59A1395 - On-Call Material Engineering and Testing Services (METS), District 59

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), specifically the Division of Engineering Services, is soliciting Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) for an on-call Materials Engineering and Testing Services (METS) contract in District 59. The procurement seeks qualified consulting firms to provide Quality Management Assessment services, which include comprehensive verification activities such as inspection, sampling, and materials testing for structural materials at fabrication facilities and construction sites throughout California's District 59 counties. Consultants must provide professional and technical services on an as-needed basis, with specific project locations to be identified in individual task orders. Key qualifications include having a Contract Manager with five years of METS contract management experience and ten years of total METS service delivery, along with appropriate professional engineering licenses. The RFQ requires a detailed SOQ submission with seven mandatory sections, including transmittal letters, SF330 forms, staff availability documentation, communication plans, workforce analysis, and civil rights certifications. Questions and answers must be submitted no later than seven business days after RFQ advertisement, with interviews scheduled for February 10, 2026, via WebEx, and cost negotiations planned for the week of March 9, 2026.

No Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation goals are required for this contract. The estimated contract value ranges from $3,345,463 to $5,436,378, with a fixed-price or negotiated structure based on an audited indirect cost rate for contracts exceeding $3,500,000. The contract term is three years, commencing January 16, 2026, and continuing through January 30, 2030, with a 10 percent fee for profit and annual escalation rates of 1.81 percent in Year 1 and 3.62 percent in Years 2 through 4. Consultants must submit complete financial documents within four days of notification and comply with prevailing wage requirements where applicable. The contract includes comprehensive scope coverage for quality control plans, personnel qualifications, deliverable standards, equipment and supplies, safety requirements, and coordination with Caltrans functional units and local agencies. Work may extend up to 30 miles beyond District 59 boundaries into adjoining districts, and selected consultants must establish written codes of business ethics and conduct within 30 days of contract award.