Vision Zero - Vulnerable Road User Plan (VRU)

The City of Columbus Department of Public Service is soliciting professional services proposals for the development of a comprehensive Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Safety Plan through a Request for Proposals (RFP) mechanism with submissions due by May 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time via the Bonfire electronic portal. The project encompasses developing a vulnerable road user safety plan that supplements the existing 2023-2028 action plan, establishing a pedestrian priority network, and creating a new 5-year Safe Routes to School District-Wide Travel Plan, with focus on pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycle riders, and demographic subgroups with traffic safety vulnerabilities through a data-informed and equitable approach. Key deliverables include comprehensive safety analysis, equitable community engagement outcomes, and actionable recommendations addressing vulnerable road users across multiple modes and populations. Proposals are limited to 15 pages and will be evaluated on four criteria: Project Manager qualifications (25 points maximum), Project Team composition and experience (25 points maximum), Past Performance on similar projects (20 points maximum), and Understanding of Project/Project Approach (30 points maximum). The selected consultant is required to attend a scope meeting anticipated approximately two weeks after proposals are due (estimated May 28, 2026). All questions must be submitted electronically to capitalprojects@columbus.gov by the deadline specified in the RFP, with responses posted as addenda on the Bonfire platform; no pre-proposal meeting will be held.

This procurement carries no Minority/Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) set-aside goal or restrictions limiting eligible respondents to disadvantaged enterprises. All selected consultants and sub-consultants must be registered with the City of Columbus vendor system, possess valid contract compliance certification numbers, and be registered with SAM.gov prior to contract execution. The contract is structured as a task order arrangement with an anticipated initial duration of 36 months and a maximum contract value of $1,250,000, funded through a federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant providing $1,320,000 in federal funding supplemented by $330,000 in required local match funding for total eligible project costs of $1,650,000. The contract allows for task-specific scopes of work and fees to be negotiated with the Department of Public Service prior to proceeding with each task, providing flexibility in project implementation and resource allocation.