Research Program Outreach and Administrative Assistance Services

The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is soliciting proposals for a Research Program Outreach and Administrative Assistance service contract through Request for Proposal R420-25. The one-year contract, with potential renewal for four additional years, seeks a vendor to provide comprehensive research communication and administrative services for the department's research initiatives. Specific deliverables include producing 125 research summaries annually, creating 25 hours of news polls, developing a 30-hour program fact sheet, and managing administrative travel reimbursements for up to 30 states participating in the Midwest Roadside Safety Pooled Fund. The ideal vendor must demonstrate strong technical writing skills, familiarity with Federal Highway Administration State Planning and Research funding rules, and the ability to transform complex research reports into accessible public communications. Key procurement dates include a solicitation release on June 12, 2025, a deadline for written questions on June 27, 2025, and a proposal opening on July 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM Central Time. NDOT will evaluate responses based on the vendor's corporate overview, technical response, and cost sheet, with a primary focus on experience, personnel qualifications, and comprehensive understanding of project requirements.

The solicitation does not explicitly specify set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrict respondent types. Compensation will be structured on a quarterly invoicing basis, with reimbursement for actual hours worked across different deliverable categories and travel expenses. While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the contract requires the selected vendor to coordinate travel reimbursements for state representatives attending an annual meeting at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, ensuring compliance with individual state travel policies. The cost proposal bid sheet indicates that pricing will be determined by fixed hourly rates multiplied by estimated hours for each deliverable category, with travel reimbursement paid upon comprehensive documentation. Although a specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the detailed hourly breakdown suggests flexibility in potential contract value based on actual services rendered. Invoices will require explicit approval from NDOT, with payment contingent on satisfactory completion and acceptance of specified deliverables.