STRUCTURAL DESIGN MANUAL BRIDGES

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is procuring consulting services for the development of a comprehensive Structural Design Manual (SDM) for bridges through Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation 5400019468. The project requires a qualified consultant to create an AASHTO LRFD-based manual addressing transportation-related structural design, including vehicular and pedestrian bridges, culverts, walls, and ancillary structures. Key deliverables include a detailed work plan with phased submittals, comprehensive literature review of AASHTO publications, and training overview sessions upon manual completion. The project demands significant technical expertise, with specific qualification requirements: the project manager must have a minimum of ten years of bridge engineering experience using AASHTO LRFD specifications and five years of project management experience, while the lead engineer must have fifteen years or more of bridge structural engineering experience with proven success in writing at least two bridge design manuals. Proposal submission deadlines were amended multiple times, with the final due date set for April 15, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., and award notification originally scheduled for May 15, 2020. The contract will have an initial one-year term beginning May 28, 2020, with potential for two additional one-year renewals, creating a maximum contract period of three years ending May 27, 2023.

The solicitation does not specify any specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Offerors are required to be registered as a single, distinct legal entity with a South Carolina vendor number, which can be obtained through the state procurement website. No incumbent vendor information is provided in the documentation. Proposals must be submitted electronically through http://www.procurement.sc.gov, with offerors required to hold their offers open for a minimum of thirty calendar days after the opening date. While the RFP does not identify a specific contract value or budget range, it requires offerors to submit current rate cards or schedules as separate attachments with their proposals. The rate cards must reflect fully loaded rates including direct labor, overhead, and fee, representing the total billable amount to SCDOT. Proposals will be evaluated based on the consultant's demonstrated expertise, proposed work plan, and ability to meet the technical requirements of developing a comprehensive structural design manual for bridges.