HSR15-108 Request for Qualifications for Environmental Services for the Fresno to Bakersfield Project Section.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority issued Request for Qualifications (RFQ) HSR15-108 for environmental services related to the Fresno to Bakersfield Project Section on January 6, 2016. The procurement seeks a consultant team to provide as-needed environmental and professional services to support environmental compliance for the California High-Speed Rail Program. Specific services include environmental impact analysis, CEQA/NEPA documentation, environmental re-examination, permitting, and environmental compliance during construction. Required deliverables encompass field surveys, noise measurements, document preparation and review, GIS mapping, and technical assessments covering areas such as environmental justice, socioeconomic studies, and land use analyses. The pre-bid conference was held on January 21, 2016, with Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) due by February 12, 2016 at 3:00 PM PST. The evaluation process will involve a two-stage assessment, with 60% weight on the submitted SOQs and 40% weight on subsequent discussions with top-ranked firms. The contract term is five years, with the final award and Notice to Proceed expected in May 2016.

The Authority established a 30 percent Small Business Enterprise (SBE) utilization goal, which includes specific targets of 10 percent for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) and 3 percent for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE). The contract value is not to exceed $4,800,000 and will be financed through a combination of state and federal funding, including contributions from the Federal Railroad Administration and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The project is part of a larger high-speed rail initiative connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim in Phase 1, with future extensions planned to Sacramento and San Diego in Phase 2. The environmental services will cover the Fresno to Bakersfield section, which is approximately 116 miles long and was environmentally cleared in 2014. Consultants will be expected to work in various locations, including the Authority's Fresno office, job sites, and potentially Sacramento, depending on specific task orders.