Need & Feasibility of Default Traffic Analysis Variables/Traffic Model

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for research services to assess the need and feasibility of developing South Dakota-specific default traffic analysis variables and a statewide travel demand model. The primary objective is to address SDDOT's current reliance on national or software-provided default traffic analysis variables that do not accurately reflect South Dakota conditions, including rural-urban differences, unique travel patterns, and local driver behavior. Deliverables include a comprehensive literature review, interviews with SDDOT personnel, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), municipalities, counties, and other state highway agencies, assessment of data readiness and quality, and four technical memoranda addressing literature review findings, default traffic analysis variables for commonly used tools (HCS, Synchro, CORSIM, VISSIM, CUBE, TransCAD), statewide travel demand model feasibility, and implementation scenarios. Eligible proposers include colleges, universities, research institutes, foundations, consultants, and federal, state, and local agencies with demonstrated capability and experience in traffic modeling and analysis. The project has a 24-month duration with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2026, and proposals must be submitted via email in PDF format not exceeding 14MB to andy.vandel@state.sd.us and danny.doorn@state.sd.us by 5:00 pm CDT on Friday, June 12, 2026. Evaluation criteria include problem statement clarity, research plan feasibility, staffing qualifications, facility adequacy, quality and data management procedures, budget reasonableness, and past performance. All proposals must include an artificial intelligence use statement detailing AI tools used in proposal preparation and expected AI applications during project execution, must comply with Section 508 accessibility requirements and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Version 2.1 Level AA, and must remain valid for a minimum of 120 days after submission.

No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned in the RFP documentation. The procurement is open to public, private, and non-profit organizations meeting the stated eligibility criteria, with no restrictions on organization type beyond demonstrated capability in traffic modeling and analysis. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. SDDOT will provide access to available data, traffic analysis resources, and participate in technical panel meetings and reviews, and the agency maintains existing travel demand models through the Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Sioux City MPOs that may require coordination and integration. The total available funding for this research project is $150,000, with payment structured upon satisfactory completion of specific deliverables: 20 percent upon completion of the literature review and interviews technical memorandum, 20 percent upon the default traffic analysis variables technical memorandum, 15 percent upon the statewide travel demand model feasibility memorandum, 15 percent upon the implementation scenarios technical memorandum, and the remaining 30 percent upon completion of all tasks. Budget submissions must not exceed the $150,000 maximum, must be presented by fiscal year, and must comply with the AASHTO Uniform Audit and Accounting Guide for indirect cost calculations.