepts for equipment to be installed on station platforms to assist in working with project stakeholders and the community to obtain input and acceptance for the design, and approval.

4.1.5 Design Task 5 – Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

This task includes the ITS engineering services necessary to support the planning, design, and operation of systems such as Transit Signal Priority (TSP) and real‑time bus arrival information. By the time design work for this corridor begins, the City will have already made key technology and system architecture decisions based on ITS components designed or under construction for other BRT corridors. Accordingly, the Consultant will be expected to align all ITS elements for this corridor with the technologies, standards, and lessons learned from those prior efforts.

Work under this task will focus on integrating this corridor’s BRT service and equipment into the City’s established ITS framework. This includes station displays, audio announcements, communication systems, and other corridor‑specific devices.

Power and communications for new devices will be provided as described above.

Services include development of a Concept of Operations and System Requirements;

refinement or augmentation of existing system documentation as appropriate;

preparation of design packages for procurement and installation that conform to current City ITS standards; support for system integration; coordination of third-party agreements; assistance with public outreach and marketing; and cost estimating throughout design, construction, and commissioning. All ITS systems must comply with applicable local and federal requirements

4.1.6 Design Task 6 – Traffic Engineering, Signal Timing and Coordination

This task includes traffic engineering services to complete requirements such as traffic modeling and simulation, level of service analysis for evaluation of potential project mitigations, assessment of TSP and signal coordination impacts on transit/BRT travel times in the corridor for use by City of Raleigh in Service Planning, development of TSP and coordination timing plans, inventorying existing signal equipment, support for traffic signal controller software development and programming, support for programming TSP detection ranges, support for third party agreements, support for public outreach and marketing and cost estimating during the design, construction and commissioning of the BRT system.

4.1.7 Design Task 7 – Public Outreach, Reaction, Education and Marketing for Designs

Public outreach, reaction and marketing services shall be provided to support all aspects of the project with specific tasks including stakeholder engagement, meeting facilitation, public workshops, presentations to various Boards, communication with residents and businesses, multi-faceted marketing and promotional campaigns, marketing collateral, targeted promotional materials, other promotional materials, media campaigns, development of visual displays both digital and physical, website development and design and assistance to the PMT when reacting to public and media questions/concerns as they arise.

The NEPA part of the scope also includes a public outreach task. The intent of that task is to make sure all federal requirements are met as part of NEPA work. This task (in the Design section of the scope) will provide public outreach that will go above and beyond requirements associated with NEPA study completion and match expectations of the community and stakeholders.

Translation services may be required.

4.1.8 Design Task 8 – Committees

The structure and makeup of the committees and their respective roles are not static and will evolve as the project advances. The goal is to develop partnerships among the various stakeholders to maximize the benefits of the project. These groups will provide opportunities to discuss on a regular basis the high-level approach to planning and implementation of the BRT, refine proposed concepts and bring to light any special partnership arrangements necessary to construct, operate and maintain the BRT system.

The consultant is expected to make arrangements and participate in regular established committee meetings throughout the duration of the project. Meeting times are envisioned to coincide with key project development periods. The City of Raleigh will be responsible for providing meeting accommodation with the consultant issuing invitations to participating stakeholders. The consultant will prepare meeting agendas, presentation materials including meeting boards, PowerPoint presentations and hand-outs. The consultant will be responsible for preparing meeting minutes and action items.

The consultant will develop a system of retaining all records associated with the work of Committees in an organized manner (membership, attendance, meeting notes, materials, original sign-in sheets, etc.).

4.1.9 Design Task 9 – Coordination, Agreements and Permits

This task includes support for coordination between various City Departments.

Coordination with NCDOT is also critical; NCDOT is the owner of the road facility for the Capital BRT alignment and segments of the Midtown BRT alignment and must approve proposed designs and roadway modifications. Early engagement with NCDOT decision makers is a priority for this project.

The consultant will be expected to support coordination with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) throughout the project. This includes assisting City staff in preparing materials for FTA review, ensuring project documentation aligns with FTA guidance, and providing updates on project milestones and requirements.

The consultant shall make arrangements, attend and prepare minutes for design meetings with the responsible parties and other staffs. The consultant will be responsible for preparing all design review applications and any design exceptions required. The City of Raleigh will be responsible for executing agreements and paying all fees, if and where applicable.

Support shall also be provided for third party agreements, public outreach and marketing, cost estimating, and property acquisition (if necessary).

4.1.10 Design Task 10 – Preliminary Cost Estimates

The consultant will develop all necessary cost estimates necessary to construct, operate and maintain the BRT system.

4.1.11 Design Task 11 – Ridership Modeling

The consultant will develop ridership modeling using FTA’s STOPS model. The consultant will perform ridership forecasts for up to three scenarios per project in an iterative manner to allow for two rounds of reviews with the City of Raleigh staff before the forecasts are finalized.

4.1.12 Design Task 12 – High-Level Capital Investment Program (CIG) Evaluation

The consultant will conduct a high‑level assessment of the project using the federal Capital Investment Grant criteria to estimate the project’s potential rating. A key component of this work will be determining whether the Midtown BRT corridor is likely to receive federal funding under the CIG program. The evaluation will also include coordination with the City to determine whether the Capital Corridor should pursue funding through the New Starts or Small Starts program, based on federal policy as understood at the time. In addition, the consultant will prepare an assessment of the local financial commitment in accordance with the Federal Transit Administration’s Final Interim Policy Guidance for the Capital Investment Grant Program.

4.1.13 Design Task 13 – Design Project Management Plan, Quality Control and Assurance Program (compliant with FTA requirements), Project Integration Program, and Contract and Project Administration

Design project management responsibility will begin from preliminary engineering phase. This discipline includes all of the administrative, management, integration, engineering management, coordination of third party design reviews and permitting, support for public outreach and third-party agreements, reporting and quality control functions needed to coordinate the work of other consultant team members and to ensure delivery of an integrated design.

The consultant shall establish a Quality Control and Assurance Program of its own work and sub-consultants’ work and perform Quality Reviews of Engineering and Design documents, which include configuration management as a component of the Program. The consultant shall:

o Prepare a project-specific Quality Control and Assurance Program Plan that addresses FTA quality elements for design, design control, configuration control, etc.

o Assure quality for all work when submitted as Draft for review o Convene Quality Control audits as needed to assure compliance to the Quality

Control and Assurance Program Plan for its work and sub-consultant work and document their findings.

o Provide document control filing structure and a site for storage of all documents in electronic form.

o The consultant shall identify, develop, implement, and systematically document active programs for Project Integration.

Contract and project administration tasks shall include but not be limited to:

o Administering sub-consultant contracts o Submitting progress reports to the City of Raleigh Project Manager, as needed, which include information identifying progress on contract deliverables and trending against contract budgets and identifying and addressing variances.

Progress reports shall also include identification of potential risk factors, an assessment of their likelihood and potential consequences and recommendations for mitigating them.

o Establishing and controlling Baseline Documents per the consultant’s Quality Control Program developed specifically for this project o Controlling uniformity in preparation of engineering documents o Verifying and documenting that all concerns are addressed and, if required, included in the engineering documents o Maintaining and updating the master design schedule.

4.1.14 Design Task 14 – BRT Operations Plan

This task will detail fare payment options, level boarding operation, station technologies not addressed in prior section, service strategy for on time performance, bus type(s) and other elements necessary to operate the system.

4.2 Scope Section 2: NEPA

The consultant shall refer to and follow requirements outlined in the Capital Investment Grants Final Policy Guidance, from the Federal Transit Administration, dated November 2025, (https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2025-11/CIG-Policy-Guidance- November-2025.pdf) in addition to and in response to the tasks listed below.

The following tasks to be completed are not necessarily in sequence or comprehensive. The City of Raleigh expects the awarded consultant(s) to add additional work they know is needed to complete necessary work under the FAST Act pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council for Environmental Quality Regulations, and all relevant transportation and environmental laws, described further below.

At this point, the City of Raleigh does not have a determination of the level of NEPA work that will be required to advance the project. The range of service might range from Documented Categorical Exclusion (DCE) to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The consultant must demonstrate experience, capacity and capability necessary to conduct required level of environmental review.

The services included in this work will be completed based upon the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as amended, 41 USC §4332(2)(C); the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality, (CEQ), 40 CFR 1500-1508; the Federal Transit Laws, 49 U.S.C.

Chapter 53; National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 16 U.S.C. §470(f); Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966, as amended, Title 49 U.S.C. §303; the Federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990; Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority & Low Income Populations, and all relevant laws and procedures of the State of North Carolina.

The following Scope of Services is intended to be a general outline of the work and not an all-inclusive description of the professional and technical services that may be required to complete the project. Proposers are invited to recommend modifications to these tasks and to exercise creativity in responding to this request. Modifications to the tasks and task sequencing, which will improve the effectiveness of the study effort, keep the project progressing in a timely manner, while containing costs, are encouraged.

4.2.1 NEPA Task 1 – Initiation

The consultant will perform the following activities to initiate the NEPA process:

• Initial in-person meeting with the client team and FTA Region 4 staff to review the project and proposed approach to NEPA.

• Attend and/or provide support materials for FTA and the client team for the initial FTA/SHPO Section 106 coordination meeting and project tour to determine the level of effort and documentation needed for Section 106 clearance.

• Develop overarching NEPA document/materials/technical report preparation guidelines, including format and timetables.

4.2.2 NEPA Task 2 – Preparation and Execution of Environmental Studies

The purpose of this task is to identify the probable effects of the overall project on social, economic, and environmental conditions. Long-term effects associated with project implementation and operation will be addressed, as will the short-term effects associated with construction activities. Coordination will be conducted with resource and regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over affected resources. This coordination will be documented and included in the NEPA study conducted by the consultant.

The analysis of the BRT alternatives will be completed as described below and documented in a series of Technical Reports or Memoranda. The technical analyses will build on the work done during the Major Investment Study and will include compilation and review of any necessary additional data not covered in the previous plans. The technical analyses will focus concisely and clearly only on areas that are environmentally significant and support the ultimate determination, as agreed to with the City of Raleigh team and FTA. NEPA work will be completed for both corridors.

As stated above, the level of effort will depend on the level of the required environmental review and subtasks below could be adjusted to the appropriate scale.

Topics to be considered in the preparation of the technical documents and analyses include:

• Consistency with Local Plans (STIPs)

• Land Use, Zoning and Socioeconomic Characteristics – The consultant will document the current land use characteristics, community facilities and socioeconomic characteristics of the overall study corridor. In addition, the project will be evaluated relative to local and regional plans. Potential land use impacts of the project will be documented, including any required acquisitions and displacements. If impacts are probable, specific mitigation measures will be identified.

• Indirect and Cumulative Impacts – The consultant will assess the incremental impact of the actions of related projects in the area.