RRPM2026-1_Oct_28_26_solicitation_doc.pdf

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), Office of Rail, for rail property management, leasing, and asset development services across state-owned passenger and freight lines. CTDOT seeks a qualified contractor to manage rail property along the New Haven Line, Danbury Branch, Waterbury Branch, New Canaan Branch, state-owned freight lines, and all other state-owned railroad rights of way. The contractor will be responsible for creating efficient administrative processes, record-keeping, and accounting systems for CTDOT's Office of Rail real estate interests, and for providing innovative solutions to generate recurring and non-recurring non-fare revenue through strategic disposition of real estate rights. The RFP was issued on August 27, 2026, with a question and answer period extending from August 27, 2026 at 8:15 AM EDT through October 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM EDT. Proposals are due October 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM EDT. Proposal presentations are scheduled for the week of November 16, 2026, with selection notification estimated for the week of December 7, 2026. The contract term is three years with successive one-year renewal options at CTDOT's discretion, with Notice to Proceed anticipated by April 26, 2027.

The contractor will manage more than 4,000 acres of land, approximately 300 miles of track, 52 stations, and more than 500 existing lease and license agreements. Primary responsibilities include implementing a property management system with GIS functionality, procuring and managing advertising contracts, administering existing and new lease and license agreements, remediating property encroachments, initiating private grade crossing agreements, and providing advisory services up to ten hours monthly. The contractor must submit a revenue opportunities report within 90 days of Notice to Proceed, an advertising procurement schedule within 30 days of NTP, and a transition plan for existing agreements within 90 days of NTP. Compensation is to be negotiated, and proposals are limited to 50 pages in PDF format. Evaluation criteria include technical approach and methodology (10 points), proposer qualifications and relevant experience (20 points), project management and key personnel (20 points), oral presentation (20 points), and cost (30 points). The contractor must carry Automobile Liability ($1 million minimum), Commercial General Liability ($1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate), Professional Liability ($1 million with three-year tail), Workers' Compensation, and Valuable Papers Insurance ($25,000 minimum). All vendors are eligible to respond; no set-asides or preference programs apply.