Addendum and clarifications page regarding MATS Request for Proposals for the TAP NMT Pilot Study

Note:

This page hosts any Addendum to the recently released RFP in addition to answers to any questions posed by respondents.

Addendum

Questions and Responses

Is there an estimated budget for this work, either by trail segment, or overall?

Answer: We would rather not supply a budget target for those responding to the RFP. This is a Pilot Study for TAP because we do not yet have a standard scope, and have not done anything like this before. We expect to learn together how best to do this kind of work, especially so that it ends with the consultant assisting in documentation that local agencies can use to apply to TAP for construction grant funding. Selected consultant will be working with MATS agencies and TAP staff toward documenting best practices, lessons learned, and recommendations for how to do this work again in the future.

What is the schedule for completion of the work? Are there specific milestones that need to be reached with the program? Or is there a deadline for the funding that has to be met?

Answer: No firm date or schedule has been set for completion of the MATS TAP Pilot Program. Dependent on when contract is finalized, scope of work being done, and when consultant can commence work. Desired completion timeframe around March - September 2025. Specific milestones will be established on the basis of the chosen Proposal. No, there is no specific deadline regarding the funding, currently funding available through FY 2025, with the possibility of extension.

Should we include resumes of the primary team members; and if so, do these resumes count toward the page count?

Answer: Inclusion of the resumes of the primary team members as part of the Proposal is at consultant discretion. As specified in the RFP, each submittal should not be more than 25 sheets (50 sides), with material on two sides, not including required attachments. If consultant feels that inclusion of resumes is an integral part of proving professional qualifications, then those can be placed in either Section 3 or attachments.

Who is on the review team?

Answer: Proposals will be reviewed and scored by the MATS NMT Pilot Study Steering Committee comprised of representatives of local agencies, some MATS Technical Committee members and MATS staff.

Per Section II Part J, consultant award is anticipated by May 7, 2024. What is the desired completion date for the work described in the RFP?

Answer: No firm date has been set for completion of the MATS TAP Pilot Program. Dependent on when contract is finalized, scope of work being done, and when consultant can commence work. Desired completion timeframe around March - September 2025.

Section I Task 4, the first bullet identifies “Survey and other field data collection” as a requirement. Are consultants expected to provide full topographic survey mapping and soil borings for the EPE plans?

Answer: This is a pilot program for TAP, with no standard scope existing as of this time. Thus, the scope of work proposed is at consultant discretion. The objectives of this Pilot Program are to complete a feasibility analysis for each trail route and develop the documentation towards the future applications for TAP construction funding. The point is to ease the burden for local agencies, to be able to significantly shorten time and effort necessary for local units of government to develop TAP application packets. The proposals will be judged on meeting those objectives as indicated in proposal evaluation criteria (Section III Part B). Please note that this Pilot Program is indicated throughout the RFP as feasibility assessment, EPE and initial environmental investigation.

Section I Task 5, Consultants are required to submit “any additional information required in the TAP application guide”. What is the expected deliverable pertaining to ROW? Easement documents and property negotiations?

Section III Part D, Consultants are required to provide “overhead factors” in the fee breakdown. Based on this and the fact that funding is federal aid can you please clarify if a cost plus fixed fee format is being requested?

Answer: The format of Cost plus Fixed Fee is not being requested.

Section III Part D, Typically, with federal aid, a QBS process is required (with fee submitted separately). Can you please confirm the fee component does not have to be submitted in a separate envelope/document?

Answer: The fee component does not have to be submitted separately. QBS process not required.

Re: Section II Part C

What is the meaning of the statement: “To be considered, each firm must submit a response to this RFP using the format provided in Section IV. No other distribution of proposals is to be made by the submitter.”

Answer: The intent of this statement was that no other format other than that specified in Section III Part B will be accepted for consideration. The proposals should be organized as follows: Proposed Work Plan, Past Involvement with TAP grant applications, Professional Qualifications, Fee Proposal, Authorized Negotiator, Attachments.

The sentence “No other distribution of proposals is to be made by the submitter” should be considered null and void. The RFP is open to any firm, regardless of whether they received direct invitation to submit the proposal or not.

Can the Proposer team up with another perspective firm (either as the Prime or a Sub-consultant)?Even if the other team(s) may not have received MATS original RFP?

Answer: Yes, it is possible for two or more firms to team up and provide a Proposal to MATS regarding TAP NMT Pilot Study. The issued RFP is open to any firm, regardless of whether they received direct invitation to submit the proposal or not. Proposal should include details of what each firm will be doing.