October 16, 2015
The City of Virginia Beach is soliciting Letters of Interest (LOI) from consortia interested in providing design-build services for the Virginia Beach Light Rail Extension to Town Center project, CIP 2092000.
The project will provide for the extension of the existing light rail fixed guide-way transit, “The Tide”, from its terminus at the Newtown Road Station/Norfolk-Virginia Beach City line, east to the Town Center/Constitution Drive area, a total distance of approximately 3 miles. Improvements will generally be provided within the existing 66 foot wide former Norfolk & Southern railroad right-of-way previously acquired by the City. Improvements will consist of design and construction of a two-track system with all necessary rail transit components (except vehicles), grade-separated crossings at Witchduck Road and Independence Boulevard, utility relocation coordination, station platforms, park and ride facilities, structured parking, and bus transfer accommodations. Station retrofits will be made at the existing Newton Road location with new station platforms to be provided in the vicinities of Witchduck Road, Kellam Road and Constitution Drive. Associated pedestrian and bicycling connectivity will be provided by a Shared Use Path and sidewalk within the project corridor.
A two-step process will be used for selection and award of a design-build contract. Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from interested parties will be solicited by mid-December 2015. Responses to the RFQ will be evaluated to establish a list of pre-qualified design-build firms that will be invited to submit proposals in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP), to be issued in December 2016. Bridging documents to include preliminary engineering (30%) plans will be provided. It is anticipated that the funding for the project will be programmed and a contract awarded in July 2017 with a project delivery date no later than late July 2019.
A design-build contract will be awarded using a best value selection process to evaluate the ability of the proposers to manage, design, build and control this project to provide a quality product, on or ahead of schedule, for a reasonable lump sum price within the City’s project budget. The City is seeking design-builders that are committed to quality, have proven experience in light rail design and construction, will bring innovative design-build approaches to ensure timely completion, and are willing to partner with the City for the mutual success of the project.
Notification of an informational meeting, anticipated to be held in November 2016, will be posted at a later date.
Firms interested in receiving Virginia Beach Light Rail Extension to Town Center design-build project information should submit a one-page Letter of Interest to Bobby J. Wheeler, P.E., by registered mail or similar delivery method that indicates proof of receipt, no later than close of business on November 23, 2015.
Address all letters to:
Bobby J. Wheeler, P.E., Assoc. DBIA
Light Rail Project Administrator
Public Works Engineering
Municipal Center, Building 2
2405 Courthouse Drive, Suite 345
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456
bjwheele@vbgov.com
757-385-8420
Include in your Letter of Interest the following contact information for your firm as well as any joint venture partners or major subcontractors.
• Company Name
• Company Address
• Lead Contact Person with phone number and email address
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise designation