Traction Power Substation

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) of Harris County, Texas is issuing a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFI) for Design-Build services related to Traction Power Substation hardware replacement and control system updates. This procurement seeks qualified firms to provide expressions of interest for a Progressive Design-Build (PDB) delivery model that will integrate hardware manufacturers and installers into the design process for a project currently at approximately 30% completion. Respondents must submit completed Exhibit A (Responder Information), Exhibit B (RFI Questionnaire), and Exhibit C (Progress Drawing Exhibits) through METRO's Bonfire hub and one hardcopy submission to the Procurement Division at 1900 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002. The RFI questionnaire addresses critical project delivery considerations including market interest in the PDB delivery method, optimal design completion levels for pricing, two-phase PDB structure preferences, off-ramp provisions allowing METRO to terminate after Phase 1, risk allocation between owner and design-builder, and electrical/systems expertise availability. Respondents must provide detailed information on outage strategy recommendations, commissioning and testing duration, long-lead equipment identification, constructability field investigations, and realistic schedule durations for preconstruction, procurement, installation, and commissioning phases. The deadline for submitting bidder questions is May 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, with responses published by May 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., and RFI responses are due by May 28, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. The technical scope includes design and replacement of AC and DC panels, rectifier units, circuit breakers, transformers, and SCADA control systems based on detailed schematic and single-line diagrams provided in the RFI documentation.

No Small Business (SB) goal percentage is specified for this procurement. Prospective respondents must register as vendors in METRO's SAP Procurement System through the METRO Supplier Self-Registration Page to receive notifications of upcoming opportunities and facilitate payment processing through the Ariba system. The RFI documentation does not identify any incumbent vendors, current contractors, or existing infrastructure requiring integration, though the project's advancement to 30% completion suggests preliminary design work has been conducted. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the available documentation; however, the scope of hardware replacement and control system updates for a traction power substation suggests a substantial capital project. The technical deliverables must interface with existing AC and DC power distribution, rectification, circuit protection, and SCADA monitoring and control systems as detailed in the provided drawings and specifications. Interested firms should note that this RFI is a preliminary solicitation to gauge market interest and gather technical input; the RFI does not guarantee that a design-build contract will be issued.