Design of Jake Gaither Community Pedestrian and Street Safety Project (PASS)

The City of Tallahassee has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) RFSQ-086-25-CW for engineering design services for the Jake Gaither Community Pedestrian and Street Safety (PASS) Project, funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program. The project seeks a qualified engineering firm to design safety improvements for infrastructure within the historically disadvantaged Jake Gaither Community, focusing on roadways including Ridge Road, N. Ridge Road, Springsax Road, Bragg Drive, Creek Road, Bunche Avenue, and Tanner Drive. Required deliverables include comprehensive engineering services such as surveying, right-of-way verification, sidewalk and roadway design, environmental support, permitting, utility coordination, and construction bid document preparation. Respondents must have a team member prequalified in FDOT Group 3.1, Minor Highway Design, and will be evaluated based on six criteria including executive summary, experience and staffing plan, resumes, past performance, and project understanding. Key submission dates include a mandatory pre-proposal meeting on 7/15/2025, questions due by 7/18/2025, and final responses due by 8/07/2025 at 4:00 PM, with the project divided into a 14-month Base Phase and a 22-month Phase 1.

The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though the project specifically targets improvements in a historically disadvantaged community. The project will be awarded through a competitive selection process using the Consultants' Competitive Negotiations Act (CCNA), with the City reserving the right to shortlist top-ranked respondents and potentially conduct interviews. In the most recent Notice of Intended Decision, five engineering firms were scored, with George & Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc. receiving the highest score of 83.90, followed by Michael Baker International, Inc. at 81.40. The project will implement Federal Highway Administration's Proven Safety Countermeasures, including walkways, crosswalk visibility enhancements, roadway design improvements, clear zone mitigation, and enhanced pavement markings. While specific budget details are not explicitly stated, the project is fully funded through a federal grant, with the ultimate goal of creating complete streets that prioritize safety improvements benefiting all roadway users. Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency may also leverage the project to include additional improvements like trail connections and sharrows, though these would not be subject to the original grant funding.