RFP Document.doc

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTAPRIVATE

(Department of Transportation) (South Dakota State Freight Plan Update)

PROPOSALS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN

April 22, 2026

Sarah.Gilkerson@state.sd.us

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PRIMARY CONTACT INFORMATION

1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 PURPOSE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

To update the State Freight Plan and achieve all applicable federal approvals of the plan no later than June 26, 2027

1.2 ISSUING OFFICE AND RFP REFERENCE NUMBER

The Project Development Office of Planning and Engineering Division of the Department of Transportation is the issuing office for this document and all subsequent addenda relating to it, on behalf of the State of South Dakota. The reference number for the transaction is RFP #26RFP19574. This number must be referred to on all proposals, correspondence, and documentation relating to the RFP.

1.3 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

1.4 SUBMITTING YOUR PROPOSAL

All proposals must be completed and received in the Project Development Office by the date and time indicated in the Schedule of Activities.

Proposals received after the deadline will be late and ineligible for consideration.

An original and one (1) identical copy of the proposal shall be submitted.

All proposals must be signed, in ink, by an officer of the responder, legally authorized to bind the responder to the proposal, and sealed in the form intended by the respondent. Proposals that are not properly signed may be rejected. The sealed envelopes should be marked with the appropriate RFP Number and Titled “State Freight Plan Update Proposal” and in a separate sealed envelope, “Cost Proposal”.

Proposals should be addressed and labeled as follows:

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: #26RFP19574

PROPOSAL DUE: April 22, 2026

STATE POC:

Sarah Gilkerson

SDDOT – Office of Project Development 700 E. Broadway Ave

Pierre, SD 57501 Email : Sarah.Gilkerson@state.sd.us

The cost proposal must be in a separate sealed envelope and labeled ‘’Cost Proposal’’

No proposal shall be accepted from, or no contract or purchase order shall be awarded to any person, firm or corporation that is in arrears upon any obligations to the State of South Dakota, or that otherwise may be deemed irresponsible or unreliable by the State of South Dakota.

1.5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION, INELIGIBILITY AND VOLUNTARY EXCLUSION – LOWER TIER COVERED TRANSACTIONS

By signing and submitting this proposal, the offeror certifies that neither it nor its principals is presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation, by any Federal department or agency, from transactions involving the use of Federal funds. Where the offeror is unable to certify to any of the statements in this certification, the bidder shall attach an explanation to their offer.

1.6 NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

The State of South Dakota requires that all contractors, vendors, and suppliers doing business with any State agency, department, or institution, provide a statement of non-discrimination. By signing and submitting their proposal, the offeror certifies they do not discriminate in their employment practices with regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, ancestry, national origin or disability.

1.7 CERTIFICATION RELATING TO PROHIBITED ENTITY

For contractors, vendors, suppliers, or subcontractors who enter into a contract with the State of South Dakota by submitting a response to this solicitation or agreeing to contract with the State, the bidder or offeror certifies and agrees that the following information is correct:

The bidder or offeror, in preparing its response or offer or in considering proposals submitted from qualified, potential vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors, or in the solicitation, selection, or commercial treatment of any vendor, supplier, or subcontractor, is not an entity, regardless of its principal place of business, that is ultimately owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a foreign national, a foreign parent entity, or foreign government from China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Cuba, or Venezuela, as defined by SDCL 5-18A. It is understood and agreed that, if this certification is false, such false certification will constitute grounds for the State to reject the bid or response submitted by the bidder or offeror on this project and terminate any contract awarded based on the bid or response. The successful bidder or offeror further agrees to provide immediate written notice to the contracting executive branch agency if during the term of the contract it no longer complies with this certification and agrees such noncompliance may be grounds for contract termination.

1.8 RESTRICTION OF BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL

For contractors, vendors, suppliers, or subcontractors with five (5) or more employees who enter into a contract with the State of South Dakota that involves the expenditure of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or more, by submitting a response to this solicitation or agreeing to contract with the State, the bidder or offeror certifies and agrees that the following information is correct:

The bidder or offeror, in preparing its response or offer or in considering proposals submitted from qualified, potential vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors, or in the solicitation, selection, or commercial treatment of any vendor, supplier, or subcontractor, has not refused to transact business activities, has not terminated business activities, and has not taken other similar actions intended to limit its commercial relations, related to the subject matter of the bid or offer, with a person or entity on the basis of Israeli national origin, or residence or incorporation in Israel or its territories, with the specific intent to accomplish a boycott or divestment of Israel in a discriminatory manner. It is understood and agreed that, if this certification is false, such false certification will constitute grounds for the State to reject the bid or response submitted by the bidder or offeror on this project and terminate any contract awarded based on the bid or response. The successful bidder or offeror further agrees to provide immediate written notice to the contracting executive branch agency if during the term of the contract it no longer complies with this certification and agrees such noncompliance may be grounds for contract termination.

1.9 MODIFICATION OR WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSALS

Proposals may be modified or withdrawn by the offeror prior to the established due date and time.

No oral, telephonic, telegraphic or facsimile responses or modifications to informal, formal bids, or Request for Proposals will be considered.

1.10 OFFEROR INQUIRIES

Offerors may email inquiries concerning this RFP to obtain clarification of requirements. No inquiries will be accepted after the date and time indicated in the Schedule of Activities. Inquiries must be emailed to Sarah Gilkerson at Sarah.Gilkerson@state.sd.us with the subject line “RFP #26RFP19574”.

The State will respond to offeror’s inquiries (if required) via e-mail. In addition, all inquiries and the State’s response will be posted on the state’s e-procurement system and the SDDOT’s webpage at https://dot.sd.gov/projects-studies/studies/special-studies/#RFP. Offerors may not rely on any other statements, either of a written or oral nature, that alter any specification or other term or condition of this RFP. Offerors will be notified in the same manner as indicated above regarding any modifications to this RFP.

1.11 PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

The proposal of the successful offeror(s) becomes public information. Proprietary information can be protected under limited circumstances such as client lists and non-public financial statements. An entire proposal may not be marked as proprietary. Offerors must clearly identify in the Executive Summary and mark in the body of the proposal any specific proprietary information they are requesting to be protected. The Executive Summary must contain specific justification explaining why the information is to be protected. Proposals may be reviewed and evaluated by any person at the discretion of the State. All materials submitted become the property of the State of South Dakota and may be returned only at the State's option.

1.12 LENGTH OF CONTRACT

Contract length is estimated to be a 12-month period for the State Freight Plan with a fixed deadline of June 26, 2027. Be advised that supportive work tasks require data collection during seasonal harvest peaks to capture rural freight movement. The contract period for the State Freight Plan is anticipated to be from June 2026 to June 2027, INCLUDING a minimum 90-day buffer between the State’s acceptance of a final, complete State Freight Plan and authorized approvals by various federal agencies.

1.13 GOVERNING LAW

Venue for any and all legal action regarding or arising out of the transaction covered herein shall be solely in the State of South Dakota. The laws of South Dakota shall govern this transaction.

1.14 DISCUSSIONS WITH OFFERORS (ORAL PRESENTATION/NEGOTIATIONS)

An oral presentation by an offeror to clarify a proposal may be required at the sole discretion of the State. However, the State may award a contract based on the initial proposals received without discussion with the Offeror. If oral presentations are required, they will be scheduled after the submission of proposals. Oral presentations will be made at the offeror’s expense.

This process is a Request for Proposal/Competitive Negotiation process. Each Proposal shall be evaluated, and each respondent shall be available for negotiation meetings at the State’s request. The State reserves the right to negotiate on any and/or all components of every proposal submitted. From the time the proposals are submitted until the formal award of a contract, each proposal is considered a working document and as such, will be kept confidential. The negotiation discussions will also be held as confidential until such time as the award is completed.

2.0 STANDARD CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Any contract or agreement resulting from this RFP will include the State’s standard terms and conditions as listed below, along with any additional terms and conditions as negotiated by the parties:

2.1 The Contractor will perform those services described in the Scope of Work, attached hereto as Section 3 of the RFP and by this reference incorporated herein.

2.2 The Contractor’s services under this Agreement shall commence on __________________ and end on ___________________, unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

2.3 The Contractor will not use State equipment, supplies or facilities. The Contractor will provide the State with its Employer Identification Number, Federal Tax Identification Number or Social Security Number upon execution of this Agreement.

2.4 The State will make payment for services upon satisfactory completion of the services. The TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT is an amount not to exceed $________________. The State will not pay Contractor's expenses as a separate item. Payment will be made pursuant to itemized invoices submitted with a signed state voucher. Payment will be made consistent with SDCL ch. 5-26.

2.5 The Contractor agrees to indemnify and hold the State of South Dakota, its officers, agents and employees, harmless from and against any and all actions, suits, damages, liability or other proceedings that may arise as the result of performing services hereunder. This section does not require the Contractor to be responsible for or defend against claims or damages arising solely from errors or omissions of the State, its officers, agents or employees.

2.6 The Contractor, at all times during the term of this Agreement, shall obtain and maintain in force insurance coverage of the types and with the limits as follows:

A. Commercial General Liability Insurance:

The Contractor shall maintain occurrence based commercial general liability insurance or equivalent form with a limit of not less than $1,000,000.00 for each occurrence. If such insurance contains a general aggregate limit it shall apply separately to this Agreement or be no less than two times the occurrence limit.

B. Professional Liability Insurance or Miscellaneous Professional Liability Insurance:

The Contractor agrees to procure and maintain professional liability insurance or miscellaneous professional liability insurance with a limit not less than $1,000,000.00.

C. Business Automobile Liability Insurance:

The Contractor shall maintain business automobile liability insurance or equivalent form with a limit of not less than $1,000,000.00 for each accident. Such insurance shall include coverage for owned, hired and non-owned vehicles.

D. Worker’s Compensation Insurance:

The Contractor shall procure and maintain workers’ compensation and employers’ liability insurance as required by South Dakota law.

Before beginning work under this Agreement, Contractor shall furnish the State with properly executed Certificates of Insurance which shall clearly evidence all insurance required in this Agreement. In the event a substantial change in insurance, issuance of a new policy, cancellation or nonrenewal of the policy, the Contractor agrees to provide immediate notice to the State and provide a new certificate of insurance showing continuous coverage in the amounts required. Contractor shall furnish copies of insurance policies if requested by the State.

2.7 While performing services hereunder, the Contractor is an independent contractor and not an officer, agent, or employee of the State of South Dakota.

2.8 Contractor agrees to report to the State any event encountered in the course of performance of this Agreement which results in injury to the person or property of third parties, or which may otherwise subject Contractor or the State to liability. Contractor shall report any such event to the State immediately upon discovery.

Contractor's obligation under this section shall only be to report the occurrence of any event to the State and to make any other report provided for by their duties or applicable law. Contractor's obligation to report shall not require disclosure of any information subject to privilege or confidentiality under law (e.g., attorney-client communications). Reporting to the State under this section shall not excuse or satisfy any obligation of Contractor to report any event to law enforcement or other entities under the requirements of any applicable law.

2.9 This Agreement may be terminated by either party hereto upon thirty (30) days written notice. In the event the Contractor breaches any of the terms or conditions hereof, this Agreement may be terminated by the State at any time with or without notice. If termination for such a default is effected by the State, any payments due to Contractor at the time of termination may be adjusted to cover any additional costs to the State because of Contractor's default. Upon termination the State may take over the work and may award another party an agreement to complete the work under this Agreement. If after the State terminates for a default by Contractor it is determined that Contractor was not at fault, then the Contractor shall be paid for eligible services rendered and expenses incurred up to the date of termination.

2.10 This Agreement depends upon the continued availability of appropriated funds and expenditure authority from the Legislature for this purpose. If for any reason the Legislature fails to appropriate funds or grant expenditure authority, or funds become unavailable by operation of law or federal funds reductions, this Agreement will be terminated by the State. Termination for any of these reasons is not a default by the State nor does it give rise to a claim against the State.

2.11 This Agreement may not be assigned without the express prior written consent of the State. This Agreement may not be amended except in writing, which writing shall be expressly identified as a part hereof, and be signed by an authorized representative of each of the parties hereto.

2.12 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of South Dakota. Any lawsuit pertaining to or affecting this Agreement shall be venued in Circuit Court, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Hughes County, South Dakota.

2.13 The Contractor will comply with all federal, state and local laws, regulations, ordinances, guidelines, permits and requirements applicable to providing services pursuant to this Agreement, and will be solely responsible for obtaining current information on such requirements.

2.14 The Contractor may not use subcontractors to perform the services described herein without the express prior written consent of the State. The Contractor will include provisions in its subcontracts requiring its subcontractors to comply with the applicable provisions of this Agreement, to indemnify the State, and to provide insurance coverage for the benefit of the State in a manner consistent with this Agreement. The Contractor will cause its subcontractors, agents, and employees to comply, with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, ordinances, guidelines, permits and requirements and will adopt such review and inspection procedures as are necessary to assure such compliance.

2.15 Contractor hereby acknowledges and agrees that all reports, plans, specifications, technical data, miscellaneous drawings, software system programs and documentation, procedures, or files, operating instructions and procedures, source code(s) and documentation, including those necessary to upgrade and maintain the software program, and all information contained therein provided to the State by the Contractor in connection with its performance of services under this Agreement shall belong to and is the property of the State and will not be used in any way by the Contractor without the written consent of the State. Papers, reports, forms, software programs, source code(s) and other material which are a part of the work under this Agreement will not be copyrighted without written approval of the State.

2.16 The Contractor certifies that neither Contractor nor its principals are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment or suspension, or declared ineligible from participating in transactions by the federal government or any state or local government department or agency. Contractor further agrees that it will immediately notify the State if during the term of this Agreement Contractor or its principals become subject to debarment, suspension or ineligibility from participating in transactions by the federal government, or by any state or local government department or agency.

2.17 Any notice or other communication required under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent to the address set forth above. Notices shall be given by and to ___________________ on behalf of the State, and by ________________, on behalf of the Contractor, or such authorized designees as either party may from time to time designate in writing. Notices or communications to or between the parties shall be deemed to have been delivered when mailed by first class mail, provided that notice of default or termination shall be sent by registered or certified mail, or, if personally delivered, when received by such party.

2.18 In the event that any court of competent jurisdiction shall hold any provision of this Agreement unenforceable or invalid, such holding shall not invalidate or render unenforceable any other provision hereof.

2.19 All other prior discussions, communications and representations concerning the subject matter of this Agreement are superseded by the terms of this Agreement, and except as specifically provided herein, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof.

3.0 SCOPE OF WORK

Section A — Scope of Work

Background

The South Dakota State Freight Plan (SFP) is a strategic, multimodal plan to guide freight investments, improve reliability, safety, resilience, and economic competitiveness across South Dakota. The current SFP can be viewed at: https://dot.sd.gov/projects-studies/planning/freight-plan/. This section describes the work expected to meet the requirements as described in Sections B-F.

Purpose

The purpose of the SFP is to guide improvements to South Dakota's overall freight system and support the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s (SDDOT's) mission to provide a safe and effective public transportation system. The SDDOT is seeking a consultant to produce a data-driven, multimodal Freight Plan that inventories freight assets, analyzes freight flows and needs, prioritizes investments, sets performance targets, and defines implementation steps and funding strategies aligned with state economic priorities in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 70202 and applicable federal transportation bills and acts. The final plan must achieve United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) approval.

Objectives

1. Meet all regulatory requirements established in Sections B-F.

2. Update the statewide freight vision and measurable goals emphasizing safe, reliable, and cost-effective movement of South Dakota’s agricultural, manufacturing, energy, and intermodal freight. Integrate tribal, local, and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) perspectives.

3. Inventory freight assets and performance across highways, railroads, and airports;

4. Analyze current and forecasted freight flows, seasonal surges, and bottlenecks (including harvest season impacts).

5. Identify and prioritize projects, policies, and operational strategies that would be beneficial to South Dakota’s economy.

6. Establish performance measures and a monitoring program tied to SDDOT objectives and federal guidance.

7. Build stakeholder consensus including tribal governments, MPOs, shippers, carriers, and railroads.

8. Produce a fiscally sound implementation and funding plan for applying NHFP funding allocated to South Dakota towards projects leveraging other federal/state/discretionary programs.

State Context and Key Freight Features Major freight modes/routes in South Dakota:

· Interstate 90 (east–west) and Interstate 29 (north–south corridor).

· Critical Freight Corridors (Urban and Rural)

· Important US and state routes: U.S. Highway 85, U.S. Highway 281, U.S. Highway 12, U.S. Highway 14, U.S. Highway 83, U.S. Highway 16, S.D. Highway 79, S.D. Highway 34, S.D. Highway 44 — key for farm-to-market movement and connections to I-29/I-90.

· LCV Routes, as listed: https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/70:03:01:65

· Missouri River crossings; rail and highway

· Rail carriers: Class 1, regional railroads, and short line railroads serving terminals and grain elevators.

· Airports with freight activity: Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD), Rapid City Regional (RAP), Pierre (PIR), Brookings (BKX), Aberdeen (ABR), and Watertown (ATY)

· Existing and proposed pipelines transporting natural gas, crude oil, and carbon dioxide.

· There are a series of four (4) dams along the Missouri River in SD, which prevent barge transport of goods by water through the state. Though there are no active ports, this mode must be explained with mention of revived freight movements down river in neighboring Iowa.

Intelligent commercial vehicle services in use throughout the state include:

· Automated commercial vehicle permitting with OS/OW route identification on state highways

· Electronic screening at six (6) locations

· SD511 traveler information related to commercial vehicles

· In-cab work zone alerts

· Wind warnings (Implementation planned for 2026)

· Truck parking information at eight (8) rest areas (Implementation planned for 2026)

Key freight-dependent sectors: agriculture (grain, soybeans, livestock), ethanol and biofuels, manufactured goods (pumps, machinery), mining and aggregates, wind/energy components, and food processing.

Tribal partners in SD:

· Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

· Crow Creek Sioux Tribe

· Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

· Lower Brule Sioux Tribe

· Oglala Sioux Tribe

· Rosebud Sioux Tribe

· Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate

· Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

· Yankton Sioux Tribe

Regional planning partners: Sioux Falls Area MPO, Rapid City Area MPO, Sioux City Area MPO, planning districts, local economic development corporations.

Constraints/characteristics: Seasonal harvest peaks, rural truck parking shortages, long rural connectors, critical short-line rail dependence, resilience concerns for river crossings and extreme weather. South Dakota does not have a Freight Advisory Committee (FAC).

Anticipated Scope and Major Tasks

Task 1 — Project Administrative Support A kick-off meeting, after a contract agreement for the work has been fully executed, will be held with the Study Advisory Team (SAT) to discuss project schedule, client expectations, and review the Methods and Assumptions (M&A) document.

The SAT will be comprised of 15-20 State personnel with expertise to help guide the plan update, review technical reports, provide SDDOT housed data, and approve all information presented to the public or published on the SDDOT’s website. It is expected that a minimum of seven (7) SAT meetings will be facilitated throughout the Freight Plan update, scheduled at project milestones as approved by the SDDOT Project Manager. An agenda with the information to be discussed is to be distributed at least 5 business days prior to each meeting, pre-meeting review time may be expanded according to the content to be discussed and as determined by the SDDOT Project Manager. Meeting minutes are to be distributed to the SAT within ten (10) business days of each SAT meeting.

Deliverables:

· Project Schedule

· Meeting Agendas

· Meeting Minutes

· Progress Reports (due with monthly invoices)

· Methods & Assumptions Document

· Draft Plan Materials at Project Milestones

· Requests for SDDOT-housed Data

· Project Information for SDDOT Webpage

Task 2 — Partner Engagement/Communications with Key Stakeholders Develop and implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan tailored to rural and urban outreach: farmer/producer associations, county highway superintendents, tribal councils, regional economic development corporations, trucking associations, railroads, SD military logistics personnel, and port/river operators.

Conduct targeted outreach timed to avoid harvest and major trade show periods; host listening sessions in the metropolitan areas of Sioux Falls and Rapid City, and a tribal session.

To establish a baseline understanding of how South Dakota’s freight system accommodates business and industry, several stakeholder interviews should be conducted throughout phases of the SFP update. The exact number of interviews will be determined through a collaborative effort between the SAT and consultant and defined in the Stakeholder Engagement Plan. The following stakeholders should be interviewed: Sioux Falls Area MPO; Rapid City Area MPO; Sioux City Area MPO; SD Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED); South Dakota Ag Unity; South Dakota Agri-Business Association; SD Department of Public Safety(Highway Patrol/Motor Carrier); SD Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DANR); South Dakota Petroleum & Propane Marketers Association; Associated General Contractors (AGC) South Dakota Highway-Heavy-Utilities Chapter; South Dakota Association of Cooperatives; South Dakota Trucking Association; Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), Logistics; SD National Guard, Logistics; Amazon Fulfillment Center Sioux Falls; Amazon Fulfillment Center Rapid City; Scherer Inc., Sioux Falls; L.G. Everist, Incorporated; Agtegra Cooperative; Pete Lien & Sons Inc.; Ferrellgas, Sioux Falls; SD Rail Road Operators; SD Pilot’s Association; SD Utilities Association; Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Additional stakeholders may be identified by the selected consultant and as recommended by the SAT.

Deliverables:

· Public and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (Also used for Task 3)

· Outreach materials (Using SDDOT branded templates for items such as state-specific survey, interview scripts, meeting agendas)

· Summary of engagement and input Task 3 -- Public Involvement The consultant shall provide the SDDOT project information and materials needed for the project’s website to allow an interactive web map and data dashboard. The site materials will be updated continually to dispense information to the public regarding the status of the study, public meeting announcements, presentations, meeting summaries, and reports with materials developed by the consultant and website maintenance by SDDOT. The website can be used to assist in data gathering through web surveys and for other public participation actions as deemed appropriate. The website will be active at least ten (10) days before initiating stakeholder engagement. The website materials shall be provided to the SDDOT 30 days in advance of the first public notice. All public meeting notifications and public comment sheets will display the website address.

The consultant will coordinate and provide information to the social media contacts of SDDOT, the SD Department of Public Safety, and the Sioux Falls and Rapid City MPO’s to publish public meeting announcements and the status of the study via each agency’s social media accounts.

The consultant team will prepare, advertise, and facilitate a minimum of two (2) public meetings, format to be defined in the Stakeholder Engagement Plan. The first public meeting will be to gather input, and the second public meeting will be to present findings.

The consultant is encouraged to suggest other means to involve more of the public, as approved by the SAT.

Deliverables:

· Public and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (from Task 2)

· Outreach Materials

· Press Releases – Final review by SDDOT Communications Team (Governor’s Office) sent through Listserv

· Social Media Content and Graphics

· Website Content must be Section 508 Compliant and WCAG 2.1 Compliant

· Comment Summaries and Resolutions/Plan Content Integration

· Paid Advertising Task 4 — System Conditions and Performance Compile a multimodal inventory: I-29/I-90 corridors, key US/SD routes used for farm-to-market traffic, rail lines and short-line connections, elevators and grain terminals, major manufacturing sites (e.g., ethanol plants), airports (FSD, BKX?, RAP, PIR, ABR, ATY), key truck parking locations, and Missouri River river-connector facilities.

Obtain from different SDDOT sources and consolidate data regarding condition (pavement, bridge ratings, etc.), truck corridors, seasonal weight-restricted routes, and known constraints.

Determine current freight flows based on the best available data and summarize flows based on flows into, out of and through South Dakota (origin, destination). Describe changes in flows since the last SFP update. In addition, summarize freight flows by mode and principal commodities moved (based on tonnage and value of goods moved).

Identify and analyze potential freight and supply chain bottlenecks, including those resulting from incidents such as major storm events, harvest periods, cybersecurity incidents, or labor management issues. Develop strategies to increase overall supply chain resilience.

Identify equity issues and their severity and determine strategies and efforts to mitigate the effects of freight transportation on communities, particularly minority and low-income communities, regarding environmental stewardship, mobility for non-freight modes, air and water quality, and community-based benefits.

Develop an economic freight logistics profile of South Dakota; the profile will be developed in the context of key economic drivers of growth and their relevance to South Dakota’s goods movement. Identify industries most important to the economy, freight transportation, and facilities most vital to their supply chains. Evaluate external economic trends and development initiatives that may serve as opportunities or threats to South Dakota’s freight transportation system. Evaluate freight industry workforce trends and identify strategies for increased development and maintenance of an adequate workforce.

Summarize the breadth and scope of South Dakota’s freight infrastructure, including an inventory and description of statewide intermodal facilities. Discuss the current conditions and project future conditions over a 25-year horizon (2050). Layering the freight flow analysis, economic trends, and physical assets, evaluate the needs of the freight system in South Dakota with respect to existing conditions and desired performance. Summarize the needs by mode.

Deliverables:

· Freight System Inventory Report with GIS layers (corridors, terminals, weigh stations)

· Economic Freight Logistics Profile

· Baseline Conditions Memo

· Supportive Graphs, Maps, and Plan Narrative Task 5 — Freight trends, demand forecasting, and needs assessment Analyze freight flows using FHWA’s Freight Analysis Framework (FAF), SDDOT traffic & truck counts, USDA/State ag production forecasts, railcar loadings, airport cargo statistics, and private-sector inputs during harvest/seasonal peaks. Forecast future freight flows by mode and principal commodities over a 25-year horizon (2050).

Identify bottlenecks, seasonal surge impacts, short-line capacity constraints, and conflicts between freight and community land uses. Produce 10- and 20-year forecasts under baseline and alternative scenarios (e.g., increased ethanol exports, wind energy component shipments, rail routing changes).

Deliverables:

· Freight Trends & Forecasts Report

· Needs Assessment with Maps Showing Seasonal Variations and Modal Constraints Task 6 — Comprehensive Truck Parking Analysis Compile an inventory of the supply, assess the demand and use of truck parking statewide, and identify truck parking needs. Determine the location and capacity of existing public and private truck parking facilities and summarize them by region, corridor, and other accommodations provided by the facility. Determine where truck parking is needed based on truck volumes, truck crashes, and observed truck parking on ramp shoulders and other unauthorized locations. Identify where imbalances between inventory and demand exist and recommend potential solutions. Analyze the impacts associated with truck parking issues to the system, truck drivers, and adjacent communities. The analysis should include:

· Environmental and local community impacts, such as emissions, noise, traffic; safety

· Security issues for drivers, such as security provisions, driver perception, issues

· Amenity needs at parking facilities

· Local agencies’ understanding of impacts of truck parking or shortages on adjacent land uses

· Identify opportunities for new or expanded truck parking

Assess SDDOT owned properties against developed criteria and feasibility measures to identify opportunities and develop conceptual layouts with estimated costs at each site. Identify opportunities for the development of Truck Parking Information Management Systems (TPIMS), considering latest technologies to assess capacity and availability and relay timely information to truck drivers. Investigate multi-state coordination of existing and proposed truck parking capacity.

The consultant will consider existing statewide/regional data sources and tools, and insights compiled through stakeholder engagement efforts. The analysis will consider SD Department of Emergency Management disaster plans, SDDOT Crisis Communications plan, gaps in data, forecast future impact on truck parking by autonomous freight vehicles, potential partnerships for data sharing, and load restriction variations along routes. In addition, the consultant will develop an inventory to capture known gaps found in the state’s most recent FHWA survey titled “Jason’s Law Survey 2025”.

Deliverables:

· Stand Alone Sub-Study Report with Descriptive Narrative

· Truck Parking Report with GIS layers (truck parking, weigh stations)

· Baseline Conditions Memo

· Conceptual Layouts of Future Sites Task 7 — Safety, Resilience, and Sustainability Conduct safety hotspot analysis for freight-involved crashes, propose targeted countermeasures (intersection improvements, lighting, signage). Assess extreme weather resilience risks (wind, flooding, extreme winter storms, bridge vulnerabilities) for critical freight corridors and terminals.

Recommend sustainable freight strategies (truck electrification readiness at truck stops, anti-idling programs, and modal shift opportunities).

Deliverables:

· Safety & Resilience Analysis

· Sustainability Strategy Task 8 — Performance measures and targets Recommend core measures applicable to South Dakota (truck travel time reliability on I29/I90 and major arterials, freight tonnage by mode, percentage of critical freight corridors in good condition, truck-involved serious crashes, loading/unloading delays at key terminals, and truck parking availability).

Set baselines and pragmatic short and medium-term targets (3 and 5-year) and monitoring protocol aligned with SDDOT reporting cycles.

Deliverables:

· Performance Measures & Targets Report

· Monitoring Plan Task 9 — Investment Strategy and Project Prioritization Compile candidate projects from SDDOT, MPOs, counties, tribes, and industry (e.g., pavement/bridge repairs on freight routes, truck parking/staging facilities near harvest corridors, interchange upgrades at I29/I90 junctions, short-line rail upgrades, intermodal transfer or transload facilities).

Develop a scoring methodology tailored to SD priorities (economic impact to agriculture and manufacturing, seasonal reliability, safety, state of good repair, tribal access, resilience, cost-effectiveness).

Produce short-, medium-, and long-term prioritized project lists, rough cost estimates, and likely funding sources (NHFP, INFRA/BUILD, CRISI, State funds).

Deliverables:

· Project Prioritization Methodology

· Prioritized Project List with Scoring Sheets

· Fiscally sound Freight Investment Plan for applying NHFP funding towards projects Task 10 — Policies, Operations, and Implementation Strategy Recommend operational and policy improvements, either through design philosophy for constructing and maintaining, regulatory policy, enhanced communications between state agencies and the trucking industry to facilitate freight movement throughout the state. Determine and recommend actions needed to form an FAC, including specific public and private sector roles and responsibilities.

Create an implementation matrix with roles (SDDOT, MPOs, counties, tribes), timelines, and funding paths.

Deliverables:

· Implementation Plan Matrix

· FAC Creation Recommendations

· Policy and Operational Recommendations Memo Task 11 — Final Plan Production and Adoption Support Produce draft and final plan (technical report and a non-technical executive summary), GIS package, and web-ready project maps.

Facilitate public review, present to the SDDOT Executive Team and provide materials for adoption or incorporation into the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

Deliverables:

· Draft Freight Plan containing results from applicable Tasks

· Executive Summary/Fact Sheet

· Final Freight Plan

· GIS deliverables for SDDOT custody

· Submittal to USDOT by April 2, 2027

· Adoption Support - Responses to satisfy federal review comments

Quality Assurance and Compliance

· Implement QA/QC reviews at each milestone; Leadership review; public comment period; ensure alignment with FHWA State Freight Plan guidance and federal funding requirements.

Acceptance Criteria

· Deliverables accepted after SAT review and resolution of comments in line with the review schedule; final plan approved by SDDOT Leadership and delivered in PDF, GIS shapefile, and other SAT approved editable formats.

· Final approval by USDOT and its sub authorities; FHWA, FTA, and MARAD

Section B— Required Plan Elements (Overview)

Each State that receives funding under the National Highway Freight Program (NHFP) must develop a comprehensive State Freight Plan that addresses both immediate and long-range planning for freight movement. The plan’s purpose is to organize the State’s strategies and investments across all freight modes, ensuring consistency with federal expectations and enabling the State to obligate NHFP funds. To qualify for USDOT approval and funding eligibility, the plan must include all required elements specified in 49 U.S.C. § 70202(b) and be updated on a regular cycle. In addition, the plan must cover an eight-year forecast period, and the State cannot obligate NHFP funds if the four-year update cycle has expired and the plan is not compliant.

Section C — Detailed Required Elements (Items 1–17)

This plan includes all required components enumerated in 49 U.S.C. § 70202(b), as amended by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Specifically, it: (1) identifies significant freight system trends, needs, and issues across the State; (2) describes the freight policies, strategies, and performance measures guiding investment decisions; (3) lists designated multimodal critical rural freight facilities and corridors under 49 U.S.C. § 70103, as well as critical rural and urban freight corridors under 23 U.S.C. § 167; (4) explains how the plan advances national multimodal freight and NHFP goals; (5) documents consideration of innovative technologies and operational strategies (including freight ITS); (6) assesses roadway deterioration attributable to heavy vehicles and defines improvements; (7) inventories freight mobility issues such as bottlenecks and sets strategies for State-owned or State-operated facilities; (8) considers freight-related congestion and delay and proposes mitigation strategies; (9) presents a fiscally grounded Freight Investment Plan (FIP) with priority projects; (10) incorporates the most recent commercial motor vehicle (CMV) parking facilities assessment; (11) reports the most recent supply chain cargo flows by mode; (12) inventories commercial ports; (13) includes findings from any multi-State freight compacts; (14) analyzes the impacts of e-commerce on freight infrastructure; (15) addresses military freight considerations; (16) sets strategies and goals to reduce impacts from extreme weather, air pollution, flooding/stormwater, and wildlife habitat loss; and (17) documents consultation with the State Freight Advisory Committee (SFAC), if applicable.

Section D — Relationship to Statewide Long‑Range Plan & Fiscal Constraint

The State Freight Plan may be developed as a stand-alone document or incorporated into the statewide strategic long-range transportation plan required under 23 U.S.C. § 135. Regardless of format, the Freight Investment Plan component must be fiscally constrained: a project (or a defined phase of a project) can be listed only if funding for completion is reasonably anticipated within the time period identified in the plan. This ensures that freight priorities are deliverable, transparent, and aligned with realistic revenue assumptions, thereby meeting statutory expectations for USDOT approval and NHFP obligation.

Section E — Planning Period & Update Requirements

The plan addresses an eight-year forecast period, providing an intermediate horizon that supports durable strategies and timely investments. It is updated not less frequently than once every four years, maintaining alignment with IIJA’s updated procedures and ensuring continued eligibility to obligate NHFP funds. The Freight Investment Plan portion may be updated more frequently than the rest of the plan, allowing the State to reflect evolving priorities, funding opportunities, and implementation readiness while preserving overall statutory compliance.

Section F — Assessments, Priorities & Approval

As part of plan development or update, the State conducts a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) parking assessment in consultation with relevant motor carrier safety personnel, evaluating statewide parking capability (public and private), traffic volumes, and areas with parking shortages—plus analysis of underlying causes—consistent with 'Jason’s Law' requirements. The plan also includes a priority requirement that freight activities enhance reliability or redundancy or rapidly restore access and reliability after disruptions. Finally, the plan is submitted for USDOT approval and must demonstrate full compliance with 49 U.S.C. § 70202 for approval to be granted, thereby maintaining eligibility for NHFP obligation.

4.0 PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS AND COMPANY QUALIFICATIONS

4.1 The offeror is cautioned that it is the offeror's sole responsibility to submit information related to the evaluation categories and that the State of South Dakota is under no obligation to solicit such information if it is not included with the proposal. The offeror's failure to submit such information may cause an adverse impact on the evaluation of the proposal.

4.2 Offeror's Contacts: Offerors and their agents (including subcontractors, employees, consultants, or anyone else acting on their behalf) must direct all of their questions or comments regarding the RFP, the evaluation, etc. to the buyer of record indicated on the first page of this RFP. Offerors and their agents may not contact any state employee other than the buyer of record regarding any of these matters during the solicitation and evaluation process. Inappropriate contacts are grounds for suspension and/or exclusion from specific procurements. Offerors and their agents who have questions regarding this matter should contact the buyer of record.

4.3 Provide the following information related to at least three previous and current service/contracts, performed by the offeror’s organization, which are similar to the requirements of this RFP.

a. Name, address and telephone number of client/contracting agency and a representative of that agency who may be contacted for verification of all information submitted;

b. Dates of the service/contract; and

c. A brief, written description of the specific prior services performed and requirements thereof.

5.0 PROPOSAL RESPONSE FORMAT

5.1 An original and 1 copy shall be submitted.

5.1.1 In addition, the offeror should email their entire proposal, including all attachments, in Microsoft Word or PDF electronic format (flash drive, USB drive, etc.) Offerors may not send the electronically formatted copy of their proposal via email.

5.1.2 The proposal should be page numbered and should have an index and/or a table of contents referencing the appropriate page number.

5.2 All proposals must be organized and tabbed with labels for the following headings:

5.2.1 RFP Form. The State’s Request for Proposal form (1st page of RFP) completed and signed.

5.2.2 Executive Summary. The one-to-two-page executive summary is to briefly describe the offeror's proposal. This summary should highlight the major features of the proposal. It must indicate any requirements that cannot be met by the offeror. The reader should be able to determine the essence of the proposal by reading the executive summary. Proprietary information requests should be identified in this section.

5.2.3 Detailed Response. This section should constitute the major portion of the proposal and must contain at least the following information:

5.2.3.1 A complete narrative of the offeror's assessment of the work to be performed, the offeror’s ability and approach, and the resources necessary to fulfill the requirements. This should demonstrate the offeror's understanding of the desired overall performance expectations.

5.2.3.2 A specific point-by-point response, in the order listed, to each requirement in the RFP. The response should identify each requirement being addressed as enumerated in the RFP.

5.2.3.3 A clear description of any options or alternatives proposed.

5.2.4 Cost Proposal. Cost will be evaluated independently from the technical proposal. Offerors may submit multiple cost proposals. All costs related to the provision of the required services must be included in each cost proposal offered.

See section 7.0 for more information related to the cost proposal.

6.0 PROPOSAL EVALUATION AND AWARD PROCESS

6.1 After determining that a proposal satisfies the mandatory requirements stated in the Request for Proposal, the evaluator(s) shall use subjective judgment in conducting a comparative assessment of the proposal by considering each of the following criteria:

6.1.1 Specialized expertise, capabilities, and technical competence as demonstrated by the proposed approach and methodology to meet the project requirements;

6.1.2 Resources available to perform the work, including any specialized services, within the specified time limits for the project;

6.1.3 Record of past performance, including price and cost data from previous projects, quality of work, ability to meet schedules, cost control, and contract administration;

6.1.4 Availability to the project locale;

6.1.5 Familiarity with the project locale;

6.1.6 Proposed project management techniques; and

6.1.7 Ability and proven history in handling special project constraints.

6.2 Experience and reliability of the offeror's organization are considered subjectively in the evaluation process. Therefore, the offeror is advised to submit any information which documents successful and reliable experience in past performances, especially those performances related to the requirements of this RFP.

6.3 The qualifications of the personnel proposed by the offeror to perform the requirements of this RFP, whether from the offeror's organization or from a proposed subcontractor, will be subjectively evaluated.