Active SLED Opportunity · OHIO · CITY OF CLEVELAND
AI Summary
RFP for professional services to design construction plans for a 2.8-mile quick-build safety and bicycle facility project on E. 55th Street in Cleveland, Ohio, focusing on roadway reallocation, ADA accessibility, and pedestrian safety improvements.
This Request for Proposal (RFP) seeks professional services to prepare construction contract plans and specifications for the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects, Division of Engineering and Construction. The project covers approximately 2.8 miles of E. 55th Street, from Outhwaite Avenue to North Marginal Road. Please note that the 0.3-mile segment between Superior Avenue and St. Clair Avenue – designated as State Route (SR) 283 – is excluded from this scope. E. 55th Street is classified as a Minor Arterial.
The scope of work focuses on delivering a quick-build roadway cross-section reallocation project. Key tasks include removing existing pavement markings and installing separated bicycle facilities with delineator posts and new markings. The project will ensure ADA accessibility for transit waiting environments, include upgrades to select existing pedestrian crossings, and add new crosswalks and curb ramps at select locations. No pavement rehabilitation is included in this scope. The segment within SR 283 (Superior Avenue to St. Clair Avenue) is being rehabilitated under a separate project. As a Safe Routes to School project, the City will administer the design, while ODOT District 12 will lead construction administration.
There will be no pre-proposal meeting. Written questions will be received until June 19, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., and an addendum with all questions and answers will be posted by the close of business on June 26, 2026. The proposal will be due on July 3, 2026, by noon. Questions shall be submitted online through the questions tab included in this proposal request.
Where the following terms such as "Consultant to determine", "Yes", “x”, "By Consultant" and similar notations are used in this RFP, the Consultant shall design and prepare the necessary drawings and details for that item of work. Design work may not be passed on to the construction contractor via plan note. In addition, where there are items that require the action of work (by whom it may not be clear), the Consultant is the party that shall accomplish it.
The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or portions of them, to waive irregularities, informalities, and technicalities, to re-issue or to proceed to obtain the service(s) desired otherwise, at any time or in any manner considered in the City’s best interests. The Director may, at his/her sole discretion, modify or amend any provision of this notice or the RFP.
For several years, the City and community stakeholders have prioritized making E. 55th Street safer, more comfortable, and more convenient for all roadway users, a commitment that led to the initiation of the E. 55th Street Safety Action Plan. As one of the few continuous north-south corridors on Cleveland’s east side, it serves as a vital link between southeast neighborhoods and the lakefront while providing access to regionally significant facilities like I-90, I-490, and the Opportunity Corridor. The street is home to a diverse mix of schools, commercial centers, light industry, and residential areas, and it connects several active transportation and recreational trail projects including CHEERS, the North Marginal/Mandel Community Trail, SR 283 and Payne Avenue separated bike lanes, the Superior Midway, the Morgana Run Trail, and the Slavic Village Downtown Connector. This importance is further underscored by its identification in Cleveland Moves—the Citywide Mobility Plan as a priority corridor for separated bike lanes.
Despite its critical role in the transportation network, the corridor is a recurring segment of the City’s high injury network. From 2020 to 2024, crashes along E. 55th Street resulted in 11 deaths and 56 serious injuries, with bicyclists and pedestrians overrepresented in these figures. Speeding was a factor in 54% of fatal crashes, and injury rates are 10% higher than the statewide average for similar road classifications. This safety record caused the Ohio Department of Transportation to commission three safety studies over the past decade focusing on the E. 55th intersections of Superior Avenue, Carnegie Avenue, and Kinsman Road/Woodland Avenue.
A primary factor contributing to crashes is that the roadway is excessively wide for its current traffic volume. Two wide lanes in each direction with minimal congestion throughout the day create an environment where high vehicle speeds are easily attained, whether intentional or not. This speeding behavior causes more frequent and severe crashes, which is particularly concerning given the significant transit and active transportation needs of the area; 39% of households within a half mile do not own a car—81% have one or fewer, and 53% of residents live in poverty.
The E. 55th Street Safe Routes to School project is focused on enhancing safety, comfort, and mobility through a quick-build approach. This project will reallocate existing curb-to-curb space to add a two-way center turn lane and separated bike lanes on both sides of the road. Improvements also include ladder-style crosswalk striping at existing crossings, the installation of RRFBs or PHBs, and new crosswalk striping where demand or significant gaps exist. To improve transit accessibility, the project will install concrete landing pads at bus stops. Design elements are expected to align with the City’s commitment to Vision Zero, prioritizing the elimination of fatal and serious injury crashes as a key outcome. General improvements can be found in the linked concept drawings. Regarding technical specifications, the 100-ft right-of-way includes a typical curb-to-curb width of 54–56 feet, widening to 68 feet at intersections with existing left-turn lanes. This information is based on available records, therefore accuracy is not guaranteed and the consultant must review all field data and perform investigations to confirm existing conditions.
Provide GSA Standard Form 330 – Parts I and II. Resumes of personnel actually performing work tasks, including subconsultants, shall be submitted in Part I, Section E of GSA Form 330. For those firms with more than one office, include the office location (City) to which the team member is assigned. A detailed project organization chart is required in Section D of GSA Form 330.
In Part I, Section H of GSA Form 330, discuss the meaningful involvement of each firm on the team, how you intend to manage the project and who will have overall responsibility. Prime and Sub-consultant work history should be presented, as well as the length of time and number of projects the prime has worked with various team members. The quality control and assurance program should be discussed.
Provide GSA Standard Form 330 – Parts I and II for any firm with thirty percent (30%) or more of the proposed work.
Provide a technical approach in sufficient detail such that it may be determined that the proposer has an understanding of the type of work involved and disciplines necessary to accomplish the project. Describe how the project is envisioned, or in other words, what is being furnished for the dollars quoted. Any exceptions or amplifications of the scope of work shall be presented under this section. Present solutions that can improve the roadway design. Describe any potential problems.
Provide a detailed list and number of drawings and man-hours including sub-consultants to develop contract construction plan set.
Provide a realistic Project Schedule, showing the necessary work items, agency reviews, and total completion time. Project schedules are to be submitted utilizing “Microsoft Project”. The City requires 30 consecutive days to review each plan Stage.
The City has designated a page limit of ten (10) pages for the Technical Approach. The Project schedule does not count toward the 10 pages.
Provide a list of subconsultants, their work assignments and the percent of the work and percent of CSB work and assignments that the entire team will be performing. Resumes shall be included in Section 1, within the GSA 330.
Provide the following information for each sub consultant on the team:
The Cleveland Area Business Code contained in Chapter 187 of the Codified Ordinances of Cleveland Ohio 1976 was enacted in an effort to increase the participation of local small business enterprises in City of Cleveland Contracts. The City has, therefore, established as one of its objectives, the meaningful involvement of Cleveland Small Businesses (CSB). The Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects has a participation goal of ten (10) percent for Cleveland Small Businesses (CSB) on this project.
Each Consultant representing itself as a Cleveland Area Small Business (CSB) within the OEO schedules must be certified with the Office of Equal Opportunity as a CSB, CSB/MBE or CSB/FBE. Currently certified firms can be found at:
https://cleveland.diversitycompliance.com
Include a statement certifying that Schedules 1-4 of the OEO Office are included in Part “B” (See instructions for Part “B”).
Consultant, and or team members, shall be prequalified as specified in in Non-Complex Roadway Design, Basic Traffic Signal Design and Bicycle Facilities and Enhancement Design. It is advisable to include in the proposal your qualifications and experience or other information which may show your firm is uniquely qualified for this project. Resumes of key personnel to be assigned to this project should be included.
Are all the work elements covered with the proposed subs.
Consultant and/or team members shall be ODOT prequalified in Non-Complex Roadway Design, Basic Traffic Signal Design and Bicycle Facilities and Enhancement Design. Include ODOT prequalification’s of all team members.
Resumes shall be included in Section 1, within the GSA 330.
Part B shall contain the proposed fee, proposal fee sheets, OEO Schedules and a signed cover letter on company letterhead
Please include the following information:
Please include the following information:
Please include the following information:
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.
INSTRUCTIONS: Pursuant to Codified Ordinance Sec. 181.36, the information requested on this page must be supplied by all contractors and any subcontractors having more than a fifty percent (50%) interest in the proposed contract prior to any contract being awarded by the City of Cleveland. Any contractor or subcontractor who is deemed to have made a false statement shall be declared to have acted in default of its contract and shall be subject to the remedies for default contained in its contract. For failure to cure such a default, the contractor or subcontractor shall be automatically excluded from bidding for the supply of any goods or services for use by the City for a period of two (2) years.
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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