SPECIFICATIONS HDC- Improvements adjacent to Superfund 060226.pdf

Job No. 25/0372

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SPECIFICATIONS

Request for Qualifications for Professional Landscape Architectural and

Engineering Services for the Hardy Downtown Connector (HDC) – Improvements adjacent to Superfund Site(s) for Harris County Toll Road

Authority

I. INTRODUCTION AND PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) is seeking professional firms with experience, capabilities, and available staff to submit qualifications to provide Professional Landscape Architectural and Engineering Services for the Hardy Downtown Connector (HDC) – Improvements adjacent to Superfund Site(s) project. HCTRA plans to award a single contract based on firm’s evidence of their ability to provide complete through and comprehensive responses and information that demonstrate most highly competent and qualified provider to perform Professional Landscape Architectural and Engineering Services for the HDC – Improvements adjacent to Superfund Site(s) project.

The professional Landscape Architect/Engineer (A/E) shall provide services for this project including but not be limited to the following Function Codes (FC) in accordance with HCTRA, TxDOT, industry, and other applicable local, state, and federal standards:

FC 145: Project Management and Administration

FC 110: Feasibility Studies

FC 120: Social/Econ/Environmental Studies

FC 130: Right-of-Way (ROW) Survey Data

FC 135: Right-of-Way Utility Activities

FC 150: Roadway Design Survey, Construction Survey, and As-built Survey

FC 160: Roadway Design

FC 161: Drainage

FC 162: Signing, Pavement Markings, and Signalization

FC 163: Miscellaneous Roadway Design

FC 200: Landscape Architecture

FC 351: Design Verification/Changes/Alternations

A. PROGRAM STRUCTURE

The selected A/E consultant will be contractually managed by HCTRA, which retains responsibility for all contract approvals and payments. The selected firm shall be responsible for directing and coordinating all activities associated with the project including coordinating with HCTRA staff, other projects, and appropriate agencies and stakeholders such as other county departments, other counties, municipalities, other public agencies, and utilities.

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B. CONTRACT TIME FRAME

The contract will be for approximately thirty-six (36) months from the Notice to Proceed being issued. HCTRA reserves the right to extend the time and/or expand the scope of this contract.

C. GENERAL INFORMATION

The Hardy Downtown Connector (HDC) Program is a collection of projects that work towards the overall goal of providing a landscaped scenic route that will improve the mobility and vibrancy of the region and surrounding communities.

The principal objective of the Program is to improve operational efficiency, reduce congestion, improve mobility, provide reliable travel times, and allow travel choices in one of the most heavily traveled corridors in the Houston region while prioritizing community benefits and the overall opportunities associated with the roadway corridor, including social, environmental, and community amenities. The Program shall improve neighborhood connections, include vibrant placemaking, activate public spaces, and include regenerative ecology to meet this objective.

Commissioner’s Court approved the Visioning Hardy Downtown Connector Study (Visioning Study), to outline a path forward. The Visioning Study, available at https://www.hctra.org/HardyDowntownConnector, emphasizes 4 key themes for the Program:

1. Neighborhood Connections - In addition to HCTRA’s improvements to Collingsworth Street, Lorraine Street, and Quitman Street providing grade-separated crossings at the existing railroad tracks, the proposed vision balances pedestrian and bike access along the corridor by enhancing street crossings, overall pedestrian/bicycle safety, and transit improvements that will improve the human experience and comfort.

HCTRA has also committed to improvements to Hardy and Elysian streets, a trail along the corridor, and partnering with local entities for improvements along the corridor. The Program shall establish a multi-modal transit system to ensure seamless, interconnected, and safe experiences for individuals navigating diverse modes and conditions.

2. Vibrant Placemaking - Create a unique identity for the corridor through vibrant gateways, signage, and branding. This includes engaging public art, neighborhood/community branding, and integration of nature-themed murals that tell a story of cultural, social, and ecological history and the voices of the neighborhood.

The Program shall craft spaces that encourage social interactions and infuse vibrancy into communities.

3. Public Space Activation - The future corridor will create opportunities to activate currently underutilized parcels of land along the linear corridor. Public space activation creates new community resources such as parks and parklets to provide social, environmental, and recreational opportunities for the surrounding neighborhoods. The Program shall recognize opportunities within public areas and initiate efforts to create an appealing and attractive public realm.

4. Regenerative Ecology - Going beyond drainage, air quality, and noise mitigation by improving urban ecology, sustainability, and social and environmental resilience along the corridor. The Program shall undertake initiatives to restore, renew, and revitalize ecosystems, aiming to enhance and improve environmental conditions.

Additionally, Commissioners Court emphasized three areas of concern:

• Increasing and preserving meaningful affordable housing in the Program area.

• Mobility options, including Bus Rapid Transit and other dedicated public transit space.

• Comprehensive environmental mitigation strategy for the Program.

HCTRA’s additional objectives for the Program during delivery include advancing safety and security for road users and workers; minimizing disruptions to the traveling public through the appropriate traffic management; close coordination with Program stakeholders; and promoting the use of small business enterprises owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

HCTRA improves mobility in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area through excellence in the operation of urban toll highway systems, while upholding a commitment to leadership, public service, and quality of life. HCTRA is an Enterprise

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Fund of Harris County and relies on charges from users of the toll system to fund operations, debt services, and future projects led by its Executive Director, Roberto Treviño, and operates through multiple divisions which include Administration, Capital Projects & Infrastructure, Communications, Public Safety & Operations, and Tolling Operations.

The HCTRA Toll Road System consists of approximately 132 miles of roadway to include the Hardy Toll Road, Sam Houston Tollway, Westpark Tollway, Fort Bend Parkway, Tomball Tollway, and Katy Managed Lanes. Non-tolled elements of HCTRA facilities are the Washburn Tunnel and Lynchburg Ferry.

Harris County strives to engage with vendors that represent the diverse businesses of the County. We will ensure that historically underutilized minority and women-owned businesses (M/WBEs) receive a fair and equal opportunity to participate in the County’s procurement process. The County expects Vendors to make a good faith effort and the Vendor agrees to reasonably assist the County to meet or exceed goals for awarding contracts associated with the project the County procures, operates, maintains, or constructs to M/WBEs.

These key themes, areas of concern, and objectives shall be incorporated into all aspects of the Program's development, management, and reporting.

D. OUR MISSION

HCTRA's mission is to responsibly operate and maintain a safe, reliable, sustainable, and evolving mobility system that meets the diverse connectivity needs of all Harris County residents.

II. CONSULTANT RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUESTION SUBMISSION PROTOCOL

It is the responsibility of each firm to examine the entire Request For Qualifications (RFQ), seek clarification in writing, and review their submittal for accuracy before submitting. Once the submission deadline has passed, all submissions will be final. Questions relating to the RFQ must be submitted in writing and through Bonfire at https://harriscountytx.bonfirehub.com/. The deadline for submission of questions relating to this RFQ as listed in the Event Schedule in Bonfire is 2:00 p.m. (CST) on Monday, June 22, 2026. All questions submitted in writing prior to the deadline will be compiled and answered in writing in Bonfire. The County shall not be bound and is not bound by any information conveyed verbally.

A non-mandatory pre-submittal conference is scheduled for June 17, 2026 at 2:00 pm CST., via Microsoft Teams with log-in information as listed in Event Schedule in Bonfire. Attendance is non-mandatory, but all interested parties are encouraged to attend for better understanding of the requirements of this RFQ. All persons with disabilities requiring special accommodation should contact HCTRA Procurement Specialist of record for this RFQ at least two (2) days prior to the conference.

Any and all toll/parking fees incurred by the vendor during the term of this contract shall be the responsibility of the vendor.

Due to the nature and scope of the work required, it may be necessary to increase, decrease, or otherwise modify the scope of the effort or terms of the agreement. Therefore, Harris County may, from time to time, request revisions to adjust to its needs. Modifications require approval by Harris County.

Harris County reserves the right to terminate any agreement based upon failure to comply with unusual and customary practices of the industry, breach of any laws, rules or regulations, or failure to significantly comply with or meet the performance expectations as established in subsequent contract, if any, between Harris County and a respondent.

Texas law requires all parties who enter into any contract with the County which must be approved by Commissioners Court to disclose all interested parties. Form 1295 must be completed in its entirety at the following website:

https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/whatsnew/elf info_form1295.htm prior to submitting your response. Failure to do so may result in disqualification of your response.

Vendors Owing Taxes or other debts: Pursuant to TX Local Government Code 262.0276, Harris County Commissioners Court has adopted a policy which requires that vendors’ taxes and other Harris County debts be current as of the date bids/proposals are due. Proposers with delinquent county taxes or other county debts on the due date will not be eligible https://harriscountytx.bonfirehub.com/ https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/whatsnew/elf%20info_form1295.htm

Page | 4 for award. Whether or not a vendor’s taxes are delinquent will be determined by an independent review of the Tax Office records. Prior to submitting an offer, vendors are encouraged to visit the Tax Office website at www.hctax.net, set up a portfolio of their accounts and make their own initial determination of the status of their tax accounts. Vendors who believe delinquency is reflected in error must contact the Tax Office to correct any errors or discrepancies prior to submitting their offer in order to ensure that their offer will be considered. Furthermore, if, during the performance of this contract, a vendor’s taxes become delinquent or a vendor becomes otherwise indebted to Harris County, Harris County reserves the right to provide notice to the Auditor or Treasurer pursuant to Texas Local Government Code §154.045. This policy is effective for all bids/proposals due on or after November 1, 2009. Revised 1/18

III. SCOPE OF WORK

The A/E consultant shall provide all essential design and engineering services required for the development of a multi-purpose outdoor community space to include, but not limited to pedestrian circulation, shared-use pathways, passive and active gathering spaces and coordination with third-party entities for specialized site programming. The project may also include landscape architectural design services surrounding a vertical HCTRA facility (designed by others). The landscape architectural design of the multi-purpose community space and the HCTRA facility site shall be integrated to create a cohesive and unified space that can be implemented and maintained with minimal impact to groundwater quality.

The project will require Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) coordination and review related to environmental monitoring in the technical impracticability (TI) zone in proximity to the Superfund Site(s). The project will promote neighborhood connectivity, vibrant placemaking, and the activation of public spaces. It will also enhance urban ecology, sustainability, and the social and environmental resilience of the area.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Unless otherwise instructed by HCTRA, the A/E shall minimize to the greatest extent possible HCTRA’s need to apply its own resources to assignments authorized by HCTRA. HCTRA, at its option, may elect to expand, reduce, and/or delete the extent of each work element described in the Scope of Services document, provided such action does not alter the intent of this Agreement.

The Services provided under this Agreement shall be commensurate with the professional standards and quality consistent with those set forth in this Agreement.

1. MANUALS AND PROCEDURES

The A/E shall verify compliance with and prepare all work in accordance with the latest version of applicable Harris County, HCTRA, City of Houston, or Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) procedures, specifications, manuals, guidelines, and standard specifications or previously approved special provisions and special specifications. These include, but are not limited to:

Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS), published by the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG), published by the U.S. Access Board Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design, published by the United States

Department of Justice Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES) Reference Guide for Sustainable Land Design and Development, published by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) and the Sustainable SITES Initiative Public Park and Recreation Standards, published by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Park, Recreation, and Greenway Guidelines, published by the National Recreation and Park Association

(NRPA)

Ecological Revitalization: Turning Contaminated Properties Into Community Assets, published by the United

States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) http://www.hctax.net/

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Sustainable Redevelopment at Superfund Sites, published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Enhancing Sustainable Communities with Green Infrastructure, published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Sports Fields and Recreation: A Manual for Outdoor Design, published by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)

Sports Fields: A Manual for Design, Construction and Maintenance, published by ASBA Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, published by the American Association of State Highway and

Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Urban Bikeway Design Guide, published by AASHTO Traffic and Safety Analysis Procedures Manual, published by TxDOT National Electrical Code (NEC), published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

When design criteria are not identified in the above documents, or the documents provide conflicting design criteria, the A/E shall notify the HCTRA Project Manager, who will provide guidance.

2. COORDINATION

The A/E shall coordinate issues and communications with HCTRA’s internal resource areas through the Program Manager. HCTRA will communicate the resolution of issues and provide the A/E direction through the Project Manager. The A/E shall coordinate with affected counties, cities, and all other governmental agencies only at the Project Manager’s direction. The A/E shall document the coordination effort and must provide written concurrence regarding the agreed project controls and interfaces.

3. LEVEL OF EFFORT

For each work order, the A/E shall base the level of effort at each phase on the prior work developed in earlier phases without unnecessary repetition or re-study. As directed by HCTRA, the A/E shall provide written justification regarding whether additional or repeated level of effort of earlier completed work is warranted, or if additional details will be better addressed at a later stage in the project development.

4. ORGANIZATION OF DESIGN PROJECT FOLDER AND FILES (ELECTRONIC PROJECT FILES)

The A/E shall organize the electronic project files in accordance with HCTRA’s File Management System (FMS) format, using the Computer Graphics Standards and Electronic Documentation/Files Organization on ProjectWise to be hosted by the HDC GEC, unless otherwise directed by HCTRA.

5. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

The A/E shall and shall require its subcontractors to

A. Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to their personnel and

B. Require their personnel to use PPE while performing work on or near roadways.

The PPE must meet all current standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

This project shall be performed in accordance with Harris County’s “Safety Record Policy” that was adopted by Harris County Commissioners Court to ensure Harris County engages prime contractors and subcontractors that prioritize the health and safety of their workers.

6. DATA CLASSIFICATION

Unless otherwise clearly labeled or otherwise specifically excepted through a provision of this contract or its attachments, all data provided to or generated by the A/E under this contract is considered public data for the purpose of applying HCTRA’s data security standards. The A/E shall manage all data and work products according to the terms of the contract.

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END GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

FC 145: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

1. PROJECT MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW

The A/E shall manage its self-performed work and coordinate all subconsultant activity to include quality, accuracy and consistency of plans, administration of invoices, and monthly progress reports. The A/E shall coordinate with local entities, as applicable. The A/E’s project management functions shall include:

A. General Coordination, Meetings and Conferences

B. Quality Assurance and Quality Control

C. Planning and Scheduling

D. Progress Tracking and Reporting

E. Invoicing and Cost Control

F. Risk Management

G. Resiliency and Sustainability

H. Subconsultant Management

I. Data Management

2. GENERAL COORDINATION, MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES

The A/E shall:

A. Provide general coordination among project team members on administrative and technical issues.

B. Attend a Project “kick-off” meeting held by HCTRA and the HDC GEC.

C. Attend coordination and interim progress review meetings with the HDC GEC on an as-needed basis. At a minimum, anticipate a project coordination and progress meeting each month. Also, note that meetings may be more frequent at certain points in the project, to facilitate the progression of design.

D. Prepare and distribute meeting minutes within five working days after each project-related meeting.

E. Meet as needed with sub-consultants and other HDC Program Team Members.

F. Meet on a regular basis with the HDC GEC to review project progress.

G. Prepare, distribute, and archive all electronic correspondence.

H. Prepare, distribute, and file all written correspondence.

I. Document phone calls, conference calls, and Teams meetings.

J. Coordinate the work with and between team members.

K. Be responsible for internal documentation and administration of project files.

L. Prepare a letter of transmittal to accompany each document submittal to the HDC GEC. At a minimum, the letter of transmittal must include the Project Name, HCTRA’s Project Number, PO Number, and where applicable the project limits and work authorization number.

M. Where applicable and in preparation for construction contract award,

1. A/E shall attend Pre-Bid Conference and assist HCTRA in conducting conferences.

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2. Prepare Pre-Bid Conference meeting minutes, including written responses to oral and written inquiries received before and during the conference, within two working days after the conference.

3. Assist in the preparation of Addenda to interpret, clarify, and/or amend the Contract Documents.

4. Prepare a set of Conformed Documents-Contract Drawings and Specifications, revised to incorporate all Addenda changes made during the Bidding Phase.

5. The A/E shall tabulate the bids and submit a bid analysis summary to HCTRA within 3 days of bid opening.

6. The A/E shall provide a recommendation for the award of a contract or rejection of bids within 3 days of bid opening.

7. Assist HCTRA in pre-qualifying manufacturers/suppliers for alternative products.

N. Once the scope of work for PS&E preparation is completed or the project’s construction bid phase is completed, all electronic files shall be delivered to HCTRA within 30 days of written request in conformance with the latest version of the HCTRA’s document and electronic file control procedures.

O. The A/E shall also provide Construction Phase services, including coordinating with HCTRA’s Resident Engineer (RE)/Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) team, and updating project documents with construction as-built information.

3. QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL

A. The A/E shall comply with current HCTRA Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) Policy, HCTRA plan requirements, and HDC GEC Quality Plan.

B. For each deliverable, the A/E shall provide evidence of their internal QA/QC review and check print.

C. HCTRA may reject the actual deliverable should the A/E fail to provide the evidence of quality control. A submittal returned to the A/E for this reason is not a submittal for purposes of the submission schedule.

D. The A/E shall clearly label each document submitted for quality assurance as an internal check print document.

E. The A/E shall perform QA and QC on all data collection procedures, data, and products prior to delivery to

HCTRA.

F. If, at any time, while reviewing a submittal it becomes apparent to the HDC GEC or HCTRA that the submittal contains errors, omissions, or inconsistencies, they may cease its review and immediately return the submittal to the A/E for appropriate action by the A/E. A submittal returned to the A/E for this reason is not a submittal for purposes of the submission schedule.

4. PLANNING AND SCHEDULING

A. The A/E shall prepare a time schedule using the latest version of Primavera software or HCTRA approved alternate program. HDC GEC approval of alternate scheduling program is required prior to its use in lieu of Primavera.

B. The schedules shall indicate tasks, subtasks, critical dates, milestones, deliverables, and review requirements in a format that depicts the interdependence of the various items. For roadway or similar projects, the activities in the schedule shall be grouped by Project Scope Task and Function Code.

C. The A/E’s design time schedule shall be prepared at a level of detail that is suitable for monitoring the progress of project activities and deliverables towards each submittal milestone. The A/E shall maintain the design time schedule and submit an updated version of the schedule with each monthly progress report.

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D. The A/E’s schedule shall show milestone submittals and final project completion phases.

E. A baseline schedule shall be created and submitted for approval. The subsequent progress schedules shall be updated monthly, and any updates shall be reported against the baseline. Any variance from the baseline shall be accompanied with an explanation in the monthly report, along with a recovery plan.

F. Changes or adjustments to the schedule caused by delays in tasks or reviews will be discussed with the HDC GEC. The A/E shall advise the HDC GEC in writing if the A/E is not able to meet a scheduled milestone date.

G. The baseline schedules and subsequent updates shall be submitted to the HDC GEC as part of the A/E’s monthly report in PDF format (11x17) and as a file in its native format (e.g. .XER).

H. The A/E shall assist HDC GEC and HCTRA personnel in interpreting the schedules.

I. The A/E’s time schedule shall be cost-loaded at the Function Code or Project Scope Task level, sufficient for high-level cash flow projections for the project.

5. PROGRESS TRACKING AND REPORTING

A. The A/E shall submit a monthly written progress report to HCTRA through the HDC GEC Program Manager using the current HCTRA monthly reporting template, regardless of whether the A/E is invoicing for that month.

B. The A/E’s written progress report shall describe by Project Scope Task/Function Code the activities performed during the reporting period, activities planned for the following period, problems encountered, and actions taken to remedy them. The report shall include a listing of any scope, cost, or schedule risk, which may impact the project.

C. The report shall present the overall status of the project, including a physical percent complete and invoiced percent complete by Project Scope Task / Function Code.

D. An updated project schedule, current through the date of the progress report, shall be submitted with the monthly report.

6. INVOICING AND COST CONTROL

A. The A/E shall submit a monthly invoice for services performed in accordance with the scope of work. The A/E’s monthly invoice shall be prepared and submitted using the current HCTRA template for professional services.

B. Project invoices shall be broken down by Project Scope Task and/or Function Code, as applicable to the Project.

Tracking of project costs shall be shown in the project invoices, including percent invoiced to date of the authorized budget and of the overall contract amount.

C. Each monthly invoice shall be accompanied by a monthly report, which shall show the work performed during the month by Project Scope Task and/or Function Code, as well as the physical percent complete and financial percent complete by Project Scope Task and/or Function Code.

D. The A/E’s monthly report shall be sufficiently detailed to support HCTRA’s review and approval of the A/E’s monthly invoice. Failure to provide an acceptable monthly report shall be sufficient for a rejection of the A/E’s invoice by HCTRA. Additional requirements for preparing and submitting monthly invoices and monthly reports are included in the applicable HCTRA templates.

E. Where applicable, the A/E’s invoice shall include subconsultant(s) invoice(s). The A/E shall review and approve any subconsultant’s invoice prior to inclusion in the A/E's monthly invoice.

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F. Where applicable, final payment to the A/E will be contingent upon HCTRA’s receipt and confirmation that electronic project files function properly, are formatted in accordance with project requirements, and all review comments are addressed.

7. RISK MANAGEMENT

A. Project risks will be actively managed during the project. The A/E shall maintain a risk register that identifies and quantifies any risk that could impact the project scope, cost, or schedule.

B. At a minimum, the risk register will list each risk that is identified, indicate the estimated impact of each risk to the project cost or schedule, a likelihood percentage of the risk materializing, and steps that can be taken to mitigate or eliminate the risk.

C. The risk register shall be updated and incorporated into the A/E’s Monthly Report. Any changes to the register, in terms of new risk events or change in risk outlook, shall be clearly identified, and reported as part of the monthly report.

D. Where applicable the A/E shall participate in risk workshops to update the risk register.

8. RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY

A. HCTRA’s resiliency and sustainability goals include ensuring that new construction and maintenance of existing assets integrate best practices in resilience and sustainability standards, with the purpose of improving the capacity of our community to prevent, withstand, respond or adapt to, and recover from disruptions.

B. The A/E shall actively look for resilient and sustainable design elements and innovative ideas for the project. The A/E shall document their work towards these goals and be prepared to meet with HCTRA to discuss progress of these design elements and ideas.

C. Where applicable, the A/E shall review operations and work products and provide information towards developing and maintaining a monthly Resiliency and Sustainability Report in conjunction with HCTRA staff.

END FC145

FC 110: FEASIBILITY STUDIES

1. DATA COLLECTION AND FIELD RECONNAISSANCE

The A/E shall collect, review, and evaluate data described below. The A/E shall notify HCTRA in writing whenever the A/E finds disagreement with the information or documents.

A. Data, if available, from HCTRA, Harris County Engineering, Harris County Flood Control, Local Governmental

Jurisdictions, Utility, Levee and Water Supply Districts including “as-built plans”, existing schematics, right-of-way maps, Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) mapping, existing cross sections, existing planimetric mapping, environmental documents, existing channel and drainage easement data, existing traffic counts, accident data, Bridge Inspection records, Project Management Information system (PMIS) data, identified endangered species, identified hazardous material sites, current unit bid price information, current special provisions, special specifications, and standard drawings.

B. Documents for existing and proposed development along proposed route from local municipalities and local ordinances related to project development.

C. Plans and documents from appropriate municipalities and agencies (i.e. utility plans, community/small area plans, etc.).

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D. Flood plain information and studies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), local municipalities, and other governmental agencies.

E. Conduct field reconnaissance with HCTRA PM and collect data including a photographic record of notable existing features.

2. DESIGN CRITERIA

The A/E shall develop the design criteria based on the controlling factors specified by HCTRA and any other set criteria as set forth in PS&E Preparation Manual, Roadway Design Manual, Hydraulic Design Manual, and other deemed necessary State-approved manuals. The A/E shall obtain written concurrence from HCTRA prior to proceeding with a design if any questions arise during the design process regarding the applicability of design criteria.

3. PRELIMINARY COST ESTIMATES

The A/E shall develop a preliminary cost estimate using the Average Low Bid Unit Price. The A/E shall estimate the total project cost including preliminary engineering, final engineering, right-of-way (ROW) acquisition, environmental compliance and mitigation, construction, utility relocation, and construction engineering inspection (CEI).

4. DESIGN CONCEPT CONFERENCE

In accordance with the Project Development Process Manual, the A/E, in cooperation with HCTRA, shall plan, attend, and document the Design Concept Conference (DCC) to be held prior to the 30 percent milestone submittal. In preparation for the DCC, the A/E shall complete a Design Summary Report to serve as a checklist for the minimum required design considerations. The conference will provide for a brainstorming session in which decision makers, stakeholders and technical personnel may discuss and agree on:

A. Landscape Architecture and drainage design parameters B. Engineering and environmental constraints C. Project development schedule D. Other issues as identified by HCTRA E. Identify any Design Exceptions and Waivers F. Preliminary Construction Cost Estimate

5. GEOTECHNICAL BORINGS AND INVESTIGATIONS:

The Geotechnical Engineer shall determine the location of proposed soil borings for bridge design, embankment settlement analysis, retaining walls, slope stability and along storm drain alignment in accordance with the latest edition of TxDOT’s Geotechnical Manual. HCTRA will review and provide comments for a boring layout submitted by the Engineer showing the general location and depths of the proposed borings. Once the Engineer receives HCTRA’s review comments they shall perform soil borings (field work), soil testing and prepare the boring logs in accordance with the latest edition of the TxDOT’s Geotechnical Manual and TxDOT Houston District’s procedures and design guidelines.

A. The Engineer shall perform all geotechnical work in accordance with the latest version of TxDOT’s Geotechnical

Manual. All testing shall be performed in accordance with the latest version of TxDOT’s Manual of Test Procedures. American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) test procedures can be used only in the absence of the State’s procedures. All soil classification shall be done in accordance with the Unified Soil Classification System.

B. If applicable, the Engineer shall perform any retaining wall analyses to include the settlement analysis. This analysis must include the computation of the factor of safety for bearing capacity, global stability, overturning and sliding. In addition, the Engineer shall include allowable bearing pressure, passive earth pressure, friction factor, settlement analysis (consolidation report) and lateral earth pressure for the retaining walls. If applicable, the Engineer shall perform soil borings, rock coring, coring for pavement removal items, piezometric readings, testing and analysis to include slope stability analysis, settlement analysis, and foundation design for retaining walls, overhead sign structures, along proposed storm sewer alignments, bridges, embankments, and any

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C. The Engineer shall provide a signed, sealed and dated geotechnical report which contains, but is not limited to, soil boring locations, boring logs, laboratory test results, generalized subsurface conditions, ground water conditions, piezometer data, analyses and recommendations for settlement and slope stability of the earthen embankments, skin friction tables and design capacity curves including skin friction and point bearing. The skin friction tables, and design capacity curves must be present for piling and drilled shaft foundation.

D. If applicable, the Engineer shall perform scour analysis to include Grain Size distribution curves with D50 value.

E. The Engineer shall sign, seal and date soil boring sheets to be used in the PS&E package. The preparation of soil boring sheets must be in accordance with TxDOT Houston District Standards.

F. Foundation Studies: The Engineer shall coordinate with HCTRA to determine the location of soil borings to be drilled along the retaining wall alignments. The soil borings shall extend a minimum of 35 feet below the footing elevation or deeper as soil conditions warrant. Spacing of soil boring shall not exceed 500 feet. The Engineer shall provide a boring layout for HCTRA’s review and comment.

G. The Engineer shall incorporate soil boring data sheets prepared, signed, sealed, and dated by the Geotechnical Engineer. The soil boring sheets shall be in accordance with TxDOT’s WINCOR software or approved alternate software. WINCOR software can be found on the Texas Department of Transportation website.

END FC110

FUNCTION CODE 120 – SOCIAL/ECON/ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

1. INFORMAL MEETINGS

The A/E shall provide technical assistance with the preparation of exhibits for, and minutes of, informal meetings with the public to discuss the pending impacts to neighborhoods and businesses due to roadway shutdowns, detours, and access restrictions, or others, as deemed necessary by HCTRA. Assistance (materials, preparation, attendance, etc.) may be required for a formal public meeting or hearing.

2. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

Based upon the issues (as determined by HCTRA), additional public involvement may be required. If required, public involvement may include:

A. small group meetings with local officials B. stakeholder meetings C. public meetings D. public hearings

The A/E shall use the following methods for the exchange of information.

A. Small Group and Stakeholder Meetings - The meetings shall be attended by the A/E, at the request of HCTRA, to informally discuss the project. The meetings may be conducted by HCTRA or A/E. Requests for such meetings will be coordinated through HCTRA prior to establishing a meeting date and time. The A/E shall be responsible for providing the meeting location and contacting the small group members and stakeholders. The A/E must plan to attend each meeting.

B. Public Meetings and Hearings - The A/E shall assist HCTRA and attend the public meetings or hearing as requested by HCTRA and aid in gathering and summarizing input from the public.

The A/E shall prepare materials and perform tasks to facilitate the public meeting or hearing. The A/E shall coordinate with HDC GEC, as needed, in performance of the following:

1. Prepare for and attend meetings with HCTRA to discuss public meeting or hearing planning. Provide personnel to conduct the public meeting or hearing (maximum of six (6) people).

i. Identify and secure the venue for the public meeting or hearing and coordinate the logistics in support of the meeting or hearing. Visit venue to confirm accommodations for meeting or hearing. Prepare

Page | 12 facility layout showing arrangement of public meeting or hearing activities and information tables.

ii. Prepare, update, and maintain a mailing list that includes adjacent property owners, and others identified by HCTRA to be used for the meeting notice.

iii. Prepare and distribute meeting notices to the public elected officials, adjacent property owners, and others identified by HCTRA, 30 days prior to the public meeting or hearing to notify them of the public meeting or hearing.

iv. Prepare, publish, and obtain affidavits of publication, in accordance with the State and FHWA requirements. Notices shall be published in local newspapers, including one Spanish newspaper if requested by the State/HCTRA, 30 days prior to the public meeting to notify the public in advance of the meeting or hearing. If special communication needs or accommodations needs, such as interpreters or accessibility requests, are received, HCTRA will be responsible for meeting those needs.

HCTRA will be responsible for notifying public elected officials of the public meeting or hearing.

v. Prepare sign-in sheets, comment forms, handouts, and pre-printed nametags for the staff. This task assumes that handouts and other material prepared for the meeting will not be produced in Spanish.

vi. Identify and plan for equipment needs (e.g., easels, chairs, tables, and audio-visual) including transportation, set-up, and breakdown.

vii. Provide and coordinate public meeting or hearing informational and directional signs (registration/sign-in, written comment station, and directional arrows for traffic flow)

viii. Provide a uniformed police officer at the public meeting or hearing.

2. Prepare materials for the public meeting or hearing.

3. If requested by HCTRA, provide a summary report following guidance for public meeting or hearing documentation provided on TxDOT’s Environmental Toolkit that will include copies of notices, photographs, handouts, sign-in sheets, comment forms, letters, and a comment response matrix. There shall be one draft and one final public meeting or hearing summary report in Word and PDF formats submitted to HCTRA electronically that includes all materials distributed and presented at meetings.

4. A Public Engagement Summary will be provided to include who has been engaged, timeline, advertising public meetings mechanism, feedback themes, etc. This summary shall include infographics summarizing the engagement.

5. If requested by HCTRA, assist HCTRA with the responses to comments raised during the designated comment period of the public meeting or hearing.

6. Environmental Permits Issues and Commitments (EPIC) Sheets: The A/E shall create and complete EPIC sheets per information provided by HCTRA. These sheets must be signed, sealed, and dated by the A/E as indicated in signature block.

3. ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION

HCTRA shall provide the draft and final environmental document, if available, to the A/E for review and implementation into the PS&E package. The A/E shall consider the constructability issues as it relates to the environmental impacts.

HCTRA may request the A/E to prepare the appropriate environmental documentation for the project. Types of environmental documents include categorical exclusions, environmental assessments, and re-evaluation consultations and memos, as well as associated technical reports and permits. Each environmental document provided by the A/E shall have a deliverable. The deliverables shall summarize the methods used for the environmental services and the results achieved. The summary of results shall be sufficiently detailed to provide a satisfactory basis for thorough review by HCTRA and other agencies with regulatory oversight. All deliverables shall meet regulatory requirements for legal sufficiency and shall follow the latest guidance and format found on TxDOT Environmental Affairs Division’s Environmental Compliance Toolkits.

A. Quality Assurance & Quality Control Review: The A/E shall perform quality assurance and quality control (QA and QC) reviews of environmental documents and other supporting environmental documentation to determine whether the documents conform with the following:

Page | 13

Current Environmental Compliance Toolkits published by the State’s Environmental Affairs Division in effect as of the date of receipt of the documents or documentation to be reviewed.

1. Current state and federal laws, regulations, policies, guidance, and agreements between HCTRA and other state or federal agencies; and

2. FHWA and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidelines contained in “Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents, A Report of the Joint AASHTO and American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Committee in Cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration” (May 2006) for:

i. Readability, and

ii. Use of evidence and data in documents to support conclusions.

Upon request by HCTRA, the A/E shall provide documentation that the QA and QC reviews were performed by qualified staff.

B. Deliverables shall contain all data acquired during the environmental service. All deliverables shall be written to be understood by the public and must be in accordance with TxDOT’s Environmental Compliance Toolkits, current guidelines, policies, and procedures.

C. Electronic versions of each deliverable must be written in software which is compatible with HCTRA’s software and must be provided in a changeable format for future use by HCTRA. The A/E shall supplement all hard copy deliverables with electronic copies in searchable Adobe Acrobat™ (.pdf) format unless another format is specified by HCTRA. Each deliverable shall be a single, searchable .pdf file that mirrors the layout and appearance of the physical deliverable. The A/E shall deliver the electronic files on thumb drives or via electronic file transfer.

D. When the environmental service being provided by the A/E is to apply for a permit (e.g., United States Coast Guard (USCG) or United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the permit and all supporting documentation shall be the deliverable.

E. Submittal of Deliverables

1. Deliverables shall consist of reports of environmental services performed in addition to the appropriate environmental document.

2. The deliverables shall go through an internal quality review before being sent to HCTRA.

3. All deliverables must comply with all applicable state and federal environmental laws, regulations, and procedures.

F. HCTRA may provide its comments and other agency comments on draft deliverables to the A/E. The A/E shall revise the deliverable:

1. To include any comments, findings, agreements, or determinations (e.g., wetlands, endangered species consultation, Section 106, Section 4(f)) required for the transportation activity as specified by HCTRA.

2. To incorporate the results of public involvement and agency coordination.

3. To reflect mitigation measures resulting from comments received or changes in the Transportation Activity.

4. And include with the revised document a comment response form (matrix) in the format provided by HCTRA.

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4. ENVIRONMENTAL EXHIBITS

THE A/E SHALL PREPARE THE NECESSARY EXHIBITS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY TO BE PERFORMED BY OTHERS. THE A/E SHALL COORDINATE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT’S PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE

PREPARATION OF THESE EXHIBITS.

5. TECHNICAL REPORTS

The A/E may be required to produce and submit draft and final versions of Technical Reports prior to developing an environmental document. HCTRA will determine which reports will be necessary for any given project. Examples include but are not limited to:

A. Wetlands B. Biology C. Historic D. Archeology E. Air Quality/Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) F. Noise G. Socioeconomics H. Public Involvement I. Hazardous Materials Impact Studies J. Indirect and Cumulative Impact Analysis

6. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

The A/E shall adhere to the content of the following reference documents in the development of the assigned documentation:

A. The TxDOT Online Environmental Toolkit B. Environmental Compliance Toolkits C. HDC Urban Design Framework

7. DELIVERABLES

A. Environmental Technical Reports B. Environmental Document – CE, EA, Documented Re-evaluation, and permit or both, as determined by HCTRA.

C. Materials for public meetings/hearings D. Draft and final public meeting and hearing documentation packet (Word and PDF) E. Public engagement summaries

END FC120

FUNCTION CODE 130 – RIGHT OF WAY (ROW) SURVEY DATA

All standards, procedures and equipment used by the A/E’s Surveyor shall be such that the results of the survey will be in accordance with Board Rule 663.15, as promulgated by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

The A/E shall locate the existing ROW within the project limits and prepare a layout map for the project.

1. RIGHT-OF-WAY MAP

The A/E shall review and evaluate the proposed or existing right-of-way map to verify that all construction staging, and alignment considerations have been accounted for. The A/E shall make every effort to prevent detours and utility relocations from extending beyond the proposed right-of-way lines. The A/E shall notify HCTRA in writing if it is necessary to obtain additional construction easements or rights-of-entry and shall provide justification for such action. The A/E shall be responsible for identifying and delineating any temporary construction easements in areas

Page | 15 outside the ROW. HCTRA will secure the necessary legal instruments.

2. RIGHT-OF-WAY SURVEY

This includes the performance of surveys to establish land boundaries, preparation of parcel descriptions and parcel plats, and the preparation of right-of-way (ROW) maps.

The Surveyor shall prepare:

A. Boundary surveys and create Property Descriptions (metes and bounds plus plats);

B. Create GIS files C. Traditional ROW map as requested by HCTRA

3. RIGHT-OF-WAY MAPPING – TRADITIONAL ROW MAP

If requested in a work authorization the Surveyor shall conduct traditional ROW mapping including ground surveying and preparation of parcel maps, legal descriptions (also known as metes and bounds descriptions), and ROW maps.

Purpose. The purpose of traditional ROW mapping is:

1. To prepare mapping documents suitable for use in the acquisition of real property and the issuance of a title policy

2. To prepare a map of a resurvey of existing ROW here it is necessary to update or redefine ROW lines.

Procedure. All standards, procedures, and equipment used by the Surveyor must be such that, at a minimum, the results of the survey is in compliance with the precision and accuracy requirements set forth by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS) rules.

1. Abstract Map. The Surveyor shall prepare an Abstract Map sufficient to determine the following:

a. All interests of public record held in the land to be acquired.

b. The total record holdings to be acquired from an owner contiguous to the land.

c. All interests in land held in common to be acquired (shopping mall parking lots, subdivision reserves, etc.)

d. All improvements proposed by other agencies that might have a bearing on project development

e. All called monuments, bearings, and distances in recorded information.

2. ROW Map. The Surveyor shall field locate items such as: property corners, existing ROW markers, improvements, and visible utilities. The Surveyor shall verify and update the planimetric file as directed by

HCTRA.

Using HCTRA’s standard title, index, and plan sheets, the Surveyor shall prepare a ROW map for each proposed ROW project. A ROW map must include a title sheet, an index sheet, a survey control index sheet, a horizontal control data sheet, and sufficient plan sheets to cover the proposed project. If requested by HCTRA, the Engineer shall prepare additional sheets.

3. Property Descriptions. The Surveyor shall prepare a Property Description for each parcel (or tract for surplus property) consisting of two parts: (1) a metes and bounds description of the property and (2) a parcel plat.

Each part of a Property Description must be signed and sealed by a RPLS.

a. Metes and Bounds Description. The surveyor shall prepare a metes and bounds description for each parcel of land to be acquired. The Surveyor shall use the HCTRA standard format for metes and bounds

Page | 16 descriptions. Metes and bounds descriptions must be submitted in Microsoft Word format and must include the following information:

(1) State, county, and original land grant survey within which the proposed parcel of land to be acquired is located.

(2)…