Architectural Transit Planning and Engineering Services.

COTA is soliciting proposals from qualified professional consulting engineering/architectural firms to provide professional A/E services with a focus on Transit Services planning, design, and implementation services.The work contemplated under this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is for transit planning, architectural and engineering design, and construction administration for various Transit related infrastructure projects for COTA. Excellence in planning, engineering, design, and transit operations is an explicit criterion in the consultant selection process. COTA is seeking a diversity of skills. Your proposal will be considered based on the quality and expertise your firm offers.Selected services will be identified on a separate Task Order for each assignment. Hourly rates and profits should be submitted in detail by task order. Each task order will reference a project ID. Task orders should clearly note the scope of request, list of deliverables and associated schedule. Hourly rates should meet industry standards. Task Orders may include the following:•Park and ride/transit center design and development;•Existing Park and ride repairs and modifications;•Feasibility studies, including operational analysis;•3rd party inspections;•Safety consultations related to safety in design and construction;•Useful life studies;•Pavement design and condition assessment;•Building/facility commissioning services;•Bus storage and repair facilities;•Environmental studies and analysis necessary for various projects for land purchases and transit planning projects;•IT construction support;•NEPA and other due diligence required for federal grant opportunities or for Uniform Relocation Act compliant property acquisitions;•Update of COTA's development guidelines/standards;•Feasibility or alternative analysis studies for FTA New/Small Starts projects that include various modal options;•Right of way acquisition support, easements, legal description;•Lighting analyses and solar feasibility studies;•Traffic studies, planning and design for bus operations;•Bus stop planning, design, and assessments based on design criteria;•Bus stop design guide support;•FTA Compliance support for all FTA funded projects;•Maintenance and operations facilities evaluation, planning and design;•Review of municipality plans for bus stop infrastructure;•ADA accessibility;•Cost estimating and value engineering;•Space planning;•Risk assessment;•Full scope of design services including construction administration;•Transit technology analyses;•Transit operations, financial analyses, strategic planning;•Grant writing support;•Corridor Study support;•Long Range Transit Plan (LRTP) and Short-Range Transit Plan (SRTP);•Working with various local city governments and municipalities;•Land acquisition, including zoning review and site assessment;•Site development plan Signage and graphics;•Surveying;•Coordination with utility companies;•Communication, Life Safety and security systems;•Right of way plans and Drawer E Permitting processes;•Geotechnical Engineering and Reports;•Utility Location Services;•Obtaining Permits; and•Any other transit related engineering services that may arise and are required by COTA.The firm(s) should provide planning, design, procurement, construction services, commissioning, stakeholder engagements, capacity building and training, monitoring and evaluation, general management and administration, transportation and transit planning and design, master planning, BRT studies, and other engineering and management of innovative transportation and transit technologies. Task Orders may include, but are not limited to the following disciplines:a.Provide detailed Civil, Structural, Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical Plumbing (MEP)drawings and Technical Specifications (hereinafter referred to as Contract Documents) aswell as any other drawings or documents necessary for successful and cost-effectivebidding for construction.b.The consultant will not be responsible for bidding of any of the task orders or projects,but may participate in Pre-Bid meetings, Pre-Construction meetings, and providing andforwarding written answers to the Authority for questions received during the biddingprocess.c.Determine scope and provide services for any required Geotechnical work, utilityinterfaces, relocations, and interferences that may be associated with any task. Asreferenced above, Utility shall mean any water, sanitary, storm, gas, electric, fiber optic,Cable Company or other utility companies that would be affected by this Project.d.When requested, provide detailed Construction Cost Estimate(s) to be utilized for budgetor construction. The Consultant will analyze and report to the Authority the cost ofvarious design and construction elements and alternatives sought by the Authority in theperformance of their work, to ensure costs remain within available budgets. As a part ofthe cost analysis effort, the Consultant is expected to continually consider alternativesand costs related to efficiency, useful life, maintenance, energy and operations.e.When applicable, provide all required interface with all City of Columbus, municipalitiesor agencies to acquire all necessary permits and easements necessary for the project,including but not limited to design review meetings; graphics committee meetings;zoning and planning meetings, etc.f.Review and ensure design development follows approved project design criteria, as wellas City of Columbus planning or other municipalities along with zoning and designcriteria.g.Assist the authority to obtain required building permits from Federal, State, Countyand/or Municipal agencies.h.A COTA representative or designer will provide oversight and administration of allconstruction-related activities. However, the Consultant will provide constructionadministration services.i.Building/Facility Commissioning Services: Renovations to existing facilities and/or new buildings and facilities will occasionally be designed to LEED standards and therefore require commissioning services for the design and construction phases. These tasks could involve reviewing and commenting on the owner’s program requirements, developing design phase commissioning plans, and review of construction documents, specifications and contractor requirements related to by not limited to: MEP systems, Functional performance tests for HVAC systems, Building envelop inspection, CNG infrastructure and EV charging stations.j.Environmental documentation will be required for all land acquisition and construction projects that COTA undertakes. It will be extremely important for the selected consultant to have extensive experience with the FTA process regarding environmental documentation. An FTA process is required when federal funding is used for land acquisition, otherwise a standard Phase I analysis is sufficient.When development is funded by Federal dollars, the selected consultant should demonstrate that they understand the explicit guidelines and requirements set forth by the FTA. The Consultant should document all experience they have with various agencies including State Historical Preservation Offices (SHPO). Documentation that will be necessary for the selected consultant to complete and have thorough knowledge of includes the following:•Environmental Analysis which includes Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements.•All the Analysis listed above will require the understanding and expertise of the following supporting documentation:oZoning;oTraffic Impacts;oCO Hot Spots;oHistoric Resources;oNoise and Vibration;oAcquisitions and Relocations that may be required;oHazardous Materials;oCommunity Disruption and Environmental Justice;oUse of Public Parklands and Recreation areas;oImpact on Wetlands;oFloodplain Impacts;oImpacts on Water Quality;oImpacts on Ecologically Sensitive Areas;oImpacts on Safety and Security;oImpacts caused by Construction;oAsbestos inspection;oPhase I, Phase II and Phase III Site Assessments;oEcological Survey Reports;oPublic Involvement; andoGeotechnical Studies.k.Construction Testing, Site Inspection and Laboratory Services: as required by law for construction projects, scope will include special inspections for construction sites. Requirements include directly contracting and managing a qualified special inspection agency through the duration of the project. Construction contractors will be required to coordinate all site inspections. Evaluation and recommendation based on the test results are a requirement of the contract.Scope of special inspection include, but are not limited to:•Geotechnical;•Material testing (including but not limited to);oConcrete testing and InspectionoRebar InspectionoSoil Work/ExcavationoMasonry, Mortar and Prim TestingoStructural SteeloAsphalt InspectionsoSprayed–on FireproofingoFluid Applied Air BarrieroGround Penetrating RebaroAll other testing as required•Inspection Reports;•Recommendations;•Corrective Action Requirements; and•Non-Compliance.l.Feasibility or Alternative Analyses Studies: The selected consultant shall have experience and competencies in the following areas:•Working with various local city governments and municipalities.•Experience with Bus Rapid Transit and Fixed Guideway projects; and•Environmental analysis and documentation including experience, knowledge, and compliance with the FTA environmental processm.Feasibility or Alternative Analyses Studies:Traffic StudiesThe selected consultant shall have experience and competencies in the following areas:•Working with various local city governments and municipalities; and•Working with City of Columbus traffic signals and ITS systemBus StopsThe selected consultant shall have experience and competencies in the following areas:•Working with various local city governments and municipalities;•Land acquisition, including zoning review and site assessment;•Site development plans, with superior transit planning competencies;•Signage and graphics;•Environmental analysis and documentation including experience, knowledge, andcompliance with the FTA environmental process;•Asphalt/Concrete modifications or repairs;•Passenger Shelter installation or relocation;•Lighting modifications or repairs;•Surveying;•Working with utility companies;•Communication and security systems;•Drainage design;•Right of way plans;•Geotechnical Engineering and Drilling;•Subsurface Utility Location Services;•Obtaining Permits;•Maintenance of Traffic design;•Station architecture;•Sidewalk and ADA design; and•Electrical design.TechnologyThe selected consultant shall have experience and competencies in the area of emerging transportation technologies. Miscellaneous work for Emerging Technologies may include:•Autonomous and connected vehicles;•Advanced station, bus stop, and other infrastructure-based technologies;•First and last mile connectivity and micromobility;•Mobility as a service and mobility on demand;•Data analytics;•Funding and financial strategies for advanced technologies;•Modeling and simulation for advanced technologies; and•Emerging technologies alternatives analysis.It will also be necessary for the selected firm(s) to have extensive experience with agency coordination. The consultants should demonstrate their knowledge of the process by outlining general time frames for the various stages of projects, particularly with the FTA processes and SHPO. Agencies in which COTA are actively involved with include but are not limited to the FTA, Ohio EPA, State Historical Preservation Office, Army Corp of Engineers, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Ohio Department of Transportation, City of Columbus, and others. Finally, the selected firm(s) are expected to assemble a team of professional staff and subcontractors to meet and be able to perform the scope of work as detailed above.