Construction Management/ Owners Representative

Western Reserve Transit Authority is requesting proposals from qualified firms to provide Owner's Representative services for capital improvement projects anticipated over approximately five years, with proposals due October 30, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. The selected firm must demonstrate knowledge of Federal Transit Administration requirements and grant compliance standards, as projects will utilize federal funding. A conflict-of-interest restriction prohibits the OR consultant and any construction firm controlled or partially owned by the OR from bidding on project construction.

The scope encompasses planning, design, construction administration, and closeout for multiple capital projects including administrative and maintenance building expansion and renovation, warehouse facility improvements, site and grounds improvements, and demolition and construction of a new transit center in downtown Youngstown. The selected OR will manage inspection, coordination, and administration from commencement through substantial completion, final acceptance, and closeout. Required in-house staff include an Owner's Representative/Advisor with a minimum of 10 years of architectural, engineering, and construction industry experience; a construction inspector with a minimum of 5 years of experience; and a construction cost estimator. Minimum Certificate of Insurance coverage is $1 million in general liability and errors and omissions aggregate. The contract structure is task-order based with fees generated from approved hourly rates for specified positions; WRTA prefers lump-sum fees but reserves the right to request hourly time and expense billing. Prior to award, the consultant must submit a proposed rate sheet for WRTA approval.

Evaluation criteria are project understanding and site operations approach (25 points), firm experience and references with emphasis on transit agency and public sector project experience (50 points), and staff qualifications including project manager capabilities (25 points), totaling 100 points. Questions are due October 14, 2026. Public bid opening occurs at WRTA's boardroom on October 30, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., with results posted on the OpenGov procurement portal. Award is anticipated within 90 days of proposal opening. Funding sources include FTA, Ohio Department of Transportation, and WRTA, making all FTA federal requirements applicable to the contract.