North Temple Escalator Design

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is procuring a multidisciplinary architectural and engineering design team through a Request for Qualifications (RFQu) to lead the replacement of escalators at the North Temple TRAX and Frontrunner Station in Salt Lake City, Utah. The scope of work encompasses project management, electrical, structural, staging, and coordination with customer experience and public involvement to minimize impacts to the traveling public, with deliverables including schematic design, design development, and construction documents. The project must be sufficiently designed by January 2027 to permit equipment procurement, with construction completion required by December 2027, and the project start date is July 15, 2026, with a Notice to Proceed anticipated by August 2026. The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) deadline is June 3, 2026, with questions due by May 15, 2026 and the last date for addenda issuance May 21, 2026. The selection will be conducted on a qualifications-based process with evaluation weighted as follows: Team and Key Personnel Qualifications including Organization Chart (35 points), Project Understanding and Approach to the Work (35 points), and Past Experience and Quality of Similar Work (30 points), for a total of 100 points. The most qualified consultant will be invited to submit cost proposals within five business days of notification, and the selected consultant will negotiate a Professional Services Agreement with fixed labor rates and Not-to-Exceed (NTE) amounts for design services.

No Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal has been established for this project, as the DBE Program has been temporarily suspended per Federal Register notice; however, all non-DBE certifications and assurances remain required. Contractors must comply with federal certifications including Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) statements, Buy America and Build America/Buy America certifications, debarment and suspension assurances, and restrictions on lobbying activities for contracts exceeding $100,000. Design contracts with a prime contract value of $2,000,000 or greater must comply with qualified health insurance coverage requirements under Utah Code 17B-2a-818.5, requiring separate written statements of actuarial equivalency from the Utah Insurance Department, a qualified actuary, or an underwriter prior to contract execution. All contractors must comply with UTA's Quality Management Plan, Construction Safety and Security Program Manual, and Federal Transit Administration guidelines. The project is funded with local and federal funds, with strict budget control identified as critical to project success; the Cost Price Form establishes a labor-based cost structure with a fixed fee of 10 percent applied to the subtotal to generate the final total contract cost, though specific budget ranges or award values are not disclosed in the solicitation documents.