Railroad Joint Inspections

The City of Madison Traffic Engineering Department has initiated a Request for Bids (RFB #13046-0-2024-TJ) for Joint Railroad Inspections services across fifteen specific railroad crossing locations in Madison, Wisconsin. The procurement seeks qualified consultants to conduct comprehensive railroad joint inspections, with a three-phase approach including document research on preemption system operations, review of railroad event log data, and field testing coordination with multiple stakeholders. Bidders must demonstrate expertise with WisDOT railroad preemption and inspection forms and the WisDOT Traffic Engineering Operations Safety Manual. The inspections will require coordination between consultant representatives, railroad representatives, a City of Madison traffic engineer, and a traffic signal field technician, focusing exclusively on railroad preemption system evaluation. Key submission details include bid due date of Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 2:00 PM CST, with preliminary questions due by May 1, 2024, and answers posted on May 3, 2024. The solicitation requires all-inclusive, not-to-exceed fixed fees covering all direct and indirect expenses, with electronic bid submissions limited to 20MB via email.

The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though it does include standard City of Madison affirmative action requirements for contractors with 15 or more employees conducting $50,000 or more in annual business. Bidders must provide comprehensive insurance coverage, including commercial general liability, professional liability, automobile liability, and workers' compensation. The recent bid summary revealed two respondents: Bloom Companies LLC with a total bid of $42,000 ($2,800 per location) and Mead & Hunt Inc. with a winning bid of $30,000 ($2,000 per location), ultimately awarded to Mead & Hunt. The contract appears to have a total budget range between $30,000 and $42,000, with pricing structured as a per-location fee across the fifteen designated railroad crossing sites. No specific contract duration or renewal options were explicitly detailed in the procurement documents. Contractors must acknowledge familiarity with required documentation and safety protocols specific to Wisconsin Department of Transportation standards.