Deschutes River Trail South �? ? Refinement Study

The Bend Park and Recreation District is soliciting proposals for the Deschutes River Trail South Refinement Study, a comprehensive architectural and engineering project located in Bend, Oregon. The procurement seeks a qualified consultant team to develop and evaluate alternative trail alignments and bridge locations for a segment of the planned Deschutes River Trail, with a focus on preliminary engineering feasibility analyses. Key deliverables include schematic design, order of magnitude cost estimates, a summary of regulatory frameworks and permitting requirements, right of way acquisition needs, and environmental impact assessments. The project is structured to occur between October 1, 2025, and April 1, 2027, with proposals due on August 28, 2025, at 2:00 PM Pacific time. Evaluation criteria will be comprehensive, with up to 100 points allocated for technical proposals, 25 points for presentations and interviews, and 15-18 points for fee proposals. Required qualifications include expertise in public participation processes, multi-use trail design, bridge design, and environmental review processes, with mandatory professional licensing from the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying. A non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting was held on August 6, 2025, to provide potential bidders with additional project context and opportunities for clarification.

The procurement does not explicitly indicate specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The estimated project budget is $250,000, which will fund a multi-phase study aimed at completing the southern portion of the Deschutes River Trail while minimizing environmental impacts and enhancing non-motorized access to the Deschutes National Forest. The project area encompasses several local parks including Skyline, Alpine, River Rim, Pine Ridge, Hollygrape, and Cinder Cone Natural Area, with trail segments spanning approximately 0.5 miles. While no incumbent vendors are specifically mentioned, the pre-proposal meeting sign-in sheet indicates interest from multiple engineering and landscape architecture firms such as HNA, SXF Land Services, Ashley & Vance Engineering, Keller Associates, Green Works, Kittelson & Associates, and Parametrix. The project will require integration with existing trail infrastructure and careful consideration of public and federal lands, including bordering Deschutes National Forest properties. A sample Professional Services Agreement suggests that the selected consultant will be required to maintain comprehensive insurance coverage and adhere to stringent professional standards.