CALIFORNIA STATE TRANSPORTATION AGENCY GAVIN NEWSOM, GOVERNOR

California Department of Transportation

ADMINISTRATION

DIVISION OF PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTS

1727 30TH STREET, MS 65

SACRAMENTO, CA 95816-7006

PHONE (916) 227-6000

TTY 711

https://dot.ca.gov/programs/procurement-and-contracts/

May 5, 2026 Request for Proposal

Notice to Prospective Proposers RFP Number 74A1779

You are invited to review and respond to this Request for Proposal (RFP) Number 74A1779, titled Connecting Communities to San Gabriel River Trail Study. In submitting your proposal, you shall comply with the instructions found herein. In addition to those programs and preferences that are specified in this solicitation, Prospective Contractors are encouraged to consider programs and preferences that are available, such as those for the use of small businesses, disadvantaged businesses, disabled veteran businesses, and other businesses covered by State and Federal programs and preferences.

As required by Executive Order S-02-06, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is committed to meeting the State’s 25 percent (25%) Small Business (SB) participation goal. Certified SBs, Micro Businesses (MB) are encouraged to submit bids. See Section D, Special Programs, Item 1, in this RFP for requirements.

The Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is committed to meeting the States 25% Small Business participation goal as required by Governor Executive Order S-02-06 and want to encourage Certified Small Businesses (SB) Microbusinesses (MB) are encouraged to submit bids. See Section D, Special programs, Item 1, in this RFP for requirements.

Note that all Agreements entered into with Caltrans will include, by reference, General Terms and Conditions (GTC 02/2025) and Contract Certification Clauses (CCC 04/2017) that must be downloaded at Internet site https://www.dgs.ca.gov/OLS/Resources/Page-Content/Office-of-Legal-Services-Resources- List-Folder/Standard-Contract-Language. Page one must be signed and submitted prior to the award of the Agreement.

The designated contact person for this RFP is:

Roberto Ramirez Department of Transportation Email address: Roberto.Ramirez@dot.ca.gov Phone: (279) 234-2415 https://dot.ca.gov/programs/procurement-and-contracts/ https://dot.ca.gov/programs/procurement-and-contracts/ https://www.dgs.ca.gov/OLS/Resources/Page-Content/Office-of-Legal-Services-Resources-List-Folder/Standard-Contract-Language https://www.dgs.ca.gov/OLS/Resources/Page-Content/Office-of-Legal-Services-Resources-List-Folder/Standard-Contract-Language

Please note that no verbal information given will be binding upon Caltrans unless such information is issued in writing as an official addendum.

Technical questions regarding this solicitation will be addressed, in writing, in accordance with the Questions and Answers portion of this RFP. See Section C) 3 Questions and Answers for more details.

Sincerely, ROBERTO RAMIREZ

Contract Analyst

Caltrans Agreement Number 74A1779

Table of Contents

Section Page

A) Purpose and Description of Service 1

B) Minimum Qualifications for Proposers 1

C) Proposal Requirements and Information 1

1. Time Schedule 2

2. Optional Pre-Proposal Conference 2

3. Questions and Answers 2

4. Technical Proposal Requirements 2

5. Cost Proposal Requirements 2

6. California Civil Rights Laws 5

7. Darfur Contracting Act 6

8. Executive Order N-6-22 – Russia Sanctions 6

9. Executive Order N-12-23 – Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)

Technology Use and Reporting 6

10. Standard Title VI/Nondiscrimination Assurances (United States Department of Transportation DOT Order No. 1050.2A) 7

11. Mandatory Organic Waste Recycling 7

12. Submission of Proposal 7

13. Evaluation Process 9

14. Pre-Award Audit 11

15. Award and Protest 11

16. Disposition of Proposals 12

17. Standard Conditions of Service 12

D) Special Program(s) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program 14 Small Business Enterprise or Microbusiness Preference 14

Attachments 1 Cost Proposal Worksheet

2A Key Personnel Hours Table (Sample) 2B Sample Reference Form 3 Proposal/Proposer Certification Sheet 4 Required Attachment Checklist 5 Criteria for Evaluation of Consultant–Technical Proposal Evaluation 6 Criteria for Evaluation of Consultant Oral Presentation 7 Criteria for Evaluation of Consultant Cost Proposal

8 Accounting and Audit Guidelines 9 Proposed Form of Agreement, Std. 213

A) Purpose and Description of Services

Refer to the Proposed Form of Agreement, which is attached to this RFP as Attachment 9 (Exhibit A) for a more complete description of services.

The Connecting Communities to LA River Trail Study will identify solutions to close the remaining trail gaps within State right-of-way, engage the public in co-developing strategies to increase connectivity to their communities, coordinate with partners and stakeholders on their current San Gabriel River Trail efforts, identify funding pathways for the recommended solutions that are to be developed, and establish partnerships that will enhance competitiveness in the pursuit of future funding.

One of the main goals of the Study is to identify gaps in the bicycle and pedestrian facility that involve state right-of-way, with an emphasis on developing a systemic approach to close those gaps. The Connecting Communities to San Gabriel River Trail Study would essentially function as a specific plan for Caltrans for the San Gabriel River Trail. The effort would proactively identify segments on the state's right-of-way to assist in project development, assist in identifying funding opportunities, and partnership opportunities to realize the overall vision of the multi-use corridor network. The Study can create an essential milestone for the future regional connectivity by addressing the state’s role and creating a plan.

The Study will be in support of District 7’s CAT Plan (2022) and in delivering the goals of the State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan – Toward an Active California (2017). The primary outcomes of the Study include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Create a report that outlines strategies to address the State’s gaps and barriers within the San

Gabriel River Trail.

2. Create a public engagement summary detailing how internal, external, and community partners were engaged.

3. Create a web map that will be used to inform the public of the Study’s focus areas and to serve as a geodatabase to house location-based needs.

4. Identify funding opportunities and outline relevant competitive factors that apply to each funding source.

B) Minimum Qualifications for Proposers To be considered for the District 7 Connecting Communities to San Gabriel River Trail Study, proposers must demonstrate the following minimum qualifications for their applicable subject area:

1. The proposer's team shall demonstrate past performance in all areas identified in Minimum Qualifications numbers 2-6. The Proposer shall provide a table or matrix of relevant, previous contracts or projects cross-referenced with the requested services and indicate the number of years of experience for each type of experience. One project may be used to demonstrate experience in multiple categories. Prime and subcontractors combined experience may be used to demonstrate the required experience.

2. Personnel: Proposer (prime contractor) Project Manager shall have at least five (5) years of experience conducting similar planning-level studies for state departments of transportation.

Key Personnel shall have at least five (5) years of experience conducting tasks they are assigned to perform for the Plan. Personnel assigned to technical writing and graphical design tasks shall each have three (3) years of experience at a minimum.

3. Proposer (prime contractor) shall have at least five (5) years of relevant experience and accomplishments as a Prime Consultant for multimodal system-level plans, active transportation https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/transportation-planning/documents/active-transportation-complete-streets/district7-finalreport-a11y.pdf https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/transportation-planning/documents/f0020350-activeca-final-plan-2017-05-18-a11y.pdf https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/transportation-planning/documents/f0020350-activeca-final-plan-2017-05-18-a11y.pdf plans, bicycle and pedestrian designs and policies, and agency-level strategic or regional plans.

The proposer should also have familiarity with the identified project area.

4. Proposer shall have a minimum of three (3) years of experience in work pertaining to the State Highway System (SHS), experience proposing and planning for bicycle and pedestrian paths, expertise in existing active transportation policies and programs (such as Active Transportation Program), as well as a fundamental understanding of current active transportation legislation (e.g. SB 960).

5. Proposer (prime contractor) shall provide one (1) completed case study that required proposer to analyze and develop technical active transportation and multimodal reports, summary documents, meeting proceeding reports, briefing papers, plans, and/or procedures.

6. Proposer (prime contractor) shall have five (5) years or more of transportation experience in performing technical level analysis. Proposer shall provide a list of projects that demonstrate the transportation experience described in Minimum Qualifications 1-5 above.

C) Proposal Requirements and Information

1. Time Schedule

It is recognized that time is of the essence. All proposers are hereby advised of the following schedule and will be expected to adhere to the required dates and times.

Event Date Time

(Pacific Time)

RFP available to prospective proposers 5/5/2026 Pre-Proposal Conference/Teleconference 5/11/2026 10:30 AM Written Question Submittal 5/13/2026 Final Date for Proposal Submission 6/09/2026 Oral Interviews (estimate) Week of June 29, 2026 Posting of Notice of Intent to Award (estimate) Week of July 6, 2026 Proposed Agreement Award Date (estimate) Week of July 15, 2026

2. Optional Pre-Proposal Conference A. An optional pre-proposal telephone conference will be held at 10:30 AM on May 11, 2026, for the purpose of discussing this RFP.

Teleconference Dial-In Number: (408) 418-9388 Participant Code 2498 400 4314

B. An authorized representative may attend the optional pre-proposal teleconference on behalf of a potential prime contractor. The representative may only sign-in for one (1) company.

Subcontractors may not represent a potential prime contractor at optional pre-proposal conference.

C. For proposers who need assistance due to a physical impairment, a reasonable accommodation will be provided upon request for the optional pre-proposal conference. The proposer must call the designated Contract Analyst no later than the fifth working day prior to the scheduled date and time of the Pre-Proposal Conference to arrange for a reasonable accommodation.

3. Questions and Answers A. Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing by May 13, 2026. Proposers are encouraged to submit their written questions via e-mail to Roberto.Ramirez@dot.ca.gov.

file://ct.dot.ca.gov/dfshq/HR/DPAC/users/s155571/1.%20Open%20Contracts/74A1779-D07%20Connecting%20Communities%20to%20San%20Gabriel%20River%20Trail%20Study/03%20Solicitation/Roberto.Ramirez@dot.ca.gov

B. Written questions must include the individual's name, Firm Name, complete address, and must reference RFP No. 74A1779. Questions must be sent to one of the following:

Email: Roberto.Ramirez@dot.ca.gov Or mail to:

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Division of Procurement and Contracts Attention: Roberto Ramirez 1727 30th Street, MS 65 Sacramento, CA 95816-7006

C. Written responses to all questions will be collectively compiled and posted, as an Addendum, to the Cal eProcure website (https://caleprocure.com/pages/index.aspx). It is the responsibility of the proposer to access the website for any changes or Addenda that may be posted. Refer to this RFP, Section C.1, Time Schedule, for the schedule of events and dates/times. It is the responsibility of the proposer to check Cal eProcure for all addenda.

Proposer can contact the Contract Analyst named above.

4. Technical Proposal Requirements A. An original proposal marked "ORIGINAL COPY" and one (1) pdf copy on a thumb drive will be required for the Technical Proposal. Each Technical Proposal shall contain at a minimum, all required items listed below. Each requirement’s location must be listed in a Technical Proposal, Table of Contents. Also see RFP Section C) 12, Submission of Proposal, for submittal details.

1. Section 1. Introduction and Minimum Qualifications: Proposer shall introduce its firm, the proposed team, and summarize the highlights of the proposal, and provide the information to demonstrate the minimum qualifications listed in Section B) Minimum Qualifications for Proposers.

2. Section 2. Program Understanding: Proposer shall provide a discussion of their understanding of the Connecting Communities to San Gabriel River Trail Study and how the Study will advance multimobility throughout Greater Los Angeles by providing a framework on the San Gabriel River Trail and its nexus to the State Highway System.

Proposer shall demonstrate their understanding of the Caltrans organization, the San Gabriel River and its right of way, and State, regional, and local transportation planning, policy, and programming. Proposers shall demonstrate their understanding of Caltrans mission statements and goals. Additionally, the Proposer shall:

a) Demonstrated experience with developing strategic active transportation plans; their purpose, implementing agency's considerations, common pitfalls, relevant policies, etc.

b) Demonstrated understanding of, and experience with active transportation policy and program development, active transportation design principles, and the importance of multimobility and public engagement.

c) Demonstrated understanding of State, regional, local transportation and land use planning, programming, and project delivery process.

d) Approach to conducting equity analysis and developing the final Study in compliance with relevant guidelines and regulations in relation to public engagement.

e) Provide a thorough understanding of the most recent research and methodologies related to Active Transportation Planning, Multimobility, Shared-Use Pedestrian Paths, System-Level Active Transportation Plans, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Analysis, and Active Transportation Design Principles.

file://ct.dot.ca.gov/dfshq/HR/DPAC/users/s155571/1.%20Open%20Contracts/74A1779-D07%20Connecting%20Communities%20to%20San%20Gabriel%20River%20Trail%20Study/03%20Solicitation/Roberto.Ramirez@dot.ca.gov https://caleprocure.com/pages/index.aspx

3. Section 3. Organization, Management, and Personnel: This section of the Technical

Proposal shall identify the proposed team, describe its organization, and explain the management approaches that are proposed to ensure effective and efficient professional services, high-quality products, and excellent value for the people of California. Proposer shall:

a) Introduce the Principal/Program Manager, Project Manager and Subject Matter

Experts and describe how they would interact internally and with Caltrans to manage the work to be conducted under this Agreement.

b) Identify other key personnel of Prime Contractor who will be working under the Agreement. Provide (two (2) pages maximum) resumes. Include titles, qualifications, proposed roles and responsibilities, summaries of similar work performed, and expected level of availability for this Agreement.

c) Introduce the proposed subcontractor organizations, if any, and provide qualifications, roles, and responsibilities for the company/organization as a whole and the assigned individuals. Provide brief (one (1) page maximum) resumes for each of the subcontractors’ key personnel listed to provide services under the Agreement. Include titles, qualifications, proposed roles and responsibilities, summaries of similar work performed, and expected level of availability for this Agreement.

d) Proposer shall provide a table in the format provided on Attachment 2A indicating how many hours each key personnel will be assigned for the Agreements and what task(s) each key personnel will perform. All key personnel of prime contractor and subcontractors assigned to the contract and listed in the Proposer’s Technical Proposal must be identified by name, title, and Firm Name in the table (Attachment 2A). Hours listed for key personnel on the table should match hours listed for key personnel in the Cost Proposal.

e) Describe proposed organizational structure, including subcontractors. An organizational chart or diagram shall be provided.

4. Section 4. Facilities and Resources: Proposer shall:

a) Describe the team’s office facilities and resources and discuss how the team’s office locations will result in efficient interactions with Caltrans District 7 over the term of the Agreement. Proposers (prime contractors and subcontractors) should have an office or base of operation in Southern California.

b) Identify any specialized equipment or software that would be useful for the purposes of this contract that you already have or would obtain.

c) Indicate the availability of a dedicated, secure, project-specific website to transfer deliverables, store project-related information (including financial information), and distribute materials to the project team, Caltrans, and partner agencies. Describe the operation of this dedicated file-transfer site.

5. Section 5. Approach: Proposer shall:

Describe the proposer team’s overall technical approach to work, including specific proven and recommended techniques. The discussion should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the most recent research and methodologies related to Active Transportation Planning, Multimobility, Shared-Use Pedestrian Paths, System-Level Active Transportation Plans, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Analysis, and Active Transportation Design Principles. Highlight lessons learned through other similar work, as well as innovative techniques that have proved especially effective in the team’s experience. Where applicable, tie these highlights to the samples of work (see Section 8 Experience and Samples of Work below).

6. Section 6. Work Plan and Work Schedule: This Section shall:

a. Proposer shall include a work plan and schedule for completion of each task listed in

Attachment 9, Exhibit A, Scope of Work. Identify each major task, necessary subtasks, and specific milestones by which progress can be measured. The work plan or schedule shall specify the estimated hours to accomplish each task.

b. Proposer shall provide a detailed description of the techniques, approaches, and methods to be used in performing the tasks and sub-tasks listed in Scope of Work.

7. Section 7. Proposed Financial Management System: In this section, proposers are requested to describe the financial management system that they propose to use for this Agreement. Proposers should explain how their accounting and financial management system will operate efficiently, including how it will generate accurate and easily understood invoices and financial reports, and require minimal overhead expense.

8. Section 8. Experience and Samples of Work: In this section, proposers are requested to discuss their relevant experience and to provide samples of work. Proposers shall provide the following:

a. A summary/introduction discussion of the proposer’s experience with active transportation feasibility studies, shared-use path analyses, and bike and pedestrian assessments in environmentally diverse areas.

b. Three (3) samples of previous projects that are relevant to this solicitation. These project samples should be no more than two (2) pages each. Samples shall demonstrate experience with active transportation planning, multimobility, shared-use pedestrian paths, system-level active transportation plans, bicycle and pedestrian safety analysis, active transportation design principles, and bike and pedestrian assessments in environmentally diverse areas. Proposers should use a consistent, reader-friendly, and attractive format for these samples. The format should demonstrate the proposer’s writing, editing, and graphic design skills.

9. Section 9. References: The proposer shall provide a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) clients (references) for whom the proposer has performed work similar to that proposed in this request. Each reference shall be in the format provided in Attachment 2B, Reference Form.

B. Page Headers and Page Numbering All pages of the Technical Proposal, including cover pages, Table of Contents, references, and resumes, shall have the following header and page numbering format in the upper right-hand corner:

Technical Proposal Date:

Agreement: 74A1779 Attachment 2 Page # of ##

C. Brochures, thumb drives, drawings, and other promotional documents being submitted with the Technical Proposals shall be clearly identified as to the name of the proposer and the RFP number.

5. Cost Proposal Requirements

A. Cost Proposal, and only the Cost Proposal, shall list all items that will be charged to Caltrans for this Agreement. Cost information of any kind for this Agreement is not allowed in the Technical Proposal. Cost Proposal shall include both prime contractor and all subcontractors cost information. Proposers must submit fixed costs and rates for the duration of the contract agreement; rates shall be consistent for all Tasks in this Agreement.

Cost increases are not permitted and shall result in the proposal being deemed non-responsive. Cost Proposals shall follow the format provided in the sample Cost Proposal Worksheet, Attachment 1, and shall be submitted along with Technical Proposal in one (1) sealed envelope. The total amount of the Agreement may not exceed the amount set forth in Attachment 1. Any proposal in excess of $400,000.00 shall be deemed non-responsive.

B. An original proposal marked "ORIGINAL COPY" and one (1) pdf copy on a thumb drive is required for the Cost Proposal. Each Cost Proposal shall contain at a minimum, all required items listed below:

1) Cover page in the format listed on page 1 of Attachment 1, Cost Proposal

Worksheet.

2) Prime Contractor’s cost breakdown in the format listed on page 2 of Attachment 1, Cost Proposal Worksheet.

3) Each subcontractor’s cost breakdown (separately) in the format listed on page 1 of

Attachment 1, Cost Proposal Worksheet.

C. Page Headers and Page Numbering

All pages of the Cost Proposal, including cover pages, Table of Contents shall have the following header and page numbering format in the upper right-hand corner:

Cost Proposal Date Agreement No. 74A1779 Attachment 1 Page # of ##

6. California Civil Rights Laws Any person that submits a bid or proposal to, or otherwise proposes to enter into or renew a contract with, a State agency with respect to any contract in the amount of $100,000 or more shall certify, under penalty of perjury, at the time the bid or proposal is submitted or the contract is renewed, that they satisfy all of the conditions set forth in California Public Contract Code Section 2010 and they shall execute the California Civil Rights Laws Certification and submit with bid. The California Civil Rights Laws Certification (DOT ADM-0076) must be downloaded at https://forms.dot.ca.gov/v2Forms/servlet/FormRenderer?frmid=DOTADM0076.

7. Darfur Contracting Act A. The Darfur Contracting Act (Pub. Cont. Code Sections 10475-10481) applies to any company that currently or within the previous three (3) years has had business activities or other operations outside of the United States. The Act was passed by the California Legislature and signed into law by the Governor to preclude State agencies generally from contracting with “scrutinized” companies that do business in the African nation of Sudan (of which the Darfur region is a part), for the reasons described in Public Contract Code Section 10475. All bidders shall complete the Darfur Contracting Act Certification form and submit with bid. The Darfur Contracting Act Certification (DOT ADM-0077) must be downloaded at https://forms.dot.ca.gov/v2Forms/servlet/FormRenderer?frmid=DOTADM0077.

https://forms.dot.ca.gov/v2Forms/servlet/FormRenderer?frmid=DOTADM0076 https://forms.dot.ca.gov/v2Forms/servlet/FormRenderer?frmid=DOTADM0077.

B. If your company has not, within the previous three (3) years, had any business activities or other operations outside of the United States, complete Option 1 on the Darfur Contracting Act Certification.

C. A scrutinized company is a company doing business in Sudan as defined in Public Contract Code Section 10476. Scrutinized companies are ineligible to, and cannot, bid on or submit a proposal for a contract with a State agency for goods or services (Pub. Cont. Code Section 10477(a)).

D. Therefore, Public Contract Code Section 10478(a) requires a company that currently has (or within the previous three (3) years has had) business activities or other operations outside of the United States to certify that it is not a “scrutinized” company when it submits a bid or proposal to a State agency.

E. A scrutinized company may still, however, submit a bid or proposal for a contract with a State agency for goods or services if the company first obtains permission from the Department of General Services (DGS) according to the criteria set forth in Public Contract Code Section 10477(b).

8. Executive Order N-6-22 – Russia Sanctions On March 4, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-6-22 (the EO) regarding Economic Sanctions against Russia and Russian entities and individuals. “Economic Sanctions” refers to sanctions imposed by the U.S. government in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, as well as any sanctions imposed under state law unless the contract has been Federalized (i.e.

there is federal participation in any phase). By submitting a bid or proposal, Contractor represents that it is not a target of Economic Sanctions. Should the State determine Contractor is a target of Economic Sanctions or is conducting prohibited transactions with sanctioned individuals or entities, that shall be grounds for rejection of the Contractor’s bid/proposal any time prior to contract execution, or, if determined after contract execution, shall be grounds for termination by the State.

9. Executive Order N-12-23 – Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Technology Use and Reporting A. The State of California seeks to realize the potential benefits of GenAI, through the development and deployment of GenAI tools, while balancing the risks of these new technologies.

B. Bidder / Offeror must notify the State in writing if it:

1) intends to provide GenAI as a deliverable to the State; or

2) intends to utilize GenAI, including GenAI from third parties, to complete all or a portion of any deliverable that materially impacts:

a) functionality of a State system,

b) risk to the State, or

c) Contract performance.

Note: For avoidance of doubt, the term “materially impacts” shall have the meaning set forth in State Administrative Manual (SAM) § 4986.2 Definitions for GenAI.

C. Failure to report GenAI to the State may result in disqualification. The State reserves the right to seek any and all relief to which it may be entitled to as a result of such non-disclosure.

https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/3.4.22-Russia-Ukraine-Executive-Order.pdf

D. Upon notification by a Bidder / Offeror of GenAI as required, the State reserves the right to incorporate GenAI Special Provisions into the final contract or reject bids/offers that present an unacceptable level of risk to the State.

E. Government Code 11549.64 defines “Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)” as an artificial intelligence system that can generate derived synthetic content, including text, images, video, and audio that emulates the structure and characteristics of the system’s training data.

10. Standard Title VI/Nondiscrimination Assurances (DOT Order No. 1050.2A) Caltrans, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat.

252, 42 USC Sections 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

11. Mandatory Organic Waste Recycling The Contractor generating organic waste or commercial solid waste shall comply with Senate Bill 1383 (Lara) of 2016, also Contractor will arrange for the recycling services required by this Section in a manner that is consistent with State and local laws and requirements, including a local ordinance or local jurisdiction's franchise agreement, applicable to the collection, handling, or recycling of organic waste and commercial solid waste. This requirement does not modify, limit, or abrogate the contractor’s right to sell or donate its recyclable organic waste materials consistent with the requirements of Public Resources Code Section 42649.8 et seq.

12. Submission of Proposal A. Proposals should provide straightforward and concise descriptions of the proposer's ability to satisfy the requirements of this RFP. The proposal must be complete and accurate.

Omissions, inaccuracies or misstatements may be sufficient cause for rejection of a proposal or reduction in points/score during evaluation.

B. The original proposal must be single sided and marked "ORIGINAL COPY". All documents contained in the original proposal package must have original signatures and must be signed by a person who is authorized to bind the proposing firm. All additional proposal sets may contain photocopies of the original package.

C. Caltrans does not accept alternate Agreement language from a prospective contractor. A proposal with such language will be considered a counter proposal and will be rejected. The State’s General Terms and Conditions (GTC 02/2025) are not negotiable. The GTC 02/2025 may be viewed at Internet site https://www.dgs.ca.gov/OLS/Resources/Page-Content/Office-of-Legal-Services-Resources-List-Folder/Standard-Contract-Language.

D. All proposals shall include the documents identified in this RFP’s Required Attachment Checklist, Attachment 4 Proposals not including the proper "required attachments" may be deemed non-responsive. A non-responsive proposal is one that does not meet the basic proposal requirements.

E. Responses to this RFP shall be submitted in one (1) sealed package/envelope containing both the Technical Proposal – Original and one (1) pdf copy on a thumb drive, and Cost Proposal – Original, and one (1) pdf copy on a thumb drive.

F. Proposals must be submitted no later than 2:00 p.m., June 09, 2026, and addressed as follows (reference Section C1, Time Schedule):

Proposals received after this time and date will be rejected and returned unopened.

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/OLS/Resources/Page-Content/Office-of-Legal-Services-Resources-List-Folder/Standard-Contract-Language https://www.dgs.ca.gov/OLS/Resources/Page-Content/Office-of-Legal-Services-Resources-List-Folder/Standard-Contract-Language

The proposal package/envelope must be plainly marked with the RFP number and title, your Firm Name, address, and must be marked with "DO NOT OPEN", as shown in the following example:

Agency/Firm Name Address RFP Number 74A1779 RFP Title: Connecting Communities to San Gabriel River Trail Study.

Do Not Open

Proposals not submitted under sealed cover and marked as indicated may be rejected. If the proposal is made under a fictitious name or business title, the actual legal name of proposer must be provided.

G. Proposals must be submitted for the performance of all services described herein. Any deviation from the work specifications will not be considered and will cause a proposal to be rejected.

H. Proposals (Technical and Cost) must be sealed and labeled (as instructed below). Mail or deliver package to the following location:

Mailed or * Hand-Deliver To:

Department of Transportation Division of Procurement and Contracts Attention: Roberto Ramirez 1727 30th Street, MS 65 Sacramento, CA 95816-7006

In the upper portion of the sealed mailing envelope, label outer package:

RFP Number 74A1779 RFP Title: Connecting Communities to San Gabriel River Trail Study.

Firm Name: (Add firm name)

DO NOT OPEN

*If your proposal is hand delivered, you must date, and time stamp it immediately upon arrival. The date/time stamp machine is located in the lobby of the first floor to the right of the security guard station at the address noted above. After date/time stamping, proposals should be placed in the locked bid cabinet located below the time stamp. If the proposal package is too large to be electronically stamped, date/time stamp one of the labels provided and attach it to the proposal package. When the proposal package is too large for the locked bid cabinet, ask the security guard to call the Division of Procurement and Contracts (DPAC) reception desk at (916) 227-6000 to have your proposal package picked up by DPAC staff.

I. Proposals received in electronic format will not be accepted.

J. A proposal may be rejected if it is conditional or incomplete, or if it contains any alterations of form or other irregularities of any kind. Caltrans may reject a proposal that is not responsive, does not meet the technical standards, or is not from a responsible proposer, or may reject all proposals. Caltrans may also waive any immaterial deviation in a proposal.

Caltrans waiver of immaterial defect shall in no way modify the RFP document or excuse the proposer from full compliance with all requirements if the proposer is awarded the Agreement.

K. Costs for developing proposals and in anticipation of award of the Agreement are entirely the responsibility of the proposer and shall not be charged to the State of California.

L. Only an individual who is authorized to contractually bind the proposing firm shall sign the

Proposal/Proposer Certification Sheet, Attachment 3. The signature must indicate the title or position that the individual holds in the firm. The proposer’s proposal may be rejected if the Proposal/Proposer Certification Sheet is not signed.

M. A proposer may modify a proposal after its submission by withdrawing its original proposal and resubmitting a new proposal prior to the proposal submission deadline. Proposal modifications offered in any other manner, oral or written, will not be considered.

N. A proposer may withdraw its proposal by submitting a written withdrawal request to Caltrans that is signed by the proposer or an authorized agent. A proposer may thereafter submit a new proposal prior to the proposal submission deadline. Proposals may not be withdrawn without cause subsequent to proposal submission deadline.

O. Caltrans may modify the RFP up to the specified time of the date fixed for submission of proposals by the issuance of an addendum to all parties who received a proposal package.

All addenda prior to the submission deadline are also posted on Cal eProcure at https://caleprocure.com/pages/index.aspx.

P. Caltrans reserves the right to reject all proposals for reasonable cause.

Q. Proposers are cautioned to not rely on Caltrans during the evaluation to discover and report to the proposer any defects and errors in the submitted documents. Before submitting their documents, proposers should carefully proof them for errors and adherence to the RFP requirements.

R. Where applicable, proposer should carefully examine work sites and specifications.

Proposer shall investigate conditions, character, and quality of surface or subsurface materials or obstacles that might be encountered. No additions or increases to the agreement amount will be made due to a lack of careful examination of work sites and specifications.

S. More than one (1) proposal or a proposal that includes various options or alternatives from an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, or association under the same or different names, will be rejected. Reasonable grounds for believing that any proposer has submitted more than one (1) proposal for the work contemplated herein will cause the rejection of all proposals submitted by that proposer. If there is reason for believing that collusion exists among the proposers, none of the participants in such collusion will be considered in this or future procurements.

13. Evaluation Process A. Format Requirements

1) At the time of proposal opening, each proposal will be checked for the presence and/or absence of required information in conformance with the submission requirements of this RFP. Proposals that do not provide requested information may be rejected as non-responsive.

2) Proposals that contain false or misleading statements, or which provide references, which do not support an attribute or condition claimed by the proposer, shall be rejected.

B. Evaluation of Proposals

1) Caltrans will evaluate each proposal to determine its responsiveness to Caltrans needs.

Proposals meeting the Minimum Qualifications will be further assessed by an evaluation committee. Technical Proposals and Oral Presentations of Proposers that are https://caleprocure.com/pages/index.aspx determined to be responsive will be rated by the evaluation committee using a consensus process. The Consensus scoring will be based on the scoring method listed below:

Evaluation Factor/Sub Factor Weight (as stated in the Criteria for Evaluation)

X Consensus Rating = Weighted Score

Consensus Rating (Range: 0-4) Rating Definitions

4 Exceeded All Requirements 3 Partially Exceeded Requirements 2 Met All Requirements 1 Partially Met Requirements 0 Requirements Not Met

Example only: Weight Consensus Rating

Weighted Score

Contractor's Approach to Technical Work 2 X 3 = 6

2) Phase 1: Technical Proposal Evaluation Technical Proposals that are determined to be responsive and meet the proposal submission requirements will be evaluated and scored in accordance with Criteria for Evaluation of Proposer’s Technical Proposal, Attachment 5.

3) Phase 2: Oral Presentation and Evaluation Proposers will be contacted to schedule a date and time for the Oral Presentation. The Oral Presentations will be evaluated and scored in accordance with Criteria for Evaluation of Proposer’s Oral Presentation, Attachment 6. It is anticipated that the Oral Presentations will be held virtually.

4) Cost Proposal Evaluation Cost Proposals that meet the proposal submission requirements will be evaluated and scored in accordance with Criteria for Evaluation of Proposer’s Cost Proposal, Attachment 7.

5) The final proposal score will be the combined evaluation scores from the Technical Proposal, Oral Presentation, Cost Proposal, any applicable preference points set forth in this RFP. The Agreement will be awarded to the Proposer with the highest combined score who meets the requirements outlined in this RFP, pending approval by Caltrans’ Business Enterprise Program, of that proposal’s satisfactory compliance of Small Business participation and approval of any applicable Preference and Incentive Programs set forth in this RFP.

A. Miscellaneous Award Issues Caltrans does not negotiate rates and/or costs listed on any Cost Proposal submitted for the RFP.

If no proposals are received containing bids offering a price, which in the opinion of

Caltrans is a reasonable price, Caltrans is not required to award an Agreement (Pub. Cont. Code Section 10344[d]).

Factor/Sub Factor

The proposer is advised that should this RFP result in an award of an Agreement, the

Agreement will not be in force and no work shall be performed until the Agreement is fully approved by Caltrans and the proposer is notified by the Contract Manager to begin work.

In the event of a precise tie, lots will be drawn to determine the successful proposer, or if applicable, the tie will be broken in accordance with Government Code Section 14838(f).

14. Pre-Award Audit Prior to award of the Agreement, a pre-award audit may be performed. The pre-award audit will be conducted in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards as promulgated by the United States General Accounting Office. The scope of the audit will consist of such tests as the auditors consider necessary to assure that the proposal satisfactorily meets the requirements outlined in Items 1-3 below prior to execution of the Agreement. Upon completion of a pre-award audit, if, in Caltrans judgment, one or more of these requirements is not satisfactorily met, Agreement award may be canceled.

A. At the time of the pre-award audit, the proposal must demonstrate through actual historical data that its accounting system is capable of accumulating and segregating reasonable, allocable, and allowable costs. For new businesses, if actual historical data is unavailable or the accounting system is newly implemented, the system will be tested to determine whether the accounting system is adequate and, if necessary, recommend that an interim audit be performed. At a minimum, the proposal must have an accounting system that meets the following objectives:

The ability to record and report financial data in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 48, Federal Acquisition Regulations System (FAR), Chapter 1, Part 31.

The ability to accumulate and segregate reasonable, allocable and allowable costs through the use of a cost accounting system.

A system of record keeping ensuring costs billed to Caltrans will be supported by adequate documentation and in compliance with the terms of the Agreement and applicable Federal and State regulations.

Procedures to retain accounting records and source documentation as required by the terms of the Agreement and applicable Federal and State regulations.

A system of internal control, which provides reasonable assurance that assets are protected; financial data, records and statements are reliable; and errors and irregularities are promptly discovered, reported and corrected.

B. The proposer must be financially capable of performing the work.

C. The costs proposed must be reasonable.

15. Award and Protest A. The Agreement shall not be awarded until Caltrans has posted a Notice of intent to Award in a place accessible by the general public, including any internet site for at least five working days. Notice of Intent to Award shall be posted at Caltrans, 1727 30th Street, Sacramento, 95816 (1st floor Lobby display case), and on the following Internet site:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/dpac/viewnoticesofintenttoaward.

B. Any proposer who claims the State agency failed to follow the procedures specified in either subdivision (b) or (c) of PCC § 10344 has the right to formally protest the award of the Agreement, by filing a notice of intent to protest within five (5) calendar days of the notification of award.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/dpac/viewnoticesofintenttoaward

Once a protest is filed, the Agreement shall not be awarded until either the protest has been withdrawn or the State has decided the matter. Intent to protest and protests may be sent by certified mail, email, courier, or personal delivery to the following addresses:

Department of Transportation Division of Procurement and Contracts Attention: Bid, Protest, and Dispute Manager 1727 30th Street, MS 65 Sacramento, CA 95816 Phone Number: (916) 639-6322 Email:

DPAC.Protest.Disputes.Terminations@dot.ca.gov

Department of General Services Office of Legal Services Attention: Bid Protest Coordinator 707 Third Street, 7th Floor Suite 7-330 West Sacramento, CA 95605 Phone Number: (916) 376-5098 Email: OLSProtests@dgs.ca.gov

Within five (5) calendar days of filing the notice of intent to protest, the proposer must submit a detailed written statement specifying the grounds for the protest. The statement must clearly outline the basis for protest and be limited to the grounds specified in PCC 10345(b)(2). The protest must reference the solicitation number and include any supporting evidence. The protest must be sent to the same addresses above.

C. Upon award of the Agreement, proposer must complete and submit to Caltrans the Payee Data Record (STD 204), to determine if the proposer is subject to State income tax withholding pursuant to California Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 18662. This form can be found on the Internet at https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/pdf/std204.pdf.

No payment shall be made unless a completed STD 204 has been returned to Caltrans.

16. Disposition of Proposals Upon proposal opening, all documents submitted in response to this RFP will become the property of the State of California and will be regarded as public records under the California Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 7920-7931.) and subject to review by the public. The State cannot prevent the disclosure of public documents. However, the contents of all proposals, draft proposals, correspondence, agenda, memoranda, working papers, or any other medium which discloses any aspect of a proposer's proposal, shall be held in the strictest confidence until the “Notice of Intent to Award” is posted. We recommend that you register the copyright for any proprietary material submitted.

17. Standard Conditions of Service A. Service shall be available no sooner than the express date set by Caltrans and the proposer, after all approvals have been obtained and the Agreement is fully executed.

Should the proposer fail to commence work at the agreed upon time, Caltrans, upon five (5) days written notice to the Contractor, reserves the right to terminate the Agreement. In addition, the proposer shall be liable to the State for the difference between proposer’s proposal price and the actual cost of performing work by the second lowest proposer or by another Contractor.

B. All performance under the Agreement shall be completed on or before the termination date of the Agreement.

C. Antitrust Provisions In submitting a bid to a public purchasing body, the proposer offers and agrees that if the proposal is accepted, it will assign to the purchasing body all rights, title, and interest in and to all causes of action it may have under Section 4 of the Clayton Act (15 USC Section 15) or under the Cartwright Act, Chapter 2, commencing with Section 16700, of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Bus. and Prof. Code), arising from purchases of goods, materials, or services by the proposer for sale to the purchasing body pursuant to the mailto:DPAC.Protest.Disputes.Terminations@dot.ca.gov mailto:OLSProtests@dgs.ca.gov https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/pdf/std204.pdf proposal. Such assignment shall be made and become effective at the time the purchasing body tenders final payment to the proposer (See Government Code Section 4552).

If the awarding body or public purchasing body receives, either through judgment or settlement, a monetary recovery for a cause of action assigned under this chapter, the assignor shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for actual legal costs incurred and may, upon demand, recover from the public body any portion of the recovery, including treble damages, attributable to overcharges that were paid.

Upon demand in writing by the assignor, the assignee shall, within one (1) year from such demand, reassign the cause of action assigned under this part if the assignor has been or may have been injured by the violation of law for which the cause of action arose and (a) the assignee has not been injured thereby, or (b) the assignee declines to file a court action for the cause of action (See Government Code Section 4554).

D. Loss Leader usage is prohibited in this solicitation: It is unlawful for any person engaged in business within this State to sell or use any article or product as a "loss leader" as defined in Section 17030 of the California Business and Professions Code. "Loss Leader" means any article or product sold at less than cost: a) where the purpose is to induce, promote or encourage the purchase of other merchandise; or b) where the effect is a tendency or capacity to mislead or deceive purchasers of prospective purchasers; or c) where the effect is to divert trade from or otherwise injure competitors.

E. No oral understanding or agreement shall be binding on either party.

F. If the proposer is awarded the Agreement and refuses to sign the Agreement presented for signature within the time and manner required, the proposer will be liable to Caltrans for actual damages resulting to Caltrans therefrom or 10 percent (10%) of the amount proposed, whichever is less.

D) Special Program(s) The following Special Program(s) are applicable to this RFP.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program

On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S.DOT) issued an interim final rule (IFR) which, among other things, implemented changes to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program via modifications to 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part

26. (Docket Number DOT-OST-2025-0897.) The IFR was published in the Federal Register on October 3, 2025, and took immediate effect. (90 FR 47969 (Oct. 3, 2025). In the event of any ambiguity or discrepancy between the existing law, including the IFR, guidance, including U.S.

DOT IFR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), and this Contract, existing law controls.

• Interim Final Rule in Federal Register: Federal Register :: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise in Airport Concessions Program Implementation Modifications

• U.S. DOT DBE Interim Final Rule Guidance: DBE IFR Guidance.9-30-2025.pdf

• DBE IFR FAQ US DOT

This solicitation is subject to Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 26 (49 CFR 26) titled

“Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Department of Transportation Financial Assistance Programs”.